Video marketing has come a long way over the last few years. However, an increasing number of dealerships are creating great video content but then wondering why it isn’t delivering the desired reaction it was created to achieve.
I get a lot of calls asking if I can provide some insight into why this great content sometimes seems to go unnoticed. More often than not, it is because the videos are missing one key fundamental element of marketing: a Call-to-Action (CTA). As with all your other marketing mediums, you can give a consumer information, but without having an effective call to action, it isn’t likely you will get the desired response you are looking for. And as with all your other marketing mediums, your CTA needs to clearly communicate not only HOW to take the action you want them to but also WHY they should. The fundamental rules of marketing do not change or cease to exist, just because you are delivering your message via a video.
The problem with CTAs is that when they are included, too often the CTA fails to tell the customer exactly what they should do. Or, if it does, it is too late in the video to get the desired result. The oldest rule in marketing (which is still used today) is that a customer needs to hear (or see) that CTA at least three times before they can remember it. Think about the last radio, TV, or online commercial you saw or heard. How many times did the commercial display their website address and phone number while also telling you WHY you should act? If you don’t know off of the top of your head, go and watch or listen to a couple and count.
Next, your CTA should be memorable and convince a viewer that doing what the CTA suggests will benefit them. And remember to include it early enough to create action. You can’t just wait until the end of the video to ask a customer to take a certain action. You have to repeat it several times in the video to influence a customer. I’m not talking about interrupting your video message or making it intrusive. Let’s say that you are making a video walkaround of a vehicle for a customer. Many salespeople will only include a CTA at the very end, such as “Call me to make an appointment,” (or whatever). There are many more opportunities in these videos for CTAs. A salesperson has many opportunities to subtly include a CTA: “Mr./Mrs. Customer, this car is very clean. This video doesn’t do it justice but if you saw it in person, you would see for yourself.” Or something such as, “I can give you a virtual test drive. It’s not the same as driving it for yourself, but it will give you an idea of what it would be like.”
Little things like that interspersed into your videos can influence a customer to WANT to come in and see the vehicle in person. They end up KNOWING this is the vehicle for them. Even if it isn’t the exact vehicle that fits their needs, the bottom line is that you create an action and they come into your dealership. Then you have the opportunity to show them other vehicles that may fit their needs or that they like even better. And we all know that it is much easier to sell a vehicle to someone in person.
Start including multiple CTAs in your videos. Not outright sales pitches but ones that may influence a customer, pique their curiosity, and make them want to come to the dealership. Video marketing is a tool that engages a customer. You are too. By combining you and multiple CTAs into your video marketing strategy, you are more likely to get the customer to choose you, your vehicle, and your dealership and convert those customers into more sales.
