While lead generation is important, according to this article on Inc.com, many companies would see far greater results (and better, more-qualified leads) if more emphasis were placed on nurturing, engagement, and providing value through content…

When you think of all the things that go into making your dealership a success, communication ranks at the top of the list. In fact, without good communication—both inside the dealership and with your customer base—you’ll likely suffer unnecessary losses in sales, employees, and customers. And while it’s one of the most integral pieces to your success, great communication can also be one of the most difficult things to achieve. Why? Because your dealership is a complicated machine with many…

In my past few blogs, I discussed the various areas in a dealership that are affected by the current recall epidemic, compared the differing viewpoints about recall repairs from dealers and consumers, discussed non-compliance in recall repairs on…

The chances are pretty good that any email lead YOU receive is also sent to competing dealerships. That means the car shopper will get emails and phone calls from other salespeople looking to sell that customer a car. Unless the lead is on a unique used vehicle, your competitors have the same new vehicles in their inventory.

Therefore, reaching that customer…

Take Control of Your Dealership’s Communication

If you want to capture the attention of shoppers in today’s market, communication should be one of the sharpest tools in your toolbox. Remember the days of desk phones and tangled cords? The me-to-you approach of salespeople who told customers all about the cars on the lot?  The newspaper ads that detailed the “special invitations” to save?  Say good-bye to all of that, because dealership communication has come…

Did you know subject lines framed as questions get fewer open rates and replies?

Most people assume you SHOULD ask questions in your subject line in order to get more open rates when that’s not the case.  You can also increase the success of your marketing campaign by dropping the exclamation points! 

We know it’s hard to break the mold, and…

Video content has pretty much become the preferred medium for consumers. Social media platforms increasingly give video content preferential reach and content producers have adjusted their strategies accordingly.

In retail automotive, video is used very effectively to market dealerships and their inventory, because the content successfully attracts consumers’…

This common saying is certainly one that everyone knows. And, whether it’s true or not, has endured time. Why? Because someone cooking for you is an intimate act that is satisfying and elicits fond memories. In essence, this act accomplished on a regular basis is supposed to be the recipe (pun intended) to win the love of a man, or woman. The gender of a person has little to…

Study Shows That Car Shoppers Needs and Preferences Are Ignored in 40% of Dealership Sales

As more and more vehicles tout a range of exciting features, better safety, connectivity and the next best thing in car design, manufacturers and dealers will need to compete on a different sphere – the customer experience. The customer…

Search engine marketing is valuable tool when used correctly. But it's not the be all, end all of digital marketing. You need to be able to step outside of your comfort zone if you want to achieve digital marketing success.



If you haven't already begun experimenting with other tools; now is the time. The first tool you should start with is email marketing. Tap into your current database and gather more information about your customers.

On this episode, Paul explains how you…

Part III: Gather Data to Dominate

Hopefully you’re already convinced social selling has a lot to offer your dealership.  In fact, dealerships that want to win in today’s marketplace will need to get social—and fast—if they want to keep up with the competition.  In addition to building relationships with consumers and becoming a top-of-mind resource, by amping up your social media presence, your dealership can glean plenty of useful data that will come in handy when…

Have you ever considered targeting your sales and service customers simultaneously? Try placing a service offer in with your next sales mailer. I promise you’ll be happy with the results.

Service has become a highly competitive market. Shops now exist on practically every street corner. It’s hard to find a conquest customer who is willing to drive more than…

Are you testing your emails before you send them?

More than 80% of the population use smartphone and other mobile devices. Over 60% of people open their emails on mobile devices. So what is your business doing to adapt to these ever-growing numbers?

In this week’s Hard Facts, Samantha explains that you should not only be A/B testing subject…

Well, you know it’s inevitable.  Eventually some in your dealership will leave, either voluntarily or involuntarily, but will exit nonetheless. Instead of just allowing people to ride off into the sunset, why not invest 5 to 10 minutes with them on the off-chance that you could learn a little something? You…

In my last few blogs, I’ve discussed how to handle recall customers and why dealers should embrace them rather than be afraid of them. We’ve also reviewed new and used car recalls, along with the applicable laws and consequences for any failure to comply. The one area I haven’t yet discussed is recalls in your service drive. Sure, you have customers who know they have a…

Part I: Social Selling and Your Bottom Line

There’s serious hype about social selling in every industry, but do you know what it means for your dealership?  Do you know how it can impact your sales, your employee engagement, and ultimately your bottom line?

If not, it’s time to take a look.  There are several ways social selling can dramatically impact your dealership, and in Part I of this 3-part series, you’ll gain insights that will help you…

Are you looking for fast and easy ways to speed up the success of your business? 

This week on Think Tank Tuesday, Paul will go into detail about techniques you need to use to brand your business and become successful in no time.  The first step? Ask yourself these questions.

Why are you unique?

What do you do as a business owner that is…

Albany, N.Y. – June 20th, 2016 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems today announced the full agenda of speakers and presentations for its National Customer User Summit to be held September 19-21, 2016 at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center. All sessions offer practical "how to" advice from vendors that integrate with Auto/Mate's dealership management system (DMS), and/or actionable strategies that attendees can take home to…

Comparing yourself to competitors in the same market...is it really such a good idea?

In this week’s Hard Facts, Samantha explains why it's not always ideal to compare your business to a competitor's, but how to do it properly in the right circumstances. Watch now!…

There’s no question – the recall crisis is eroding the confidence consumers have in vehicle safety. Every day, we hear of more vehicles being recalled for various reasons. If nothing else were to get recalled, we’d be looking at an “estimated” completion date of around 2020. That’s assuming the parts to fix the recalls aren’t themselves recalled -- as was the case when TRW…