Increase Summer Sales with SEM

With the busiest season of the year upon dealers in most industries, it’s time to start thinking strategically about how to make the most of your summer sales. 97% of people use search engines online to find local businesses* and 92% of searchers will choose a business listed on the first page of search engine results.* It is clearly an effective method to appear at the top of results pages on search engines when people are looking for dealerships like yours – and that’s where investing in Search Engine Marketing (SEM) can help.

SEM ads, also called paid ads or pay-per-click (PPC) ads, appear in the space above organic search listings. They appear to search engine users with qualities that signal they are likely to be in the market for products like yours based on location, demographics, past search behavior, and more. They also appear when the users who fit into your “likely prospect” category make searches for businesses similar to yours using specific keywords that match your dealership – for example, “Tractors for sale near me” or “Mercury boats Kansas City.” An SEM ad for your dealership could appear above a listing for your competing local dealership, even when a search engine user searches for your competitor by name.

There are many different choices to consider in setting up your SEM campaign, but the most important thing to focus on is catering your ads to your dealership’s marketing goals. You may be focused on getting clicks to your site, driving lead submissions, or somewhere in between – whatever your goal may be, SEM can be an important conversion driver. Being specific about the goal you want to accomplish and setting up your SEM campaign accordingly will give you the best return on investment.

Perhaps your dealership is already on board with SEM services – in that case, you have likely seen the boost in conversions and sales that this tool can bring. Our advice? Invest more into your SEM efforts during the summer months. The busiest time of the year means it’s also the time of year with the most competition. Other local dealerships in your industry are targeting the same people, so how can you make sure you aren’t losing sales to competitors? Consistently appearing at the top of the search engine for your target audience members keeps your dealership at top of mind.

SEM advertising drives traffic to your site from qualified leads, search engine users who are proven to be a likely fit for your business. This strategy offers the opportunity to see results quickly through investing wisely. It also allows you to target and market to users in a way that fits your dealership’s unique needs and goals. Stay on top of your summer sales and make the most of the season with smart SEM strategy in place.

*Stats courtesy of SEO Expert Brand