(Originally published on Dealer magazine)

It amazes me how many dealerships judge their Facebook marketing efforts success by the number of fans they have. People are in awe of that dealership that managed to get 15,000 fans to their Facebook page. Some vendors sell the fact that they…

What’s all your hype about? Do you even have hype? Go to a concert, they have it; infomercials have it too. Flava Flav hyped up Public Enemy- heck, even MC Hammer had his own personal hype-man in his heyday.  Too Big MC's only job was to hype up Hammer and the crowd. (Unfortunately, the hype didn’t carry over well for Too Big’s solo career) Hype is your personal…

In my 29 years of retail experience…and in coaching…literally…thousands of individuals…

I have come to notice… an individual will fall into one of three categories… of happens…

And that is H-A-P-P-E-N-S…happens…

A person will either…MAKE things happen…

Or they will…WATCH things happen…

Or…they will look around and ask…WHAT HAPPENED???

Now obviously…there is a clear and distinct difference… between…

What's the automotive retail industry's greatest challenge? According to several top selling dealers I've talked with recently, the answer is the negative perception the public has about car dealers.

Their concern isn't focused as much on what the customer thinks, but more so on what potential…

Start with a strategy so you can create a simple manageable measurable campaign, which serves your dealership’s goals. Define your goals, what do you need? Traffic to your website? New customers? Repeat business? Launching a new vehicle or service?

Next you will need to conduct research to determine the most appropriate social media platforms relevant to automotive marketing. No two dealerships are alike in this respect and the results of this kind of research always turns up…

     I find that to many Sales People start off on the wrong foot. It starts with the meet and greet.

I see a widespeard approach with lack-luster entiuasm, energy, excitment, professionalism. It seems the

Sales-Person has already looked at the trade, made a determination that the Guest is buried alive in it,

and that God, the Pope and Jesus cannot get them out of it.

     The Salesman has looked at the Customers clothes and has already made…

That's what it's all about isn't it? To get people to talk about and recommend you to others? So how are you doing? All this work you've been doing with social media and building community, is it working? That is, are you developing the kinds of relationships with people that influences them to want to tell others about you?…

The word “social” in social network can be a bit misleading when building an online brand for your company.  Social networking was born out of the concept of sharing one’s personal life and not professional endeavors.  Today, people as well as companies are using social media to drive personal and professional branding.  Social networking is still a format that is deeply embedded in personal…

It’s time for the silence of the LAM’s (Lazy As* Managers). The Hannibal Lecter’s of this industry have feasted on the flesh of our customers and drank the blood of our employees to the brink of disaster. MOM’s (Managers On the Move) have to rise up and get back into playing shape. The train has left the station; get onboard or get out of the way. It’s time to…

 Jim Ziegler, widely read columnist with Dealer Magazine has resigned after being with the magazine since the beginning in 1997. Ziegler will issue press releases in weeks upcoming about where he will resurface. 

Where do you think Jim Ziegler should resurface? Why? …

Grand Theft Auto - Customer:  It’s not a video game—it’s your real profits.  How do other dealers steal your customers?

They park a PPC campaign on your dealership name.  They use your dealership name in their SEO work.  They hijack your Google Places results (just found and undid one of those!). …

Stephanie Young, a trusted friend and client from The Manus Group, asked me to post an article I wrote a while back.  So, for your reading pleasure, here's a few tips on getting the most out of a written Thank You Note:

There are few words known to man that are more appreciated than the two words  “Thank You.”  In fact, just hearing…