SEO vs. SEM: What They Are and Why They Matter for Your Dealership

24 Feb 2025 Helpful Tips

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Welcome to EasyCars! If you’re here, chances are you want to improve your dealership’s online presence but feel overwhelmed by technical language. We get it—learning about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and SEM (Search Engine Marketing) can feel complicated when all you want are simple, practical strategies that work.

At EasyCars, we believe in making things simple for dealerships like yours. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to simplify SEO and SEM for you, so you can focus on what you do best—selling cars.

Our job is to take the guesswork out of the equation for dealers, we aim to be the partner you can trust to drive your success. Now, let’s break down exactly what SEO and SEM are, and how they can transform your dealership’s online presence.

Why SEO and SEM Matter:

Think about the last time you searched for something online. Maybe you were looking for the best deal on a used car, or even tips on getting car finance approved. You typed in a few words, hit search, and clicked on one of the top results.

Ever asked yourself: Why did that website get to the top of the page?

It wasn’t by accident. It happened because of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM)—two powerful strategies that drive users to a website!

For car dealers, understanding SEO and SEM is like understanding how to price a car competitively—it determines whether people find you or your competitors first. Let’s break it down simply:

What Is SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)?

Imagine you own a dealership in Brisbane. A potential customer searches for “best used car dealerships in Brisbane”. If your website is well-optimised, it can show up on Google’s first page—without you having to pay for ads. That’s the power of SEO.

How Does SEO Work?

SEO is all about organically improving your website’s visibility by:

  • Using the right keywords – Adding words and phrases that customers are searching for, like “affordable used cars in Sydney” or “best trade-in deals in Perth”.
  • Creating helpful content – Writing blogs, guides, and FAQs that answer customer questions, like “How to finance a car with no deposit”.
  • Optimising your website – Ensuring your site loads fast, works well on mobile, and has a great user experience.
  • Building credibility – Getting other trusted websites to link to yours, which signals to Google that you’re a reputable dealership. (Backlinks)

Why SEO Matters for Your Dealership

  • Long-Term Results: Unlike paid ads, a well-optimised website keeps bringing in traffic, no sponsored ad necessary.
  • Trust & Credibility: Customers trust organic (non-paid) search results more than ads.
  • More Leads, More Sales: The higher your ranking, the more customers find you—and the more cars you sell.

What Is SEM (Search Engine Marketing)?

Now, let’s say you’re running a limited-time promotion for the SUVs you have in stock. You don’t have to wait for SEO to kick in—you need customers now. That’s where SEM comes in.

SEM, or paid search marketing, lets you place ads at the top of Google search results instantly. It’s a great way to drive traffic when you want fast results.

How Does SEM Work?

  • Google Ads (PPC – Pay-Per-Click): You bid on keywords like “best used 4WD deals”, and your ad appears when someone searches for it. You only pay when someone clicks on your ad.
  • Google Shopping Ads: If you list individual vehicles, Google Shopping Ads can display your car listings directly in search results, with images and prices.
  • Retargeting Ads: Have you ever visited a website, left, and then saw their ad everywhere? That’s retargeting—and it keeps your dealership in front of potential buyers.

Why SEM Matters for Your Dealership

  • Instant Results: Get your dealership to the top of Google immediately.
  • Highly Targeted: Show your ads to the right customers at the right time.
  • Budget Control: Set your own budget—you only pay when someone clicks.

How Much Does It Cost?

Our SEO and SEM package is designed to pay for itself. If you sell just a few more cars each month, your investment is covered. Instead of spending money on marketing that doesn’t bring results, this strategy ensures every dollar is tracked and used efficiently.

We work with only a select number of dealerships to maintain quality and exclusivity. If you don’t take action, your competitors will!

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.

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