How do I get more leads from my social media?

62% of car buyers find their vehicle online and social media influences over 70% of consumer buying decisions

Dealerships today know that social media isn’t just for “likes” – it’s a genuine sales channel. In fact, 62% of car buyers find their vehicle online and social media influences over 70% of consumer buying decisions link. This means platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok are critical for generating leads that eventually turn into car sales. The question “How do I get more leads from my social media?” is top of mind for many dealership owners and GMs. Below, we’ll explore proven strategies to attract and convert social media followers into high-quality leads – and how Motrvu makes it easier.

Optimize Your Profiles for Lead Generation

Begin with the basics: ensure your dealership’s social media profiles are fully optimized as lead-capture tools. That means:

• Complete Your Bio and Contact Info: Make sure your Facebook and Instagram bios clearly state what you do and include a call-to-action (CTA) like “Message us to schedule a test drive” or a link to your website. Include your address, phone number, and business hours so potential customers can easily reach you.

• Use Action Buttons: Take advantage of features like Facebook’s “Contact Us” or “Call Now” buttons and Instagram’s clickable Story links. These turn casual browsers into engaged prospects with a single tap.

• Feature Reviews and Testimonials: Social proof builds trust and motivates action. Since 84% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations link, highlight your great customer reviews on your profiles or share customer testimonial posts to encourage new visitors to reach out.

Optimizing your pages might not directly create new leads, but it sets the stage. A well-crafted profile with clear CTAs and trust signals will capture interest and funnel followers into inquiries and showroom visits.

Post Engaging Content Consistently

Once your profiles are ready to convert, the next step is consistently posting content that engages your audience. Consistency is key on social media – the more you post, the more likely your content is to appear in followers’ feeds and spark engagement link. Aim for a regular posting schedule (e.g. once a day or a few times a week) and stick to it. Consistent activity keeps your dealership on your audience’s radar and builds anticipation for your posts link.

Once your profiles are ready to convert, the next step is consistently posting content that engages your audience. Consistency is key on social media – the more you post, the more likely your content is to appear in followers’ feeds and spark engagement . Aim for a regular posting schedule (e.g. once a day or a few times a week) and stick to it. Consistent activity keeps your dealership on your audience’s radar and builds anticipation for your posts .

Equally important is what you post. To generate leads, focus on content that provides value or excitement, not just sales pitches. Some effective content types for dealerships include:

• How-To Guides and Tips: Educational posts (e.g. “How to pair your phone with your new car’s Bluetooth” or “5 Tips to Improve Your Trade-In Value”) establish your expertise and draw in shoppers researching online link. This “How-To” content strategy enhances your authority and keeps potential buyers coming back for advice link.

• Inventory Spotlights: Don’t just post your newest arrivals; showcase a range of inventory to appeal to diverse buyers link. For example, one day feature an affordable used sedan, another day a family SUV, another a high-end model – this casts a wider net for leads. Always include enticing photos or walkaround videos and mention “Message us for more info on this [Model]!” as a CTA.

• Engagement Boosters: Mix in fun content like automotive trivia, polls, or quizzes. Such interactive posts get shared 1.5 times more than other content link, expanding your reach. Higher reach and engagement can translate into more inquiries as your dealership becomes familiar and likable to a broader audience.

• Customer Testimonials and UGC: Repost happy customers with their new cars (user-generated content). This acts as social proof and personalizes your dealership. Seeing real people buying from you builds trust; it’s essentially digital word-of-mouth. Nearly 1 in 3 social-media-savvy car buyers share their new ride online link  – encourage them to tag your dealership so you can share those posts. Each share or tag puts your name in front of potential leads.

By keeping your content varied, valuable, and interactive, you attract more followers and keep them engaged. The more engaged your audience, the more likely they’ll convert to leads over time. And with consistent posting, you stay top-of-mind so that when a follower is ready to buy, your dealership is the one they DM or call.

Leverage Targeted Social Media Advertising

Organic posts are vital, but to really boost lead volume, tap into paid social media advertising. Facebook and Instagram offer powerful targeting tools to put your dealership in front of exactly the right people – for example, a local audience within 25 miles who are interested in certain car brands or life events (like an upcoming lease end). By investing a portion of your ad budget in these platforms, you can drive highly qualified traffic and inquiries.

Focus on ad campaigns designed for lead generation. On Facebook, consider using Lead Ads which let users submit a contact form without leaving the app. Offer something valuable – like a limited-time incentive (“Get a $25 gas card for test driving with us – sign up now!”) or promote a popular model with a special offer, using a clear CTA (Learn More, Sign Up, etc.). Because the form is built into Facebook, it’s easy for users to fill out, meaning you capture more leads. Similarly, Instagram Story ads with a “Swipe Up to Schedule a Test Drive” can capture impulsive interest from viewers.

Don’t overlook newer platforms if they fit your market. TikTok, for instance, has become a surprising lead source for some dealerships. One dealer reported “We sold 5 cars on Monday off TikTok leads alone” link after partnering with a content agency. The video nature of TikTok can humanize your dealership and hook a younger audience. If you have the bandwidth, experimenting with short, creative videos (even running TikTok ads) could unlock an entirely new lead stream.

Key tip: Whichever platform you advertise on, track your cost-per-lead and which ads result in actual sales. This helps optimize your campaigns over time. (We’ll touch more on tracking in a moment.)

Engage and Respond to Turn Conversations into Leads

Effective social media marketing is a two-way street. It’s not enough to broadcast content – you need to actively engage with your audience. Often, the difference between a passive follower and a hot lead is a simple conversation or prompt from your team.

Make it a habit to respond quickly to comments, messages, and mentions. If someone comments on a vehicle post asking “Is this available?” or “What’s the price?”, reply right away and invite them to continue the conversation via DM or phone. Fast responses show professionalism and capture the lead while their interest is high. Remember, social media is often the first touchpoint; a speedy reply can be the nudge that brings them into your showroom. (Industry data shows that nearly 37% of online leads are lost due to lack of timely follow-up , so don’t let your social inquiries go cold.)

Proactively engage your followers as well. Run interactive stories (e.g. “Which color do you like best?” polls on Instagram about a new model) and then message voters to thank them for engaging – opening the door to a sales conversation. If a customer tags your dealership in their post, leave a comment thanking them and subtly mention you’re there if they have any questions about their new ride or its next service. These personal touches turn social media from a broadcasting tool into a genuine lead nurturing channel.

Finally, consider using Messenger or WhatsApp (if you have a Business API) to set up quick replies or even chatbots for common inquiries (hours, inventory availability). This ensures no message goes unanswered. The easier you make it for a social media user to get info, the more likely they’ll convert to an actionable lead (like an appointment or test drive).

Track What Works (and Double Down on It)

As you implement these tactics, be sure to monitor your results. All major platforms have built-in analytics – use them. Look at which posts get the most engagement, and especially note if certain content leads to a spike in messages or website clicks. For example, you might find that your walkaround video of the new EV got 3x more clicks to your site than your static photo posts – that’s a sign to do more videos. Or perhaps “How-To” tip posts get a lot of saves and shares, indicating strong interest, which can eventually yield leads via trust-building.

Tracking isn’t just for organic content. Watch your ad metrics closely too. Check the cost per lead on your Facebook Lead Ad campaigns, and see which audience targeting or creative is most effective. Maybe your ads targeting “truck enthusiasts within 50 miles” are yielding leads at $20 each, while a broader “new cars” audience costs $50 per lead – that insight helps you refine your spend to maximize ROI.

This is where a tool like Motrvu becomes invaluable. Motrvu’s analytics dashboard consolidates all your social media metric. Instead of manually piecing together Facebook Insights and Instagram data, Motrvu shows you exactly which posts and ads drove form fills, calls, and sold units. If one particular Instagram campaign resulted in five showroom visits that became sales, you’ll see that clearly – allowing you to reinvest in what works and cut what doesn’t. In short, measuring performance lets you double down on the tactics driving real leads and continuously improve your social media strategy.

Motrvu: Turn Social Engagement into Sales

Generating leads from social media can feel like a juggling act – content creation, community management, ad optimization, and data analysis all at once. Motrvu was built to lighten that load and boost your results. By aggregating your social media interactions and marketing data, Motrvu identifies exactly how each Facebook post, Instagram Story, or TikTok video contributes to dealership leads and sales. It’s like having an expert marketing analyst on call 24/7.

With Motrvu, you can see that “Video walkaround of 2020 Camry – 10 leads, 3 sales” and “Facebook Lead Ad for trade-in appraisal – 25 leads, 5 appointments” all in one place.

With Motrvu, you don’t have to guess which posts are worth putting money behind. You already know your message—Motrvu just helps more of the right people see it.

Whether it’s a standout inventory shot, a timely promotion, or a post that captures your dealership’s personality, Motrvu boosts it across your social channels—simply and effectively.

No promises about closing leads or syncing every system—just smarter distribution for the content you’ve already created. The right message. Wider reach. Less effort.

In summary: Getting more leads from social media comes down to providing value, engaging consistently, and using data to refine your approach. Dealerships that master this are seeing social media evolve into one of their top lead sources. The good news is you don’t have to do it alone. By implementing the tactics above – and leveraging a solution like Motrvu to tie it all together – your dealership can turn likes and follows into test drives and sales. Social media is where your next generation of customers already are; with the right strategy and tools, it’s where they’ll find you and become your next leads.