(Quick Note: This is an excerpt from the 2015 Automotive Dealer Mystery Shop Study we released this year; and the best practices shared below relate to the email and voicemail messages that car dealers should be using when responding to an internet sales lead.)

VOICEMAIL & EMAIL RESPONSES – BEST PRACTICES

It’s important to remember the goal of this process: That is, to drive a reconnection;…

Talk More, Sell More, Win More.

Are you a salesperson looking to make more money? I have the answers. On this week's Think Tank Tuesday, learn how to make a gigantic difference in your sales every month. It's time for your end-of-month numbers to get better.…

Chevrolet proves that car shoppers can get a car lease for $99 per month, according to the latest lease deals currently offered on the Wantalease.com online lease marketplace. The Chevrolet Malibu can be leased for $99 monthly, along with 11 other vehicles with lease deals for less than $200 per month.



The Volkswagen Jetta S, Nissan Sentra SV and Chevrolet Cruze LT are being offered for less than $150 per month. This month’s popular lease deals are heavily weighted toward Compact…

Welcome to this week's edition of Black Book Market Insights, with in-depth analysis of used car and truck valuation trends and insights straight from the auction lanes. Click here to download the full report.

Black Book analyzed the depreciation trends from the previous three months and identified some interesting trends (chart below). Not surprisingly, trucks dominated the lighter side of the depreciation chart, while smaller…

The other day, a friend of mine was in the market for a new tech toy. As he researched the different available brands, he noticed a huge difference in pricing - from $325 all the way up to $1800 -- but was unable to tell the difference between any of the brand offerings. The features seemed the same. They all looked the same. He read reviews, even those were…

Today’s car buying marketplace demands nothing less than a connected, personalized customer experience. Consumers want dealerships to know who they are and what their interests are, and to anticipate the types of cars and services they need. They want to reach their salesperson whenever it’s convenient for them, whether by…

Urbandale, IA--September 14th, 2015--Flick Fusion (www.flickfusion.com) announced today that Tim James, Chief Operating Officer of Flick Fusion Video Marketing, has been accepted to speak at the 19th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas. James will present "Compete or Dominate? Integrated Video Marketing Strategies to Dominate Your Competition." In his workshop, James will…

I get asked a lot what makes a successful internet department and I realize I am only being asked my opinion since there are more ways then one to do it.

I do have a preference but for those looking to set one up here are some choices you have.

The Business Development Center - (B.D.C.)

You can have different types of…

Albany, N.Y. – September 14th, 2015 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today that its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Carole Plant, has been honored as a "CFO of the Year" by the Albany Business Review. Plant is one of ten CFOs in the New York capital region to receive the award. Every year the Albany Business Review recognizes the top CFOs for their accomplishments and to celebrate the vital role they…

Mercedes-Benz vehicles have long been considered the epitome of quality and durability. With models that reflect today’s concerns over fuel-efficiency and the high-end designs that are as much a status symbol as they are efficient and accommodating to all types of drivers, the Mercedes-Benz continues to be one of the vehicle types that mark a certain degree of success on the part of the buyer. Regardless of which model you buy, the instrument cluster is one of the most valuable parts on your…

Reputation Management is a key component to conducting business online. That being said, on Labor Day (September 7, 2015), Auto Dealers and Consignors were provided a  platform to provide feedback regarding their experiences with buying and selling vehicles on the internet through auto auctions all over the U.S. and Canada. AuctionVcommerce.com made its debut as the first, and only, online auto auction review site - connecting dealers, consignors, auto auctions, and technology vendors. in an…

Many of us while watching a video online experience a form of tunnel vision waiting for the “skip” button to appear.  As advertisers, we have approximately 5 seconds to grab someone’s attention. So, how do we do it?

First things first, understand and accept that almost no one wants to watch your ad. They’re on the site for a video, not a mini…

One Simple Tip to Boost Conversion

It's so easy, you'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner. This week, Samantha shows you how to create a top-performing video conversion page. She'll also share a couple of other ways to get the most conversions from your website.

Are you incorporating the auto service department into your sales presentation? 

If not, you should start so immediately! There is a reason why most successful car salespeople make the service department the last stop on their way to the closing table.  Car buyers today keep their cars…

Dealers struggle all of the time trying to find value in social media marketing - Facebook in particular, and hesitate when deciding whether Facebook (or social media marketing in general) is worth their time, effort or money.

Perhaps it’s because they don’t see direct results? They may be looking for a straight line…

Give your Advisors the tune-up they need! When your Advisors complete this course, they will be given the skills to up-sell your customers at a much higher rate. Informing every customer about the needs of their vehicle with our no pressure approach will maximize your dealerships gross profits!

Click the link below and give your Advisors the tune-up that will keep them…

Auto Remarketing list honors outstanding leaders under 40 whose innovations are making an impact; Bockius recognized for role in launching CarStory Market Reports which use big data to tell every used car’s unique story.

Austin, Texas – September 10, 2015 – Chad Bockius, Chief Marketing Officer of CarStory, the industry’s largest provider…

Social Media Update for the Week of September 7, 2015

Meerkat Live Hashtags

A brand-new approach to stream discovery, Meerkat welcomes live hashtags this week. By including a hashtag in stream titles, user posts will be added to the user-generated feed of hashtags at the top of the app. Hashtags that appear with an underscore include both scheduled and live…

Currently, the automotive industry is at an all time high for vehicles sold.  Yet, as the old saying goes, what goes up must come down.  Our team is confident not only in ourselves, but our clients as well. We are watching the stock market closely in anticipation of a curveball headed our way.

In 2008 the Stock Market and economy took a large hit, which, was…