Dave Sinclair Buick-GMC

68% Growth & 19.8 Million Impressions in 2024

An iPhone and a simple approach led to our best year on YouTube yet

Dave Sinclair Buick-GMC had one channel and 2 subscribers in 2020.

Five years later, the dealership has 2 channels with a combined following of 14,300 subscribers (a 714,900% increase).

Initially, growth was slow and production was slower.

I was required to have salespeople involved in our videos.

But there were 2 major problems with that:

  1. Salespeople don’t want to be in videos

  2. Those that do are almost always busy

In February 2024, I asked that requirement to be removed.

Once that happened, both channels took off.

Equipment Used 

  • iPhone 15 Pro 

  • Hollyland Lark M1 Wireless Microphones 

  • iPhone Tripod 

  • Adobe Premiere Pro & CapCut

DAVE SINCLAIR CUSTOMS

  • 1.2 Million Views

  • 3.5K Subscribers gained (+52%)

  • 10.4 Million Impressions

  • 5.7% CTR

OUR TOP VIDEO

28.2K Views, +123 Subscribers, 218K Impressions, 8.2% CTR

OUR TOP short

144.3K Views, +490 Subscribers, 193K Impressions

Dave Sinclair Buick-GMC

  • 1.4 Million Views

  • 2.1K Subscribers gained (+138%)

  • 9.4 Million Impressions

  • 5.3% CTR

OUR TOP VIDEO

554.4K Views, +1K Subscribers, 7.2 Million Impressions, 5.2% CTR

OUR TOP short

450K Views, +560 Subscribers, 677K Impressions

So, What Worked?

  • Basic > High Production

  • Title + Thumbnail First

  • Solo > Team

  • Outlines > scripts

Basic > High Production

I’ve had more success with an iPhone in one year than I had with a mirrorless camera in three.

I shoot with an iPhone. Edit with simple cuts and few, if any, animations and graphics.

For our dealership, simple is better. Especially when the subject of your vehicle could be sold or delivered at any moment.

Title + Thumbnail

Before you convince them to watch a video, you have to convince them to click on it first.

Thumbnails catch the eye. Titles catch their attention and desires.

YouTube has A/B testing now, so you can test up to 3 thumbnails for each video. Take advantage of that.

Solo > Team

I work with fantastic salespeople.

But most do not want to be on camera. And if they want to be on camera, their schedule won’t allow it (a good problem to have).

Solo is easier for everyone.

I make videos more efficiently. The sales staff gets an updated library of product videos and even leads from said videos.

Outlines > Scripts

Again, simple is better.

Outlines keep you on schedule, allow you to add more info, and they’re easier to edit (and carry in your pocket).