About Auto Social Media
Social media is influencing the way people buy cars. If your dealership doesn’t have a comprehensive strategy to leverage social media, you may be missing sales. More importantly, though, you’re missing an opportunity to manage your online reputation.
Consider these statistics:
•Facebook currently has over 500 million users
•Approximately 30-percent, or 150 million, of Facebook users are in the U.S.
•The total U.S. population is just over 300 million.
That means that one out of every two people who visit your dealership probably has a Facebook account. And with over 100 million registered Twitter users, chances are good that most of your clients are using that popular social media platform, as well.
What matters much more than the impressive number of social media users, though, is how people are using these channels to communicate. Beyond “friending” each other and “tweeting” about their breakfast choices and awesome parking spots, they are sharing their opinions and soliciting opinions from others.
In other words, people are talking about what to buy and where to buy it. They are reviewing businesses and products and broadcasting their impressions, good and bad, to anyone listening. And everyone is listening.
By everyone, we mean everyone – not just social media users. One of the by-products of the social media explosion is the power it holds within online search results. That means that someone searching for opinions, reviews, complaints, or recommendations about your dealership may very well see what others have had to say on their Facebook pages and Twitter accounts – even if they don’t use the services themselves!
The pervasiveness of social media makes it imperative that you participate in the dialogue. You won’t be able to prevent every instance of negative feedback. Nor should you inundate your online friends and followers with one marketing message after another. But by being engaged with past customers and potential customers, you will have the opportunity to recapture dissatisfied customers, and even turn them into brand advocates, while also keeping your name “front-of-mind” with future car buyers.
Of course, managing and maintaining a social media campaign can be time consuming and isn’t without peril for those unfamiliar with the nuances and jargon used in online discussion.
That’s why so many car dealers are turning to AutoSocialMedia.com to protect and advance their online reputation. Our staff of social media specialists will provide the support you need to make the best possible online impression, including:
•Creating and maintaining social media accounts and profiles
•Integrating profiles with your existing website
•Monitoring the social media “chatter” related to your business name
•Interacting with friends and followers
•Reporting any potentially negative feedback and helping you formulate an appropriate response
The fact is, being active in social media is just a part of being in business in this age. But that doesn’t mean it has to be a drain on your current staff and resources. Let AutoSocialMedia.com manage your online reputation while you manage your dealership.
Contact us today to learn more about our social media management programs.