Have you ever wondered why some brands stand out in a crowded marketplace? The answer often lies in their ability to tell compelling stories that resonate with their audience. For dealerships, video content has become a game-changer, transforming how they connect with buyers and showcase their offerings.

With 89% of viewers influenced by video and a 67% ROI on social videos, the numbers speak for themselves. Video marketing isn’t just about showcasing vehicles—it’s about creating an experience that builds trust and drives action. From customer testimonials to virtual test drives, the possibilities are endless.

At Dealers United, we understand the challenges dealerships face in today’s digital landscape. That’s why we’re here to guide you through proven strategies, creative ideas, and distribution techniques that deliver results. Let’s explore how you can leverage video to elevate your brand and set your dealership apart.

Key Takeaways

• Video marketing drives engagement and builds trust with buyers.
• 89% of viewers are influenced by video content in their purchasing decisions.
• Storytelling through video creates a memorable customer experience.
• Personalized videos have a 35% higher retention rate.
• Dealerships can use video to showcase vehicles and services effectively.

Why Video Marketing is a Game-Changer for Car Dealerships

In today’s digital-first world, capturing attention requires more than just static ads. With 88% of buyers conducting online research before making a purchase, dealerships need to stand out. Video content has become a powerful tool to engage audiences and drive decisions.

Studies show that 89% of viewers are influenced by video content when making purchasing decisions. This is especially true in the automotive industry, where buyers want to see features, performance, and real-world experiences. By leveraging video, dealerships can create a connection that static images simply can’t match.

Enhancing Buyer Engagement Through Storytelling

Storytelling is at the heart of effective video marketing. Brands like Fiat and Hyundai have mastered this by creating narratives that resonate with their audience. Whether it’s showcasing a vehicle’s features or sharing customer testimonials, storytelling builds trust and keeps viewers engaged.

Personalized videos, for example, have a 35% higher retention rate. This means buyers are more likely to remember your brand and return for future purchases. By focusing on the customer’s journey, dealerships can create content that feels relevant and authentic.

Driving Quality Leads with Memorable Moments

Memorable video moments translate into quality leads. Virtual test drives, behind-the-scenes tours, and interactive content allow buyers to experience your offerings without stepping into a showroom. These experiences not only engage but also build confidence in the purchasing decision.

At Dealers United, we’ve seen how video marketing shortens the decision-making process. By providing clear, engaging content, dealerships can guide buyers from interest to action. This approach not only boosts conversions but also enhances the overall customer experience.

Effective Car Dealer Video Marketing Strategies

What makes a brand unforgettable in a competitive market? The answer lies in crafting content that resonates deeply with your audience. For dealerships, this means leveraging strategies that not only showcase vehicles but also build trust and drive action.

Aligning your content with brand values is crucial. For example, Fiat’s brand-led campaigns focus on storytelling that highlights innovation and style. Similarly, Ford and Bugatti use product walkthroughs to showcase new models and features, creating buzz and awareness.

Launching videos around new releases can significantly boost engagement. These videos should highlight unique features, performance, and real-world applications. By doing so, you not only inform but also excite your audience about what’s new.

Customer Testimonials and Interactive Content

Genuine customer testimonials are a powerful tool. Volkswagen and Volvo have successfully used user-generated content to build credibility. Sharing real experiences from satisfied buyers helps potential customers feel more confident in their decisions.

Interactive content, such as virtual test drives or Q&A sessions, keeps viewers engaged. These experiences allow buyers to explore your offerings in a dynamic way, making the purchasing process more enjoyable and less intimidating.

• Focus on storytelling to highlight brand values and product features.
• Use product launch videos to create excitement and awareness.
• Capture authentic customer testimonials to build trust.
• Incorporate interactive elements to engage your audience.

Creative Video Content Ideas and Distribution Tips

Standing out in today’s competitive landscape requires innovative approaches that captivate and engage. For dealerships, this means leveraging creative video ideas and strategic distribution to connect with your audience effectively.

Maximizing Social Platforms for Wider Reach

Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are ideal for short-form, engaging content. These channels allow you to showcase your inventory in dynamic ways, such as behind-the-scenes tours or quick vehicle highlights.

For example, TikTok’s algorithm favors creative, authentic content. A 30-second clip highlighting a unique feature of a vehicle can resonate with younger shoppers. Similarly, Instagram Reels can help you reach a broader audience with visually appealing content.

Leveraging First-Party Data to Boost ROI

First-party data is invaluable for refining your strategy. By analyzing viewer behavior, you can tailor your content to meet their needs. For instance, if a specific model generates more interest, focus on creating more videos around it.

Tools like lead forms in video ads can help collect data directly from viewers. This information allows you to personalize follow-ups, increasing the likelihood of a purchase.

Integrating Video Across the Buyer Journey

Video should play a role at every stage of the buyer’s journey. Start with educational content to build awareness, such as explainer videos or comparisons. Then, use testimonials and reviews to build trust.

Finally, interactive videos like virtual test drives can help close the deal. By providing a seamless experience, you guide the viewer from interest to action.

• Use short-form videos on TikTok and Instagram to engage younger audiences.
• Collect first-party data to refine your content strategy.
• Incorporate video at every stage of the buyer journey for maximum impact.

Conclusion

In the fast-paced digital era, staying ahead requires innovative strategies. Video has proven to be a powerful tool for dealerships, driving engagement and building trust with buyers. By leveraging storytelling and interactive content, you can create memorable experiences that resonate with your audience.

Effective strategies, such as showcasing inventory through short-form videos or sharing customer testimonials, can significantly boost your brand’s connection with shoppers. These approaches not only enhance engagement but also guide buyers through their journey with confidence.

At Dealers United, we’re committed to helping your team succeed. Start implementing these tips today to refine your approach and achieve measurable results. Let’s work together to elevate your digital presence and drive success.

In today’s digital age, most car buyers start their search for a new vehicle online. In fact, studies show that the majority of vehicle shoppers now use the internet in their research process before ever setting foot in a dealership. As a car dealership, you need to make sure your online presence captures this huge audience and drives them to your store through multiple channels – like Dealers United’s Full-Service digital solutions do for dealerships…

Implementing the right online advertising strategies can help you connect with more prospective buyers, increase leads and sales, and grow your business in a competitive marketplace. This article explores the most effective types of online ads for car dealerships and how to optimize each one.

Fast track your online advertising presence with Dealers United’s Full-Service digital solutions. 

Paid Search Ads

Paid search ads, also called pay-per-click or PPC ads, should form the foundation of your dealership’s online strategy. These small text ads appear alongside organic search engine results when a user enters a relevant keyword search.

For example, when someone searches for “Toyota RAV4 for sale,” your PPC ad can appear as one of the first results with your store name, discounted pricing offers, and a link to drive traffic to your website or special landing page.

Benefits of PPC ads for dealerships:

• Highly targeted based on search keywords
• Appear high in search rankings, above organic results
• Get instant results and can measure ROI accurately
• Control your budget and spend only when ads are clicked
• Flexible, make changes to improve results

Follow these tips to maximize your PPC campaigns:

• Research high-volume, relevant search keywords
• Create targeted ad copy and landing pages
• A/B test different ads to improve CTR
• Set up conversion tracking to optimize efforts

Facebook and Instagram Advertising For Car Sales

80% of surveyed U.S. car buyers use Facebook for auto research. Facebook and Instagram  offer extensive targeting capabilities, allowing you to serve ads to users more likely to buy based on demographics, interests, behaviors and more.

For a dealership, effective Facebook advertising strategies include:

• Retargeting ads for website visitors
• Local ads for area shoppers
• Offer-based ads like discounts on leases
• Carousel image ads displaying latest inventory

Facebook and Instagram make it easy to create professional, eye-catching ads then monitor performance and capitalize on what’s working best.

Display & Video Ads

Beyond search and social, display advertising reaches car buyers as they browse sites across the web. These visually compelling ads appear on premium websites, news pages, informational content sites and more.

Video ads also capture attention as shoppers engage with interesting video content. You can retarget people who have watched certain videos with your dealership’s ads.

Benefits of offsite display and video ads:

• Broad reach to an engaged audience
• Innovative ad formats like 360-degree interactive
• Frequency to drive brand awareness
• Retargeting warm prospective leads
• High visual impact
• The key is placing these ads where your target audience is most likely to see them through strategic website partnerships and managed ad exchanges.

Track KPIs & Optimize Efforts

Implementing an online advertising strategy takes consistent measurement and optimization. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) like:

• Impressions
• Click-through-rate (CTR)
• Cost per lead
• Lead quality
• Inventory views
• Sales conversions

Analyze this data regularly to determine what’s working and what’s not. Shift budget toward highest performing platforms, targets, and ad creative. Continual testing and improvement will maximize your dealership’s online advertising ROI.

Work With Dealers United for Proven Car Dealership Marketing

As you build an impactful digital advertising program, leverage the expertise of Dealers United – our dedicated team focuses on driving leads and sales for car dealerships like yours.

We handle setting up and managing your search and social campaigns while providing complete transparency into the results. With Dealers United, you get decades of dealership marketing experience focused on one goal—growing your business.

Click here to learn more about how Dealers United can help optimize your online advertising strategy and exceed your lead generation goals this year.

Incorporating videos into your content strategy has become an essential component of any successful dealership. For car dealerships looking to boost sales, video provides an unparalleled opportunity to showcase inventory while building trust and credibility with customers. The opportunities are endless…and with the right video marketing approach, your dealership can drive more qualified traffic, increase lead conversion, and ultimately sell more cars.

Dealers United can help you incorporate custom social media video ads into your campaigns. 

Craft Compelling Dealership Videos

Well-produced video allows customers to experience your dealership and inventory in an engaging, low-pressure environment. Rather than salesy commercials, focus on crafting relevant, valuable videos designed to inform, educate, entertain or otherwise provide value for viewers.

For example, create walkaround videos highlighting key features of popular models on your lot. Produce explanatory videos answering common questions buyers have about financing, leasing, or how to use modern vehicle technologies. Share behind-the-scenes videos giving customers a feel for your service center and staff.

Brief video clips work well for social media, while in-depth videos are better suited for your YouTube channel or website. In all cases, high-quality video production is a must to convey professionalism and boost view rates.

Optimize Video for Search Visibility

The right optimization and promotion strategy can help your videos appear prominently in relevant YouTube or Google search results. For each video:

• Carefully target keywords and organically work them into the title, description and captions.
• Include your dealership name, location and other relevant identifying information prominently in metadata.
• Insert links back to your website within video descriptions driving viewers to take action.
• Promote videos across all your dealership social channels, email campaigns, and websites.
• Monitoring analytics to see which videos gain traction, then doubling down on production of more content around popular themes or vehicles.

Build a Multichannel Video Strategy

While a YouTube channel serves as your video hub, extend the reach of video content by cross-promoting it across other marketing channels:

Email Campaigns: Share new vehicle walkaround or dealership videos via email outreach. Insert clickable thumbnail images linking to full videos.

Social Media: All major platforms now emphasize video content in their algorithms. Develop brief, engaging video clips tailored to each network.

Website: Embed relevant videos on inventory, financing or service pages. Videos can boost time-on-site metrics for better SEO.

In-Person: Install video displays in high-visibility areas of your dealership, showcasing current inventory vehicles, customer testimonials or other relevant content.

A cohesive video marketing approach connecting these channels will amplify viewership and overall impact on prospects and customers alike.

Why Dealers United for Your Video Marketing

As leading social media ad experts for car dealerships, Dealers United has helped our clients drive countless sales through custom created video initiatives optimized for today’s most popular channels. Our team can handle all aspects of ideation, production, optimization and analytics/reporting so you focus on selling.

Trust Dealers United as your dealership video marketing partner and start converting browsers into car buyers today!

Finding the best advertising agency can make all the difference for a car dealership looking to increase sales. With so many options to choose from, it can be quite the challenge when determining which agency is best suited to meet your dealership’s unique needs and goals. Dealers United is an advertising agency specializing in helping car dealerships boost their sales through customized marketing strategies. Dealers United brings you this article that explores what car dealerships should look for when vetting potential ad agencies to partner with.

Defining Your Dealership’s Goals

Before beginning the agency search, car dealerships need to clearly define their goals and what they hope to achieve through advertising. Common objectives may include:

• Increasing monthly or yearly unit sales
• Driving more foot traffic to the retail location
• Boosting leads across digital channels
• Improving brand awareness in your local market
• Highlighting current inventory or promotions

Once you’ve outlined realistic, measurable goals, these become the benchmark to evaluate agencies against.

Seek Automotive Industry Experience

The car business is incredibly unique; for this reason, dealerships should seek out agencies with specific experience in the automotive space. No one understands the intricacies of your business quite like those who have dedicated themselves solely to this niche.

Vet agencies on their experience across areas like:

• Digital marketing strategies for car dealerships
• Inventory management systems knowledge
• Creative campaign production expertise
• Long-term agency-dealer relationships

Going with an established automotive specialist likely yields better results than generalist agencies without the same level of focus.

Assess The Agency’s Creative Portfolio

An advertising agency’s portfolio reveals their creative capabilities and potential fit for a car dealership. When reviewing portfolios, look for:

• Fresh, contemporary automotive creative concepts
• Flexibility across multiple formats and channels
• Campaigns that balance branding with hard sales messaging
• Strong calls-to-action that drive conversions
• Familiarity with digital and print advertising best practices

Agencies that are hesitant to share examples of past work may raise some red flags…So be sure to take note and use what you see in their books as a determining factor throughout the selection process.

Vet Their Media Buying Capabilities

Car dealerships invest heavily in paid media, so choosing an agency with proven media buying experience is vital. More specifically, look for:

• Expertise in buying display, video, native advertising and paid search
• Leveraging attribution modeling to optimize budgets
• Targeting key demographic and geographic segments
• Launching retargeting campaigns to past site visitors
• Providing monthly campaign performance reports

Evaluating their strategic capabilities in this area gives you confidence they can plan and execute paid media that delivers.

Compare Agency Pricing and Contracts

Like most significant business investments, it pays off in the end to gather proposals from multiple advertising agencies before committing long-term. Different agencies will offer different services and charge different fees. 

Dealers United prides itself on having 100% transparency with all features included plus management fees. 

Key items to compare include:

• Monthly or annual agency retainer fees
• Mark-up percentages on media buys and outside vendor costs
• Contract terms like length, opt-out clauses, fees
• Incentive structures regarding performance metrics
• Insights from checking agency references

This due diligence allows dealerships to secure fair, competitive pricing in a transparent way. Be wary of rates that seem too good to be true.

Choose a True Marketing Partner

While weighing all these factors, the most essential criteria comes down to choosing an advertising agency who operates as an extension of your dealership. The agency should:

• Maintain clear, responsive communication
• Geek out over your business, inventory and customers
• Proactively inform you industry changes or competitive intel
• Suggest new ideas to accomplish goals while respecting budgets
• Support internal team members collaboratively

You want an agency, like Dealers United, who cares as much about performance as you do. Identifying that partnership mindset during the vetting process helps set the relationship up for long-term success. We cannot stress this enough.

Searching for The Right Advertising Agency

While the process initially requires effort, finding an automotive specialist with proven strategies and passion for driving dealer performance leads to major dividends over years of working together. 

The expertise of an automotive advertising agency gives dealerships an advantage through savvy messaging, expanded inbound leads, and sales driven by data-informed strategies. Consult an agency specializing in car dealership marketing, like Dealers United, whose expertise is in automotive SEO, SEM and Social Advertising to maximize your opportunities for sales growth and marketplace dominance.