23 Jan Best Practices for Automotive SEO

Search engine optimization represents the methodical fine-tuning of critical on-site elements better signaling relevance and authority to Google for ranking webpages higher around targeted local area consumer queries.

This comprehensive SEO guide examines why optimizing visibility proves essential for driving incremental car shopper traffic along with actionable dealership-focused tactics improving organic visibility, engagement and sales conversions from web searches.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for search engine optimization. In basic terms, it means strategically tailoring website content and technical attributes to help pages gain improved visibility and rankings in search engines like Google and Bing.

The goal involves enhancing organic visibility among searchers so your dealership listings appear above competitors in results for industry keywords and localized consumer queries like “Toyota dealers Dallas” or “Honda Odyssey specials near me”.

Earning Placement Prominence

Google actively evaluates millions of competitive pages determining authority and relevance cues to match against search intent. SEO principles applied to your website help signal priority over other dealerships to the algorithms.

Higher rankings lead to increased impression share, engagement minutes and clicks to call or visit your store ultimately driving more qualified in-market shoppers.

Why is SEO Important to My Dealership?

With 94% of car shoppers today researching models, pricing and reviews online first before engaging retailers, not optimizing to catch share of visibility ahead loses out on capturing awareness during critical early purchase consideration funnel stages.

Further, research indicates over 58% of auto leads sourced from organic searches ultimately become buyers as highest average conversion rates over other channel sources.

Builds Local Authority

Effective SEO establishes credibility and consumer impressions of dealerships as leading area new/used car experts matching local information queries.

Lower Funnel Conversions

Late-stage buyers searching precise vehicle descriptors like “Certified 2019 Honda Accord Indianapolis” signals high retail-ready intent that optimized SEO delivers to showroom doors at higher returns.

Best SEO Practices for Your Dealership

Consistently implementing these technical SEO site health essentials and ongoing local content signals optimizes capturing qualified visibility ahead of market competitors.

On-Page Optimization

Page titles, URL paths and heading tags incorporate exact model names and city geo-modifiers for optimal local rankings specificity.

Mobile Responsiveness

Fully responsive templates intuitively adapt screens for 90% of prospects now comparing vehicles from smartphones initially during research mode.

Indexation Troubleshooting

Fix crawling errors blocking pages from rankings through technical site audits identifying issues then mapping solutions improving accessibility.

Review Generation

Actively encourage earned consumer reviews referencing dealership city location and vehicle makes bolstering perceived community authority exponentially yearly.

Contact Us

Want free audits identifying SEO ranking opportunities plus proven solutions capturing qualified search visibility ahead of market competitors? Connect with the digital marketing team at Local Dealer today!