Cars Commerce

🚘 The undecided shopper = the ultimate opportunity. As shoppers enter the market on Cars.com, their consideration set expands—exploring more brands and models than they originally planned 🎯. 🔑 That means dealers and OEMs have a critical window to reach them with the right message at key moments in their journey. 📢 Watch Lindsay Eckert (Sr. Director, B2B Marketing) and Jenya Shklyar-Curvéy (VP, Consumer Marketing) break down what today’s car buyers really think—and how to influence them at the right time. 📺 Don’t miss it! 👉 https://lnkd.in/erXuhim6

❓Is your website helping you convert shoppers — or slowing them down? Find out with Dealer Inspire’s new Website Health Report, giving you a snapshot of your site’s performance with: 🔍 Core Web Vitals Insights – Get a clear view of your site’s speed & stability. 💡 Lighthouse Scores – Measure user experience & accessibility for better engagement. ⚙️ Third-Party Impact – Identify how scripts affect load times & shopper interactions. See how your site stacks up & uncover opportunities to improve. 👉 Learn more & see your report: https://lnkd.in/eCjwsxYJ

Tariffs, Fear, and a 9% Spike in Online Car Searches? Between February 16 and February 22, searches on Cars.com jumped 9%. That’s a massive shift—seemingly out of nowhere. But what’s even more interesting? Many dealers are reporting a significant increase in sales this month, despite no major changes in incentives, interest rates, or credit availability. What in the world is going on? Uncertainty. Just not the kind many dealerships expected. As tariff threats escalated, consumers stopped waiting and started acting—rushing to buy before potential price hikes. What’s even more fascinating? People are buying vehicles regardless of where they’re manufactured. In February 2025, 52% of new vehicles had their final assembly in the U.S. and you'd think that would be the ones that are seeing all the growth. But searches and sales of vehicles made in the U.S., Japan and elsewhere which have no tariff threats—still are surging. Fear is a powerful motivator, and we’re seeing its effects play out in real time. Everyone has been so focused on the NEGATIVE aspects of tariffs. We forget that there might be some POSITIVES, too. And here’s where having the right partner makes all the difference. While most of the industry has been locked in speculation, dealers working with Cars.com partners had access to data showing consumer interest was actually rising—not falling. That kind of insight is invaluable. The ability to operate based on where the business is going, rather than just reacting to today, gives dealers a massive advantage.  This is the result of Alex Vetter's relentless commitment to focus primarily on helping dealers make money rather than them selling their innovative platform.  But here’s the thing… This moment is temporary. It could end this month, next month, or 🤷🏼♂️. What you do TODAY determines whether you benefit from the current circumstances—or watch as they pass you by. Dealers who recognize the moment, leverage industry leading data and lean in will be the ones who will win. Again.

👀 3.4x more page views. That’s what dealers using In-Market Video see compared to those who don’t. Use Cars.com first-party audience to reach in-market shoppers across platforms and devices. From small-screen social to big-screen streaming, you're not just advertising — you're becoming a household name. 📱🖥️ Let’s put your dealership in front of the right buyers to make your name one they won't forget 🤩. Get started today 👉 https://lnkd.in/g2HgwYix

Cost-per-click on Google has gone up 40-50% since 2019. Why? Three big things: 🔎 More competition for keywords. 🔒 Privacy changes weakening third-party audience data. 📱 A fragmented ad landscape making it harder to reach real buyers. Advertising doesn’t have to be that complicated. Cars Commerce Media Network makes advertising simple using first-party audience data from Cars.com to put your inventory in front of real, in-market car shoppers across channels — stop buying clicks and invest in sales. Get started today 👉 https://lnkd.in/g2HgwYix

🚗 The average car shopper visits only one or two dealerships before making a purchase. That means if they’re walking into your showroom, you’re either their first stop or their last. And long before they arrive, their decision is shaped by what they’ve seen and read online. Are your reviews helping you close the deal? 🤔⭐ Courtenay Stephens (VP, Product) and Matthew McDonald (Director, Product) break down how Cars.com connects undecided car shoppers with your dealership, guiding them toward confident decisions. Watch to discover: ✅ Proven reputation-building strategies ✅ Marketing strategies to promote your stars ✅ Tips to improve every aspect of your dealership experience Check it out on demand 👉 https://lnkd.in/e_3TjFHC

Host Kyle Mountsier sits down with Ron Andrews, Vice President at Dealer Inspire, to discuss the evolution of dealership websites and the customer experience. Ron shares how Dealer Inspire has always been obsessed with speed and convenience, ensuring that digital retail tools actually help—not hinder—the buying process. With automotive websites becoming more transactional, the focus is shifting to eliminating unnecessary friction by auditing website architecture, removing outdated code, and streamlining integrations. The conversation highlights the importance of top-of-funnel strategies, as innovative dealers are now focusing more on brand awareness, first-party data activation, and smarter media investments. Ron emphasizes that while many dealers traditionally prioritized low-funnel shoppers, those embracing early-stage engagement are seeing stronger long-term results. By aligning site performance, marketing strategy, and customer experience, dealers can create a seamless online-to-showroom journey that drives conversions. 0:00 Intro – Live from the Cars Commerce booth at NADA. 0:43 Speed and convenience win – Dealer Inspire’s focus from day one. 1:54 Too much tech can hurt the experience – Unnecessary plugins slow websites down. 2:55 Audit your website regularly – Many sites still have outdated scripts and tracking codes. 4:23 Automotive websites must become e-commerce platforms – Modern architecture is key. 4:47 Top-of-funnel strategies are winning – Dealers investing in early-stage engagement have an advantage. 5:41 First-party data is a game changer – Dealers need to leverage it for smarter marketing. Learn more about Cars Commerce: https://lnkd.in/exy5curN Ron Andrews is the Vice President, Media and Digital Solutions at Cars Commerce https://lnkd.in/exy5curN

Today's the day! We are SO excited to announce and celebrate our 2025 Cars.com Dealer Of The Year winners 🏆 🎉 Congratulations to all of our winners across the country who generated top scores by turning their happy customers into their biggest advocates, including our 8 regional award winners. These dealerships are an example to all of us for how they develop engaged teams, provide outstanding customer experiences, and build relationships in their local communities. From all of us at Cars Commerce: thank you for advancing the reputation of our industry and showing why the best way to buy, sell, and service cars is local. 💜 Click here for the full list of winners: https://lnkd.in/g_urbmcP

More buttons = more conversions? Think again! 🤔 We recently conducted a "less is more" case study to test the idea that fewer buttons on a page equals more engagement — and the results were eye-opening. By simplifying the user experience on the vehicle results pages to eliminate distractions, we saw a 16% increase in conversion rate. 👀 Watch the full video to see why streamlining your shopping experience can lead to more engaged, high-intent shoppers — and more leads for your team! https://lnkd.in/eY-jSBX3

💵 Digital ad costs are climbing — so why aren’t your sales? With Google’s auction-based advertising costs up 40-50% — and competition driving prices even higher — many dealers are paying more but getting less in return. Instead of fighting a bidding war, focus on the audience you know is actively shopping for a car. 📺 Watch as Ashley Griswold (VP of Marketing Services) breaks down how Cars Commerce Media Network eliminates costly guesswork and connects you with real, in-market shoppers using turnkey, data-driven solutions that deliver. Check it out 👉 https://lnkd.in/evfjAJYm