
Holiday Season Begins… Now!

The automotive “holiday” season, marked by Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and year-end sales, is already in full swing. These limited-time events are your secret weapon for creating urgency, pushing inventory, and hitting crucial quarter-end goals. While essential for moving metal, the need for immediate impact often clashes with the technical realities of digital advertising. When you have a hot promotion, the instinct is to launch ads now, but this urgency can actually work against your digital performance.
The unavoidable truth about platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok is that every new campaign must enter a “learning phase.” This technical reality means the ad platform needs anywhere from three to seven days (or more) to fully optimize its audience targeting and delivery. During this critical period, your spending is often limited, and your ads may not even generate impressions. For a short, two-week event, losing a significant portion of the run time to this delay isn’t just annoying but a measurable financial hit that directly compromises your Cost Per Lead and drags down your overall ROI.
Alecia Wilson
Head of Growth
The good news is you don’t have to choose between speed and performance. You can beat the clock and run successful, high-impact events without incurring this platform penalty. The key is to adopt a smarter, multi-faceted strategy that respects the learning phase while maximizing your promotional window. This involves preparing campaigns and creative well in advance to ensure they are optimized and ready to perform the moment your event begins. We’ve compiled our battle-tested best practices to ensure your next limited-time event starts strong, drives VDP views, and helps you sell more cars. Get ahead of the holiday and event season rush with strategies and practical tips in our Dealer Event Playbook.
Automotive Industry Events

The Western Canadian Dealer Summit Conference takes place November 13-16, 2025, at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta.
You should definitely add this one to your list to stay ahead with the latest best practices for your dealership.

The Automotive Conference & Expo (ACE) 2025, hosted by the Motor Vehicle Retailers of Ontario (MVRO), was more than an event; it was a pulse check on the future of Canada’s automotive retail sector. From AI transformation and operational discipline to workforce challenges and cultural leadership. ACE 2025 delivered a clear message that the next decade will belong to dealers who adapt fast, think human-first, and execute with precision. Read our ACE 2025 Recap.

The Digital Dealer 2025 conference confirmed that the automotive industry is fully immersed in the AI age. Yet, the most urgent message was not about technology, but about operational fundamentals, data integrity, and the critical need for human-centered leadership. Read our Digital Dealer 2025 Recap.
Product Updates

Microsoft Auto Ads
Unlock new traffic and high-intent leads on the Microsoft Ads Platform. Reach in-market car shoppers across Bing, MSN, and the Microsoft Audience Network (audiences your competitors often overlook). Get ready to lower your cost per lead and drive measurable digital growth for your dealership.
Spotlight: Lindsay Celeste | OEM Program Manager

Lindsay has been part of the sMedia family for 4.5 years, bringing energy, passion, and deep expertise to everything she does. With an advanced diploma in Advertising and Marketing Communications from Mohawk College, Lindsay has combined her education and industry experience to help drive strategic OEM programs forward with precision and creativity.

Lindsay’s dream car is the thrilling McLaren W1 and it’s easy to see why with its 0–200km acceleration in just 5.8 seconds! When she’s not optimizing digital campaigns, you might find her in her kitchen preparing smoked meats (a personal favourite), or dreaming up her perfect vacation exploring the small, charming towns of Italy and far away from the city crowds.
Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Lindsay now lives in Airdrie, Alberta, and has lived in three different provinces. Her adventurous spirit and curious mindset are just part of what make her such a dynamic member of our team. She’s also a talented photographer, a proud dog mom to Otis the bulldog, and someone who always brings good vibes (and better ideas) to the table.

What keeps Lindsay excited about her work at sMedia? It’s the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing and the auto industry, as well as the strong team culture. “I love consistently learning from each other,” she says, which is a sentiment that perfectly captures the collaborative spirit she brings to her role every day.
Boost Your Knowledge
- 4th Quarter Push
- Personalizing Automotive Shopping
- Why YouTube Is Still a Dealer’s Secret Weapon
- Turning Shoppers Into Leads
Industry Pulse
- Stellantis Shifts Jeep Compass Production from Canada to the U.S.
- New Vehicle Average Price Tops $50,000 for the First Time Ever
- Tariffs Force Global Automakers to Accelerate U.S. Manufacturing
- GM Aims to Deliver Eyes-Off Autonomous Driving by 2028
Let’s Talk Strategy: sales@smedia.io