In its most basic form, retargeting serves ads to people after they have left an advertiser's website. Retargeting helps companies advertise to website visitors who leave without a conversion - this accounts for about 98% of all web traffic.[3] Retargeting takes place through displaying ads to the user as they browse the Internet, via various ad networks.

This process marks or tags online…

Do you really know your business? To know your business you must know all the operating metrics as well the core of your business model. Business is part art and part science. Knowing the science part makes the art much easier. Many dealers are still operating under an outdated business model that can no longer be supported in any economy, especially the current economic conditions. The only way to change the outdated model is to ask more questions, better questions, measure everything…

Resignation Letter

To: Dealer Principal

Reference: Fixed Operations Gross Profit Resignation Letter

Dear Dealer Principal,

It has come to my attention that Fixed Ops Gross Profit has resigned effective immediately. Without the continued support of Gross Profit I cannot continue to be effective in the performance of my duties while adding funds to your Profitability. (not to mention your bank…

TrueCar has had a rollercoaster ride in the automotive retail industry over the past few years. However, it appears things may be taking a turn for the worse (both for TrueCar as well as its participating dealer clients). Read on, as I reveal their new policy changes that will have a negative impact on dealers, as well as my in-depth interview with a top eCommerce Directors about this change.



Cliff…

Across all of the Star Wars movies, the evil Imperial stormtroopers have the resources of the most powerful organization in the Universe, the latest technology, cutting-edge weaponry, and endless supplies. Yet in nearly every confrontation with a small band of rebels they never seem to be able to hit anyone when shooting!

How can these untrained rebels…

Why does it take 7 positive surveys to overcome 1 negative one? After having one bad month, why does it take 3 months to get back on track?  Explain to me why I must work with 4, 5, even 8 prospects before finally making 1 sale?

Red ink doesn’t flow faster than black ink-it merely shows faster. The truth is we need red ink moments in life to quickly…

Resignation Letter

Date: Effective Immediately

From: Fixed Operations Gross Profit

To: Dealer Principal

Dear Dealer Principal,

It is with great regret that I must submit this letter of resignation effective immediately.

Although we have worked together over the past few years I don’t feel I can contribute to your bottom line anymore. It has been a great experience and I wish you and all of your dealership team the best.

I am quite…

Does Google+ influence search rankings to any noticeable degree? It's one of the most hotly debated issues in all of search engine optimization and digital marketing right now. A lot of people, experts included, are claiming that not only does…

This week's Think Tank Tuesday dissects Service Retention, and reveals to you the 6 key touch points discovered to raise your Service Profits and keep your service bays full.

In a recent article by our very own Praveen Tamvada, the pros and cons of the various mobile tablets are examined; and we give some tips on how you can determine which one may work best in your service department. Android vs. Windows vs. iPad? Your favorite may not necessarily be the best fit for your fixed ops needs.

We also explain how the tablets should integrate with your DMS and give some advice on how to design your service lane to get the most out of your…

All sales people need to have a monthly sales goal for themselves. They also need to know how they arrived at that specific goal. Many times, these goals are based upon their past sales performance, but past results may not be indicative of performance.

You can increase your sales by 25 percent or more. Identify what causes mental barriers that produce limited results and how to overcome them. Many barriers are caused by conditioning, circumstance and emotions. Many people…

Today I talked about the importance of keeping track of specialty tools in dealerships. We had a participant on the call that has a great system in place at his dealership. This system is the best I have ever heard of! Click on the link below to find out what he does to track his specialty tools.…

A recent study by Barclays Bank revealed interesting statistics about consumer behavior as it relates to small and medium-sized businesses. The study included the retail behavior of 2,006 consumers and also surveyed loyalty business…

Is there anything better than a nice breakfast of crispy hot spam? Oh...what's that you say? Pretty much anything? Well, guess what buttercup...Google feels the same way, but people keep trying to serve up spam all the same. One technique is hammered and gets you penalized, and the army of  spammers (the ones who give SEO a bad name to begin with) just move on…

Clicks and ‘LIKES’ are only the beginning—engagement leads to sales

On Facebook it doesn’t matter how many ‘LIKES’ your brand has if those fans don’t engage with the page. Engagement is what sticks in a consumer’s mind and leads to future sales. People ‘LIKE’ things all the time without giving that brand or item another thought. Make real fans…

Yelp Director of National Marketing Presents “Local, Social, Mobile: Leveraging Converging Trends to Drive More Car Shoppers Into your Dealership;” joins keynote line-up that includes Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land, former U.S. Navy SEAL Officer Leif Babin, and The Walt Disney Company^®

Salt Lake City, UT – August 19, 2013 – DrivingSales today…

Recommended Workshop Guide for Fixed Ops Managers

AutoCon 2013 welcome Fixed Operations Directors and Service Managers to participate in the rapidly changing world of automotive retailing.  Fixed Operations staff are often "left home" when employees are picked to attend automotive conferences. This pattern has to stop.  

There are many opportunities to…

There are only five ways to increase the bottom line of a business: Sell more vehicles, practice price elasticity (get more gross profit per sale), create more repeat customers, increase the speed of the buying cycle for your current customers, and create continuity programs by getting the customer to continually do business with you (service, add-on selling etc.). Although all are important, one can be obtained instantly and with a huge impact - price elasticity and the ability to increase…

Our industry, much like those of construction, technology, national politics and sports (amongst others) are notorious for being dominated by the male species. Why is that? Is it the old aged theory that women simply “don’t grasp the complicated machines known as cars”? Or is it that we just aren't macho enough? Whatever the reasoning, it simply just doesn't make any sense.…

Everything IS Connected: 

The world is changing. Marketing is no longer defined by lip-service promotions. Instead consumers are flocking to the Internet, seeking information about their favorite brands and products. They want the immediacy of networking; they want the ease of web site posts;…