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**