Meet the winners: 2018 CarGurus best used car awards
It’s that time of year again — time to reveal the winners of this year’s CarGurus Best Used Car Awards. The full details are in the linked article, but here’s the list of winners:
The awards are based on several factors, including value retention, popularity, availability, expert reviews, and driver satisfaction, so dealers can feel confident using these awards as additional selling points for all of the winning vehicles.
How technology is helping used car dealers earn trust and stay competitive
Putting the consumer first is a win-win for customers and dealers
Purchasing a used car can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when you’re unsure of the car’s exact value. Still, used car sales are growing at a faster pace than new car sales in the U.S. as the car shopping process becomes increasingly digitized—95% of consumers use digital as a source of information.
New technology, including what’s offered through third-party marketplaces, is also playing a big role by helping to make the used car buying experience easier and more transparent. A recent study showed over 80% of shoppers visit three or more websites to research their next car purchase1—highlighting the need for car dealers to focus more on engaging consumers through online channels.
Third-party marketplaces in particular work well because they put the customer’s needs first by providing detailed vehicle information and comparison tools. The best sites provide comparisons, allow shoppers to sort cars by value, and make it easy for users to see unbiased dealer reviews after they’ve drilled down to the cars that match their budget and taste. A recent survey conducted by CarGurus showed 80% of participants won’t buy a car without transparent, third-party information about its market value.2
SEM metrics that matter: the value of VDP views and cost per VDP
Search Engine Marketing (SEM) has become an increasingly effective way for dealers to connect with in-market shoppers. In fact, over 80% of dealers are now investing in SEM, according to a CarGurus study. However, if you manage an SEM ad campaign you know that simply upping your budget isn’t enough. You also need to take the time to measure and analyze your campaign’s performance so you can optimize and refine your marketing accordingly.
CarGurus unveils SEM product for dealerships as NADA kicks off
It’s day one of the National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA) Show, and thousands of dealers and industry leaders — including CarGurus — have descended upon Las Vegas for the event. This year, we have a state-of-the-art booth where our team is giving free account reviews, dashboard walk-throughs, and live demos of the newest addition to our dealer product suite: CarGurus’ SEM Plus.
How to convince your boss that your dealership needs to use CarGurus
You know your job better than anyone, and you know that CarGurus will help you sell more vehicles. There’s only one thing standing in your way: you need your boss’ approval.
Don’t let that conversation intimidate you. Carve out some time to present CarGurus face-to-face, and explain why it’s worth it for your dealership.
4 things we’re looking forward to at the NADA Show 2018
In March, the CarGurus team will head to Las Vegas, NV for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show — one of the industry’s premier events. We love attending each year because we get to meet with lots of dealers, learn from industry experts, and have some great conversations with our customers!
5 common mistakes you’re probably making with your SEM
An efficient search engine marketing campaign can help you get your business in front of lots of potential customers who are already searching for your products. With so much at stake, it’s crucial that you optimize your SEM for success.
CarGurus claims #1 ranking in DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards
We’re honored and proud to share the news that we’ve been ranked number one for both Used Car Advertising and New Car leads in the ninth annual DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards.
DD23: Digital Dealer wrapup
It took a few days to digest, but I am full of ideas and inspiration from Digital Dealer 23 in Las Vegas last week. Here are a few collected thoughts.
- Technology provides more options than ever for dealers. The variety of digital marketing solutions, from niche technologies to broad-based marketing platforms, showed how much help is out there for today’s auto dealers. And yet…
Getting the full picture on CarGurus leads—with Google Analytics
Most marketers will tell you that last-touch attribution—the most common way to measure marketing effectiveness—isn’t perfect. There are many steps along the customer journey, and shoppers can interact with your brand, content, and marketing materials dozens of times before making a purchase. But last touch gets used anyway, because it’s better than nothing and much easier to implement than more nuanced models.
In his post Inspect CarGurus Referral Traffic in GA, Brian Pasch at PCG Companies lays out the case for why a more comprehensive view of lead attribution is important, and uses CarGurus as his example.