Expert Automotive SEM Services and Campaigns for Car Dealers

In today’s digital age, a vast majority of car shoppers start their search for a new vehicle online. Here at Dealers United, we’ve noticed having an effective search engine marketing (SEM) strategy for your dealership is crucial to connect with these motivated shoppers and drive more qualified traffic to your dealership’s website and sales team. 

What is SEM (search engine marketing)? Search engine marketing enables dealerships to gather low funnel traffic anytime a user types in “local,” a competitor, or in-market keyword.

SEM encompasses a range of paid advertising services that allow dealerships to appear prominently in search engine results when customers search for vehicles to purchase.

From pay-per-click (PPC) ads to targeted search campaigns and beyond, professional automotive SEM delivers results by putting a dealer’s inventory and offers in front of active, high-intent customers.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the most effective SEM tactics and services for car dealerships looking to boost their digital presence and capture more qualified leads.

Automotive SEM Services

Search engine marketing (SEM) is an integral part of any digital marketing strategy for car dealerships looking to drive more qualified traffic to their website.

Professional SEM services by Dealers United are tailored specifically for the automotive industry, and can help dealerships target high-intent customers searching for their next vehicle online. Some of the most effective SEM campaigns and services for car dealers include:

• Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Ads: PPC ads placed on Google and Bing allow dealerships to appear prominently in search results and reach customers as they search for vehicles to purchase. Dealers can create targeted PPC campaigns optimized for vehicle makes/models, geographic areas, and other parameters.
• Vehicle Listing Ads: Specific ad formats on Google that showcase inventory and display vehicles right in search results. These visual ads help grab the attention of and clicks from shoppers.
• Remarketing: Re-engage website visitors through ads across the web after they’ve visited a dealership site. This helps turn site visitors into customers.

SEM For Car Dealerships

An effective SEM strategy is crucial for any car dealership looking to drive more qualified website traffic and leads in today’s digital landscape. SEM allows dealerships to connect with qualified customers right when they’re searching for vehicles online. Key benefits of professional SEM services for car dealerships include:

• Increased visibility and traffic: SEM puts dealership websites and vehicle inventory in front of motivated customers actively searching relevant terms.
• Measurable results: Dealers can track SEM campaign metrics like impressions, clicks, conversions, and ROI in real-time.
• Flexible targeting: Dealers can hone in on geographic areas, specific vehicle makes/models, and other parameters to target the most qualified searchers.
• Brand awareness: SEM can be used to bid on branded terms and increase visibility for a dealership’s name and reputation.
• Competitive edge: SEM helps dealerships stand out from other local competitors also bidding on valuable vehicle search terms.

Vehicle Listing Ads

One of the most effective SEM formats specific to the automotive space are Vehicle Listing Ads on Google. These specialized ads allow dealerships to showcase their inventory right in the search results, including images of vehicles, pricing, and other details. When a shopper searches for a specific car make and model, like “Toyota Camry for sale,” Google will display relevant vehicle listing ads above the organic results.

The visual nature of these ads intend to grab attention, while the inventory details and call-to-action buttons make it easy for interested shoppers to learn more or reach out to the dealer. Dealerships simply provide a feed of their current inventory and pricing, and Google will optimize and serve the most relevant listing ads to searchers. This creates a powerful opportunity to put actual vehicles that are for sale in front of motivated shoppers during those critical purchasing moments when they have turned to Google to start their research.

PPC Campaigns Through Google

One of the most common and effective forms of SEM for car dealerships is Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising through Google Ads. Google Ads provides an advertising platform that allows dealerships to show up at the top and side of Google search results when customers search for vehicles. Dealers only pay when someone clicks their ad, so it delivers immediate website traffic.

PPC through Google gives dealers the ability to target ads by vehicle make/model, custom locations, demographics, and more. Google provides data and tools to optimize PPC campaigns and improve results over time.

PPC ads can also show on thousands of websites across the Google Display Network. For example, car dealers can bid on their own dealership name and vehicle brands for increased visibility and brand protection. This is an example of a branded PPC campaign.

Overall, we believe that Google PPC represents an efficient way for dealerships to reach customers searching for vehicles in their area and drive those high-quality leads back to their website and sales team. When combined with website optimization and conversion tracking, PPC delivers a significant competitive edge.

Try Dealer United’s Auto Dealer SEM Services

If you’re a car dealership looking to boost your online visibility and connect with more motivated shoppers, it’s probably just time to consider professional SEM services tailored for the automotive space.

Here at Dealers United, we offer strategic SEM campaigns optimized for capturing qualified leads and driving website traffic from Google and other search engines. 

We have different packages that are all custom tailored to meet your dealership’s marketing goals. Ask about our Essentials, Advanced, or Ultimate SEM packages, today!

Our team stays up-to-date on the latest automotive SEM tactics, including pay-per-click ads, targeted search campaigns, vehicle listing ads, and more. We’ll help you stand out from the competition in search results when consumers are actively looking for vehicles just like yours.

The investment in our automotive SEM expertise could deliver a significant competitive advantage and ROI for your dealership. Reach out today to learn more about partnering with Dealers United to take your online presence and qualified traffic to the next level through proven, results-driven SEM.

What’s the Difference Between SEM and SEO?

What do all of the top performing car dealerships have in common? They use a comprehensive SEO and SEM strategy.

Dealers United believes that SEM and SEO go hand-in-hand when it comes to digital marketing for dealerships.

SEM focuses on driving immediate traffic and conversions through paid ads, while SEO builds organic visibility and rankings in search engines over time. Dealerships need both – SEM for short-term results and SEO for long-term authority and traffic growth. We cannot stress this enough.

Summary – Dealerships Need SEM Services

SEM has become an indispensable component of digital marketing for today’s car dealerships. Whether you conduct SEM campaigns yourself, or hire someone like us to do them for you, please make sure you include an SEM campaign in your marketing plan.

By leveraging targeted PPC ads, vehicle listing ads, re-marketing, and comprehensive SEM campaigns, dealerships can connect with customers during the critical vehicle research and shopping phase of their journey. SEM provides the ability to find and engage high-intent customers as they search for specific makes, models, and dealerships.

When coupled with strong SEO, content, and website optimization, SEM gives dealerships a way to stand out from the competition and drive more qualified traffic and sales. For car dealers looking to expand their reach online, enhance their visibility, and stay top-of-mind with prospective buyers, a strategic investment in professional SEM services is key for short-term and long-term success.