
Why Dealers Should Add CarClicks to Their Vehicle Advertising Strategy
Vehicle advertising has become one of the most important digital strategies for automotive retailers. Most dealers rely almost entirely on Google Vehicle Ads, but Google isn’t the only option.
CarClicks pioneered vehicle advertising in 2012, years before Google introduced its Vehicle Ads product. We developed the concept of using a dealer’s live inventory to create dynamic, VIN-level ads that connect in-market shoppers directly to individual vehicle detail pages.
Today, CarClicks automotive digital marketing remains Google’s most direct alternative and an ideal complement to Google Vehicle Ads.
Reach Shoppers Beyond Google
Google Vehicle Ads are limited to shoppers using Google’s ecosystem. CarClicks reaches in-market buyers across the open internet, including the websites, mobile apps, and digital content they visit throughout the day.
This allows dealers to reach shoppers Google may never reach and stay in front of them beyond a single search.
Typically Half the Cost
CarClicks commonly delivers vehicle shoppers and VDP traffic at approximately half the cost of Google Vehicle Ads. That means dealers can generate more inventory exposure, more VDP visits, and more sales opportunities from the same advertising budget.
Protect Your Dealership as Search Behavior Changes
Consumers are increasingly using ChatGPT and other AI platforms to research vehicles, compare models, and answer questions they previously took to Google. As traditional search behavior shifts, advertising strategies that depend entirely on Google may face increasing pressure.
CarClicks is not dependent on Google search traffic or the Google advertising network. We reach automotive shoppers across the broader digital marketplace, making CarClicks a valuable way to diversify a dealer’s advertising and reduce reliance on a single platform.
Built Specifically for Automotive Inventory
CarClicks was created for one purpose: connecting active vehicle shoppers with the exact vehicles dealers have available.
Our platform uses a dealership’s live inventory feed to create dynamic, VIN-level advertising. Shoppers click directly to the corresponding VDP, not to a search results page, third-party marketplace, or generic landing page.
The Smarter Vehicle Advertising Strategy
We are not suggesting dealers stop using Google Vehicle Ads. We are recommending that they stop relying on Google as their only vehicle advertising channel.
CarClicks gives dealers:
- An independent alternative to Google Vehicle Ads
- Access to shoppers across the open internet
- Dynamic, VIN-level inventory advertising
- Direct traffic to dealership VDPs
- Broader reach and channel diversification
- A cost that is typically about half that of Google
- A platform created by the company that pioneered vehicle advertising in 2012
Google or CarClicks? Why Not Both?
Google may be the biggest name in Vehicle Ads. CarClicks was doing it first, and we can often do it for half the cost.
The question isn’t whether a dealer should use Google or CarClicks. The stronger strategy is to use both and let the results determine where the next advertising dollar should go.