To understand how comfort marketing works, let’s break it down through the 3Cs: Content, Cadence, and Channel. 

Content: What is Comfort Marketing? 

Comfort marketing is rooted in the idea of providing emotional reassurance to clients. It’s about offering support, empathy, and stability when clients may feel uncertain or anxious. The beauty of comfort marketing lies in its simplicity: It doesn’t ask for anything in return, such as a sale or referral. Instead, it seeks to create a moment of connection, demonstrating that your brand cares about the client’s well-being. 

Examples of comfort marketing include: 

• Handwritten notes offering words of support after major events like wildfires, floods, or economic disruptions. 

• Messaging that reassures clients that your brand will remain strong and stable, even in times of crisis. 

• A simple acknowledgment of challenges, like inflation or tariffs, along with a promise that your brand will continue to stand by them. 

These messages are intended to provide comfort, letting your clients know you’re thinking of them during tough times. 

Cadence: How Often Should You Reach Out? Is Follow-Up Necessary? 

The timing and frequency of comfort marketing outreach are crucial. It’s important to strike a balance between offering reassurance without overwhelming your clients with too many messages. Comfort marketing is about being thoughtful and strategic—reaching out at just the right moment when clients need it most. 

How Often Should You Reach Out? 

Comfort marketing doesn’t require constant outreach. Instead, it’s about reaching out at key moments. For example, after a significant event or change, such as: 

• A natural disaster that has affected the community 

• Economic shifts that may impact your clients’ businesses 

• Political or social events that create a sense of uncertainty 

These are the moments when a message of comfort can have the most impact. Reaching out after such events shows that you’re aware of your clients’ circumstances and are offering support, not a sales pitch. 

Is Follow-Up Necessary? 

While it’s not essential to follow up with every message, you can consider it when the client responds or engages with your initial message. A follow-up message could be a simple check-in, but make sure not to turn it into a marketing pitch. The goal is to keep the relationship human, not transactional. 

Channel: Is Text, Email, or Handwritten Notes the Right Approach? 

Comfort marketing is all about delivering the right message through the right channel. Different types of messages resonate differently depending on the medium, so it’s important to choose the right channel for the situation. 

Text Message 

Text messages can be a quick and informal way to reach out, but they may not always convey the level of empathy or thoughtfulness that comfort marketing demands. While effective for shorter, more immediate messages, text is best suited for minor disruptions or quick check-ins, such as after a brief service issue or small market shift. 

When to use: A quick, supportive message after a small setback, like a service disruption. 

Email 

Email is a more formal communication channel and can allow for a deeper, more detailed message. This is the ideal channel when you need to provide reassurance about larger events, such as changes in the economy or major disruptions like political shifts. It’s also a great platform for explaining how your business is adapting to challenges, while still focusing on the well-being of your clients. 

When to use: For sending updates on business continuity, economic shifts, or larger crises that might affect your clients. 

Handwritten Notes 

Handwritten notes are the gold standard in comfort marketing. They show a level of personal investment and attention to detail that emails and texts simply can’t match. A well-crafted handwritten note can go a long way in demonstrating that you genuinely care about your client’s well-being. The tactile nature of a handwritten note also makes it feel more sincere, as it requires more effort than an email or text. 

When to use: After major life events, disasters, or shifts in the market, when you want to offer deep emotional reassurance and show that you’re there for your client. 

The Power of Comfort Marketing 

Comfort marketing is a simple but powerful approach to building client relationships. By focusing on content, cadence, and channel, businesses can offer clients the emotional support they need during times of change or uncertainty. This strategy isn’t about asking for anything in return; it’s about being there for your clients, demonstrating that your brand is a source of stability and reassurance. Whether it’s through a thoughtful handwritten note, a compassionate email, or a quick text, comfort marketing builds trust and loyalty, strengthening your brand’s relationship with its clients. 

The post Comfort Marketing: A New Strategy for Building Client Loyalty appeared first on Handwrytten.

A satisfied customer is not only a repeat buyer but also a potential ambassador for your brand. One of the most effective, yet often underutilized, ways to turn happy customers into referral generators is by sending personalized, handwritten cards.

With services like Handwrytten, which uses AI-powered technology to create handwritten notes in your unique handwriting, businesses can tap into the emotional impact of these personalized gestures. A greeting card sent to celebrate a birthday, or anniversary, or simply to express gratitude can go a long way in fostering deeper customer relationships and encouraging referrals.

How Can Sending Greeting Cards Turn Into a Client Referral?

In the world of digital marketing, most businesses focus on emails, ads, and social media engagement. But there’s something about the tangible and personal touch of a handwritten card that goes beyond what any online interaction can provide. It creates a lasting impression that customers remember and appreciate.

So, how exactly does sending a greeting card translate into client referrals? It’s simple—personal touch strengthens relationships, and strong relationships drive referrals.

When you send a customer a card, you’re doing more than acknowledging them; you’re showing that you value their business. This kind of recognition makes customers feel valued, making them more likely to spread the word about your business to their friends, family, and colleagues. By reminding customers of your brand in such a thoughtful and unique way, they’re more likely to recommend you when someone in their circle is looking for services or products like yours.

Example Scenario:
Imagine you run a local bakery, and you’ve been working with Handwrytten to send cards to customers on their birthdays. Along with the card, you offer them a complimentary pastry as a gift. This small gesture not only builds loyalty but also encourages customers to talk about their experiences with others. When a friend of theirs mentions they’re looking for a bakery, guess whose name they’ll recommend?

How to Celebrate With Your Customers

Celebrating with your customers isn’t just about thanking them for their business; it’s about acknowledging their milestones and letting them know you’re thinking of them. Sending cards for major holidays, anniversaries, or personal achievements can make customers feel special and deepen their connection with your brand.

Here are some occasions you can leverage to send greeting cards and examples of the types of messages you could include:

Major Holidays

Christmas/New Year’s:
“Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a happy New Year! We appreciate your continued trust in us and look forward to serving you in the coming year.”

Thanksgiving:
“We’re thankful for your loyalty and support. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with warmth and gratitude.”

Anniversaries

Customer Anniversary:
“It’s been one year since you first became a part of our community, and we couldn’t be more grateful! Here’s to many more years together.”

Company Anniversary:
“As we celebrate our 5th anniversary, we want to thank you for being a part of our journey. Your support has been essential to our growth.”

Birthdays

Customer Birthday:
“Happy Birthday from all of us at [Your Company]! Enjoy this special day, and we look forward to making it even sweeter with a special treat just for you.”

Congratulations

New Home:
“Congratulations on your new home! May it be filled with joy, laughter, and wonderful memories.”

Sympathy/Encouragement

Sympathy:
“Our hearts go out to you during this difficult time. Please know that we are thinking of you.”

Encouragement:
“We know you’ve been through a tough time recently, but we believe in your strength. Wishing you peace and resilience moving forward.”

By sending cards for such personal moments, you’re not only strengthening relationships but also reminding your customers why they love your business. These moments of celebration and connection make customers more likely to refer you when someone asks for a recommendation.

Send Unexpected Greeting Cards

Sometimes, the best way to make an impression is by doing the unexpected. While major holidays and birthdays are a great time to send cards, sending them during less traditional moments can make your brand stand out even more. Here are some ideas to help you leverage customer referrals through greeting cards:

Mother’s Day/Father’s Day

Mother’s Day:
“To all the wonderful moms who are a part of our community, we celebrate you today and every day. Happy Mother’s Day!”

Father’s Day:
“To the fathers who work hard and love harder, we appreciate everything you do. Happy Father’s Day!”

Military Appreciation

Veterans Day:
“Thank you for your service and sacrifice. We are deeply grateful to the veterans who have given so much for our freedom.”

Teacher Appreciation

Teacher Appreciation Day:
“To the teachers who inspire the next generation, we are honored to support you in any way we can. Thank you for all that you do.”

Customer-Specific Occasions

Sometimes, sending a card just because can be even more powerful. Whether it’s a note of encouragement or a thank you for continued support, unexpected cards are a great way to surprise and delight your customers, encouraging them to share their positive experiences with others.

How to Ask for Customer Referrals from a Client Using Handwrytten

Now that you’ve built a relationship with your customers through thoughtful gestures, how do you ask for a referral? Asking for a referral doesn’t have to be awkward or feel like a sales pitch. Here’s how to use Handwrytten cards to make your ask feel genuine and natural:

1. Include a Personalized Message:
   Write a short note thanking your customer for their loyalty and support. Mention how much their business means to you and gently suggest that if they know someone who could benefit from your services, you’d be honored if they passed your name along.
2. Incentivize the Referral:
   Consider offering an incentive, such as a discount or a free product, for every referral your customer sends your way. You can mention this in the card with a friendly tone, such as:
   “We’d love to meet more people like you! If you know someone who would enjoy our services, feel free to refer them our way, and we’ll send you a thank-you gift in return.”
3. Add a Referral Card:
   Along with your Handwrytten card, include a separate referral card that they can give to their friends or family. This physical card acts as a reminder for both the referrer and the referred.

Example Referral Request:
“We value your support and would love to share our services with more people like you. If you know someone who would benefit from what we offer, feel free to pass along this referral card. As a thank you, we’ll send you a special gift with your next order!”

By making your ask feel personal and thoughtful, rather than transactional, you’ll increase the likelihood that your customers will follow through and refer someone to your business.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How does sending handwritten cards help with client referrals?

Sending handwritten cards helps build a more personal connection with your clients. When customers feel appreciated and valued, they are more likely to recommend your services to others. The emotional impact of receiving a thoughtful, physical card makes a stronger impression than a generic email or message.

Why are handwritten cards more effective than emails?

Handwritten cards stand out because they feel more personal and tangible. In a world filled with digital noise, receiving a physical card can create a memorable moment for the recipient, making them feel appreciated and connected to your brand.

How often should I send handwritten cards to customers?

It depends on your relationship with your customers, but key moments such as birthdays, anniversaries, and major holidays are great times to send cards. Additionally, sending an unexpected card during off-peak times can surprise and delight your customers, making them more likely to refer your business.

Can I ask for customer referrals on a handwritten card?

Yes! Handwritten cards are a perfect medium to ask for referrals in a non-intrusive way. By personalizing your message and adding a referral card, you make the ask feel natural and genuine, increasing the likelihood that customers will follow through. However, you’ll want to make sure you do so in a gentle, natural way and not seem too pushy or forceful. Customer referrals should occur in a way that is authentic.

What are some occasions where sending a card might encourage referrals?

Occasions like customer birthdays, anniversaries, major holidays, and unexpected moments (e.g., Teacher Appreciation Day or Veterans Day) are perfect opportunities to connect with your customers and encourage referrals.

How can I use Handwrytten to personalize my cards?

With Handwrytten, you can create cards in your unique handwriting, making your message feel even more personal. You can customize the message, choose from various card designs, and Handwrytten will send the card directly to your customers.

Leverage the Power of Personalized, Handwritten Notes with Handwrytten

By leveraging the power of personalized, handwritten cards, businesses can foster deeper relationships with their customers, turning them into enthusiastic advocates who will refer others to your business. Handwrytten makes it easy to send these thoughtful, impactful gestures at just the right time, helping you harness the power of your existing customers to fuel growth.

In the meantime, discover the many industries that have benefitted from using Handwrytten’s unique offerings. From automotive dealerships to insurance agents, there’s a place for handwritten notes in every business practice. Contact our team to get started building new connections today!

The post Harness the Power of Your Customers: Leverage Referrals for Growth appeared first on Handwrytten.

With buyers increasingly starting their car search online, mastering the digital landscape is no longer optional. In this article, we will drive through seven effective automotive marketing strategies that connect with modern consumers and push your sales into the fast lane. Expect practical tips on digital exposure, SEO, and beyond, tailored to navigate the 2024 market trends without compromising on traditional approaches.

Key Takeaways

• Adapting to digital trends with a strong online and social media presence is essential for car dealerships. You must meet the needs of the modern consumer who extensively researches online before purchasing a vehicle.
• Car dealerships should focus on search engine optimization (SEO), including the use of relevant keywords and local SEO strategies, to increase visibility and attract potential local buyers.
• Besides digital marketing, traditional methods like personalized direct mail and handwritten notes continue to have a significant impact in creating personal connections and loyalty among customers.

The importance of pivoting your auto marketing strategy in 2024

In the fast-paced world of the automotive industry, staying ahead of the curve is key. The car buying process has undergone a significant transformation, with a growing number of car shoppers initiating their research online, rather than at a physical dealership. In fact, 95% of car buyers utilize online platforms before making a purchase.

As such, the importance of pivoting your automotive marketing strategy to align with these digital trends cannot be overstated.

Projected auto sales in 2024

In the face of these changing patterns, the automotive industry, including various automotive companies, is expected to see a growth in global new light vehicle sales. Forecasts from S&P Global Mobility, a leading provider of data, analytics, and insights to the global mobility industry, predict a 2.8% year-over-year increase in 2024, with projected sales volumes of 15.9 million units in the United States and 26.4 million units in Mainland China.

However, dealerships must be prepared to navigate potential challenges, such as elevated vehicle pricing and challenging credit and lending conditions, which may affect consumer demand.

With this in mind, it’s clear that the auto industry isn’t going anywhere – so, in regard to your marketing strategies moving into 2024, where should we start? Digital.

1. Harnessing digital platforms for automotive exposure

As the dependence on digital platforms grows, establishing a robust online presence becomes vital for dealerships.

This task entails more than just having a website; it requires effective website optimization for both search engines and users, along with a strategic approach to social media. This is a multi-faceted requirement: a user-friendly website is key to capturing and maintaining the interest of prospective car buyers, increasing engagement with the site, and prompting them to take actions like completing a contact form.

At the same time, you must also keep in mind what search engines like to see: contextually relevant content, a fully fleshed out website with content that establishes your dealership as an authority in the auto sector, requiring you to develop a holistic long-term content strategy.

Some tools that can be of benefit here include AnswerThePublic, a platform that provides insights into the questions and queries people are searching for in relation to cars and the automotive industry. This can be invaluable in shaping your content strategy to address these queries directly. Furthermore, tools like SEMRush and Moz can aid in keyword research, helping to ensure your content is optimized for the search terms your potential customers are using. Lastly, social media management tools like Hootsuite and Buffer can streamline your social media marketing efforts, allowing you to schedule posts, monitor engagement, and track the performance of your social media campaigns.

Let’s take a step back and go to some higher-level items of discussion: the website itself.

Building a robust website presence

Building a robust website presence goes beyond an aesthetically pleasing design. It’s about creating an easy-to-navigate, informative, and engaging experience for potential customers. Some strategies to improve user experience include:

• High-quality photos of inventory
• Easy inquiry options
• Efficient vehicle search filters
• Easy access to necessary information such as location and operation hours

Moreover, with the increasing use of mobile devices for online browsing, mobile optimization has become crucial for enhancing user experience and increasing conversion rates. Ensuring your CMS provider offers the ability to compare how your website appears on desktop versus mobile can streamline this process.

Social media savvy

When it comes to social media, platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram provide a golden opportunity for dealerships to connect with their target audience, potential customers, and highlight their offerings, ultimately attracting more customers. Establishing meaningful connections and understanding audience preferences are key to successful social media strategies.

By leveraging customer interests on social media, car dealership marketing can identify the types of content that resonate most with their audience, ensuring their marketing messages hit the right note.

2. Mastering search engines as an auto dealer

In the digital era, a dealership’s success is often dictated by its visibility on search engines. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is instrumental in achieving the following for automotive businesses:

• Cementing a robust online presence
• Increasing web traffic
• Enhancing search engine rankings
• Boosting digital visibility

Mastering SEO involves optimizing keywords and focusing on local SEO to attract local buyers. Presently, many dealerships focus on local as a way to garner relevant traffic and boost map pack rankings – we’ll dig into that more a few sections down.

The art of keyword optimization

To come back to keyword optimization: it is an art in itself. It involves strategically incorporating relevant keywords into website and blog content, enhancing the ranking of content in search engine results.

For auto dealerships, this can mean identifying and incorporating keywords that potential customers use when searching for automotive products or services, streamlining the process of connecting with the right audience.

Local SEO for dealerships

Local SEO is another crucial component of optimizing search engine visibility. With 95% of car buyers researching vehicles online before making a purchase, improving visibility in local search results can attract the attention of potential local buyers.

This can be achieved by claiming and completing a dealership’s Google My Business profile, ensuring that the information about the dealership is accurate and optimized to improve local search results. It can also be done through their website.

Let’s use John Ford as an example. They’re an imaginary dealership based in City, Country. In order to ‘optimize’ their keywords for SEO, they’d aim to include contextually relevant terms to their region, as well as to the brands they offer at their dealership.

So, some relevant keywords to include in their content may include:

• Ford
• City
• Neighboring cities

3. Email marketing campaigns

Apart from SEO and social media, email marketing campaigns also serve as a potent tool in a dealership’s marketing repertoire. These campaigns can help build relationships with customers post-purchase, encourage customers to leave reviews, and generate referrals.

By gathering customer emails during the checkout process and offering value in exchange for contact details, dealerships can build a robust database for their email campaigns, targeting both new and existing customers.

4. Traditional advertising campaigns

Despite the significance of digital marketing in the current automotive marketing scene, traditional advertising methods retain their relevance, especially when incorporated into a holistic omnichannel marketing strategy that utilizes various marketing channels.

Automotive direct mail, for instance, continues to be effective due to its targeted and personalized communication approach.

Automotive direct mail

Automotive direct mail involves:

• Sending personalized, targeted advertisements to customers’ homes or businesses
• Creating a tangible connection with customers
• Heightening anticipation for new car launches
• Boosting response rates

Innovative direct mailers, like postcards highlighting recent promotions or personalized thank you letters, can effectively connect with prospective customers and create a more tailored experience.

Handwritten notes for auto dealers

In an era of digital communication, the power of a personalized handwritten note should not be underestimated. Handwritten notes can help auto dealerships build deeper, more personal relationships with clients and have the following benefits:

• 80% open rate
• Increased customer loyalty
• Improved customer satisfaction
• Enhanced brand image

At Handwrytten, the leading provider of automated handwritten notes, we offer a solution for auto dealerships to send these personalized notes, helping you add a personal touch to your customer acquisition and nurturing efforts.

5. Video marketing’s role in automotive sales

In today’s visually-oriented world, video marketing is gaining significant traction in the automotive sales process. Here are some ways video marketing can be used in the automotive industry:

• Virtual showroom experiences
• Testimonial and review videos
• Vehicle walk-around videos
• How-to and instructional videos
• Behind-the-scenes videos

Let’s dig a bit deeper into a few of these methods.

Virtual showroom experiences

Virtual showrooms offer an interactive and immersive experience for potential customers, allowing them to explore and interact with various car models, customize features, and even experience virtual test drives from the comfort of their homes. This not only enhances customer engagement but also drives sales, making it a crucial component of the modern car buying process.

Take a look at this example showroom from Toyota Kirloskar, a dealership based in Bangalore. You can view all of their available vehicles side by side, click through to view individual cars’ interiors, exteriors, change the colors, and click to view individual parts of each vehicle.

From the perspective of a potential buyer, this makes the buying process seamless – now, you don’t have to come into the store to take a peek at a car you’re interested in – you can do it online!

Testimonial and review videos

Testimonial and review videos also play a crucial role in building trust and credibility with potential customers. These videos, which often feature satisfied customers sharing their experiences, can significantly enhance customer engagement, foster trust, and promote positive word-of-mouth regarding automotive products or services.

Consider posting them (with permission) on your social media accounts, your GBP profile, and potentially even have an SEO-oriented page on your website dedicated to video reviews.

Paid advertising precision

The precision of paid advertising also plays a vital role in shaping a successful automotive marketing strategy. With platforms like Google Ads, display ads, and social media advertising, automotive marketers can target potential customers with pinpoint accuracy to drive leads and conversions.

Google Ads, display ads, and social media advertising

Google Ads, display ads, and social media advertising offer a multitude of benefits for dealerships, including:

• Improving visibility in search results
• Targeting potential customers based on their location and interests
• Reaching potential customers and generating leads faster

We dig deeper into this in a separate article we’ve published – check it out here.

6. Prioritizing robust customer relationship management

Effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a fundamental part of a triumphant automotive marketing strategy. Through lead tracking, nurturing, and data-driven insights, dealerships can optimize their marketing efforts, improve customer retention, and ultimately drive more sales.

Lead tracking and nurturing

Lead tracking and nurturing are vital for maintaining and growing relationships with customers. By identifying, qualifying, and nurturing leads, your dealership can accelerate sales growth, increase revenue, and gain a competitive edge over other dealers.

There are quite a few different ways to do this – LeadsBridge has a fantastic guide for how to get started on your lead management.

Data-driven insights

Data-driven insights are the backbone of informed decision-making in any industry, and the automotive sector is no exception. By leveraging data from different sources, dealerships can uncover patterns, trends, and customer behavior, enabling them to make informed marketing decisions and refine their marketing strategies for improved outcomes.

See this as a reason to get someone into your Google Analytics and Google Search Console data – if you can get someone to properly set up your accounts to track where conversions come from, what demographics are most likely to buy a car – think about the ROI that could have for you.

7. Innovative offline marketing integrations

Last but certainly not least – the significance of offline marketing integrations should not be overlooked. Through community engagements, events, and creative print and broadcast media, dealerships can reach potential customers and establish brand awareness in their local community.

Community engagement and events

Community engagement and events offer a unique opportunity for dealerships to connect with their local audience. By hosting community events and workshops, participating in local events, and sponsoring local charities, dealerships can foster a strong relationship with their community and showcase their commitment to local causes.

These community events can range from car safety workshops to family-friendly car shows, where potential customers can view and interact with the latest models in a relaxed, no-pressure environment. Participating in local events, such as town fairs or charity runs, not only increases the dealership’s visibility but also demonstrates a commitment to the community they serve.

Sponsoring local charities, on the other hand, can have a profound impact on the dealership’s reputation. This can be done in numerous ways, from donating a percentage of each sale to a local charity, to organizing fundraising events. By aligning themselves with a cause that resonates with their community, dealerships can create a positive association in the minds of potential customers.

In essence, community engagement and events provide dealerships with a platform to connect with their audience on a deeper, more personal level. This not only increases brand awareness but also fosters a sense of trust and loyalty among potential customers, which can significantly contribute to the dealership’s long-term success.

Creative print and broadcast media

Even in the digital age, print and broadcast media continue to be a powerful tool for reaching audiences and building brand awareness. From captivating print ads that effectively highlight the features and advantages of vehicles, to engaging broadcast media that reaches a wide audience, creative offline marketing strategies can significantly enhance a dealership’s visibility and reach.

How Handwrytten can help you acquire and nurture customers

Despite the growing digital trend, the personal touch of a handwritten note can still create a substantial impact, and that’s where Handwrytten comes in. We offer a unique solution for auto dealerships looking to add a personal touch to their customer acquisition and nurturing efforts.

Handwrytten’s easy-to-use platform allows you to send authentic, personalized handwritten notes at scale, making your customers feel valued and appreciated. It’s a proven method to boost customer loyalty and create lasting relationships.

In an era where digital communication is the norm, receiving a handwritten note can stand out, making a memorable impression on your customers. It’s a small gesture that speaks volumes about your dealership’s commitment to exceptional customer service.

With Handwrytten, you can automate the process, saving you time while maintaining the personal touch that customers appreciate. You can customize the messages to fit the occasion, whether it’s a thank you note after a purchase, a birthday greeting, or a follow-up message after a service appointment.

In a competitive industry like automotive sales, it’s the little details that can make a big difference. So why not give Handwrytten a try and see how our platform can enhance your customer engagement strategy?

Summary

In conclusion, as the automotive industry continues to evolve and adapt to changing customer behaviors, so must our marketing strategies. By harnessing digital platforms, optimizing search engine visibility, engaging customers through email campaigns, leveraging traditional advertising methods, prioritizing robust customer relationship management, and exploring innovative offline marketing integrations, dealerships can position themselves for success in 2024 and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 4ps of marketing cars?

The 4ps of marketing cars are product, price, place, and promotion. These elements have been the core tenet of marketing since the 1950s and are important factors for success in the automotive industry.

What is marketing in the automotive industry?

Marketing in the automotive industry includes various activities such as traditional advertising, digital marketing, social media campaigns, and events aimed at specific demographics and consumer interests. These efforts aim to promote and meet the needs of consumers interested in automobiles.

What are the 5 strategies in marketing?

The 5 strategies in marketing are the 5 P’s: Product, Price, Promotion, Place, and People. These elements provide a framework to guide marketing strategies and ensure focus on key components.

How do car companies market their cars?

Car companies market their cars by optimizing search engine rankings, using social media and Google for PPC ads, and leveraging customer reviews to build trust in their brand, ultimately increasing their visibility and attracting more customers.

How do car salesmen attract more customers?

Car salesmen can attract more customers by using social media to showcase their expertise, create engaging content, share customer testimonials, and offer exclusive deals, such as informative videos highlighting the features and benefits of different car models.

The post 7 Effective Automotive Marketing Strategies to Accelerate Your Sales appeared first on Handwrytten.

Automotive marketing has existed for a very long time, with the very first car advert appearing in 1898. The headline? “Dispense with a horse”.

Nowadays, telling prospective car buyers not to buy a horse is not necessarily the most effective automotive marketing strategy. Automotive marketing, according to Amazon, simply helps dealerships connect with prospective car shoppers. This includes those who are actively looking to purchase a car and those who are still in the process of researching.

In the modern day, however, there are only a few automotive marketing strategies that rely primarily on non-digital pathways.

Two classic automotive marketing strategies

Referral marketing

Referrals are an invaluable part of car dealership marketing strategies. This strategy refers to using connections with recent clients to help you expand your customer base.

For example, say you sell an SUV to John. Throughout the entire process, he consistently mentions how easy you are making the car buying process for him, and how other dealers clearly care more about the money than about making the experience friction-free for him.

After he purchases the SUV, you reach out to John with a car sales thank you note asking him to refer you to anyone he knows is also in the market for a vehicle. This message can be as simple as:

Hey John,

I’m glad we were able to get you an SUV that makes you happy! I noticed that throughout the car buying process, you mentioned a few times how easy I made it for you.

I’m ecstatic that I was able to provide a quality customer journey for you- if you know anyone who would also appreciate the same level of service, I would love the opportunity to work with them, and there’s an extra incentive for you in the form of a $100 gift card for any referrals you send my way.

Regardless, thank you for your time, John! Talk soon,

[name]

Outreach, in general, is also an invaluable automotive marketing strategy to keep in mind when discussing classic strategies.

Outreach to past and current customers

This is an extremely effective marketing strategy for automotive marketers. Reaching out to your existing and past clients is an integral part of customer engagement. But so many marketers in the auto industry completely miss out on this easy way to  improve their holistic strategy.

Customer outreach just means emailing or texting past and current customers to offer, well, anything.

If it has been multiple years since they last bought their car from you, offer to help them set up a service appointment.

If there is a dealership event occurring soon, reach out to a lot of your customers to see if there are any prospects interested in attending; this will boost long-term customer retention and will also serve to fuel the aforementioned referrals.

You can even keep track of how long it has been since customers have bought a new car- then send them automated updates about newer car models, upgrades, and even deals that have begun recently.

When it comes to customer outreach, all you need to do is think about your target audience: trust your intuition. What demographic have you sold a new car to in the past? What kind of communication do they prefer? Use your intuition to think about how to most effectively reach customers. This may include a combination of social media platforms and mobile ads to boost the scope of consumers you can reach.

Using social media to get in contact with previous and potential customers leans a bit more into the modern day of automotive marketing: automotive digital marketing.

What is automotive digital marketing?

Automotive marketing is the forefather of digital automotive marketing. But while automotive marketing relies mostly on earlier forms of communication like thank-you notes, billboards, and handwritten notes, digital marketing relies on what the name implies: digital avenues.

Think of any way that a company has offered some sort of information to you in the past through the web: email, content copy, advertisements, or a manipulable website to allow for quick product comparisons. The most effective marketing campaigns will include all of these in some form, but in the automotive industry, there are some key marketing strategies to target potential buyers.

Digital marketing strategies you should be using in the automotive industry

These strategies are not necessarily set in stone, directly applicable to every dealership, or even easily replicable. This is because the vast majority of these strategies are mindset adjustments that will allow you to think like a customer. Prioritizing your target customers and their customer journey will ensure that what they want is what they get; and when the customer is happy, customer retention is ensured.

Give the customer what they want

Make the car buying process extremely easy for the customer, and avoid frequent mistakes made by car dealerships. According to information from Google, 95% of vehicle buyers use the web as one of their sources of information, with 60% of those searches coming from mobile devices. This means that having a simple website design and ample information available online can only help you further into the future.

You should also keep in mind what the customer may want to do when looking at a new car. They are probably interested in comparing vehicles from the top down, including key features like price, mileage, and size. This is why providing an excellent user experience is crucial; take Hyundai’s website for example.

On their vehicles page, it is easy to see where they have taken the time to adjust and optimize their customer journey. You can click to compare vehicles, see the aforementioned features side by side, and can even compare Hyundai vehicles to non-Hyundai vehicles, all on one website. This allows customers who are interested in making a fast decision to have a huge amount of information at their fingertips.

In the end, this can only benefit your target audience; a customer who has a fluid experience researching a car will likely find it much easier to purchase that car in a dealership.

Track holistic success, not individual metrics

Another way that Hyundai has adjusted their marketing strategy is by establishing key performance indicators that align with their business goals. For example, using things like Google Store Visits and Sales for tracking search engine marketing changes. If a digital campaign is put in place, and Google Store sales are up, that KPI has made it clear that the campaign was successful.

In doing a similar strategy to Hyundai, you can learn how to not only get more sales but also learn what the customer needs to drive better long-term growth. Think about the opposite of the above example – the digital campaign has led to an increase in-store visits, but there is not a proportional increase in conversions. In this situation, this points to a potential gap in customer service, allowing you to adjust how you think about your customer experience accordingly.

Pay attention to the average prospect’s thought process

In Google’s Dealer Guidebook, they detail the average prospect’s mindset when it comes to purchasing a new car.

Which car is best?

To begin, a person looking for a new vehicle will likely search for the most suitable version of what they need. In the case of a mother with three children, she may search for “best minivan for 5 person family”. Ranking well for organic keywords like this, as well as implementing keywords like this into your Google Ad spend would allow you as an automotive marketer to get one foot in the door where many do not.

Is this car right for me?

This prospect will then research different features they may need in a car – perhaps our example prospect needs one TV in the car, as well as a sliding middle row. Providing easily accessible informational content on your website, similar to what Hyundai includes on their, allows you to influence the buyer’s decision.

Can I afford it?

Shoppers want to know immediately if they can afford a vehicle they’ve determined fits their needs best, looking up keywords like “Ford F150 quote” to determine if it is in their price range. Ranking for these keywords would also allow you to provide information in a place where few dealers currently do.

Where should I buy it?

Searches like “car dealerships near me” or “F150 test drive near me” are keywords that your ads should almost certainly appear for. This is the second to last step of Google’s five-step Consumer Moment, and is arguably one of the most significant. If a customer researches the kind of car they want to buy, determines the price and why it is the right vehicle to get, but cannot actually find a dealership near them due to poor Google Ads management, that is a massive issue.

Am I getting a deal?

Even after shoppers have made their decision, they will still want to confirm that they are getting the cheapest deal. At the end of the ‘Consumer Moment’, it is extremely helpful to make sure that you highlight deals or promotions in your ads. This will ensure that you do not lose customers at this key part of the customer journey.

Use paid search

As aforementioned, throughout many stages in the car buying process, buyers will do research on specific models of cars that they are interested in. In the beginning, they may simply look up “best minivan” or “best long bed truck”; towards the end of the process, their searches may be centered around finding a deal, looking up “Toyota Camry deals”.

Bidding for relevant keywords through Google Ads is extremely important here; considering 95% of new vehicle buyers use online sources at some point during the purchase process, appearing for searches that your dealership should appear for is obvious, but tends to be overlooked.

Use Smart Bidding

Included in Google’s Dealer Guidebook are multiple case studies that show the benefits of Google Ads in automotive marketing. For TurnKey Marketing and City KIA, an adjustment of their bidding strategy to focus on effective cost per click (eCPC) was intended to optimize for consumer intent, rather than relying on minute adjustments in keywords.

The result was significant in three ways: a 122% increase in ad traffic to the website, a whopping 35% increase in search conversions, and a 900% increase in display conversions. These numbers alone suggest that this enhanced targeting strategy led to new customers that were more interested in the cars they were advertising for.

Keep in mind, however, that each business owner will have a different optimal smart bidding strategy. Determining which one makes the most sense depends on key information like your target market, locality, size, and priority metrics.

Pay close attention to your negative keyword list

Developing a comprehensive list of keywords to bid on is the first of a two-step process; the second is arguably more important.

Say you are bidding on the keyword “compact sedan” and have assigned it to be broad match. Without getting too into the nitty gritty of Google Ads, broad match simply means that searches your keyword will appear for include wide combinations of variations of your keyword that are still relevant. In this instance, “compact car” or “small sedan” could appear.

Without a negative keyword list, searches for “compact toy sedan” or “small toy sedan” could make your ad appear, leading to wasted ad spend.

Implementing a negative keyword list will take time, but is extremely helpful to ensure that you are not spending money where it does not need to be spent. A few strategies to do so, in short, are to look at what search terms are appearing for your keywords (adding irrelevant terms to your negative keywords) and to add negative keywords that may be a no-no in your industry (think: no toy cars involved in automotive marketing!)

Establish credibility with online review management

Many smaller automotive dealerships fall into the fallacy that their Google My Business reviews are not that relevant. However, responding to online reviews, positive and negative, is extremely critical.

Nearly 90% of consumers say they read online reviews when researching a product; combined with the fact that you can potentially increase customer churn by 15% if you don’t respond to reviews, paying attention to your Google My Business profile is extremely helpful.

Think about it this way: if the only online reviews that are responded to are good reviews, it will appear like you are avoiding dealing with any issues your business may have. Even worse, if you don’t actively manage any reviews, it just looks like you don’t actually care about customer feedback. With the number of reviews written for every dealership out there (look at the above image), this is crucial to long-term success.

Video marketing

More than 40% of shoppers who watched a video about trucks or cars visited a dealership as a result; this is an impressive number. If you can get four out of every ten people to visit your dealership simply by creating a compelling, well-produced video, that is an easy win.

Investing time and money into your video marketing is not the most obvious of things. However, from the consumers’ perspective, it only gives them more reassurance that shopping with you is the right choice. If members of your team appear to be friendly, helpful and have the customers’ interest at heart, it is just logical to assume that people would then want to visit your dealership.

Expand campaigns to non-intenders

According to the co-owner of Turbo Marketing Solutions, an agency that specializes in automotive marketing strategy, all auto industry competitors, including manufacturers, marketing companies, and dealers, are competing for the attention of the same seven to nine percent of the population. This small percentage only represents those in the market for a vehicle; the other 91%, those who do not currently consider themselves ‘in the market’, are not targeted.

Sean Cassy, the co-owner, argues that a few key friction points are the difference between having a person keen on changing their vehicle and one who believes it is simply unnecessary.

Total price or individual payments

By frequently updating consumers with price updates, including a litany of different payment plans, prospective car buyers can feel more comfortable knowing exactly how much they would be paying for a specific vehicle. When it is unclear or difficult to see the actual cost of a potential car, customers are dissuaded from continuing in the purchasing process.

Remove this barrier to entry by having clear pricing; optimally, including a list of actively updated vehicles with their respective prices would make customers feel more confident in choosing to shop with you.

Trade-in value of previous vehicle

The trade-in value of a vehicle has long been a subject of discussion, primarily because there is always a certain amount of haggling that comes about when it comes down to it. Providing a trade-in value calculator on your website can eliminate any uncertainty that could creep into play at this stage.

The future of automotive marketing strategy

As we’ve already mentioned, in the automotive industry,  the shift from a traditional marketing strategy to a digital one has largely already occurred. But, based on information gathered by Treasure Data, Winterberry Group, and Ansira, there are two general automotive marketing trends to expect in the near future.

Shifting more and more into digital marketing

With the COVID-19 pandemic came lockdowns, fear, and a large increase in consumption of digital media. More and more buyers transitioned from visiting in-person showrooms to digital ones; from viewing a car in person to panning around a 3D rendering online. This is further observed in data from a Cox Automotive report, where two in three people are more likely to complete their purchases online.

As the online era continues to come to fruition, this number will likely only grow; consumers’ desire for easily accessible and easily manipulable information will only continue to increase. Focusing on providing an incredible user experience will help you to stay ahead of the curve. This also means that shifting away from TV ads and leaning into paid search and content creation is the next logical step. This is because it is simply easier to track the impact of digital marketing campaigns than TV campaigns or car sales thank you cards.

Tangentially related, but as we shift further into this digital era, the overall sales model for the automotive industry is quickly changing from a traditional sales model where the dealer’s first interactions with the customer are crucial, to the European dealer agency model where the manufacturer is now doing much more of the marketing and optimization. We’ve written an in-depth piece that discusses what this means for dealers, which should hopefully give more context as to how to proceed in 2023.

A more unified approach

Before the advent of the Internet, car manufacturers did not really have to invest that much in advertising. They could theorize, design, and create the vehicles they wanted to, shipping them out to car dealerships across the nation, leaving the sales and marketing strategy to local teams. But now that the entire nation is connected… things have changed.

Looking from the top down is extremely critical here: if the auto manufacturer does not have a say in what all of their dealerships are doing, or have key metrics picked out to be tracked across the board, there will be no consistency between dealerships. It will be impossible to say if Dealership A is more successful than Dealership B because it is in a larger, more wealthy area. This is because they simply provide a better customer experience and have a fantastic website, bringing them more overall customers.

Even further down the pipeline, ensuring that the entire sales team in a dealership operates with the goal of providing a fantastic customer experience is key. If all parts of an organization are not unified with the same end goal in mind, it will not be easy to consistently scale and improve processes, as sticking points in social media will be unclear.

Unifying the types of tracking tools being used should be the first step; in an automotive business, it makes quite a bit of sense to use the Google Suite. Google Ads and Google Analytics provide solid analytical data on what kind of car buyers are researching your platform, and which are not. Google Analytics, specifically, will also provide key metrics on your website’s performance to determine at which point in the sales funnel customers are being lost.

In general, though, keeping a close eye on your social media channels to see what customers are asking for, how they react to specific pieces of content that you post, and how they interact with your brand in general are crucial to understanding your audience. We’ve recently written a guide to automotive social media marketing – check it out to stay on top of every channel.

Key Takeaways

There are a wide variety of digital platforms you can use to enhance your automotive marketing strategy. The core thing to focus on is how the customer may react to something.

If you can place yourself into the customer’s shoes and understand what they want and when they want it, you fundamentally will get why the platforms and methodologies mentioned above will benefit you.

How Handwrytten Can Help Automotive Marketers

One non-digital marketing strategy we did not mention throughout this article is using handwritten notes. Interestingly enough, handwritten notes are highly appreciated by customers and are also forms of outreach that are low risk and high reward according to our research.

While we did note above that print marketing is largely dead, there is a significant difference in how a person psychologically receives a handwritten versus a printed note. When a note is handwritten, it feels more personal. It conveys the message that you, the automotive dealer, care about your customer. Not only will this help you to retain more customers, but it will also spike the amount of people who refer you to their friends.

Check out our handwritten notes for automotive dealers if you are interested in automatically sending handwritten cards to your customers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Automotive Marketing

What does an automotive marketer do?

According to Autojobs.com, an automotive marketing manager plans and oversees an individual dealership’s marketing and promotional activities. In addition, he or she develops budgets and acts as a liaison with the media and other companies. An automotive marketer, in general, can expect to do something similar, but perhaps at a smaller scale: focusing on specific car dealerships, and developing better search engine optimization and outreach strategies.

What is customer experience in the automotive industry?

Customer experience in the automotive industry is no different from customer experience in general: it is every aspect of the customer journey, from outreach to the first point of contact to purchase.

How can I optimize customer retention in the automotive industry?

Optimizing the customer experience will help to boost long-term customer retention. Other things like consistent customer outreach, asking for referrals, as well as offering customers rewards will incentivize them to become repeat customers. This will enable them to reach out to potential customers on your behalf.

The post What is Automotive Marketing? appeared first on Handwrytten.

Keep reading to discover why you should use handwritten notes for auto dealers, when to send, and how they’ll help you to stand out from the competition. We’ve even included examples to guide your future thank-you letters!

Why Use Thank-You Letters Following a Car Purchase?

Car salesman can get more customers by providing a quality product or service and providing a satisfactory customer experience. It is critical to establish good relationships with customers, whether new or existing, in order to promote repeat business. The best way to show gratitude and strengthen customer service is to send a professional thank-you letter or card.

Why Should You Write a Thank-You Letter?

The primary purpose of a thank-you note is to express gratitude for someone’s time and help. Car purchase thank-you letters show the car salesman appreciates the business relationship and wishes to remain at the forefront of the buyers’ minds in the future. A secondary benefit is paying attention to details and following through on tasks, which are essential business traits.

In Salesforce’s study, 84% of customers said being treated as a person, not a number, was very important when trying to win their business. You encourage repeat business and increase consumer advocacy when you thank your customers for their business or even include “thank you for your business” messages in your orders.

There are various types of thank-you notes depending on the situation and the relationship between the salesman and buyer. Sending a thank-you email is appropriate if the buyer frequently communicates via email.

Handwritten notes of appreciation still have their place. A letter of this nature occurs less frequently, and the recipient will remember the sender’s personal touch. Handwritten thank-you notes are appropriate when meeting participants do not know each other previously. Because handwritten notes are more personal, they are more likely to be noticed.

84% of customers said being treated as a person, not a number, was very important when trying to win their business.

When Should You Send a Thank-You Letter?

Sales reps should send thank-you notes as soon as possible following the first interaction with a potential buyer. Once you have contact information, care salesmen should always thank the new leads for their initial interest. Thank you notes should be sent as soon as possible after the encounter so that the recipient is still thinking of it, even if it’s a simple text. Immediately following the meeting, you can write and send a letter if you have an address.

In a car sale, there is nothing more important than a sincere “thank you” from a salesperson. Writers benefit from the act of writing a thank-you note and expressing their gratitude on both a mental and physical level. By writing a handwritten appreciation note, you let a customer know they are valuable to you in this digital world. It is a good idea not to include promotional incentives and promotions in handwritten thank-you letters. Thank-you letters should only contain appreciation, along with gratitude and a great closing statement.

When Should You Avoid Sending a Thank-You Letter?

You should always send some type of paper gratitude letter to a new or returning customer, especially if they have bought a car. Or, at the least, when they have visited the dealership.

If you fail to write a thank-you letter too soon after the initial meeting or contact with the customer, then it is too late. If the letter arrives later than three weeks after the vehicle‘s purchase, then it may be best to avoid a written corresponce and send an email in its place.

Tips for Thanking a Customer For Their Recent Automobile Purchase

Despite having access to a wide range of dealerships, your client chose to purchase a new car from you. While your dealership and salespersons were picked, that does not guarantee that they will return in the future. It is important to let your customer know that you value their business and are always available to them in closing the sale; this is one of the basic tenets of good automotive marketing.

Here are 3 tips to help craft your perfect car purchase thank-you letter and some key business pointers to keep in mind.

1. Keep It Simple and Sincere

Don’t worry if you’re struggling with the right words – your thank-you cards don’t need to be a major work of fiction. You should keep them short, but professional and personal. Making an impact with a few sentences is easy.

Thank-you cards for car sales are small gestures that can have a substantial effect. Your personal thank-you note must convey appreciation, demonstrate that you listened to the customer‘s concerns, and outline that you are always available to answer any questions they might have. Include car purchase thank-you letters in your follow-up process, and you will probably observe an impressive increase in customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Handwritten letters have more permanence than canned responses via email or text. People are more likely to save these types of letters as wholesome reminders of the salesman and their experience. Especially if the letter is unique and customized.

2. Consider Expressing Your Gratitude Beyond Words

Thanking someone is important, but a thoughtful, handwritten note can show a greater level of investment and appreciation than a mere thank-you. Car salespeople can send messages to follow up on a conversation, remind someone they have not been forgotten, raise new issues, or even include a gift.

It is generally well appreciated when you take the time to make a thoughtful letter of thanks. Some car salesmen and dealerships include boxes of cookies, gift cards to restaurants, or gift cards to include with their letters. Salespeople increase the rapport they have with clients through small gestures like this.

While including gifts is not at all necessary, the point you’re really trying to make is that the customer‘s satisfaction is on your mind. You want them to also know just how much you appreciate their business now and any in the future. The best way to get this point across is through simple honesty and gratitude.

3. Personalize Your Written Correspondence

Your objective in writing a “thank you for your business” letter should be to build a bond between you and your client. Be courteous but informal, and keep it warm and friendly.

Your letter should include the customer‘s name to add more tailored personalization. You also want to be brief but specific when recapping the recent transaction (i.e., “a new car purchase“). Remember, the point isn’t to promote, but to show gratitude.

While it’s always a good idea to include a point of contact reference (i.e., “Please let me know if you have any issues”), you want to make sure this isn’t coming off sales like or brings down the tone of your letter. Keep things optimistic, happy, and grateful.

When you take the time to write a thank you letter that:

• Uses the customer‘s real name
• Recounts the sales experience in a positive light
• Expresses gratitude for the customer‘s business at your dealership

You can show a genuine interest in the customer and improving the salesperson/customer relationship. In turn, you are promoting brand loyalty without hard advertising and interacting with a soon-to-be loyal customer.

Example Thank-You Letters for Car Salespersons

There are a few different ways to thank a customer for their new car purchase. While using templates is fine for the basic structure of your thank-you letter, it’s important to add personal details since every customer is unique.

Make sure you use their name, so the customer knows it’s exactly for them. Give thanks for their business, and end it on an enthusiastic note! Using personalized cards will help you stand out.

Here is an example of car purchase thank-you letter:

Dear [customer‘s name],

It was an honor to help you with your recent car purchase. I hope your [make/model of vehicle purchased] is proving a nice choice for you. You were a pleasure to work with.

[Build this sentence around some personal detail you discovered during the sales process, for example, “What did your wife think about the new car when you brought it home? You expected her to enjoy the sunroof, but did she?”]

It is a pleasure working with you, and I appreciate your business. It means a lot to me that you came to [dealership‘s name], and I am so happy we found a vehicle that works for you!

Sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your e-mail address]

[Your phone number]

Automate Your Client Communication

While the writing and sending of letters can tedious, it is an essential task for any salesperson. So how does one find the time to write every single customer they assist?

Technological innovations, like Handwrytten, use automation to make it easier for car salesmen to draft handwritten sales purchase thank-you letters. 

With tools to facilitate a streamlined communication process, the customer experience is heightened like never before. Thus helping to solidify the sales rep/buyer relationship can lead to greater revenues through personalized marketing and repeat customers.

Stand Out From the Competition With Personalized Service

Of course, you want to stand out in the competition. Therefore, your thank-you letters should be personalized, sincere, and of top-notch quality while also keeping in mind top automotive marketing trends.

Although sending thank-you letters may seem like a daunting task, services like Handwrytten make sending handwritten correspondence easy. Learn how to get started today!

The post Car Purchase Thank-You Letters: Why You Must Use Them appeared first on Handwrytten.

What Is Automotive Direct Mail?

Through direct mail, customers receive personalized, targeted advertisements at their home or business from local, national, or international businesses. Automotive direct mail’s goal is often to entice interested customers to visit the dealership’s showroom.

How Does Automotive Direct Mail Work?

Companies interested in implementing automotive marketing trends have many options to create and implement an effective direct mail plan. Some car dealerships send their own direct mail from their showroom, using lead lists they’ve developed personally. Others send their own snail mail, but use customer lists with prospective buyers who match their target demographic that they buy or rent from distributors. Some choose to outsource the entire operation to a third-party company with the knowledge and information to oversee a productive automotive mail marketing campaign.

What Are Some Effective Types of Automotive Advertising?

Car dealerships use a variety of marketing strategies paired with a direct mail campaign to increase their customer base and overall sales. Consider a few of these ideas for your next direct mail operation:

• Thank-you notes: Use a handwritten thank-you note following a successful sale to show your customer you personally care about their purchase.
• Dealership newsletter: Automotive companies can send newsletters to existing customers to keep them informed of any dealership updates or news. Many businesses include useful automotive industry-related information in their newsletters alongside marketing and ads. Newsletters are often sent as letters or self-mailers.
• Loan or financing specials: Send a postcard, letter, or self-mailer with information about special loan deals or financing specials to the appropriate customer demographic.
• Birthday greetings: Keep in touch with previous customers and encourage them to pay a visit to your dealership with a thoughtful handwritten birthday card.
• Loyalty program: For existing customers or potential customers, send a self-mailer or dimensional mailer listing the benefits included in your customer loyalty program. You could even create two documents, one for current customers and one for customer leads, to better optimize the mailer’s language.
• Holiday sale: Advertise any holiday sales events with a handwritten postcard, letter, or dimensional mailer. Make these as eye-catching as possible to prompt your customers to read the mailer’s copy and learn more about the sales event.
• Service offerings: Send customers information about your service center on a postcard, in a handwritten letter, or in a self-mailer. This is a particularly useful campaign idea for current customers who may not be in the market for a new vehicle but who you know own a car that might need service.

Is Automotive Direct Mail Effective?

The Data & Marketing Association performs an annual survey to evaluate the efficacy of direct mail marketing. The 2018 DMA Response Rate Report indicates that direct mail is an incredibly effective form of marketing. Consider these statistics:

• There was a 9% response rate for a house list compared to a 1% response rate for an email house list.
• There was a 5% response rate for a prospect list compared to a 1% response rate for an email prospect list.

Clearly, direct mail, particularly when targeted and personalized, can yield impressive results in the form of new customers and return purchases from past customers.

What Are the Benefits?

Automotive companies can profit tremendously from a well-executed direct mail campaign. Consider a few of the many benefits:

• According to the Data & Marketing Association, 42% of people either read or scan their physical mail before answering it or throwing it away. This means your current customers or potential customers are likely to see your message even if they then throw the mail out.
• Creating personalized mail is a simple task with the right software or a third-party company.
• You can use curated lists of potential customers that meet the parameters of your target market to ensure your direct mail reaches interested people.
• Direct mail can take many forms. You can use your creativity when designing your direct mail campaign. Use a variety of colors, shapes, and even handwritten cards to catch your customers’ eyes.
• Direct mail campaigns are easy to track so you can see the frequency with which customers are accepting your messaging.
• It’s a great return on investment. The United States Postal Service ran a study on its own direct mail marketing campaign and found that direct mail generated over half of its customer responses.
• Direct mail is less intrusive than other forms of advertising or marketing since customers can choose when to look at it.

What Are the Different Types of Direct Mail?

Automotive mail is super versatile. You can combine different types of direct mail with a variety of marketing strategies. This will land new customers and increase return purchases from existing customers. Common types of direct mail include:

• Self-mailers: Like postcards, self-mailers have no exterior packaging. Instead, they’re often a single sheet of paper tri-folded and sealed or a small, sealed booklet. Self-mailers are an excellent choice for providing detailed information to prospective customers since they offer more space than a postcard or other types of mail.
• Letters: Traditional letters feature a sheet or two of paper enclosed in an envelope. Letters are a highly-professional form of direct mail. They work well for hyper-personalized campaigns. Often, the writer will sign their name in pen but think about handwriting your entire letter to show your customer you care.
• Dimensional mailers: Dimensional mailers are similar to self-mailers, but often have upgraded features like the type of paper, colors, and shape. Dimensional mailers are designed to be eye-catching and look expensive to entice potential customers to examine them.
• Catalog: Catalogs are most popular with companies that sell a wide range of products. This type of mail is essentially a book made from glossy paper with detailed descriptions of the company’s products for purchase.

How Can You Automate It?

You can use our one of our automation integrations to maximize results with minimal effort and investment.
Take a look at our integrations below:

• The integration of Handwritten CDK revolutionizes the way personalized notes are sent, elevating the customer experience to unprecedented heights. This indispensable tool caters specifically to auto sales companies, facilitating meaningful connections with customers. Bid farewell to laborious manual tasks and welcome a heightened campaign experience that yields impressive outcomes. Embrace streamlined operations and an engaging approach that leaves a lasting impact on your target customers.

Direct mail marketing is an excellent tool for gaining new customers and retaining current customers. Use personalization and targeting to get the best return on your investment.

The post Automotive Direct Mail appeared first on Handwrytten.

Your star ratings, the length and volume of your reviews, how many major sites these reviews appear on, and how recent these reviews are made all contribute to your reputation score. A high reputation score implies high ratings and reviews. It also suggests that the dealership’s clients were satisfied with the service.

If you want to know how to improve your company’s reputation score, you can consider some current automotive marketing trends that many successful dealerships employ. These strategies include:

• Request reviews
• Monitor and respond to reviews punctually
• Address issues and improve your business
• Build personal relationships with your clients
• Offer stellar services

Keep reading to explore these and additional topics in detail.

Why Do You Need Reviews?

Reviews are critical to the image of any business, and your car dealership is no exception. They can make or mar your business, and this is why you need to get positive reviews. Some reasons you need reviews are:

Reviews Drives Sales

People are more likely to make purchases when other people say it is okay, and online reviews are social proof of a company and its services. What this means is that they have a substantial impact on sales. As long as you have good reviews, you will get customers who will buy your products.

They Make Your Brand Visible to People

Search engines like Google and Facebook are where shoppers find dealerships online. These sites rank dealerships through their ratings and reviews from customers. If a company has a 5-star rating, it will rank higher on Google than those that have a 4.5 rating. What this means is that potential customers will only see your brand if you have reviews.

Reviews Make You Reliable and Trustworthy

When you have reviews, your brand gains a reliable outlook. This is especially important for businesses such as car dealerships, as clients will likely do their research before investing in a new car. In order to assess if they can buy from you with confidence, potential clients will look at both positive and negative reviews.

While, as you know, it’s important to have more positive reviews than negative ones, this can’t happen if you don’t have any. In other words, if a potential client is able to find opinions from which to gather information on your business, they will be more likely to trust you. It shows you are transparent and care about client satisfaction.

Tips to Help You Boost Your Car Dealership’s Ratings and Reviews

Customers are always right when it comes to business. Therefore, you must make sure to influence public opinion in your favor as a dealer. It is crucial that you work to improve your ratings and reputation score. Doing this will help you boost sales and create a loyal customer base. Knowing how to improve your company’s reputation is vital to the success of your business.

Some tips to boost your car dealership’s ratings and reviews are:

1. Create Your Business’s Review Page

An online business requires a website, and your car dealership is no different. You should create a page on your website to encourage customers to leave a review. You can also use other third-party applications to get your review site. Having this page ensures that your customers can leave comments and can write your car dealership’s ratings and reviews.

2. Request Feedback and Ratings from Your Clients

You should actively request reviews and feedback from your customers. Reviews inform you of the level of satisfaction your customer enjoys with your service. Unsatisfied and unhappy customers are quick to leave reviews on your products. As for the satisfied customers, they need to be pushed to leave reviews.

Potential customers might only see the negative ones if you do not try as hard as possible to have positive reviews on your sites. You should also try to word your request as friendly and politely as is possible.

3. Personalize Your Review Requests

Make your review request personal. Try to address your customers by their names. A good business is not one that only makes a lot of money but also has the trust and loyalty of its customers. It would be best if you endeavored to build long-lasting relationships with your client and make them feel part of the management process.

You can go one step beyond and send handwritten notes to customers instead of an email. They will know for sure you listen to them and will remember the gesture. Emails may seem generic or not personalized enough, so again, a letter builds a closer relationship with the client.

4. Offer Review Writing Tips to Your Customers

It is not all your customers that find the task of writing reviews enjoyable. To some, it is a challenging task. You can provide them with useful tips on how to write a clear review. Not only that, but you can also create a review writing template that they can follow.

The template should have spaces for their names, the product they bought, their opinions, et cetera. When you help your customers leave useful tips, you understand them better and can improve on your operations.

5. Respond Honestly to Reviews

Do you want to build your dealership’s reputation for the positive? Then, you should leave honest responses to your customers’ reviews.

Some dealers avoid responding to negative reviews. Not only is this bad for business, but it also ignores customers’ relations. Whether positive or negative, you should always make sure to respond to these comments. Thank them for the positive reviews; apologize for the inconveniences in the negative reviews, and assure them of improvements where necessary.

When you respond to reviews, you create better engagement between your business and your clients. Make sure to respond as quickly as possible and promise to make their experience better the next time.

6. Include Review Links in Your Email Signatures

You should include review links in the email signatures of your customer-facing staff. This will help them to access your review page faster to leave reviews. You should also send direct emails to your customers. Not only does this help to foster business-client relationships, but it also makes them feel part of the business. It also builds sincerity in your relations with them.

7. Offer Incentives for Online Reviews

Incentives encourage customers to leave reviews or do certain things you want them to do. However, you should never give incentives as a condition for writing reviews or leaving positive reviews. Let your customers leave their comments based on how they feel about your product and service. Doing this will reveal the genuine feelings of your customers concerning your dealership.

8. Publish Guidelines for Your Members of Staff

You should implement a review management process with your staff. They will help you to monitor the review, identify the major touch-points, and work on implementing these suggestions. Your team should always be on top of your customers’ comments. A flawless management process will also help to influence the public’s opinion in your favor.

These guidelines will guide your staff on how to act in case of a review, whether positive or negative. Your team must understand the impact of clients’ reviews on the dealership and respond appropriately. When your staff is friendly, you retain more customers and create a loyal base.

9. Seek Help from Professionals

When you need help, do not hesitate to ask experts. They would guide you on the steps to take and the strategies that will ensure you keep your customers satisfied. These experts can also help you draw out an efficient and effective review management plan.

10. Follow Up

Make sure you keep track of comments – especially negative ones. Take negative reviews as a way to better your business and improve your services all around.

11. Wow Your Customers

When your customer’s service is excellent, you will have no problems with getting positive reviews. Always make sure to put your customers’ needs first. You should not just do it; you should show them that you are doing it. No matter the medium customers use to connect with you, always make them feel welcome.

On that note, availability also plays a part. If they are able to contact you via phone, email, direct mail, chat, and other channels, they will feel comfortable because they’ll be able to choose. The rating of a happy customer secures for you the loyalty of many others.

Final Thoughts

There’s many ways to boost your car dealership’s ratings and reviews, and it starts with communication!

To stand out from competitors, consider sending handwritten notes to your customers. Handwrytten’s robots can quickly send a “thank you for your business” card to all new and existing customers. Check them out today!

The post Tips to Boost Your Car Dealership’s Ratings and Reviews appeared first on Handwrytten.

To help car salespeople increase the number of customers they get, we asked experts in the field this question for their best advice. From leveraging the Facebook marketplace to using social media, there are several simple yet effective ways that may help you increase your customers as a car salesperson. 

Here are 8 ways to get more customers as a car salesman: 

• Leverage Facebook Marketplace
• Write a Heartfelt Letter
• Provide Incentives
• Create an Online Presence
• Develop Relationships With Local Businesses
• Bring Out the Meat (Free Food!)
• Be Genuine and Patient
• Consider Providing Incentives for Referrals
• Use Social Media

Leverage Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is one of the best venues for local B2C sales. It can help the dealerships that sell used cars to find buyers in the area. Having a well-established presence on this social platform can also help. Having a few contacts share it may also trigger a snowball effect and help sell it in no time.

Michael Sena, SENACEA

Write a Heartfelt Letter

Send out thank you notes to your customers.  Of course, thank them for their purchase and ensure they don’t have any questions or outstanding issues. But also gently ask them for referrals by saying “if you enjoyed your buying experience please let your friends and family know”.  If you’re part of a small business, consider mentioning that as well.

David Wachs, Handwrytten

Provide Incentives

Providing incentives to potential customers helps to bring more people in overall. It can be a referral process or affiliate program. Either way, these two examples are great since it is not an ad, it is a real person referring you to another person. Word of mouth marketing is still the most trusted form of marketing out there, especially for a car dealership.

Michael Jankie, Natural Patch

Create an Online Presence

Building an online presence is fundamental today. Therefore, you need to attract potential customers online to grab their attention, provide detailed information on your products, and convert them into clients. One effective lead generation technique is using social media. Create your business profile to share vehicle inventory, promotions, and events, and ask your clients to leave you feedback. Engaging with customers helps build trust and credibility.

Natalia Brzezinska, PhotoAiD

Develop Relationships With Local Businesses

One way a car salesperson can bring more customers to a dealership is by developing relationships with local businesses and organizations. By establishing relationships with local businesses and organizations, a car salesperson can expand their pool of potential customers.

Local businesses often need to rent vehicles for business purposes, and they may be interested in leasing or purchasing cars through the dealership. Organizations often need transportation for their members or volunteers, and they may also be interested in leasing or purchasing cars through the dealership. Developing relationships with local businesses and organizations can help car salespeople increase their customer base and improve their business prospects.

Claire Westbrook, LSAT Prep Hero

Bring Out the Meat (Free Food!)

Nothing draws people in like free stuff, especially food. One of the best tactics I’ve seen car salesmen use is a BBQ on the lot. Get a big smoker going with all kinds of different cuts, including ribs, tri-tip and chicken, and draw people in with an irresistible smell. When combined with a giant “Free BBQ” sign out front, anyone remotely interested (and hungry) will likely swing through. Do your best to make the BBQ seem like a low pressure environment, where people aren’t forced to buy anything or even browse. Then once on the lot with a plate full of food in their hands and a few minutes to kill while they eat, they’ll naturally start to wander out and take a peek at the inventory. That’s all you want, some good prospects who feel slightly obligated to hear you out after you just gave them a good meal.

John Ross, Test Prep Insight

Be Genuine and Patient

Many people expect car salesmen to be overly salesy. If a car salesman can take a more genuine and personable approach when interacting with people, this could be refreshing for them. Show people that you are willing to be patient and cater to their specific needs, rather than pushing your offerings onto them too quickly. They will appreciate this sincerity.

Matt Miller, Embroker

Provide Incentives for Referrals

Putting together a referral campaign will surely boost foot traffic to your dealership. Leverage your loyal customers. Customers who are loyal to you can supply you with a lot of referrals. The individuals referred by your loyal customers are easier to convert into paying clients since these are people your prior customers handpicked knowing they would be satisfied with the service you provide. You can reward your loyal customers in a variety of ways, such as offering free gas, exclusive discounts, or merchandise. If the referral results in a purchase, you can enhance the reward based on what your dealership can offer.

David Bitton, Doorloop

Use Social Media

Use social media. So many potential customers are on social media and looking for information about cars online. Buy online ads and post videos about the car dealership. People love videos. This can definitely help draw people to the dealership and raise its profile.

Phillip Akhzar, Arka

Key Takeaways

There are a plethora of automotive marketing trends that can help you develop better overall customer experience as well as ways to thank your customers.

If you are struggling to lock in your customer engagement strategy, consider using handwritten notes from Handwrytten to help you out! At a low cost, handwritten notes for automotive dealers are proven to boost customer engagement and retention; you can learn more about our services here.

Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published.

The post 8 Ways To Get More Customers as a Car Salesperson appeared first on Handwrytten.

12 Frequent Mistakes by Car Dealerships

1. No Target Audience

One of the biggest mistakes made by car dealerships is not having a target audience or not knowing their target audience. While you may want to try to sell to anyone who walks into your dealership, that isn’t the best idea. If you don’t have a target audience, it will be much more difficult to market to anyone. By narrowing your audience, you can figure out what will make people in that group come to your dealership and buy a car.

Having an audience can also help you stand out from your competitors. If you know your audience better, you’ll be able to get in their head, and you can easily convince them to hire you.

Your target audience may include a certain age range or income bracket. Whatever it is, determine it now so that you can focus your marketing efforts better.

2. Ignoring Social Media

Another one of the biggest mistakes by car dealerships is not focusing on social media. Some dealerships either don’t have social media accounts, or they never post to the accounts they have.

Using your target audience, consider what social platforms are best for your business. For example, LinkedIn could be a good option for business owners, while Instagram is great for a younger audience. Once you set up your account on one or two platforms, post to it regularly. Create a posting schedule, and create your posts ahead of time so that you don’t have to spend time throughout the week doing that.

Social media is a great tool for customer communication for car dealerships. By having active accounts, you can use private messages to contact people and get them to visit you.

3. Short Webpages

Your website is another great way to promote your dealership. However, don’t add another webpage just to add something. Each page should have a decent amount of content.

Google may not promote pages with less content because they aren’t that valuable to people. When someone is looking at buying a car, they need more than a few sentences. Try to write at least a few hundred words for each page. If you have customer reviews, that can be an easy way to increase the content on your page and add value to prospective customers.

Having fewer pages with more content on each will be better for your website. And you can keep navigation simple, making it easier for shoppers to find what they need.

4. Basic Homepage

One of the most important pages on your site is the homepage. It can be easy to leave this page with mostly pictures, but it’s a great place to add more content to help promote the dealership. For one, you can use it to link to different pages or sections of your site. You might include separate links to sedans, SUVs, and trucks to help shoppers narrow their search.

Whenever you run a special promotion, update the website to reflect that. Your homepage can get a lot of traffic, so you need to direct that traffic to the vehicle pages or other strategic pages.

5. Duplicate Content

When creating content for your website, you want to avoid using duplicate content. Make each page unique, even if two say similar things. Writing unique content can keep search engines from punishing your website for plagiarism. This can apply to duplicate content within your site and across other sites.

The warranty page is the biggest example of this, because it’s usually the same as other dealerships. When possible, link to a generic warranty page or write a unique version. If you want to write content for different types of cars, make each page unique. Try not to replace the word “sedan” with “SUV” when writing about different vehicles.

6. Not Enough Pictures

Another vital part of marketing for car dealerships is using pictures. Whether you’re writing listings for your website or creating social media content, use as many images as you can. Take photos of the inside and outside of the car, and include pictures of the different angles. If you sell used cars and one has a significant defect, make sure to get a picture of that.

Add as many photos as you can to the listings on your website. Then, buyers will have as much information as they need before they buy the car.

While social media platforms can restrict the number of pictures per post, include what you can. You may also want to take a video to show the car from various angles within one post.

7. Generic Descriptions

Another thing you should avoid when marketing your dealership is using generic vehicle descriptions. While you want to include the basic features and specs, make it interesting. Instead of using a tool to generate basic descriptions, write them yourself. Consider what you would want to know if you were buying a car.

Think about your target audience and the language they might use. Then, use that information to write interesting car descriptions to share with each listing.

To help avoid duplicate content, write descriptions from scratch, even for similar models. That way, you won’t bore people, and Google won’t punish you for using the same text multiple times.

8. Bad Title Tags

When writing a webpage, you have the chance to enter title tags to help your website’s SEO. Avoid using titles that focus on the name of your dealership and not of your location or the cars you have. On the other hand, don’t include every make or model of car within one title tag. That can make the tag too long to read, and it can be confusing for visitors.

Instead, make each title tag specific to the vehicle or category. Visitors can find what they need, and search engines will know when to show each page.

9. Stuffing Keywords

In the past, you could get away with stuffing keywords in your content to rank highly in search. However, keyword stuffing and other black hat SEO techniques aren’t as successful. You should still use keywords on your website to tell search engines about the content. But place them naturally in the text and in a few strategic places.

Keywords should go in the introduction or near the top of a page. Also, put them in the conclusion of the page, a header, and in the title tag. You can also include the keyword in your meta description, which shows up under your website link on Google.

10. Choosing the Wrong Keywords

You also need to select the right keywords to help people find your dealership’s website. Consider the search intent, which will usually be to find a car to buy.

Put yourself in the mind of a buyer to help figure out what keywords they may use. You can then use a keyword research tool to determine how competitive and popular the keyword is.

If you choose super competitive keywords, your content may not show up on the first page. On the other hand, if you use keywords no one searches for, people won’t find your site.

11. No Local Optimization

When deciding which keywords to use, focus on local keywords and local SEO. Of course, people won’t buy from your dealership if they don’t live in the area, so local optimization can help you attract the right customers.

You can also use a Google My Business profile to help display your location and website in search results. Then, people don’t have to click on your site to learn the basics of your business.

The profile can show up when someone searches for a dealership in your area or if they search for your business. Either way, local optimization can help you get more clicks, which may increase conversions.

12. Not Sending Followups

Once you capture a lead or make a sale, you should send a followup. Handwritten notes for car dealerships can be a great way to add a personal touch.

After you sell a car, you could send that customer a note thanking them for their business and wishing them a good experience with the car. If someone looks at cars but doesn’t buy, you may also want to send a note.

The note can include a thank you for coming in, but you can also use it to promote your dealership. Perhaps you have an upcoming sale, and they can come in and buy a car then.

Avoiding Mistakes Made by Car Dealerships

Some of the biggest mistakes made by car dealerships can cost you a lot in sales. If you make the mistakes regularly, you may struggle to keep your business running.

Fortunately, strategies like handwritten notes for car dealerships can help. Whether you send a personal note or update your social presence, you can keep customers coming back whenever they need a new vehicle.

Do you want to send handwritten notes to your customers? View our selection of cards.

The post Top 12 Frequent Mistakes Made By Car Dealerships appeared first on Handwrytten.

To engage more customers, handwritten notes can be a very impactful tool. The personal connection that comes with receiving mail is unrivaled. It communicates to your consumers and potential clients that you are willing to invest time in creating individual messages for them. Writing personalized letters conveys your brand’s message clearly and will surely make an impression on anyone who receives one!

The benefits of using handwritten notes in your marketing efforts

There are quite a few reasons why a handwritten note system is superior when it comes to marketing for auto dealers.

A handwritten note stands out from modern outreach methods

We are fully in the digital era. AI writers are beginning to become commonplace, social media has become one of the main ways by which people stay connected, and digital outreach methods are more and more common. This all makes sense – everyone is online nowadays, so switching to mainly digital methods of outreach makes sense, right?

Well, while reaching out to potential buyers and current customers via email, social platforms, and text is a cost-effective way to do so, it is extremely saturated. In 2019, the average office worker received over 120 emails per day, and the average consumer received 32 texts per day. Think about how difficult it is to stand out in either of those fields as an auto dealer reaching out to customers when there are so many different messages getting sent to them at all times.

That’s where a handwritten note stands out.

Data from the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission in 2017 says that the average American only received 10 pieces of personal mail throughout the entire year. So if you, as an auto dealer, send even one piece of direct mail, you’re significantly more likely to actually reach your target audience.

Handwritten cards are fantastic for auto dealers

It is becoming more and more essential for auto dealers to stand out from the competition, and one of the best ways to do this is by sending out handwritten notes and cards. Historically, it has been important for auto dealers to connect with their audience in some form of way to be able to make sales. Writing a personal card or letter will demonstrate special care and attention that can not only show your appreciation for your client but also improve customer satisfaction levels significantly.

It also should be noted that people open handwritten notes far more often than they open emails: over 99% of handwritten cards are opened, while only just over 22% of emails are. So, even if you may think an email will get your message across effectively, it still cannot match the effects of a physical letter or card – plus, fewer people create them today, so they tend to stand out when sent as opposed to being buried underneath countless email spam descriptions.

Handwritten cards for automotive dealerships

Handwritten notes build trusted relationships between auto dealers and customers through consistent, personalized communication. Thoughtful handwritten cards demonstrate the dealership values customers as individuals, not just sales. This level of care improves customer experience and long-term loyalty.

Use handwritten notes to follow up with potential prospects

Following up with potential prospects is an important part of the sales process. By using handwritten notes, you can make a great impression on potential prospects and increase your chances for success. It shows that you have taken extra time to personalize each communication and it can say a lot about the level of service that your company provides.

Handwritten notes are memorable, sincere, and show a level of authenticity that cannot be achieved with digital messages or other printed materials. Moreover, by taking the time to write out personalized correspondence to each individual prospect, they know they are not just another number in a spreadsheet but rather an important partner in your business growth.

6 handwritten note templates for auto dealerships

In the fast-paced world of the automotive business, auto dealer marketing is an indispensable asset for success. Dealerships can benefit from myriad tactics to capture and preserve customers: handwritten notes delivered by dealership staff, email campaigns, as well as social media outreach all make great options!

Handwritten note templates are a popular strategy for auto dealer marketing, offering dealerships the chance to provide personalized messages with handwritten elements and uniform structure at an affordable cost. In today’s world, such letters have become even more vital in crafting successful strategies that support valuable customer relationships without breaking the bank.

1. Reaching out to potential leads

Dear __________,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to introduce myself and the team at my dealership, ___________. We specialize in offering some of the best cars on the market today, and I wanted to let you know about all the great deals we have available.

If you are interested in learning more about our vehicles, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I would of course, be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and provide additional information about the cars we offer.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

___________

___________ Dealership

Phone: ____________

Email: ____________

2. Prospecting with leads you’ve already reached out to about a new vehicle

Hi ___________,

Thanks for your interest in the ___________. It really is one of the best cars on our lot.

I’d love to tell you more about some of the special features that make this car such a great vehicle. Please let me know if there are any specific questions about the ___________ that I can answer for you.

Feel free to respond to this note to let me know how I can help. You may also call me directly at ___________. I look forward to hearing from you!

___________

___________ Dealership

Phone: ____________

Email: ____________

3. Thank you letter template for after a sale

Hi ___________,

Congratulations on your ___________ purchase! We are proud that you chose us as the dealership to do business with and we know you will be delighted with your new car.

At ___________, customer satisfaction is our top priority, which is why I am reaching out to make sure everything has been going well since your acquisition. If there are any issues or questions at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by email or give me a call at ___________. And remember – we’ve got you covered when it comes to complimentary service too!

All the best,

___________

___________ Dealership

Phone: ____________

Email: ____________

4. Reminder to schedule service template

Hi ___________,

We hope you are thoroughly enjoying your trusty [vehicle]. How have things been running? Our records indicate that it’s time for the usual tune-up, so I wanted to check in and make sure everything is going as expected. Please know that I’m here to help!

Regular maintenance of your vehicle is the most reliable way to ensure larger (and more costly) problems don’t arise further down the line. If ever you need anything, please feel free to contact me directly at ___________ or schedule an appointment with our service center by calling us at our service center number – ___________.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

___________

___________ Dealership

Phone: ____________

Email: ____________

5. Handwritten notes: automotive dealers template about a car trade-in

Greetings ___________,

If you’re considering trading in your car for a newer and better model, now is the perfect time! We’re on the lookout for quality pre-owned cars such as yours that are becoming increasingly harder to find.

Want to discover how much you can get? Quickly input your info into our QR code below and we’ll give you an idea of its value in under 10 seconds flat!

Trade up today – take advantage of this limited opportunity while it lasts.

Can’t wait to hear from you soon,

___________

___________ Dealership

Phone: ____________

Email: ____________

6. Referral program email template

Hi ____________,

We are proud to announce that we have launched a referral program at our dealership website! As a thank you for your past patronage and support, we want to offer you the opportunity to take advantage of additional savings when you refer new customers to us.

When you successfully refer someone who purchases a vehicle from us, we will give you access to a discount on your next service visit. It’s that simple! So don’t forget to spread the word and reap the rewards.

Thank you again for being such an invaluable customer of ours. We look forward to helping you save even more in the future.

Best regards,

___________

___________ Dealership

Phone: ____________

Email: ____________

For auto dealerships, the best way to prove success is through results. The perfect blend of strategies will generate interest and attract new customers repeatedly. Consider old-fashioned handwritten notes for a sentimental touch or proven templates that get the job done quickly and efficiently – each one is an effective method to up your dealership’s chances of succeeding! If you’re ready to see growth in business, begin implementing these techniques now and watch as it blossoms!

Frequently Asked Questions About Handwritten Notes for Auto Dealers

What app can I send handwritten notes for dealership sales?

Handwrytten’s mobile app is perfect for sending handwritten notes automatically. All you need to do is upload your handwriting, a list of contact information, a message, and the app will take care of the rest.

Why are handwritten letters special?

Handwritten letters are unique because they can add a personal touch to your communication. Handwritten notes show that you care enough to take the extra time and effort. They also make businesses stand out from other generic emails and mass texts, which can make all the difference when trying to establish a connection with new customers.

How can I make my handwritten notes attractive?

Your handwritten notes should be clear and easy to read. Make sure to write in block letters or cursive, whichever you are most comfortable with. If possible, include a few doodles, lines or designs to make your letter stand out even more. You can also use colored ink for an extra pop of color, but make sure to also put some thought in when you sign it.

The post Using Handwritten Notes for Auto Dealers (+6 Free Templates) appeared first on Handwrytten.