With the global e-Commerce boom precipitated by the pandemic, car dealerships and automakers are faced with the challenges of pivoting from a traditional brick and mortar business model to meeting consumers’ needs with a digital shopping experience. As a result, it’s more important than ever to focus on improving your online presence. Here are three tips for boosting your visibility with your SEO strategy.
What Is SEO?
SEO, which stands for “search engine optimization,” is all about optimizing your website so that it ranks high on Google and other search engines without the use of paid tactics. While creating organic (as opposed to paid) content can require some investment, the return can be better — and the results will be lasting, as whatever content you publish on your website will continue to drive traffic for as long as it stays there.
SEO for Car Dealerships
Investing time and budget in SEO will help your car dealership drive more traffic to your website and ultimately increase your sales. Follow these best practices to increase your rankings.
1. Add Keyword-Rich Content
Keywords are the heart and soul of an effective SEO strategy. Making sure your website contains relevant keywords that your target users search for will help your content rise in search rankings.
Utilize an SEO tool such as SEMrush or Ubersuggest and research phrases your target audience is searching for. Aim for terms that have higher traffic (200 monthly searches or more) and low to medium competition.
“Long tail keywords,” which are longer phrases containing specific information — such as “2014 Toyota Tacoma alternator” or “Used 2021 Honda Civic Hollywood” — are more likely to result in conversion compared to general keywords such as “Toyota cars.”
Just make sure not to “stuff” keywords, or you could actually be penalized by Google and hurt your rankings. Your keywords should fit naturally into your content and not be used too frequently.
2. Optimize your site for local SEO
As most of your business will come from locals, making sure your site is optimized for locations around your dealership will be important.
According to the SEO experts at Search Engine Land, 82 percent of smartphone shoppers conduct “near me” searches. Search queries with city names are also popular with consumers. The better your website is optimized for these local searches, the higher it will show up on the first page and be clicked on by potential customers in your local area. Add “near me” and city and neighborhood names on relevant pages, in blog posts, in URLs, and in title tags and meta descriptions.
3. Update Your Google My Business
Google My Business (GMB) has become an integral part of any local SEO strategy. Snagging a spot in the coveted local “3-pack” — the top three local results ranking at the top of Google for local searches — can result in a major uplift in traffic to your site. To keep your GMB in top shape, make sure it displays accurate hours, addresses, and photos. Additionally, encourage your customers to leave a Google review after their experience with your dealership. The more positive customer reviews you have, the higher your potential for ranking in the 3-pack.
Boost your online sales
Digital car selling isn’t just the future of automotive sales — it’s the present. To make sure you’re offering a superior digital retail experience, contact Carzato today, and use the tips above to drive more leads to your site using SEO.