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| As selected by Activengage |
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Video is a powerful tool that your dealership should be using -- it's increasingly critical to your online marketing program. The post includes a rundown of vendors currently offering video solutions for dealers.
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This is a great question that was posted about pricing your vehicles online, and Dale Pollack's video response saying this online vehicle pricing is an art requiring constant tweaking in order to ensure success.
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Should you encourage or discourage your employees from using Social Media while at work in your dealership? The truth is that - when given direction and incentive - employees can serve as your best marketers! This is a great post about leveraging your employees' Facebook pages.
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| How-to’s by industry experts |
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 Get In On a Second Chance to Close Deals Recognizing that automotive sales opportunities are too often lost during the initial phone call, CallSource, industry leader in call tracking, recording, performance analytics, sales training and learning management, developed and introduced DealSaver® to literally give dealers a second chance to convert those callers to customers. Analysts review all prospect calls and quickly notify management when they detect a missed opportunity that could be saved. DealSaver integrates with four of CallSource's most valuable dealer services: 1. CallTrack®CallTrack ensures that every call is tracked and recorded. Real time information and expert analysis show you how well each marketing campaign is working and how effectively your employees interact with callers. The result is improved performance, increased ROI and additional sales. 2. LeadScore®LeadScore reviews all tracked calls, separating sales prospects from non-prospects. The system sorts your sales, parts and service calls to ensure that each department has quick access. LeadScore identifies, for the first time, your true cost-per-lead, closing ratios, and the number of meaningful sales opportunities generated by each source of marketing you use. 3. SpeedScore®SpeedScore lets you quickly select, review and sort calls for your own evaluation of sales performance. Target your coaching and training to the needs of each salesperson. 4. Telephone Performance Analysis (TPA)Our expert analysts review your prospect calls, grading and ranking each call handler's skill at converting leads to appointments and sales. Compare individual employees, stores and regions. Our evaluations pinpoint specific skill gaps, helping you reward good performance and target training where needed. For more information visit CallSource or call Pogo Parr at 877.897.1819 or email Pogo Parr for a "live" demonstration.
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INDUSTRY NEWS IN THE LAST 24
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 Industry Manufacturers Forecast Increased Sales in 2010 A May, 2010 survey of more than 2,600 automotive parts and accessories manufacturers provides interesting sales information. Industry sales for 2010 could rise anywhere from 3% to 9%, based on manufacturer replies. Fastlane Research Press Release, June, 2010
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 Revamped Ford Explorer is Test of Company's Strategy The latest Ford Explorer SUV (sort of) won't his the market until late summer, but it already sets an example of the future of auto products in general under the "top hats" strategy -- invest in fewer platforms and build more models (top hats) off of them. Detroit News, June 10, 2010
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 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study Results Long-term dependability is of prime concern to automakers and consumers alike as buyers tend to keep their vehicles longer. JD Power VDS research from owners of 3-year-old models reveals some interesting driver experience. J.D. Power and Associates, June, 2010
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Responsibility for complying with the new Risk-Based Pricing Rule falls squarely on the shoulders of dealers. While the rule's requirements are highly technical and demanding, there are alternative ways of meeting your compliance obligations. Register now & spend an hour getting up to speed.
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Daily clicks to increasing dealer revenue & profits
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 Free Reporting Service from Auto Data Direct
Auto Data Direct is the first to provide a free vehicle reporting option to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System INMVTIS) for the auto recycling and insurance industries. Allows users to satisfy federal reporting requirements by uploading junk, salvage and total loss vehicle data to the national database. For more info visit www.ADD123.com.
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 Time to Discover Dealer Services Corp Dealer Services Corporation, the leading independent floor plan finance company for the used vehicle industry is America’s largest independent inventory finance provider for used automobiles and other diversified products sold by automotive dealers. DSC provides flexible and cost effective inventory financing solutions to dealership operations. For more info visit www.discoverDSC.com.
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 Dealer.com Named Top Small Company Dealer.com, global leader in online marketing solutions for auto dealers, is one of 20 North American companies named a “Top Small Company Workplace” by Inc. magazine and Winning Workplaces. “We are very proud to be recognized by Inc. magazine as a top small company workplace,” said Mark Bonfigli, CEO of Dealer.com. Visit Dealer.com and read full 2010 Top Small Company Workplaces report at www.inc.com.
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| How-to’s by industry experts |
 Warranty Compliance in the Dealership – Part IIIn Part I of this series, the role of the Service Advisor was emphasized in determining the cause and correction of a customer’s complaint. Now we move on to the service department itself and the role of the “technician” in not only fixing the problem but writing a repair order that will survive the audit and keep those hard-earned dollars inside the dealership. So click here or click on the image, and let an experienced warranty advisor fill you in on how to keep the hard-earned dollars you make in your service department!
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| auto dealer sales & marketing |
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 Dealers: Boost Your Internet Sales This MonthBy Todd SmithWhat changes would I make in my Internet sales if times were tough and I was still on the retail side of the business? Here are some easy things to do at your dealership that will absolutely have an impact on your Internet sales and productivity without adding to your budget. 1. Redesign your autoresponder for shoppers - Most autoresponders I see only state that the lead has been received and someone will get back to them ASAP. But, this is such a great place to do so much more. Take the time and rewrite your autoresponder, or better yet make it a video and send the Internet shopper a link. Include specials' highlight events going on at the store, post the latest rebates and incentive. Video it hot right now so leverage it and get personal. 2. Create an "email offers" to previous prospects - A monthly personalized offer to your shoppers is a great way to stay connected. Continued follow up even with your nonresponsive shoppers can yield results. This sometimes is completely overlooked at dealerships but always produces results. Put a combination of new and used in the offer to give your email maximum penetration for your Internet sales.
3. Make two extra calls per prospect - A major point of poor Internet sales results in falling short on follow up process. Just when you think you have made enough attempts to contact a shopper add two more attempts to the schedule. Also call at different times. Try first thing in the morning or later in the evening. Mix it up and try to find the sweet spot to make contact. Todd Smith, president and co-founder of ActivEngage, can be reached at todd@activengage.com. Click here to read this article in its entirety or visit Todd at his blog.
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| bringing sales into service and service into sales |
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 Michelin Celebrates National Tire Safety Week!
Choosing the right tires and properly maintaining them are effective ways to enhance your vehicle's performance and improve road safety. Since June 6-12 was National Tire Safety Week, leading tire manufacturer Michelin wants to remind consumers of the benefits of choosing the right tires and of simple, cost–effective ways to contribute to tire safety. After all – your tires are the only part of your car in contact with the road.So click here and then click on the image for tips on keeping your customers and their loved ones safe!
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| driving technology in and around the VEHICLE |
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 Telematics Conference 2010
Bringing Out the BestUpcoming video interviews are highlighted"We started off with cars doing on-call -- emergency calls, breakdown call. Interestingly enough up till now, that's been the basis of telematics services in the industry. Now what we see is the emerging mobile applications area and we see this trend coming very fast." -- Martin Rosell, Managing Diretor, WirelessCar. "For the most part, yes the public is embracing these technologies. They're not widespread yet, but it's growing. Not as fast as originally anticiapted, perhaps due, in part, to the economic state." -- James R. Sayer, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. "Over the past couple of years, the definition of telematics has expanded to include all kinds of location-based services. Essentially any communication with the car. That's a lot of talk about bringng things from a mobile handset into the car." -- Dean VonBank, VP Americas' marketing, NAVTEQ. "The, future? That's a tough question. In auotmotive space, I think the most significant thing we've seen and it's really great for us, is in the past six months to a year, there's been a buzz around the mobile integration into vehicles." -- James Grace, automotive business development manager, Telenav. "Intellidrive, that's basically the ultimate telematics deployment in which vehicles will potentially be able to communicate with each other in real time. We see that as the natural progression of traffic safety." -- Jan Hellaker, VP business development and government programs, Volvo Technology North America.
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| how to make & keep your delaership environmentally responsible |
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 Hawaii -- The Mecca Where Everything Electric Began
The former king of Hawaii (long before it became a U.S. state) claims electricity was installed in the Royal Palace seven years after Thomas Edison invented the first light bulb. If you're ready to accept that, then you're on track for knowing how intent Hawaii is in having 50,000 electric cars on its roads by 2015 (and 200,00 by 2030). If anyone can do it, Hawaii can. Why? Because it has to import all of its energy (51 million barrels a year), people don't drive very far (afterall it's an island) and it will be the first U.S. state to receive units of Nissan's Leaf. There's a lot more to this fascinating story. Click here and click on the image to learn more!
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