SEO is essential for any business with a digital presence, but for auto dealers, it is especially important. An optimised website will help you outrank your competitors in organic searches, increase organic traffic, and deliver more qualified leads to your dealership, ultimately resulting in more sales.
Many of the dealers we speak to make the mistake of using a generalist agency and not a specialist that understands the auto industry and the needs of their business inside and out.
In this article, we’ll answer some key questions about dealer SEO and explain why it’s crucial to work with an agency that is cognizant of the industry and how to deliver results that will make a difference specifically to your dealership.
What Is Dealer SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation and refers to the strategy and process of optimising a website to rank highly on search engines such as Google to generate more leads. Dealer SEO involves tailoring this strategy and approach to meet the unique challenges of the auto industry and the needs of your business.
Several aspects of SEO contribute to your search engine ranking and how easily customers can find you online. Most of these are content and keyword-based and involve establishing your business as an authority for certain search terms (such as ‘Ford Dealer near me’), while others are about building your credibility through backlinks from other websites.
Due to the local and specific nature of auto searches, effective dealer SEO should prioritise a keyword and location-based approach to connect you with the most qualified and high-intent customers.
Why Do Dealers Need SEO?
veryone needs SEO, but dealers need it more than most due to the nature of their business. Above all things, dealers use SEO to encourage sales. As a result, dealer SEO needs to be focused on delivering a positive user experience and developing qualified, targeted leads that can be converted into sales. According to Google, 95% of vehicle buyers use the internet as a source of information when they start the buying process — despite this, more than 95% of sales occur at a dealership.
Quite simply, if you aren’t paying attention to SEO and making it a central component of your online strategy, you’re missing out on sales.
Why Should You Hire An Automotive Dealer SEO Specialist?
Because, as with anything, a specialist has a better understanding of your goals and challenges and will know how to address each of them most effectively. A generalist SEO agency might work with clients ranging from dealers and cake decorators to dog groomers and builders, but at Retain Media, we focus on 6 verticals within the auto industry.
This focus lets us devote ourselves to finding the right strategies and solutions for business owners like you and has allowed us to develop a deep knowledge base on what works for dozens of clients, not just the one or two that a general SEO agency might work with.
By working with a specialist, you are setting yourself up for success. Instead of spending money on someone that needs to learn what works, you are gaining access to the knowledge and experience of a team that has made it their mission to deliver results for dealers throughout the auto industry, from caravans and motorcycles to cars and agricultural equipment.
What Do Dealers Stand To Lose If They Don't Hire A Specialist?
If you decide not to hire a specialist, you’ll lose two things few businesses can afford: time and money. No matter what anyone tells you, SEO is not a quick fix, and it takes time to implement strategies and see results that will impact your bottom line.
But when you work with a specialist, you get a head start on success. Instead of spending the first few months learning your business and the industry (as a non-specialist might), an automotive specialist can hit the ground running and deliver results faster, saving you (you guessed it) time and money.
More leads in a shorter amount of time mean more sales, and at the end of the day, that’s what you’re in business for – and what you’ll be missing out on if you don’t hire a dealer SEO specialist.
If You Want To Start Taking SEO Seriously, Talk To Us Today!
We’ve worked with dozens of dealers over the years to deliver thousands of qualified leads to their doors, and we can do the same for you. As auto industry specialists, we know what works when it comes to dealer SEO because we’ve done it ourselves, time and time again.
If you’re struggling to generate leads for your dealership, we can help. Get in touch with one of our team today to arrange a no-obligation consultation and start taking the steps you need to make more sales.
