12 Car Sales Marketing Ideas You Can Launch This Month
Good car sales marketing ideas do not need a big budget or a long meeting. They need an owner and a start date. Here are twelve, sorted from free and fast to bigger campaigns, so you can pick two and get moving.
Free ideas you can start today
1. The unsold customer sweep
Pull every customer who visited in the last sixty days and did not buy. Send each one a personal message that mentions the vehicle they looked at and one new reason to return, such as a fresh arrival or a change in trade values.
2. Service lane upgrade offers
Ask service advisors to flag customers with older vehicles or large repair estimates. Have a salesperson offer a no-pressure appraisal while they wait.
3. Delivery photos with permission
Photograph every happy customer at delivery and post it. Tag them if they agree. Their friends and family see it, and it costs nothing.
4. Review requests at the right moment
Ask for a review at delivery, when the customer is happiest. Send the link by text so it takes one tap.
Low-cost ideas for this week
5. Salesperson video walkarounds
Have each salesperson film a short phone video of one vehicle a week, focused on a single feature. Post it on the store page and their own profile.
6. A referral reward
Offer past customers a thank-you for each referral who buys. Print the offer on a card handed over at delivery. Check your state rules on referral payments with counsel.
7. Local partnership
Team up with a nearby business that shares your customers, such as a tire shop, an insurance agent or a gym. Trade offers and display each other’s cards.
8. Lease and loan maturity outreach
Use your DMS to find customers whose terms end within the next several months. Reach out with upgrade options before they start shopping elsewhere.
Campaign ideas that need a budget
9. A trade-in focused event
When used inventory is short, advertise that you want trades and are paying strong values. Trade-focused messages bring in sellers who often become buyers.
10. A Facebook Sales Event
Run targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram for a set window, let shoppers reply in Messenger, and book each one into an appointment. Willowood Ventures runs these for 600+ dealer partners with a set appointment target for every event, and its live, US-based, bilingual BDC handles conversations 24/7/365 by Messenger, text and email.
11. Conquest campaigns to nearby towns
Point advertising at communities just outside your usual area where a competitor is weak or absent. Give those shoppers a reason to make the drive, such as selection or a specific offer.
12. A private owner event
Invite past customers to a preview of new arrivals or an appraisal event. People like being treated as insiders, and your own list is the warmest audience you have.
How to choose two and commit
Do not try all twelve. Pick one free idea and one campaign. Give each an owner, a start date and one number to track.
- For follow-up ideas, track replies and appointments.
- For content ideas, track messages and comments received.
- For campaigns, track set appointments, shows and sold units.
Review after thirty days. Keep what produced appointments, drop what did not, and add one new idea.
Make sure someone answers
Every idea on this list creates conversations. If nobody replies quickly, the idea gets blamed for a staffing problem. Before launching anything, decide who answers messages on nights and weekends. For reference, Willowood’s BDC holds a 98.6% lead response rate.
Frequently asked questions
Which idea gives the fastest result?
The unsold customer sweep. Those shoppers already know your store and many are still in the market.
What if my team has no time for marketing?
Start with ideas that fit existing routines, such as delivery photos and review requests, and use an outside partner for campaigns.
How do I know an idea worked?
Match the people who responded against your sold list for the following weeks. Names beat guesses.
See what an event would look like for your store
Willowood Ventures runs Facebook Sales Events for 600+ dealer partners and manages $4 million per month in social advertising. Dealers see approximately 800% average ROI, and 90% of them rebook. Book a demo and we will walk through your market, your inventory and your set appointment target.
A strong emphasis on personalized experiences and offering online virtual tours have shown great results in increasing customer engagement!
I couldn’t agree more! Personalized experiences and virtual tours really take the customer experience to the next level, making them feel more connected to the brand.