THE IMPORTANCE OF
OPTIMIZING YOUR VDP

Our relevance algorithm puts you in control of your success. Apply these best practices and relevancy factors to maximize your listings’ performance.

Top 3 Vehicle Merchandising Best Practices

Top 3 Vehicle Merchandising Best Practices

Always add a price

Include a video or SnapLot 360 walkaround

FACTORS OF RELEVANCE IN RANKING ORDER:**

  1. Package Level
  2. Shopper History
  3. Includes Price
  4. Multiple Photos
  5. Distance
  6. Custom Comments
  7. Lists Options & Features

    Mileage per Year
  8. Dealer Fees Included Badge
  9. Newly Listed Vehicles
  10. Great Price FMR Indicator***

    Digital Retailing

    SnapLot360
  11. Recently Reduced Price

    Includes Video

    Good Price FMR Indicator***

    Dealer-paid VHR
  12. Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer

RELEVANT SEARCH PLAYBOOK:

YOUR GUIDE TO SUCCESS

YOUR OPTIMIZATION CHECKLIST:

Our relevance algorithm puts you in control.
Here’s a list to optimize your listings for relevant search.

  • Include a retail price and MSRP on new vehicles.
  • Include 10+ quality photos to merchandise your vehicle. Quantity of photos aids in ranking, quality of photo aids in engagement.
  • In addition, Include a video or add SnapLot 360 to your Autotrader solution. Add your TV commercial or a “why buy from us” video. Shoppers engage with quick videos that show your facility or the interior and/or exterior of the vehicle. To make it easy, shoot it with your phone.
  • Comments are a relevance factor and are a tool to tell the story of the vehicle, providing shoppers insight into your price.
    Aside from this, work with your inventory provider to ensure all vehicle options and features are represented, these are used in keyword searches and filtering. Features that are advanced, unique, and higher value are very useful to shoppers (i.e. sunroof, heated seats, or Apple CarPlay).

    NOTE: Be sure the aforementioned content is available within 24 hours of listing the car, including replacing your “image coming soon” message.
  • Competitively price your vehicles based on your market. See how your prices compare to the Fair Market Range (FMR) zones.
  • Ensure your inventory feed list price includes all dealer fees (excl. gov’t taxes and fees). Enable the Dealer Fees Included Badge in Dealer Site self-service. Accept terms and conditions.
  • Add digital retailing and Instant Cash Offer to your Autotrader solution.

*Comparing listings performance for dealers utilizing best practices for pricing, use of stock and custom photos and use of videos against dealers who did not use best practices, September 2023 through May 2024.
** Sorted in ranking order, highest to lowest. Italicized factors can’t be influenced by dealers. Factors with same number are equally weighted. Vehicles receive a score based on the total number of relevant factors included on their listing.
*** Used Car Listings Only.