Social media: For some it’s their favourite past time, for others it is the bane of their life. Love it or hate it, there is no denying it plays a massive part in all of our daily lives– so if you haven’t already, it really is time to embrace it, especially from a business point of view. With that in mind, this blog is going to focus on Car Dealers – although feel free to interpret any of the points for your own business.

  It’s common knowledge that Car Dealers are experts in their field in most aspects of traditional marketing (billboards, newspapers, brochures, radio ads etc.) You name it and they have it covered. It does seem however, that a large portion of car dealers (Not all!) do not utilise and severely underestimate the power of Social Media.  Perhaps it’s the typical scepticism that is within the Irish culture “Sure who would buy a car online?”, and although it is possible to buy a car online (yes really!) that’s not what this is about. What if I was to tell you that you can advertise your business to your customers for free? Would you jump at the offer? Of course you would!  

With all that being said here are my top 6 tips for Cars Dealers:

1. Be Social

So many businesses forget what their objective is, so here is a hint - you are on SOCIAL media! This is the perfect place to add a personal element to your business, this is not however, the place to add your entire car directory and spam your customers with information and images. People are naturally nosey and any insights into the personal side of the business will generally be well recieved and create a personal attachment to a potential customer, that you have never even met. This can be the hardest element to begin with, but trust me, once you do you will be amazed how many post opportunities you will see each and every day.

2. The Team

There is no “I” in team, so following on from point one about keeping it personal, you should show case your team. Make your customers feel like they know you and your team members, before they even enter the forecourt. Your team is what keeps your business going and not only will it increase their morale by telling the world how great they are, it will show the discerning public how valued the team really is. If you have a specialist in a certain area, then tell your customers all about it.

3. The Customers

It’s a personal peeve of my own when a customer takes the time to try to interact with a business only to be met by a stone wall. If a client leaves you a lovely review, then remember your manners and say thank you. If by chance they leave you a bad review, then, address the issues politely and as the old saying goes “There is no such thing as bad publicity”. Make a point of showing happy & satisfied clients leaving with their sparklingly new car and if there is a personal element, add it to the post. (But Always obtain permission)

4. The Rule of Thirds

If you are finding the balance of the first few points hard to manage, try Hootsuites Rule of Thirds - Hootsuites is a clever tool used for managing all you social media platforms.  This clearly lays out that a third of your content should be business related. The next third should be the personal element, to promote your business and brand in a different, social way. The final third is the most general part, this can include local events, some humorous memes and seasonal activities. A simple and clever idea for car dealers is to feature a weekly top tip on how to maintain their cars.

5. Platforms

There are multiple social media platforms; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google +, Pinterest, Snapchat, Tumblr, Flickr, to name but a few of the most popular ones. The most important aspect is to post the right content to the right platform. To give you some guidance on this there are some things to consider. You simply can’t Snapchat without a face filter!  Does you’re Twitter have the right hashtag? But, most importantly is your photo "Insta" ready? If you’re even slightly confused about any of what you have just read, then you need to do your research before launching into multiple platforms. Remember to post quality over quantity. Another solid piece of advice is to start easy and walk before you run.  Pick the most suitable platform for your business demographic and master each platform one at time before moving onto the next one. A big no-no is having inactive social media account.  If you’re not using it - start now!

6. Paid Advertising

This is the only tip that involves any input apart from your time. This one is a little more complicated and needs far more than a bullet point! Advertising on social media, just as in traditional advertising, comes in many forms and can target a specific demographic tailored to your business.        

If you need advice on the best way to spend money on social media platforms, have any questions, or need assistance with your social media, contact the Dmac Media Digital marketing team today.