Given how popular used cars are to the American buying public, it is no surprise that many independent car lots have sprung up to satisfy the demand for inexpensive and trustworthy automobiles. Used car prices are hitting record highs according to USA Today, but unlike 10 years ago, most people a search engine like Google to view the inventory and pricing of cars in their area. So without an online presence, many dealers are missing out on the gold rush.
Some third-party websites, like Craigslist, are a great place to list used cars for sale, but putting them online is a tedious and time-consuming process. For instance, a search for used cars in Jacksonville, Florida results in over 9000 results on Craigslist alone. Given this fierce competition, many used-car dealers have become frustrated because they are unable to keep up with the chore of daily postings while also servicing customers who walk onto the lot.
The solution: a self-managed website
Understanding the frustration that independent auto dealers have with the demands of technology, a company by the name of Dealer Platform formed to offer car dealer website templates. The site currently caters to people in the South East and Southern regions of the United States, but is now expanding to offer its services to the entire country.
How Does It Work?
Basically for a low monthly fee any used car dealer can go to their website, pick one of approximately 40 different templates, choose a domain name, upload photos of their inventory, and with the click of a couple buttons, have a fully functioning website that potential customers can visit.
The company allows users to make unlimited listings, and offers a no-hassle service that does not force dealers to sign a lengthy contract…they simply operate on a month-to-month basis.
In addition, most of the time dealers just need to enter the VIN number into their website’s admin page along with the price and mileage, and all the information they need for an ad will be filled in automatically. This is where the magic happens, because once a vehicle is listed, you, the used-car dealer, can post it easily to services like craigslist, eBay motors, or Facebook.
The platform also provides users with the ability to chat live with their visitors, and to make blog posts describing things like their location, dealership history, employees, or even talking about things that the used-car buyer would find helpful.
Dealer Platform has a number of demos for visitors to try out as well as dozens of examples of websites they have made for other car dealers. Follow the link to see examples of used-car dealer website designs available today.
