Is Your Website Vendor Limiting Your Dealership Growth? – Local Marketing, Inc. in Atlanta, GA
Dealerships face unique challenges when it comes to working with website vendors. OEMs have been known to be strict about which website platforms they deem eligible for co-op funds, with many restricting dealers to just one or two. These restraints often lead to a grass-is-greener mentality, as dealers become increasingly disappointed with their platforms with no way to relieve their frustration.
But that is now changing. As of September 13th, 2019, General Motors is joining other OEMs like FCA and Ford to allow more approved website vendors, much to the relief of many dealers. But before you rip up that contract, consider: should you switch? If you’re reading this, it may be because you’re already about to throw in the towel with your current vendor–or maybe you’re content but are curious to see if you’re missing out on something better. Either way, if you find your vendor guilty of any crime on this list, we think there’s a legitimate reason to think about switching.
6 Signs It’s Time to Leave Your Website Vendor in the Dust
Consider breaking up with your vendor if:
Website Vendors’ Dirty Little Secret
Suddenly realizing your vendor is a 2 out of 10? Ready to start moving on? Hold on there, partner.
Think about what you really own in this “divorce” and what’s yours to take when you part ways. You may not realize that many website vendors and digital agencies consider the work they do on your behalf “proprietary”–meaning if you cancel, all the content, SEM campaigns, and analytics you’ve built up over time go out the door with the vendor. You’ll be starting from scratch, and your SEO ranking will take a huge hit before you even begin the arduous process of replatforming. It’s sad, but in many cases, true.
This is why it’s important to know what’s truly yours to keep before you partner with a vendor or agency and change website platforms. Are you just “leasing” your own marketing materials, or are you the true owner of your online business? Sometimes it can be hard to tell, and most companies won’t spell this out for you.
This is why Local Marketing, Inc. (LMi) stands out in the crowded digital market. At LMi, we make it crystal clear that all the content we produce for you is yours. Even if you cancel with us (although we hope you don’t), you keep all your digital assets, so you never have to start over again–cheers to that!
GM Announced on September 13, 2019 New Approved Website Vendors for Dealers
So if you’ve decided to change website vendors, as many Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac clients are likely to do now that GM has announced new approved vendors–don’t do it alone. The process of transferring all your content is time-consuming, complex, and involved. Have an agency like LMi on your side that’s done this before, guaranteeing you assistance from an expert.
What needs to happen when you switch website vendors?
We know this is a lot of information. But when you have a marketing company like LMi in your corner, you have a main point of contact during this changeover, taking care of the complicated aspects of the change. This will help make sure that you see the least amount of decreased traffic during the transition. Remember, any time you change website vendors, your website traffic will decline before it goes back up. And it will only rise again if you invest in localized content, technical SEO, paid search, and following Google’s best practices. If you do, you’ll be up and running again in no time.
Who is on the approved vendor list for GM?
If you’re unsure which vendor to choose, we recommend talking with each one individually. Sit through presentations and ask lots of questions to decide who’s the best fit for you. If you opt for a marketing company like LMi to help with your transition, we can help by handling most of the heavy lifting, no matter which vendor you choose. With us, you’ll also get the peace of mind knowing you own all your digital spaces going forward.
Bottom Line: Your Dealership’s Website is Worth the Effort
Deciding to restructure your entire website may seem overwhelming, but it’s far less exhausting than the frustration of your website vendor waving one or more of the red flags above. Remember that in today’s digital world, your website is one of your most valuable marketing assets (in other words, your virtual front door). It’s your first impression for many consumers, especially younger generations, and should be treated the same way as you would treat the front entrance of your dealership. Dazzle them online just as you would in real life, and over time, you’ll see your sales start to thrive!
For a full digital marketing experience without the drama, check out LMi. We specialize in helping potential customers find you when they are looking for things you offer but not finding you. Our approach is anything but cookie-cutter. Make sure your digital marketing is really yours with LMi. (Interested? Check out the difference you could achieve with us.)
Next, we’ll talk about the restructuring process and some crucial steps to make your replatforming experience (almost) pain-free. Stay tuned!