DealerRefresh

Obstacles, Observations and Opinions of an Automotive Internet Sales & Marketing Manager

Archives for June 2009

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Iran has exposed how deep Social Media has gone

Mideast Iran Presidential ElectionsIf you have no idea what has been happening in Iran, it is probably because you’ve been living under Iraq a rock.  I’m going to try to stay out of the politics behind it, but Iran is the “religious democracy” with an Ayatollah as the head of government and an elected president who serves as the “faceman”.  The recent Presidential election ended up in conspiracy as many of the citizens did not believe the outcome (who, why, what are irrelevant for the purpose of this article).  As a result Iranians poured into the streets in protest of the election results.  During the protests, violence broke out and the Iranian government banned foreign news reporters from the country.

Without adequate reporting how is the world keeping up with everything that is happening in Iran?  How are Iranian citizens rallying people to their cause?  Social media! [Read more…]

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A Message from AutoTrader to Dealers

An Important Video Message from AutoTrader.com

Alan Smith, Sr. Vice President of Dealer Sales, and Chip Perry, CEO

message_from_autotrader2

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Alan Smith and Chip Perry talk about the challenging times and some of the changes that are taking place at AutoTrader.com. This is a good message, I recommend watching it in it’s entirety. If you have an opinion, lets keep them positive and/or professional.

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Wondering what to do for Cash for Clunkers?

Even though the Cash for Clunkers Legislation has not passed yet, there is a lot of potential business already circulating around this program.  If you’re the first on the scene, you can seriously rule your market for anyone trying to find more information about the bill.

First:  Build your site and prepare your staff
“This bill is not official”, and those should be the first words out of your mouth, followed by a big BUT.  “But, when the bill is passed we want to be the dealership that earns your business.  Let me tell you a bit about the bill as it currently sits – have you visited the Cash for Clunkers page on our website (Checkered Flag’s Cash for Clunkers page)?  We are a participating Cash for Clunkers dealership, and ready to help you with the program when it does launch.  Basically, the program covers vehicles over X years old with a combined MPG of less than XX…”  you get the idea. [Read more…]

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CarsDirect Offers Free Used Car Listings to Terminated Chrysler, GM Dealers

EL SEGUNDO, CA–(Marketwire – June 11, 2009) – CarsDirect announced today that it is offering free online used car inventory listings to recently terminated Chrysler and General Motors franchise dealers in an effort to help dealers drive sales during the current transition period.

“Many of our dealer partners who have received termination notices aren’t simply closing up shop,” said Ken Potter, vice president and general manager of automotive sales and industry relations at CarsDirect. “Some plan to change brands, while others are shifting to a used car focus. But the next few months are crucial. We hope this offer helps dealers sell more cars as they work to stay in business and remain fixtures in their communities during the transition.”

CarsDirect will provide any dealership that received a termination notice from Chrysler or GM with 60 days of free used car listings on its network of sites, exposing the listings to 25 million monthly online visitors. The CarsDirect network includes listings on the CarsDirect.com Used Car Channel and SellMyCar.com, and targeted syndication of listings throughout the CarsDirect Automotive Network, one of the world’s largest collections of auto enthusiast websites.

Dealers are free to post their entire used car inventories, including unlimited photos of each vehicle. They are also eligible for a special rate on CarsDirect used inventory listing products after the conclusion of the 60-day free period.

“Last month, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of CarsDirect, and many of our dealer partners have been with us since Day One,” said Potter. “Our dealers helped us achieve the success we enjoy, and we’re hopeful that this offer helps dealers sell a few more cars during this uncertain period in the industry. We are grateful for our many strong dealer relationships and look at this as an opportunity to pay our dealers back.”

For more details on the no-charge CarsDirect used car listings program, eligible dealers can call (310) 280-4282 or e-mail [email protected]

About CarsDirect
CarsDirect (www.carsdirect.com) is a leading online automotive shopping service and research portal, providing new and used automobiles and related products and services, such as loan and lease financing. CarsDirect is a division of Los Angeles-based Internet Brands (www.internetbrands.com), a leading operator of community and e-commerce consumer websites.

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CRM is putting your well-oiled machine back on the assembly line

lowoilOver 5 years ago I was approached by our Vice President of Variable Ops who wanted me to take what I had done as our Honda Internet Manager and spread it through all the stores in our group.  He told me the job was temporary and not to expect it to last more than a year or 2.  He titled me the Internet Director and my job was to train “Internet Sales Agents” on how to move a lot of cars through digital communication.  His thoughts were that I would eventually find a store to call home and continue working my way up in a more traditional manner.

Since he asked me to do this job back in March of 2004, my job title has changed and I’ve worked my way into quite a few very different directions.  Once we had figured out a good way to handle not just Internet leads, but all incoming non-physical traffic too, and we had the right people in place I was able to focus more on things like our website, new technologies, and CRM.  It is the CRM that gets you!

The most important technology of any dealership is the one that promotes process.

[Read more…]

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VinSolutions and R. L. Polk & Co. Integrate to Offer Customers Easy Access to Polk Cross Sell™ Reports

Summary: With a simple push of a button, VinSolutions’ customers, who subscribe to the service, can access R. L. Polk & Co.’s monthly Polk Cross Sell™ reports directly from their VinSolutions system. VinSolutions offers two levels of participation. Customers may opt to receive both new and used vehicle reports, or select only new or only used reports.

Overland Park, KS, June 9, 2009 – VinSolutions announced their integration with R.L. Polk & Co.’s Polk Cross Sell™ today. Subscribing customers desiring access to the Polk Cross Sell™ report can simply push a button on their system and view it. Available at two levels of participation, VinSolutions’ customers may opt to receive both new and used vehicle reports, or choose between new or used reports.

The Polk Cross Sell™ report is delivered each month and summarizes what dealers need to know so they can more quickly identify and seize sales opportunities. Built from multiple sources including vehicle population and statistical data from all 50 states, Polk Cross Sell™ reports offer dealers a clearer view of the marketplace and their place in it.

“The Polk Cross Sell™ is a vital tool for dealers, and accessing it directly through our software makes managers’ lives a lot easier,” said Doug Kinney, VinSolutions’ CEO. “We are constantly looking for value added products to offer our customers, and we are very pleased to add the Polk Cross Sell™ reports to our offerings.”

R. L. Polk & Co.’s core purpose of helping people make good decisions is evident in the quality and reliability of their products. “We are excited to work with VinSolutions to help automobile dealers sell more vehicles,” said Andrew Price, Polk’s vice president of Automotive Retail Solutions. “The Internet has proven to be an important sales tool, and our relationship with VinSolutions will help dealers be even more productive and efficient with their use of technology.”

Using Polk Cross Sell™ reports enable dealers to manage from solid data. Being able to better plan their inventory levels and take advantage of market conditions, pinpointing areas where their sales are strong and identifying areas in need of focused attention are reason enough to make Polk Cross Sell™ reports a part of a dealer’s daily management regime.

ABOUT VINSOLUTIONS (www.vinsolutions.com)
An industry-leading developer of Internet-based desking, customer relations management (CRM) and Internet lead management (ILM) software, VinSolutions provides 24/7 dealership sales and
marketing information to their clients anywhere Internet access is available. In addition to CRM, ILM and Inventory control products, VinSolutions builds custom dealership Web sites, uploads inventory photos, offers their clients quality training and consulting services, as well as valuable customer support. VinSolutions is GM, Ford, Chrysler, Subaru and Audi certified and has working relationships, alliances and integrations with several automotive software service providers such as R. L. Polk & Co., Kelley Blue Book, CarFax, AutoSoft, Inc., Autodata, RouteOne and DealerTrack.

ABOUT R. L. POLK & CO.
R. L. Polk & Co. is the premier provider of automotive information and marketing solutions. Polk collects and interprets global data, and provides extensive automotive business expertise to help customers understand their market position, identify trends, build brand loyalty, conquest new business and gain a competitive advantage. Polk helps automotive manufacturers and dealers, automotive aftermarket companies, finance and insurance companies, advertising agencies, media companies, consulting organizations, government agencies and market research firms make good business decisions. A privately held global firm, Polk is based in Southfield, Mich. with operations in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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CAR Research – New DealerRefresh Ad Sponsor

DealerRefresh Welcomes a New Ad Sponsor – CAR-Research

Since 1995, CAR Research, Inc. d.b.a. Consumer Automotive Rapport has paved the way for the use of market research in the automotive industry.

CAR-Research is a full service solutions provider. From Sales to Service, BDC to Marketing, CAR-Research has a solution to help your dealership increase its marketing share and customer satisfaction. Utilizing CAR-Research services can fill your sales funnel and steam-line your sales process.

Some of their features include:

  • Complete CRM Software
  • Internet Lead Manager
  • Showroom Control Manager
  • Marketing Center
  • Missed Opportunity Interviews
  • Sold / Service Interviews
  • Service Reminder Program
  • Service Drive Control Manager
  • Full Mail House
  • BDC Consulting
  • Website Design and Hosting
  • Bi-Directional DMS Integration

To read more about CAR-Research and their services, click here.

Please Note: Our sponsors are important to us, and we hope to advertise products and services that we feel would be relevant to the community, however sponsors are not necessarily “endorsements” of dealerrefresh. As with any purchase, always do your research and comparisons. Find out if Advertising on DealerRefresh.com works for your company.

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Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com to Launch All-New Online Vehicle Classifieds

Kbb.com New and Used Car Inventory Listings Program Provides Confidence to Consumers, Efficiencies to Dealers

IRVINE, Calif., May 29 /PRNewswire/ — On July 17, 2009, Kelley Blue Book will launch The Trusted Marketplace(SM), a new online car shopping experience on its top-rated Web site www.kbb.com. Through a unique technology platform, The Trusted Marketplace’s search engine will present vehicles that match consumers’ desired characteristics. With The Trusted Marketplace’s revolutionary pay-for-performance business model, dealers will realize efficient sales at a fraction of the cost incurred with traditional, subscription-based classified listing models.

The Trusted Marketplace will provide consumers an unparalleled experience in finding their next new or used car. The Trusted Marketplace’s search function will reveal the ‘Best Match’ – a list of cars that most closely reflect a shopper’s search criteria and applied intelligence gained from millions of customer queries and transactions. Additionally, Kelley Blue Book will integrate its best-in-class online vehicle research with dealers’ inventory listings, making kbb.com a one-stop-resource for new- and used-car research and purchases. This integration will allow consumers to confidently find specific vehicles of interest and help dealers to efficiently sell those selected vehicles to serious, in-market shoppers. The execution of the new program rewards local dealers’ high-quality, competitively-priced listings rather than dealers who pay premium prices for placement. As The Trusted Resource(R) for vehicle values and information, the company will also integrate Kelley Blue Book(R) Suggested Retail Values into used-car classified listings to assist dealers in selling their vehicles.

Current and new Kelley Blue Book /  KBB.com Dealer Showcase customers can take advantage of an early-bird program offering special advantages and savings at the launch of the new classifieds program, including a feature-rich Dealer Storefront page within The Trusted Marketplace on kbb.com, providing consumers with detailed information about the dealership, as well as new lead opportunities, special messaging and merchandising opportunities.

With more than 12 million visits to kbb.com each month, Kelley Blue Book is in a unique position to engage a large majority of these highly qualified, in-market vehicle buyers in The Trusted Marketplace.

“The Trusted Marketplace will allow dealers to directly engage with serious buyers, and drive both new- and used- car shoppers to submit leads, to a dealer’s storefront page and their inventory,” said Paul Johnson, president and CEO, Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. “Kbb.com is the first place millions of Americans visit each month to begin their vehicle research process, making it the ideal place to continue their shopping process all on one Web site.”

During the fourth quarter of 2009, The Trusted Marketplace program will make a revolutionary move to a pay-for-performance model, allowing dealers to better manage their vehicle marketing costs. Paying only for leads dealers receive from kbb.com ensures that dealer costs are limited to the value of each high-quality, consumer-interest lead. Dealers can still sign up before September 30 to become a Kelley Blue Book Showcase Dealer and participate in The Trusted Marketplace program for a nominal fee.

“The scale of kbb.com’s pay-for-performance model is a game-changer in the online classifieds business,” said Johnson. “We expect that this program will be successful in not only matching consumers with cars that they want to buy, but also in helping the industry sell more vehicles at lower per-vehicle advertising costs. That’s a win-win situation we strive for every day – helping consumers and the industry to achieve their respective goals with confidence.”

Kelley Blue Book is working closely with technology provider Vast.com Inc., a search technology company providing an unrivaled experience in vehicle research and shopping to shoppers within The Trusted Marketplace on kbb.com.

Dealers wishing to obtain additional information on The Trusted Marketplace or become a Showcase Dealer can call 1-866-561-3559.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource(R), has provided vehicle buyers and sellers with the new and used vehicle information they need to accomplish their goals with confidence. The company’s top-rated Web site, www.kbb.com, provides the most up-to-date pricing and values, including the New Car Blue Book(R) Value, which reveals what people actually are paying for new cars. The company also reports vehicle pricing and values via products and services, including software products and the famous Blue Book(R) Official Guide. According to the C.A. Walker Research Solutions, Inc. – 2008 Spring Automotive Web Site Usefulness Study, kbb.com is the most useful automotive information Web site among new and used vehicle shoppers, and half of online vehicle shoppers visit kbb.com. Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, car reviews and news, used car blue book values, auto classifieds and car dealer locations. No other medium reaches more in-market vehicle shoppers than kbb.com.

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Cobalt Launches 2nd-Generation Mobile Dealer Web Interface

cobalt_group_logoSEATTLE, June 2, 2009 — Cobalt (www.cobalt.com), the leading provider of digital marketing services for the automotive industry, today announced the launch of its second-generation mobile web interface optimized specifically for the in-market automotive shopper. The design focuses on what a consumer is doing and where, encouraging active in-market shoppers to call the dealership or access point-to-point directions. In fact, Cobalt Mobile users are nearly three times more likely to click-through to an Hours and Directions page than Internet shoppers using a standard dealer website. As a result, Cobalt Mobile steers shoppers in the final stages of their shopping process to nearby dealerships.

While some dealer website providers simply shrink a dealer’s standard website to fit a smaller screen, Cobalt Mobile was designed as a native mobile interface. Leveraging industry research and best practices, Cobalt Mobile is focused on the conversion of shoppers to sales through clear, one-click calls-to-action: easy-to-browse inventory, one-click-to-call and point-to-point directions. Cobalt created its mobile solution to be a powerful tool for the multi-tasking mobile consumer.

“We have had great success with Cobalt Mobile. Cobalt Mobile puts the most important calls to action upfront for the shopper,” said James Quinn, Internet Manager at Les Stanford Chevrolet-Cadillac in Dearborn, MI. “This is definitely the future of mobile websites. I am excited to see what it does for our business platform!”

Cobalt Mobile is a seamless extension of a dealer’s Cobalt website. Dealers can now offer an easy-to-use mobile experience with no additional effort on the dealer’s part.

The Benefits of Cobalt Mobile

  • Cobalt Mobile websites focus on a mobile consumer’s goals: browse live inventory, locate a dealership or contact dealer sales & service
  • Inventory presentation is optimized for mobile devices; search results and inventory listings are simple to scroll through, and it’s a one-touch click into a vehicle’s photos and details
  • Dealer inventory, pricing and specials are updated in real-time
  • Fast loading, easy to navigate, point and click interface requires absolutely no typing
  • Best-of-breed mapping capabilities:
    • Leverages the power of Google® maps for mobile devices
    • Point-to-point directions with no typing
  • Same URL for both traditional and mobile access
  • Offers dealers an onsite tool for quickly accessing inventory on their car lot

“Cobalt invested heavily in industry research and design to create a best-in-breed mobile website solution that offers consumers a seamless website experience” said Paul Nagy, Cobalt’s Vice President of Core Products. “With Cobalt Mobile our dealer customers will be well positioned to exploit the explosive growth of mobile computing and serve the car shoppers that depend upon it.”

“We know that Infiniti customers are very tech savvy and active on the Internet. Our Cobalt Mobile website is clear cut; it drills right down to what the customer wants, making it easier for consumers to find what they are looking for and contact us from their mobile devices,” said George Grubbs III, Executive Manager of Grubbs Infiniti, a Dallas/Ft. Worth dealer. “I also have sales staff using the new Cobalt Mobile website as a portable inventory sales tool. It allows them to access inventory very easily from anywhere.”

Over the last year, the usage of mobile devices doubled (comScore, 2009) and mobile Internet browsing is expected to increase ten times over the next five years (ABI Research/Elektronista, 2008). Given the growing importance of mobile internet, it is imperative that dealers provide their online shoppers with inventory, specials and contact information that are optimized for display on mobile devices, enabling the consumer to easily shop from the dealer’s website at any time.

To learn more about Cobalt Mobile please call 800-909-8244 or visit www.cobalt.com/mobile.

About Cobalt
Cobalt is North America’s leading provider of digital marketing services for the automotive industry. For over fourteen years, Cobalt’s mission has been to help automobile dealers and manufacturers increase their retailing effectiveness and profitability. Cobalt provides marketing services to half of the automotive dealerships in the United States, as well as automotive dealers in Canada and Mexico. Cobalt’s marketing services are endorsed by approximately two-thirds of the world’s major automotive

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AutoTrader Doubles Exposure by Adding ESPN/ABC

autotrader_logoAutoTrader.com will double its media exposure this year by adding ESPN/ABC to its broadcast media advertising mix.

The buy, which begins in July, will give AutoTrader.com advertising real estate and in-program integration on Monday Night Football on ESPN; college football broadcasts on ESPN and ABC; NASCAR Sprint Cup broadcasts on ESPN and ABC; and Major League Baseball broadcasts on ESPN and on ESPN SportsCenter airings on Saturday nights, per the Atlanta-based auto classifieds marketplace and consumer information Web site.

AutoTrader.com’s current ad buy — both ad units and brand integration — includes the NBA on TNT; MTV, Vh1, Comedy Central and Spike TV. AutoTrader also advertises during NFL games, and advertised on the Daytona 500 broadcast and Major League Baseball events, including the All-Star game, the playoffs and the World Series.

AutoTrader ended 2008 with an average of 13 million unique monthly visitors, and this year is racking up 15 million unique monthly visitors. The company says that about 70% of visitors arrive at the site by typing the name into their browser. Visitors to AutoTrader.com spend on average more than 30 minutes on the site, researching makes and models, searching inventory, comparing prices and searching dealer specials.

“We knew we were going to look at broadcast for another element of our campaign this year,” says John Kovac, senior director of advertising at AutoTrader.com. “We have had so much success to date with our sports sponsorship we did early this year and continue to do with Fox that it made a lot of sense to go back into sports and round out our Fox and TNT buy. We had been looking into it and really decided we wanted to give a strong ad push in addition to what we had planned in the second half of year to help our dealer customers.”

He says the high-profile buys double AutoTrader’s media exposure in the second half. “We are getting back into NASCAR, NFL, expanding Major League Baseball, and college football. So I would say it’s a very significant addition,” he says.

What the company will not have this year is new creative. AutoTrader.com will stick with its two current spots, one that features a Paul Bunyanesque auto shopper and another showing a huge armada of cars. Southfield, Mich.-based Doner has handled ad duties for AutoTrader.com since the company’s inception a decade ago.

Kovac adds that the male sports focus with the expanded buy augments the current media plan. “We are trying to keep a balance between male and female focus.”

Original article found here.. Media Post