As page load speed becomes a search engine ranking factor, it will impact all auto dealer websites that are media rich and heavy with automatic feature loads. While these types of websites are pushed by some design companies, they truly do not enrich the user experience, and that’s exactly what Google is trying to improve. Google’s recent thoughts on page load speed suggest that Google will indeed begin taking page load speed into consideration as a ranking factor. You might focus some of your SEO efforts and resources on making your site faster.  Ultimately this will lead to additional benefits for your web visitors and may possibly improve your sales. This also covers your bases if Google really does start using page load speed as a ranking factor, and gives you a head start on boosting your organic page rankings.

Google has repeatedly stated that it is trying to deliver the best experience in search to it’s users, and fast loading pages is very important to that experience. Take your design ego out of the equation of how your website looks; since page load speed is probably going to happen at some point, it’s much better to deal with it earlier than later when it may negatively impact your website page rank and traffic.

What do you need to improve your page load speed

• Stop using automatic loading videos on the home page of your dealer website. Let your customers choose if and when they want to see your video.
• Do you really need that pop up? How many auto dealer websites use a “talking head” that loads automatically? Once again, let your customers choose the play option for this feature.
• Is it really necessary for “Live Chat” to start when your home page loads? This is no different than having the salesperson standing “on point” waiting for the customer to open their door when they drive into your lot. Give then a second to catch their breath. If you have a well designed website, your customer can find what they need without being shuffled along.
• No Flash. Flash is not search engine friendly, and is way too graphics heavy. Flash will do nothing but slow your page load speed down and make it difficult for the search engines to crawl your auto dealer website.

If you start thinking like a search engine and your customers, you begin to understand the importance of speeding up the web. In addition to page load speed becoming a ranking factor in organic ranking results, also consider Google’s recently introduced real-time results and the importance of including social media in your online marketing strategy.

Social media tool being acquired. I hope it doesn’t get ruined, it’s a pretty neat little tool. http://htxt.it/EGlK

If you are considering using social media marketing, consider how social media is different than paid search marketing or 3rd party lead sources like Autobytel, Dealix, or Cars.com. Social media rests much higher up the purchase funnel than traditional lead sources. While you may use social media to promote service specials and one-off inventory sales, it’s best to remember that social media is more about providing value to the community than throwing up advertisements and special offers online.

Social Media Marketing for Auto Dealers – Where do I Start?
Before you jump into social media marketing, clearly define the goals that are important to your dealership in this medium. Can you use Twitter and Facebook to service more vehicles and sell more cars, most likely you can. But remember, the social area is more about share of mind than taking action now. Using a strong social media strategy for auto dealers allows you to interact with your local market in a positive way and manage your dealership’s reputation. The most important thing you can do here is START WITH A PLAN.

As a business owner you want to control your social media message just as you do with any other marketing you do for your dealership.  After all, it’s your dealerships’ name and brand on the line. When your dealership starts down the path of engaging in social media marketing, you are putting your business and brand online for all to see. Your past and future customers can leave messages about how awesome or awful their customer experience was.

Social Media Strategy For Auto Dealers – Step One
Ok, you have decided to give social media marketing a try, so where do you begin? The first basic step in developing your social media strategy will be to determine how you’re going to generate and publish your content for the medium. Content generation and social authoring isn’t something to be taken lightly nor should it be left in the hands of your Internet department. It’s very easy for your Internet sales team to assume that “Twittering” all day is the same thing as selling cars, but it’s not. Responding correctly to inbound phone calls, walk in traffic and email leads is their primary responsibility and needs to remain their main focus. Posting Tweets and sitting on Facebook bypasses your sales processes and the hard work of actually selling cars.

Dealers that have become active in social media have quickly learned that an effective social media strategy can benefit just about every department within the dealership. Before you embrace a social media strategy for auto dealers, decide how it will be managed and who will be responsible for the content generation and placement.

Writing social media marketing for auto dealers. Includes social media for auto dealer reputation management.

Very nice results on website conversions. Auto dealer site improved from 18% to 31% conversion on engagement metrics.