If you haven’t set up a Google Business Profile (GBP) for your dealership, you’re missing out on valuable leads. A GBP can increase visibility for your dealership and service center, making it easier to engage with your customers and boost sales across departments. GBP isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it tool, though. While it can easily help your business grow, it takes your involvement to yield results. Here are our favorite tips for getting the most out of your Google Business Profile.
Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Start by setting your profile up correctly from the beginning. Claim and verify your listing, then make sure all your business information exactly matches the information listed on your dealership signage and your website. Next, use these tried-and-true tips to optimize your profile:
- Use keywords. In your business description, make sure to use industry keywords like brand, specific services, and auto parts, but avoid keyword stuffing.
- Choose the right categories. GBP allows you to select multiple categories, but you should focus on two to three categories that best describe your dealership, such as Used Car Dealer, Auto Shop, or New Car Dealership.
- Add attributes and hours. Make sure your dealership’s attributes and hours are up to date. Treat your attributes like an additional set of keywords and include services or features that are commonly searched for, such as towing, free car delivery, service center loaners, same-day service appointments, etc.
Engage with Your Customers
Google Business Profile may not seem like a social media platform for dealerships, but in many ways, it is. While other social platforms focus on connecting people, GBP focuses on connecting businesses to consumers. To get the most out of GBP, treat your profile similarly to your other business pages in these three ways:
- Respond to reviews. You should actively respond to both negative and positive reviews and try to address negative reviews as quickly as possible. Thank customers for their praise, and when people express their negative experiences with your business, try not to be defensive. Instead, focus on rectifying the issue.
- Post regularly. You may not need to post as frequently to GBP as you do to other social media platforms, but you should strive to post a relevant and engaging post at least once a week. Your posts can include photos of new vehicles, event announcements, and sales. You can use TradePending’s Service Offers (formerly Fixed Ops Digital) features to sync and share new sales to your Google Business Profile as well as other social platforms.
- Use high-quality images.Better photo and video quality will lead to higher engagement.
Add Personality to Your Profile
In addition to customer engagement and profile optimization, it’s important to add a human element to your dealership’s GBP. Although the profile is designed to represent a business, adding personality and flair to your posts and business description can raise brand awareness. Come up with a short, memorable nickname for your dealership. Give each department a voice by nesting listings under your main profile and tailor the messaging to match the services the department offers.
Using the tips can boost the number of leads your Google Business Profile generates for your dealership.