Rev Up Your Sales with SMS Marketing for Car Dealerships

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In today’s competitive automotive market, car dealerships need to find innovative ways to connect with customers and drive sales. While traditional marketing methods still have their place, SMS marketing has emerged as a powerful tool for engaging with potential buyers and nurturing leads. With its high open rates, immediate reach, and personalized approach, SMS marketing can help car dealerships boost sales, improve customer satisfaction, and stay ahead of the curve.

As a GoHighLevel affiliate, I’m excited to share this comprehensive guide to SMS marketing for car dealerships. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of SMS marketing, provide practical tips for setting up your campaigns, and show you how GoHighLevel can help you streamline your efforts and maximize your results.

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Why SMS Marketing is a Game-Changer for Car Dealerships

SMS marketing offers several advantages over traditional marketing channels, making it an ideal solution for car dealerships looking to connect with customers in a fast-paced digital world. Here are some key benefits:

High Open and Read Rates: Unlike emails that often end up in spam folders or get ignored, SMS messages have an astonishingly high open rate, with studies showing open rates as high as 98% in some cases . This means your message is almost guaranteed to be seen by your target audience. However, it’s important to note that open rates can vary depending on factors such as the industry and target audience. It’s always a good idea for dealerships to track their own open rates to get a more accurate picture of their SMS campaign performance.
Instant Reach: SMS messages are delivered instantly, allowing you to reach customers in real-time with time-sensitive offers, promotions, and important updates . This immediacy is crucial in the automotive industry, where customers often make quick decisions and expect prompt responses.
Personalized Communication: SMS marketing allows you to personalize your messages by including the customer’s name, vehicle preferences, and other relevant information . This personalized approach helps build rapport and strengthens customer relationships, making customers feel valued and understood.
Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to traditional advertising methods like print or television, SMS marketing is incredibly cost-effective . With its high ROI, SMS marketing allows you to maximize your marketing budget and get the most out of your campaigns. This is particularly beneficial for car dealerships, which often have limited marketing resources.
Improved Customer Engagement: SMS marketing enables two-way communication, allowing customers to easily inquire about vehicles, schedule test drives, or request information . This interactive approach fosters engagement and guides customers further down the sales funnel, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
Increased Sales: By leveraging SMS marketing to promote special offers, new inventory, and service reminders, car dealerships can effectively drive sales and increase revenue . SMS messages can create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to take immediate action, leading to increased sales and improved bottom-line results.
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: SMS marketing allows dealerships to provide timely and efficient customer service, responding to inquiries quickly and resolving issues promptly . This responsiveness contributes to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty, leading to positive word-of-mouth referrals and repeat business.

SMS Lead Generation

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, SMS marketing can also be a powerful tool for lead generation. SMS Lead Generation is the process of generating leads from potential customers by using vanity text words promoted on a dealer’s lot (often on vehicle stickers, printed materials, etc.), on the web, and on third-party sites to drive engagement . These vanity keywords are usually a combination of letters and numbers (e.g., “car123”). When a customer sees…source initiate conversations with interested buyers.

TEXT2DRIVE

TEXT2DRIVE is a car sales software that further enhances the capabilities of SMS marketing for car dealerships. With TEXT2DRIVE, customers can text the stock number of any vehicle on your dealer website, ad, or even a window sticker to instantly receive vehicle photos and information . This initiates a “live” text conversation with a salesperson, allowing dealerships to engage with potential buyers in real-time and provide personalized assistance.

Outperforming Email Marketing

It’s worth emphasizing that SMS marketing campaigns have been shown to outperform email marketing by sevenfold . This significant difference highlights the effectiveness of SMS in capturing customer attention and driving engagement. Furthermore, links sent via text have higher click-through rates than email links, with studies showing SMS links having eight times higher click-through rates . This means that SMS marketing is not only more effective at getting your message seen but also at driving customer action.

Impressive ROI

In addition to being cost-effective, SMS marketing also offers an impressive ROI . This means that for every dollar spent on SMS marketing, car dealerships can expect to see a significant return in terms of leads, sales, and customer engagement. This makes SMS marketing a financially sound investment for dealerships looking to maximize their marketing budget.

Setting Up Your SMS Marketing Campaign with GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel is a powerful all-in-one marketing platform that offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing your SMS campaigns. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up your SMS marketing campaign using GoHighLevel:

1. Sign Up for a GoHighLevel Account

Visit the GoHighLevel website and sign up for an account that suits your needs. GoHighLevel offers different plans with varying features and pricing, so choose the one that aligns with your dealership’s requirements.

Plan	Price	Key Features
Starter	$97/month	Up to three sub-accounts, all CRM and lead nurturing features, calendars and booking, pipelines, contacts,…source
Pro	$497/month	Everything in Agency plan, sell GoHighLevel SaaS

2. Build Your SMS Subscriber List

Start building your SMS subscriber list by offering incentives such as exclusive discounts, freebies, or valuable content in exchange for customers opting in to receive your text messages . You can promote your SMS opt-in through various channels, including:

Website Opt-in Forms: Embed opt-in forms on your website, allowing visitors to easily subscribe to your SMS list.
Social Media Promotions: Run contests and promotions on your social media pages to encourage followers to sign up for your SMS updates.
In-Store Sign-up Opportunities: Provide sign-up sheets or tablets at your dealership for customers to opt in to receive text messages.
Email Marketing: Include SMS opt-in options in your email marketing campaigns to reach your existing email subscribers.

3. Craft Compelling SMS Messages

Keep your SMS messages concise, engaging, and relevant to your target audience. Use personalization to address customers by name and tailor the content to their interests . Include a clear call to action (CTA) to encourage customers to take the desired action, such as visiting your dealership, scheduling a test drive, or learning more about a specific vehicle.

Here are some real-world examples of SMS messages used by car dealerships:

Promoting a holiday sale: “Hi! Join us at for our sales event where we offer some of our best deals. Text HOLIDAY to 12345 to learn more!”
Trade-in offer: “Hi! I have an updated quote for your trade-in. Do you have a few minutes for a phone call to walk through that information?”
Confirming costs with a customer before continuing a service: “Hi. It looks like your is going to cost you. Does that price work for you?”
Requesting referrals: “Hi. If you have a friend or family member looking for a new car, send them my way! You’ll even receive a referral bonus.”
New car inquiry: “Hey! Here’s a link where you can find more information about. Let me know if you have any questions!”

4. Segment Your Audience

GoHighLevel allows you to segment your audience based on various criteria, such as demographics, purchase history, and vehicle preferences . This segmentation enables you to send targeted messages that resonate with specific customer groups, increasing engagement and conversion rates.

5. Automate Your Campaigns

GoHighLevel’s automation features allow you to schedule SMS messages in advance, set up automated responses, and create drip campaigns that nurture leads over time . This automation saves you time and ensures consistent communication with your customers.

6. Track Your Results

Monitor the performance of your SMS campaigns using GoHighLevel’s analytics and reporting tools . Track key metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

Alternative SMS Marketing Platform: Heymarket

While GoHighLevel is a powerful platform for SMS marketing, it’s worth mentioning an alternative option called Heymarket. Heymarket offers features such as text-enabling existing phone numbers, adding a webchat widget to your dealership website, and integrating with CRM platforms . This provides dealerships with more choices and flexibility when selecting an SMS marketing solution.

Examples of Effective SMS Marketing Campaigns for Car Dealerships

Here are a few examples of how car dealerships can use SMS marketing to engage customers and drive sales:

New Inventory Alerts: Send SMS messages to customers who have expressed interest in specific car models, notifying them of new arrivals or price drops . This can create a sense of excitement and encourage customers to visit your dealership to see the new inventory.
Promotional Offers: Promote special offers, discounts, and incentives through SMS messages, creating a sense of urgency and encouraging customers to visit your dealership . This can be an effective way to drive sales and generate immediate interest.
Service Reminders: Send automated service reminders to customers, reminding them of upcoming appointments or overdue maintenance . This helps improve customer satisfaction and ensures that vehicles are properly maintained.
Test Drive Invitations: Invite customers to schedule test drives through SMS messages, making it easy for them to book a time that suits their schedule . This can be a valuable tool for converting leads into paying customers.
Feedback Requests: Request feedback from customers after a purchase or service visit, using SMS surveys to gather valuable insights and improve customer satisfaction . This shows customers that you value their opinions and are committed to providing excellent service.
Inventory Updates: Use mass texting to send information about new vehicles to your SMS subscriber list. Make broadcasts when new cars are available or promote seasonal reductions .
Automated Appointment Scheduling and Reminders: Send instant confirmation after booking to reassure customers and solidify the date, time, and appointment type. Offer SMS reminders for appointments and upcoming service needs (like oil changes) to reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations .

SMS Marketing Success Stories in the Automotive Industry

Here are a few case studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of SMS marketing for car dealerships:

Infiniti: Infiniti dealerships saw a 5.1% increase in repair order success and earned an average RO pay of $2,232.02 per dealer over three months by using automated service appointment reminders .
Luxury Car Dealership: A luxury car dealership launched a targeted SMS campaign, sending exclusive offers and test drive invitations to customers interested in high-end vehicles. This resulted in a noticeable rise in showroom visits and higher sales .
The Road Code: The Road Code, a company that provides lead generation services to car dealerships, implemented a text-based lead generation system and saw a 20% close rate with new customers .
Hawkinson Nissan: Hawkinson Nissan generated $168,000 in additional service business in less than a year by sending out an oil and filter change coupon to approximately 2,400 customers via SMS .

These case studies highlight the potential of SMS marketing to drive sales, improve customer engagement, and generate significant revenue for car dealerships.

Tips for Writing Effective SMS Messages for Car Dealerships

To maximize the impact of your SMS marketing campaigns, follow these tips for writing effective SMS messages:

Keep it Short and Sweet: SMS messages have a limited character count, so keep your messages concise and to the point . Focus on delivering the most important information in a clear and easily digestible format.
Use a Conversational Tone: Write in a friendly and approachable tone, as if you’re texting a friend . This helps build rapport with customers and makes your messages more engaging.
Use Strong CTAs: Include a clear and compelling CTA to encourage customers to take the desired action . Make it easy for customers to understand what you want them to do next.
Offer Value: Provide valuable information, exclusive offers, or incentives to make your messages more appealing . Give customers a reason to pay attention to your messages and take action.
Time Your Messages Appropriately: Send messages at times when customers are most likely to engage, avoiding early mornings or late nights . Consider your target audience’s typical schedule and preferences.
Get Creative with Emojis: Use emojis sparingly to add personality and visual appeal to your messages . Emojis can help convey emotions and make your messages more engaging, but avoid overusing them.

Best Practices for SMS Marketing Compliance

When implementing SMS marketing campaigns, it’s crucial to comply with relevant regulations to avoid legal issues and maintain a positive brand image. Here are some best practices for SMS marketing compliance:

Obtain Consent: Always obtain express written consent from customers before sending them marketing text messages . This consent can be obtained through online forms, in-store sign-ups, or other methods. Make sure customers understand what they are signing up for and how often they can expect to receive messages.
Provide Opt-Out Options: Include clear instructions on how customers can opt out of receiving your SMS messages . This typically involves replying with a keyword like “STOP” or “UNSUBSCRIBE.” Make the opt-out process simple and easy for customers to follow.
Respect Quiet Hours: Avoid sending SMS messages during late hours or early mornings to respect customers’ privacy and preferences . Stick to reasonable business hours when sending marketing messages.
Be Mindful of Message Frequency: Don’t bombard customers with too many messages, as this can lead to opt-outs and negative brand perception . Find a balance between staying top-of-mind and respecting customers’ inboxes.
Stay Updated on Regulations: Keep up-to-date with the latest SMS marketing regulations, such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the United States, to ensure your campaigns are compliant . Regulations can change, so it’s important to stay informed and adapt your campaigns accordingly.

SMS marketing offers a powerful and effective way for car dealerships to connect with customers, drive sales, and enhance customer satisfaction. By leveraging the high open rates, instant reach, and personalized approach of SMS marketing, dealerships can stay ahead of the competition and achieve their marketing goals.

To maximize the impact of your SMS marketing campaigns, remember to:

Build a strong subscriber list: Offer incentives and promote your opt-in through various channels.
Craft compelling messages: Keep them concise, personalized, and engaging, with clear CTAs.
Segment your audience: Tailor your messages to specific customer groups for better results.
Automate your campaigns: Save time and ensure consistent communication with automated workflows.
Track your results: Monitor key metrics to measure effectiveness and make data-driven decisions.
Ensure compliance: Obtain consent, provide opt-out options, and respect regulations.

GoHighLevel is an all-in-one marketing platform that can help you streamline your SMS marketing efforts and unlock advanced features. With GoHighLevel, you can automate your campaigns, personalize your messages, and track your results with ease.

Ready to take your car dealership’s marketing to the next level?