With the new year right around the corner, there has never been a better time to start trying out some new marketing strategies for your car dealership. Live streaming is becoming a popular way to connect with your customers and show them the fleet you’ve got ready for them. The best part about it is that all you need is your phone and a few social media accounts. In today’s blog, we’ll give you some helpful pointers for how your dealership can utilize live streaming.
Why should I be live streaming?
Live streaming allows you to interact with your followers and customers in real-time and show a more authentic side of your dealership. It’s also extremely easy for your customers to engage with your live stream because they can view it directly in their social media app without having to download any kind of link or software. Live streams also typically have a comment section so your viewers can send in any questions or thoughts they may have during the stream. Moreover, this is especially helpful for potential customers who are watching your live stream before even setting foot in your dealership. Depending on what you choose to feature in your live stream, the customer will most likely feel more inclined to go to your dealership because they’ve already seen a smiling face that they know will aid them in their car buying experience.
What kind of things should I be showing on my live streams?
1.) Sneak peeks and test drives
Show your audience the brand new vehicles you have on your lot and get them excited about your inventory! They might not know that you have the new 2021 Mazda CX-5 so you need to be the one to put that knowledge directly into their hands. Talk about the features of a certain vehicle you have, what makes it unique, and why someone should buy it. It might even help if you take the vehicle out on a test drive during the live stream. Show the public how the car operates and make sure in your call to action at the end of the stream to encourage them to come test drive the car themselves.
2.) Tutorials
Although there are many people who love driving their vehicles and spend a lot of time in them, there is a handful of people who don’t know how to perform a lot of simple vehicle tasks. There are so many helpful how-to videos on Facebook and YouTube, and you could be one of them. Take your live stream into your service center and show folks how to properly and efficiently change a tire. Many people have never had the unfortunate experience of having to change one before but if they watch your live stream of how to do it they will be thanking you in the end. Some other ideas could be to show how to safely jumpstart a car or typical routine maintenance like refilling your wiper fluid. Although these may seem like simple things, they can be extremely helpful for many people in the long run. You can even go so far as to recommend specially designed car products such as the Drop Stop or your favorite car air freshener scent.
3.) Q&A with dealers and staff
Introduce your audience to your staff on hand! Make sure to include everyone and get your followers familiarized with the people they’ll be interacting with when they come to your dealership. Then, take it one step further and host a question and answer session with members of your sales and service staff. Some people aren’t sure what kind of car they would like to buy before stepping onto a lot. If they’re able to talk to a dealer directly and get a recommendation for what car to buy, it will make them more likely to come directly to you. Your audience can also ask your service staff questions like how often should they really be rotating their tires, the best kind of wiper fluid to get, or really anything they haven’t had the opportunity to ask before.
How often should I live stream?
Don’t force a certain schedule if it doesn’t work for your dealership! If you’re only able to do live streaming once a month, that’s perfectly fine. If you can fit it in on a weekly basis, even better. Work with your dealership staff and find out when it would work best for them. We also recommend trying to do your live streaming around lunchtime or after 5 pm. This is typically when most people have the opportunity to check their phones so try doing it around this time.
What platforms should I be streaming on?
Practically every social media platform has the option for live streaming. Whether your dealership’s preferred platform is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or even TikTok, they have all integrated the option to live steam on their platform. As long as you have an account on the site, you’re able to start live streaming. There are even certain programs that allow you to live stream on multiple platforms simultaneously so you’re hitting all of your followers. However, don’t feel like you have to stream on all of your platforms at once. Do whatever makes sense for your dealership; if you don’t think TikTok would be valuable to your dealership, then don’t use it.
Will this help with my marketing?
Absolutely! Live streaming is becoming an increasingly popular digital marketing strategy because not only does it cost little to no money but it also makes you more accessible to your customers. Hubspot found that more than 80% of audiences would rather watch a live video stream rather than any other standard social media post. People enjoy watching live streams because they feel as though they are to date with what is going on and feel more involved with the video. This tactic is a great way to promote your brand and just get people more engaged with your dealership. You can even create buzz before your live stream starts sending a reminder out to your followers to tune in to your upcoming stream. Finally, if you’re going to start live streaming, it’s best to get started as soon as possible. In 2021, the live streaming industry is expected to reach more than $70 billion, so stay ahead of your competitors and start live streaming today.
Here at AutoJini, we have a dedicated team ready to help you with your streaming and other marketing needs. Our SEO experts know the ins and outs of the dealership industry and we’re
excited to help you start your journey. Give us a call at (515) 232-2024 or send us a message today.