Digital Marketing - Bedford Advertising

The auto industry is one of the most competitive markets out there. With buyers researching every option before stepping foot in a dealership, standing out takes more than just flashy ads or a strong social media presence. A successful marketing strategy isn’t about throwing everything at the wall and hoping something sticks, it’s about creating a well-rounded, multi-channel approach that keeps your brand top-of-mind at every stage of the customer journey.

That’s where the power of paid, owned, and earned media comes in. When these three elements work together, they create a marketing ecosystem that builds visibility, generates high-quality leads, and, ultimately, drives sales. Let’s dive into why this strategy works and how you can start implementing it today.

The Power of Paid, Owned & Earned Media

To illustrate how this works, let’s look at a real-world example: A dealership network that partners with us and successfully integrated paid, owned, and earned media to increase foot traffic and online leads.

A balanced marketing strategy relies on three key elements:

Paid Media – Bedford Advertising helped a certain automotive group invest in Google Ads and Facebook promotions to target in-market car buyers. These ads highlighted new inventory, financing options, and special promotions, driving immediate traffic to their website.
Owned Media – We maintained an active blog for this group with car-buying tips, financing advice, and vehicle comparisons, positioning themselves as industry experts. Their dealerships social media pages regularly showcased customer testimonials, behind-the-scenes dealership content, and engaging video tours of new arrivals.
Earned Media – As their online presence grew, happy customers left positive Google reviews. Local automotive bloggers even mentioned them in articles, boosting their credibility and organic search rankings.

The real magic happened when these three worked together. Paid media drove traffic to their website, owned media provided valuable content that kept customers engaged, and earned media, built trust, leading to higher conversion rates.

Why This Strategy Works

Using Bedford Advertising’s work with this automotive group as an example, here’s why this approach was so effective:

You’re Everywhere Your Customers Are – Buyers saw their ads on Facebook and Google, visited their website for research, and later found glowing reviews on Google—ensuring consistent brand exposure at every touchpoint.
You Build Trust and Authority – A well-placed ad might get someone’s attention, but their high-quality blog content and strong customer reviews kept them engaged and solidified their reputation.
You Get More Out of Your Budget – Rather than relying solely on paid ads, our partners maximized their impact by creating valuable owned media and leveraging customer testimonials and press coverage.
You Can Track, Optimize, and Improve – By analyzing website traffic, ad performance, and engagement metrics, they refined their strategy, and tweaked their approach to maximize ROI.

Test, Refine, and Keep Evolving

Marketing isn’t a one-size-fits-all game. What worked for this automotive group might not work the same way for another dealership, and that’s okay. The key is to test different approaches, see what resonates, and refine your strategy over time.

Experiment with different ad creatives, content formats, and messaging. Track your website traffic, engagement rates, and conversions to see what’s driving real results. The more you test and adapt, the more effective your marketing efforts will become.

A winning auto marketing strategy isn’t about choosing between paid, owned, or earned media— it’s about using all three together. When done right, this approach boosts visibility, strengthens customer trust, and drives long-term success.

Just like Bedford Advertising’s work with our automotive partners, you can create a well-rounded strategy that keeps your brand top-of-mind and drives real results. Stay proactive, keep experimenting, and always look for new ways to innovate. The auto industry moves fast—make sure your marketing does too.

Drop us a line if you want to discuss your automotive marketing needs.

Alyssa Mohammed

Digital Strategy Director

Alyssa boasts over a decade of experience in digital marketing, specializing in B2B, B2C and ABM campaigns from conception to execution. Her expertise lies in identifying the core issue, tailoring the creative approach, and streamlining the sales cycle, resulting in a favorable ROI. She posses a diverse skillset including client relationship management, team leadership and management, data analysis, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic presentation development.

The automotive industry is evolving quickly, so it’s important to re-evaluate your digital marketing strategy for 2025. Consumers are more connected than ever, and the landscape is becoming increasingly competitive. Here are 10 essential tips to boost your digital marketing game and drive success in your dealership.

1. Service Content is Probably Underrepresented on Your Website

Did you know that auto service and parts traffic accounts for 60-70% of your website traffic but only makes up about 2-3% of your content? Many automotive websites focus heavily on vehicle sales and neglect the potential of their service department. Make sure to dedicate more space on your website to service and parts, including detailed information about services, promotions, and how customers can schedule appointments easily.

2. Focus on Google Business Profile (GBP)

Google is increasingly placing emphasis on geo-specific information, which means your Google Business Profile (GBP) is more important than ever for local search rankings. Ensure your GBP is up to date with accurate business hours, location, photos, products and services and positive customer reviews. It’s one of the first places potential customers will see your dealership online, so make it count!

3. Write Content for Humans, Not Just Google

Search engine optimization (SEO) is important, but you shouldn’t write content solely for Google. If your content is only optimized for the search engines, it will lack the engagement and value that customers are looking for. Write for your audience first, addressing their needs, questions, and pain points. Because AI generated content is so prevalent today, personal stories show customers your expertise and authority, and give them a reason to trust you. Google will reward you for providing helpful, customer-focused content.

4. Avoid Pop-Ups That Block Content

Pop-up ads that block content are a big no-no in digital marketing. Not only does Google penalize websites that use intrusive pop-ups, but it also creates a poor user experience for your visitors. If you’re using pop-ups, make sure they don’t block the content that your audience is looking for and offer clear value. Consider also, that most users visit dealership websites via their smartphones. Test your website on mobile. Can you view your website’s content clearly? Are pop-ups obstructing valuable content? Do your popups prohibit a good shopping experience, or worse, discourage shopping?

5. Limit the Number of Slides on Your Homepage

Website sliders can be tempting to use, but too many slides can slow down your website and overwhelm your visitors. Page speed is a ranking factor, so a lagging website will definitely affect your rankings. Limit your homepage slides to 3-5 slides to ensure a more streamlined user experience. Prioritize the most important information—promotions, deals, or important services—on those slides. Review your site often to make sure manufacturers are not adding excessive numbers of banners.

6. Adapt to Zero Lead Attribution

Did you know that over 70% of customers (and growing) never submit a lead, make a call, or initiate a chat? This shift means you can no longer rely on traditional lead attribution models alone. Focus on understanding how customers are interacting with your site through other means, such as researching your dealership online, visiting your location, or engaging with your social media. For example: social media visitors rarely submit leads on the first visit, but they often submit leads when coming back through other sources on 2ne and 3rd visits.

7. Personalize Customer Interactions

One of the best ways to boost conversions is by creating personalized customer experiences. Take a page from Amazon’s playbook—recommend relevant services, show tailored promotions, and use customer data to offer personalized communication. The more you can make your website feel like it’s speaking directly to each individual customer, the more likely they are to engage.

8. Get Back to the Basics of Selling

The pandemic is behind us, and it’s time to get back to the fundamentals of sales. Ensure your team is well-trained in prospecting, follow-up strategies, customer presentations, and after-sale customer care. Provide your team with the resources they need to deliver exceptional experiences and build long-lasting customer relationships. It would be a shame to turn customers off due to poor product knowledge after spending thousands to get them in the door.

9. Clean Your Data Regularly

One of the biggest challenges in digital marketing is inaccurate data. Reports suggest that over 45% of people in your database may no longer own the vehicles they purchased from your dealership. Regularly clean your database to ensure your marketing campaigns are reaching the right people and providing accurate insights into future strategies. This is one of the automotive industry’s biggest challenges

10. Respond to Reviews—Good and Bad

Your reviews can make or break your reputation. Be sure to respond to both positive and negative reviews, as responding to bad reviews shows potential customers how you handle challenges. Don’t be afraid to ask a customer to update their review once you’ve resolved their issue. A perfect score of reviews isn’t always seen as genuine—customers prefer to see businesses that are real and responsive.

For More Tips on How to Improve Your Digital Presence, Contact Us!

Managing your digital marketing strategy in 2025 can seem daunting, but with the right approach, your dealership can stay ahead of the competition and connect with your customers in meaningful ways. Need help optimizing your digital presence? Get in touch with us today to see how we can help your business grow.

Bedford Advertising is a full-service ad agency that has been helping dealers sell more cars since 1980. Our goal is meaningful results and enduring partnerships. Contact us today!

Brandon Brogdon

Vice President of Client Services

Experienced account supervisor with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Strong marketing professional skilled in digital strategy, advertising, integrated marketing, marketing strategy, and digital marketing.

When it comes to investing in digital marketing, understanding how often each type of search result is clicked can be a game-changer. Google’s search engine displays an array of results, including ads, organic listings, snippets, and question boxes—all vying for attention. In this blog post, we break down clickthrough rates (CTR) for each of these elements, helping you pinpoint where to focus your marketing efforts. Our infographic provides an at-a-glance view of CTRs across different Google Search results, along with automotive industry benchmarks for Google ads and top organic positions.

Google CTR Breakdown: Ranking Position Insights for 2024

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Darmini Kara

SEO Content Strategist

With her combined passion for SEO and design, Darmini has a unique insight into the world of digital marketing that gives her an edge when building brands and forging strong connections with her clients. Coupled with 12 years experience in the SEO industry, she is committed to the art of handling clients needs, with efficiency, compassion and humor.

The Digital Dealer Conference & Expo is a goldmine of marketing insights and strategies for the automotive industry, and this year’s event was no exception. At Bedford Advertising, we left the conference armed with valuable takeaways that can help dealerships supercharge their marketing efforts and stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape. From mastering Vehicle Listing Ads (VLAs) to reaching new audiences through Spanish advertising, here are the top lessons we learned and why they matter to your dealership’s success.

1. Stop Competing with Yourself: Coordinate with Third-Party Vendors on VLAs

One key takeaway from Digital Dealer is understanding the unintended consequences of running VLAs alongside third-party vendors like Cars.com, AutoTrader, and Cargurus. When these vendors bid for the same ad placements, it drives up CPC for dealerships, essentially making them compete with themselves. This overspending is easily avoidable by aligning efforts with your vendors.

Quick Tip: Talk to your third-party vendors about pausing their VLA campaigns while yours are running or explore exclusive ad agreements to avoid conflicts.

2. The Power of High-Quality Images in VLAs

Think of your VLAs as your digital showroom. Just like you wouldn’t want dents and scratches on the cars on your lot, you don’t want blurry or low-quality images in your ads. Studies show that clearer, more attractive images drive significantly higher engagement, helping your ads stand out and generate more clicks.

Quick Tip: Invest in professional vehicle photography and image-editing software to create a visual experience that leaves potential buyers wanting to see more.

3. Don’t Cut Ad Spend During Tough Times—Double Down on Opportunity

When the market is challenging, many dealerships instinctively cut back on advertising. But Digital Dealer experts highlighted how staying active while others pull back can actually reduce your CPC and increase your market share. With less competition, your budget can go further, and your campaigns can perform better, preparing you for stronger growth when the market rebounds.

Quick Tip: Rather than cutting budgets, consider reallocating ad spend to lower-cost campaigns that maximize reach and visibility during economic downturns.

4. Appreciation Marketing: The Secret Sauce to Building Loyalty

Treating customers like royalty before the sale is standard practice, but what happens after? Ignoring post-purchase engagement can lead to a sense of perceived indifference, making customers feel undervalued. Appreciation marketing is all about keeping customers in the loop and showing them that they matter even after they drive off the lot.

Quick Tip: Send personalized thank-you messages, create anniversary touchpoints, or offer exclusive service deals to maintain a strong connection and build loyalty.

5. Bridging the Gap Between Online and In-Store Experiences

Digital Dealer emphasized the importance of a seamless transition between a dealership’s online platform and in-store experience. A common pitfall is discrepancies in the information provided online and what customers encounter when they visit in person. The key is to hire empathetic, process-oriented staff who can provide a consistent experience and uphold the dealership’s values.

Quick Tip: Invest in training and onboarding for your sales team to ensure they understand the digital journey customers take before stepping into the dealership.

6. Tapping into the Hispanic Market with Bilingual Advertising

The numbers speak for themselves: 1 in 4 new cars is bought by a Hispanic customer, with Hispanic consumers exhibiting strong brand loyalty and a preference for luxury vehicles. By the end of 2024, Hispanic purchasing power is expected to reach a staggering $2.4 trillion. Spanish-language ads don’t just reach this audience—they resonate deeply, often achieving 4-5 times higher response rates than English-only messaging.

Quick Tip: Develop a bilingual marketing plan that aligns with your brand and leverages the loyalty of Hispanic consumers by connecting with them authentically.

TL:DR

This year’s Digital Dealer Conference offered several powerful lessons to enhance your dealership’s marketing strategy. To summarize:

Align with Vendors to avoid VLA bidding conflicts and reduce unnecessary ad spend.
Use High-Quality Images in VLAs to increase engagement and click-through rates.
Maintain Ad Spend in Tough Times to stretch your budget and gain market share.
Implement Appreciation Marketing to build long-term customer loyalty beyond the sale.
Bridge Online and In-Store Experiences to provide a seamless, customer-centric journey.
Reach Hispanic Audiences with bilingual marketing strategies to leverage their purchasing power and brand loyalty.

For more insights on digital marketing strategies and customer engagement, check out these related posts:

By integrating these lessons into your dealership’s marketing efforts, you can stay ahead of the competition and build stronger connections with your customers. Are you ready to accelerate your growth? Let’s get to work!

Chris Petrawski

President

Chris Petrawski has spent over 15 years in the sales & advertising industry and has worked with countless dealerships to grow their market share. He has a master’s in marketing and been named a 40 under 40 in the advertising industry.

Let’s face it, the world of automotive marketing changes faster than a Vegas magic act. That’s why visiting the booths at Digital Dealer is the perfect way to stay updated on what’s hot and what’s not in dealership advertising. You’ll discover the latest trends, clever strategies, and cutting-edge tech that can help take your dealership to the next level.

Why Should You Visit the Booths at Digital Dealer?

Chat with Experts Who Know Their Stuff
There’s nothing like talking shop with people who live and breathe automotive advertising. When you visit the booths, you get a chance to chat with the pros, ask questions, and get real advice tailored just for your dealership. It’s like a free consultation but very demure. Very mindful.

Compare Different Options All in One Place
Why settle for one when you can have it all? With so many vendors in one place, you can bounce from booth to booth, compare what each one offers, and see who’s got the goods that will make the biggest difference for your dealership. Think of it like speed dating, but instead of looking for love, you’re hunting for the perfect marketing partner.

What Should you Ask Advertising Vendors?

What’s Your Track Record with Other Dealerships?
You wouldn’t gamble in Vegas without checking the odds first, right? Make sure you ask each vendor about their success stories with other dealerships. Find out how they’ve helped others boost sales, generate leads, and build their brand. It’s the best way to see if they’re the real deal or just rolling the dice.

How Can You Help Me Get the Most Bang for My Buck?
Ad budgets can disappear faster than your chips at a blackjack table if you’re not careful. Ask vendors how they’ll make sure your ad spend is working as hard as it can. You want to know they’re focused on getting you the best return on your investment and not just burning through your budget.

What Makes You Different from the Rest?
Everyone’s going to say they’re the best, but what you really want to know is what makes them stand out. Do they have unique strategies? Special tools? A killer team? This is your chance to see who’s got that secret sauce to help your dealership shine brighter than the Las Vegas Strip.

How Will You Keep Up with the Changing Market?
The automotive world changes constantly. Ask vendors how they adapt to these changes so that you’re not left with outdated strategies. You want a partner who’s always on top of what’s happening now.

What Should you Ask Convention Exhibitors?

Bring the Goods
To make the most of your time, bring along details about your current advertising campaigns – budgets, what’s worked, what hasn’t, and who you’re trying to reach. The more info you have, the better they can help you craft a winning strategy.

Know Your Goals
Are you looking to boost sales, get more leads, or make your dealership the talk of the town? Think about what you want to achieve so they can help you hit those targets. Knowing your goals makes the whole process smoother and more effective.

Bonus: What Makes Bedford Advertising’s Booth #916 a Must-Visit?

$3,000 in Free Google Advertising (Yep, You Read That Right!)
Who doesn’t love free stuff, especially when it’s $3,000 in Google advertising? $3000 roughly equates to 115 calls and 41 walk-ins to your store! When you visit Bedford Advertising’s booth at Digital Dealer, we’re hooking you up with a sweet deal to close out the year strong. Just stop by and set up a meeting to get in on this fantastic offer.

Get the Inside Scoop on Your Market
Want to know where the big opportunities are for your dealership? Bedford Advertising’s got the inside scoop and we’re ready to share it. We’ll dig deep into your market and give you insights on how you can make a splash, outshine the competition, and drive more customers to your showroom.

Check Out What the Competition’s Up To
Let’s be honest – we all want to know what the other guys are doing. At the booth, we will break down

how your competition is performing,

how many shoppers are looking for your vehicles, and

where you’ve got the edge.

This kind of intel is gold when you’re trying to stay ahead.

Find Out Where Your Ad Dollars Will Work Best
It’s easy to waste money on ads that don’t deliver. But we will evaluate your ad spend and show you exactly where you can get the most bang for your buck. We’ll help you pinpoint the best ways to reach more customers and get better results, so you’re not just throwing money into the wind.

Walk Away with a Custom Marketing Plan
Forget generic advice – this VIP meeting is all about creating a plan that will help your dealership grow long after you leave Vegas. Bedford Advertising will work with you to build a strategy that fits your goals, your budget, and your market. This is your chance to take home something valuable (besides a souvenir from the casino).

FAQs

1. Why should I attend Digital Dealer 2024?
It’s the ultimate place to pick up new ideas, learn about the latest tech, and connect with experts who can help your dealership thrive. Plus, it’s Vegas – what’s not to love?

2. What makes Bedford Advertising different from other agencies?
Bedford Advertising has been in the automotive game for over 40 years, and we know what it takes to create enduring growth for your dealership. We’ve got the experience, data-driven insights, and strategies that actually work.

3. How can Bedford Advertising help my dealership save money on advertising?
We specialize in making every ad dollar count through consistent targeting. We’ll help you figure out where your budget is most effective so you can stop wasting money and start seeing results.

4. What’s the benefit of scheduling a VIP meeting with Bedford Advertising?
You get personalized advice, a custom marketing plan, and access to special offers you won’t find anywhere else. It’s the kind of VIP treatment that’ll make you feel like a high roller!

5. How do I get the $3,000 in free Google advertising?
Just visit Bedford Advertising’s booth (#916) at Digital Dealer. This offer is limited and there are only a few openings left for the offer. I suggest you reserve your spot now!

Don’t Miss Out on Bedford Advertising’s Big Offer at Digital Dealer 2024

If there’s one booth you need to visit at this year’s Digital Dealer Conference & Expo, it’s Bedford Advertising’s Booth #916. We’ve got the experience, the insights, and the killer offers to help your dealership hit the jackpot. So, make sure you stop by, have a chat, and see how Bedford Advertising can help you boost your advertising game.

Want to find out what else Bedford Advertising can do for your dealership? Check out our website and get all the details before you hit the expo. See you there!

Chris Petrawski

President

You know when you do a Google search, and you see those ads at the top of the page? Ever wonder what those were and where they came from? Those are pay-per-click ads and are generated exclusively to match your search intent. As to where they come from, that is a little more in-depth. Let’s explore that in more detail.

What is Pay-Per-Click Advertising?

Pay-Per-Click Marketing (PPC) is a term applied to paid advertising that shows ads on search engine results pages (SERPs) of Google and Bing, as well as hundreds of smaller affiliated search engines. Simply put, PPC is about delivering ads to a SERP where they will be seen and clicked on. Each time an ad is clicked on, the advertiser is charged a fee, thus the term pay-per-click. The goal is to drive customers to a business website or initiate contact directly from an ad via a call or form completion.

Now that we understand what a PPC ad is designed to do, how do we get potential customers to click on them? We do this by wordsmithing compelling ads that are brand specific as well as relevant to user searches, plus creating extensions to expand the ad space on the SERP. Simple, right? Well, there is a little more to it than that.

First, we start with keyword research for local and appropriate search terms and phrases that potential customers are using to look for our product online. Secondly, we create ads with meaningful and engaging content to grab the attention of searchers, so they click our ad over the competition. Lastly, we optimize the ads with add-on extensions like images, callouts (highlighted features about your product), snippets (supplemental information about your product like brands, locations, etc.), and offers or specials.

Measuring Success

Now that we have built and launched the ads, how do we measure results?

While there are hundreds of metrics to look at, I will note a few of the most utilized:

Impressions – How many times an ad has been delivered to a SERP and seen by someone.
Clicks – The number of times an ad has been clicked on.
Click-Through-Rate (CTR) – Impressions divided by clicks. The higher the CTR, the better the ads perform.
Cost-Per-Click (CPC) – The average cost of each click.
Impression Share (IS) – The percentage of impressions an ad receives compared to the total number they could get.

The bottom line with looking at metrics is that they only ever tell part of the story. While tracking calls, form submissions, and store walk-ins is vital to assessing KPIs, good communication between a marketing agency and their client is key to evaluating success. All great marketing campaigns have one thing in common: adaptability. Markets and buying patterns change constantly, and so must a good PPC campaign. The days of “set it and forget it” are long past. Today, one must leverage emerging technology, constantly changing ad platforms, and good old experience to create a truly successful PPC campaign.

If you are in the market for a full-service digital team to run your PPC campaign, contact us today at Bedford Advertising.

Cliff Huddleston

Senior Digital Media Specialist

Cliff Huddleston is a seasoned IT professional with extensive experience in project management and system implementations. He has over a decade of experience in SEO, SEM and Facebook advertising. He holds expertise in software development, business analysis, and stakeholder management. Cliff has a proven track record of leading successful technology projects, showcasing his proficiency in aligning IT strategy with business objectives to drive innovation and efficiency.

In the digital marketing landscape, search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) are two crucial strategies that auto dealerships use to increase their online visibility and drive traffic to their websites. While they are often managed as separate strategies, integrating SEO and SEM can provide a synergistic effect, enhancing the overall performance of both. This article explores how SEO and SEM can work together to create a more effective digital marketing campaign.

Understanding SEO and SEM

SEO focuses on improving a website’s rankings in organic search results. It involves optimizing website content, structure, and on-page elements like keywords, meta tags, and images, as well as off-page factors like backlinks and social signals. The goal is to make the site more attractive to search engines, thereby increasing visibility without direct payment.

SEM, often referred to as paid search, involves purchasing ads that appear on search engine results pages (SERPs). This is typically done through platforms like Google Ads. SEM allows for immediate visibility and typically involves bidding on keywords to ensure that ads appear when specific terms are searched.

How They Work Together

1. Keyword Strategy Alignment

Shared Keyword Data: Integrating SEO and SEM starts with keyword strategy. Both SEO and SEM require thorough keyword research to understand what terms potential customers are using to find products or services. By sharing keyword data between SEO and SEM teams, auto dealers can gain a comprehensive understanding of keyword performance across both paid and organic search. This helps in optimizing the overall keyword strategy, focusing on terms that provide the best conversion rates and ROI.

2. Enhanced Visibility

Combined Coverage: When both SEO and SEM are used together, local auto dealerships can dominate the SERPs by appearing both in organic results and ads. This increased visibility not only improves brand awareness but also provides multiple avenues for users to visit your site, which can increase click-through rates and reduce the cost-per-click in paid campaigns.

3. Testing and Optimization

SEM Informs SEO: SEM offers a quicker platform for testing than SEO. Automotive dealerships can use SEM to test the effectiveness of certain keywords or ad copy and apply successful elements to the organic search strategy. This helps in refining SEO tactics based on proven insights from SEM campaigns.

SEO Enhances SEM: On the other hand, insights from SEO efforts can improve SEM ad relevancy. Higher relevancy can lead to better Quality Scores in Google Ads, which can decrease the cost per click and increase the ad’s chance to win auctions.

4. Consistent Messaging and Branding

Unified Approach: Ensuring that the messaging and branding are consistent across both SEO and SEM can provide a cohesive user experience. This unified approach not only reinforces the brand but also builds trust with users, potentially increasing conversion rates. By integrating SEO and SEM, businesses can leverage the strengths of each to maximize their online presence. This integrated approach not only enhances visibility across multiple channels but also provides valuable insights, allowing for continuous optimization of both strategies. In an ever-evolving digital landscape, the combination of SEO and SEM is a powerful tool for car dealerships looking to outperform competitors and capture the attention of potential customers effectively.

By integrating SEO and SEM, businesses can leverage the strengths of each to maximize their online presence. This integrated approach not only enhances visibility across multiple channels but also provides valuable insights, allowing for continuous optimization of both strategies. In an ever-evolving digital landscape, the combination of SEO and SEM is a powerful tool for car dealerships looking to outperform competitors and capture the attention of potential customers effectively.

Bedford Advertising offers both SEO and SEM plans. Contact us to learn more!

Darmini Kara

SEO Content Strategist

Person on a laptop searching with Google.

Are you looking to save money on your dealership’s Google Ads? Here are 5 tips to help you get started:

1. Choose the right keywords.

2. Set your budget based on results, not clicks.

3. Target your audience with precision.

4. Use negative keywords to exclude unqualified leads.

5. Monitor your results and adjust accordingly.

By following these simple tips, you can save money and get more out of your Google Ads campaigns!

1. Choose the right keywords.

Google Ads is an invaluable tool for dealership owners to advertise their inventory. Selecting the right keywords, or search terms, to focus your Google Ads campaign on can make all the difference when it comes to being successful. Some keywords will produce way more clicks and leads than others, so take some time researching what works best in your area and market. If you’re just getting started with Google Ads, defining a keyword strategy that focuses on customer search terms and trends can go a long way towards optimizing your results.

2. Set your budget based on results, not clicks.

If you’re looking to increase vehicle sales, it’s critical to take meaningful results into account when allocating your budget. Instead of focusing on clicks alone, think about how many leads a campaign is generating or how often people are filling out contact forms after seeing an advertisement. Even if one campaign has more clicks than another, it could still be underperforming in terms of meaningful outcomes that result in increased sales. A budget based on meaningful results is key to reaching your goals of increased vehicle sales!

3. Target your audience with precision.

When it comes to targeting your audience with precision, the goal is to scan competitor sites and aim for current in-market shoppers. This can help you find customers who are genuinely interested in what you’re offering, resulting in higher conversion rates and a better ROI. With the right tools and data sources that measure the customer journey and understand past interactions, you can research strategies to appeal to small niche markets that are especially receptive to your message. When done correctly, this kind of pinpoint accuracy will result in an impressive list of leads, ready for conversion.

4. Use negative keywords to exclude unqualified leads.

Looking to increase your clicks AND get better leads? Look no further than using negative keywords! Negative keywords allow you to consciously filter our those leads that don’t fit the scope of your business, helping increase the quality of traffic and increase customer conversion. Big data has plenty of pitfalls and choosing negative keywords is one way to make sure you aren’t getting lost in them! So break down those barriers, take a few extra steps, and embrace the power of negative keywords – you won’t be disappointed by the outcome!

5. Monitor your results and adjust accordingly

As a dealership, monitoring sales results and adjusting accordingly is a crucial component of success. A dealership should always stay flexible and knowledgeable to understand the changing demands of customers in order to maximize opportunities. Analyzing trends in customer spending can help you stay on top of the market and craft targeted approaches to drive results. After all, it’s all about knowing which tactics work best for your dealership so you can make the most out of each opportunity. So keep an eye on the numbers, tweak your approaches as needed, and watch those sales soar!

By following these five digital marketing tips, you can set your dealership up for success and avoid some common pitfalls. Remember to focus on the right keywords, set your budget based on results, target your audience precisely, use negative keywords, and monitor your results so you can fine-tune your approach as needed.

Ready to get started? Reach out for a free digital assessment today.

Ready to get started?

Reach out for a free digital assessment today.

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