What is your digital strategy when it comes to vehicle photos?

The experts state that pictures are worth a 100,000 words. Posting vehicle photos of your new and used inventory is critical to conveying a complete story to your shoppers and potential customers. Vehicles without photos are essentially not telling a complete story – or are missing 100,000 of potential words.

I was reminded yesterday on Dealer Refresh just how important vehicle photos are to dealers and how an effective digital stategy can help them achieve their goals. Recent reports show us that nearly 90% of consumers shop on the web for new and used-vehicles before stepping onto a lot. So, what are some best practices that dealers can follow to ensure immediate success for their store?

1. 100% of your saleable inventory needs to be photographed. Real photos convey the true story of your inventory. Make sure that online shoppers don’t pass over prize inventory that simply is not telling a story – with pictures.

2. Take as much care on your digital lot as you do with your showroom. Work with your internal resources or outsource providersto determine the proper staging, quantity and angle stratagy for your store. Field specialists experts are trained and certified to help dealers develop a process and roadmap for their digital inventory.

3. Make it a point to evaluate your strategy on a regular basis. Schedule time to meet with your lot service provider at least once a year, if not more frequently. During the meeting, re-evaluate your strategy, review recent vehicles, etc. It is up to the dealer to ensure that online shoppers are receiving an enjoyable and informative experience while surfing your inventory.

4. Look for a provider that can offer lot assistance or strategic assistance. If you are interested in taking your own photos, select a provider that can offer recommendations to help you develop a scalable and flexible inventory management program to meet your needs and goals.

Like I said – pictures are worth a 100,000 words. Don’t you want to make sure your inventory is speaking volumes.