Automotive SEO

Many car dealers have seen the light and have created Facebook fan pages.  As part of our monthly Internet Marketing package we offer car dealers advice on how to use Facebook and Twitter as well as custom skinning services.  Often we are asked if posting all their cars on Facebook  as "posts" would be annoying to consumers and the answer is yes.

Facebook is not meant to be a one-way conversation about you and how great your cars or sales are!

But a company called DealerRater.com has provided an alternative; a custom tab that displays a dealer's car inventory on Facebook.  DealerRater is known as a top destination for consumers to share their experiences about a car dealership.  Not many people know that the company also offers a set of tools that can enhance a car dealer's online reputation and now even sales tools for Facebook.

I love to write about new technology or ideas for the automotive community as I find them. Since Facebook is a hot topic I thought I would write about customizing a car dealer's Facebook page to make it more interesting.

Facebook Auto Classifieds

Dealers can now insert a listing of their car inventory to a Facebook Fan Page tab using tools from DealerRater.com. You can see an example of this in action on the Infiniti of Norwood Facebook Fan Page below.

Kevin Lepine, Internet Sales Manager at the Massachusetts Infiniti dealership created a tab called "Classified Ads" on their Fan Page which when you click on the tab it shows their inventory.

This is a tasteful way to add car listing functionality to Facebook without posting cars in the main Facebook news stream. This feed is free to dealers on the Certified Dealer program and it is easy to add to your fan page.

I recommend that you add graphics with a call to action message to make your fans aware of the inventory tab. Once they know that the listing module is there, they have the option to shop or just read your news stream. I believe the tab adds value to those that follower you and Kevin states that it is generating leads.

Custom HTML Inside Facebook

You can add HTML code pages to your Facebook Fan Pages that can mimic your website. It can also have active HTML buttons that bring people to your website as shown in the example below.

We created a custom TAB for Sam Snellenberger from ABC Motor Credit's Facebook Page shown below. ABC is a Buy Here Pay Here dealership in Ohio.  Same has a contest running which they wanted to leverage on Facebook as well as to drive more consumers to their website.

A custom tab was created and called "Ohio Used Cars". Click on this link to visit their Fan Page:  http://www.facebook.com/ABCMotorCredit

If you are not handy with HTML coding, we can help you customize your Facebook Fan Page. It only took a few minutes of our team's time to take the HTML code from ABC Motor Credit's website and created this tab. Once these TABS are created, you can add graphics to the Fan Page to encourage people to click on the tabs.

There is a number of creative ways to enhance Facebook. Inventory feeds, video channels, website forms, specials pages or something completely crazy can now be implemented to super-charge your Facebook page.

Automotive Digital Marketing Strategies

If you are looking to lead in 2010 with strong digital marketing strategies for your car dealership I strongly encourage you to consider a special skills building seminar that is schedule in February.

You can super-charge your 2010 marketing plans by attending the Automotive Marketing Boot Camp in Orlando. It is being held on February 12th, one day before the NADA Convention in Orlando.

Do you want to dominate online search in your area? Get the edge on your competitors regarding social media, SEO, microsites, pay-per-click and video marketing strategies from industry leaders.

Jared Hamilton, founder of DrivingSales.com will be the opening night keynote speaker on Thursday evening February 11th. Sign-up today and start the year with strong cutting edge skills and tips from industry leaders.

I will be one of the instructors at the Boot Camp and I hope to see you there!  Learn more about this limited engagement event at: www.internetmarketingbootcamp.com.

See you in Orlando!

Brian Pasch, CEO

Pasch Consulting Group
http://twitter.com/automotiveseo
http://facebook.com/paschconsulting
732-450-8200