Automotive eCRM specialist Marketing Delivery is advising dealers that having a Facebook page is now just as important as having a website.

To support this claim it provides the following statistics:

• There are over 30m Facebook users in the UK (nearly 60% of all UK internet users)
• 30% of users are 35-54 and the 45+ age groups are the fastest growing segments
• 71% of potential customers would be likely to purchase a vehicle from a particular car manufacturer or dealer if they found positive comments posted on social media sites
• Facebook is now the second biggest source of online traffic after Google

Managing director of Marketing Delivery, Jeremy Evans, points out that TV and magazine adverts are awash with ‘like us on Facebook’ promotions.

“The Facebook environment is generally more trusted by consumers than an unfamiliar website so it is an important place for dealers to ‘meet’ their customers and build a relationship,” he said.

Barnard & Brough and the Dees and Grange divisions of Cambria Motor Group are among those to have signed up for Marketing Delivery’s SmartMail Social service, which manages the process of creating and maintaining a Facebook page.