Back in the day, buyers would take hours talking to a car salesman trying to find the right car. They’ll look at several cars, talk about the model, the make, and the amenities of each car. A lot of negotiating and haggling also occurs in the process. But now, these things rarely happen. In these times, old car sales tricks no longer work on buyers. And you’ve got the internet to thank for that.
Buyers no longer spend hours at the car dealers just to look for a car. They do all the research and get the information they need before visiting the dealer. So by the time they get to the dealer they’ve already got the car they want in mind. The only thing left for them to do is see if the price they saw on the internet matches the price at the dealers. And if it doesn’t, well, they go and find another dealer to buy from. This makes selling cars much more difficult than before. The only way car salesmen will succeed today is if they learn how to adapt to the new normal.
This is what they have to do:
1. Strong online presence
To adapt to the digital world, you first have to establish a strong online presence. Familiarize yourself with how the internet and social media work. Research about the current trends and which platforms are most popular. This is important because 81% of Americans are online. And with the pandemic going on they are online more often than usual.
Having a strong online presence means posting content regularly on social media. You should also create a website for your company on the internet that you update constantly. You have to be active on social media because the internet has such a big network. You have a bigger audience but at the same time, you also have more competition. Being active and creating engaging content will draw more people to you.
2. Enrich user experience
Nowadays, it’s no longer a seller’s world, it’s a buyer’s world. If you want to earn money you have to cater to the wants of the buyer. You have to enrich the user experience. A good way to do that is by creating a user-friendly website. Something attractive and easy to navigate through. It should also have all the information they need, such as the make, model, amenities, and price of the cars you sell.
Remember that information is key. Eighty-two percent of buyers will conduct their own research about products online before buying things in-store. So providing your customers with all the information they need is a good way to keep them on your website.
Providing good customer service is also a great way to enrich the user experience. On the internet, customers can contact you through live chats and emails. They will usually send you messages for different inquiries and concerns. If you reply to them actively and with respect, they are more likely to buy from you.
3. Competitive marketing
You need a good marketing campaign to beat your competitors. Marketing goes far beyond posting ads on different websites and social media platforms. It takes research and a proper analysis of the market. If you don’t have an idea of how marketing works, hire a professional marketing company to do it for you. That’ll guarantee results. Reviews from other customers displayed on your website are also a form of marketing.
Seventy-eight percent of consumers will check product reviews when shopping online. So if you’ve got happy customers from before, make sure to encourage them to leave a review. The more positive reviews you have, the more customers you gain.
4. Honesty and transparency
If there’s anything customers hate the most it’s getting ripped off. And on the internet, a lot of people have experienced getting ripped off. Most of the time due to false advertising. This is why you have to be honest with your customers. If you want your customers to buy from you, you need to gain their trust. And the only way to gain their trust is by being transparent with them.
What you advertise online has to be exactly what they expect to see in person. A good way to be honest with your customers is by providing the price of your cars on the website. Eighty percent of shoppers will compare prices online before buying a certain product. If you want customers to choose you over the competition, be honest with them.
The internet certainly has changed the way consumers and sellers interact. People are more reliant on the digital world these days. If you want your business to be successful you have to learn to adapt digitally too.
