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| As selected by Activengage |
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Lots of how-to information is great but we still need to know how to sell to get the job done. This website is a great resource for basic sales tactics and techniques it is called Just Sell ... and it's worth checking out.
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What's even more important than driving traffic to your site? Focusing on your dealership conversion and how to optimize it. That's the half of the equation that you need to turn your site into a lead generation machine. Click to learn more...
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This post asks whether dealers are still doing a 2-tier pricing system (lot & Internet) and which they think is better, and why. And it's drawing some heated discussion ... click to learn more.
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| How-to’s by industry experts |
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 New Eco-Friendly Shopping Trends Dealers Should Be Aware Of As manufacturers usher in the latest styles and models with every kind of consumer in mind, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest trends when searching for a green car. Dealers should be aware of options and information when customers come with questions. Experts from AutoTrader.com, have identified the following three new green vehicle trends:
• Manufacturers are working to get “green” car mileage out of conventional cars. By using lighter weight materials and making the cars smaller, companies are starting to squeeze 35 and 40 mpg out of conventional vehicles, without the added price that a hybrid can cost. Brands like Ford (with the Fiesta), Mini, Scion (with the iQ), Chevy (with the Cruze) and Fiat (with the 500) are showing cars that are small, fun, sexy and get good gas mileage.
• The definition of turbo charging is changing. In the past, turbo charging was used to get extra horse power – it was all about more pickup and faster rides. But now, many manufacturers are using turbo charging to increase gas mileage and save customers money. • Luxury is now also going green. At the recent Geneva Motor Show, upscale brands like BMW, Ferrari and Porsche were showcasing hybrid concept cars, proving that using less gasoline isn’t just for budget minded consumers – even those who can afford a $100,000 vehicle are eco-conscious.
Visit www.AutoTrader.com to learn more from the experts.
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INDUSTRY NEWS IN THE LAST 24
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 Death of PT Cruiser Seen as a Symbol of Industry's Problems It was once Chrysler's best-selling car. Now the last PT Cruiser rolls off the assembly line today. Experts say a pattern of doing little or nothing to maintain a brand after a successful launch contributed to the Cruiser's demise. USA Today, July 8, 2010
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 Minivan Image Gets Makeover Makers of minivans are trying to put some "swagger" into their marketing strategy, aimed at taking some "dorkiness" out of these staid and true workhorses. Great YouTube video attempts to move that marketing image along with a Toyota Swagger Wagon! Detroit News, July 8, 2010
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Industry-wide analysis: as the automotive market continues to stabilize, get the latest in-depth look into recent automotive trends to be better positioned for success. Understand vehicle buying habits as they shift between different generations and see how those differences impact brand loyalty.
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Daily clicks to increasing dealer revenue & profits
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 NADA University Offers West Coast Seminars In addition to its East Coast on-site seminars, NADA University has added West Coast workshops at the Automotive Partners Building at Cerritos College in Long Beach, CA. Click here for the schedule. Call 800.557.6232 or visit NADAUniversity.com to register for the workshops and the new free NADA-ATD Resource Toolbox MarketINSIGHT mini-Webinars as well as the NADA-ATD Learning Hub Webinars, which are for purchase.
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 AutoTrader.com Launches Free Online Marketing Handbook AutoTrader.com, the ultimate automotive marketplace, has released the Online Marketing Handbook -- available free to auto dealers -- a complete guide designed to improve dealers’ online advertising efforts in retailing new and used vehicle inventory. Designed to help dealers improve their Web-based marketing efforts. To request a copy of the Handbook, contact an AutoTrader.com sales consultant or email industryrelations@autotrader.com for more information.
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 Autobytel Launches AutoPilotSM Lending Tool Autobytel Inc., a leader in marketing resources for dealers and manufacturers, launches AutoPilotSM, a new car buying service for consumers who receive financing from their local credit union or bank. process for both consumers and car dealers, AutoPilot provides consumers with VIP dealer service and no-haggle pricing, and car dealers with pre-qualified buyers. AutolandDirect will be AutoPilot’s premier partner and will also help power the program with its call center technology. Visit AutoBytel for more information.
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| How-to’s by industry experts |
 Dealers: Echo Boomers Could Be On Your Doorstep – Now
A recent AutoTrader.com study found that Echo Boomers -- people who are between the ages of 19-35 -- view car ownership as an important and exciting event in their life. Seventy-six percent of Echo boomers in the study agreed with the statement that “Owning a vehicle is an important step to adulthood,” and 73% agreed that “Owning a vehicle is exciting.” There is no doubt you will want to capture the interest of this sizeable group of car shoppers. Click here or click on the image to find out what Echo Boomers want – and don’t want – in a new vehicle purchase!
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| auto dealer sales & marketing |
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 Consumers Look For Auto Retailers They Can TrustBy Mark DubisConsumers are coming back into auto showrooms, and the Internet provides shoppers with more information than ever. They want a great buying experience and are looking for dealerships that have a good reputation. Carfolks.com is a new social media website providing a better vehicle shopping experience for consumers seeking a friction-free sales transaction. Like Yelp and Facebook, customers can comment on their experiences with dealers they have worked with during the past year. Their feedback will help their neighbors find good local auto retailers. Being an auto specific site allows consumers to quickly find the information they need in one location. Vehicle reviews and videos will be added in the near future. Since every dealership and their staff can sign up for free, within six months it will be very clear to auto shoppers across the country which dealerships really care about customer service. Savvy shoppers will be asking dealers to show them the “Carfolks Rating.” All recent auto buyers are invited to visit Carfolks.com and share their buying or service experience with their neighbors. As more and more auto sales professionals participate on Carfolks, consumers will be able to choose the sales person they want to work with to complete the transaction. By reading customer comments, reviews and information on the sales person, the buyer feels more comfortable and has established a base trust level with that professional. Mark Dubis, Marketing Director for Carfolks.com, can be reached at 216-712-6712.
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| bringing sales into service and service into sales |
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 Insight on Servicing Ford's Mid-Size Vehicles
It's one thing to sell a midsize Ford, and quite another to service it. For instance, did you know the I-4 Duratec engine features a direct-acting mechanical bucket-tappet valvetrain, while the V6 engine features a hydraulically lash-adjusted roller-finger follower valvetrain? Did you know there is no serviceable fuel filter on some Ford models? Then there's the Fusion radio, which is programmable, and has to be programmed with a scan tool or the back lighting won't work? Click here or click on the image for some great information on servicing the Focus, Taurus/Five Hundred, Fusion that will make your customers happy and lighten the load on your technicians!
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| driving technology in and around the VEHICLE |
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 Safety Conscious Ford Adds New Feature
Ford to debut curve control system in new Explorer
Ford Motor Co. says there are more than 50,000 crashes on curves each year in the U.S. As a solution, the safety-minded company is upgrading the electronic stability control system on its 2011 Ford Explorer to help the SUV perform better if a driver takes a curve too quickly. The curve control system uses the same sensors as Ford's stability control system. This will cut the engine's power and apply the brakes to individual wheels if it senses a driver going off-course. Curve control adds another layer of monitoring and can cut power even more quickly if it senses the SUV isn't turning as fast as the driver wants it to. Curve control will be able to drop the Explorer's speed by as much as 10 miles per hour in a second. The system will be the first of its kind on the market, according to Ali Jammoul, Ford's chief engineer of global chassis engineering. Jammoul said Ford is developing other new features related to the stability control sensors, including systems that integrate steering and braking and improvements to Ford's parking assist system.
The system will be standard on the Explorer, coming out later this year. Ford plans to add it to 90 percent of its North American crossovers, sport utility vehicles, trucks and vans by 2015. Click here for more information.
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| how to make & keep your DEALERSHIP environmentally responsible |
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 For Closed-Loop Combustion --
Timing is EverythingPerhaps you weren't aware, that diesel engines have traditionally operated in an "open loop" environment. But now, thanks to adjustments made in the Engine Control Module (ECM) of today's diesels, it is possible to operate in a "closed loop" environment, leading to dramatic improvement in engine efficiency, drivability and reduction of emissionsl. This is big news for diesel engine vehicles hitting the market! Click here because as dealers you will want to know more about "closing the loop" -- and then click on the image for a close-up look at diesel closed-loop combustion!
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