You may not think a blog is the most effective way of boosting traffic to your website. However, in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) remains a crucial tool for businesses aiming to boost their online visibility.
For automotive dealerships, establishing and maintaining a blog can be a game-changer, not only in enhancing SEO but also in significantly increasing sales. Here are 7 reasons why a blog can be your dealership’s secret weapon.
7 Reasons Why a Blog is Great For Your Website
1. Keyword Optimisation
A regularly updated blog allows you to incorporate relevant keywords related to your dealership and the automotive industry. This optimisation improves your SEO, ensuring that your website appears in search engine results when potential customers are actively searching for the types of vehicles you sell, or other information related to your business. If you want to know more about SEO, read our guide to the basics here.
2. Increased Website Traffic
Blogs are a great way to continuously serve up fresh content for your customers, but also for search engines, signalling that your website is active and up-to-date. A consistent flow of new content attracts more new visitors to your site, increasing the chances of turning them into potential leads. For example, if you had a piece about test driving two similar vehicles in your stock, someone searching for either of those vehicles may find your review when they search Google.
3. Conversion Opportunities
Through strategic calls-to-action within your blog posts, you can guide readers towards the next phase in their buying journey. A call-to-action is something that you put at the end of a blog post, emphatically encouraging people to take the next step, often one where they will have more direct or regular contact with your brand. These next steps could be things like signing up for a newsletter, scheduling a test drive, or contacting your sales team – allowing you to then convert them into a sale!
4. Establishing Authority
A regularly updated, well-used blog provides an opportunity to showcase your dealership’s expertise. By sharing industry insights, updates on industry news such as ULEZ compliance rules, 20mph speed limits, even how to drive to save petrol in the cost of living crisis, you position your dealership as an authoritative source, whilst instilling trust and credibility among potential buyers.
5. Long-Tail Keywords
Another SEO benefit of a blog is that it enables you to target long-tail keywords, which are specific and less competitive phrases.
Usually around three to five words, these phrases are often used by potential buyers who are closer to making a purchasing decision, helping your dealership attract more qualified leads. For example, if someone is looking for a specific make and model, and you have reviewed that on your site, they may be directed to your review from your search, or at least recognise you as an authority on the subject.
6. Internal Linking
Blogs provide a platform for internal linking, connecting different pages of your website. This not only improves user experience but also helps search engines understand the structure of your site, boosting overall SEO. For example, if you are explaining your warranty or finance options on a page on your site, you could link to a blog that breaks these down for first time buyers.
7. Social Media Content
Shareable blog content is a powerful tool for social media marketing. When your blog posts are shared across social platforms, it not only expands your online reach but also drives traffic back to your website, enhancing its authority in the eyes of search engines. Combining blog content with inventory posts is a great way to shake up your social media strategy, adding a wider range of content types, but also can help drive buyers to your site who haven’t decided on what they want to purchase yet, as they may be more unlikely to click through to a specific stock item.
In conclusion…
As you can see, there are so many benefits to having a blog on your website as part of your marketing strategy. However, we know that there isn’t always time in the day to regularly write the engaging content you need. That’s why we offer blog creation and content writing as part of our SEO packages. Call us today to find out more about how we can help with a blog, and in turn, provide all of the benefits we have discussed above!