Google Vehicle Ads: Get ready to list your car dealership stock on Google
Today is the eagerly anticipated release date of Google Vehicle Ads (formerly Google Vehicle Listings) and we take a deep dive into what it is and how it can help increase sales for your car dealership.
Google Vehicle Ads is the new way for motor dealers to advertise their vehicle stock on the Google search engine with targeted ads similar to the shopping ads that have been around for a few years. We anticipate that this new Google offering will be a game changer.
The idea is that when a consumer searches for an intentful phrase like Audi A3 for sale near me, they will see ads for vehicles that match their search query. Gone are the days where the first useful information prospective car buyers see are links to marketplaces - they will now be able to see vehicle results directly on Google which makes it very important for car dealerships to consider using google Vehicle Ads as it is the earliest step consumers are likely to see potential vehicles to buy as most of the web's search traffic takes place on Google.
Why should my motor trade business use Google Vehicle Ads?
- Reach Prospective Buyers Sooner - A huge number of prospective car buyers will begin their search by typing a query into Google's search engine. Before, they would be met with links to AutoTrader, Motors, CarGurus, local car dealership websites, etc. Now, the first thing they will see will be related Google Vehicle Ads, bringing the first opportunity to sell closer to the initial search on the search engine. To remain competitive, it's worth considering getting your vehicles listed at this early stage too.
- More Qualified Leads - The leads you will receive from Google Vehicle Ads will be people who have specifically searched for used cars for sale, and likely the make and model you have on offer. This will help bring you buyers who are interested in a specific vehicle and hopefully improve your conversion rate.
- Omnichannel Goals - Optimise for both online conversions (leads) and offline conversions (dealership visits).
- Automated Targeting - Vehicle ads show your most relevant listings for a related user query.
- Linked to Google Business Profile and Google Maps - This feature will be connected to your Google Business Profile, meaning customers who see your search results will easily be able to see your reviews, find your contact information and directions to your business. This should be key to helping your business receive more calls and increase footfall.
- Reduce Platform Risk - It's not lie that in the past decade or so, the automotive marketing space has been dominated by a handful of key players in the UK, Google jumping into the space gives dealers more choice and could reduce dependency on the existing marketplaces if it is successful.
How do I get started with Google Vehicle Ads?
- You' need to set up a Merchant Centre Account, a Google Ads account, and a Google Business Profile.
- Enable the Vehicle Ads programme
- Add your business information
- Create, and register, and submit your stock feeds
- Link your Google Business Profile and submit your location group
- Complete the website policy review
- Set up Google Ads for Vehicle Ads and create a Performance Max campaign
Can I push my stock to Google Vehicle Ads through a dealer management system?
Yes, Vehiso will be pushing car dealership stock to Google Vehicle Ads directly through the dealer management system! Interested? Register for an account today.
