Get your dealers blog fired up! Wooh!
So it’s 2012 and after months and months of putting it off, your dealership is ready to finally get started on their car dealership blog.
For the purpose of this article, I am going to assume that you have already bought into why you should have a blog for your dealership. At this point you are just looking for some guidance on what to start writing about.
Don’t worry I’m not going to bore you with a bunch of search engine optimization mumbo jumbo that your website provider is probably ramming down your throat. I’ve been in your shoes. Starting a blog is the easy part. The problem is a majority of blogs do not make it to see their 1st birthday because of a lack of vision, process, and content ideas.
I often stumble across a dealer’s blog and see the same patterns time and time again. Their blog will have 3-5 posts and most of the time it is a limited time special sale or a current promotion (that is expired ). Don’t forget the last entry was one years ago. They failed because they weren’t bought into blogging and were not prepared. I won’t let that happen to you.
Answer your customer’s questions:
It’s simple. Your future car buyers are going to Google and typing in all the questions they may have about their next vehicle purchase or service. Once Google realizes that you are the authority on these topics you are going to make it rain with the search engines!! Simple Terms: MORE TRAFFIC
Talk to the staff and find out “What are the top 10 questions” customers ask on a regular basis. Do this for sales and service and you will be able to get a list together in no time. Once you have the topics it is easy. Why you ask?? Because you are the expert on these topics dammit! Hitting the top of Google on car review you sell is going to be a home run.
Review Posts Secret Sauce: Here is a quick secret. Review everything!!! New car comes out.. Review it! New option comes out..Review it (Navigation, Blue Tooth, Iphone App). Online shoppers will add the word “review” to the end of all kinds of search queries.
But please, please, pretty please do not just copy and paste a review off the manufacturer’s website. We are looking for fresh original content. This has got to be one my biggest pet peeves I see dealers doing all the time. It’s just flat out lame.
Okay here it is…..20 Blog Post ideas for your Car Dealership:
I know it seems like a real pain in the ass to come up with new articles but c’mon you are a car dealership, there are so many things to talk about. Hopefully this list will give you some inspiration and get the wheels in motion. Oh ya.. I haven’t worked in a car dealership since 2008 and I came up with these in about 20 minutes.
- Should I lease or finance my new car?
- Will I get more money selling my car private or trading it in at the dealership?
- Is it safe to do a credit application on a dealership’s website?
- What isn’t covered in the manufacturer’s warranty?
- Where in (your town) can I get my car detailed?
- Where in (your town) can I get an oil change?
- Looking for a new Honda Civic? Try a Chevy Cruze ( comparison article)
- Should I buy a new car or a used car?
- What kind of down payment do I need to finance a car?
- Do I need to take my car to the dealership I purchased it from for service?
- How can I terminate my car lease early?
- Here are some new ways to – Wax Your Own Car (How to do stuff posts)
- Top 5 questions to ask yourself before you buy a new car? (used vs. new)
- Who qualifies for the Honda (your make) graduate program?
- Trailering specs for the GMC Yukon (enter your make/model)
- ABC Motors review of the new 2012 Chevy Volt (every model you sell should have a dealer produced review)
- What is an admin fee and what does it cover?
- Top 3 places to get your car washed in ENTER YOUR CITY
- Winter tires vs. All season tires?
- Top 5 myths about buying a new car (get your hit list from staff)
Please use the comment box below to add any titles that you think would work. I’d love to turn this blog post into a Car Dealer Blog Title Bible!
Bonus*** Here a few dealer blogs that are doing it right:
- Capital Ford
- Marlboro Nissan ( Great use of posts that are not t always AUTO)
- Patty Peck Honda
- Checkered Flag
By: Ryan Thompson
Rob Fontano January 14, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Great article Ryan! The hardest part of blogging is getting started. I always used Word Press due to familiarity but there are some other great choices. In addition to the great suggestions that you mentioned, keep in mind that there is always news around a dealership. New hires, tenure, employee of the month, etc. are all news worthy blog articles. Content drives your blog because content drives SEO. Stay consistent and schedule your posts if it helps. I treated my dealer blogs as I did facebook, not too pitchy or sales oriented, but don’t be afraid to include a few articles about current sales and promotions.
Donna Ransdell January 15, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Thanks for the shout out for Patty Peck Honda. Love your ideas for more articles, I also find inspiration from the FAQ section of the OEM website.
Ryan Thompson January 15, 2012 at 3:55 pm
@Rob – Capital Ford does a good job of updating their blog with new hires and community info.
Your Nissan dealer had content coming out of the you know what. Thanks for dropping by, your experience is a great asset to the blog.
Ryan Thompson January 15, 2012 at 4:01 pm
@Donna – Thanks for stopping by! The one thing I really like about your blog is that it is a sub domain of the main site (http://www.pattypeckhonda.com/blog/).
Without getting too geeky, basically your nav bars are the same as on your main dealer site. Someone who finds your site through a blog post on Google might convert into a sales or service lead with those calls to action just a click away.
There are all kinds of debates on having a separate domain for your blog vs a sub domain. I’m no SEO master but I’m thinking the sub domain is the way to go.
Patty Peck Honda is one of the best examples of a dealership using inbound marketing effectively.
FAQ on the OEM website sound like a no brainer for some inspiration.
Cheers,
Ryan
Mitch Gallant January 23, 2012 at 8:43 am
Great job Ryan, and you’re spot on about traffic. If you’re just getting started with a blog, one of the hardest parts is actually getting over the paralysis of what’s my first post and actually getting going.
You have to be creative in your posts and that’s tough. In order to be creative you have to put your balls on the line, and most people don’t want to take the risk. This is why it’s so valuable. Inbound/content marketing will be the norm in a few years, if you’re not all over getting it going now, by the time you do it won’t be worth half as much to you as it is now.
Don’t be part of the late majority or the laggards. Put your balls on the line and do something!
Ryan Thompson January 23, 2012 at 4:30 pm
@Mitch – I also think it is important to utilize Facebook and Twitter to get the word out about your blog. It can take some time before you start relying on the organic Google Goodness.
Love your attitude. Hope you are dominating the prairies with inbound marketing magic.
Jeff Cryder Jr. February 1, 2012 at 8:44 pm
Great article Ryan. I believe you hit the nail on the head when it comes to content ideas: Answer the questions people have about car shopping, servicing and owning. We’ve [Lebanon Ford] found the best way to get started especially if you’re planning on assembling a content team is to create a set of Editorial Guidelines. Within it list the “mission statement” of your blog, expectations, audience, topic guidelines and formatting structure. For example the mission of our blog Ford Life (ford-life.com) is to “add comfort, understanding, knowledge and trust to car shopping and owning”. Once you layout your goal/misson the content will just fall into place.
Good stuff. Cheers!
Ryan Thompson February 2, 2012 at 8:36 pm
@Jeff – I’m so happy you stopped by The Geek! Your blog is a work of art and should be on every dealers “favorites”. The schedule is the key to success. Get everyone in a room and come up with 50 of the most asked questions……BOOYA there is the next 6 months of topics.
I’m sure the articles you have generated are giving your website a nice friendly kick in the ass.
Blog Hard,
Ryan
Sylvia Dana March 7, 2012 at 8:56 pm
Thank you! I loved it!
AA Car Transport LLC January 11, 2013 at 10:51 am
I forwarded this page to a friend who have a dealership so he can start his blog as well.
You have some great ideas!
in my car transport blog I always use the FAQ to inspire the blog.
Most people who come and buy a car or transport a car are a first timers and they appreciate the fact they can sit at home and read vs a sales person telling them and trying to close the deal.
I do get from time to time customers who told me we read your blog and loved it, you give a lot of information and such. Those are sales in the pocket right there without even sweating.
Ryan Thompson January 12, 2013 at 7:52 am
I checked out your blog and it looks amazing!! I’m sure you get a lot of inbound leads from potential customers that are get educated from ……………YOU! The expert.
If you haven’t already you should check out Marcus’s blog The Sales Lion. He can take your transport companies blog to new levels. Lot’s of free tips and tricks.
http://www.thesaleslion.com/
sean February 4, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Ryan,
I’m not in the car business. I represent a well known cartoonist that created a few popular automotive dealership related illustrations a number of years ago. The prints have never been available for sale until now and I want to get the word out to all those that love the dealership industry. I appreciate you letting me do this on your blog. Check out http://www.dealershipprints.com. Smiles guaranteed!!!