Cars Commerce

Cars.com was just named one of America's Best of the Best for 2024 list by Newsweek and Statista for its excellent customer experience! We’re proud to continue delivering a leading experience to our more than 26 million Cars.com shoppers. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dWG2TG7j

When Google’s algorithm changes, dealers with Dealer Inspire websites + SEO services are one step ahead. Like in March, when the Core Algorithm Update punished websites across the industry with “low-quality” content — DI customers rose in the rankings. And when we tested a shift in strategy to stay ahead of the NEXT update, DI customers rose even higher. In our latest article, Sr. Director of SEO & Managed Services, Sarah Suhail, explains how helpful content and meticulous technical optimization are keeping DI SEO customers one step ahead of search. Check it out.

30 million in-market car buyers. 1 platform: Cars Commerce’s Matthew Taylor Crawford is an expert at simplifying everything about buying and selling cars. I spoke with Matthew, Chief Product and Innovation Officer, about solving problems for consumers and best practices for selling cars online. Top takeaways ⬇ 1. A masterclass is problem-solving –. Cars.com’s obsession with staying one step ahead of consumer trends. – Dealers must adapt fast or get left behind. 2. Choice is paramount. – Shoppers call the shots now, deciding how and when they engage. – Dealers need to offer a seamless experience across all channels. – Independent dealers, take note: embracing tech levels the playing field. 3. Merchandising makes the sale. – Top-notch listings with detailed info, killer photos, and upfront pricing are deal-makers. – Replicate the in-store experience online. – Great merchandising is the difference between a lead and a lost opportunity. 4. Trust is your secret weapon – Price hikes and economic pressures mean buyers are hyper-aware. – Dealers who prioritize honesty, fair pricing, and consistency earn repeat business. – Building trust isn’t just good PR – it’s your edge in a crowded market. 5. AI: The next frontier of car buying. – AI streamlines everything from model suggestions to buying advice. – Early adopters of AI will dominate. – AI is a tool, not a substitute for the human touch. The full episode is live! Stream it now: Apple: https://lnkd.in/eTThpSKD Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ek2P39jr YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eFZdNnJt

Build customer trust by offering fair trades and excellent service. Learn the secrets to their success and how integrity drives their retail strategies! #Carvana #CarMax #CustomerTrust #AutoIndustry #CarSellingTips #FairTrade #RetailSuccess #TrustInBusiness

As the market recovers and evolves, we are seeing contrasting trends between new and used vehicles. New car supply continues to rise (+45% YoY), with the average price remaining steady at an elevated $49,000 (-1.9% YoY). Meanwhile, the used car market has significant supply challenges for the late-model-year, lightly used vehicles (under 3.5 years) that many consumers are searching for due to high new car prices — creating an opportunity for dealerships that can help more consumers trade and upgrade. View the full report: https://lnkd.in/eGkWrD2R Empower your team to acquire more trade-ins with AccuTrade: https://lnkd.in/gVwfyH5f

We're not selling toothpaste. People are not always in the market for their next car. So don't add to the BILLIONS of advertising dollars our industry spends reaching "auto intenders" who don't actually intend to buy anytime soon. You can maximize every dollar on people you KNOW are in the market to buy a car soon (because they were just on Cars.com), stay in front of them across channels with your brand and relevant inventory, and connect with them as ready-to-close leads through your website. Watch the full video to see how it all works together: https://lnkd.in/gkxR5Znq

When you’re scrolling social media (like right now), the platform is learning — and then showing more of — what you want to see. Because personalized experiences keep us engaged. Dealer Inspire websites can do the same thing to “wow” each individual visitor and establish your next-level, personalized customer experience: — Have they been checking out a specific model? Show them a new offer and guide them to live inventory. — Are they in a different town? Tell them why you’re worth the [X] min drive from [Y], or that you’ll deliver it to them. — Are they on an iPhone? Guide them to inventory results filtered by the feature Apple CarPlay. — Did they arrive from a specific referral source or campaign? Guide them based on the targeting of the campaign and the messages they’ve already seen, like to a loyalty or conquest offer based on what Make they drive today. — Are they browsing during business hours on a sunny day? Tell them it’s the perfect day to get outside for a test drive, until [X]pm. The possibilities of personalization are endless, and the results can be huge. In a customer case study, we saw that website visitors spent 325% more time on site, viewed 71% more pages per session, and were 122% more likely to submit a lead when shown a personalized message. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gBEKfUBF

We’re excited to share that Cars Commerce's own Mike Hanley, Senior Road Test Editor for Cars.com, has been selected to serve as one of 50 jurors for the prestigious North American Car, Utility & Truck of The Year Awards. Mike joined the Cars Commerce team over 20 years ago as an editorial intern, and has served in a number of editorial roles throughout his tenure. Mike’s reporting is instrumental in helping inform the 26 million visitors that come to Cars.com each month in search of a vehicle — and his contributions help continue to make Cars.com a trusted source for shoppers. Congratulations Mike! 🎉👏💜 https://lnkd.in/gXPcH2y9

Our team is constantly innovating to simplify our technology solutions and the experiences they enable. We recently applied that philosophy to our AccuTrade website trade-in solution, which prompts a series of questions about the consumer’s vehicle to generate an Instant Offer on their exact VIN. We tested a new version that uses the license plate or VIN number to instantly pre-populate more vehicle details, which compresses the user experience to a single page and puts their Instant Offer just one tantalizing click away. It REALLY worked — generating a 50% increase in trade-in leads delivered to dealers in the pilot on average — so we're rolling out the update to all customers who opt-in. Check it out: <<<https://lnkd.in/giWVYBGu>>>

The average price of new cars has risen by $11,000 in since 2019, reaching nearly $49,000! Rebecca Lindland, Senior Director of Industry Data and Insights at Cars Commerce, joins us on the latest episode of CBT Now to discuss the findings of their Industry Insights Report. Full Episode here: https://lnkd.in/eiapDpHP