What Is Car Advertising (Automotive Advertising)?

The automotive industry is ever changing, with new models and innovative technology constantly hitting the streets – nearly faster than consumers can keep up. The car-buying process, in response, has been redefined to meet drivers’ needs. Today, many Palmetto State dealers strive to provide a simple, stress-free experience, relying on effective car advertising to spread the word.

How is Car Advertising So Important To The Auto Industry?

Car advertising plays a major role in dealerships’ success, with many showing a direct correlation between ad spend and cars sold.

Here’s what Statista Research Department research reveals:

• American dealerships spent $7.48 billion on advertising in 2020.
  • Average dealership spent $273 thousand on online advertising.
  • Average dealership spent $70 thousand on TV advertising.
  • Average dealership spent $41.4 thousand on radio advertising.
• The automotive industry in the U.S. spent $12.42 billion in 2020 on digital advertising alone.
• Mobile ad spend in the U.S. climbed over $129 billion in 2020, with the retail sector accounting for nearly a quarter of that total.

How Costly is Car Advertising?

At Motivated Marketing, our team delivers incredible creative that meets dealers’ unique needs – and their budgets. We offer various packages to assist clients of all sizes, from small hometown dealers to national automotive groups. Because we believe that limited funds should never limit your potential, our marketing specialists will work to deliver the most bang for your buck.

Biggest Challenge for the Automotive Marketers When Performing Car Advertising?

A vehicle purchase is a major investment, and many car dealers must contend with an age-old stereotype – one that portrays them as slick, sleazy and solely focused on profit. That’s why gaining consumers’ trust is often dealers’ biggest challenge. They must not only communicate monthly deals and savings, but prove that customers will enjoy honest service from the very start.

M2’s marketing specialists can help, setting your car dealership apart from the competition. We know that reaching car buyers means meeting them where they are: online. In fact, studies show that 97% of people interested in buying, repairing or customizing a vehicle start their search online. Our team produces eye-catching digital advertising that stops consumers from scrolling – and gets them on the lot.

3 Major Changes Impacting Automotive Marketing Moving Forward (2022)

The automotive industry is advancing quickly, with the following changes encouraging progress:

The pandemic forced a shift to digital.

Many dealerships were already beginning to offer more services digitally, with 88% of buyers starting their car search online. But the pandemic accelerated these advancements, and while some dealerships struggled to make the shift, others pivoted quickly. Today, many of our clients offer 100% digital buying, allowing consumers to complete the entire purchase process from home.

Buyers are demanding a different approach.

Buyers are not only busy, but accustomed to purchasing everything online. This applies to vehicle purchases as well. Many prospective buyers expect to be able to see all their options online, saving them the time and hassle of visiting the lot.

Siloed data and tools won’t work.

Auto companies take a siloed approach, with specialists sticking to what they know: sales, service, financing, etc. But this strategy is not effective in nurturing leads. To ensure consumers enjoy a seamless experience from start to finish, data is used to reach them at each stage of the process.

Can I Do The Marketing Myself Instead Of Using An Advertising Agency?

Sure, if you have plenty of spare time on your hands – and experience gathering data, predicting trends, targeting audiences, producing killer campaigns, etc. Or you can trust our team to handle it for you, freeing you to focus on what you do best: selling cars!

Our marketing specialists understand the automotive industry and the unique challenges that face dealerships like yours. And we know how best to reach prospective buyers, turning leads into loyal customers. We have been serving automotive clients for over a decade, and we are eager to put our experience to work for you.

What Are The Biggest Mistakes Car Dealerships Make In Managing Their Own Automotive Advertising?

Many car dealers find themselves veering off track, with these potholes in their paths:

• Low quality content
• Failure to embrace search engine optimization (SEO)
• Inconsistent social media presence and no audience engagement
• Poorly developed online marketing strategy
• No competitor analysis or data analysis
• Amateurish website
• Website not optimized for mobile devices
• No paid advertising

No matter the mistake, our marketing specialists can get your dealership back on the road to success! We’ve done it countless times, taking our clients to the next level with expertly-crafted creative and proven strategy.

What Makes M2 Different from Other Advertising Agencies?

Here at Motivated Marketing, we take an innovative approach, blending modern and traditional advertising to reach your target audience. Our marketing specialists often recommend a cross-platform strategy to reach buyers through digital (paid search, social media, etc.) and traditional (TV, radio, etc.) avenues.

With over 15 years of experience, we have earned our reputation for unmatched service. M2 prioritizes open communication, assigning a designated marketing specialist to managing your account. Trust our team to keep in touch, and to provide the following services:

Brand Development
Digital Advertising
Direct Mail
Email Marketing
Graphic Design
Media Buying
SEO
Social Media
Video Production
Web & Development

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