Smarter Search, Stronger Packages: Unlocking More Value for Retailers

You may have noticed some visual changes to Autotrader’s search over the last year, but what you might not know is that behind the scenes, we’ve been investing heavily in the tech that powers it. The result? A smarter search experience and even more powerful advertising packages.   

Lifting the lid 

To help understand these changes, and more importantly how to make the most of them, these short videos help uncover the mechanics of search and connect the dots between search and packages.  

Powering up your package 

Over the coming months, we’re investing to make search perform better for our retailers and buyers alike.   

As part of these continual enhancements, they’ll be improvements to the efficiency of search which will in turn have a boosting effect on the performance of prominence packages. In fact, retailers on a prominence package may notice a positive impact to response in the following months. These enhancements are designed to power up our packages and ensure those paying for additional prominence get even more value.   

And this is just the beginning. We are constantly evolving search. Autotrader search will soon become even more intelligent, delivering a more personalised experience to buyers. We’re learning more than ever before about buyers' behaviour on site and what they’re looking for. By using our advanced data platform, we’ll soon personalise results further, as we learn even more about the intent of buyers.  

What does this mean for you, the retailer? 

Through testing we’ve seen that by improving the relevance of the results, therefore showing more adverts that match their needs, potential buyers will spend longer, be more engaged with, and are more likely to do a deal on the results they are shown.   

That means you’re only going to get more value from your package as time goes on.  It’s all about optimising to give you better outcomes in the form of deals.   

Smarter ways to search 

In addition to enhancing the mechanics of relevance, we’re also working on exciting changes to evolve and improve how buyers can interact with search. And coming soon we’ll introduce lifestyle-driven categories. These categories will help guide buyers early in their buying journey, making it easier to discover the right car for them. That means if your vehicle isn’t getting noticed, this new way to filter might just help the right buyer find it. 

Maximising your opportunity 

To make the most of these improvements, maximise your advertising impact and drive greater response through search, retailers should  

Source the right stock Use the insights available in our range of data products to fill your forecourt with stock that will sell. Watch Sourcing Masterclass  → 

Price to market  Set the right price to the live market to get it sold, without leaving margin on the table.  Watch Pricing Masterclass  → 

Create quality adverts Ensure high-performing adverts by utilising tools such as Co-Driver, and include complete, accurate details.  Watch Advertising Masterclass  →