How to get more Leads for your Dealership during Lockdown

03 Aug 2021 Helpful Tips

We are with you, lockdowns are a pain! With many states around Australia plunged back into lockdown many dealerships have been forced to suspend trading until the numbers begin to decline. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take this opportunity to work on your dealership.

Many dealers around Australia have the perception that lockdowns will restrict the ability to grow leads and maximise sales. But the reality is with more people stuck at home the more time people have to look for things they may want to buy. One thing at the top of many Australian consumers’ minds is used cars.

EasyCars has put together 4 ways your dealership can get more leads during lockdown restrictions.

Use social media to your benefit

There is literally no advertiser or platform bigger for car dealers than social media. Statistics show that over 18 million Australian's use social media daily and with people locked inside - there's only more reason to use social media to reduce boredom.

The BIGGEST BENEFIT of social media especially Facebook and Instagram is that you can post and connect with your leads for free. With Facebook messenger every enquiry that comes through you can action instantly.

Even more importantly is the ability to use Facebook Marketplace to post your stock. Marketplace is the fastest growing online lister and gives dealers no bigger platform for exposure. During this time, it is so important dealers put a strong emphasis on their social media presence. The opportunities are endless.

Just because people are locked in doors, doesn’t mean they are not looking for cars.

Run a promotion

With so many people using the internet and social media you must make sure your content stands out and grabs the reader’s attention. A great way to stand out from other content posts is to give the consumer an eye-catching deal.

Running a promotion can help you stand out from the crowd. Promotions can run for a limited time, but you can implement conditions that allow customers to purchase something from your dealership now - even if they can't pick it up until after lockdown!

The online world is so competitive, if you are just posting images of your cars, you can get caught up in the masses. It’s so important to post engaging content that grabs the readers attention and makes them want to enquire about your stock.

Look for free advertisers

One of the biggest mistakes many dealers make is not researching what advertisers are out there. Car advertising is an extremely competitive market with new entrants entering everyday. Due to the mass competition advertisers are fighting for your listings. Many advertisers offer dealerships free no-obligation advertising for a limited time. Off course this changes from advertiser to advertiser but at zero cost you have nothing to lose.

The more listings you have, the more exposure you get and the more leads you will generate, it’s as simple as that.

A great opportunity for Australian dealerships is Shop for Cars. Shop for Cars is Australia’s fastest growing online advertisers for dealers only. This offers dealers such a unique and massive opportunity to reach buyers without the hassles of competing with private sellers. The biggest advantage of Shop for Cars is that dealer listings are promoted on Google, Facebook and Instagram for free.

To find out more and to list your vehicles on Shop for Cars click here.

Make sure your website has what consumers are looking for

The single biggest mistake many Australian dealers make is having a website for the sake of it. If your website does not have the features that the consumers are looking for you are not going to gain leads and you are not going to get any exposure from an SEO standpoint.

Here are some of the must have features that consumers are looking for:

  • Car Valuations
  • Repayment Calculators
  • Simple Stock Listings
  • Easy Contact Form
  • Live Chat
  • Car History and PPSR reports

If your website doesn’t have all these features you should seriously consider looking at alternatives.

Get a web-based DMS

With all of us locked at home, if your current management system is desktop based you are in a lot of trouble! You won’t be able to manage your dealership and you will have to shut up shop until lockdowns lift. If lockdowns don’t lift anytime soon you could be in serious trouble.

A web-based DMS allows your dealership to manage your tasks at any time, all you need is an internet connection. This is so helpful as it keeps you in complete control no matter what the world throws at you.

The way you sell cars is forever changing, the process that you have been using for years could be a massive liability to your success. To stay competitive dealers need to adapt.

EasyCars is a simple and flexible web-based dealer management system that automates all the tasks of running a motor dealership in Australia. With over 38 years creating simplified and tailor-made solutions for the Australian motor industry EasyCars understands your vision.

For more information on EasyCars or to set up a free demo contact us today on 1300 473 744 or fill in the form below.

Easy to use – Easy Transition – No lock in contracts

Contact Us