AUTOMOTIVE MARKETING: Top Strategies & Ideas to Drive More Sales 2023

automotive marketing
Image Source: KOB Advertising

Marketing cars aren’t like they used to be in the past. As much as you want to rely on a steady flow of potential car buyers after a few ad placements, note that consumers are now taking more active roles in the car-buying process by not leaving marketers to do all the talking. Instead, they generate facts through their own online research before taking any action. So, updating your automotive digital marketing ideas is the best way to guide consumers to your dealership. Also, the automotive marketing company is filled with competitors, and it takes a unique edge to engage and convert target customers. Therefore, companies need the top automotive marketing solution to help them stand out in this competitive market. Read on for more insights.

Overview

Marketing is an important part of any company and the automotive company is not exempted. As the consumer world continues changing and becomes an increasingly online experience, the world of marketing is being transformed, and some companies struggle to keep up and maintain engagement throughout the customer journey. Thus, automotive marketing is simply marketing for the vehicle industry. It applies to all companies and businesses that deal in the automotive field, such as:

  • Manufacturers
  • Dealerships
  • Resale companies
  • Parts manufacturers
  • Parts retailers
  • Mechanics, inspectors, detailers, and technicians

In addition, using automotive marketing helps you connect with prospective car buyers, both near-market and in-market buyers when it’s time for them to purchase a product or service.

What are the 4 Ps of Marketing Cars?

The four Ps are the four essential factors involved in marketing a product or service to the public. The four Ps are product, price, place, and promotion.

Automotive Marketing Ideas

The key to choosing the best automotive marketing ideas is understanding your customer’s journey. You can connect with the buyer, wherever they are if you tap into the marketing channels that reach them at each stage of that journey. Try a mix of automotive marketing ideas, track your results, and reinvest in those that produce the best return on investment.

Also, the biggest challenge automotive marketers face is gaining the trust of their leads. After all, the job of a marketer is to help bring leads in the door so the sales team has people to sell to. But in such a competitive industry one where the consumer is making a rather large financial decision that will affect their everyday life, In essence, having clearly defined automotive marketing ideas is an essential part of attracting new buyers and returning customers alike to your dealership. 

Automotive Marketing Ideas: Examples

As discouraging as it is to advertise in the auto company there are some tried-and-true ways to achieve sustained success. Here are automotive marketing ideas that you can use to drive more sales,

#1. EstablishTrust with Customer Reviews

From the customer’s point of view, there’s nothing more suspicious than a business website with no legitimate reviews from current and/or previous customers. If you’re not a widely known brand and they haven’t worked with you before, then chances are they’ll already be a bit suspicious. This is because modern customers focus heavily on reviews and are horned to heed and leave them. In addition, when it comes to automotive marketing, there is no better way to instill trust than to let your customers speak for you.

#2. Be Highly Ranked on Google SERP

Because Google is the first line of defense you need to be at the very top. Especially considering how often people scroll to the bottom of the SERP.Google’s SERP (search engine results page) shows which brands a potential customer sees first. The more seemingly endless web results they must scroll through in order to reach your page, the less likely they are to see it. So, staying at the top of Google’s SERP is one of the main goals of marketers, and their marketing strategies, This is because they want to click through the first couple of results and settle for the fanciest website with the best customer reviews.

#3. Duel on Competitor Keywords

Dealerships are badly competitive because the automotive business has no space to share customers. So, in marketing to customers online you have to begin the automotive sales process with things like good automotive marketers, research, digital marketing, ads, and a lot of experience in sales and the automotive industry, and creating highly convincible ads to get leads to visit your website over your competition.

#4. Diligently Manage Negative Keyword List

In marketing, sometimes the current pay-per-click (PPC) rate is one that you’re not prepared to pay. Simply not using a word or phrase in your online automotive marketing campaigns won’t be enough. The absence of keywords won’t prevent ads and social media-based marketing strategies from appearing to buyers who research vehicles based on that word. Therefore including negative keywords helps you hone in on the terms you want to focus on without wasting your automotive marketing ideas on irrelevant buyers.

Because traditional marketing strategies don’t work as well as they used to. The rise of the digital age means automotive marketing strategies and ideas campaigns need to be more digital, too. Car buyers rarely purchase a vehicle, or even test drive it, without searching for data on it via reputable auto review sites. This new and digital automotive marketing solution means automotive marketers can land more sales by convincing customers to purchase a vehicle through content marketing and video marketing, mobile ads, and other forms of media. So, Find out when things are busy, steady, and slow, and then adjust your online advertising budget accordingly.

#6. Aim at the Right People

Different types of marketing will draw in different types of buyers, but not all of them are right for you, nor are they your target audience. If your automotive marketing is reaching the wrong people with the right message, you’re wasting your money. Your automotive marketing team must know what strategy to use to reach automotive enthusiasts, hobby buyers, and customers in need of a car for daily use, and consider their use of multiple devices. 

#7. Compel Buyers with Unique Offers

Why should they buy a car with you instead of the automotive dealership down the street or one that’s more conveniently located or better priced? A crucial part of your automotive marketing solution is convincing your prospects to choose you over your competition. If there are not any obvious reasons, like having the lowest prices or the best reviews, create some unique spur and offers you can provide to prospects.

Read Also: MARKETING GOALS: How To Set Them

Automotive Marketing Solution

Automotive Marketing Solution is a leading national dealership marketing company. With the aim to work with dealers to help maximize ROI for online marketing of their inventory. Your marketing resources are limited, so you need them to perform. Today’s innovative auto dealers are turning to powerful new marketing solutions to identify the right potential audience. So, embrace the most appropriate communication channels, develop messages that resonate and precisely measure the effectiveness of their marketing activities.

Automotive marketing solution attack the automotive industry challenging dealers to determine which of these many options is most effective. Hence, dealerships can opt to handle all marketing in-house by hiring an individual marketer or a team of marketers. Dealers also have two distinct sectors to promote: sales and parts and services. Each of these departments needs customized and independent automotive marketing solution that meet the overall mission of the dealer.

Automotive Marketing Solution: Factors to Consider

Below are a few things to put into consideration when choosing an automotive marketing solution,

#1. Traditional Marketing

Traditional marketing has proven to be successful over the decades, and many of these platforms continue to be strong tools in today’s high-tech world.

#2. Email Marketing

Direct mail is still a known and effective method of getting the word out. Service departments find this to be particularly true as it can extend offers to customers who need its services year-round. When executed properly, direct mail is a targeted method that produces a positive ROI.

#3. Gathering Customer Data

By collecting customer and vehicle data, a dealership can pinpoint exactly who will receive offers and when to send them. This ensures each mailpiece gets to customers who are the most likely to visit that dealership.

#4. Digital Marketing

Digital marketing can be just as targeted, but it must go beyond a social media post and a friendly monthly email. Dealers need these types of outreach, but they should enhance them with a thorough digital marketing plan. Also, a dealer should create an annual master plan for all digital marketing. It should reflect email and social media frequency, intervals, and content.

#5. Marketing Marathon

All sections of the automotive marketing company are running the marketing marathon. But dealers can attract the right customers if they have great strategies and a great marketing team making all the right moves.

Digital Automotive Marketing

Automotive marketing is the forefather of digital automotive marketing. But while automotive marketing relies mostly on earlier forms of communication like thank-you notes, billboards, and direct mail, digital marketing relies on what the name implies and digital avenues. But, if you can put yourself into the customer’s shoes and understand what they want and when they want it, you fundamentally will get why the platforms and ideas mentioned above will benefit you.

In addition, think of any way that a company has offered some sort of information to you in the past through the web: email, content copy, advertisements, or a manipulable website to allow for quick product comparisons. The most effective marketing campaigns will include all of these in some form, but in the automotive company, there are some key marketing strategies to target potential buyers.

Benefits of Automotive Digital Marketing

Here are some of the important benefits of digital marketing for your business.

#1. Capacity to Reach a Larger Audience

Your potential buyers can be anywhere. If your product is good and meets their needs, they will take trouble visiting you even if your business is far away. You can also target a specific audience if your products and services are relevant to them. Digital marketing for the automotive company can help you save money and streamline your strategy.

#2. Brand Awareness and Influence

Digital marketing ideas help build your identity and visibility. It can also help create a loyal base of customers once trust in your brand is established. It makes your reputation because vehicles are purchased on a recommendation. Customers also read your reviews, so ensure you address issues correctly and professionally.

#3. Know your Customers

Digital marketing collects vital information such as customer behavior, interaction with your ads, and how this can be utilized to improve your advertising efforts. You can determine the demographics of your customers. This will guide you in changing your efforts to match your customers’ wants. To make this happen, SEO must ensure an online presence and that your automotive e-commerce website ranks at the top of the search engine. Also, remember that any potential buyer should be able to find you online with generic keywords.

How to Measure Your Digital Marketing Efforts

It is one thing to carry out a creative and well-strategized digital marketing plan, but how do you know if it’s working? Taking the time to put together a system to track your online efforts is crucial. Not only will it tell you if your plan is working, but it will give you an idea of where you might need to make some changes. Some of the metrics that you should measure include:

  • The volume of leads per month
  • Average conversion rate
  • Cost per lead/cost of acquisition
  • Leads by a particular source (organic, direct, referral, etc.)
  • Keyword ranking increases and decreases
  • Total revenue from leads

Automotive Marketing Company

The automotive marketing company has experienced significant transformations in recent years, with the rise of electric vehicles, autonomous driving technology, and changing consumer preferences. In this fast-paced and competitive environment, businesses need to stay on top of their marketing game to reach potential customers, build brand awareness, and drive sales. This is where automotive marketing companies come in, offering tailored solutions to help businesses succeed in this dynamic landscape.

Automotive marketing companies use a range of digital marketing techniques, including search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, and content creation, to connect with customers and drive conversions.

How to Choose an Automotive Marketing Company

Choosing the right automotive marketing company for your business can be a difficult task, as there are many factors to consider,

#1. Services

The services your automotive marketing company offers are vital. Some companies take a specialized approach, and others provide a general range of automotive marketing services. The part you choose depends on what you need for automotive marketing. Brands needing robust services and expertise may prefer an all-in-one solution company. 

#2. Case studies

Case studies are important when choosing an automotive marketing company because you need a company with proven strategies. The company should have helped brands similar to yours achieve impressive results.

#3. Portfolio

Working with companies with big automotive brand names in their portfolio is always a big plus. However, the businesses your company has worked with must be similar to yours because different-sized and structured brands require different approaches. So, while a marketing strategy worked for KIA, it may not work for you, so they must know how to find your signature approach.

#4. Credibility

Automotive marketing companies must have authority and credibility to prove they know the industry. You can evaluate credibility from review platforms and websites, social media, and social proof on an agency’s website. Although established companies will cost more, you’d waste time and money working with a company that can’t pull results.

Best Automotive Marketing Company

let’s dive into our top picks for the best automotive marketing companies for your business.

#1. Disruptive Advertising

As a premier automotive marketing company, Disruptive Advertising has achieved prominence by adeptly managing vast advertising budgets for its clientele. They’ve refined their marketing techniques, focusing on crucial aspects like targeting, timing, and tracking to consistently deliver remarkable outcomes.

#2. SmartSites

SmartSites, a renowned digital marketing company, specializes in helping automotive businesses grow through tailored online marketing strategies. They have a stellar history of delivering outstanding results for car dealerships and other automotive companies, offering comprehensive services like website design and PPC marketing. Collaborating with SmartSites gives clients the advantage of working with experienced industry professionals who elevate their brand and drive growth in the competitive automotive market.

#3. Green Line Automotive 

A digital advertising company that concentrates solely on the automotive industry. They fuse industry know-how with cutting-edge technology to yield tangible outcomes without any hidden costs. Their bespoke automotive digital strategy caters to each client’s specific requirements, positioning them as a favored choice for businesses in the automotive field.

#4. Automotive Marketing Gurus (AMG)

This is a non-traditional advertising company that employs its MOJO partner platform and process to streamline automotive marketing strategy, reporting, alignment, and efforts. Also, with experience working with top automotive groups, individual dealers, and numerous vendors in the automotive marketing space. Their primary goal is to improve vendor relationships and performance while saving time and money for their clients.

#5. Sociallyn

Renowned for its social media expertise, Sociallyin is a distinguished company and production studio, working alongside more than 200 global brands to craft engaging, high-caliber social media content. In addition, their geographically diverse team operates from four locations across the United States, and they’re dedicated to assisting businesses in connecting with their target audience, narrating their unique stories, and achieving remarkable results.

What is the difference between marketing and salesman?

The biggest difference is that professionals in marketing target customers who may be interested in buying a product or service, while sales professionals make the transaction and sell the product or service.

References

  1. AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING: Meaning, Job Description, Salary & Schools
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  3. Demand Planning Softwares: Top 2023 Picks & Best Practices
  4. HOW MUCH DO CAR MECHANICS MAKE: Car Mechanic Salary in 2023
  5. GM Logo: Why Did GM Rebrand? All You Need
  6. FOOD BUSINESS INSURANCE: Best Food Liability Insurance of 2023 & Costs
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