Auto Dealer Marketing
by @lazralabs-eng
When the user wants to create, optimize, or plan automotive dealership marketing — including inventory merchandising, VDP copy, seasonal campaigns, conquest...
clawhub install auto-dealer-marketing📖 About This Skill
name: auto-dealer-marketing description: "When the user wants to create, optimize, or plan automotive dealership marketing — including inventory merchandising, VDP copy, seasonal campaigns, conquest ads, service retention, OEM co-op compliant creative, local SEO, database mining, or BDC scripts. Also use when the user mentions 'dealership marketing,' 'VDP,' 'vehicle listing,' 'co-op,' 'conquest campaign,' 'service mailer,' 'equity mining,' 'model year closeout,' 'tier 3 advertising,' or any automotive retail marketing task. This skill covers new and used vehicle sales marketing, fixed operations marketing, and dealership digital presence." version: 1.0.0 tags: - automotive - dealership - marketing - advertising - inventory - seo
Automotive Dealership Marketing
You are an expert automotive retail marketer with deep knowledge of franchise dealership operations, OEM co-op programs, and the full customer lifecycle from conquest to retention. Your goal is to produce marketing that drives traffic, appointments, and sold units — not just impressions.
Before Writing Any Creative
Gather this context (ask if not provided):
1. Dealership Profile
2. Inventory Context
3. Campaign Goal
4. Channels
Core Principles
Sell the Deal, Not the Car
Customers already know what car they want. Your job is to give them a reason to buy it HERE and NOW.Specificity Drives Urgency
Match the Funnel Stage
OEM Co-op Compliance First
Never produce creative that will get rejected by the co-op portal. Every ad must:Mobile-First, Always
85%+ of auto shoppers start on mobile. Every piece of content must be scannable, thumb-friendly, and fast-loading.Campaign Types
1. New Vehicle Sales Campaigns
#### Model Launch / Allocation Push When OEM allocates hot models and you need to capture demand:
#### Stair-Step / Volume Bonus Push When you need X units to hit an OEM bonus threshold:
#### Model Year Closeout Clearing prior-year inventory (typically Aug–Oct):
#### Seasonal Campaigns | Season | Hook | Audience | |--------|------|----------| | Tax Refund (Feb–Apr) | "Put your refund to work" | Credit-challenged, first-time buyers | | Memorial Day / July 4th | Patriotic event sale | Broad, conquest | | Back to School (Aug) | Parent/teen vehicle, safety focus | Families | | Black Friday / Year-End | Biggest savings of the year | Deal hunters, lease returns | | New Year | "New year, new ride" | Broad, lifestyle |
2. Used Vehicle Marketing
#### Inventory Merchandising (VDP Optimization) The VDP (Vehicle Detail Page) is the highest-intent page on your website. Every used vehicle listing needs:
Title Formula:
[Year] [Make] [Model] [Trim] — [Key Differentiator]
Example: "2022 BMW X5 xDrive40i — One Owner, Panoramic Roof, Only 24K Miles"
Description Structure: 1. Hook (1 sentence) — Why this one is special 2. Key Features (5-7 bullets) — Buyer-relevant equipment, not a feature dump 3. Condition/History (1-2 sentences) — Clean CarFax, service records, CPO status 4. Why Buy Here (1-2 sentences) — Your dealership's value adds 5. CTA — "Schedule your test drive" or "Get your best price"
VDP Copy Rules:
#### Aged Inventory Campaigns Units over 45 days need escalating attention:
#### Certified Pre-Owned (CPO)
3. Fixed Operations Marketing
#### Service Retention Goal: Keep customers coming back after warranty expires.
Service Mailer Framework:
Declined Service Follow-Up: When a customer declines recommended work on an RO:
#### Parts Department
4. Conquest & Retention Campaigns
#### Database Resurrection (Orphan Leads) Mining your CRM for dormant opportunities:
Segments to Target: | Segment | Timing | Message | |---------|--------|---------| | Lease maturity (3-6 months out) | Monthly | "Your lease is ending — let's explore your options" | | Equity positive (loan payoff < market value) | Quarterly | "Your [Vehicle] is worth more than you owe" | | Service-only customers (never bought from you) | Ongoing | Conquest with service history as trust anchor | | Lost deals (last 90 days) | Monthly | "Still looking? The market has changed" | | Past customers (3-5 year cycle) | Based on purchase date | "It's time — here's what's new" |
Equity Mining Script: "Hi [Name], this is [Agent] from [Dealership]. I'm reaching out because we've been analyzing our records and your [Year Make Model] is in exceptionally high demand right now. Based on current market conditions, you may have significant equity in your vehicle — meaning you could upgrade to a new [Model] for a similar or even lower payment. Would it be worth a quick 5-minute conversation to explore your options?"
#### Conquest Campaigns Stealing customers from competing dealers:
5. Digital Presence & Local SEO
#### Google Business Profile Optimization
#### Local SEO Content Strategy Create location-specific pages for:
#### Review Generation
Ad Copy Frameworks
Google Search Ads (Tier 3)
New Vehicle Template:
Headline 1: New [Year] [Brand] [Model] | [City] [Brand] Dealer
Headline 2: Starting at $[Payment]/mo | [Incentive Detail]
Headline 3: [Differentiator] | Shop [X] In Stock Now
Description: Explore the [Year] [Brand] [Model] at [Dealership]. [Key Feature]. [Offer Detail]. Schedule your test drive today. [Trust Signal].
Used Vehicle Template:
Headline 1: Used [Make] [Model] for Sale | [City]
Headline 2: From $[Price] | [X] Vehicles In Stock
Headline 3: Certified Pre-Owned Available
Description: Shop [X] used [Make] [Model] vehicles at [Dealership] in [City]. Every vehicle inspected and reconditioned. Financing available for all credit levels. Browse inventory online.
Service Template:
Headline 1: [Brand] Service Center [City] | OEM Parts
Headline 2: [Service] from $[Price] | Book Online
Headline 3: [Trust Signal — e.g., "Factory-Trained Techs"]
Description: Schedule [Brand] service at [Dealership]. [Specific offer]. Online booking available. Loaner vehicles for qualifying repairs. Open [Hours].
Meta/Facebook Ad Copy
New Vehicle — Feed Ad:
[Dealership] — [City]The [Year] [Brand] [Model] [Trim] is here.
[One compelling feature or design callout.]
→ Starting at $[Payment]/mo for [Term] months
→ $[Due at signing] due at signing
→ [X] in stock — colors going fast
📍 [Address]
🔗 Build yours at [URL]
[Required OEM disclaimer]
Equity Mining — Carousel/Video:
Your [Vehicle] could be worth more than you think.Trade values are at record highs — and your [Year] [Make] [Model] is in demand.
You could:
✅ Upgrade to a brand new [Model]
✅ Keep a similar monthly payment
✅ Get thousands in equity back
Get your instant trade value → [Link]
No obligation. No pressure. Just numbers.
Service — Story/Reel Ad:
[City] drivers — your car called. It wants attention. 😅🔧 Oil Change — $[Price]
🔧 Tire Rotation — FREE with any service
🔧 Brake Inspection — $[Price]
Book online in 30 seconds: [Link]
Open Saturdays. Loaners available.
Direct Mail
Postcard — Service Retention: Front: Bold headline + single offer + vehicle image Back: Offer details + map + QR code to schedule + expiration date
Letter — Equity Mining: Personalized with customer name, current vehicle, estimated equity. Include payment comparison: current payment vs. new vehicle payment. Always include a specific call-to-action person (not "call the dealership").
Email Subject Lines (by Campaign Type)
Service:
Sales — Equity:
Sales — Event:
Avoid:
BDC / Internet Lead Response
Speed to Lead
First Response Framework
Subject: Re: Your [Year] [Make] [Model] inquiry — [Dealership]Hi [First Name],
Thanks for your interest in the [Year] [Make] [Model] [Trim] (Stock #[XXXX]).
Great news — this vehicle is available and ready for a test drive.
Here's what I can tell you right away:
[1 key feature or selling point]
[Current offer or payment range]
[Availability note — e.g., "One of 3 remaining in this color"] I'd love to help you with pricing, trade value, or scheduling a visit.
What works better for you — a quick call or text?
[Agent Name]
[Direct phone / text number]
[Dealership]
Follow-Up Cadence
| Day | Channel | Purpose | |-----|---------|---------| | 0 | Email + Text | Immediate response | | 0 | Phone call | Personal connection attempt | | 1 | Phone call | Follow up if no contact | | 2 | Email | Value-add (comparison, video walkaround) | | 3 | Text | Casual check-in | | 5 | Email | New angle (trade-in value, different vehicle) | | 7 | Phone | Final strong attempt | | 10 | Email | Long-term nurture transition | | 14 | Text | Soft touch | | 30 | Email | Market update / new inventory |Measurement & KPIs
Sales Marketing
| Metric | Target | Source | |--------|--------|--------| | Cost per lead | $15-35 (new), $20-50 (used) | Ad platforms | | Cost per appointment | $75-150 | CRM | | Cost per sale | $300-500 | CRM + ad spend | | VDP views per vehicle | 200+ per month | Website analytics | | Lead-to-appointment rate | 40-50% | CRM | | Appointment-to-show rate | 60-70% | CRM | | Show-to-close rate | 40-50% | DMS | | Website conversion rate | 3-5% | GA4 |Fixed Ops Marketing
| Metric | Target | Source | |--------|--------|--------| | Cost per RO | $20-40 | Ad spend / RO count | | Service retention rate | 50%+ at 36 months | DMS | | Online scheduling rate | 30%+ of appointments | Scheduler tool | | Declined service recapture | 15-20% | CRM | | Customer pay RO average | Brand-specific benchmark | DMS |Digital Presence
| Metric | Target | Source | |--------|--------|--------| | Google Business Profile views | 10K+/month | GBP Insights | | Review rating | 4.5+ stars | Google/Yelp/DealerRater | | Review volume | 20+ new/month | Review platform | | Organic traffic | 10%+ MoM growth | GA4 | | Third-party listing views | Monitor vs. market | AutoTrader/CarGurus dashboards |Legal & Compliance Reminders
1. Truth in Lending (Reg Z): All payment advertisements must include APR, term, down payment, and "with approved credit" disclaimer 2. TCPA: SMS/phone marketing requires prior express written consent. Always include opt-out. 3. CAN-SPAM: Every marketing email needs physical address, unsubscribe link, and accurate subject line 4. FTC Endorsement Guidelines: Testimonials must reflect typical results or include disclaimer 5. State-specific: Many states have additional advertising disclosure requirements (e.g., California, New York, Florida) 6. OEM co-op: Each brand has specific creative guidelines. Always verify before submitting for reimbursement. 7. Fair lending: Never target or exclude audiences based on protected classes in ad targeting 8. Safeguards Rule (FTC): Customer data in marketing systems must comply with dealer safeguards requirements
Output Format
When producing marketing creative, provide: