Choosing the Best Website Platform for Your Car Dealership
Introduction
In the digital era, the first interaction between your dealership and potential customers is often your website. Selecting the right dealership website provider is crucial for shaping this experience and ensuring your online presence effectively represents your business.
Why Choosing the Right Provider Matters
- Impact on Customer Experience: Your website is often the first point of contact with potential customers.
- Representation of Your Brand: A well-designed website effectively represents your dealership's brand and values.
- Ease of Management: A good provider offers user-friendly content management systems for easy website updates.
- SEO and Visibility: Providers with strong SEO capabilities improve your website's visibility in search engine results.
- OEM Programs and Certification: If you're a franchise dealership, choosing a provider that is certified on your manufacturer's technology program is important.
Website Provider #1: Motive
Motive is a the best website platform for car dealerships, offering a wide range of features to enhance the online car buying experience. Key features include a customizable home page with rich media, AI-powered search and discovery, automated tagging and grouping of inventory, and modular vehicle detail pages. The platform also offers infinite scrolling, custom pricing and incentives, conversion optimization tools, and seamless integrations with popular third-party services. Motive also recently obtained certification as a Genesis Website Platform. Genesis dealers can enroll or learn more here.
Motive provides complete control over website appearance, ensures OEM compliance, and simplifies tag management with built-in tools. The platform streamlines inventory feed management, ensures high security and reliability, and offers advanced content management and blogging capabilities. Additional features include trade-in analytics, granular pricing and payment settings, customizable accessory packages, and advanced SEO optimization for improved online visibility.
Key Features
- OEM Certified: Motive is certified with Genesis as a website provider.
- Customizable Home Page: Features rich background videos, banners, and customizable buttons for a unique look.
- Quick Tags & Collections: Automated tags with custom icons and group inventory based on shared characteristics.
- Search & Discovery: AI-powered search with natural language processing, instant results, and diverse filters.
- Vehicle Cards on SRP: Showcase pricing options, image carousels, and custom calls to action.
- Infinite Scrolling: Enhances user experience by reducing load times, improving session engagement.
- VDP Features: Modular design with YouTube integration and comprehensive vehicle information.
- Auto Groups: Offers a shared inventory system with custom rules, promoting efficient lead routing.
- Pricing & Incentives: Displays customizable pricing, OEM rebates, automatic savings calculation, and a shipping calculator.
- Power-Ups: Conversion tools integrated with GA4, enhancing user interaction.
- Integrations: Compatible with tools like 700Credit, CarFax, and AutoCheck.
- Customization & Theming: Complete control over website appearance, including dark mode.
- OEM Compliance: Automated submissions ensure brand alignment and compliance.
- Built-in Tag Manager & GA4 Integration: Simplifies tag management and tracks conversions.
- Feeds & ADF Customization: Streamlines feed sending and lead management.
- Security & Reliability: Ensures high uptime and effective bot traffic management.
- Staff Page & Inventory Management: Facilitates staff management and inventory updates.
- Administration & Navigation: Easy store switching and intuitive navigation management.
- CMS & Blog Features: Advanced content management and blogging tools with AI support.
- Trade-ins & Staff Management: Streamlined trade-in analytics and staff updates.
- Pricing & Payment Settings: Granular control over pricing and payment estimates.
- Accessory Packages: Customizable for upfits, synchronized across your group.
- SEO Optimization: Advanced SEO management for higher online visibility.
Website Provider #2: Dealer.com
Key Features
- Integration with Cox Automotive Products: Offers seamless integration with inventory management systems and AutoTrader.
- Customizable Design Options: Ensures your website reflects your dealership's brand.
- Comprehensive Analytics: Tracks and measures website and digital marketing performance.
- OEM Certifications: This provider is certified on many manufacturer programs, which could be important if you are a franchise dealership.
Website Provider #3: Dealer Inspire
Key Features
- User Experience Focus: Offers personalization features based on user location and browsing history.
- Robust CMS: Facilitates easy website management.
- Integration with CARS.com Products: Streamlines various dealership processes.
- OEM Certifications: This provider is certified on many manufacturer programs, which could be important if you are a franchise dealership.
Website Provider #4: Jazel
Key Features
- Custom Design Options: Tailors your website to your specific branding and style preferences.
- OEM Certifications: This provider is certified on many manufacturer programs, which could be important if you are a franchise dealership.
Website Provider #5: Dealer E Process
Key Features
- Customizable Templates and Design: Offers a high level of customization to match your dealership's branding.
- On-Site Analytics: Provides detailed insights into user interactions on your website.
- Competitive Pricing: Offers a good value compared to other providers.
- OEM Certifications: This provider is certified on many manufacturer programs, which could be important if you are a franchise dealership.
Website Provider #6: DealerFire
Key Features
- Integration with DealerSocket Products: Streamlines dealership processes with CRM and InventoryPlus integration.
- SEO Excellence: Ensures strong organic ranking and visibility.
- OEM Certification: Adds an extra layer of credibility and trust.
- OEM Certifications: This provider is certified on many manufacturer programs, which could be important if you are a franchise dealership.
Website Provider #7: DealerOn
Key Features
- Innovative Approach: Regularly updates with the latest trends and technologies.
- Fast and Well-Designed Websites: Offers a pleasing aesthetic along with quick loading times.
- Effective Management of Incentives and Rebates: Handles promotions and offers efficiently.
- OEM Certifications: This provider is certified on many manufacturer programs, which could be important if you are a franchise dealership.
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice
When choosing a dealership website provider, consider factors like design, SEO capabilities, integration, and user experience. The best provider aligns with your unique needs and goals, offering a robust and user-friendly online presence.
Disclaimer
This guide is for informational purposes, based on publicly available data and customer feedback. We encourage readers to conduct their own research before making decisions. The mentioned website providers are trademarks of their respective owners; their mention does not imply endorsement.
