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

Include multiple custom photos

Always add a price

Include a video or SnapLot 360 walkaround

FACTORS OF RELEVANCE IN RANKING ORDER:2

Focus on the factors you can influence:

  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. Price Transparency
    Badging​3
  9. Newly Listed Vehicles
  10. Great Price FMR Indicator4

    Digital Retailing

    SnapLot360
  11. Recently Reduced Price

    Includes Video

    Good Price FMR Indicator4

    Vehicle History Reporting​
  12. Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer

RELEVANT SEARCH PLAYBOOK:

YOU HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER YOUR LISTINGS’ VISIBILITY THAN YOU THINK.​

YOUR OPTIMIZATION CHECKLIST:

Use this checklist to learn which Autotrader relevancy factors you can influence to get more eyes on your inventory.​

VDP NON-NEGOTIABLES

​The more complete your VDP, the more information Autotrader has to match your vehicles with relevant shopper searches.​

  • Include a retail price and MSRP on new vehicles.
  • Include 10+ quality photos to merchandise your vehicle.
  • Include a video or add SnapLot 360 on your Autotrader VDPs. ​
    Use a TV commercial, “Why Buy From Us” video, or quick vehicle walkaround. ​
  • Use custom comments to tell the vehicle’s story and highlight what makes it stand out. ​
  • Include all options and features in your inventory feed so the vehicle can appear in relevant keyword searches and filters.​

TIMING MATTERS: Have this content available within 24 hours of listing the vehicle, including replacing “Image Coming Soon.”​

DELIVER PRICING CONFIDENCE​

Give shoppers the pricing context and transparency they need to understand value and move forward with confidence.​

  • Review pricing against Kelley Blue Book Fair Market Range (FMR) to understand how your vehicles compare in the market.​
  • Enable applicable Price Transparency Badging in Dealer Site self-service: Dealer Fees Included Badge or No Additional Dealer Fees. ​
  • Give shoppers access to free Experian AutoCheck Vehicle History Reports on your used car listings.​

ADVANCE THE DIGITAL BUYING JOURNEY

Give shoppers more ways to take the next step online, from beginning the purchase process to getting an offer for their current vehicle.​

  • Add digital retailing tools, Accelerate My Deal and Accelerate My Deal Elite, to your listings package.​
  • Add Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer to your listings package.​

1: 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.​
2: Sorted in ranking order, highest to lowest. Dealer-influenced factors are highlighted in blue; italicized factors are outside a dealer’s direct influence. Factors with same number are equally weighted. Vehicles receive a score based on the total number of relevant factors included on their listing.
3: Encompassing of both Dealer Fees Included Badge and No Additional Dealer Fees
4: Used Car Listings Only