Buckle up, it’s time to boost those Google ratings.
If you own an auto dealership and are noticing your Google reviews and ratings are not where you want them to be, our market research company has some tips and tricks up our sleeve.
When you want to improve Google ratings, you need to focus on one key aspect of your brand: reputation.
Recent research shows that 67% of local businesses keep up at least a 4-star review. There’s no reason why you can’t be part of that club!
When you work on your auto dealership’s reputation, you not only can boost Google ratings, you’ll be able to bury the negative ones with the amount of positive feedback you’ll receive.
Reputation management aside, it’s important to prioritize other aspects of your company. Improving these elements can also promote better reviews.
In this post, we’ll go over other important factors that play into your ratings:
- Responding to poor reviews
- Using social media to promote business
- Advertising efforts
Learn more about simple ways to get more Google reviews for your business by reading on!
1. Customer Surveys + ORM
One of the best things you can do to improve Google ratings for your dealership is to…drumroll, please…invest in online reputation management (ORM)! ORM is a simple, effective way to better your review strategy.
What’s the key ingredient to a solid ORM strategy? None other than customer satisfaction surveys.
Our automotive market research company considers it a secret hack to increase Google reviews.
Auto dealerships are prime territory for creating long-lasting customer relationships. Running satisfaction surveys can give you more insight into this important factor.
These customer surveys will be sent out to clients, typically in the form of an email or text.
Here’s the thing about customer surveys: they tell you what your base likes and doesn’t like. Using them is essential when conducting ORM because, in the long run, they’ll help you dodge nasty reviews.
For instance, say there’s an issue with your dealership that many of your customers don’t like. By running a customer satisfaction survey, you’ll discover what that issue is and be able to rectify it.
The opposite is also true. If there are things that your customer base loves about your dealership, that will be seen in the survey results–and you can keep doing what you’re doing!
So, when you conduct ORM and ask for a review, you’ll have a higher chance of customers leaving happy–not nasty–reviews.
It’s never a good feeling to receive negative feedback about your company. However, view it through an objective lens and see if there’s anything your brand can improve upon.
The goal with ORM is to boost the amount of positive Google ratings, not only so your business will prosper, but so negative comments will be buried. Google reviews for business do wonders or a whole lot of damage–let’s go with the first option.
Check out our video on ORM for a quick rundown.
💡 The Key Takeaway: Teaming up with a third party to conduct online reputation management is key to success. Through this process, you’ll be able to work together to craft an effective strategy to boost Google ratings.
2. Tackle Negative Reviews the Right Way
You’re loyal to your dealership, which is why it’s such a bummer to see negative reviews about it.
As tempting as it is to respond back with the same attitude, please don't! We’ll tell you why.
First off, sending back a snarky response to a disgruntled customer just doesn’t look good.
And if you want more business, you have to make sure your dealership looks good to potential customers. If someone who’s considering your dealership sees you having a fighting match in the reviews, it could very well turn them off.
Secondly, is it possible this angsty reviewer has something to offer?
Set aside your bewilderment, for a second. Weigh what they’re saying, and see if it could actually help your dealership in the long run. Even if it’s a flat-out mean comment with a grain of truth to it, see if you can use it as constructive criticism.
Last, but certainly not least, take the time to respond compassionately to the reviewer.
Apologize for their inconvenience or upset. Companies that do this show that they care about their customers, which is another step to gaining customers.
💡 The Key Takeaway: If you wondering how to increase Google star ratings, being nice is right up there as the most important step. Don’t respond hastily to negative comments–breath, think it through…then type.
3. Promote, Promote, Promote
Social media is the name of the game. Or, a large part of the game, at least.
If you’re a dealership and not on social media–please, get on it! Social media is a great way to promote your business, get more business, and (hopefully) play into your Google ranking factors.
As an auto dealership, your selling points must be visual. Both Instagram and Facebook are ideal for this because they allow you to showcase your product.
Make sure that you’re posting at least once a week on each of these platforms. Show off new cars, good deals, customer testimonials, and so on.
A couple of other ways to grow your brand on social media:
- Post quality photos of cars in stock
- Share current specials and deals
- Follow businesses local to your dealership
- Regularly highlight customer testimonials
💡 The Key Takeaway: When you’re learning how to increase Google star ratings, getting active on social media is super important. Sharing what you offer, how good your product is, and happy customer testimonials can all draw people to your dealership.
4. Think Outside of the Box
Put yourself in the consumer’s shoes for this one.
Where do you see (or hear) auto dealership ads? Everywhere, kind of. The more people that are aware of your services, the more business you’ll get, which will–hopefully–improve Google ratings for your dealership!
Start to notice where other dealerships are advertising to spark some inspiration.
Here are a few common platforms for auto dealerships:
- Radio
- TV
- Billboards
- Music streaming platforms
You want to understand who your target audience is and where they’re the most likely to see your ads. If you know that your consumer base skews younger, consider creating an ad that could show up on a popular music streaming service, like Spotify.
The most important aspect when it comes to advertising efforts is your budget. Carefully evaluate what kind of spending you can afford, and go from there.
💡 The Key Takeaway: You can boost your Google ratings and reviews by implementing an effective ad strategy. Think of it this way: the more people that view your ads, the higher chance of attracting clients.
Contact Our Online Reputation Management Company
If you were hesitant on how to increase Google star ratings for your auto dealership, hopefully, we’ve given you some confidence.
Drive Research is a market research company based in New York, specializing in the automotive industry. Our team of research pros has the experience and knowledge to craft the best possible project for your auto dealership.
Want to learn more about our market research services? Talk to us through any of the ways below.
- Message us on our website
- Email us at [email protected]
- Call us at 888-725-DATA
- Text us at 315-303-2040
Lark Allen
As a Content Marketing Specialist, Lark has a strong background and passion for creative, professional, and journalistic writing. She is also a self-proclaimed music freak and 90s enthusiast.
Learn more about Lark, here.
