The Kansas City Business Journal announces VinSolutions as a winner in their fifth annual Champions of Business™ Awards Program. 

Overland Park, KS – April 28, 2011 – VinSolutions, an industry-leading developer of Internet-based Customer Relations Management (CRM) and Internet Lead Management (ILM) software, has been recognized by the Kansas City Business Journal as a Champion of Business™. The program honors Kansas City-area companies that have…

Compare the automotive industry from only a year ago to today or from ten years ago to today and we all will have the conclusion and understanding that this industry is ever changing and evolving.  No longer is the car standing on the lot at a dealership a guarantee for a sale and no longer can you just stare out the window of a dealership waiting for business.

Digital shopping and digital living has created a very unique challenge for dealers. It now makes your…

Hey what’s up? I wanted to share this powerful lesson with you today.  You see I am a father and husband and a busy man at…

Many dealerships today are finding it difficult to have profitable body shop operations. Costs are soaring in paint and materials as well as environment disposal fees. The future will see these costs building so Managers must have controls in place to minimize costs where we can.

1: Controlling paint and material costs.

  To begin let’s understand body shop supplies must be tracked by Technician. They should have their own supply box near their work area locked and controlled…

1) Great technology alone is not success; it is only part of process or marketing, or both.

2) Great marketing alone is not success; it only prolongs less-than-best results.

3) Great processes + great marketing = great sales, which IS…

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 10^th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition “Back to the Future” SCVNGR promotion!

It was not only designed to be a fun way for attendees to interact with the conference but also to introduce attendees to the power of location-based marketing. We hope you enjoyed it and thought it was fun.

First a few statistics:

• We had 116 people participate

• There were 24…

The new federal regulations that went into effect this year have added to the never-ending compliance requirements that dealerships have to deal with. Fortunately, most dealers have found that the Risk Based Pricing Notice and updated Privacy Notice requirements are pretty easy to handle. Utilizing the Credit Score Disclosure exception to Risk Based Pricing Notices and using the New Model Privacy Notices is relatively simple – just a few more forms to add to the pile. The Red Flags Rule is…

 The Automotive Summit Series, hosted by Thought Leadership Summits on June 14th & 15th at the Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey

Ford's Jeff Eggen, Experiential Marketing Manager is a featured presenter at the Automotive Social Media Summit on June 14th.  Jeff’s presentation will discuss how to “Break Through” and gain exposure by combining the power of Reality TV, Social Media, and Online Gaming.  Jeff will explain how Ford's “Focus Rally America” attracted…

Today, Facebook is launching a deals program similar to those on sites like Groupon and Living Social, testing offers in five major cities across the U.S. These deals will include major discounts and exclusive offers for tickets, passes, and more. People can then share it by “liking” to potentially get greater discounts if friends buy into an offer. Although this program is still in a test stage, once released in all areas it will have great potential for…

Automotive Education Takes To The Road

PCG Digital Marketing is pleased to announce that we have select 7 cities in the United States and Canada to host the PCG Pit Stop tour. With the growing success of our educational conference format, we have decided to make it more affordable for dealers to send their employees for additional…

Jim Ziegler, Ralph Paglia, Larry Bruce and VinSolutions Host "Internet Battle Plan V"

Atlanta, GA: Top automotive industry trainer Jim Ziegler presents a dynamic super seminar event to help auto retailers meet fiercely competitive marketing challenges in today's high-technology retail environment. This major automotive learning opportunity will be held in Kansas City on May…

     Vilified, customers petrified of an industry wrought with ne’er-do-goods;

Loathed and convicted of wrongs committed by others- perhaps we’re misunderstood?

What appears to me is an honorable, loyal sister and brotherhood.

Apologizing for the sins of others enduring the scorn and disdain;…

PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact(s):  Mark Scott

404-568-7905 (ph), 404-435-2047 (cell)

mark.scott@autotrader.com

NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS AUTOTRADER.COM’S LARGE SELECTION

OF NEW CARS FOR SALE ON SITE

Brand New TV Spot Borrows Imagery from AutoTrader.com’s Heart…

Let’s face it, every dealership is looking for short cuts to help manage Social Media more efficiently and effectively.  One option is to outsource your dealership’s Social Media to someone who can take care of certain tasks for you.  Social Media still requires your participation and any task that doesn’t…

What if we had an all car-guy tv network? I will say that this is in no way meant to offend. It is all just good natured fun and I hope we can all laugh at ourselves. If it offends, please accept my apology. Also, check your card, you may not be a car-guy after all.

All Auto TV Network Program Line-Up

5 -6 AM: Morning Prayer- Brad Alexander and Craig Lockerd open with morning devotions and discuss today’s…

Many dealers are hesitant to let their salespeople use Facebook because they expect employees to waste too much time chatting with their friends, playing Farmville, etc. This concern is understandable when you want your salespeople to be on the floor selling, following up to leads over email and phone, and making the most of their time. But you can’t ignore the fact that the majority of your potential leads are using Facebook and it is a legitimate tool for…

When a friend posted this picture on Facebook, first I laughed and thought back to those crazy college days with pranks and practical jokes involving duct tape.  Then my thoughts wandered into the humor of my adult life, where I joke about things being held together with duct tape and Popsicle sticks.  Then it dawned on me there is another meaning to…