5 Instagram Tips Dealers Can Use Today

Instagram isn’t just for influencers and lifestyle brands — it’s one of the most powerful tools your dealership can use to build trust, create connection, and drive more sales. In our latest Word on the Street podcast, we sat down with Instagram growth coach Brock Johnson to talk about how dealers can start posting better content today, no fancy camera required.

Here are 5 actionable Instagram growth tips Brock shared — all dealer-approved.

1. Focus on the Hook — The First 3 Seconds Matter

Brock calls this the most important part of any video. If you’re not stopping the scroll right away, you’re losing eyeballs. Whether it’s text on screen, a question, or a surprising statement — the hook makes or breaks engagement.

→ Tip: Lead every video with something attention-grabbing that speaks directly to your audience’s interests (not yours).

2. Raw > Polished: Use Your Phone, Not a Drone

Forget the sterile drone footage and showroom pans — they feel like ads. People want personality. Brock emphasizes scrappy, real content filmed on your phone that showcases the human side of your dealership.

→ Tip: Shoot quick, unscripted videos of your team, walk-arounds, or behind-the-scenes moments. It builds trust and relatability.

3. Get Comfortable by Creating Often

The best way to get better at Instagram? Post more. Like sports, content creation is about reps. You won’t be perfect — and you don’t need to be.

→ Tip: Block time on your calendar for recording and post consistently. Done is better than perfect.

4. Create Share-Worthy Content

The algorithm loves shares. If your content is something someone would send to a friend, you’re on the right track. That’s how you go viral and attract the right kind of leads.

→ Tip: Make content people feel good about sharing — it could be funny, helpful, or just super relatable.

5. Use Organic Posts to Test Paid Ads

Here’s a big one: Brock recommends turning your top-performing organic content into ads. It’s already proven to work with your audience — so put some money behind it and let it scale.

→ Tip: Check which posts get the most engagement, then boost them or run them as part of your next paid campaign.

This is the exact tip we utilize in our paid ads for our dealers. Click here to see our strategy.

🎙️ Want More Instagram Growth Hacks?

Listen to the full episode with Brock Johnson on the Word on the Street podcast:
👉 Instagram Growth Hacks for Dealers with Brock Johnson

It’s packed with insights on content strategy, overcoming on-camera fear, and why the future of your brand lives on your feed.

About Dealer OMG

Dealer OMG is an automotive digital marketing firm focused on helping dealers measurably grow sales, service, and trades. Founded by former Facebook employees and automotive executives, Dealer OMG pioneered the vinAMP platform to refine target audiences, making ads more relevant to shoppers. Through white-glove dealer-specific creative and vinAMP platform, Dealer OMG’s dealership clients are able to be the dealership continually in the shopper’s feeds.

For more information, you can contact our Chief Operating Officer, Keith Turner at Keith@DealerOMG.com