Comprehensive List for Automotive Dealership Advertising Success

Our industry experts have a unique understanding of all things automotive – and the advertising approach needed to drive success. Here at Motivated Marketing, we’ve assembled a trusted team of strategists, account managers, and creatives to build brand awareness and help your dealership stand out. The crowded automotive market makes this challenging for dealers who decide to go it alone … but with M2 by your side, you’ll be on the fast track to success in no time!

This comprehensive guide explains more about our proven approach and the full range of services we provide. Read on to learn more, then contact our team to get started!

What Is Automotive Advertising?

Let’s first define car advertising before taking a deeper dive. On the surface, it’s simple! Dealership marketing relies heavily on the visual elements involved, using eye-catching ads to draw consumers in. Most often the initial goal is to build trust with your target audience, then to encourage them to take the next step – like browsing inventory, clicking for more incentive info, etc. Our graphic designers excel in this arena, consistently creating attention-grabbing designs. These are then targeted to your audience, so you can be sure the right potential customer receives the right message at the right time.

Embrace Video Marketing

As technology continues to advance, these types of videos have been proven to engage prospective car buyers:

Virtual test drives
Behind-the-scenes footage (Day in the life of a salesperson, how appraisals are performed, etc.)
How-to guides and tutorials

M2’s marketing specialists have found that incorporating video into your advertising strategy is a great way to boost brand awareness and generate leads. Let’s take a closer look:

Virtual Test Drives
These high-quality videos give online shoppers the chance to get behind the wheel – from the comfort of their couch! Virtual test drives may highlight specific features, performance specs, and interior details in an engaging way. Pair these videos with customer testimonials to max out results!
Behind-the-Scenes Footage
These informal videos are an effective way to showcase different departments – and your team’s approachability! They transform your dealership from a big business focused on its bottom line to a customer-focused team who cares about customers.
How-To Guides and Tutorials
These videos are more focused on educating than building connections. Topics may include car maintenance tips, financing advice, or model comparisons. By establishing trust in your team, you’ll perfectly position your car dealership as an authority in the field.

Attention-Grabbing Techniques

Check out these tips and tricks for catching your audience’s eye:

Compelling headlines
Persuasive ad copy
Targeted advertising channels

To ensure your dealership laps local competitors, engaging your audience is key. This first requires you to grab their attention, whether you’re using billboards to turn heads on the highway or a fun ad to slow their scroll online. Here’s how we do it here at Motivated Marketing!

Compelling Headlines
Because they’re the first point of contact, great headlines present an opportunity you can’t afford to miss. Our team will identify, then effectively incorporate, the right keywords and phrases.
Persuasive Ad Copy
Our experienced copywriters craft content that’s anything but bland. We’ll turn some basic selling points into copy your audience can’t ignore. Whether we’re using our storytelling skills or creating the perfect call to action, we’ve got the know-how to persuade your audience to take the next step in their car-buying journey.
Targeted Advertising Channels
Effectively reaching your audience is crucial, but when left to their own devices, many dealers cast far too wide a net. Here at M2, our marketing specialists will identify the right platform to reach the right people. And the result? More bang for your ad buck! From paid search campaigns to targeting social media marketing, we’ve got you covered!

The Impact on Brand Awareness

Successful marketing plays a major role in building brand awareness. It’s important that your brand is easily recognizable, especially with more and more dealers joining the marketplace. Here’s what our campaigns accomplish:

Increased exposure
Positive popular opinion
Established brand loyalty

. Consistency across platforms is one key aspect we keep in mind, so consumers know exactly what you stand for and what to expect – whether they visit you online or on the lot.

Increased Exposure
When it comes to ad campaigns, frequency builds familiarity. In other words, the more often a potential car buyer sees your ads, the better acquainted they become with your dealership. Our team can help create a strong brand presence to help yours stand out!
Positive Popular Opinion
Well-executed advertising campaigns contribute to a trustworthy brand perception. When consumers repeatedly come in contact with your ads (and the killer content they include), they begin to build an opinion. M2 can shine the spotlight on your best assets to make sure it’s a great one!
Established Brand Loyalty
Great marketing strategy can build brand loyalty over time, turning casual customers into passionate advocates for your brand. Brand loyalists can help by sharing their experience with family and friends or leaving five-star reviews online!

Develop a Strong Online Presence

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is imperative for any successful car dealership. Here are some essential steps to improve your visibility online:

Optimize your website.
Utilize search engine optimization (SEO).
Leverage local SEO.

With modern consumers spending more and more online, it’s important to reach them where they are. Read on for few more details about each aspect of our approach:

Optimize Your Website
Websites are only effective if your audience can easily access them – and if they function properly once they arrive. If your site is buried at the bottom of the search results, it’s doubtful that consumers will even click it. Our team knows the relevant keywords, meta tags, and descriptive URLs to use to optimize your website. We can even make sure it’s maximized for mobile devices – a big win in our smartphone-obsessed society!
Utilize Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
The best brands employ SEO strategy to improve their ranking on search engine result pages (SERPs). This requires some in-depth research to identify the most relevant and high-traffic keywords, followed by content creation that puts these terms front and center. Blog posts, vehicle descriptions, and landing pages are all fantastic spots to start – so they factor heavily into our SEO strategy.
Leverage Local SEO
Since car dealerships primarily target prospective customers in their area, it’s crucial to employ local SEO strategies. Ensure all details in your Google My Business listing are accurate and encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews. Great reviews not only impact your reputation, but you’re ranking too!

Harness the Potential of Online Advertising

In today’s increasing digital era, your dealership simply cannot afford not to be online. But passively maintaining a website isn’t enough – which is why M2’s marketing specialists recommend the following:

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.
Display advertising.
Social media marketing.

Online advertising techniques like this increase visibility and steer your audience toward your site:

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
PPC advertising, such as Google Ads, allows you to bid on keywords and pay to position your ads at the top of the search engine results page. Relevant keywords about available inventory, financing, or current specials all make for compelling copy, so they’re often included in PPC ads.
Display Advertising
Displaying targeted ads on specific websites and platforms can help your brand stake its claim online. From beautifully designed banners to retargeting strategy, M2 offers it all to ensure you get the most visibility for your money.
Social Media Marketing
It’s no secret that your audience is on social – and if you’re not, your competitors certainly are. Social media platforms allow for a high degree of targeting based on interests, demographics, geography, and more. By separating users into segments and serving relevant ads to each audience, we use social media marketing to get big results!

Foster Positive Customer Experiences

Connecting with your audience is only beneficial if the experience is a positive one! Here’s how we guarantee a great experience:

Personalized interactions
Efficient communication channels
After-sales support

Providing exceptional customer experiences is key to outranking competing car dealers and recruiting brand loyalists. M2’s auto advertising pros use the following strategies to enhance customer satisfaction:

Personalized Interactions
Make sure your sales and customer service teams tailor each interaction to each unique customer. Listening closely to their wants and needs and offering the appropriate recommendations is one way to ensure a good interaction – and leave an even better impression.
Efficient Communication Channels
The easier it is for customers to get in touch, the more likely that they will. Opening multiple communication channels is key, like phone, email, live chat, and social media platforms. When customers do contact your dealership, be sure to respond to inquiries and address customer concerns as quickly as you can. Again, this helps boost satisfaction and overall loyalty.
After-Sales Support
The value of support after a sale should never be overlooked. From extended warranties to routine maintenance, there are plenty of ways to stay top of mind – a major advantage when it’s time for the customer to trade in and trade up.

Collaborate with Influencers and Local Partners

Influencers help drive our economy, playing a starring role like never before. Here’s how we use them to your dealership’s advantage:

Influencer marketing
Local partnerships
Guest blogging and expert interviews

Partnering with both influencers and other local businesses can help you reach more customers within your community. So don’t forget to consider a collab!

Influencer Marketing
Here at M2, we first identify popular local influencers in the auto industry, then narrow down our list to only include those who align with your values and appeal to your audience. Next, we reach out with an offer to collaborate! Influencers often create sponsored content, product reviews, or brand endorsements.
Local Partnerships
Car repair shops, accessory stores, or auto insurance providers are great connections to have. They can help talk up your team and the services you provide and may even start a referral program to make the collaboration beneficial for all involved.
Guest Blogging and Expert Interviews
Invite influencers to author guest blog posts or conduct interviews, then post the content prominently online. Their useful insights often resonate well with consumers, especially those who already respect the influencer and value their opinion.

Implement Personalized Email Marketing Campaigns

Be sure to secure a spot in your audience’s inbox as well, with techniques like these shaping your email campaign:

Segmentation and targeting
Automated follow-ups
Exclusive offers and promotions

Segmentation and Targeting
Once we’ve rounded up all your contacts, we’ll segment your email list based on factors like demographics, purchase history, and interests. Then, we customize each email to speak directly with those recipients, upping the odds of engagement and conversion.
Automated Follow-ups
No one likes to be ignored – especially email recipients who contact your dealership. Automate email sequences to follow up, ensuring no potential lead falls through the cyber cracks. Plus, respond with personalized emails to make the most of every interaction!
Exclusive Offers and Promotions
Make sure those who subscribe to emails reap some rewards – like exclusive offers, promotions, and deals. But don’t forget to stir up a sense of urgency by only offering incentives for a limited time!

Host Engaging Events and Promotions

In-person events hosted by your car dealership are another sure-fire way to connect with the community. We may recommend one of the following:

Test drive events
Community partnerships
Loyalty programs

Organizing events and promotions can create some major buzz among a wider audience – the perfect complement to your more targeted content.

Test Drive Events
Because the best way to choose the perfect new vehicle is often to get behind the wheel, considering holding a test drive event. To get customers in the door – and into the vehicle – offer an incentive. Free food, service deals, and gift cards are all budget-friendly offerings that can help sweeten the deal. Be sure to get test drivers’ contact info so you can follow up later!
Community Partnerships
Another approach involves teaming up with a local business or organization to co-host an event. Think donation drives and fundraisers for a worthy cause. Everyone wins!
Loyalty Programs
Implement a customer loyalty program to reward buyers who return time and time again. Here at Motivated Marketing, we typically suggest incentivizing referrals or offering service deals. These methods encourage happy customers to spread the word about their awesome experience, essentially turning them into brand ambassadors – for free!

Need a Marketing Campaign for Your Dealership? Motivated Marketing Can Help!

Seeking better visibility online? Want to be known as THE premier dealer in town? Effective auto dealership marketing is the solution! And while it’s a simple one, it takes serious strategy to ensure it’s done right.

That’s where Motivated Marketing comes in! Our experienced team of marketing specialists know the industry – and we can’t wait to get to know you too! We’ll employ the methods detailed above to maximize your results, putting you miles ahead of the competition.

The ever-changing market can present some challenges for dealers attempting to navigate on their own. Instead, trust a team with a track record of success. So, if you’re ready to take your car dealership to the next level, contact us today!

As a full-service Charleston marketing agency, our talented team has extensive experience in the automotive industry. Plus, we have the satisfied clients (and real-world results) to prove it! If you’re interested in increasing traffic, trust our marketing specialists to boost your brand through effective, eye-catching advertising!

Ready to get started? Contact Motivated Marketing today!

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To consult a marketing specialist, contact us today! Feel free to shoot us a message or call 843-856-7322. A quick chat about strategy requires no obligation – and no fee! You have nothing to lose, so reach out today!

A Comprehensive Guide for Automotive Dealership Advertising Success