The Car Dealer's Guide to Facebook Watch in 2023: Boosting Your Business with Video Marketing

Here is a comprehensive guide that will help car dealerships harness the power of Facebook Watch (also known as Facebook Video) to reach more customers and increase sales.

The article will cover the basics of Facebook Watch and how it can be used to promote car sales, as well as provide tips and strategies for creating engaging video content that will help attract and retain customers.

Whether you're a small independent dealership or a large franchise, this guide will provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to take your car sales to the next level with Facebook Watch.

What is Facebook Watch for Car Dealerships?

Facebook Watch is a video service that was launched by Facebook as its answer to YouTube. It allows users to watch videos, live streams, and other types of content on the platform. For car dealerships, Facebook Watch provides a unique opportunity to reach and engage with potential customers through the use of video marketing.

The special power of Facebook Watch, which is what the dealers we work with benefit most from, is the algorithm that sends lots of viewers, for free, to watch your videos. We will talk about how you can create videos that take advantage of this algorithm to supercharge your business.

You can create Facebook Videos for showcasing new inventory, highlighting special deals and promotions, and creating behind-the-scenes videos about the car buying process at your dealership.

By leveraging the power of video on Facebook, car dealerships can create a more personal connection with their audience, build brand awareness, and drive sales. Additionally, Facebook Watch's targeting and analytics features allow car dealerships to reach specific audiences and measure the success of their campaigns.

Who has written the article “The Car Dealer's Guide to Facebook Watch 2023: Boosting Your Business with Video Marketing”?

Hi there! I'm Gary Lewis Cheetham, an automotive marketing specialist with over 10 years of experience in the car industry. I founded GL Digital Automotive Marketing, and now I help independent car dealers in both the UK and US with online marketing strategies.

My goal is to help car dealers like you boost sales and reach new customers. I have a strong connection to the car industry, having worked in my dad's dealership from a young age. My passion for the industry has only grown stronger over the years, and I put my knowledge to good use by developing effective strategies for engaging potential customers and building a strong online presence for car dealerships. I also stay ahead of the game by incorporating the latest technology, such as Facebook Watch, into my approach.

Let's work together to take your car dealership to the next level!

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Setting Up Your Car Business on Facebook Watch: A Step-by-Step Guide

To get set up on Facebook watch, you need to first make sure you have a Facebook page.

For a full guide on how to create and optimise your Facebook page, you can read our article on the subject here.

Once your Facebook page is created, the next step is to create and post a video to Facebook watch.

How to Create Engaging and Relevant Facebook Video Content for Your Car Dealership

Listen up car dealers, because I'm about to drop some truth bombs on you. Nobody cares about your shiny cars or your amazing deals.

Sure, they're important, but let's be real, you're not the only dealership out there.

So, what's the secret to standing out? Emulating shows like American Chopper or Wheeler Dealers.

Think outside the box and give your audience something different, something exciting.

Show them the behind-the-scenes action, the blood, sweat and gears of your dealership.

Make them laugh and make them feel like they're part of the team. That's how you'll truly make an impact and boost your business.

Do you need a good camera before you start?

You don't need a fancy camera to make a great video. In fact, you don't even need a camera at all. That's right, I said it. A smartphone is all you need.

Don't let procrastination set in because you're waiting for that shiny new camera to arrive. Use what you've got and start filming today.

Remember, it's not about the equipment, it's about the content. So don't wait any longer, grab that smartphone and start creating some killer video content for your dealership

What format should you post videos to Facebook Watch in?

Post your videos in landscape (16:9) aspect ratio. If you're going to shoot them, make sure you put your phone in landscape mode.

Some ideas of content you can post on Facebook Watch as a car dealership

Here are 5 ideas that you can steal from us and use right now for your dealership. We've used variants of these for real dealerships we work with.

1. "Behind the Scenes at the Dealership" - Give viewers a sneak peek of what goes on behind the scenes at your dealership, from the moment the cars arrive on the lot to the moment they drive off with a new owner.

2. "Test Drive Challenge" - Put your sales team to the test by having them take customers on a test drive and see who can close the deal first.

3. "The Great Car Debate" - Pit different cars against each other in a debate format, with your team members as the debaters, and let the viewers decide which car comes out on top.

4. "The Car Makeover" - Take a beaten-up car and give it a complete makeover, showing the before and after transformation.

5. "The Car-aoke Challenge" - Have your team members sing their favourite songs while detailing a car, and let the viewers vote for the best performance.

How to post your video to Facebook Watch

Once you have created your video (following the tips we outlined above), posting a video to Facebook Watch is relatively straightforward.

You will need to access your Facebook page on a desktop and navigate to the 'Watch' tab.

From there you can click "Upload Video" and upload your video straight away, or you can click on the "Visit Creator Studio" button for more options.

We recommend you hit the "Visit Creator Studio" button.

Then click "Post video across pages"

From this page, upload your video and make sure you fill out the video title and description.

Next, add the thumbnail.

What is a video thumbnail in Facebook Watch?

A video thumbnail is an image that shows if the video is loading, or if the user hasn't clicked on it yet. It's very important as it can offer the user an incentive to click and watch the video.

How to create your video thumbnail

We recommend you use an online editor like Figma or Canva to create your video thumbnail. Or, you can hire a designer to make it for you.

The size of your Facebook video thumbnail image should be 1200 x 675 pixels.

Here are some top tips when you're creating your thumbnail:

• Include a call to action: Use your thumbnail to encourage viewers to click and watch your video. This can be done by including a call to action, such as "Watch now" or "Learn more".

• Use a human face: It doesn't have to be yours, you can use a stock photo, but as long as there is a human face in your thumbnail it makes people more interested to click on the video.

• Use text sparingly: Keep text on your thumbnail to a minimum. Too much text can be overwhelming and make it hard to read.

Keep it simple and clean: A clean and simple design can be more effective than a busy or cluttered thumbnail. Make sure the image is easy to read and understand.

Choosing Facebook Watch video optimise settings

In the next screen, we recommend our dealerships click "Captions" and choose auto-captions. This is because even if your viewers aren't going to be deaf who need captions to watch your video, the algorithm will "read" the captions and it gives a better idea of what the video is about, which helps the video be shown to more people.

Next, we recommend you click Video Optimisations and check "Auto". This makes sure all Facebook features that make your video as enticing and interesting as possible will be enabled.

Choosing Facebook Watch video share settings and publishing

On the final screen, leave all the options checked, and click "allow other pages to post" on the toggle switches further down.

Do not check "add as a secret video"

We recommend you also click "add to playlist" and create playlist if you don't have one already.

Now, click "Publish" and your video will go live on the Facebook platform.

Optimising Your Videos for Maximum Reach and Engagement

You want to make sure your videos on Facebook Watch are reaching the masses and getting those view numbers through the roof. So, let me break it down for you in layman's terms.

First, don't be boring. No one wants to watch a video of someone talking directly to the camera for 10 minutes. Mix it up, add some humor, some excitement, and some behind-the-scenes action.

Next, use catchy titles and captions. Just like a great headline in a newspaper, a catchy title can make all the difference in getting people to watch your video.

Finally, don't be afraid to ask for engagement. End your videos by asking your viewers to like, comment, and share your videos. It's like asking for a call to action but in a fun way.

Conclusion: Harnessing the Power of Facebook Watch to Boost Your Car Dealership's Business.

Well folks, there you have it - the ultimate guide to boosting your car dealership business with Facebook Watch. From creating engaging and relevant video content, to maximising reach and engagement, you're now equipped with the knowledge to take your dealership to the next level.

Remember, it's not about the equipment, it's about the content. So don't be afraid to get creative and think outside the box. And most importantly, have fun with it! Because let's be real, who doesn't love a good car video?

Now go forth and conquer the world of video marketing, my car-dealing friends!

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