Why You Should NOT Link To Social Media Sites

[DjSec]

Depending on how your links are setup they could be used to track your customers so companies like Facebook, Youtube, and so on can show adverting to your customers.

And since they just left your site what type of adverting do you think they will be showing them?

Social media sites use our content to make billions and then do everything within their power to prevent us from sending traffic back to our sites, without paying them for it.

You should use social media sites to drive traffic back to your site. But don't send your hard earned traffic to them.

They've managed to turn the internet into a pay-to-play platform...

Use those sites to attract more clients by creating valuable content.

The reason those sites exist is because their empowering people and helping them reach their goals.

It's not enough to just attract people to your business, you have to keep them there.

You have to engage them with valuable content, insights, and solutions that address what their struggling with.

Making the resource or guide clever enough that they can not resist engaging with it.

This is how you create a flywheel!

 

[Carsten]

Social media can distract your customer by dragging them off the site.
Social Media is supposed to drive customers to your site, not your site sending people off to watch cat videos.

Sure, if they want that particular vin that you have then it's not an issue but otherwise ... it is.


social media icons make a site design look good because they are a filler.

 

[DjSec]

Sure, if they want that particular vin that you have then it's not an issue but otherwise ... it is.

When you say if they want a particular vin, why wouldn't the dealership have the vin on their site?

The other thing you said

social media icons make a site design look good because they are a filler.

In my humble opinion using social media icons as "fillers" is a weak design choice. It’s like saying, "I don't know what else to put here, so I'll slap some logos down."

Instead of sending traffic away from your site, it might be smarter to:

1. Create custom icons that link to internal pages – For example:
   • A chat icon that opens live support.
   • A financing icon that leads to loan options.
   • A trade-in calculator button.
   • A "See More Inventory" link.
     
2. The Design should keep the visitor focused on conversion – Every design element should drive visitors toward a lead form, a phone call, or an in-person visit. Social media icons don’t do that—they just offer an exit.

If you want to keep them as a design element ditching generic social icons in favor of custom links or embedded content that keeps users engaged on your site is a much better approach.

 

[Tallcool1]

Social media can distract your customer by dragging them off the site.
Social Media is supposed to drive customers to your site, not your site sending people off to watch cat videos.

Sure, if they want that particular vin that you have then it's not an issue but otherwise ... it is.


social media icons make a site design look good because they are a filler.

Cat Videos are extremely underappreciated.

 

[DjSec]

Cat Videos are extremely underappreciated.

Not by my daughter!

 

[Carsten]

I'm often thinking of Used rather than New.
Thus a certain trim level is normally my focus when I shop.

 

[DjSec]

I'm often thinking of Used rather than New.
Thus a certain trim level is normally my focus when I shop.

I get trim but what about all the other filters on dealership websites, are people really searching using all those filters?

Android Auto
Apple CarPlay
Automatic Climate Control
Backup Camera
Blind Spot Monitor
Bluetooth
Fog Lights
Forward Collision Warning
Hands-Free Liftgate
Heated Seats
Keyless Entry
Lane Departure Warning
Parking Sensors / Assist
Power Liftgate
Power Seats
Premium Audio
Premium Package
Push Start
Rain Sensing Wipers
Satellite Radio Ready
Tow Package
WiFi Hotspot
Wireless Phone Charging

 

[flosho]

I get trim but what about all the other filters on dealership websites, are people really searching using all those filters?

Android Auto
Apple CarPlay
Automatic Climate Control
Backup Camera
Blind Spot Monitor
Bluetooth
Fog Lights
Forward Collision Warning
Hands-Free Liftgate
Heated Seats
Keyless Entry
Lane Departure Warning
Parking Sensors / Assist
Power Liftgate
Power Seats
Premium Audio
Premium Package
Push Start
Rain Sensing Wipers
Satellite Radio Ready
Tow Package
WiFi Hotspot
Wireless Phone Charging

you even put them in alphabetical order.. impressive

 

[Carsten]

I am suspecting that shoppers are open to seeing maybe 4-6 of those items as icons.
Those spec sheets ... I only use to look for sun / moon roof.
It's like your rant on social media buttons. It's filler that nobody reads. I doubt even if google reads it anymore.

make, model, trim
I might filter on mileage or year.

Surprisingly enough I don't use color for search.

I do use block shippers in cargurus. I hate how Dallas Dealers spam me with their ship anywhere vehicles.

off topic:
If you want to ship anywhere then why do I need to go in a dealership to: play the interest game dance for 1 hour, to wait around while the sales agent "asks" his boss, to sit and wait for financing, to sit and wait for a car wash or oil change that never happened. All the while sitting in the cheapest chairs and crappy instant coffee. Honestly, I'd rather sit at home and wait a day or 2 instead and deal with the anxiety of getting something that might have been miss represented.

 

[DjSec]

I am suspecting that shoppers are open to seeing maybe 4-6 of those items as icons.
Those spec sheets ... I only use to look for sun / moon roof.
It's like your rant on social media buttons. It's filler that nobody reads. I doubt even if google reads it anymore.

make, model, trim
I might filter on mileage or year.

Surprisingly enough I don't use color for search.

I do use block shippers in cargurus. I hate how Dallas Dealers spam me with their ship anywhere vehicles.

off topic:
If you want to ship anywhere then why do I need to go in a dealership to: play the interest game dance for 1 hour, to wait around while the sales agent "asks" his boss, to sit and wait for financing, to sit and wait for a car wash or oil change that never happened. All the while sitting in the cheapest chairs and crappy instant coffee. Honestly, I'd rather sit at home and wait a day or 2 instead and deal with the anxiety of getting something that might have been miss represented

I didn't think about color, I don't think color has ever been something I've looked at either, I guess you could drop most those.

What are your thoughts on segmentation?

First-Time & Budget Buyers

Family Car Buyers​

Luxury ​

Performance​

Eco​

Adventure ​

Off-Road Seekers​