Social media evolves faster than any other marketing channel and here at Dealer Authority, we’re always looking ahead. Check out the 2025 social media trends your dealership should capitalize on to lead the pack in one of the most competitive advertising spaces in the world.
Facebook – Best for B2C marketing, community updates, and engaging a diverse audience. In addition to paid social ads, it’s ideal for quick posts, daily content, and sharing urgent updates. Meta Verified adds more value with enhanced support, impersonation protection, and increased visibility.
Instagram – A perfect visual portfolio for your dealership. Instagram caters to a younger audience and is great for flashy photos and reels. You can make a quick impact with creative content, especially when tied to trending audio.
TikTok – Best used for short-form video content generated in-house. Don’t worry; it’s not all about dances; TikTok is also a great knowledge-sharing platform! Show people behind the scenes, and use this as a place to show people who you are as a business.
LinkedIn – This is the go-to for B2B marketing, longer-form content, and professional branding. It’s perfect for sharing educational content and building your brand’s image within the industry. And now, with LinkedIn embracing short-form video, the platform is expanding how professionals engage. Although LinkedIn might not be the best place to reach new customers for your dealership, it’s an excellent place to showcase your dealership’s culture and find top-tier talent for new job openings.
A polished, well-managed social media profile builds trust. That means clear branding, a current cover photo, up-to-date contact details, and clean, consistent content.
Gone are the days of messy, incomplete profiles. Car shoppers expect professionalism right from the start.
Threads, Meta’s text-based app, launched with over 100 million users and has grown to over 320 million monthly active users. It’s a space for conversation and community rather than curated image sharing.
Bluesky offers a decentralized platform where users can create and subscribe to personalized feeds. As of early 2025, it’s already surpassed 25 million users. Both platforms are gaining attention as the digital landscape shifts.
Ensure your dealership’s profile doesn’t have unfinished content, outdated photos, or inactive buttons like “Send Message” if they’re not being monitored. Use your page to reflect who you are as a dealership, not as a billboard.
“They know you sell cars, show them why they should choose you for their next vehicle purchase.” – Tyson Madliger
Encouraging salespeople to go live, share their experiences, or even act as in-house influencers helps bring your dealership’s page to life. Whether they’re showing off their own cars, highlighting new arrivals, or creating fun behind-the-scenes content, these authentic stories build trust with your audience.
Hook viewers in the first three seconds, always use captions for accessibility, and align with trending audio or topics to improve reach. Imperfect, organic videos, including bloopers, perform well because they are relatable and fun.
AIAs can also be used to enhance offer ads and other creative campaigns, making them one of the most efficient and effective advertising tools available today. Compared to industry averages, Facebook AIAs garner an impressive 66% lower cost-per-click, and an incredible 5X higher click-through-rate.
If Facebook AIAs aren’t a core component of your dealership’s social media strategy, you’re seriously missing out! Curious what they look like in the wild? Click here to see Automotive Inventory Ads in action.
Which Platform Is Right For Your Goals
Before we discuss overall social media trends for 2025, it’s important to understand that each platform can play a different role in your dealership’s social media strategy. The goal isn’t to pick one winner but to use each platform for what it does best.Facebook – Best for B2C marketing, community updates, and engaging a diverse audience. In addition to paid social ads, it’s ideal for quick posts, daily content, and sharing urgent updates. Meta Verified adds more value with enhanced support, impersonation protection, and increased visibility.
Instagram – A perfect visual portfolio for your dealership. Instagram caters to a younger audience and is great for flashy photos and reels. You can make a quick impact with creative content, especially when tied to trending audio.
TikTok – Best used for short-form video content generated in-house. Don’t worry; it’s not all about dances; TikTok is also a great knowledge-sharing platform! Show people behind the scenes, and use this as a place to show people who you are as a business.
LinkedIn – This is the go-to for B2B marketing, longer-form content, and professional branding. It’s perfect for sharing educational content and building your brand’s image within the industry. And now, with LinkedIn embracing short-form video, the platform is expanding how professionals engage. Although LinkedIn might not be the best place to reach new customers for your dealership, it’s an excellent place to showcase your dealership’s culture and find top-tier talent for new job openings.
First Impressions Matter More Than Ever
Did you know that 76% of social media users say they’ve purchased based on a social media post? In 2025, your first impression might be the only one you get, and it all starts with how your pages are presented.A polished, well-managed social media profile builds trust. That means clear branding, a current cover photo, up-to-date contact details, and clean, consistent content.
Gone are the days of messy, incomplete profiles. Car shoppers expect professionalism right from the start.
New Platforms on the Rise: Bluesky and Threads
With X (formerly Twitter) continuing to decline in user trust and ad performance, alternative platforms are gaining traction.Threads, Meta’s text-based app, launched with over 100 million users and has grown to over 320 million monthly active users. It’s a space for conversation and community rather than curated image sharing.
Bluesky offers a decentralized platform where users can create and subscribe to personalized feeds. As of early 2025, it’s already surpassed 25 million users. Both platforms are gaining attention as the digital landscape shifts.
Page Transparency and Trust
Consumers want to know they can trust your business before they ever enter your showroom. Transparent pages with branded visuals, employee-generated content, and consistent updates show that your dealership is active, engaged, and reliable.Ensure your dealership’s profile doesn’t have unfinished content, outdated photos, or inactive buttons like “Send Message” if they’re not being monitored. Use your page to reflect who you are as a dealership, not as a billboard.
“They know you sell cars, show them why they should choose you for their next vehicle purchase.” – Tyson Madliger
Employee-Generated Content is Driving Authenticity
So far In 2025, employee-generated content (EGC) has been a game changer. Employees are natural advocates. They know your brand, they are around the vehicles they sell every day, and they can speak from real experience.Encouraging salespeople to go live, share their experiences, or even act as in-house influencers helps bring your dealership’s page to life. Whether they’re showing off their own cars, highlighting new arrivals, or creating fun behind-the-scenes content, these authentic stories build trust with your audience.
Video Remains King
Short-form video continues to dominate, especially with Gen Z, but long-form content is catching up. Regardless of length, the key is authenticity. Perfectly polished videos are less impactful than ones that show the real people behind your brand.Hook viewers in the first three seconds, always use captions for accessibility, and align with trending audio or topics to improve reach. Imperfect, organic videos, including bloopers, perform well because they are relatable and fun.
Automotive Inventory Ads (AIAs): Smarter Targeting with Less Work
AI-driven Automotive Inventory Ads (AIAs) are a smart way to showcase your entire inventory to in-market car shoppers. These catalog-style Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok ads use your dealership’s live inventory feed, combined with the Meta Pixel (Facebook & Instagram), to target shoppers based on vehicle preferences and location.AIAs can also be used to enhance offer ads and other creative campaigns, making them one of the most efficient and effective advertising tools available today. Compared to industry averages, Facebook AIAs garner an impressive 66% lower cost-per-click, and an incredible 5X higher click-through-rate.
If Facebook AIAs aren’t a core component of your dealership’s social media strategy, you’re seriously missing out! Curious what they look like in the wild? Click here to see Automotive Inventory Ads in action.
