1. How Social Media Marketing Can Help a Car Dealership
Sell More Cars
Date: February 10, 2010 8:46 AM
Author: Dan Chambers
Tags: social media, social media marketing, social tools, traffic, web marketing
Permalink: http://bit.ly/aRHPS1
Social media has altered the small-business marketing landscape. It is not enough to have a website anymore, even if it is
informational and well managed. You need social media marketing - it is quick, precise, measurable and inexpensive.
93% of Americans believe a business should have a presence in social media, according to a recent Cone Business School
study. 85% believe a business should not only be present but also interact with its consumers via social media, and 56% of
Americans feel they have a stronger connection and are better served by businesses when they can interact with them in a
social media environment.
Anyone can have a social media marketing strategy but not everyone can do it right. Here are a few ways how a car
dealership can do it right.
Expense
A car dealership today averages about $550 per car using traditional advertising. With the economy still struggling, it is
more important than ever to spend your advertising dollars wisely. The cost of social media networking and marketing is
fraction of what the traditional advertisers like TV, radio and print demand – and it reaches a new market that traditional
media just can’t deliver for you today.
New Selling Opportunities
The sooner your dealership gets its name and message out on the social network sites, the better. Sites like Facebook and
Twitter have fan pages that generate leads, leak sales and deliver your message to a huge new untapped market. Facebook
alone claims to have 350 million users – and 50% of them visit it every day. That is not a typo – 350 million! You can brand
your dealership over time and increase your sales overnight.
Drive Traffic to Your Website
Over 30 percent of new cars will be purchased through a car dealerships internet department, and that number will grow as
consumers become more savvy about the convenience and savings available, according to Edmunds.com. There are many
ways to use social networks like YouTube and Facebook to drive traffic to your dealer website. Entertaining commercials,
events, loss leaders and distressed merchandise are a few examples. Someone who knows you from a social media network
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2. is more likely to visit your website – and your store.
Contests and Promotions
As a car dealership, you are very familiar with traditional promotions. Did you know that they are one of the most effective
tools in social media marketing as well? You can use them to drive sales, generate leads and brand your business. Discounts
are a great way to connect with your community. By giving special coupons to your social community, you are telling them
you are not only a business to engage with but also one to buy from.
Interact with Your Customers
The reason why they are called “social” networks is because people socialize and interact with each other on them. It is the
new word-of-mouth advertising. According to Jeff Kershner of dealerfresh.com, a negative image is one of the biggest fears
that keeps a car dealer from embracing social media. But a car dealership is going to have that negative image whether he
uses social media or not. And a dealership can change the image by joining a social networking site – almost immediately.
Save money. Sell more vehicles. Find out more about social media marketing and how IntelBuilder Social Media Platform
can help your car dealership increase sales today.
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