Today, June 12, 2012, is unique for automotive online marketers. Also, since the landscape of automotive search is a shape-shifting quagmire that changes its rules more times in a day than the Moon circles the Earth, it’s a pretty safe bet that tomorrow will be unique, too.

But there are two things that will be relevant for at least thirty-six hours, and I would like to direct your attention to them now. I’m mainly speaking to auto dealers, but chances are these also apply to anybody involved in any business anywhere that has anything to do with the internet. First and foremost, Point Number 1:

"Sign in for full scores and summary" -- Businesses are suddenly at the mercy of Google+ users being signed in.

1. Google Places has changed.
No More Google Places…Say Hello To Google+ Local

From the article:
“…your Google+ Local page can show up in search results in local searches. It’s more important than ever to get on Google and claim your listing – your listing could potentially show up on Page One, so you should claim it and control it.” 

The AutoRevo blog spells out how Google’s business-friendly information section has changed, and what it means for auto dealers’ online marketing and search strategies. (You can also get a sense of Google’s diabolical scheme to force Google+ into real-world relevancy.) If you care about your dealership being found on Google, this is necessary information. I know that car dealerships keep people busy, so if you’ve got time to read only one blog post today, you should definitely read this one over my own post. But if you’ve got time to keep reading here, let me take you to Point Number 2, which is:

2. Google isn’t the only search engine in the galaxy.
Now Microsoft Can Launch Its True Bing Assault Against Google

From the article:
“Xbox is huge, and Microsoft could reach people in a place where Google has so far struggled: the living room.” 

WebProNews indicates that Microsoft Bing is uniquely poised to reach users without a laptop, desktop, or even smartphone in front of them, which is a bigger audience than we probably realize. Regardless of whether this will harm Google, this is certainly something worth taking note of for any marketing-savvy auto dealer (or, again, anyone with any kind of business at all). Like Google+, Bing may soon be relevant where public sentiment had previously disagreed.

These two things don’t seem to have much to do with each other, but if you’re still with me at this point, let me tie it all together in Secret Bonus Point Number 3, which is:

3) There’s more to life than Google.

Automotive SEO is life. Or, at least, it’s a great metaphor for life. As Ferris Bueller would say, it moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Google is huge & Google changes all the time, so it’s easy to fall into the trap of giving Google all your attention. But branch out. Extend your efforts. Look at Bing. Look at social media (like, ironically, Google+). Integrate it all. Do more. Succeed in more places.

My advice to auto dealers is this: read both articles mentioned here and react as appropriate to your own business.  There’s no one solution for all car dealers, you’re all different. You’re like the 101 dalmations – you’ve all got your own unique personalities, and one of you even has a horseshoe made of spots on your back.

Good luck, and I’ll see you all again in a couple weeks when everything is completely different.

Bil Gaines is a member of our Search team and his highly versatile talents in the online marketing world have thrust him into internet fame and fortune. Ok, maybe not fame and fortune, but he’s well on his way.

Bil, a published author who was once so thrilled to meet Tracy Letts he admittedly acted “totally weird in front of him”, knows the ins and outs of search engine optimization as only our team can. Surrounded by cacti and couple of crazy felines in his home, Bil enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and marveling at his collection of piles of books just waiting to be read.

When he’s not enjoying indie music, eating cajun food or riding around in four door sedans, you can find him blogging here about the automotive industry and general SEO topics. If you ever met him in person, he’d likely buy you a cup of coffee and tell you about his adventures moonlighting as a mad scientist.

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Bil Gaines

Specialist, Organic Search at Intrapromote

Bil Gaines is a member of our SEO team and his highly versatile talents in the online marketing world have thrust him into internet fame and fortune. Ok, maybe not fame and fortune, but he's well on his way. Bil, a published author who was once so thrilled to meet Tracy Letts he admittedly acted "totally weird in front of him", knows the ins and outs of search engine optimization as only our team can. Surrounded by cacti and couple of crazy felines in his home, Bil enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and marveling at his collection of piles of books just waiting to be read. When he's not enjoying indie music, eating cajun food or riding around in four door sedans, you can find him blogging here about the automotive industry and general SEO topics. If you ever met him in person, he'd likely buy you a cup of coffee and tell you about his adventures moonlighting as a mad scientist.

@bilgaines

Writer. Philosopher. Bland car enthusiast.

Whither I to lunch this hour? To Jack-in-the-Box, knave, to Jack-in-the-Box. - 13 hours ago

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