![Car Dealership: use SEO so everyone can find you on internet [SEO checklist]](http://onlineyougrow.com/cdn/shop/articles/cov-seo-checklist-1_52450867-17f1-463d-a68a-29852a018728.png?v=1715867291&width=1100)
SEO isn't just for tech giants and e-commerce sites—it's a powerful tool that the top car dealerships use strategically to attract customers.
We understand that you're busy managing your dealership, and the idea of optimizing your website might seem like an added burden.
But here's the thing: you don't need to be an SEO expert or spend a fortune to make it work. Just a few simple steps can significantly improve your online visibility and bring more customers to your showroom.
To assist you, we have created a free SEO checklist - and for a comprehensive action plan, please check our pack of marketing tactics and strategies for car dealerships.
Get the SEO checklist made for car dealership owners
The best car dealerships rank first on Google. Here is a free tool to to get you started.
What is SEO for car dealerships exactly?
Simply put, SEO is all about making your car dealership’s website more attractive to search engines like Google.
When someone searches for "best car dealership in [Your Town]" or "affordable SUVs near me," SEO helps your dealership show up in the results. The goal is to get your website higher up on the search results page so more people can find and visit your dealership.
Why is SEO Important for Car Dealerships?
SEO is incredibly important for car dealerships, and here’s why:
- Increased Online Visibility:
The higher your website ranks on search engines, the more people will see it. This means more potential customers discovering your dealership online, especially when they're looking for their next vehicle.
- Higher Rankings on Search Engines:
Most people don’t look past the first page of search results. By optimizing your site, you can climb those rankings and beat out the competition. Imagine someone searching for "best used cars near me" and finding your dealership right at the top!
- Attracting More Local Customers:
SEO isn't just about getting anyone to your site—it's about getting the right people. Local SEO helps ensure that when someone nearby searches for a car dealership, your business pops up. This means more foot traffic and more customers visiting your showroom.
Key Components of SEO
Now, let’s break down the main parts of SEO specifically for your car dealership:
On-Page SEO
This involves making sure the content on your website is optimized. It includes things like:
- Keywords:
Using the words and phrases people are searching for in your titles, descriptions, and content. For example, if you specialize in electric vehicles, make sure you use phrases like "best electric cars" or "affordable EVs" on your site.
- Content Quality:
Providing useful, engaging, and fresh content about your dealership. Share your inventory, special offers, upcoming events, and stories about your team and customer experiences.
- Meta Tags:
Using meta titles and descriptions that are relevant and appealing to searchers. For instance, a meta description for your homepage could be "Find your next car at [Your Dealership Name], the top-rated car dealership in [Your Town]."
Off-Page SEO
This focuses on actions taken outside your website to impact your rankings:
- Backlinks:
Getting other reputable websites to link to your site, which signals to search engines that your site is trustworthy and relevant. This could be from automotive blogs, local news sites, or community event pages.
- Social Media:
Being active on social media with your dealership’s page can drive traffic to your site and improve your online presence. Share your latest arrivals, customer testimonials, and special promotions to engage with your audience.
Technical SEO
This ensures your website meets the technical requirements of search engines:
- Site Speed:
Making sure your website loads quickly. No one likes to wait, especially potential customers eager to see your inventory!
- Mobile-Friendliness:
Ensuring your site looks and works well on mobile devices. Many people search for car dealerships on their phones while on the go.
- Secure Website (HTTPS):
Having a secure website that users (and search engines) can trust. This is especially important if you have an online inquiry or booking system.
Some car dealerships make 5x more profit than you!
We have studied the strategies of the best car dealerships in the world. Replicate them now!
Which keywords should you target for your car dealership?
Car dealership owners, like you, must target specific keywords in SEO because it helps your website appear in search results when potential customers look for the type of vehicles or services you offer. This increases the chances that people will find and visit your dealership.
For example, if you specialize in electric cars, targeting keywords like "best electric car dealership" or "electric cars near me" helps attract customers searching for those terms. This makes it easier for people interested in electric vehicles to find your dealership online.
Here are some keyword ideas for you. If you want a more developed strategy with actionable steps, go check out our strategy pack for car dealership owners.
| Keyword | Competitiveness Level | Tips and Initiatives |
|---|---|---|
| Best [Car Type] dealership in [Your City] | High | Optimize your website with high-quality images of vehicles, gather customer reviews, list on local directories, and use local SEO strategies. |
| Where to buy [Car Type] | Medium | Create blog posts or pages on your website highlighting your best vehicles, use keywords naturally in content, and engage with local automotive bloggers. |
| Dealership with good service near me | Medium | Use beautiful imagery of your dealership's facilities, gather positive customer reviews, and ensure your Google My Business profile is complete. |
| Best place for [Car Type] in [Your City] | Medium | Feature specific car types prominently on your website (e.g., SUVs, sedans), use local SEO tactics, and promote specials on social media. |
| [Your Car Brand] dealership in [Your City] | High | Highlight unique aspects of your car brand, create SEO-friendly content about your vehicles, and engage with the local community online. |
| Top-rated [Car Type] dealership near me | High | Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, optimize your website for mobile, and ensure accurate information on local listings. |
| Affordable [Car Type] in [Your City] | Low | Highlight affordable options and specials on your website, use keywords related to value, and promote deals on social media. |
| Where to find [Car Type] near me | Medium | Use local SEO strategies, create content around popular vehicles, and ensure your website is optimized for mobile users searching nearby. |
| Popular [Car Type] dealership in [Your City] | Medium | Use social media to share popular vehicle models, engage with local influencers, and gather customer testimonials to build credibility. |
| Best [Car Type] dealership for families in [Your City] | Low | Create family-friendly content, highlight amenities for families on your website, and host family-themed events to generate buzz. |
What really matters when you do SEO for a car dealership
Actually, we think that SEO often follows the 80/20 rule, meaning that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. For car dealership owners, like you, this means it's crucial to focus on the right strategies to maximize impact without feeling overwhelmed.
| Action / Initiative | Why It Matters / How It Helps Bring New Customers |
|---|---|
| Optimize Google My Business profile | Ensures your dealership appears in local search results, provides essential information (hours, location, inventory), and collects reviews to build trust. |
| Gather and respond to online reviews | Positive reviews build credibility and trust. Responding to reviews shows you value customer feedback, encouraging more people to visit. |
| Create high-quality content with targeted keywords | Helps your website rank higher in search results for relevant queries, attracting customers looking for specific makes, models, or services. |
| Optimize for local SEO | Ensures your dealership shows up in local searches (e.g., "car dealerships near me"), driving foot traffic from nearby potential customers. |
| Ensure website is mobile-friendly | Most users search for cars on their phones. A mobile-friendly site provides a better user experience, leading to higher engagement and conversions. |
| Use high-quality images of vehicles and showroom | Attractive photos entice potential customers, showcasing your inventory and dealership ambiance, which can significantly influence their decision to visit. |
| Include detailed vehicle listings with keywords | Allows search engines to index your inventory, helping you appear in searches for specific vehicles, and makes it easy for customers to see what you offer. |
| List your dealership on local directories | Increases your online presence and backlinks, improving your search engine ranking and making it easier for customers to find you. |
| Engage with local automotive bloggers and influencers | Generates buzz and word-of-mouth, reaching a wider audience and attracting customers who trust these local voices. |
| Promote special events and offers | Creates a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging potential customers to visit your dealership for unique deals and events. |
| Utilize social media to share updates and engage with customers | Builds a community around your dealership, keeps customers informed about new arrivals and promotions, and drives traffic to your website. |
| Ensure accurate and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across all platforms | Prevents confusion, helps search engines trust your business information, and improves your local SEO ranking. |
| Offer online appointment scheduling and inquiries | Makes it convenient for customers to plan their visit or ask questions, leading to increased bookings and sales. |
| Create blog posts about your vehicles and dealership experience | Attracts visitors to your site through informative and engaging content, improving SEO and showcasing what makes your dealership unique. |
Copy the tactics of the best car dealerships in the world!
There are car dealerships that make way more money than you do. We have studied their tactics. Get them now!
What is always useless when you do SEO for a car dealership
We have studied a lot of car dealerships when we built our strategy pack and we saw a lot of SEO-related initiatives that don't help attract new customers. We explain here why they might be a waste of time or even counterproductive.
| Action / Initiative | Why It Doesn't Matter / How It Doesn't Help Bring New Customers |
|---|---|
| Using meta keyword tags | Search engines no longer use meta keyword tags to rank pages, so focusing on them doesn't improve SEO for your car dealership. |
| Keyword stuffing in vehicle descriptions | Overusing keywords in vehicle descriptions makes them hard to read and can be penalized by search engines, turning away potential customers. |
| Paying for backlinks from unrelated websites | Backlinks from non-automotive related or low-quality websites don't improve your SEO and can even hurt your ranking if considered spammy by search engines. |
| Using exact match domains like bestcardealerintown.com | Having an exact match domain has minimal impact on SEO and can appear spammy, especially if it doesn't reflect your brand well. |
| Creating multiple pages for the same vehicle models | Duplicate content confuses search engines and can dilute your SEO efforts. Focus on one high-quality page for each unique vehicle model or topic. |
| Using Flash for inventory or booking pages | Flash is outdated, not supported by many devices, and negatively impacts SEO. Modern alternatives like HTML5 should be used instead. |
| Focusing only on desktop optimization | Many customers search for car dealerships on mobile devices. Ignoring mobile optimization leads to poor user experience and lower search rankings. |
| Using automated link-building tools | These tools often create low-quality or spammy links that can be penalized by search engines, hurting your dealership's SEO efforts. |
| Ignoring structured data for vehicle listings | Structured data helps search engines understand your vehicle listings better. Ignoring it means missing out on potential SEO benefits like rich snippets. |
| Not updating your online inventory regularly | Outdated inventory information can frustrate customers and harm your SEO. Regular updates keep content relevant and maintain search rankings. |
| Using irrelevant stock photos on your site | Low-quality or irrelevant images can negatively impact user experience and SEO. Use high-quality photos of your actual vehicles and dealership. |
| Over-optimizing anchor text in links | Using exact match keywords for every link appears unnatural and can be penalized by search engines. Use varied, natural anchor text instead. |
| Ignoring page load speed for your website | Slow-loading pages frustrate users and can lead to higher bounce rates, negatively impacting your dealership's SEO. Ensure your site loads quickly. |
| Using too many ads above the fold on your homepage | Too many ads at the top of the page can be off-putting for users and may be penalized by search engines, impacting your SEO negatively. |
Should you pay someone for the SEO of your car dealership?
Well, let's be upfront. Here’s the thing: SEO can get pretty complex, and having some support can really make a difference. Imagine trying to juggle running your car dealership, managing your sales team, keeping customers satisfied, and then on top of that, diving into the world of search engine optimization. It’s a lot, right?
Having someone handle your SEO means you can focus on what you do best—running your dealership. SEO experts know the ins and outs of getting your website to rank higher on search engines. They stay updated on the latest trends and algorithms, which means your site will be optimized correctly and consistently. This can lead to more people finding your dealership online, and ultimately, more customers walking through your showroom.
- But here’s the kicker: there are a lot of low-hanging fruits in SEO that you can tackle on your own, even if you don’t know much about it.
You will find a lot of low-hanging fruits that cost nothing, are quick to implement, and will make your dealership’s website much more visible in strategy pack for car dealership owners.
Simple actions like optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly, and using relevant keywords can significantly improve your online presence. These tasks don't require deep technical knowledge but can make a big impact.
So, should you increase the marketing budget of your dealership and pay someone to manage your SEO? If you can do it, it’s a worthwhile investment. But don't underestimate what you can achieve on your own. Start with the basics, see the results, and then decide if you need more specialized help.
Make your car dealership more profitable
We have studied the strategies of the best car dealerships in the world. All their tactics are explained in our pack!
Useful tools car dealership owners can use for their SEO
Here are some essential tools that our team has collected and listed, to help you improve your car dealership's online presence and SEO.
| Tool | How It's Useful |
|---|---|
| Google My Business | Ensures your car dealership appears in local search results and Google Maps, provides essential information (hours, location, inventory), and collects customer reviews. |
| SEMrush | Helps identify the best keywords for your dealership, analyze competitors, and track your search rankings. Provides insights to improve your content and visibility. |
| Yext | Manages your dealership's listings across multiple directories, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information to boost local SEO. |
| Google Search Console | Monitors your dealership website's performance, identifies issues, and provides data on search traffic and keywords to optimize your SEO strategy. |
| Yelp | Collects customer reviews and ratings, which improve your dealership's online reputation and visibility in local search results. |
| BrightLocal | Offers tools for local SEO audits, citation building, and review management, helping your dealership improve its local search presence. |
| Moz | Provides keyword research, link building, and site audit tools to enhance your dealership's SEO efforts and improve search engine rankings. |
| Ahrefs | Analyzes your dealership's backlink profile, identifies top-performing content, and tracks keyword rankings to boost your SEO strategy. |
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Crawls your dealership's website to identify technical SEO issues, such as broken links and duplicate content, helping improve site health and rankings. |
| AnswerThePublic | Generates content ideas by showing what people are searching for related to your dealership, helping you create relevant and engaging blog posts and pages. |
| Canva | Helps create visually appealing social media posts and graphics for your website, which can improve user engagement and indirectly boost SEO. |
| Hotjar | Provides insights into user behavior on your dealership's website through heatmaps and session recordings, helping you optimize user experience and reduce bounce rates. |
Copy the SEO tactics of the best car dealership owners
We understand why many car dealership owners might shy away from SEO and marketing.
Running a car dealership is already a full-time job, and the concept of SEO can seem vague and foreign. The terminology can be confusing, and it often feels like marketing is a luxury only big corporations can afford.
Plus, there's the constant worry about costs and whether any marketing efforts will actually pay off. We get that you prefer to focus on immediate, tangible improvements to your dealership rather than dive into something that seems complicated and uncertain. No need to deteriorate your dealership’s budget here.
That's why we've created a "marketing pack" specifically for car dealership owners like you.
Our pack is designed to address all these concerns head-on. It includes easy-to-follow guides that break down SEO and marketing into simple steps, so you don't need to be a tech expert to understand. We offer cost-effective strategies that fit within tight budgets, and our step-by-step plans ensure that you can implement a good marketing strategy for your dealership without feeling overwhelmed.
Plus, we've included real-life examples and tips that have worked for other small dealerships, so you can see the tangible benefits before you even start.
Our goal is to make marketing accessible and practical, helping your dealership thrive without adding extra stress to your already busy life.
Your car dealership could make more money!
Most car dealership owners don't know how to grow their business. Let us teach you the right strategies.
