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What are the best keywords for my dealership?

How to find and use high-converting keywords for your dealership’s website 

Dealerships need more than just inventory to attract car buyers; they need strategic, high-converting keywords that match what customers search online. Using the right keywords on your website can attract visitors ready to convert, whether they’re looking to buy, lease, service a car, or simply gather information. So, what are the best keywords for your dealership? Here are some strategies for how to find and use high-converting keywords for your dealership’s website from DealerFire. 



Invest in keyword research tools 

When it comes to finding the best keywords, professional keyword research tools like SEMrush and AnswerThePublic are invaluable resources. These tools provide a wealth of data to help you make informed choices, including: 

Search volume: See how often a keyword is searched each month to understand its popularity. 

Keyword difficulty: Gauge how hard it might be to rank for certain keywords. 

Competitor analysis: Identify which keywords your competitors are ranking for and use this to your advantage. 

Tip: Start by setting a budget for keyword research. While these tools aren’t free, they often come with trial periods and tiered plans, making them accessible to various budgets. 


Look at top-performing website pages in Google Analytics 

Sometimes, the best keywords are hidden in plain sight on your dealership’s website. Google Analytics provides valuable data on which pages bring in the most traffic and conversions. By analyzing this data, you can identify the topics and keywords that resonate most with your audience. 

Steps to uncover valuable keywords in Google Analytics: 

Traffic by page: Find which pages attract the most organic traffic and identify common keywords or phrases used on these pages. 

Conversion tracking: See which pages lead to conversions, like form submissions or clicks to your “Contact Us” page. 

Audience demographics: Understanding your visitors’ demographics helps you adjust keyword targeting to better match your typical car buyer’s profile. 

By analyzing this data, you’ll have a better idea of what kind of keywords to focus on; whether they’re related to financing options, model comparisons, or local dealership services. 


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Use Google’s search engine and AI to brainstorm 

Google’s tools can be incredibly powerful for keyword brainstorming: 

Autocomplete suggestions: Start typing relevant search terms in Google and look at the autocomplete suggestions. These are based on popular searches and can give you ideas for high-converting long-tail keywords. 

Related searches: Scroll to the bottom of a Google search results page to see related searches, which can provide additional keyword ideas. 

People also ask: Google’s “People Also Ask” section gives insight into common questions. Answering these questions with content can attract high-converting traffic. 

You can also use AI tools to generate keyword ideas based on queries like “What do people search for when looking to buy a car?” or “Common questions people have about financing a car.” These can help you capture customer search intent more creatively and efficiently. 


Hire an SEO professional from DealerFire 

Effective keyword research is only the beginning; executing a keyword strategy with well-written optimized content requires skill and experience. That’s where an SEO professional from DealerFire can make all the difference. 

DealerFire’s SEO experts can: 

Conduct targeted keyword research: They have experience in the automotive industry and understand which keywords are most likely to convert. 

Write custom content: Professional copywriters can create content that ranks well and reads naturally, which builds trust and authority. 

Develop SEO strategy: Beyond just keywords, they’ll help with on-page SEO and content planning to maximize your dealership’s visibility. 



Choose local keywords for maximum impact 

For dealerships, local SEO is critical. Most car buyers want to do business nearby, so targeting location-specific keywords can attract local customers ready to visit in person. Use keywords that combine your city or region with terms related to your dealership’s services, like: 

“[Your City] Honda dealership” 

“Best car maintenance in [City]” 

“Used cars near [City]” 

Local keywords can often convert better since they attract users who are more likely to visit your dealership and make a purchase. 


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Analyze and optimize regularly 

Keyword trends and customer behavior shift over time, so regularly analyzing and optimizing your keyword strategy is essential. Every few months, revisit your top-performing keywords and adjust as needed to stay relevant. 

Track keyword performance: Use Google Analytics to monitor how your keywords perform and adjust your strategy to focus on the ones driving conversions. 

Experiment with new keywords: Introduce new keywords to test their effectiveness, especially if your dealership introduces new models, services, or locations. 

Stay updated on SEO trends: Keywords that convert well today may not be as effective tomorrow. DealerFire’s SEO specialists can help you keep up with trends to stay competitive.