| A greater number of people are using the Internet to | | | | feature is a vehicle request sourcing form. The car |
| search for their next new or used car or truck. Having | | | | website can include a vehicle request page in which a |
| a website with the right means can be a powerful | | | | customer can profile a certain year, make and model |
| marketing tool and source of additional sales for | | | | that they are interested in along with colors and extra |
| dealers.Automobile web sites expand a car dealer's | | | | features they are looking for. This aspect is very |
| potential geographic draw and customer reach. | | | | appealing to many car or truck buyers who have |
| Anyone who has access to the Internet is a potential | | | | something very specific in mind. The customer can |
| client as requesting additional pictures, information, or | | | | shop without the bother of going from dealer to |
| even shipping is not a big issue. Good car web sites | | | | dealer.Just having a website isn't enough though. The |
| will provide an easily navigated site for possible | | | | marketing and sales text on the site is no different |
| customers. A search function is vital and if the | | | | than when presenting yourself before a customer. The |
| inventory is large, some advanced features to screen | | | | website must have a clear marketing message on |
| down the results even further is very helpful. People | | | | what the consumer can expect, why your dealership |
| visiting the site can shop for cars on the website from | | | | is the right one for them, and a call to action to search |
| anywhere. This is especially helpful for dealers who | | | | for that individual car or see the specials of the day. |
| carry specialty cars or trucks. Many customers will | | | | The quality of the graphics and look of the site can |
| travel a long way to make a purchase if they are | | | | also influence trust along with listing local chamber of |
| searching for something not easily available. They | | | | commerce or any other memberships that establish |
| usually find available vehicles through Internet searches | | | | credibility plus testimonials are also helpful.Most people |
| and then call or make a request for additional | | | | use search engines to carry out their car or truck |
| information.A car website also provides priceless | | | | search on the Internet. Your car website needs to be |
| information about the car dealer's company, their | | | | search engine friendly by making sure the links can be |
| specialty, and any other interesting facts such as how | | | | followed easily by the search spiders. Try typing in |
| long they have been in business. The website should | | | | "site: (replace the yourwebsitename with your own e.g. |
| include an "About Us" page to provide a little | | | | site: into Google's search bar and it will tell you the |
| background information about the dealership. Many | | | | pages that it knows about. Especially when customers |
| people are attracted to small businesses and personal | | | | are ready to buy, they type in specific makes and |
| relationships while others prefer large corporations and | | | | models. So having a search friendly site with makes, |
| their potential selection. The " contact us" page should | | | | models, year, etc. on the listings will help those pages |
| have phone, fax, and email contact information along | | | | show up in the search results.Having a well thought out |
| with directions and a link to Yahoo or Google maps is | | | | website can be an very useful resource for car |
| always helpful. Pictures and direct lines to sales people | | | | dealers. More frequently the sales process and |
| also can be helpful. If the dealership has other | | | | relationship building starts through the Internet. A good |
| departments such as service, direct phone numbers | | | | car website can pay for itself very quickly. |
| and operating hours are helpful.Another valuable | | | | |