NATDA Magazine Mar/Apr 2019 NM_Mar2019_Final | Page 58

customer journey looks much different today than it has in the past. Even just a few years ago, it may have been unrealistic to see customers conducting research and submitting serious trailer inquiries online. But it is now a reality that much of the pathway to purchase happens online, at least in the beginning with research on things like different brands and price comparisons. However, it is still true that most trailer customers will come into the dealership to see the trailer in person before they make a final decision to purchase. While digital marketing has become a huge priority for dealers, efforts to reach customers in person still need to be part of the conversation. The solution to accommodate both marketing needs is Geofence Targeting, a method that reaches customers digitally based on actions they take in person. Geofence Targeting allows you to draw a map of any shape or size around a specific location and deliver ads for your dealership to people who visit that location. Because any location is available to geofence, the opportunities are truly endless. Certain locations in your area that may be popular among prospects could include restaurants, shopping centers, or other local attractions. But the real power behind Geofence Targeting comes with a bit more strategy in mind. Industry-related trade shows or other events, home addresses of dealership prospects or past customers stored in your CRM system, and competing dealerships in your area are all locations that are possible to geofence - and doing so could make a real impact in your marketing efforts. 58 For example, imagine what could happen if you chose to geofence your biggest competitor across town. This would allow you to advertise to trailer customers – people who are known to be in the market for a trailer and showing clear intention to purchase – while they are shopping for a trailer from your competitor. If that customer is at all hesitant or still in the consideration phase of the purchase, your ad could make the difference in whether the prospect buys a trailer from your dealership or theirs. Another major benefit that comes with Geofence Targeting is that, with some providers, you can continue to deliver ads to people who visited your geofenced location after they leave. Depending on the provider, you can target these prospects for up to thirty days post-visit! Even if the ad doesn’t resonate the first time the prospect sees it, that repeated exposure to your dealership makes it more likely that they will convert. Geofence Targeting takes digital marketing to the next level by connecting the dots between a potential customer’s online and offline behavior. The powerful possibilities behind this strategy are exciting for dealers who did not have a way to tie these experiences together before. To learn more about how geofence targeting can help your dealership, tune into the next NATDA Dealership Performance Training webinar hosted by Dealer Spike. To learn more about Dealer Spike, pleae visit www.dealerspike.com or call 800-288-5917. NATDA Magazine www.natda.org