5 Google Posts Best Practices for Auto Dealers

If you’re a dealership owner or marketing manager, you already know your Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of your most important local visibility tools. It’s front and center when someone searches for your store. And yet, for most dealerships, posting is inconsistent at best, and nonexistent at worst.

You’re not alone. Managing multiple locations, figuring out what to post, and aligning content with offers—it’s a lot. There’s often no system in place. No rhythm. And no clear link between posting and the actual ROI you’re getting out of it all.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

With a few key best practices and the right tools, you can turn your GBP into a traffic and lead-generation machine. Here’s how to make your posts matter, scale your efforts across rooftops, and actually see a return for your time.

1. Post Consistently—and Tie It to Promotions

Consistency builds trust with Google and your audience. The platform favors freshness, and posting at least once a week helps your dealership stay relevant in search.
Even better, use that real estate to promote something timely:

• This month’s lease specials
• A seasonal service package
• A limited-time financing offer
• New model arrivals

Here’s the key: Don’t let posts go stale. Expired promotions can create confusion and undermine credibility. It’s better to remove outdated posts than leave them hanging.

Many high-performing dealers use seasonal service posts, like snow tire specials in the winter or AC tune-ups in the summer, to stay relevant and drive engagement.

2. Use High-Quality Visuals (No Stock!)

Google Posts are visual-first. And in automotive, where aesthetics matter, the image can make or break engagement.

Ditch the stock photos. They’re generic and forgettable. Instead, focus on real photos:

• Fresh inventory
• Happy customers
• Clean, polished showroom shots
• Service team in action

Visuals bring your dealership to life and signal authenticity to shoppers.

Some technical tips:

• Use images at least 720 x 540 px
• Maintain a 4:3 aspect ratio
• Keep your copy short—only the first 100 characters show in the preview

With Widewail, uploading and formatting media across all locations is simple. Every post looks polished, professional, and on-brand, without the heavy lift.

3. Use Clear, Localized CTAs

Generic posts get ignored. Good posts have a specific action tied to a specific location.
Think:

• “Book a test drive in South Burlington today.”
• “This week’s Manchester lease specials—check them out now.”
• “Schedule your spring service at our Williston location.”

These small details increase relevance and click-through.

 4. Don’t Ignore the Q&A Section

Think of the GBP Q&A like an extension of your showroom floor. Shoppers are asking real questions—about trim availability, service hours, financing requirements—and they expect fast, accurate answers.

Letting questions sit unanswered sends the wrong message. Worse, someone else might answer them for you (inaccurately).

Here’s what to do:

• Monitor Q&A weekly
• Respond quickly, clearly, and helpfully
• Seed the section with FAQs proactively—“Do you offer loaners?” “Is the service center open on Saturdays?”

Widewail gives you control across all your listings. Post, edit, or remove answers centrally and ensure consistency at scale.

5. Track What Works—and Refine

If you’re posting without reviewing performance, you’re flying blind. Google Business Profile Performance offers a simple, powerful way to gauge what’s resonating:

• Which posts got the most clicks, calls, or direction requests?
• Did the “$500 off this weekend” promo drive action?
• Are vehicle photos performing better than service content?

Use this data to shape your next round of posts. Refine. Test. Improve. If you’re new to GBP Performance, BrightLocal’s guide is a great place to start.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Make a Ghost Town of Your GBP

Google Posts are one of the most visible, most actionable parts of your online presence—and they’re underused across the industry.

Done right, they:

• Boost local SEO
• Build shopper confidence
• Increase calls, visits, and test drives
• Strengthen your digital reputation

But to do them right, you need process, consistency, and tools to scale across locations.

That’s where Widewail comes in.

Want to Turn Your GBP Into a Lead-Generating Machine?

Widewail Listings Management makes it easy to:

• Manage Google and Facebook posts across rooftops
• Create consistent, location-specific content
• Respond to customer Q&A fast and accurately
• Analyze performance—all in one place