NCM Associates was on hand at NADA 2012 with the express purpose to open a dialogue with attending dealers and managers to listen to their issues, concerns, successes, and desires relative to their automotive dealership operations.  It was a great opportunity for us to connect with dealers inside and outside the NCM family and as always, the conversations were compelling in many ways.  In particular, one dealer told me about his vision for developing his future leaders, which I found to be…

Over the last ten years, anyone who has not witnessed dramatic changes in the used vehicle arena must have his head in the sand. Why is it then that so many franchised new vehicle dealers have thus far failed to effectively adjust to these changes? So that you understand what I’m talking about, I’ll just mention two of these impactful changes:  (1) the growth of the Internet as a marketing source; and, (2) the advantages available through inventory optimization technology. Even the language…

If you are in the Bay area or anywhere else in Northern California and you aren’t already planning on attending the Digital Edge Summit, Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at the San Francisco Marriott Union Square...you should be. 

Come join DealerOn and other leading companies (DrivingSales University, eXteres, eBay Motors, and CallSource) in the automotive digital…

Turn your Dealership Upside Down! Create a Digital Dealership for Maximum Profit

Turn your dealership from a ‘traditional structure’ to a ‘digital structure’ to meet the demands of the changing customer and dealership landscape

 …

Advice From a 30-Car Guy

People often ask me what is the most amount of units I sold on the showroom floor…? 33, that is the most I ever sold in one month,…

I just got finished with a fun session at the Innovative Dealer Summit in Denver and as promised to the DE community, I'll be doing a video on the topic. We decided to do it in the form of a webinar to keep it on pace with the original presentation, so I'll post it here once it's done on March 28th.

In the meantime, there's no need for suspense. Here are the daily activities that will allow you to make a difference in your SEO. One of the participants at the session asked me…

We are closing in on the 12th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition, April 3-5, at The Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando.  Will you be there?

The last conference in Las Vegas drew more than a thousand dealers and managers from almost every state and featured 94 workshops and more than 95 exhibitors. …

A proven way to create a massive amount of future service visits!  Dealer Admin Services Maintenance program is completely customizable with full online solutions including e-quoting, e-contracting and e-remitting.  A “Buy One Get Three Free” oil change program solution. The dealer cost of the program is $70 with a $20 reimbursement.  The cost to the consumer is $39.95.  The oil changes are only redeemable at the selling dealer!  No vehicle age restriction!  Generate extra traffic, increase…

The ZMOT study guides automotive dealers through an educational process that demonstrates how to make marketing and budgeting decisions based on the latest data on consumer shopping behavior.

EATONTOWN, NJ – PCG Digital Marketing (PCG), a multi-award-winning digital marketing firm has announced that April 24, 2012 will be the start of the 2012…

After a successful Phoenix launch, SureSale extends certification footprint to help used car buyers and dealers in the Northeast

Venice, CA --March 21, 2012 – Mota Motors today announced that its groundbreaking certified pre-owned (CPO) marketing program SureSale^TM Certified, continues to extend its footprint across the country…

(I wrote this article a couple of weeks ago while in the service waiting area of a franchised dealership in Eastern Washington; though in order to fully grasp my points, imagine that I wrote it from your dealership.)

The little things are all that matter.

I’m here to get my wife’s new car serviced. Just a couple of small items we noticed when we bought the car. One was placed on a “We Owe” and one was discovered during the delivery. The salesman was (of course) very…

Nearly every week someone says "What's new?" in the Fixed Ops Training world as if there is something wrong with what works.

And every week, the answer is the same. When it comes to Fixed Ops Training, Coaching and Mentoring..."Not much."

Oh to be sure, there are "new" things in Fixed Ops every day.

There are at least a zillion ways to keep in contact with the Customer. And there must be a bazillion CRM companies that can manage a "lost souls" campaign. And, yes, there…

Free webinar held March 27th at 2pm EDT topples industry myths currently driving service marketing strategies

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., March 20, 2012 -- DMEautomotive (DMEa), the science-inspired, results-based automotive marketing leader, will host a free webinar with Automotive News on March 27th at 2pm…

Exactly NOT what you are thinking! Let’s look at these 10 examples of the “EX’s” we want to find in your stores!

1. Examine the processes of the daily routine operations of your dealership. From the way the phone is answered and your callers greeted…

Chicago, IL – March 20, 2012 - Joe Castle, Founder and CEO of Castle Auto Group, has been selected to share his phenomenal dealership turn-around story to attendees at the 12th annual Digital Dealer Conference and Exposition in Orlando, Florida, April 3-5, 2012.

In his session titled, “Turn Your Dealership Upside Down!  How to Create a Digital Dealership for Maximum Profit”, Castle will explain step-by-step how he used digital strategies to flip his Castle Chevy and Castle…

Ladies' night at the local bar includes free drinks for the ladies.

What's the intention?

Where the women go, the men will follow – and the men will pay.

Ladies' Day at the car wash where all women receive $2 off their extreme wash.

The next day is Men's Day.

Does anyone see these efforts as "misguided"?

In a bar, the women are being used as…

The Makings of a Great Internet Director

Lessons learned and tactics tried by top Internet directors to improve their own success

Moderator: Joe Webb

Panelists: Lisa Jo Swain, Director of e-Commerce Operations, SunStar Autos

Jon Berna, e-Commerce Director, Hubler Automotive Group

Richard Lucy, e-Marketing Director, Tim Dahle Nissan

One excellent leader can single-handedly transform the online profitability of your store. Dealer…

If you haven’t heard, there is a bit of political campaigning going on right now.  Candidates are using every medium of communication to engage potential voters.  They are using the social mediums, but, shockingly, that isn’t all they are using.  They are out stumping.  They are shaking hands and kissing babies.  They are standing behind podiums in public.  Are you campaigning for customers in the same way?  Not sleazy, like a politician, but publicly in the community?

It is…

I used to be a product demonstrator for Soda Stream last spring in 2011 and I had fun talking about the product and meeting every skeptical question dead on with a great answer. Soda Stream is a product where you make your own seltzer with compressed CO2 and add soda and seltzer flavors. I just started up again this Saturday, March 17 2012 and fell right back into the old routine and was just as knowledgeable and…