Car buyers today conduct most of their research online. They visit websites to learn about dealership inventory and locate nearby locations.
Car dealerships need a well-designed and effective SEO strategy to get found in local search results. Effective SEO strategies include on-page optimizations, local SEO initiatives, and content marketing.
Creating fresh, relevant content on a dealership website is critical for generating traffic. This could include informative articles on vehicle models, service specials, or a monthly blog.
Keyword Research
The best way to optimize your car dealer website is with relevant, targeted keywords. Use a tool to find phrases your customers search for. Focus only on terms with a significant search volume, as this will provide the best ROI. Also, avoid overusing a particular keyword, which can have the opposite effect and work against you.
Incorporating long-tail keywords into your content is another way to drive more traffic to your dealership’s site. These keywords have a specific intent, such as “2011 white Jeep” or “Honda Accords.” They may receive fewer searches than their more general counterparts, but they will provide much more targeted traffic.
Effective local SEO strategies for car dealers are essential for any car dealership. This can include optimizing your Google Business Profile, using local keywords, and utilizing structured data. Adding reviews and testimonials to your dealership’s website can also help to improve local visibility. Tools like Podium Reviews allow you to collect and respond to customer feedback in an informative and SEO-friendly way.
On-Page Optimization
On-page optimization is one of the first steps to implementing a successful automotive SEO marketing strategy. This includes adding relevant keywords to various website pages, including the page slug, title tag, and image alt tags. Using these keywords throughout the web page helps search engines match users with businesses that offer what they need.
Another essential part of on-page optimization is ensuring that your Google My Business (GMB) profile is up-to-date and accurate. This can help you earn a spot in the coveted local 3-pack on Google search results, which drives more traffic to your dealership’s website.
Car dealer SEO also includes optimizing the website for long-tail keywords and more specific searches to drive targeted traffic. This helps you stand out against competitors that only use broad keywords. It also makes it easier for shoppers to find what they’re looking for on your website. This leads to more visits and, ultimately, more sales.
Backlink Building
When it comes to automotive SEO, creating and maintaining a solid backlink-building strategy is integral to the process. Google considers backlinks as votes of confidence in a page’s relevance and usefulness, and as such, they can improve its ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).
Developing regular and relevant content is another way to help boost dealership websites’ organic visibility. This could include blogs, helpful guides, or video content centered around keywords relevant to the auto industry. This type of content helps establish dealerships as thought leaders and improves their ranking on SERPS by attracting visitors searching for that topic.
Car dealerships can also optimize their online presence by claiming and optimizing local business listings (NAP or Citations) on various sites and apps shoppers use to find information about businesses in their designated marketing area. This may include online review sites, social media platforms, and directories. Additionally, encouraging customers to provide testimonials or reviews on their experiences with your business can be an effective, low-cost method for generating high-quality content that enhances organic visibility.
Content Creation
There are several ways to create content for your dealership online. You can post videos on social media, create blog posts, send emails, or even use a software program to generate personalized digital ads that display when people search for local businesses like your car dealership.
However, the best way to optimize content for SEO is to write keyword-optimized text on your website. While you can use images and scripts, it’s essential to ensure that the text on your website is optimized for keywords and search engine intent in a natural way that maintains readability and keyword focus.
Other ways to generate content for your dealership include creating Google posts, service specials, and vehicle model landing pages. You can also use your website and social media to promote customer reviews of their experience at the dealership. Just be sure not to put false positive or negative reviews on your business website, as this will only lead to unhappy customers and hurt your business’s reputation.
Social Media Marketing
Car dealerships need a way to connect with today’s shoppers. Gone are the days when dealers could rely on catchy radio jingles or newspaper ads. Instead, consumers search the internet for information about products or services before visiting a dealership in person.
Creating social media content is an excellent way for a dealership to show potential customers they know about the products and services they sell. It also allows them to share customer reviews of their dealership and vehicles. This builds trust and brand loyalty with customers.
Dealerships must keep their social media profiles up-to-date with all the correct contact and business information. This helps prevent search engines from flagging their profile as outdated or inaccurate. Also, the content they post on their social media pages should be consistent with the content on their website. This includes images, videos, and text. Using an image-editing tool can help dealerships create aesthetically-pleasing car photos that attract the attention of potential shoppers.
