Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of a Social Media Guy at a Ford Dealership

Working as a social media manager at a Ford dealership is a dynamic role that blends creativity with strategy, customer service with marketing, and constant adaptability. It's not just about posting a few photos of cars and hoping for the best—there's a lot of behind-the-scenes effort that goes into making sure that content resonates with the audience and drives sales.

Here's a peek into a typical day in the life of a Social Media Guy at a Ford dealership:

8:00 AM: Checking the Morning Metrics
The day starts by reviewing social media analytics. The social media guy checks platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to see how posts from the previous day performed. This includes:

Engagement rates: Likes, comments, shares, etc.

Traffic insights: How many people clicked on the links for vehicles or promotions.

Ad performance: How well paid ads are converting into leads or sales.

New followers: How the community is growing.

Goal: Identify what's working and optimize future posts. Are certain types of posts (testimonials, car features, or offers) getting more interaction?

9:00 AM: Content Planning & Creation
Now that the metrics have been reviewed, it's time to create content for the day or the week. Content creation can vary from:

Car spotlights: Showcasing a specific Ford model, highlighting its features, performance, and benefits.

Customer stories: Posting testimonials or customer photos with their new cars.

Promotions and deals: Advertising current sales, financing options, and limited-time offers.

Behind-the-scenes content: Giving followers a peek into the dealership's operations, team members, or even car deliveries.

The social media guy uses tools like Canva, Adobe Spark, or Photoshop to design eye-catching graphics and videos. For video content, it's not unusual to shoot a quick walk-around of a car or a test-drive experience. Sometimes, the dealership's sales team may pitch in by recording short, engaging videos about their cars or their customer service.

Goal: Craft content that aligns with the dealership's brand identity and speaks to the target audience (potential car buyers, people interested in Ford, etc.).

10:30 AM: Engagement & Community Interaction
With content ready, it's time to engage with the dealership's social media followers. The social media guy spends time responding to comments, direct messages, and reviews. Customer engagement is key in this role because it builds trust and relationships.

Reply to questions about vehicle specifications, prices, or availability.

Respond to positive and negative reviews on platforms like Facebook and Google My Business.

Engage with followers by liking and commenting on their posts, especially when customers tag the dealership in their new car photos.

Goal: Maintain a strong relationship with the dealership's online community and ensure that potential customers feel heard and valued.

12:00 PM: Content Scheduling & Ads Management
Now it's time to schedule posts using social media management tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Sprout Social. This allows the social media guy to post content automatically at optimal times (e.g., 12 PM and 6 PM for Facebook posts) and reach a larger audience.

If there are paid ads running, this is also the time to monitor and adjust the ads based on performance. Paid social media campaigns might involve:

Targeted ads for specific models or offers.

Retargeting ads to people who visited the dealership's website or social profiles but didn't convert.

Lead generation ads with a contact form for interested buyers.

Goal: Ensure content goes live at the right time and monitor the performance of paid ads to make necessary adjustments.

1:00 PM: Lunch and Inspiration
During lunch, the social media guy takes a break, but sometimes it's also a time to gather inspiration. This might involve scrolling through competitor dealerships' social media to see what they're doing, researching new social media trends, or brainstorming fresh content ideas with colleagues.

Goal: Stay inspired and think outside the box to create more engaging content.

2:00 PM: Collaborating with Sales Team
Around this time, the social media guy meets with the sales team to discuss upcoming promotions, new vehicle arrivals, and any in-dealer events. This is where collaboration is essential: the social media guy ensures that the online presence matches the sales goals.

What cars are selling well?

Are there any special deals or limited-time promotions happening?

Any upcoming events (like test drives, dealership promotions, or local community outreach)?

The social media guy then incorporates these details into their social strategy.

Goal: Align social media efforts with the sales team's needs to boost both engagement and sales.

3:00 PM: Live Streaming & Real-Time Updates
On occasion, the social media guy sets up live streaming events on Facebook or Instagram. This might include:

A live tour of the dealership's showroom.

A live Q&A session where potential customers can ask about Ford cars.

A test drive event broadcasted in real-time.

This is also when the social media guy might share real-time updates about new arrivals or promotions.

Goal: Provide interactive, live content that connects with the audience in a more authentic, engaging way.

4:30 PM: Review & Strategize for the Next Day
The final hour of the day is spent reviewing the day's work. The social media guy checks if any posts are scheduled for tomorrow, drafts some new ideas, and plans for the next day.

They'll also make a note of any social media trends they've seen, new tools to try, or upcoming events that could affect their strategy.

Goal: Stay on top of trends and be proactive in planning future campaigns to keep the social media presence fresh and engaging.

5:30 PM: Wrapping Up the Day
The day winds down with a final check of social media messages and any urgent requests from the sales team or management. At this point, the social media guy might also draft an end-of-day report summarizing performance (growth in followers, successful posts, ROI on ads, etc.).

Final Thoughts:
Working as a social media guy at a Ford dealership requires a blend of creativity, analytics, and customer service. It's not just about pushing out content; it's about connecting with customers, driving sales, and adapting to the fast-paced, ever-changing world of social media. While every day brings new challenges, it's a highly rewarding job for those who thrive in a dynamic, results-driven environment.