How to Conduct a Website Analysis When Creating a User-Friendly Automotive Dealership Website

1. April 11, 2017 How to Conduct a Website Analysis When Creating a User- Friendly Automotive Dealership Website Image 1: What You Need to Do When Performing an Auto Dealer Website Analysis When car shoppers visit your dealership’s website, you want them to have the best experience possible. This is simple when you conduct a website analysis, an assessment that lets you know which elements of your website are working and what areas need to be adjusted. There are important factors to keep in mind as you conduct the analysis: Mobile Responsiveness You need to remember that most people searching for cars online are using some sort of mobile device. This is according to the findings of a recent study by Ipsos MediaCT where 71% of respondents claimed P a g e 1 | 3

2. to have used their mobile devices during the car-buying process. Mobile responsive websites also tend to rank higher in search engines. There are many tricks when designing a mobile-friendly website. Probably the most important is responsiveness, meaning the elements are appropriately spaced out no matter what screen shoppers are using. The design also needs to be simple, so car shoppers don’t get overwhelmed by too many ads and multimedia. You might also consider hiring a digital marketing expert who has experience designing mobile-friendly websites from scratch. They’ll make sure your plugins and codes work across all mobile platforms. Title Tags Title tags, also known as meta tags, make a big difference on whether visitors click on your links or move on. Each page on your dealership’s website needs to have its own unique title tag with a specific message or purpose. There are two things to keep in mind when creating such tags. First and foremost, they need to target the keywords your car shoppers are searching for online. They also need to generate a lot of interest, making it worth the shopper’s while to click on them. Another trick is to make sure your title tags are active, i.e. using calls to action that encourage the user to click. Lastly, make sure your tags aren’t too long because search engines use algorithms that trim long titles. P a g e 2 | 3

3. Link Structure The structure of your links, particularly your internal links, is an important metric to assess. The key to any effective link building strategy is to create as much content as you can. This helps generate a lot of internal pages. Your links also need to use anchor text, the text that appears highlighted in hypertext links. This makes it easy for car shoppers to click on links and then be directed to other pages on your dealership’s website. It also tells the search engine that your website is relevant for that keyword. Conducting a website analysis doesn’t have to be complex if you know which important elements to focus on. To assess it completely, however, consider hiring a digital marketing professional to conduct a full website audit. You can then address any lingering issues, giving car shoppers a great experience each time they visit your dealership’s website. About DealerRank: Selling as many cars as possible is within reach if you get help from DealerRank. We can help your dealership establish an online brand using tools such as website analysis, social media, SEO and website design. Our services help you achieve long-term results needed to make it in this highly competitive industry. Gain visitors by consulting with us. Sources: 12 Tips for Creating a Mobile-Friendly Website, CIO.com Mobile Devices Play Major Role for Car Shoppers (Infographic), Adweek.com P a g e 3 | 3