There are hard times ahead, but canny commercial dealers can prepare themselves byincreasing their online presence, says Vansunited.co.uk
Vansunited.co.uk is forecasting tough times ahead for the commercial market. The prediction comes with the SMMT releasing figures for August that show van sales are currently down by 24.7 per cent for the month and 0.8 per cent for the rolling year.
We know from BCA’s Pulse report earlier this year that used van sales are also on the decline with fleet and lease vans averaging £3,827 in June, failing to break the £4,000 watershed for the second month running.
Taking the current financial climate into account, it has never been more important to turn your stock quickly and with eight out of 10 people now searching for their next vehicle online, the internet has become the key advertising medium for dealers.
Advertising on portals like Vansunited.co.uk will help to maximise your online potential as your stock will automatically be listed on the Vansunited.co.uk network which includes Carsources.co.uk, Teletextcars.co.uk, Vansbymail.co.uk, Transitsbymail.co.uk, Contracthireweb.co.uk and Vanweb.co.uk.
‘Chat to Dealer’, an instant messaging tool offered by Vansunited.co.uk, is designed to help dealers reduce their costs, taking communication to an entirely different level.
The service enables sales staff to ‘chat’ with customers online and receive leads directly to their desktop, while offering consumers an alternative method of enquiring and communicating to the dealer.
One third of email enquirers expect a response within just four hours when searching online so this function offers a great instant response tool for dealers.
When advertising online, it is important to ensure the photography and the description of your vehicle is first class. After all, the better the photography, the more appealing the vehicle will be to the consumer. Professional quality images, better still video, will set you apart from your competitors.
While the internet allows dealers to target a wider audience, it also increases competition, so it’s important your sales team are ready to respond quickly. Perhaps now is the time to mystery shop your team to make sure they don’t waste those important enquiries?
Call 0845 265 5510 for details or visit www.vansunited.co.uk
