Car Dealer PPC Campaigns: Boost Your Car Dealer Leads

Car Dealer PPC Campaigns: Boost Your Car Dealer Leads

Car Dealer PPC Campaigns: Boost Your Car Dealer Leads

car ppc

Are you ready to change how your car dealership shows up online? Today, using the internet to market cars is key for dealerships wanting more leads. Car dealer PPC is a top tool for boosting your online presence and bringing more people to your website.

Car dealers face tough competition online. That’s why we’re diving into Pay-Per-Click ads. PPC lets you pay only when people click on your ads, making your marketing budget go further.

Imagine your dealership’s latest cars and deals showing up first in search results. That’s what PPC campaigns can do. By using the right keywords and ad spots, you can grab the attention of people ready to buy.

In this guide, we’ll show how PPC can increase your car dealer leads. We’ll give you the tools to beat your competition online. From writing great ad copy to making your landing pages better, we’ve got you covered.

Key Takeaways

  • PPC advertising targets active car shoppers, increasing qualified leads
  • Geo-targeting focuses ads on your local market for better ROI
  • Mobile-friendly campaigns are key as 60% of car buyers use mobile devices
  • Compelling ad copy and strong CTAs boost conversion rates
  • Real-time analytics help improve your campaigns
  • Using the right keywords, like long-tail ones, makes ads more relevant
  • PPC campaigns give clear results and show how much you’re spending

Understanding Car Dealer PPC Fundamentals

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising is a game-changer for car dealerships. It helps boost online presence and drive sales. We’ll explore the basics of PPC and how it can revolutionize your car dealership advertising strategies.

What is Pay-Per-Click Advertising

PPC is a digital marketing model where advertisers pay for each ad click. For car dealers, ads appear when people search for vehicles or services. You only pay when someone interacts with your ad, making it cost-effective for vehicle sales promotions.

Car dealership advertising through PPC

 
Benefits for Automotive Dealerships

PPC offers unique advantages for car dealers. It provides immediate visibility on search engine results pages. This allows you to reach high-intent customers actively searching for cars. With targeted advertising, you can customize campaigns based on location, demographics, and specific vehicle models. This enhances the efficiency of your ad spend.

Key Performance Metrics in PPC

To measure the success of your PPC campaigns, focus on these essential metrics:

  • Click-Through Rate (CTR)
  • Conversion Rate
  • Cost Per Click (CPC)
  • Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)
Metric Average in Automotive PPC Impact on Campaigns
CTR 2-5% Indicates ad relevance and appeal
Conversion Rate 3-10% Measures lead generation effectiveness
CPC $1-$2 Affects budget efficiency
ROAS 3:1 Determines overall campaign profitability

By understanding these fundamentals, you can create powerful PPC campaigns. These campaigns drive traffic to your dealership and boost vehicle sales. Remember, continuous optimization based on these metrics is key to long-term success in car dealership advertising.

Strategic Planning for Dealership PPC Success

Creating a successful auto industry pay-per-click campaign needs careful planning. It’s vital to set clear, measurable goals that match your dealership’s aims. This way, you can use your PPC budget more wisely.

Here are some important stats on the power of strategic PPC planning:

  • PPC ads can increase dealership website traffic by up to 400% in just one year
  • Targeted ads can boost conversion rates by 10 times when properly segmented
  • The average click-through rate for automotive PPC ads is 2.43%, above the industry average
  • Automotive PPC campaigns typically see a 200% return on investment

Dealership lead generation strategies

 

To boost your dealership lead generation, follow these strategic planning tips:

  1. Define specific campaign goals (e.g., increase test drive bookings)
  2. Allocate budget based on high-performing keywords and ad groups
  3. Target local audiences using geo-fencing techniques
  4. Utilize long-tail keywords for better conversion rates
  5. Implement regular A/B testing to optimize ad performance

A well-planned PPC strategy can greatly improve your dealership’s online presence. It can also bring more qualified leads to your showroom. By focusing on these areas, you’ll be ahead of your competitors online.

PPC Strategy Element Impact on Lead Generation Recommended Action
Local targeting 20% lower Cost Per Acquisition Implement geo-fencing
Long-tail keywords 2.5x higher conversion rate Incorporate model-specific terms
A/B testing Up to 30% boost in conversions Test ad copy and landing pages
Campaign optimization 25% increase in conversion rates Monitor analytics regularly

Car Dealer PPC Campaign Setup Essentials

Setting up a successful PPC campaign for car dealers needs careful planning. We’ll look at the key elements that drive results in new car PPC campaigns and car inventory marketing.

Account Structure Best Practices

Organizing your PPC account well is key. We suggest structuring campaigns by vehicle make and model. Then, have ad groups for specific features or trims. This method helps with targeted messaging and better quality scores.

Budget Allocation Strategies

Smart budget allocation is vital to get the most from your ad spend. Start by giving more budget to your top-performing campaigns. Adjust as needed. Keep in mind, the average cost-per-click in the automotive industry is between $1 and $8.

Campaign Goals and Objectives

Clear goals are essential for measuring success. Common goals include more website traffic, leads, and test drive appointments. Set specific, measurable targets to track your progress well.

PPC Campaign Element Impact on Performance
Keyword Research Captures up to 60% of relevant search traffic
Mobile-Friendly Landing Pages Improves user experience for 60%+ of car buyers
Local Targeting Focuses on buyers within a 15-mile radius
Compelling Ad Copy Can improve engagement by up to 40%

By following these essentials, car dealers can greatly improve their PPC campaign performance. With the right setup, dealerships can expect a return on ad spend of about $2 for every $1 invested.

Targeting the Right Automotive Audience

In today’s digital world, finding the right car buyers is key. We know 95% of car shoppers start online. So, targeting is vital for good used car PPC and auto remarketing.

First, we understand who your audience is. We look at demographics, location, and behavior to find the right buyers. For used car dealers, we aim at those looking for deals or specific cars.

For local dealers, location is everything. We set a radius around your showroom to reach nearby shoppers. This works great with auto remarketing, bringing back visitors who left your site.

Targeting Method Benefits Example
Demographic Reach specific age groups or income levels Target 25-40 year olds for family cars
Geographic Focus on local customers Set 20-mile radius around dealership
Behavioral Target based on online actions Remarket to users who viewed car listings

By fine-tuning these strategies, we boost PPC campaign success. We aim to get you the best leads. This way, your ad budget works harder, bringing more people to your showroom.

Keyword Strategy for Vehicle Advertising

In the world of car dealer PPC and automotive digital marketing, making a good keyword strategy is key. We’ll look at using long-tail keywords, avoiding bad keywords, and learning from competitors.

Long-tail Keywords for Car Sales

Long-tail keywords are specific phrases that people use when they’re ready to buy a car. For example, “black Ford Explorer for sale in Phoenix” is more likely to lead to a sale than “cars for sale”. These specific phrases have less competition and cost, making them great for car dealer PPC.

Negative Keywords to Avoid

Negative keywords stop your ads from showing up for searches that aren’t right. For example, if you’re selling new luxury cars, you might want to avoid “free”, “cheap”, or “used”. This saves money and makes your ads more relevant, improving your campaign’s success.

Competitor Keyword Analysis

Looking at your competitors’ keywords can reveal new chances for your PPC strategy. Find gaps in their coverage or terms that work well but you haven’t tried. Google’s Keyword Planner can show you popular searches in your area, helping you stand out in digital marketing.

Keyword Type Example Avg. Monthly Searches
Branded Generic “Ford Dealerships Near Me” 873,000
Category Generic “Used cars near me” 550,000
Long-tail “Bad credit car dealerships near me” 12,100

 

By using these keyword strategies, we can make your car dealer PPC campaigns more focused and affordable. This will bring more qualified leads to your dealership.

Creating Compelling Automotive Ad Copy

Making persuasive ad copy is key for car dealerships to succeed. We see that 66% of car-related calls from search engines come from paid ads. This shows how important it is to have ads that grab attention and make people act fast.

When making ads for car sales, keep these points in mind:

  • Attention-grabbing headlines
  • Persuasive body text
  • Strong calls-to-action

Highlight what makes each car special and solve problems for customers in your ads. With an average cost of $2.04 per click for car dealers in the US, every click counts. Try different ad versions to see what works best and get more people to buy.

Also, 80% of customers look for dealerships nearby. Make your ads relevant to your area to attract more people. Good ad copy can get more clicks and lead to more sales for your dealership.

Landing Page Optimization for Car Dealers

In the competitive auto industry, your landing page is key. It can turn clicks into customers and increase your conversion rates.

Design Elements That Convert

A well-crafted landing page is essential. It needs clear messaging, persuasive images, and trust-building elements. Use high-quality photos of your vehicles and show transparent pricing to build trust.

Remember, 90% of car buyers use Google in their research. So, make sure your page answers their questions quickly.

Mobile Optimization Requirements

More buyers use smartphones, so mobile optimization is a must. Ensure your landing page loads fast and looks great on all devices. This improves user experience and boosts your quality score in PPC campaigns.

A smooth mobile experience can lead to more leads. Car buyers now make only two dealership visits on average before purchasing.

Call-to-Action Placement

Strategic placement of call-to-action buttons is key to increasing conversions. Make your CTAs clear, compelling, and easy to find. Whether it’s “Book a Test Drive” or “Get a Quote,” ensure these buttons stand out.

By streamlining the conversion path, you’ll see a significant boost in leads from your PPC campaigns.

Landing Page Element Impact on Conversion
Clear Messaging Improves understanding and trust
High-Quality Images Increases engagement and desire
Mobile Optimization Enhances user experience across devices
Strategic CTA Placement Boosts click-through and lead generation

Local Targeting and Geo-Fencing Strategies

Local targeting and geo-fencing are key in car inventory marketing. They help dealerships find customers nearby, boosting showroom visits. Our new car PPC campaigns use these methods to increase your ad’s impact.

Local targeting lets a dealership in Atlanta focus on ads for people within 15 miles. This includes suburbs, raising the chance of visits. We add location-specific keywords, like “test drive Toyota in Atlanta,” to make ads more relevant.

Geo-fencing goes further by showing ads when people enter certain areas. For instance, we can target competitors or busy spots near your dealership. This way, your ads reach those likely to buy a new car.

Strategy Benefit Example
Local Targeting Reach nearby customers 15-mile radius ads
Geo-Fencing Target specific locations Ads near competitor dealerships
Local Keywords Improve local search visibility “Test drive [Brand] in [City]”

Using these strategies, we can draw more local leads to your dealership. Our car inventory marketing expertise ensures your PPC campaigns hit the mark. This drives results and grows your profits.

Measuring and Analyzing Campaign Performance

It’s key to track how well your used car PPC strategies are doing. We’ll look at important metrics and ways to check your campaigns’ success. This will help you improve your auto remarketing tactics.

Key Performance Indicators

To check your PPC campaigns, focus on these important metrics:

  • Click-Through Rate (CTR): The auto industry average is 2.14% for U.S. dealerships.
  • Conversion Rate (CVR): Shows the percentage of clicks that lead to actions you want.
  • Cost Per Click (CPC): Helps manage ad spend by showing average cost per click.
  • Cost Per Acquisition (CPA): Reveals total cost to gain a new customer through PPC.
  • Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Indicates campaign profitability.

ROI Tracking Methods

Use these tools to keep an eye on your campaign’s return on investment:

  • Google Analytics (GA4): Offers insights into user behavior from PPC traffic.
  • Google Ads: Provides detailed analytics for real-time campaign tracking.
  • Quality Score: Influences CPC and ad placements based on relevance and landing page quality.

Performance Optimization Techniques

Boost your used car PPC strategies with these tactics:

  • A/B testing: Compare different ad versions to find the best ones.
  • Bid adjustments: Modify bids based on device, location, or time of day.
  • Ad scheduling: Show ads when people are most likely to see them.
  • Impression share analysis: Aim for higher share to reduce competitor visibility.
Metric Benchmark Importance
CTR 2.14% Measures ad effectiveness
Quality Score 7-10 Affects ad costs and placement
Average Position 3 or better Indicates visibility and traffic

Advanced PPC Strategies for Auto Dealers

Car dealer PPC campaigns are changing fast. We’re here to show you the latest strategies to boost your online marketing. Let’s explore some top tactics to make your dealership stand out.

Dynamic search ads are a key tool. They automatically match your ads to what people are searching for, based on your website. This means you can reach more customers, even for keywords you might not have thought of.

Remarketing lists for search ads (RLSA) help you target people who’ve visited your site before. This can really increase your sales by reconnecting with buyers when they’re ready to make a decision.

Strategy Benefit Impact
Dynamic Search Ads Automatic targeting based on website content Increased reach and relevance
RLSA Tailored ads for previous site visitors Higher conversion rates
Audience Targeting Precision in reaching possible buyers Improved ad efficiency

Using automation and machine learning in your PPC campaigns can make a big difference. These tools can adjust bids, create different ads, and guess who’s most likely to buy. This lets you focus on your strategy while AI does the hard work.

To succeed in online car marketing, you need to keep up with the latest trends. By using these advanced strategies, you’ll attract more quality leads and beat your rivals.

Conclusion

PPC campaigns are a game-changer for car dealership advertising. They can revolutionize your vehicle sales promotions and drive qualified leads to your showroom. With 95% of car shoppers relying on online resources, a strong digital presence is key.

PPC offers instant visibility and cost-effective targeting. You only pay when people click your ads. This makes it a budget-friendly option for dealerships of all sizes. Plus, 71% of buyers use social media in their car buying process, so a good PPC strategy can put you in front of them.

We’ve talked about keyword strategies and landing page optimization. By using these tactics, you can boost your online visibility and attract more buyers. Don’t forget the importance of mobile optimization to reach customers on the go.

At Dealers United, we’re here to help you use PPC to its fullest for your dealership. With our expertise, you can create campaigns that deliver real results. Ready to take your car dealership advertising to the next level? Let’s drive your success together!

FAQ

What is PPC advertising for car dealers?

PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising for car dealers means you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. It’s a great way to get more people to visit your website. This can lead to more car buyers finding your dealership online.

How can PPC campaigns benefit my car dealership?

PPC campaigns can really help your dealership. They increase your online presence and bring in more leads. You can target specific groups, show off your cars, and compete well online.

What are some key performance metrics for automotive PPC campaigns?

Important metrics include click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, cost per click (CPC), cost per lead (CPL), and return on ad spend (ROAS). These help you see how well your campaigns are doing. They guide you in making better choices for your ads.

 
 

Dominate Ads Today

 

Written By Lauren Blackwell
Lauren Blackwell is a skilled content marketer who has spent the past 3 years working in automotive advertising technology and now brings her unique experiences to Dealers United. From running ad campaigns, to curating auto-specific resources, Lauren is empowered to create valuable content to help automotive dealers thrive on social media.

How to Audit Your Dealership’s Search & Social Digital Marketing: The Complete DIY Guide

How to Audit Your Dealership’s Search & Social Digital Marketing: The Complete DIY Guide

How to Audit Your Dealership’s Search & Social Digital Marketing: The Complete DIY Guide

Facebook Advertising For Car Sales A Guide For Dealerships

Many dealers are missing crucial opportunities across their Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM / Paid Search), and Social Media campaigns…

That’s why we’ve written this blog article, to help you identify where you have gaps in your search and social strategies on your own.

Want a quick win? Click here to skip the article and schedule an appointment with our Search and Social experts who will give you a free 14-Point Digital Audit!

Why Your Dealership Needs a Digital Marketing Audit

It’s not a secret that dealerships struggle to effectively capture the attention of users online. Here’s why:

  • Misaligned SEO strategies focusing on irrelevant content (like local restaurant reviews)
  • Inefficient ad spend due to poor campaign structure and targeting
  • Outdated social media content missing key conversion opportunities
  • Lack of coordination between marketing channels
  • Insufficient tracking of key performance metrics

The Three Pillars of Digital Marketing Success

Recent data shows that although 68% of car buying journeys start with a search engine, social media influences over 2 hours of your customers’ daily online activity — meaning that there is an extreme opportunity to reach users on search and social.

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Quality organic traffic can drive up to 53% of your website visitors — which makes SEO important. 

Before we get into what you need to audit, here are some tools that can be helpful as you audit your SEO strategy yourself: 

  • Ahrefs
  • SEM Rush 
  • MOZ
  • Google Ads Transparency Center
  • Search From
  • Surfer SEO
  • And more…
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  • SEO Audit Part 1: Domain Analysis
      • Analyze your domain and look at the following: 
        • Keywords
        • Monthly organic visitors
        • Total backlinks
        • Domain rating (10-30 typical)
        • Referring domains (the more, the better!)

           

  • SEO Audit Part 2: Traffic Level Check
      • Look back 6 months or 1 year to see the comparison of traffic to the current timeframe
      • What’s the # of monthly organic visitors? 
      • What’s the peak # of visitors – and when is it?

         

  • SEO Audit Part 2: Traffic Level Check
      • Check your website’s keyword strategy and content focus. Review rankings for key areas:
        • Non-dealer-branded keywords
        • Backyard cities
        • “Near me” searches
        • Local cities + OEM combinations
        • Flag any irrelevant keywords (like restaurants or local attractions)
  • SEO Audit Part 4: Technical Tune-Up
    • Do all headings give context? i.e., “Browse new models” “shop” “service”
    • Think like a robot!
      • How does Google (🤖 ) view your site? 
      • All the words on your site need to be contextualized to get across to Google what your page or website is about

A properly optimized dealership website should rank for more than just your brand name – it should capture valuable “near me” searches and local buying intent across your entire market area.

2. Search Engine Marketing (SEM) / Paid Search Marketing

  • SEM Audit Part 1: Strategy & Budget Diagnostics
    • Are you over-segmenting campaigns?
    • Are you cannibalizing your organic traffic for  “{{Dealership Name}}” bids?
    • Make sure you’re not overspending $$$ on Tier 1 & 2
    • Are you maximizing Google’s Paid Search opportunities with Google VLAs?

       

  • SEM Audit Part 2: Audience Assessment
    • What are your in-market audiences?
    • Are you using affinity audiences?
    • Does your audience use demographics?
    • Are you leveraging your 1st party data?
    • Do audience signals append to Performance Max?

       

  • SEM Audit Part 3: Keyword/Targeting Selections
    • Are you using the full 15 headlines & 4 description lines for each ad?
    • Are you using all ad extensions? (sitelinks, location, call, structured snippet, callout)
    • Are you layering top performing cities into location targeting?
    • Are you using the “Target ROAS” bid strategy?
    • Are you using the right KPIs? (phone calls, form submissions, store visits)
    • Are you using ASC framework for GA4 event tracking?

       

  • SEM Audit Part 4: Setup & Hygiene Checks
    • Are you using all match types? (broad, phrase & exact) 
    • Are you running dynamic Search Ads campaigns?
    • How often are you reviewing search term reports? 
    • Make sure you’re not adding negative keywords
    • Are you taking advantage of “Search Partner” & “Display Network”?

3. Social Media Ads

  • Social Ads Audit Part 1: Model Line Mechanics
    • Review your model line ads and promotions. Check for these key elements:
      • Monthly incentive updates
      • Current OEM imagery
      • 2024 model education content
      • Outdated promotion removal
      • Seasonal relevance

         

  • Social Ads Audit Part 2: Inventory Ads Inspection
    • What are your in-market audiences?
    • Are you using affinity audiences?
    • Does your audience use demographics?
    • Are you leveraging your 1st party data?
    • Do audience signals append to Performance Max?

       

  • Social Ads Audit Part 3: Social Systems Utilization
    • Evaluate your social media campaign setup. Review these technical elements:
      • Ad format variety (image, video, carousel, stories)
      • Platform diversification
      • Format specifications (1×1, 9×16)
      • Video length optimization
      • Campaign objective coverage
      • Data targeting implementation

         

  • Social Ads Audit Part 4: Setup & Hygiene Checks
    • Assess your dealership’s brand messaging. Examine these brand elements:
  • Customer testimonials and reviews
  • Unique value propositions
  • Service department promotion
  • Community engagement
  • Special event coverage
  • Custom video content

Schedule your 14-Point Digital Audit now and learn how to maximize your search strategy and social media ads for your car dealership.

The Power of Integration: SEO + SEM + Social Ads

The most successful dealerships aren’t just executing these strategies independently – they’re creating synergy between all three channels. 

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Our data shows that integrated campaigns can:

  • Increase organic traffic by 23% in 90 days (PROVEN results from one of our dealer partners, St. Albert Dodge)
  • Improve social media engagement rates significantly
  • Create consistent messaging across all platforms
  • Maximize budget efficiency through cross-channel insights

What Sets Top-Performing Dealerships Apart

Leading dealerships consistently monitor their digital presence using a comprehensive audit framework, like the one above. They focus on:

  • Quality traffic over vanity metrics
  • Local market dominance
  • Cross-channel audience targeting
  • Regular performance optimization
  • Data-driven decision making
  • Consistent brand messaging

Take Action Today: Book Your Digital Audit For Car Dealers

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Don’t let digital marketing opportunities slip through the cracks. Our team of automotive digital marketing experts can help you:

  1. Identify gaps in your current strategy
  2. Benchmark against top performers
  3. Create an actionable improvement plan
  4. Implement best practices across all channels
  5. Monitor and optimize performance

Ready to maximize your digital marketing ROI? Click here to book your 14-Point Digital Audit today and get a detailed inspection of your digital strategies.

Dominate SEARCH &  Social Ads

 

Written By Lauren Blackwell
Lauren Blackwell is a skilled content marketer who has spent the past 3 years working in automotive advertising technology and now brings her unique experiences to Dealers United. From running ad campaigns, to curating auto-specific resources, Lauren is empowered to create valuable content to help automotive dealers thrive on social media.

Boosting Online Sales with Google Vehicle Listing Ads: A Car Dealers Guide

Boosting Online Sales with Google Vehicle Listing Ads: A Car Dealers Guide

Boosting Online Sales with Google Vehicle Listing Ads: A Car Dealers Guide

Facebook Advertising For Car Sales A Guide For Dealerships

More car buyers than ever are searching online for vehicles…and not just when they’re looking to buy. This means that as a car dealer, you have a unique opportunity to increase visibility on the biggest search engine using Google Vehicle Listing Ads (VLAs).

Google Vehicle Listing Ads (Google VLAs) are an automotive specific solution for dealerships to showcase their inventory at the right moment in the buyer’s journey on the biggest search engine.

Let’s talk about what Google VLAs are, why they’re crucial for dealerships looking to sell more cars online, how they work, the benefits they offer, and how Dealers United can help you leverage Search Engine Marketing (SEM) strategies, like Google VLAs, to grow your dealership’s impact and revenue.

What Are Google Vehicle Listing Ads and How Do They Work?

Google VLAs are a specialized ad format designed for car dealerships and their inventory. 

Unlike traditional search ads, VLAs allow dealers to display vehicle inventory with real-time information such as prices, make, model, and dealership location. 

These ads appear prominently in Google Search results when users look for vehicles, making them a powerful tool for attracting high-intent car shoppers.

Key Features of VLAs:

  • Inventory-based ads: These ads pull directly from a dealership’s live inventory, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
  • Visual appeal: Vehicle images and key details like price and mileage are included, making the ad highly engaging.
  • Local relevance: VLAs target users based on their location, showing them vehicles that are nearby.
  • Direct link to inventory: When a user clicks on a VLA, they are taken directly to the vehicle listing on the dealership’s site, allowing them to take immediate action.
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The Benefits of VLAs for Car Dealerships

For car dealerships, the goal is always to sell more cars and bring more qualified leads to the showroom. Google VLAs are a game-changer that offer several important advantages over traditional search ads as well as other digital advertising formats.

1. Increased Visibility for Inventory

VLAs offer dealerships a new level of visibility in Google Search results. By showcasing actual vehicles from the dealership’s inventory, they grab the attention of potential buyers who are actively searching for a specific make or model.

2. Better Targeting for High-Intent Shoppers

VLAs target users based on the specific vehicles they’re looking for, making them a highly targeted ad format. This means that dealerships are reaching people who are already in the market for a new car and are close to making a purchase.

3. Enhanced User Experience

VLAs provide users with a seamless browsing experience. Instead of navigating multiple pages or guessing what inventory a dealership has, potential buyers can see available cars, trucks, or SUVs right in the search results.

[CTA: “Learn How Dealers United Can Optimize Your VLA Campaigns”]

How to Sell More Cars Online with VLAs

As a car dealer, leveraging VLAs as part of your digital marketing strategy provides a significant advantage in capturing more leads and selling more cars. Here’s how Dealers United can help you maximize the effectiveness of VLAs:

1. Create a Custom Strategy for Your Dealership

Not all dealerships are the same, and neither should their VLA campaigns be. Dealers United develops customized VLA strategies tailored to your unique inventory, geographic location, and market to maximize the effectiveness of your ads.

2. Provide Detailed Reporting and Insights

One of the biggest advantages of VLAs is the ability to track and analyze performance in real time. Dealers United provides valuable insights by showing you how many leads, clicks, and conversions your ads are generating. With this data, we can refine and optimize campaigns to continuously improve performance.

3. Leverage VLAs for Lead Nurturing

In addition to driving immediate sales, VLAs can also play a role in nurturing leads over time. By retargeting users who have previously engaged with your VLA, Dealers United can help keep potential buyers engaged throughout the purchase journey.

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Take the Lead in the Digital Realm for Dealerships

In the competitive automotive market, being on the biggest search engines where car shoppers are searching is critical.

Our Search Engine Marketing services supercharge your online presence, showcasing your inventory to more qualified leads.

Click here to learn more about how Dealers United’s Search Engine Marketing solutions can help your leads and sales skyrocket.

Want to learn more about Dealers United’s SEM Solutions?

Written By Lauren Blackwell
Lauren Blackwell is a skilled content marketer who has spent the past 3 years working in automotive advertising technology and now brings her unique experiences to Dealers United. From running ad campaigns, to curating auto-specific resources, Lauren is empowered to create valuable content to help automotive dealers thrive on social media.

How Dealers United’s Automotive SEO & SEM Strategies Drove 40% More Search Traffic for Rob Sight Ford

How Dealers United’s Automotive SEO & SEM Strategies Drove 40% More Search Traffic for Rob Sight Ford

How Dealers United’s Automotive SEO & SEM Strategies Drove 40% More Search Traffic for Rob Sight Ford

Facebook Advertising For Car Sales A Guide For Dealerships

Having a strong search engine presence is critical for automotive dealerships who want to attract qualified buyers and steal traffic from local competitors. However, many dealers struggle to rank well organically on Google and cut through the paid advertising noise. That’s where Dealers United comes in – we’re search experts specializing in comprehensive automotive search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) solutions tailored for the car industry.

Just ask Rob Sight Ford — After partnering with our team, they saw a massive 40% boost in overall search performance, driving more website traffic and sales opportunities than ever before! Let’s go over how our partnership led to such great results…

The Challenges Rob Sight Ford Faced

Before partnering with Dealers United, Rob Sight Ford faced some pretty big hurdles when it came to their digital marketing. Despite trying various SEO vendors, they struggled to find one that could deliver tangible improvements in search rankings and drive quality traffic to their website.

Bobby Sight, the Managing Partner at Rob Sight Ford, expressed their frustration: “We had experimented with different SEO solutions, but none of them provided the content quality or traffic we needed to outperform our competition in search results.

On the paid advertising side of things, the team at Rob Sight Ford recognized the importance of utilizing SEM to attract in-market auto shoppers. That being said, they lacked the specialized expertise required to optimize their campaigns effectively and stand out in the crowded space that is our internet today.

Our Automotive SEO Content Strategy

To boost Rob Sight Ford’s organic search performance, Dealers United implemented a comprehensive, user-focused automotive SEO content strategy aligned with Google’s emphasis on great user experience.

We started by publishing articles optimized with relevant keywords that could provide real shoppers with value. A prime example is our “Ford Bronco vs Bronco Sport” model comparison blog – now ranking in the top 5 nationwide!

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This type of in-depth, informative content serves multiple purposes:

  • It connects the dealership with potential customers at various stages of the buying journey.
  • It positions Rob Sight Ford as a knowledgeable and trustworthy source of information.
  • It answers common questions and guides decision-making, enhancing the overall car shopper experience.

And the results of our SEO efforts were impressive:

  • 41% increase in organic traffic to the Rob Sight Ford website
  • 43% more phone calls generated from organic visitors
  • 1,500 total keywords either added or improved in rankings

Geo-Targeted Automotive SEM Campaigns

While SEO focused on top-funnel traffic, our team also launched hyper-targeted SEM campaigns aimed at capturing low-funnel, ready-to-buy prospects located near Rob Sight Ford’s dealership.

Our automotive SEM approach included several key tactics:

  • Keyword Optimization: We focused on geo-modified terms like “Ford dealers Kansas City” and “Ford dealership near me” to capture local search intent.
  • Advanced Audience Layering: By considering factors such as device types, ad serving times, and previous shopping behavior, we ensured ads were shown to the most relevant audiences.
  • Ad Extensions: We implemented new ad extensions highlighting high-priority models like the 2023 F-150, increasing ad visibility and providing more information to potential customers.
  • Multiple Ad Formats: We utilized various ad formats to showcase Rob Sight Ford’s extensive inventory, driving potential buyers directly to specific vehicle listings on the dealer’s website.

The results of our SEM campaigns were equally impressive:

  • 947 total leads generated over a 90-day period
  • An average cost per lead of just $15
  • A 37% increase in click-through rates (CTR)
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PLUS, we noticed that an important call-to-action was missing on the VDP page to get users to call the dealership. By working with Dealers United’s SEO team to add a prominent call button, their phone calls increased by 43%!

Impact On Rob Sight Ford Dealership

The impact of Dealers United’s automotive SEO and SEM solutions didn’t go unnoticed by the team at Rob Sight Ford. Their glowing testimonials speak volumes about the effectiveness of our strategies:

Bobby Sight, Managing Partner, stated: “Dealers United absolutely crushes the search game. It’s a night and day difference from our previous experiences. With Dealers United, I actually talk to somebody who keeps me informed about what’s happening. They’re accountable: when they say they’re going to improve visibility for a certain search or category, I see real, tangible improvements. I have complete confidence that they’re working hard for us.”

And Rich Poe, General Manager, added: “I can confidently say that the content looks dynamite! We’ve attempted SEO with several other providers in the past, but this team delivers exactly what we had in mind for our content. It looks great and performs even better. Thank you, Dealers United!”

Replicating Rob Sight Ford’s Results With Dealers United

By combining cutting-edge techniques in both organic and paid search, Dealers United helped Rob Sight Ford dramatically increase their online visibility, drive more qualified traffic to their website, and ultimately, generate more high-quality leads.

If you’re a car dealer or general manager looking to replicate Rob Sight Ford’s impressive search marketing performance, click here to schedule time with our experts at Dealers United.

BOOK A DEMO TO DOMINATE SEARCH

Written By Lauren Blackwell
Lauren Blackwell is a skilled content marketer who has spent the past 3 years working in automotive advertising technology and now brings her unique experiences to Dealers United. From running ad campaigns, to curating auto-specific resources, Lauren is empowered to create valuable content to help automotive dealers thrive on social media.

How Dahl Ford Boosted Leads & Traffic with SEO, SEM, and Disruptive Social Ads

How Dahl Ford Boosted Leads & Traffic with SEO, SEM, and Disruptive Social Ads

How Dahl Ford Boosted Leads & Traffic with SEO, SEM, and Disruptive Social Ads

Facebook Advertising For Car Sales A Guide For Dealerships

Successful car dealerships must keep up with the ever-evolving technology and competitive landscape…which means mastering online marketing channels like search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM)/pay-per-click ads (PPC), and social media. By partnering with Dealers United’s full-service digital team, Dahl Ford Davenport implemented a unified cross-channel strategy that allowed them to dominate their local market, capture more leads, and drive higher-quality traffic to their website and showroom.

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Dominating Local Search Through Geo-Targeted SEO

Within just 90 days of launching a new SEO campaign with Dealers United, Dahl Ford saw a 24% increase in organic traffic and improved rankings by 50 positions for the valuable “Ford Escape near me” keyword. Their success was driven by optimizing web content for geo-targeted searches like “Cedar Rapids car dealerships,” “Quad Cities car dealers,” and “Davenport used cars.”

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Click here to book a demo and see how we can help you optimize your SEO strategy.

On-Page Optimization & Keyword Mapping

The key to Dahl Ford’s SEO success started with comprehensive keyword research to identify the most relevant and high-value search terms for their target audiences and sales goals. Dealers United then meticulously mapped these keywords across website pages, title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and body content. This strategic placement of topically-relevant keywords and synonyms improved the semantic relevance and rankings for those terms.

Technical SEO Boosts & Local Citations

Beyond on-page elements, Dealers United’s technical SEO team enhanced site speed, mobile-friendliness, and URL structures for better search engine crawlability of Dahl’s website. They also built an extensive profile of consistent NAP (name, address, phone) listings across online directories like Google My Business, Bing Places, and others – reinforcing Dahl Ford’s local relevance.

Intelligent SEM/PPC Campaigns for High-Intent Auto Shoppers

To complement their SEO efforts and capture high-intent searchers, Dahl Ford’s SEM strategy utilized advanced tactics like AI bidding algorithms, dynamic ad creative based on consumer data, and granular audience targeting by previous shopping behavior. This data-driven approach allowed them to efficiently acquire 1,014 leads at an average cost per lead of just $32.33 over a 90-day period.

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Want an SEM strategy that actually drives leads? Book a demo here.

Automotive SEM/PPC Audience Targeting Tactics

Some of the innovative audience targeting methods included:

  • Retargeting previous website visitors
  • Using in-market auto intenders based on search histories
  • Layering affinity categories for models like trucks, SUVs, etc.
  • Creating customer match audiences from Dahl Ford’s own CRM data

These precise targeting capabilities within ad platforms like Google Ads ensured their paid search campaigns reached the right shoppers at the ideal moments.

The “Market Disruptor” Social Ad Campaigns

Dahl Ford used innovative social media marketing to promote their brand promise of unbeatable local offers. Their “Market Disruptor” Facebook/Instagram campaign generated 2,295 leads at $26.57 per lead and 384 matched vehicle sales at $158.78 per unit sold.

 

Ready to run campaigns that drive results like Dahl? Book a demo here.

Using TikTok Video Ads to Disrupt the Local Market

Taking their disruptive approach to new heights, Dahl Ford’s TikTok video ad campaign showcased bold creative concepts that immediately captured viewer attention. The campaign racked up 12,990 clicks at just $0.92 per click, over 2 million total views, and an impressive 30-second average watch time per viewer. This exemplified how engaging content in an emerging channel can provide a competitive edge.

Maximizing Visibility for Dahl’s Dealership

By combining SEO to maximize organic visibility, SEM to target high-value searches, and cutting-edge social ads that disrupted their local market – Dahl Ford’s unified digital strategy with Dealers United generated more overall leads and website traffic.

Their impressive results prove that a comprehensive online presence powered by intelligent audience targeting and compelling creative is now critical for automotive dealerships to stand out from competitors and keep sales booming.

Click here to book a demo and see how we can generate high results for your dealership.

BOOK DEMO TO BOOST LEADS

Written By Lauren Blackwell
Lauren Blackwell is a skilled content marketer who has spent the past 3 years working in automotive advertising technology and now brings her unique experiences to Dealers United. From running ad campaigns, to curating auto-specific resources, Lauren is empowered to create valuable content to help automotive dealers thrive on social media.

Want The Secret to Driving Great Traffic? (Hint: There Isn’t One!)

Want The Secret to Driving Great Traffic? (Hint: There Isn’t One!)

Want The Secret to Driving Great Traffic? (Hint: There Isn’t One!)

Secrets to SEO Success - Blog

I’m hopeful you and your team are aligned in a quest for market dominance, though despite what the emails in your spam folder claim to offer, there are no secrets to driving in-market buyers to your dealership or your website. In fact, there never have been.

Yes, there’ve been changes to what works and what doesn’t, but none of these changes were ever secrets. Over the entire history of selling cars, everything about automotive marketing has been an evolution. The internet lead (originally delivered via fax) will celebrate its 27th birthday this year, and yet roughly 55% of buyers today still make no contact with the dealership before they show up.

How did these buyers discover you? How did they determine you had a vehicle they wanted? What gave them the confidence to pull onto your lot without first making a call or completing a contact form?

The Cool Stuff

Shiny objects are… well… shiny. They seem cool, new, and fun; and they’re presented as the one secret to “10x your sales” while you “dominate the market” and “crush the competition” – plus, did I tell you, this secret is cool, new, and fun!

“Our proprietary system leverages the latest AI technology to identify and target in-market shoppers in real time to flood your website and lot with ready buyers!”

I would compare automotive marketing shiny objects to energy drinks – that is, there is a burst of good feeling followed by a crash below the baseline – except there isn’t a burst, only another wasted marketing budget.

The Boring Stuff

Don’t get me wrong, I like cool, new, and fun. In fact, I wish the shiny objects performed as advertised. Think about it: Wouldn’t that be cool, new, and fun? If only.

The sad truth is that the boring stuff is what works when it comes to profitably growing share – regardless of the market. Of course, unlike shiny objects, the boring stuff is measurable; moreover, the boring stuff (when done correctly) delivers a measurable return on investment. The key is properly leveraging the boring stuff to support an overall strategy focused on both near-term and long-term growth.

Near-Term Growth

Assuming you’ve already optimized your website for conversions (i.e., you have clear and compelling calls-to-action where it matters) and your team is adept at properly handling Fresh Ups (i.e., they follow a road-to-the-sale), the near-term growth you seek can be as easy as turning on a faucet… and none of it is a secret.

I wish it was harder to do; I wish it was shiny, cool, new, and fun, but it’s not. Driving quality traffic to your website and your lot that delivers ready buyers is as easy as embracing a comprehensive digital strategy with a trusted and transparent marketer. In simpler terms, all you need to achieve your near-term growth objectives is a solid partner who understands automotive retail and can leverage both social and search (SEM) to deliver the right message at the right time to the right people – those elusive in-market buyers.

You probably already understand that both paid search and paid social can be effective ways to drive website and lot traffic, though you may not fully comprehend the power that comes from combining these strategies to reach in-market buyers at the exact moment they’re looking to purchase. No other marketing solution can hyper-target true vehicle intenders as efficiently or effectively as an omnichannel approach combining paid search with paid social.

The math is simple. Done properly, and with a fully transparent agency, SEM + Social= Near-Term Growth. 

Long-Term Growth

To be clear, as efficient as paid search and paid social are at driving near-term growth, they’re pretty lousy sources for driving long-term growth. They are examples of “tit-for-tat marketing” – that is, the dollars you spend today drive buyers in the near term. Fail to capitalize on these prospects when they’re ready to buy, and the dollars you spent chasing them were wasted.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO), on the other hand, can be the gift that keeps on giving. The dollars you spend with a reputable SEO provider today will pay dividends for years to come. That’s because great SEO has a compounding effect over time.

Provided the SEO partner you choose doesn’t light up your blog with lifestyle/puff pieces about great restaurants in the area or post pages to your site that only drive national traffic (like “What Will Replace the 2024 Camaro?”), the content they create and the inbound links they acquire will keep you at the top of Google searches for vehicle buyers in your market today, tomorrow, and far into the future.

One Digital Partner

Ideally, the marketing partner you choose should be able to provide you with a comprehensive digital strategy that encompasses SEO, SEM, and Social in a way that each channel complements and enhances the efforts of the other two. One vendor means just one monthly call, just one point of contact, and just one company responsible for your digital strategy (eliminating the blame game you can expect when multiple vendors overlap responsibilities). Moreover, finding the right vendor partner prevents the channels from over-competing for the same buyers (and unnecessarily driving up your costs).

Your quest for market dominance is understandable, as is the desire to uncover the “secrets” to driving buyers to your dealership. And while there are no secrets, there are proven solutions that work to deliver both near-term and long-term growth. They may not be cool, new, or fun, but they are very effective (when you choose the right partner to leverage these important channels). 

Want to learn more about Dealers United’s Full-Service Solutions?

Written By Steve Stauning, Founder
Stauning Solutions Group

Steve is the author of Ridiculously Simple Car Selling and Ridiculously Simple Sales Management; as well as a respected automotive industry veteran and founder of Stauning Solutions Group – a leading training & consulting firm. Steve’s consulting work puts him in dealerships nearly every week, working side-by-side with managers, salespeople, and internet teams to help them improve their sales, processes, and profits. Prior to this, Steve served in various automotive leadership roles, including as the Asbury Automotive Group’s (NYSE: ABG) director of ecommerce, the director of the Web Solutions division of Reynolds & Reynolds, and as the general manager of Dealer Web Services for Dominion’s Dealer Specialties. You may contact Steve directly by calling him at 888-318-6598 or via email at [email protected].