Over the last decade or so, December has grown from one of the slowest months to one of the top-performing times of the year for auto dealers. Although auto financing interest generates $98 billion in revenue each year, a large chunk of those auto finance leads come in between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. That’s because the holiday season tends to be one of the most important for sales, and it’s often the time in which dealers want to get as many auto finance leads as they can.
The idea of giving a car as a Christmas gift is an effective one. It inspires people to spend money and apply for loans to finance their purchases. In order to make the most of this season, it’s important you have measures in place to obtain as many subprime leads and other auto loan leads as possible. But it’s also critical for dealerships to embrace the magic of the season in order to entice customers. That’s why we’re giving you our top four holiday marketing tips that will help make your dealership shine this holiday:
Deck the Halls Showroom
While it’s important to have a great system in place for securing auto finance leads online, your showroom still needs to look alluring in person. Use bright and shiny Christmas decorations to make the show floor really festive. Try garlands and bows for outside. A large Christmas tree makes an impressive showpiece — and you may want to consider hiring a professional decorator to ensure that it’s extra-enticing.
Run a Seasonal Sale
There’s a reason why those big holiday car deals are effective: they’re really memorable! But even if your dealership doesn’t have the budget for those types of commercials, you can still run a highly successful sale this season. Come up with a clever, holiday-themed idea for your sale that will bring people in to your dealership, like a 12 Days of Christmas sale. You can offer a bigger and better deal with each day, and you can even host a celebration on the last day. By getting people in the door, you’ll already be adding to the auto finance leads you get through our services.
Host a Holiday Contest
A social media presence is a must for any business these days, and that includes your dealership. Choose the platform where you have the largest following and can reach the most people, then decide on a desirable prize — a special deal on a vehicle, a pair of tickets to an exclusive event, a luxurious date night, or even a vacation, depending on your entry pool and dealership size. Have entrants post a holiday photo with a specific caption to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter (and be sure to include a hashtag that promotes you and your contest). You may have to spend a little bit on ad promotion, but the payoff in exposure and related sales can be great.
Send Seasons’ Greetings
When it comes to sending out promotional mail and email this holiday season, make sure your messages are timely and contain lots of holiday cheer. This is not the time for the same old mailers! Put in a little more time and effort in order to make these mailings feel more special. Use festive postcards and insert holiday promotions like “Santa cash” or Christmas coupons. If you’re sending via email, make sure to spruce up your usual mailings to make them more fun and full of merriment. This shows that you’re thinking of your customers and care enough to follow up with your automotive leads.
If you need help generating auto finance leads this season, we can help! Contact us today to find out how our services can help boost your business well into next year.
