Getting Started
How to set up your dealer website
A professional dealer website is live in a day when you use Automo Soft. This guide walks through every step — from choosing your theme to going live on your own domain.
Key takeaways
- Most dealers have their website live within a few hours of signing up
- Choose Velocity for a bold look or Nova for a minimal premium feel
- Add at least 5 vehicles before going live so the site looks active
- Connect your own domain for a more professional appearance and better SEO
- Test your lead capture forms before sending traffic to your new site
Step 1: Choose your website theme
Automo Soft offers two professionally designed themes built specifically for car dealerships. Velocity is bold and high-energy with strong calls to action. Nova is clean and minimal — ideal for dealers who want a premium feel.
From your dashboard, navigate to Website Settings and select your preferred theme. You can preview both themes before committing and switch between them at any time without losing your content.
Step 2: Customize your branding
Once you have selected a theme, customize it to reflect your dealership. Upload your logo, set your primary brand color, and configure your business hours, phone number, and physical address.
These settings appear consistently across your website — in the header, footer, contact page, and vehicle listings. Taking 10 minutes to get these right ensures your website looks professional from the first visitor.
Step 3: Add your inventory
Your website automatically displays your current inventory. Before going live, add at least a handful of vehicles so the site looks active. Use the VIN decoder to add vehicles quickly — enter the VIN and all specifications are populated automatically.
Upload photos for each vehicle. Listings with 10 or more photos consistently outperform listings with fewer photos. Your photos are automatically optimized for web performance.
Step 4: Connect your domain
If you own a domain (e.g., yourdealership.com), connect it to your website from the Domain Settings section. Follow the DNS configuration instructions provided — the process takes about 10 minutes and your custom domain is live within the hour.
If you do not yet own a domain, your website is accessible immediately at your Automo Soft subdomain. You can connect a custom domain at any time — there is no urgency to do it on day one.
Step 5: Configure your lead capture
Your website includes contact forms, vehicle inquiry forms, and a live chat widget by default. Configure where lead notifications are sent (your email address) so you are alerted the moment a buyer reaches out.
Test the forms yourself before going live — submit a test inquiry to confirm leads arrive in your dashboard and your inbox. This takes 2 minutes and prevents missing leads in your first days.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need technical skills to set up my dealer website?
No. Automo Soft is designed for non-technical users. The website builder uses visual settings — no coding required at any step.
How long does it take to go live?
Most dealers complete setup and go live within a few hours of signing up — the same day in most cases.
Can I change my theme after going live?
Yes. You can switch themes at any time from your dashboard. Your inventory, settings, and content are preserved when you switch.
More guides on Getting Started
How to add your first vehicle to inventory
Adding a vehicle to Automo Soft takes under 5 minutes when you use the VIN decoder. Here is the complete step-by-step process — from VIN entry to published listing.
How to connect and post to Facebook Marketplace
Automo Soft's Facebook Marketplace posting tool lets you post vehicles in bulk with scheduling. This guide walks through connecting your account and posting your first vehicles.
How to set up live chat on your dealer website
Automo Soft includes a built-in live chat widget with three modes: human chat, AI auto-responder, and Smart AI Assistant. This guide helps you choose and configure the right mode for your dealership.
How to connect your own domain to your dealer website
Using your own domain (yourdealership.com) instead of a subdomain makes your website look more professional and builds SEO authority faster. This guide walks through the DNS configuration process.
Ready to put this into practice?
Automo Soft gives you the tools to run a more efficient, more profitable dealership. Start your 14-day free trial today.