Top Tips for Retailing Vans
The Auto Trader van platform attracts an impressive 4.4 million visits on average each month, which is 11 times the number of people attending Oasis’s five reunion gigs at Manchester’s Heaton Park. With the number of vans on the road increasing by 14% since 2019 and forecasted to increase further, addressing growing competition is crucial.
Several factors influence how your adverts appear in search results and how buyers engage with them. To help you grab the audience’s attention and ensure effective advertising, Auto Trader’s Insight Academy offers various video courses. Here are three top tips from their ‘Advertising Vans’ course:
1. Provide Accurate Information About Your Vehicles
To maximize vehicle visibility in search listings, providing comprehensive and accurate information is crucial. Often, vehicles lack necessary details to appear in correct searches when buyers use filters. Ensure the following details are entered in Portal or your third-party systems if using Auto Trader Connect or a datafeed:
- Engine size
- Engine power
- Body type
- Wheel base type
- Cab type
- Axle configuration

2. Use Your Entire Advertising Toolkit – Including Video
It’s shocking that almost 75% of van adverts lack a video. Video content can help you stand out, add personality to your adverts, and demonstrate vehicle quality and value. The video icon can entice buyers in search results, and a quality video can keep them engaged with your advert.

3. Steer Clear of Acronyms and Abbreviations
The van industry is rife with abbreviations and jargon. Simplifying technical language is important to make your adverts easy to understand for all buyers. Avoid using acronyms like ‘L2H2’ without explanation, as they can be confusing for non-experts.

For more insights and tips on retailing vans, check out the full course in your Insight Academy. Effective adverts can act as silent salespeople, working around the clock to sell your vehicles even when your shop is closed.
