SEM Advertising Simplified

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a highly effective method for advertising because it allows your dealership to drive traffic to your dealership efficiently online. With SEM, you are in control of your campaign - you choose who you want to target, which online sources you want to focus on, and how you want to tailor your campaign to meet specific goals. Combining SEM with other advertising tactics will only further your visibility. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) improves your rankings over time by implementing relevant keywords on your website - making it easier for customers to find you in organic search results. But your business can take advantage of the benefits of SEM by generating traffic from search engines now. 

Google Adwords is the most commonly used platform for search engine ads. It's a pay-per-click model that allows advertisers to pay only when their ad is clicked on. In return, with more clicks the ad is placed higher in search results. Good practices in SEM will take you a long way - the more your ad is clicked on, the cheaper your investment becomes and the higher your ad is ranked. Research has shown that 1/3 of users will click on the top Google search result. * Search engine ads look almost identical to an organic search result with a small "AD" icon that an ordinary Internet user may not even recognize. Increasing visibility to your website through SEM will benefit you now, but continue to drive results later too. The more your ad is seen now, the more likely viewers will come back in the future. 

With SEM, you can automatically direct traffic from the ads to your website. Not only is the traffic driving more visitors overall, but with audience targeting it is directing visitors who are in the market for your product or services. For example, if you are a boat dealer, you can target users based on demographics and search history as well as interests like fishing, jet skiing, outdoor sports, and more. In addition, you can select those in close proximity to your dealership, making it more likely that they might visit. It's also best practice to adjust your ad spend during popular seasons for your dealership- for example, the summer if you are a boat dealer. You'll want to spend more on advertising during these months to enhance your online presence and drive more leads to your website. With SEM, you're investing your money where it will most benefit your dealership. 

Search engine marketing helps promote your dealership without blowing your budget. With a little effort and investment in the beginning you are on the road to success. If you're still unsure about the basics of Google Adwords, and SEM overall, Google launched a video explaining the basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=PjOHTFRaBWA

Proper SEM strategy can take your dealership far in improving online results and leads.