Why You Should NOT Link To Social Media Sites

[BillVaughnKMC]

When we used VinSolutions tool that allowed us to see the pages customers were shopping on AutoTrader, we found that very few people were using ANY filters.

 

[DjSec]

you even put them in alphabetical order.. impressive

I copied them off Bill's site.

 

[BillVaughnKMC]

I copied them off Bill's site.

I'm really just getting started on that site. Will be switching to a new provider in 60 days. Just want to get some data established with some new processes before switching. I would be interested to see your thoughts on my previous dealership site: New & Used Car Dealership in Kirksville, MO | Kirksville Motor Company

 

[DjSec]

When we used VinSolutions tool that allowed us to see the pages customers were shopping on AutoTrader, we found that very few people were using ANY filters.

There has to be a better way to do it...

Using https://www.perplexity.ai AI

I want you to scour real review sites to find the exact words consumers use when looking to buy a car when talking about their struggles with with filters when using dealership websites, Autotrader, CarGurus, Cars.com, TrueCar, Carvana, Shift, Vroom and what might be a better way to do new and used car filtering. Research on real review sites only, and look for common patterns or repeat ideas that come up over and over again. Give me at least 5 messaging points in each of theses categories:
1.Proble/pain points
2.What they've tried that didn't work
3.What their dream outcome looks like

Messaging Points from Consumer Reviews on Car Filtering Across Dealership Websites and Platforms​

1. Problems/Pain Points​

Consumers frequently express frustration with the filtering systems on car-buying websites. Common pain points include:

• Limited or overly prescriptive filters: Many users complain about filters that don't allow multi-select options or are too rigid, such as only allowing one selection per category (e.g., make, model, or trim)
• Filters that don't work properly: Issues like distance filters showing cars far outside the specified radius or filters resetting to default settings after input are common complaints
• Irrelevant search results: Sponsored ads and listings outside the search criteria (e.g., cars far above budget or not in the specified area) clutter search results
• Missing advanced filter options: Consumers desire more granular filters, such as searching by specific features (e.g., heated windscreen, cruise control), previous owners, or MOT history
• Lack of transparency: Some platforms fail to provide clear details about fees or car conditions upfront, leading to surprises at dealerships

2. What They've Tried That Didn't Work​

Consumers often attempt various strategies to overcome these issues but find them ineffective:

• Using multiple platforms: Switching between websites (e.g., AutoTrader, CarGurus) often yields similar frustrations, as many platforms share the same filtering limitations
• Manual sorting: Sorting results by proximity or price instead of filtering often leads to unmanageable lists rather than narrowing down options effectively
  
  
• Keyword searches: Searching for specific features using keywords often returns irrelevant results due to poor search algorithms that don't prioritize exact matches
  
  
• Contacting customer service: Reaching out for technical support rarely resolves filter-related issues; users report being redirected or told the issue is "browser-related"
  
  
• Expanding search radius: Broadening location filters sometimes leads to irrelevant results from distant areas rather than improving local options

3. What Their Dream Outcome Looks Like​

Consumers outline their ideal filtering experience as follows:

• Intuitive and flexible filters: Multi-select options across all categories (e.g., make, model, trim) and advanced filters for specific features like heated seats or reverse cameras
• Accurate and reliable functionality: Filters that consistently work as intended, narrowing down results without resetting or showing irrelevant listings
• Transparency in listings: Clear upfront information about all fees, car conditions, and history reports without hidden surprises at the dealership
• Personalized recommendations: Suggestions based on user preferences and budget rather than generic sponsored ads or irrelevant vehicles
  
  
• Seamless user experience: A clean interface with responsive filters that allow easy navigation and comparison between vehicles without technical glitches

Suggestions for Better Filtering Systems​

To address these recurring issues, platforms could implement:

1. Multi-select functionality: Allow users to select multiple options within categories like make, model, and features.
2. Advanced feature-based filters: Include granular options such as mileage range, previous owners, specific trims, and creature comforts.
3. Dynamic location-based filtering: Ensure distance filters accurately reflect user preferences without including irrelevant nationwide delivery listings.
4. Transparent pricing and history integration: Incorporate clear pricing breakdowns and vehicle history reports directly into search results.
5. AI-powered personalization: Use machine learning to suggest cars based on browsing behavior and stated preferences.

These improvements could significantly enhance consumer satisfaction with car-buying platforms.

If this is correct it looks like people would like to filter their searches but the current filtering systems lack some of the abilities or functions they would like to see...

Not what I was expecting I was expecting it to be more like what Bill was saying and people didn't use them.

 

[DjSec]

I would be interested to see your thoughts on my previous dealership site: New & Used Car Dealership in Kirksville, MO | Kirksville Motor Company

A Quick look at New & Used Car Dealership in Kirksville, MO | Kirksville Motor Company

Please point out all the areas I’ve got wrong so I can learn and keep in mind I’m just typing as I go and some of these topics like images, and press release I wrote extensive step by step articles about but can't find the content, so I briefly talk about them but I have a lot more information on them somewhere.

I’m going to make mistakes, miss things, and misunderstand how the dealership works so keep me honest and call me out on my mistakes and misunderstandings.

And to test this stuff you might want to use another domain name with the intent of making it outperform your current website.
Because it requires a total rethinking of how the site is setup and it could backfire.

The late Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen recommends a “disruptive jiu-jitsu” or “learning from the competition, then deliberately disrupting one’s own business model to stay ahead of others and preventing your own business from being disrupted by someone else.

I’m not going to get into load times or coding errors because we already talked about those and this one isn’t much better, I can’t believe the developer put a <p> tag as a child of a button, or a label as a descendant of an element, or <a> as a descendant of an element, developers really should take a minute to validate their code.

It’s a big site and an old and established site.

How many people live in Kirksville, MO 17,000?

And how many dealerships are in Kirksville, MO 7, 8?

What other cities are near and around Kirksville, MO that you could target?

Novinger, Greentop, Sperry, Millard, Yarrow, Youngstown, Schuyler County, Lancaster, Queen City…

Let me think about about this for a minute and I’ll come back around to some ideas on how you could target them.

There is a lot going on, on the home page.

I can’t help but wonder what would happen if you dropped the top menu down to say five links, I mean a lot of studies have shown the more information you give people the more overwhelmed they become and the less likely they are to make a decision.

I’m just guessing but it seems like when they land on the site they are either looking to buy a vehicle, looking for parts or service.

I wonder what would happen if you just had five options.

Sell, Buy, Parts, Service, About.

Financing seems like it would come up after they found a vehicle they liked and the blog should be about driving traffic to the site, you want those articles to rank, drive traffic to the site, and then get them to looking at either selling what they have, buying a vehicle or scheduling some service work.

Of course for SEO purposes you would want descriptive links like Vehicle Inventory and then later on the page you could have New Chevy Trucks Inventory, New Buick Inventory, and so on.

Maybe I can through a quick home page together to better show you want I’m thanking.

The main idea is that a streamlined menu prevents visitors from becoming overwhelm and keeps the focus on your highest priority areas and you can still cover all the other stuff below the fold.

And you want to put the most important pages at the beginning of the menu so maybe put Buy Vehicles before Sell Vehicles and you want to try and use your main keywords in the menu and focus on your most important pages.

You could also link out to pages below the fold on the home page like “Why Choose a Chevy” or “Financing Your New Chevy”.

---

This is already a big site and that gives you a lot of control of the flow of the internal link juice, whenever you add a page it has to start with some amount of Google link juice for ranking purposes, so say it starts with .005 percent, when you link to another page some of that link juice will flow to that page.

So the bigger the site the more link juice you have to flow, this means by adding parts to the site you not only have more link juice to flow but you also have parts to sell. It’s not about price, or even selling the parts, its about the flow of the link juice and the selling of the parts would be a bonus but you don’t need to worry about competing on price.

People buy from you for a lot of reasons and only one of those reasons are price.

You’ve got your top of the funnel keywords which is important for attracting high-quality, low-competition visitors, even in a crowded automotive marketplace. Your site’s size, strategic link-building, and dedicated content creation all play pivotal roles in reaching Chevy, GMC, Buick, or Toyota enthusiasts and potential customers.

One major hurdle is contending with well-established, high-authority websites that dominate high-intent automotive keywords. Terms such as “Chevy New Car Sales”, "Chevy car accessories", "Chevy parts," or "Chevy service centers".

Even niche keywords like "Buick Envision break pads" or "2021 Buick® Enclave Premium maintenance tips" can face stiff competition from these established giants.

So ranking for these bottom-of-the-funnel (BOFU) keywords can be especially challenging in the short term.

As a dealership involved in automotive sales and service, you operate in a “Your Money, Your Life” (YMYL) category—where customers’ financial and safety decisions are at stake. Ensuring that potential buyers have access to safe, reliable, and high-quality Chevy products is critical. Google scrutinizes these sites rigorously, prioritizing expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T).

Meeting these standards means investing in premium content, acquiring backlinks from respected automotive experts, and optimizing your site for a seamless user experience.

Keyword and Layout Strategy​

• Content Hubs: Develop comprehensive content hubs focusing on various aspects of each car manufacturers ownership. For example consider hubs like "Chevy Engine Components," "Chevy Accessories & Upgrades," and "Maintenance & Repair Tips for Chevy Vehicles." Each hub should interlink with detailed blog posts, product pages, and buyer guides.
• Long-Tail Keywords: Target specific long-tail search terms such as "best GMC brake pads for Sierra 3500HD SLE" or "how to service GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE transmission" to attract traffic with high purchase intent.
• Customer Reviews and Testimonials: Build credibility by showcasing customer reviews and expert opinions on your product and service pages. Real-life testimonials about GMC vehicles and parts help establish trust with prospective buyers.

Introducing SEO Content Hubs

SEO content hubs are a powerful strategy to boost your dealership’s online authority, visibility, and ultimately, your car sales. Think of a content hub as a centralized resource where every part works together to improve search rankings and drive qualified traffic to your dealership showroom.

Understanding the Funnel and Keyword Types​

Digital marketing segments the sales process into different stages, enabling you to target potential buyers effectively:

• Bottom-of-the-Funnel (BOFU) Keywords: These high-intent, transactional keywords—such as “buy GMC Sierra 1500 Denali near me” or “GMC Sierra 1500 Denali financing deals”—are aimed at buyers ready to make a purchase.
• Top-of-the-Funnel (TOFU) and Middle-of-the-Funnel (MOFU) Keywords: These keywords are more informational in nature, like “what to look for in a new GMC Sierra 1500 Denali” or “comparing GMC Sierra 1500 Denali models to other brands and models.” Although less competitive, they play a crucial role in attracting prospective buyers who may convert later.

How Content Hubs Work​

A well-structured content hub revolves around a comprehensive pillar article targeting a high-priority keyword with commercial intent. Surrounding this pillar are clusters of related articles addressing various informational queries. By interlinking these pieces, you create a network that enhances your site’s authority, improves search engine rankings, and drives more qualified leads to your dealership.

Example of a GMC Content Hub:

• Pillar Article: "The Ultimate Guide to Buying a GMC: Models, Financing, and More"
• Supporting Cluster Articles:
  • "How to Choose the Right GMC Model for Your Lifestyle"
  • "Top Financing Tips for Your New GMC Purchase"
  • "GMC vs. Competitors: A Comprehensive Comparison"
  • "Maintenance Tips to Keep Your GMC Running Smoothly"

This integrated SEO strategy not only increases your online visibility but also builds trust with potential buyers—driving more showroom visits and ultimately, more car sales.

Why Content Hubs Work​

1. Boosted Rankings Across All Content
   When the articles in your hub are tightly interconnected, search engines recognize your site as an authoritative resource on GMC vehicles. Publishing new, high-quality content within this network elevates the rankings of every page, especially your main guide on GMC purchases. Think of it as a high-performance engine—every component works in unison to drive your dealership forward.
2. Improved Crawlability
   An organized content hub allows search engine bots to easily navigate and understand the relationship between your articles. This structured interlinking ensures better indexing and heightened visibility in search results, helping prospective customers find you faster.
3. Optimal Internal Linking
   Strategic internal links guide visitors seamlessly through your site—from detailed articles on specific GMC models to financing tips and maintenance advice. This not only improves user engagement but also funnels traffic toward your central pillar content, ultimately increasing showroom visits and conversions.

By developing content hubs that address the diverse interests and needs of GMC buyers, you create an ecosystem of engaging, high-ranking content. This strategy positions your dealership as the go-to resource for everything GMC—from model comparisons and buying guides to maintenance tips and financing options.

In the competitive automotive market, SEO content hubs serve as a well-oiled machine where every article works together to boost your online visibility and drive more car sales.

This works for each make and model:

• Bottom-of-the-Funnel (BOFU) Keywords: These transactional keywords—such as “buy 2024 Toyota® Land Cruiser First Edition near me” or “2024 Toyota® Land Cruiser First Edition leasing deals”—are aimed at customers who are ready to make a purchase.
• Top-of-the-Funnel (TOFU) and Middle-of-the-Funnel (MOFU) Keywords: These more informational keywords, like “how to choose the right Toyota for your family” or “comparing Toyota models for reliability,” attract research-oriented visitors. Though less competitive, they are vital for driving qualified traffic that can eventually convert into car sales.

Example of a Toyota Content Hub:

• Pillar Article: "The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Toyota: Models, Financing, and More"
• Supporting Cluster Articles:
  • "How to Choose the Perfect Toyota Model for Your Lifestyle"
  • "Top Financing Options for Your New Toyota Purchase"
  • "Comparing Toyota Models: Which One Is Right for You?"
  • "Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Toyota Running Smoothly"

---

Writing Content Hub Articles​

This is how I would go about creating the articles:

Step 1: Analyze Top-Ranking Content​

Start with thorough keyword research. For example, search for terms like “best Toyota financing deals” or “how to choose the right Toyota for your family.” Then analyze the top-ranking articles by focusing on the following:

• Examine Structure:
  Look at how the content is organized—identify the subheadings, the flow of information, and how the article addresses various buyer concerns.
• Identify Value Points:
  Determine what makes the content engaging and useful. This might include detailed how-to guides, side-by-side comparisons of Toyota models, or authentic customer testimonials about their buying experience.
• Note Featured Snippets and FAQs:
  Pay attention to questions that appear in Google’s featured snippets or FAQ sections. These often highlight what potential Toyota buyers are asking and the type of clear, concise answers they’re looking for.

By crafting well-formatted, informative, and mobile-friendly content, you increase your chances of being featured in search snippets. This not only boosts your dealership’s visibility but also helps convert online visitors into loyal customers ready to drive off in a new Toyota.

Step 2: Create Key Takeaway Sections
Add a Key Takeaways or Quick Summary section at the top of your article to provide readers with an immediate overview of your content. For example:

Key Takeaways:

• Purchasing a new Toyota from an authorized dealership can secure the best financing and service packages.
• Regular maintenance with genuine Toyota parts extends your vehicle’s longevity and reliability.

This quick summary improves user experience and aligns with Google’s focus on delivering fast, actionable answers and helps AI easily show your answers in their content.

---

Step 3: Use H2 Subheadings to Structure Your Content
Organize your article into clear, digestible sections with H2 and H3 headings. For instance:

H2: How to Choose the Right Toyota for Your Lifestyle

• H3: Evaluating Toyota Models: Compare performance, features, and suitability for different lifestyles.
• H3: Considering Your Budget: Explore pricing options, incentives, and long-term ownership costs.

H2: Step-by-Step Guide to Financing Your New Toyota

• H3: Understanding Financing Options: Break down lease vs. purchase, credit requirements, and promotional deals.
• H3: Tips for Securing the Best Offer: Highlight negotiation strategies and timing for optimal deals.

This structure not only makes your content more engaging for readers but also helps search engines index your pages more effectively.

---

Step 4: Optimize Your SEO Elements
Once your article is complete, ensure that key SEO components are optimized to boost your online visibility:

• Title Tag: Incorporate your primary keyword naturally (e.g., "Top Tips for Buying Your New Toyota").
• H1 Tag: Align your H1 with the title (e.g., "How to Buy Your New Toyota: Expert Tips for a Smooth Purchase").
• URL Slug: Keep it short and keyword-focused (e.g., /buy-new-toyota-tips/).
• Meta Description: Craft a compelling summary (e.g., "Discover expert tips for buying your new Toyota. Learn about financing, model comparisons, and maintenance advice to make an informed purchase.").

By following these steps, you'll create high-quality, user-focused articles that are fully optimized for search engines. This strategy will boost your dealership’s online authority, attract more targeted traffic, and ultimately drive more car sales.

---

The Importance of Backlinks
After publishing new content, it’s essential to interlink it with existing pages and promote it externally. Timely and strategic backlinks are crucial because they:

• Enhance your website’s domain authority.
• Improve search rankings, making it easier for potential buyers to find your dealership.
• Drive targeted traffic directly to your Toyota-related content.

Seek backlinks from trusted automotive sites, local business directories, and industry influencers to further bolster your site’s credibility. This ongoing strategy not only improves your SEO performance but also increases your dealership's visibility, ultimately leading to more inquiries and car sales.

Why Backlinks Matter for Toyota Dealerships​

1. Signals to Google:
   When your Toyota dealership website earns backlinks shortly after publishing new content, it sends a strong signal to Google that your content is valuable and shareable. For example, an article like “How to Choose the Right Tires for Your Toyota” will gain more credibility if trusted automotive blogs and local news outlets quickly link to it. This signal reinforces your site as a relevant, high-quality resource for prospective car buyers.
2. Compounding Results:
   As your Toyota-related content continues to earn backlinks over time, its visibility and search rankings steadily improve. This creates a virtuous cycle: higher rankings attract more organic traffic, which in turn leads to additional backlinks and further enhances your dealership's online presence. Ultimately, this increased visibility drives more qualified leads into your showroom.

---

Step-by-Step Backlink Outreach for Toyota Dealership Content​

Step 1: Identify Link Prospects
Begin by identifying websites likely to link to your Toyota dealership content. Focus on sites that already cover similar topics in the automotive space:

• Analyze Competitor Links:
  Use SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to analyze where competitors—especially other Toyota dealerships or automotive review sites—are getting their backlinks. Look for pages with multiple backlinks (e.g., 50+ referring domains) that indicate strong relevance to Toyota topics.
• Search Manually:
  Conduct a Google search with queries such as link:competitorwebsite.com to discover which websites are linking to competitor content. Focus on automotive blogs, local news outlets, and regional business directories that align with your dealership’s niche.

Step 2: Gather Contact Information
Once you’ve identified potential backlink sources, the next step is to collect their contact information:

• Use Outreach Tools:
  Tools like Hunter.io can streamline the process by revealing relevant contact emails directly from the prospect’s website. For instance, installing the Hunter Chrome extension allows you to quickly gather emails from automotive blogs and local business sites.
• Manual Collection:
  In addition to using tools, review the “Contact” or “About Us” sections of these sites to ensure you have the most accurate and direct contact information for outreach.

This increased online visibility will help drive more potential customers to your dealership—ultimately boosting car sales and solidifying your reputation as the premier Toyota resource in your market.

Step 3: Craft a Winning Outreach Email for Your Toyota Content​

A successful outreach email is key to securing valuable backlinks that boost your dealership's online authority. Here’s how to craft one that speaks directly to automotive and local media contacts:

1. Personalize Your Message:
   Address the recipient by name and mention a specific detail about their content. For example, reference one of their articles on car maintenance or local automotive news.
2. Highlight Value:
   Explain how linking to your Toyota content will benefit their audience. Emphasize that your guide offers the latest insights on Toyota financing, model comparisons, or maintenance tips that can enhance their resource list.
3. Keep It Short and Friendly:
   Respect their time by keeping the email concise while clearly stating your request.

Example Outreach Email:

Subject: Opportunity to Enhance Your Guide on Toyota Car Maintenance

Hi [Name],

I’m [Your Name] from [Your Dealership Name]. I recently came across your article, “[Article Title],” and really appreciated your insights on automotive care. I noticed that one of your links directs readers to an older resource on car maintenance.

I’ve just published an updated guide titled “Top Toyota Maintenance Tips for Long-Lasting Performance” that offers fresh advice and the latest Toyota-specific insights. I believe this would be a valuable addition to your article and benefit your readers.

Would you consider adding my guide to your resource list?

Thanks for your time, and I look forward to your thoughts!

Best regards,
[Your Name]

---

Step 4: Send, Monitor, and Repeat​

After crafting your personalized outreach emails:

1. Send Them to Your Curated List:
   Target local automotive blogs, regional news outlets, and other relevant sites that cover car reviews, maintenance tips, or local dealership news.
2. Monitor Responses:
   Keep a close eye on your inbox for replies. Respond promptly to any questions or feedback.
3. Follow Up:
   If you haven’t received a response within 5-7 days, send a polite follow-up email to keep the conversation going.

By following these steps, you can secure high-quality backlinks for your Toyota dealership’s online content. This not only improves your SEO but also drives more traffic and increases the credibility of your dealership website—helping you sell more cars.

---

Combining strategic internal linking within your Toyota content hub with targeted backlink outreach creates a virtuous cycle. Each well-placed link not only boosts your site’s authority and search rankings but also drives qualified traffic straight to your dealership’s key pages. This integrated approach enhances user engagement and increases the chances of converting website visitors into car buyers.

---

Leveraging Blog Content with Press Releases

To further extend your reach, consider a strategy where every 10th blog post is crafted with the dual purpose of serving as both valuable content for your audience and as the basis for a press release. This approach allows you to generate consistent media buzz while creating high-quality backlinks to your dealership's website.

• Content Creation: Write every 10th blog post with press release elements in mind—clear headlines, strong call-to-actions, and key messaging that aligns with newsworthy topics such as new model launches, special events, community involvement, or innovative service offerings.
• Conversion to Press Release: Once the blog post is published, adapt the content into a press release format that highlights the most newsworthy aspects.
• Submission for Maximum Exposure: Distribute the press release to top press release submission sites. This not only enhances your dealership’s credibility but also creates backlinks that can boost your search engine ranking.

Best Places to Submit Press Releases

1. PR Newswire
2. Business Wire
3. PRWeb
4. 24-7 Press Release
5. Newswire
6. EIN Presswire
7. PR.com
8. SBWire
9. OpenPR

Something else to consider is that some of your images are not optimized for ranking in the search engines. Images are normally a lot easier to rank for than content because most people don’t set them up correctly.

• Descriptive File Names: Rename images with clear, keyword-rich names instead of generic ones. One of your images has a names like 1149176216.webp, it should have the make and model
• Alt Attributes: Provide concise and descriptive alt text that explains the image content and context.
• Folder name: If the folder that holds the image is names after the main model or make this will help rank the images as well.

 

[DjSec]

This is an idea of what I was talking about when I said cleaning up the header so it doesn't overwhelm the website visitor with too much information.

 

[Carsten]

I've brought up the age group targeting for websites before.
I think it matters.

I haven't talked about look and feel too much for your average shopper.
But it matters. What most dealers outside of Porsche have butt ass ugly sites.

I have talked about the different styles of shoppers: visual, audio, kinetic.
It matters. (DjSec) Your choice of the subby puts you in the let me sit in the car, grab the steering wheel, and blip the pedal a few times to hear the muffler crackle. You probably are very visual even though you said you didn't mention caring for colors. I wonder if you like that Porsche baby blue or the more aggressive lime green Challenger? i suspect you would also prefer seeing all the details on the financing. You definitely don't need them droning on and on about how the dog is going to like the back seat and you'd probably rather throw the dog back there to see for yourself. lol just guessing.

Your ad? I like the simplicity but I'd use it for an upscale ricer shop. I love ricers. 22 years in Japan!

Here's another attempt at kirksvillemotorcompany.

it's way too busy. I agree with DJsec, get rid of the mega menu. You are preventing me from looking at used cars. I opened it, scanned for a Jeep. Didn't see any. So left. You lost a potential window shopper.

On the shop page. Why is the filter fonts larger than the fonts used in the VDP cards? Do you have a lot of 60+ year olds on your site?
I can hardly read the word "sort"
Same with all the information that is jammed into the VDP.

One thing I've noticed with a ton of the home pages. It's all about the dealer trying to build a reputation.

BTW, lighthouse is just not happy with that Next.js website. Surprising that Next.js is so slow ....

Why do you have 2 search fields?

You have a 74-75 ranking for accessibility but it has an accessibility feature to the website. It crashed when I selected the ADHD option.

There is a clear filter function. Now, I have to see New cars too?

The compare function ... I must be dumb. It took be several attempts to understand that I had to favorite it. My English isn't that good.

Sorry .. but that footer for Motive ... Did they give you a steep discount to be able to claim such a large portion of real estate.

The chat can't tell me, what it needs to tell me.

There is some good content on that site too! But it's buried away and banished to the edge of the universe.

Kirksville, MO Auto Service | Oil Changes, Brake Repair, Batteries

Visit Kirksville Motor Company's Auto Service Center for expert oil changes, brake repairs, and battery services. Quality care for your vehicle in Kirksville, MO.

kirksvillemotorcompany.com

i scrolled through that trying to figure out what that page does. I have an attention span of a 2 year old. My eyes glaze over when reading AI content.

What's your time frame for a new website? The only thing I don't have in my wheelhouse is the KBB trade in evaluation and the Get Pr-qualified, I'd have to find an API service that does this. Does Motive .... lol, that's brilliant! I have to find out who motive used for the loan pre-qual.

 

[Carsten]

Ah, I wonder how motive pulls your dms data?

I sort of like the al west look but the performance drop on the desktop was shocking. I haven't seen a 28 score before.

 

[DjSec]

I've brought up the age group targeting for websites before.
I think it matters.

I haven't talked about look and feel too much for your average shopper.
But it matters. What most dealers outside of Porsche have butt ass ugly sites.

I have talked about the different styles of shoppers: visual, audio, kinetic.
It matters. (DjSec) Your choice of the subby puts you in the let me sit in the car, grab the steering wheel, and blip the pedal a few times to hear the muffler crackle. You probably are very visual even though you said you didn't mention caring for colors. I wonder if you like that Porsche baby blue or the more aggressive lime green Challenger? i suspect you would also prefer seeing all the details on the financing. You definitely don't need them droning on and on about how the dog is going to like the back seat and you'd probably rather throw the dog back there to see for yourself. lol just guessing.

Your ad? I like the simplicity but I'd use it for an upscale ricer shop. I love ricers. 22 years in Japan!

Here's another attempt at kirksvillemotorcompany.

it's way too busy. I agree with DJsec, get rid of the mega menu. You are preventing me from looking at used cars. I opened it, scanned for a Jeep. Didn't see any. So left. You lost a potential window shopper.

On the shop page. Why is the filter fonts larger than the fonts used in the VDP cards? Do you have a lot of 60+ year olds on your site?
I can hardly read the word "sort"
Same with all the information that is jammed into the VDP.

One thing I've noticed with a ton of the home pages. It's all about the dealer trying to build a reputation.

BTW, lighthouse is just not happy with that Next.js website. Surprising that Next.js is so slow ....

Why do you have 2 search fields?

You have a 74-75 ranking for accessibility but it has an accessibility feature to the website. It crashed when I selected the ADHD option.

There is a clear filter function. Now, I have to see New cars too?

The compare function ... I must be dumb. It took be several attempts to understand that I had to favorite it. My English isn't that good.

Sorry .. but that footer for Motive ... Did they give you a steep discount to be able to claim such a large portion of real estate.

The chat can't tell me, what it needs to tell me.

There is some good content on that site too! But it's buried away and banished to the edge of the universe.

Kirksville, MO Auto Service | Oil Changes, Brake Repair, Batteries

Visit Kirksville Motor Company's Auto Service Center for expert oil changes, brake repairs, and battery services. Quality care for your vehicle in Kirksville, MO.

kirksvillemotorcompany.com

i scrolled through that trying to figure out what that page does. I have an attention span of a 2 year old. My eyes glaze over when reading AI content.

What's your time frame for a new website? The only thing I don't have in my wheelhouse is the KBB trade in evaluation and the Get Pr-qualified, I'd have to find an API service that does this. Does Motive .... lol, that's brilliant! I have to find out who motive used for the loan pre-qual.

Your the man...

I didn’t get past the home page but I see what your saying about the mega-menu, you actually have to pick an item and can’t just go to the used car section.

That is a bit crazy!

On the shop page. Why is the filter fonts larger than the fonts used in the VDP cards? Do you have a lot of 60+ year olds on your site?
I can hardly read the word "sort"
Same with all the information that is jammed into the VDP.

I agree a 100% on the font sizes, that's a bit crazy as well, your force the filters to be the most important part of the page.

What are your thoughts on being able to open and close the left sidebar so you could slide it out of the way and maybe just so an icon or something, so if you didn’t want to use the filters you don’t have to see them?

Same with all the information that is jammed into the VDP.

What information do you think should be in the VDP cards?

When people are window shopping they can filter by new or used, type of fuel, maybe just show the price?

One thing I've noticed with a ton of the home pages. It's all about the dealer trying to build a reputation.

The websites job is to tell a story...

The user should be the hero of the story, their problems the villain, and the dealership the mentor.

BTW, lighthouse is just not happy with that Next.js website. Surprising that Next.js is so slow ....

The LCP on the used truck page is 28.1s. That site is bleeding rankings and leads.

You have a 74-75 ranking for accessibility but it has an accessibility feature to the website. It crashed when I selected the ADHD option.

I fear if I get started talking about overlays for ADA compliance I couldn’t stop!

To start with the single most important thing when making a website visible is content and page speed and overlays slow the site down.

Do accessibility overlays make a website compliant?​

No!

An overlay gives the impression of fixing your site without actually fixing your site. You've still got bad code on your site but now it's hidden behind more options and more confusion.

The reason for the law is to give everyone equal access to your services and products.

However, since this code is on a third party site and needs some type of input from the user to be activated ... The user is already not being treated the same as the people who access your site without a disability.

And if the user does figure out how to activate the overlay, because it's not in the main code there is the question of how well it will navigate the site and make the changes.

Creating a good web experience means fixing the code, validating it, and making it ADA compliant.

Plugins and overlays add friction to the user experience that wouldn't be there had the site been coded correctly.

Overlays are scripts hosted on third-party sites.

There is a clear filter function. Now, I have to see New cars too?

And I don’t see a way to go from used cars to new cars without going back to the mega-menu?

A lot of vehicles don’t have images.

The compare function ... I must be dumb. It took be several attempts to understand that I had to favorite it. My English isn't that good.

Sorry .. but that footer for Motive ... Did they give you a steep discount to be able to claim such a large portion of real estate.

I couldn't even find the compare feature, I will continue looking for it.

However linking out to the website developer is a bad idea anyway because its an off topic link and it bleeds link juice.

The chat can't tell me, what it needs to tell me.

I didn't try the chat I'll have to play with it a bit

There is some good content on that site too! But it's buried away and banished to the edge of the universe.

Kirksville, MO Auto Service | Oil Changes, Brake Repair, Batteries

Visit Kirksville Motor Company's Auto Service Center for expert oil changes, brake repairs, and battery services. Quality care for your vehicle in Kirksville, MO.

kirksvillemotorcompany.com

i scrolled through that trying to figure out what that page does. I have an attention span of a 2 year old. My eyes glaze over when reading AI content.

I need to play with some page layouts for content to see how you would keep someone interested and reading.

What's your time frame for a new website? The only thing I don't have in my wheelhouse is the KBB trade in evaluation and the Get Pr-qualified, I'd have to find an API service that does this. Does Motive .... lol, that's brilliant! I have to find out who motive used for the loan pre-qual.

What backend and frontend are you using?

And do you have a link to your website?

 

[Carsten]

I'm a developer so I love cramming in all the shiny objects and even more shiny objects in the box. Problem is that most people won't use 80% of the features. It's an addiction I fight daily.

I'm a big fan of Steve Jobs mentality of keeping things simple as hell too which helps keep that addiction under control.

So, the left bar slider is probably something I'd stay away from since most people now have 15" monitors or more importantly are on mobile.
I've seen very few sites that actually accommodate mobile. Sure, they are responsive but that doesn't mean they are mobile. Our site is mobile responsive is just a marketing.

Another topic that is hardly covered is the 1 page threshold. I'm going to say that 50-60% of people don't scroll to the second page. So if the CTA is anywhere not at the top and your hero is there, you have lost out.

I am mention ADA compliance a lot. Previous company I worked for created a beautiful design. On the day of the demo, I said it wasn't complaint. The Design Team manager was all butt hurt and said it was. 6 months later, we were redoing the design because it wasn't. Dealers are lucky they are making enough money to be getting emails from lawyers. These lawyers are 1000% ambulance chasers. So,TLDR; I agree with you!

What I'm working on is pure self built. I am a app/web developer by day job but have moved up to management. I'll share with you in a few days after I clean up some of the bugs I found. I had to fire a developer recently so this roll out go delayed.