Autotrader being challenged? - Google vehicle ads
Discussion
I'm part of a newly formed dealers based in Warrick, obviously were advertising our stock on autotrader, but we've heard from other dealers in the space about the upcoming launch of Google vehicle ads...anyone know about it?
In short, google vehicle ads allows car dealers to display their stock on the google search page itself, the stock is displayed to shoppers who have actively typed in a specific car model into google. E.g. We stock a BMW 3 series in blue, consequently if shopper types that into google, our vehicle would be shown to them directly on the google search results page. (Type google vehicle ads online to get an idea of what they look like)
Google vehicle ads is currently only available in US and Canada (Most dealers over there are using them and seeing insane results) Supposedly vehicle ads are coming to the Uk end of this year or start of 2024...what are peoples thoughts on them?
In short, google vehicle ads allows car dealers to display their stock on the google search page itself, the stock is displayed to shoppers who have actively typed in a specific car model into google. E.g. We stock a BMW 3 series in blue, consequently if shopper types that into google, our vehicle would be shown to them directly on the google search results page. (Type google vehicle ads online to get an idea of what they look like)
Google vehicle ads is currently only available in US and Canada (Most dealers over there are using them and seeing insane results) Supposedly vehicle ads are coming to the Uk end of this year or start of 2024...what are peoples thoughts on them?
Why would people have thoughts on something that hasn't started yet?
We all know AT could be infinitely better. The acces users have to data is incredibly limited, eg the complexity of searches is very low. Which makes their lives and search speed fairly consistent, but frustrating if you want more.
They're now starting to use their data in different ways, like the dynamic, hugely irritating pricing method for dealers, creating uncertainty for both seller and buyer as to what's being offered.
And daily when prices change I get emailed about it- when positive for me as a prospect. ie a price had fallen. But the data is slow, I am frequently emailed about cars I have taken off my saved list, and with dynamic s
te there's as much chance the price has gone back up if I look a day later.
Some dealers use CAP. The relationship between CAP and the AT suggested price is unclear. It seems the suggested price merely relates to the other cars traders have for sale that AT considers relevant, so private sales excluded, cheap stuff ignored.
Which for me takes 17 seconds to decipher, as when I'm shown a silly graphic and am told a car is a "good price" more often that not Im thinking "no it really isn't, as I'm capable of seeing what else is for sale and this is not good, it's more than likely quite high compared to others".
Data works well if there's volume.
If Google hasn't event started, even in "Warrick" I'd want comfort there was enough volume to make those analytics that Google is likely to be 10000000000% better at than some square glasses wearing consultant working for AT using cheap offshored labour to try and implement.
If they get volume, it could be great. For dealers. For buyers, let's see what they implement.
We all know AT could be infinitely better. The acces users have to data is incredibly limited, eg the complexity of searches is very low. Which makes their lives and search speed fairly consistent, but frustrating if you want more.
They're now starting to use their data in different ways, like the dynamic, hugely irritating pricing method for dealers, creating uncertainty for both seller and buyer as to what's being offered.
And daily when prices change I get emailed about it- when positive for me as a prospect. ie a price had fallen. But the data is slow, I am frequently emailed about cars I have taken off my saved list, and with dynamic s
te there's as much chance the price has gone back up if I look a day later.Some dealers use CAP. The relationship between CAP and the AT suggested price is unclear. It seems the suggested price merely relates to the other cars traders have for sale that AT considers relevant, so private sales excluded, cheap stuff ignored.
Which for me takes 17 seconds to decipher, as when I'm shown a silly graphic and am told a car is a "good price" more often that not Im thinking "no it really isn't, as I'm capable of seeing what else is for sale and this is not good, it's more than likely quite high compared to others".
Data works well if there's volume.
If Google hasn't event started, even in "Warrick" I'd want comfort there was enough volume to make those analytics that Google is likely to be 10000000000% better at than some square glasses wearing consultant working for AT using cheap offshored labour to try and implement.
If they get volume, it could be great. For dealers. For buyers, let's see what they implement.
Google vehicle ads are already proving to be successful in the US & Canada, but that's not to say it will work in the UK. But it makes sense, as google vehicle ads intend to show specific vehicles that users are actively searching for. In short, the vehicle is being shown to shoppers who are interested in that specific make/model.
The only objection is that shoppers usually type "Autotrader" or "Carguru's" into google search, rather than "Audi A1 white"
The only objection is that shoppers usually type "Autotrader" or "Carguru's" into google search, rather than "Audi A1 white"
adyxw said:
Google vehicle ads are already proving to be successful in the US & Canada, but that's not to say it will work in the UK. But it makes sense, as google vehicle ads intend to show specific vehicles that users are actively searching for. In short, the vehicle is being shown to shoppers who are interested in that specific make/model.
The only objection is that shoppers usually type "Autotrader" or "Carguru's" into google search, rather than "Audi A1 white"
Who hosts the original ad though? Does the dealer post their stock straight on a Google template? Does Google scrape the dealers' own website? Interesting if Google is inserting itself into the car ad business this wayThe only objection is that shoppers usually type "Autotrader" or "Carguru's" into google search, rather than "Audi A1 white"
adyxw said:
I'm part of a newly formed dealers based in Warrick, obviously were advertising our stock on autotrader, but we've heard from other dealers in the space about the upcoming launch of Google vehicle ads...anyone know about it?
In short, google vehicle ads allows car dealers to display their stock on the google search page itself, the stock is displayed to shoppers who have actively typed in a specific car model into google. E.g. We stock a BMW 3 series in blue, consequently if shopper types that into google, our vehicle would be shown to them directly on the google search results page. (Type google vehicle ads online to get an idea of what they look like)
Google vehicle ads is currently only available in US and Canada (Most dealers over there are using them and seeing insane results) Supposedly vehicle ads are coming to the Uk end of this year or start of 2024...what are peoples thoughts on them?
Where's Warrick? and only American folk use the word 'insane' In short, google vehicle ads allows car dealers to display their stock on the google search page itself, the stock is displayed to shoppers who have actively typed in a specific car model into google. E.g. We stock a BMW 3 series in blue, consequently if shopper types that into google, our vehicle would be shown to them directly on the google search results page. (Type google vehicle ads online to get an idea of what they look like)
Google vehicle ads is currently only available in US and Canada (Most dealers over there are using them and seeing insane results) Supposedly vehicle ads are coming to the Uk end of this year or start of 2024...what are peoples thoughts on them?
Good advertising, Is you're new dealer called Google Cars?
Very difficult to compete against Autotrader in the same way it has been tough for new entrants to compete against Rightmove in the property market. The main challenge is that these leading online classified ad platforms have by far the greatest number of eyeballs in terms of those looking at ads which is very hard to change. Will be interesting to see how google gets on though
adyxw said:
Has anyone looked into/heard about vehicle ads?
Bit desperate to ask this just 6 minutes after you first started the thread and only given 1 person a chance to reply - maybe wait a bit longer for people to reply before bumping the thread 
Then again your other thread on PH - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... - asking for feedback and sounding like a survey type of post ties in with a Google search of your username - seems you used to be busy on reddit spamming surveys / feedback.
https://www.reddit.com/user/adyxw/?rdt=46231
Autotrader is great within limited constraints. If you already know what you want then it's not too bad.
The filters however are st. I'd like to idly put in the features I want in a car, exclude certain brands[1], fine tune things like acceleration[2] etc or pick the car "class".
I genuinely can't see Google doing better as the fuzziness that every search engine has tried to create has made finding anything specific harder and Google has been the most egregious with how much they've dumbed down their search.
[1] Searching for example for estates and there are absolutely billions of Mini Clubmans (literally about 50% of the results if I search for all makes), I don't want one, I'll never want one but there is no way to exclude them.
[2] There is no filter option between 0-5s to 60 and 0-8s to 60 yet that is a massive gulf in performance.
The filters however are s
t. I'd like to idly put in the features I want in a car, exclude certain brands[1], fine tune things like acceleration[2] etc or pick the car "class". I genuinely can't see Google doing better as the fuzziness that every search engine has tried to create has made finding anything specific harder and Google has been the most egregious with how much they've dumbed down their search.
[1] Searching for example for estates and there are absolutely billions of Mini Clubmans (literally about 50% of the results if I search for all makes), I don't want one, I'll never want one but there is no way to exclude them.
[2] There is no filter option between 0-5s to 60 and 0-8s to 60 yet that is a massive gulf in performance.
Fastdruid said:
Autotrader is great within limited constraints. If you already know what you want then it's not too bad.
The filters however are st. I'd like to idly put in the features I want in a car, exclude certain brands[1], fine tune things like acceleration[2] etc or pick the car "class".
I genuinely can't see Google doing better as the fuzziness that every search engine has tried to create has made finding anything specific harder and Google has been the most egregious with how much they've dumbed down their search.
[1] Searching for example for estates and there are absolutely billions of Mini Clubmans (literally about 50% of the results if I search for all makes), I don't want one, I'll never want one but there is no way to exclude them.
[2] There is no filter option between 0-5s to 60 and 0-8s to 60 yet that is a massive gulf in performance.
The option to exclude certain cars would massively improve auto trader. I tend to do my research online and search for only 1 model. The filters however are s
t. I'd like to idly put in the features I want in a car, exclude certain brands[1], fine tune things like acceleration[2] etc or pick the car "class". I genuinely can't see Google doing better as the fuzziness that every search engine has tried to create has made finding anything specific harder and Google has been the most egregious with how much they've dumbed down their search.
[1] Searching for example for estates and there are absolutely billions of Mini Clubmans (literally about 50% of the results if I search for all makes), I don't want one, I'll never want one but there is no way to exclude them.
[2] There is no filter option between 0-5s to 60 and 0-8s to 60 yet that is a massive gulf in performance.
J77wck said:
The option to exclude certain cars would massively improve auto trader. I tend to do my research online and search for only 1 model.
If AT used checkboxes for a few more filters as opposed to radio buttons it would improve it a lot. The 'model variant' one I find annoying - if you're after a Panamera, for example, and would be happy with either a Turbo, a Turbo S or a GTS, you can't choose to look at all all three, you can only pick one at a time. The other thing I'd really like (and I do mean this semi seriously), is the ability to filter out black wheels. Still, for ifs faults I'll still use Autotrader and not this Google thing, because it's Autotrader; that's where you go to look af cars for sale.
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