Local SEO Practices Auto Dealerships Need to Implement to Capitalize on Local Markets

Optimizing auto dealership websites by implementing effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices is a popular Internet marketing strategy. This helps auto dealership websites rank higher in the search engines results and get more traffic to the website. However, as these practices focus more on gaining global exposure, there is a need for auto dealerships to focus on SEO techniques that enable them to capitalize on local markets.

For every auto dealership, local markets are very important and are generally highly competitive - local prospects are looking for dealerships in and around their area. In such a scenario, it is important for the dealership websites to rank well even in the local searches.

Local SEO is one strategy designed to optimize the dealer’s website in such a way that it ranks higher in local search results. Let us look at different techniques used in local SEO strategies that can bring good results.

Tips to optimize your dealership's website for local customers
Your dealership website can be a powerful tool to promote your business online. The following tips will be useful in this regard:

• Let the search engines know about your business: For every search that is performed on search engines, a list of results is returned. The results will definitely be the list of businesses that offer products/services related to the search.

A point to note here is that only the businesses that submit their profiles to the search engines will get included in these results. So, auto dealerships first need to submit their business profile to the popular search engines in order to get listed in the local searches. Further, they need to skillfully optimize their website to get listed in the top local search results, to gain maximum visibility to the local prospects.

• Optimize the website using relevant local keywords: Optimizing an auto dealership’s website with location specific keywords increases your chances of ranking higher for the searches coming from your location. In order for your website to rank when a location specific search has been made you need to optimize your website with regular search terms (or keywords) that people will type while searching for auto dealers in your locality.

• Get listed in local directories: Besides submitting your websites to search engines, you should also submit your website to local online directories. There are thousands of local directories specific to your business. Choose reliable and credible directories and get listed. Listing in online local directories, will enable you to get back-links to your website. Such back-links are critical in building credibility to the website and help your Search Engine rankings.

• Focus on creating location specific content: Make sure that your dealership website has good quality, informational content that serves the local audiences. As you focus on local customers, the content you put on the website should be relevant to them. Write blogs, tips, and articles on topics relevant to their needs. Give location addresses, telephone numbers, times when business transactions go on, and the kind of products/services you offer in the area.

• Design promotions for local audiences: While targeting local prospects, you need to ensure that your online promotions are customized for them. You can use any kind of new event, on-going offer, year-end clearance sale that is going-on in your dealership to design the promotions. Since there is feasibility in online marketing to update marketing campaigns, unlike in traditional marketing, there is nothing to worry about the time-sensitivity of the promotion.

• Measure results, refine strategy, and repeat: One common mistake most businesses do while using local SEO is not measuring the results of the implemented strategy. Unless they do it, they do not know its effectiveness and cannot calculate their ROI.

As the main aim of local SEO is to connect and engage the local audiences, the results should match the objectives. In case, they are not up to the mark, dealerships need to refine the strategy and repeat it until they achieve their objective. This process should be ongoing until you reach your Internet marketing objective.

Hire a professional local SEO specialist
Having known the benefits of optimization of your website to local markets, it is time to think how to get the task done. As SEO is a highly specialized work, it is sensible from a business standpoint to hire a professional specializing in local SEO. You can get timely and long-lasting results by hiring such professionals. These guys will have a thorough knowledge on the local SEO practices and hence make your task easy.

Search Optics, Inc. is a leader in digital marketing solutions for the automotive industry. Search Optics interactive marketing services include custom websites, search engine optimization, paid search and mobile solutions that generate leads which result in sales opportunities. Search Optics specializes in automotive digital marketing and automotive marketing services.