The LinkedIn changes to the algorithm for 2025 might create a troubling situation for your marketing efforts. How should you adjust your approach?
LinkedIn just had a major algorithm leak, and it’s changing how dealership content gets seen. If you’re a dealer principal, sales manager, or marketing director trying to build your personal brand or drive leads through LinkedIn, this matters. The platform is prioritizing different types of content now, and what worked last year might be killing your reach today. Understanding these changes means the difference between your posts reaching 200 people or 2,000. Here’s what actually works for automotive professionals trying to connect with fleet buyers, commercial accounts, and high-end retail customers on LinkedIn.
Should car dealers use LinkedIn?
Although Facebook, Instagram, and X drive more social media traffic for car dealers, LinkedIn is a great place to add some attention and energy to your car dealership’s social media marketing strategy. Automotive LinkedIn marketing drives three times more effective sales dollars compared to TV and lesser-known social media platforms. Getting automotive sales leads from LinkedIn can prove just how successful this platform can be for your dealership, making it a good place to market your products. Still, what should you do to successfully advertise on LinkedIn?
Target your professional audience using the updated LinkedIn algorithm for 2025
Whether it’s a LinkedIn B2B strategy or your dealer’s personal branding campaign, you connect with other professionals on LinkedIn and can successfully market to them by focusing on what other professionals are looking for. This could mean your audience appreciates a value focus, making it important to advertise your vehicles that provide excellent customer value when purchased. If you’re connected with C-level executives, provide marketing for luxury vehicles that could appeal to them. Like any other marketing campaign, focus on targeted marketing of your products for your audience.
Maximize the right ads for the updated algorithm
The LinkedIn algorithm has been updated for 2025 to ensure single-image and video ads have high levels of impact on the platform. These ads bring excellent click-through rates, which means users are watching the videos or reviewing your ads. Video ads work great for car dealerships on LinkedIn, especially those that include virtual test drivers, feature demonstrations, and customer testimonials. Carousel ads also perform well, but not nearly as well as video ads.
LinkedIn allows lead generation forms for higher conversion rates
The LinkedIn algorithm updates for 2025 make it much easier for car dealerships to include lead generation forms. These forms have a proven track record of being filled out at a rate that is five times higher than traditional landing pages when configured right. Ensure you utilize fields that will help your dealership connect with the customer and qualify their purchase choices. Some shoppers begin their car shopping journey months ahead of actually being ready to buy.
The LinkedIn 2025 algorithm allows strategic budget usage
The official minimum budget spend for advertising on LinkedIn is $10 per day, but it’s a good idea to spend more than that. When creating a campaign, the minimum for algorithm optimization is three weeks, which makes it perfect for monthly sales events. Some brands have reported more efficient cost-per-click compared to other social media platforms while maintaining traffic consistency. You can budget for awareness campaigns, lead generation campaigns, and luxury vehicle campaigns.
Focus on your buyer’s journey
Your LinkedIn advertising campaign should align with the customer journey through the various stages of the sales funnel. During the first week, focus on bringing awareness to your audience by presenting them with vehicles, your dealership story, and potential financing options. During the second and third weeks, offer comparison guides, virtual vehicle tours, and feature demonstrations. The next few weeks after these first three are the decision stage, which means you need to present your shoppers with personalized offers and incentives, appointment scheduling options, and promotional messaging.
Use several variations to find the right mix for the LinkedIn algorithm in 2025
Many marketing experts suggest an A and B approach with a single change from one to the other, but when testing your marketing efforts, it’s a good idea to try at least five different ad campaigns and compare how each performs. Test various elements of each campaign to learn how your messages are being received by your LinkedIn audience.
LinkedIn updated its marketing algorithm for 2025, and your car dealership should take advantage of these updates to ensure you connect well with your audience. How will you adjust your marketing efforts to take full advantage of what LinkedIn offers?
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