By Ben Spyropoulos, Automotive Marketing Strategist

With 3+ years in dealership marketing helping dealerships boost sales using digital strategy, Ben combines first-hand experience with proven tactics that work in real life—not just theory. He’s worked with independent lots, large groups, and franchise stores to drive more leads and more profit.

Person sitting at desk reviewing Dealership marketing Analysis.

Car Dealership Marketing Strategies That Actually Work in 2025


Let’s be honest. Trying to stand out as a car dealership today is like yelling in a parking lot full of megaphones. Everyone’s running ads, blasting “HUGE SALE!” posts, and hoping something sticks.

But in 2025, smart marketing beats loud marketing. If you’re serious about getting more traffic, more leads, and yes—more cars sold—you’re in the right place for dealership marketing.

This isn’t your typical dealership marketing blog full of buzzwords. I’m giving you real tactics, a breakdown of what works (and what doesn’t), and a little humor along the way.

Let’s roll.

How to Sell More Cars: The Ultimate Dealership Marketing Guide

1. Know Your Customer Like You Know Your Favorite Car

Before launching a Facebook ad or email campaign, you’ve got to know who you’re selling to.

Are they:

  • First-time buyers?
  • Tech-savvy Gen Z shoppers?
  • Luxury car seekers?
  • Families needing an SUV with a third row?

Each audience wants something different. Your dealership marketing should reflect that.

According to a 2024 report by Cox Automotive, over 80% of shoppers expect personalized experiences from dealerships.

🎯 Pro tip: Use your CRM to spot patterns—like what people are buying, what pages they visit, and what deals they care about most.

2. Rule Local Search (or Risk Getting Ghosted)

In 2025, if you’re not showing up in local search results, you’re dealership marketing is invisible.

To win:

  • Claim and update your Google Business Profile
  • Keep your business info (name, address, phone) consistent across directories
  • Ask happy customers to leave reviews
  • Add fresh photos of your team, lot, and inventory

According to BrightLocal, 93% of consumers used online searches to find local businesses in the last year.

When someone searches “Toyota dealer near me,” you better be on that map. Or you’ve just lost a sale.

3. Turn Your Website Into a Salesperson

Think of your website like a top-performing sales rep—it should welcome people, answer questions, and help them take the next step.

Your homepage should have:

  • CTAs like “Schedule a Test Drive” or “Apply for Financing”
  • Real photos of vehicles and your staff (ditch the stock images)
  • Live chat or chatbot options
  • A mobile-first design (since 70%+ of traffic is mobile, per Statista)
turning website into salespeople with people going over marketing

Also, keep page load speed snappy. If your site is slower than a ‘98 Civic in reverse, people will bounce.

4. Get in Front of the Camera (No, You Don’t Need to Be Spielberg)

Video sells. Period.

Use short-form video to:

  • Show off new arrivals
  • Highlight service specials
  • Introduce your sales team
  • Share testimonials from real buyers

🎥 Bonus idea: Create a “Car of the Week” video series. Post it on YouTube (great for SEO), then cross-post on Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok.

HubSpot reports that 87% of marketers say video has directly increased sales when looking at dealership marketing.

No fancy camera needed—just a phone, good lighting, and some personality.

person filmimg tik tok for marketing

5. Stop Wasting Ad Money (Run Smart Campaigns Instead)

Facebook and Instagram dealership marketing ads still work in 2025. But they only work if they’re targeted and measured.

Here’s how to run smarter ads:

  • Use custom audiences (like past visitors or leads in your CRM)
  • Retarget people who visited your site but didn’t convert
  • Write copy that feels like a conversation, not a billboard

❌ Avoid this: “🚨MEGA SALE BLOWOUT!!!🚨”
✅ Do this: “Looking for a 2022 certified pre-owned SUV? Get $0 down + a 2-year warranty. Click to book a test drive.”

Big difference.

6. Text > Email (Most of the Time)

You probably have dozens of leads sitting in your CRM who never heard back the right way.

Try this for a perfect tip on dealership marketing:

  • Send a quick, helpful text like:
    “Hi Brian! That 2022 Tacoma just dropped $1,200. Want to come see it?”
  • Follow up 3–4 times over a week (don’t ghost them after one try)
  • Keep it casual and personal—like a helpful friend, not a script

Fun fact: SMS open rates are around 98% compared to email’s 20% (source: SimpleTexting)

7. Sell From the Service Lane

This one’s big. Most dealerships ignore the fact that every service customer is a potential buyer.

Use the waiting area as a low-pressure sales zone (Perfect dealership marketing)

  • Display QR codes linking to your trade-in estimator or even your dealerships inventory
  • Train advisors to offer upgrade options
  • Mention loyalty discounts or early lease returns
vehicle in service lane with salesperson

You already have their trust—now show them a reason to explore new options.

8. Be Honest. Be Clear. Be the One They Trust.

Forget the gimmicks. Today’s shoppers value transparency above all.

That means:

  • Showing accurate online pricing (no bait-and-switch)
  • Clearly explaining financing and fees
  • Providing fair trade-in offers

The KPA Dealership Trust Survey found that trust is one of the top three reasons people choose one dealership over another.

Build trust = build long-term customers.

9. Track Everything (Yes, Everything)

You’re not running ads and updating your site for fun—you’re doing it to sell cars.

So track:

  • Website visits and form submissions
  • Phone calls from Google
  • Leads from each campaign
  • Cost per lead (CPL)
  • Cost per sale (CPS)

Use tools like Google Analytics, Meta Ads Manager, and your CRM dashboard to keep tabs on your dealership marketing.

📉 If something’s not performing, pivot. If it is, pour fuel on it.

Boost Your Dealership Sales with These Proven Marketing Strategies

Marketing your dealership in 2025 doesn’t have to be complicated—but it does have to be smart.

When you know your audience, show up in local search, create good content, and treat people like real humans, you win.

diagram of marketing

What You Can Do Right Now:

  • Pick 2 strategies from this list and implement them this week for your dealership marketing
  • Track your results (start with Google Business Profile views)
  • Train your team to follow up better and smarter
  • Commit to being more helpful, more transparent, and more human

And if you’re ever feeling stuck or overwhelmed, remember: every great dealership marketer started where you are right now.

About the Author

Ben Spyropoulos is a marketing student who looks at automotive dealerships grow their leads, traffic, and revenue using simple, proven digital strategies. With over 3 years in the field and experience ranging from small used car lots to multi-rooftop brands, he writes to share the tactics that actually work. Connect with him on LinkedIn or visit Searchversity.com