Car dealership marketing ideas: 25 that bring buyers in.

Show your cars with photo, price and mileage right in Google search, built from your inventory feed through Merchant Center. Keep the feed accurate, so a sold car stops showing.

Start with: Check how many of your vehicles are approved and showing today.

Catch nearby buyers who search for a make and model you stock. Keep new, used, service and your own store name in separate campaigns, so one cannot starve the others.

Start with: Search your five best-selling models near you and see whether your store shows up.

Ads built from your vehicle feed show the right car to people browsing similar vehicles, including in Marketplace, where people already shop for cars.

Start with: Connect your vehicle feed to your ad account.

Vertical walkarounds filmed on a phone, shown to local buyers who are still deciding. Real cars and real people from your store often feel more honest than polished stock footage.

Start with: Film three short walkarounds this week.

Show ads to people who viewed a vehicle page on your site but did not reach out, with the cars they looked at and a reason to come in now.

Start with: Make sure your website records vehicle page views for your ad accounts, and that your privacy policy says so.

Photos and video of vehicles actually on your lot, with the details buyers care about: trim, miles and features. Buyers can usually tell a stock photo from a real one.

Start with: Swap any stock photos on your pages for your own.

One salesperson, one car, one phone, filmed vertical. Show the car in the first second, point out what matters, and keep it short.

Start with: Pick one salesperson to film two walkarounds this week.

Post a car the day it arrives, so the people who follow your page get the first look. A steady stream of fresh arrivals gives people a reason to keep following.

Start with: Make a new-arrival post part of checking a car in.

A happy buyer with their new car is a post people believe. Always ask first, tag them only if they want it, and never share details they would not want public.

Start with: Ask your next three buyers if you can post their delivery photo.

A question in the comments is often a buyer. Answer it in public, then move the conversation to a message, a text once they agree to one, or a visit.

Start with: Check who answers comments and messages at night and on weekends.

Buyers often ask several stores at once, and the first useful reply often gets the visit. Nights and weekends included: answer messages right away, and send first texts as soon as texting hours allow.

Start with: Send your store a test lead tonight and time the reply.

If they asked whether the truck is still there, check and say so in the first line. Then ask one easy question.

Start with: Read your last ten first replies and count how many answered the question.

Asking when they can come in hands the buyer homework. Two real times, like tomorrow at 11 or 2, give them an easy choice.

Start with: Add two real times to every first reply.

Many buyers are not ready the week they ask. Keep following up for up to 8 months, spaced out, with something new each time, until they book or ask to stop.

Start with: Count how many follow-ups a lead gets after the first week.

A reminder the day before and the hour before helps booked buyers show up, and gives them an easy way to move the time instead of skipping it.

Start with: Check today whether every booked visit gets a reminder.

Oil changes, tires and recalls bring customers back to your store. A timely reminder helps them, and every service visit is a chance to talk about their next car.

Start with: Check that every service customer gets a reminder when their next service is due.

A short thank-you a few days after delivery, from the salesperson by name, with an easy way to ask questions about the car.

Start with: Add the thank-you to every delivery checklist.

Ask every buyer for a review at delivery, with a direct link to your Google Business Profile. Answer every review, good or bad.

Start with: Ask at every delivery, and send the link the same day.

Ask happy buyers who else they know who is shopping, and make it easy to send them your way. Check your state or province's rules before you pay for referrals.

Start with: Ask at delivery: who else do you know who is looking?

A customer waiting on a repair may already be thinking about their next car. Offer an appraisal while they wait, from a person, never as a number in an automated message.

Start with: Have a salesperson offer appraisals in the service lounge one day a week.

A cars-and-coffee morning, a local team's sponsor night, a holiday weekend open house. Give people a reason to visit that is not a sale banner.

Start with: Put one event on next month's calendar.

A day built around driving: several models ready to go, no pressure, something to eat, and enough people to help. Book drives ahead so nobody waits.

Start with: Pick the three models you most want people to drive, and set a date.

Employers, schools, sports leagues, clubs and local businesses. Their people need cars, and a partnership gives you a warm introduction.

Start with: List five local organizations whose people buy cars, and call one this week.

Accurate hours and phone number, real photos of your lot, your team and your service drive, and fresh posts. Many buyers see it before they ever see your website.

Start with: Add a batch of fresh photos of your lot, your team and your service drive.

Every vehicle page should load fast on a phone, show real photos, list the price, and offer one clear way to ask a question or book a visit.

Start with: Open three of your vehicle pages on your phone and see how long they take to load.