Buying and selling cars in Australia is extremely competitive. To be successful, dealerships need to implement strong marketing strategies that build awareness and convince customers to take action. That brings us to the question, what are the best marketing strategies for car dealerships in Australia?
EasyCars has put together a list of the best marketing strategies that your dealership can use to attract potential customers.
Let’s get into it.
1. Develop a Strong Online Presence
Let’s face it, we are living in the digital age. 95% of Australian car buyers look for their next car online. The strongest marketing strategy that your dealership needs to use is having a strong online presence. Here are some of the essentials that you need to develop a strong online presence:
Dealership Website: Your dealership will need to have its own website that showcases the cars that you sell. Your Dealership Website will be the cornerstone of your online presence. It is important that your website is well designed, easy to navigate, and mobile friendly.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): To drive traffic to your dealership’s website, it is important that you implement an SEO service. A strong SEO service will help your website rank high on the first page of Google searches.
Google My Business: The last key component to ensure that your dealership has a good online presence is to have a Google My Business profile. A Google My Business profile will help your Used Car Dealership appear in local search results and on Google Maps.
2. Leverage Social Media Platforms
Social media plays a massive part in of all of our daily lives. Think about it, when was the last time you used any form of social media?
Social media is a proven hotbed for car buyers and many dealers have had amazing success using different social media marketing strategies like Facebook AIA. Here’s how to make the most out of Social Media:
Platform Selection: Setup a dealership profile on platforms where your target audience is most active. The best social media platforms for car dealerships are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
Content Creation: The key to being successful on social media is being active and posting engaging content. Be sure to post regularly, some of the best pieces of content that your car dealership can post can include photos of your new cars for sale, customer testimonials, and promotional offers.
Advertising: Think about using paid Facebook ads like Facebook Automotive Inventory ads to reach potential customers fast. Using solutions like Facebook AIA have been proven to generate leads for as low as $7 per lead, much cheaper than other mediums.
3. Implement Email Marketing Campaigns
One of the most successful marketing mediums for all businesses is Email Marketing. Email Marketing is a powerful and cost effective solution that allows you to control and send messages to potential customers. Here’s how your dealership can get started:
Build a Mailing List: The first part to email marketing is building a mailing list. Collect email addresses from your website visitors, social media followers, and in-dealership visitors. A good way to encourage email sign ups is to offer incentives like a promotion or future saving.
Segment Your Audience: Once you have built your mailing list, divide it into segments based on customer interest, locations and purchase history. Segmenting your audience will allow you to personalise your communications based on interest.
Create Engaging Content: You’re ready to go, begin sending regular email communications to your lists. Emails can include updates on your new car inventory, any special promotions and anything that you think will bring value to a customer.
4. Partner with Local Businesses
Another great marketing strategy that your dealership can use is to build partnerships with other local businesses. Here’s how you can approach business partnerships:
Cross-Promotions: The first thing that you can do is offer cross promotions with other businesses. For example your dealership can partner with a local mechanic shop to promote your services and vice versa.
Sponsorships: Another great partnership opportunity is to sponsor local community events, sports teams, or charities. The benefit of local sponsorships is it will increase your visibility in your local community and demonstrate your commitment to the area.
Referral Programs: Another great partnership marketing strategy is to create referral programs with local businesses. A referral program is where local businesses refer customers to your dealership in exchange for an incentive.
5. Use Traditional Marketing Methods
While digital marketing has been a game changer, traditional marketing methods are still extremely successful for car dealerships. Here are some of the most effective traditional marketing strategies that dealers are having strong success with:
Print Advertising: Think about advertising in local newspapers, magazines, or community newsletters. To be successful it is vital that your advertisements are visually appealing and clear.
Radio and TV Advertising: The second best traditional marketing strategy is to do radio or tv advertising. The benefit of doing radio and tv advertising is is opens your dealership up to a broader audience.
Direct Mail: The last traditional marketing strategy that your dealership can consider using is direct mail. Send direct mail pieces such as postcards and brochures to potential customers in your area. Highlight your cars for sale, car promotions, and unique selling points.
Final Word,
Marketing will make or break your dealership. To be successful buying and selling cars in Australia it is important that your dealership implements a strong marketing strategy that builds awareness and leads to customer conversion. The marketing strategies presented in this piece are proven and reliable strategies to use to drive customers to your dealership.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article. To read more articles like this, please visit the EasyCars latest news page here.
About EasyCars,
EasyCars by Jeal is an Australian, web-based, dealer management system that automates the buying and selling of motor vehicles. Using the latest technologies, EasyCars removes frustrations experienced at the dealership and opens your doors for greater growth.
EasyCars features include Simple Stock Management, Automated Advertising, Integrated Accounting, Government Compliance, Business Reporting, Facebook Automotive Inventory Ads, Reviews Management, Dealership Websites and more.
To learn more about EasyCars Dealer Management System or to arrange a no-obligation free demo, contact us today on 1300 473 744 or submit the form below.