NADA 2010 Convention & Expo in Orland Florida

–This is a dual post by myself and Alex. Mine is the following and Alex’s is below.

Attendance this year was low – - dealers and vendors.

Parties were at a minimum

The sessions were good, the ones that I was able to attend (not many). The dealers attending this year seem to be more in tune; not just looking for new shiny objects but also looking for some substance. Looking for features and benefits of a solution/vendor can provide.

Date: Friday, Feb, 2010
Time: 12pm to 1 p.m. (Eastern)
Location: Your Computer
Cost: FREE – Register Here

With the new year underway, are you working your plan for a profitable 2010?

Do you know how current industry trends and emerging technology will drive your business and fuel your success? Each year, the NADA convention is a hub for new ideas, tools and tactics that can help drive your business. Join Cars.com and a panel of industry experts as we recap the hot topics and trends raised at this year’s show and discuss how they can boost sales and the bottom line at your store.

In this session, we’ll discuss:

• The state of the new- and used-car marketplace and sales projections for the year ahead
• Emerging technologies that help you reach internet shoppers and fully merchandise your inventory
• New sales processes that engage car buyers and encourage them to purchase from you

Panelists:

Steve Finlay
Editor of Ward’s Dealer Business

Jeff Kershner
Founder of DealerRefresh.com

Ralph Ebersole
Cars.com Automotive Consultant

Vegas, Social Media, JD Power Stats, OEM representation, professional atmosphere, and excellent networking opportunities were the highlights of 2009’s #JDPAIRT << click for Twitter conversations.

I must state that I’m writing the rest of this from a dealer’s stand-point (mine in particular), so this might not be the same perspective an OEM or vendor would have…

With the economy being what it is, representation by the dealer body was low. This was no surprise, but the sad part was it didn’t set the stage for great debate on the dealer’s behalf. A few of us tried to push things through twitter, but I think we just disturbed people. So when you have a bunch of vendors and manufacturers, many have a tendency to play things safe. There were a few people who pushed the envelope on stage (Larry Bruce from Reynolds & Reynolds and David Metter from MileOne), but these were few and far between…I’ll write a bit about what they did a little further in.

UPDATE: Win a Free Trip to the Synergy Sessions

The Fourth Annual Synergy Sessions is in Atlanta at the Renaissance Hotel on October 5 and 6th, 2009.  Sean V. Bradley says this is going to be this years’ best training and networking event for the industry.

Training is critical for dealers and team members and this year’s theme is “Restructure to Maximize Performance.” Dealer Synergy is excited that the event is drawing speakers like Dale Pollak from vAuto, Sean Stapleton of Vin Solutions, Ken Potter from CarsDirect.com, and Ralph Paglia from ADP Dealer Services. Their participation shows in a tangible way that Synergy Sessions has become one of the industry’s “must events” of the year.”

This Synergy Sessions training and networking event focuses on helping auto retailers increase their performance levels, adopt powerful hiring practices and leverage technologies that consumers are utilizing during the vehicle shopping process.

Date: Friday, August 14
Time: 12pm to 1 p.m. (Eastern)
Location: Your Computer
Cost: FREE – Register Here

As online communities grow in ever-increasing numbers, are you a part of the conversation or standing on the sidelines? Social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter allow you to engage your customers outside the store and develop relationships that drive repeat and referral business. This webinar examines the rules of engagement on these sites to help you understand the channels and how you can capitalize on them.

Kimmel will moderate this DealerADvantage Live session, which will include a panel of industry experts. She will be joined by: Rob Fontano, internet sales director for John Marazzi Nissan in Naples, Fla.; and the “one and only” Alex Snyder, ecommerce director for Checkered Flag Automotive Group in Virginia Beach, Va.

Attendees will get advice on how to:

• Identify which social media sites connect your store with in-market shoppers.
• Incorporate social media sites into your sales process.
• Develop site-specific tactics that help you engage car buyers and encourage open communication.
• Determine who should manage your social media presence.

Be sure to attend and give Alex a hard time. Have your questions queued up!

Date: Friday, July 10, 2009
Time: 12pm to 1 p.m. (Eastern)
Location: Your Computer
Cost: FREE – Register Here

Already we’re hearing from car buyers who plan to make a purchase when CARS goes into effect in late July,” Ebersole said. “We encourage dealers to register for the program and make the necessary changes to their merchandising and sales processes now so they can hit the ground running to win new car business.

Description: The “Cash for Clunkers” program is bringing new-car shoppers back to market. Are you ready to capitalize on this initiative and win more than your fair share of the business? Join Cars.com and a panel of industry experts as we discuss how federal government incentives such as the Car Allowance Rebate System and sales tax deductions position you to jumpstart new-car sales.

Ralph Ebersole will moderate the DealerADvantage Live session, which will include a panel of industry experts. Attendees will get advice on how to:

• Implement the CARS program at your store.
• Reach prospects with “clunkers” and bring them into your dealership.
• Build an effective online marketing strategy to reach in-market shoppers.
• Leverage incentives within your processes to close new-car deals.

As auto manufacturers and suppliers grapple with tough economic times, understanding consumer preferences becomes even more important for near-term survival as well as future viability.

J.D. Power and Associates’ Web Intelligence Division utilizes social media to help the auto industry gain consumer insights, mining the blogosphere for unvarnished insight and unbiased opinion.

We invite you to join us for a webinar to discover how J.D. Power Web Intelligence can take the blogosphere beyond monitoring and turn social media information into action.

This webinar delves into the opinions found social media on topics like the following:

• What are short- and long-term auto industry trends, such as consumer purchase intent?
• How are consumers responding to recent OEM incentive and marketing programs such as job-loss insurance?
• How can automakers more successfully approach Gen Yers?
• How has J.D. Power’s newest spin on segmentation – Tribe ReportsTM – helped other companies gauge marketing effectiveness?

DATE: Thursday, May 28, 2009
TIME: 2 pm Eastern
SPEAKER: Chance Parker, Vice President & General Manager
J.D. Power Web Intelligence

Myself and Alex (along with Jennifer Suzuki and David Kain) will be part of the 1st Party Leads webinar hosted by Dealer.com.

Be sure to check back here for the full recording and posting of the webinar.

Until then, be sure to check out the ALL NEW DealerRefresh Dealer Technology Forum for best practices with dealer technology.

DealerRefresh has been around for almost 5 YEARS and there is a ton of information on here. Choose a category on the left or use the search feature in the top right to find HUNDREDS of articles about Internet Marketing and Best Practices.

**Below are transcripts from the from Jeff and Alexs’ presentations**

I am not sure if it was because of the simultaneously scheduled “King of Cars” TV marathon on A&E or that the all male review “The Thunder Down Under” was completely sold out this past week, but Jeff and Alex were unable to attend the Spring Digital Dealer Conference being held in Las Vegas, and I kindly stepped up to provide this friendly review for each of you…

Located at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, this year’s spring conference promised some great entertainment combined with a strong agenda of current issues within our fast-moving market.  I teamed up with Alex Jefferson of Proctor Honda and Acura to attend multiple sessions, as well as to meet with several vendors to share some useful information with our DealerRefresh readers (please note the well-coached GQ pose that Alex prompted me to take…).

Kevin Frye and Alex Jefferson

“Please God, what does it take to sell a car?” That is certainly a strong opening statement, and this session led by Gil Chavez, Joe Webb, and Kim Clouse reviewed some strong fundamentals to what it takes to utilize the Internet successfully to sell cars. This was a great session for the first day as it reminded everyone of the skills that build a strong foundation for your Internet strategy. With such a challenging market, and with so many things to do, Gil, Joe and Kim emphasized that today’s Internet manager must be “God-like” – which begs the question “What type of pay plan does a God-like Internet manager deserve…”

The 6th Digital Dealer Conference will be held on April 19-21, 2009

I’m not going, are you?

The agenda looks jammed packed, and If I were going…here are the a few of the speakers I would go see:

Increase Your Web Traffic 30 Percent in Just 30 Days
Over a dozen real-world ways to immediately increase your web traffic and build a strong foundation for the future will be discussed. Even if you are having great success with your current tactics – learn more to add to your arsenal. – Duncan Scarry (I’ve never seen this dude nor heard of his company, it’s always interesting to see someone you have never heard of before.)

Please, God, What Does It Take to Sell a Car? General Session
Personalizing the process with the newest technology and putting the prospect’s desires before your own will lead to higher closing ratios, stronger profits, happier sold customers, and enlightenment – Gilbert Chavez, Joe Webb, and Kim Clouse (I’d have to go support Gilbert, Joe, and Kim – what a great group of guys!)