January 2018 – DealerRefresh | DealerRefresh Automotive Dealer Forums

AI’s Role in the Future of Automotive Retail

The Economist recently pointed to AI’s growing importance, stating that “the world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data.” And with the vast majority of data—over 90 percent—being generated over the past two years, it’s no surprise that businesses across industries are looking for innovative ways to capitalize on this new form of …

Best Practices Dealership Communication Tools Dealership Marketing

Introducing DealerRefresh Mini-Webinars and Live Web Chats

A colleague once told me, “I’d rather spend 60 minutes learning from someone who already figured out what I need to know, than spend days, weeks, or months trying to figure it out on my own.” This is precisely why webinars have and continue to be so popular. Problem is that in today’s business culture, …

Best Practices Dealership Marketing

[INFOGRAPHIC] How Personal Connections Inspire Trust in the Car Buying Journey

When we talk about ‘connected consumers’ it’s usually in the context of a customer’s online presence; how they expect – and in some cases demand – transparency and information, especially when it comes to big ticket items. But giving customers information and the tools they want to comparison shop is one part of the equation …

Best Practices Dealership Communication Tools Dealership Marketing

Dealing with a Blacklisted CRM and Measuring your Response Rate.

Skip to the point if you don’t care to read the backstory. I sit back, this morning, amazed at how unreliable email delivery is. It might be getting worse and worse every year. Due to abusive advertisers we all want to safeguard our inboxes from disgusting amounts of delete button presses. And so, car dealers suffer. Car …

Dealership Marketing Industry News & Trends Opinions & Advice

[PODCAST] Industry Dirt, Drama, and Dealer-Vendor Role Playing – 2018 Predictions

Brace yourself for this HOUR LONG rambling with your hosts and cohorts Ryan Gerardi and Chris K Leslie. In this episode we recap recent conversations with the attempt to dig up dirt and drama in the auto retail industry. We then take a deep dive into Eric Miltsch’s recent article on DealerRefresh: 2018 Automotive Marketing …

Best Practices Dealership Operations & Processes

Pricing Information and How Much do Shoppers Really NEED?

How much pricing information do vehicle shoppers really need? The quick answer is… more than none. Not all customers are price driven, but almost all are price CONSCIOUS. You need to believe this is the universal truth. Enough data has been shared over the last several years to prove that displaying a discounted price from the MSRP …

Best Practices

Your Toughest Competitor May Be Closer Than You Think

2018 is upon us, and for many dealerships, that means it’s time to set new goals for the new year. Goals provide focus, direction, and something to work towards. They ensure that a team is on the same page and aiming to accomplish the same thing. It’s tempting to simply compare yourself to your competition, …

CPC Costs are Way too High on Dealers Branded Search

Best Practices Dealership Marketing Industry News & Trends

Branded Search, How Much You Should Spend and How Dealers are Getting Screwed

This article serves two purposes: Explain the need for branded search and what it should actually cost and why. Show dealers how to inspect what their SEM vendors are doing to determine if they working in your best interest or their own. Enjoy! Why Do I Need to Buy My Dealership Name? I Have Great …

Best Practices Dealership Communication Tools

VIDEO: How to Reduce Lost Sales and Defection Rates

When the market is down, sales are declining, and lead volume is lower than normal. How can your dealership respond, not just to maintain a flat line, but to turn around the trend and outsell the national average? What information is available, and what tools exist, to tackle this not-so-uncommon scenario? When Morrie’s Brooklyn Park …

2018 Automotive Marketing Predictions - DealerRefresh

Dealership Marketing

2018 Automotive Marketing Predictions

A new year and time again for my favorite blog post of the year! I love to see the constant progress dealers make to improve their operations. The changes in consumer behavior are always fascinating to witness, and the solutions vendors deliver to the industry play a pivotal role in the success dealers experience. During the last few years, …