Digital marketing for automotive
Sell more cars, book more services, build a dealership brand people trust
Digital marketing for car dealerships, garages, and automotive brands. We drive qualified showroom visits and service bookings through targeted campaigns that reach buyers at every stage of the purchase journey.
4.6x
return on ad spend
73%
of car buyers research online first
38%
increase in test drive bookings
The challenge
Why automotive marketing is different
Every industry has its quirks. Here is what makes marketing in automotive uniquely challenging.
Auto Trader dependency
Auto Trader dominates car search, and their fees keep going up. Building your own digital presence means more profit per vehicle and a brand that outlasts any platform.
High-value, low-frequency purchases
People buy a car every 3 to 5 years. You get one shot at being their choice. Your marketing needs to be memorable and present at exactly the right moment.
Service and aftermarket revenue
Most dealership profit comes from servicing and parts, not the initial sale. Yet most marketing budgets focus entirely on vehicle sales and ignore the service department.
EV transition marketing
Electric vehicles require different messaging, different audiences, and different objection handling. Your marketing needs to educate and reassure, not just list specs.
Multi-location complexity
If you have multiple locations, each needs its own local marketing strategy while maintaining brand consistency. That is a logistical challenge most agencies struggle with.
What we do
What we do for automotive
Not a cookie-cutter package. Every service is tailored to the specific needs and opportunities in your industry.
Automotive SEO
Rank for 'used cars in [area]', '[brand] dealer near me', and 'car service [location]'. VDP optimisation, model-specific landing pages, and blog content that captures every stage of the buying journey.
Vehicle listing ads
Google Vehicle Listing Ads, Dynamic Search Ads, and Meta Dynamic Ads that showcase your inventory to people actively looking to buy. Real-time inventory feed management.
Service department marketing
Targeted campaigns for MOTs, servicing, and repair work. Seasonal campaigns for winter checks, tyre changes, and air con recharges that keep your service bays full year-round.
Social media for automotive
New arrival showcases, customer delivery photos, behind-the-scenes workshop content, and EV education. Platform strategies for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Email and CRM marketing
Service reminders, MOT notifications, new model alerts, and finance offer promotions. Lifecycle campaigns that maximise customer lifetime value from purchase through to trade-in.
Reputation and review management
Generate and manage reviews across Google, Trustpilot, and AutoTrader. Build a reputation that makes your dealership the obvious choice in your area.
Real results
Numbers that speak for themselves
4.6x
return on Google Ads spend
for a multi-franchise dealership group
38%
increase in test drive bookings
through retargeting campaigns targeting website visitors
1,200+
service bookings per quarter
from email and paid campaigns for a single-location dealership
127%
increase in organic traffic
for a used car dealership's SEO programme over 12 months
Why us
Why Ikaroa for automotive
Industry expertise, not guesswork
We have worked with dozens of automotive businesses. We know what works, what does not, and how to avoid the mistakes that waste your budget.
Transparent reporting, always
Monthly reports you can actually understand. No vanity metrics, no jargon. Just the numbers that matter to your business and clear explanations of what we are doing and why.
Full-service, one team
SEO, ads, content, design, development, and strategy under one roof. No middlemen, no hand-offs between agencies. One team that knows your business inside and out.
FAQ
Common questions
Do you work with both franchise and independent dealers?
Yes. We work with franchise dealerships, independent used car dealers, garage chains, and aftermarket brands. Each has different constraints and opportunities, and we tailor our approach accordingly.
Can you help us with EV marketing specifically?
Absolutely. EV marketing requires different content, different audiences, and handling specific objections around range, charging, and cost. We have experience running successful EV campaigns for multiple dealer groups.
How do you integrate with our DMS?
We work with CDK, Reynolds & Reynolds, Pinnacle, and most major DMS platforms. Proper integration means we can track from ad click to sold vehicle, giving you true cost per sale data.
What about manufacturer co-op advertising?
We are experienced in setting up campaigns that qualify for manufacturer co-op funding. We handle the compliance requirements and claim submissions so you can maximise your available co-op budget.
Do you manage inventory feed advertising?
Yes. We set up and manage inventory feed campaigns on Google, Facebook Marketplace, and other platforms. Dynamic ads that update automatically as your stock changes.
How do you handle multi-location dealerships?
We create location-specific strategies within a consistent brand framework. Each location gets its own Google Business profile management, local SEO, and targeted advertising while sharing central brand assets and messaging.
Ready to grow your automotive business?
Tell us about your goals and we will put together a strategy that fits your industry, budget, and timeline.
Get your free strategy callOther industries
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