Facebook is designed and centered on engagement. Social media professionals all have various ideas on how you should do it and what works. My quick take on this is: whatever works for you – do that.
What do I mean by that? Facebook provides analytics on a per post basis. Use those to determine what types of content are causing your fans to interact with you. If people like jokes, post jokes. If people like to answer fun questions, ask fun questions. It’s that simple. I think pretty much EVERY social media professional will advise you, however, NOT to post your inventory to your Facebook page’s wall.
I absolutely agree BUT, I have found one very creative and unique dealership that can get away with it. In fact, not only can they get away with it, I LOOK FORWARD to seeing new inventory being posted to their Facebook wall. I’m not a buyer. They’re not my client. I’m not even in the same state that they are in.
How do they do it? By following one best practice and using massive creativity.
I doubt anyone would disagree that one fundamental best practice of internet marketing is to merchandise your inventory well through multiple photos and detailed descriptions. They do this, and they do it very well. EVERY car has photos and descriptions – new and used.
Do you still doubt that this dealer can post their inventory on their Facebook wall and get away with it? Certainly ONLY doing the above wouldn’t warrant that… BUT
…enter the creative part. Here are a few of examples of vehicle descriptions, cut and pasted straight from their website:
“You know, I feel so pure just sitting in this vehicle. It’s like I should put on a button up sweater and some sneakers and sing a melody like Mister Rogers. The vehicle has some type of Good Energy that removes the darkside. I’m going to put in a request to the Prison Board to have all inmates sit in one of these so they’ll become good honest citizens. A 2010 Chrysler 300 Touring with stellar fuel economy, 1 owner and factory warranty. $299 payment on 72 months with $0 down (with approved credit) is nothing short of a Disney movie (in this case, Disney, would be called our Finance Department). After you buy this, can we hold hands and go pick flowers?”
“Driving this makes me feel like I’m doing the waltz on Dancing with the Stars. Carrie-Anne Len and Bruno would be watching me from the audience and I have no doubt that their scores would all be 10. And if it wasn’t whoever gave me less would be run over. Yeah cause that’s how I roll. All 10’s all perfection because that’s what this lovely Journey is. 3rd Row Seating and killer fuel economy is INCREDIBLE. The only thing pathetic is that I’m selling it to you for this kind of price. The way it rides and handles is a dream come true. Call me the Genie in a Bottle because that’s what I do!!!”
“You’ve heard of Michael Myers from Halloween, yeah, well that’s like me at the dealership. I am a nightmare walker, price slashing talker. My machete is my pen and in the end you can NOT escape me. I don’t do a dance, I don’t run, I frigging just throw the ax that says my vehicle still has a moonroof, all power amenities on the inside,1 Owner, and killer fuel economy for an SUV. So think of it as a horror flick but in a good exciting kind of way. You can’t stop me. Just let me do the deed…SAVING YOU MONEY!!!”
I’ve been watching them for a while. I look forward to seeing new inventory shared on their wall. In this highly competitive market, you need something that sets you a part from all of the other 1,000 similar vehicles for sale. These descriptions undoubtedly also get sent to all the websites they participate in. At times, I browse their website JUST to read vehicle descriptions.
If I were a consumer, in their market, do you think this dealer would be memorable to me? Absolutely. Would you look forward to reading these descriptions? I bet you’re already on their website checking them out.
The person that writes these descriptions is a genius and needs a raise and THIS is how you can market your inventory via social media and not only get away with it but have your fans looking forward to more.
(For more information, and to see what I consider to be one of the best inventory marketing dealers I’ve ever seen, check out their website at http://www.bigredsports.com and check out their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/bigred.sportsimports)
