Most dealerships LOSE CUSTOMERS before a single test drive.
Not to bad pricing. Not to a better inventory.
But to a competitor who shows up first on Google.
Searches like “buy [model] near me” or “oil change [city]” send high-intent buyers straight to whoever wins the SERP – and it’s often NOT YOU.
Google search result for “buy subaru crosstrek near me”
At A3 Brands, we STOPPED guessing and built a tactical, repeatable SEO audit process that turns competitive insights into measurable showroom traffic.
This 8-STEP PLAYBOOK helps us:
Identify which competitors dominate local buyer intent.
Reverse-engineer how they’re doing it.
Build a roadmap that captures their clicks, calls, and customers.
Step 1: Define Scope, Goals, and Stakeholder Alignment
We start by looking at where most customers come from. Most are nearby, within 25 miles, but buyers of certified pre-owned or special finance vehicles can come from up to 50 miles away.
Competitor Tiers:
Tier 1: Same-brand franchises
Tier 2: Substitutes with similar buyer profiles
Tier 3: Independents, classifieds, and national e-retailers
KPIs We Track:
Rank on page 1 for 75% of transactional queries
+1,200 organic sessions/month from stolen keywords
+30-50 new qualified leads/month
Step 2: Map Buyer Intent to Dealership Assets
We sort keywords by what they reveal:
Inventory: “Buy 2024 [Model] near me”
Service: “Oil change [ZIP]”
Finance: “Trade-in value [Model]”
According to Google Auto Insights, 76% of auto searches now include local intent. We map each to high-value page types like MLPs, VDPs, service menus, or finance tools.
Step 3: Transactional Keyword & Ranking Gap Analysis
We Prioritize:
Finance-qualified and inventory-specific queries (4x conversion over generic terms)
Tools Used:
Ahrefs, SEMrush for top 500 keyword exports
Categorized by intent: transactional, local, informational
We allocate:
70% to quick wins
20% to strategic bets
10% to emerging trends (EVs, online-buying)
Step 5: Audit Content & On-Page Optimization
Model Landing Pages (MLPs):
2,000+ words, live inventory, specs, videos, comparisons (See how we build them)
Vehicle Detail Pages (VDPs):
High-res photos, calculators, instant chat/call, “arriving soon” logic
Content Velocity:
New model pages quarterly
Service posts monthly
Evergreen refreshed yearly
Step 6: Evaluate Local SEO & GBP Performance
Google Business Profile:
Review response speed <24h
High-quality photos, frequent posts
Citations/NAP Consistency:
Use BrightLocal or Whitespark
Separate listings for sales, service, parts
Hyperlocal Pages:
Community events, local sponsorships, neighborhood-specific service tips
We handle this through GBP Management Services.
Step 7: Analyze Backlink & Authority Gaps
Authority Ratio:
(DA or DR) ÷ Referring Domains
Backlink Targets:
Local media, PR, manufacturer links
Toxic Link Removal:
Quarterly audits, align with Google Search Essentials
Step 8: Evaluate AI Visibility & Content Compliance
Why it Matters: Search engines are getting better at spotting AI-generated content, and there are now browser plugins and compliance tools that flag it. If your content looks obviously AI-written, you risk penalties and poor performance in E-E-A-T evaluations.
Audit Actions:
Run competitor pages through tools like SEMRush.
Compare predictability and burstiness of headers, meta, and body copy.
Benchmark human-editing patterns versus fully automated templates.
Our Approach:
Blend SEO structure with human editorial nuance.
Remove auto-generated indicators like long em-dashes, robotic phrasing, or keyword stuffing.
Ensure every paragraph adds context, emotion, or insight.
Subaru.com AI Visibility Report (SEMRush)
Turning Insights Into an Executive Roadmap
Each action is tied to traffic, leads, and gross profit forecasts.
| Priority | Timeline | Impact | Example action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick wins | 0–90 days | High | Add missing schema; optimise GBP |
| Strategic lifts | 90–180 days | Medium | Publish MLPs, city pages, and blogs; improve internal links |
| Long-term plays | 180–365 days | Sustained | Backlink outreach; authority building |
Summary
Most SEO audits stop at keyword lists.
Ours ends with a results-driven plan customized to help you hit your targets, whether that’s more qualified leads or more sales.
At A3 Brands, we run this 8-step audit quarterly to:
Benchmark against real-world competitors
Tie every SEO move to buyer intent
Deliver quick wins in 90 days and long-term dominance in 12 months
It works.
Dealers that invest in local SEO with operational discipline consistently see lower CAC and higher lead quality than those reliant on paid traffic.
Competitor audits aren’t a tactic.
They’re your edge.
Ready to Capture Your Competitor’s Market Share?
Schedule a free strategy call with our SEO team.
We’ll walk you through your competitor landscape, uncover keyword gaps, and map out the first 90 days of execution.
Tim Boyle
How Local Dealers Are Losing Sales to Competitors They’ve Never Met – And How to Steal Them Back
Stop Paying Google Just to Stay Visible: How Dealerships Are Building Traffic They Actually Own
Your Dealership Group Is Flushing $200,000+ Down the Toilet Every Year (And Calling It “Marketing”)
90-Day Dealership SEO Plan: Cut Paid Spend Without Risking Your Leads
SEO Services for Car Dealerships: What to Look For
