All of those marketing ads can be overwhelming to the consumer, and consequentially do more harm than good. Businesses must adapt to new consumer behaviors and shift from outbound marketing to inbound marketing.

Inbound marketing is the opposite of what most auto dealers currently do. An inbound marketing technique connects to consumers by educating them and providing valuable information, letting the consumers come to them. The method focuses on the quality of information that is presented to the consumer, rather than quantity.

This week on Auto Marketing Now Scott Meyer, Chief Outreach Officer at 9 Clouds, joined Brian Pasch to discuss the importance of inbound marketing.

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Automotive dealers should be answering all of the questions they get in stores online; and as a result people will buy from you because they can learn from you. Today’s consumer finds irrelevant information bothersome, and will immediately be deterred from your dealership if you use this outbound marketing strategy. 9 Clouds is a full service digital agency for auto dealers that uses an inbound marketing method to help their clients sell more cars.

9 Clouds looks at who is on your site and what they are looking at, and can in turn send them relevant information based on their interests or alert the dealer of what the shopper is interested in.

Marketing based on quality rather than quantity will help dealers move past impressions and focus more on conversions. In addition to this, dealers must invest in their own website to build their base and provide valuable and interesting information. Investing in quality will prove to be the real value over the long term.

9 Clouds offers a free inbound marketing assessment and 6 month contracts to receive the full benefit of their services. You can learn more by visiting the 9 Clouds site.

Mass marketing is a thing of the past, we strongly urge dealers to establish a strong inbound marketing strategy.

Marketing Strategy Tip of the Week:

LinkedIn is not used by many dealers, but it should be. If you have a busy fleet department, you can reach other local business decision makers by writing engaging content on LinkedIn. The post can then be syndicated to Twitter, Facebook, and used in any advertising strategy. The LinkedIn address provides credibility and boosts engagement.

Email Grab Bag Question of the Week:

“Do you have any tips for engaging more local consumers on Twitter?”

There are two ways to quickly engage local consumers on Twitter. First, you can include GIFs in your posts. GIFs are animated images that catch the consumer’s attention and increase the likelihood of engagement.

The second tip is to use video clips. Twitter allows users to implement 20 second videos that can be optimized by using a custom audience, effective targeting, and relevant content.

Remember, building the base of your website will overtime be the most valuable investment your business can make. For more on the latest in the digital world, tune into Auto Marketing Now with Brian Pasch every Wednesday…your dealership is worth it!

About the Author

PCG Digital Marketing is an award winning digital agency headquartered in Eatontown, NJ. We help our clients get found online through innovative search, social and online advertising campaigns.