How to Use Video Sales Letter (VSLs) to Boost Car Dealership Sales

The Current Landscape and the Need for VSLs  

What is a Video Sales Letter (VSL)?  

The Benefits of VSLs for Car Dealerships  

• Increased Engagement: Videos are simpler to attract and keep the attention of potential consumers since they are more memorable and entertaining than text-based information. A case study published by Sun Media Marketing claims that its VSL campaign produced a 15% increase in lead generation and a 25% increase in website engagement.
• Personalized Experience: By creating a genuine and personalized relationship with your audience, a VSL helps you build credibility and confidence. Plus, it helps with consistent  
• Convenience: VSLs allow salespeople to have a premade, effective message to send to customers immediately, which is especially helpful when the salesperson needs more time to reach out personally. 
• Scalability: Once created, VSLs can be shared across multiple platforms, reaching a wider audience without additional effort.  

How to Write an Effective VSL Script for Car Dealerships  

• Hook: Pique your audience’s interest immediately with a powerful hook. This could be a surprising truth, an insightful query, or a bold statement.  
• Identify Pain Points: Draw attention to the typical problems or difficulties that potential car buyers have, such as finding the ideal vehicle, negociating costs, or exploring financial solutions.  
• Introduce the Solution: Highlight the advantages and unique selling points you offer to position your dealership as the answer to their problems. This might include special deals or offers, quick walkthroughs of your inventory, or an explanation of what they can expect throughout the buying process. 
• Build Credibility: Demonstrate your dealership’s trustworthiness with recommendations, honors, or industry recognition. Positive reviews can go a long way! 88% of consumers say reviews influence their buying decisions, according to Podium. 
• Overcome Objections: Respond to frequent queries or worries prospective clients may have about costs, quality, or customer support.  
• Call to Action: Make sure your call to action is obvious and engaging, urging viewers to book a test drive, stop by your dealership, or contact a salesperson.  
• Sense of Urgency: Highlight time-limited offers, exclusive promotions, or stock availability to instill a sense of urgency.  
• Multiple CTAs: Several calls to action should be included throughout VSLs to draw in viewers who do not watch the video to the end.  

Technical Tips for Creating Effective VSLs  

• Video Length: Aim for 5-10 minutes to maintain viewer attention while effectively communicating your message. This is a long online video by most standards, so a good rule of thumb is to only make a video if it needs to be to cover key information. 
• Video Quality: Invest in high-quality video equipment or hire a professional videographer to ensure a polished and visually appealing VSL. (Remember, these videos are more promotional in nature, but you should have a plan to include shorter, personalized videos in your outreach.) 
• Tools and Software: Utilize video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro Final Cut Pro or user-friendly options like Camtasia or Screencast-O-Matic to create and edit your VSLs.  

Distribution Channels for VSLs  

• Dealership Website: Embed your VSLs on your website's landing pages, making them easily accessible to potential customers.  
• Social Media Channels: Share your VSLs on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, leveraging the power of social media to reach a wider audience.  
• Email Campaigns: Include VSLs in your email marketing campaigns, providing subscribers with a more engaging and interactive experience.  
• Covideo Dealer Services: Utilize Covideo Dealer Services, a full-cycle suite of video solutions tailored specifically for dealerships. Covideo allows you to create, customize, and share personalized videos via email, text, chat, social media, and CRM systems. It also provides in-depth analytics to track engagement and optimize performance. Save your VSLs to your Covideo library so they are easy to access and share across your team. 

Optimizing and Enhancing VSL Performance  

• A/B Testing: Conduct A/B tests to compare different versions of your VSLs, analyzing metrics like view rates, engagement, and conversion rates to identify the most effective approach.  
• Viewer Engagement Analysis: Monitor viewer engagement metrics, such as watch time and drop-off rates, to identify areas for improvement and adjust your content accordingly.  
• Feedback Integration: Gather feedback from viewers and incorporate their insights and suggestions to refine your VSLs and better meet their needs.  

SEO Considerations for VSLs  

• Keyword Optimization: Incorporate relevant keywords into your VSL titles, descriptions, and tags to improve search visibility for VSLs you post online.  
• Video Descriptions: Provide detailed and keyword-rich descriptions for your VSLs, helping search engines understand the content and context.  
• Closed Captions and Transcripts: Include closed captions and transcripts for your VSLs, improving accessibility and providing additional opportunities for search engines to index your content.