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Source: AutoWeb, Inc.

Autobytel Drives Continued Success From Google AdWords Campaign by Understanding Automotive Consumer Search Behavior

Search Engine Marketing Initiatives With Google Result in Significantly Improved Conversions From Click-Through to Lead

IRVINE, Calif., March 31, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL), pioneer of the automotive Internet and the company dedicated to connecting automotive consumers with dealers, today said that it is driving success from its Search Engine Marketing initiatives (SEM) with Google AdWords, by taking a consumer-focused approach to reaching qualified automotive shoppers.

Through its Google AdWords campaign, for the first two months of 2014, Autobytel generated a 60% increase in converting consumer click-throughs to automotive leads that can then be delivered to auto manufacturer and dealers, compared with the same period in 2013. Autobytel currently generates some of the highest quality leads in the industry – leads that convert into car sales at nearly two to three times the estimated industry average as validated by R.L. Polk – for the company's customers. Google AdWords is an advertising platform based on cost-per-click keyword auctions.

"Our SEM strategy focuses on reaching as many qualified car buyers as possible, so that we can deliver the very best leads to our manufacturer and dealer customers," said Jeff Coats, president and CEO of Autobytel Inc. "Autobytel's campaigns are developed based on close evaluation of how ready-to-buy car shoppers are searching the Internet, letting consumers themselves tell us what they want, when they want it. This approach is key to the success we've achieved through Google AdWords, and will continue to form the basis of our strategy, as we focus on meeting consumers' needs while providing increasing value to our customers."

Autobytel's Google AdWords Search Engine Marketing strategy encompasses three key elements:

  • Driving increased traffic through a flexible approach to budgeting and implementing keyword purchases;
     
  • Integrating sophisticated, proprietary technology with Google AdWords to create revenue and profit profiles for every keyword; and
     
  • Optimizing keyword bids by evaluating the total value of a click to connect with the right consumers at the right time.

"We are very pleased with the results we're generating through using Google AdWords," said Billy Ferriolo, Senior Vice President of Consumer Acquisition at Autobytel. "Our team's success ultimately comes from understanding just how different clicks can be.  Consumers are at all levels of the purchase funnel, and in many cases their search behavior signals their intent to purchase.  By identifying and analyzing these signals, we are able to make intelligent keyword bidding and marketing decisions, near real-time. This helps us deliver a greater number of ready-to-buy automotive shoppers to our dealer and manufacturer customers."

Since inventing online car buying nearly 20 years ago, Autobytel has developed a deep knowledge about the consumer path to purchase, and has used this knowledge to drive highly qualified traffic to its flagship website, Autobytel.com, while improving the overall user experience on the site. Today, Autobytel is one of the most recognized consumer automotive websites and a leading provider of high quality leads and mobile and marketing services to the automotive industry.

Visit the 2014 Autobytel Google AdWords case study here: 

http://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/autobytel-pdm-final-basic.pdf

To research, shop for, buy, or own a new or used car, visit Autobytel.com.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube to stay connected to our latest news.

About Autobytel Inc.

Autobytel Inc. provides high quality consumer leads and associated marketing services to automotive dealers and manufacturers throughout the United States and offers consumers robust and original online automotive content to help them make informed car-buying decisions. The company pioneered the automotive internet in 1995 with its flagship website www.autobytel.com and has since helped tens of millions of automotive consumers research vehicles; connected thousands of dealers nationwide with motivated car buyers; and helped every major automaker market its brand online.

Investors and other interested parties can receive Autobytel news releases and invitations to special events by accessing the online registration form at investor.autobytel.com/alerts.cfm.