December is always a big time of year for Honda car dealerships with amazing specials and promotions during the holiday time of year.
When the weather starts to change, colorful lights end up on rooftops, and Starbucks has a full offering of peppermint drink options, it’s time for one of the most anticipated times of the year: Honda Days. Whether Honda dealers are taking advantage of Honda’s special offers or they are just wrapping up the year in hopes of emptying their showroom.
Of course, once you end a big promotion like Honda Days, you have to wonder “what’s next.” How exactly do you follow up with a campaign like that? Luckily, there are several impactful ways Honda car dealerships can reach their potential customers to start 2022.
A Focus On Pre-Owned Hondas
Even though rumors suggest that Honda has a marketing strategy that goes through 2030, they’ve had to pivot to meet the needs of today. That means Honda car dealerships need to adapt to match. The COVID-19 pandemic put a monkey wrench into most auto manufacturers’ plans. The shortage and delay of invaluable microchips and semiconductors have slowed auto production around the world.
To combat the shortage of brand new Honda options, many Honda dealers are putting their focus on the pre-owned market. For most dealers, this focus requires getting more people to see the value in driving a used or pre-owned vehicle instead of buying one that is fresh off of the assembly line. Part of your social media strategy should include education and encouragement that highlights Honda’s reliability, dependability, and longevity.
Another element Honda dealers have to focus on is building up their inventory of used options. This is where Honda dealers are hitting social media to laud how easy it is to trade in or sell a used car. With the high demand for used vehicles across the country, dealers have to compete a little more for the opportunity to build their selection.
How Social Media in 2022 Will Pave The Way
The mere nature of modern social media is one of constant change. That being said, there are still trends to track and jump on to reach your audience. Honda car dealerships can benefit from early adoption of upcoming trends while also being flexible to the ever-changing nature of the market.
Here are some trends to look out for in 2022:
Small Content
While there is always room for long-form articles and in-depth reporting online, social media users are more likely to consume content that comes in bite-size and manageable pieces. Studies show that people’s attention span has dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to just eight seconds today. Short-form videos, reels, and posts will be devoured, while longer social media posts may be simply swiped away.
Stories or short-form videos on platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other social media platforms are all the rage right now. Dealers can offer behind-the-scenes looks, backend information, and other content that will spark interest.
Focus on Community
Marketing is often seen as another form of sales. That means marketing campaigns often focused more on building customers than anything else. In 2022, Honda dealers will see better returns if they focus on building a community. The benefit of building relationships with your potential customers is that you can also learn a little more about what they are looking for to help shape future marketing efforts.
Focus on the Visual
While social media platforms like Twitter are still popular, most social media users are attracted to visual content over text-based content. To stand out among a full range of visual competitors, focus on what your target audience wants. Create content that will help them stop scrolling and take a look.
Social Media is Changing, But It’s Here To Stay
It might be easy to dismiss social media platforms as a passing phase or difficult-to-understand technology. The reality is that social media is now an ingrained part of our lives. In some ways, social media content is replacing the marketing and advertising methods of old. Younger buyers are less likely to watch cable TV, read the newspaper, or take part in other activities that would expose them to traditional advertisements.
To keep up with the market, Honda car dealerships need to embrace new trends on social media and take advantage of them to build their communities and increase sales.
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