Before class started on one peaceful Saturday morning, my yoga instructor made this big announcement with much fanfare that there was some huge event coming to our studio.  There were no additional details as to what the event was, when it might occur, etc.  Just a stay tuned teaser.  I was so excited that I could barely focus during class wondering what this event was, when it was going to occur and…

When I was a child, I was the question asking machine.  Now that I am an adult, I am the question asking machine.  Not because I want to be annoying.  I really want to understand why.  Knowing the why helps me deliver on the expectations.  Knowing the why gives me the follow through to see an opportunity to completion.  Understanding why gives me access to understand the process and how each…

I had an elementary school teacher who claimed that there are no dumb questions other than the question not asked, because you never know who might also have the same question and need an answer but lacks the courage to ask.  With all the great information available on sites like Dealer Elite, why do so many resist the temptation to take advantage of free tips, advice and road maps towards success? 

As an…

During a department head meeting in which processes where being discussed, it became evident there was an information gap for our clients.  Our recruiting team was reporting a break down in information regarding who we are, what we do and what we have to offer.  The team shared how they answer certain questions over and over again.  They reported the funny misconceptions that they often hear.  I sat…

My youngest sister was born premature and as a result had pulmonary problems as a child.  Because she suffered from chronic asthma, there was little expectation for her to be a strong and healthy child.  One of the therapies she was subjected to in an effort to strengthen her lungs, was swimming underwater.  I am sure this started out as a…

I remember as a child my mother sitting us kids down after a holiday or birthday to write handwritten thank you notes for any gifts we had been given.  It was a chore that as a child I found little value and a whole lot of grief in participating.  As an adult, I have learned that it is the little things in life that make an experience memorable. 

We all have mailboxes full of canned…

Marketers are experimenting with using the Social Networking sites for proactive marketing through building targeted niche networks and business development communities.  As a result, Social Networking has become as much a part of your corporate brand as your website.  Not sure Social Networking is right for your organization? …

During a sales meeting, the question of why the company no longer has a stock pile of tri-fold brochures to hand out to potential clients came up.  I scratched my head and looked puzzled, since we have not used a single tri-fold brochure in over a year.  As a company, we moved away from outdated marketing tools and adopted high tech and interactive tools to meet the requests of our clients.  It was then…

SAN RAMON, CA – June 27, 2011 – Auto retailers using a third-party loyalty program can achieve significant retention increases of 20 percent and more. MediaTrac™, a marketing technology company providing customized frequency marketing, customer loyalty, retention and media tracking programs for auto dealers, today released the new white paper “The Auto Retailer’s Ultimate ‘How-to’ Guide to Customer Loyalty & Retention Program Set Up,…

Most dads’ have a toolbox.  Some fathers actually use their toolboxes and other toolboxes collect dust.  Some fathers have giant roll around toolboxes and others have small handled boxes.  When you open up a father’s toolbox, the variety of tools varies from father to father.

As salespeople and management, we all have a toolbox so we can “fix” things. Our toolboxes may…

There are forks in the road in everyone’s lives.  The pathway we choose when faced with at fork can sometimes dramatically alter our journey.  I stood at one of those forks when I was invited to participate with The Landmark Forum.  I heard about the cult rumors about this organization, but participated anyways.  I was born, raised and…

The newest keeping up with the Jones’s marketing trend is Social Media Marketing.  Social Networking has found a home in American Capitalism as the twenty-something crowd has become a strong demographic in today’s enterprise.  Business hours have been replaced with 24/7 virtual access to your dealership.  Social Media Marketing has become a channel for customer support, service and satisfaction. …

Social Media is not kids play any longer.  Social Networking has found a home outside of the college dorm and into main stream capitalism.   More and more businesses globally are adopting Social Media Marketing Plans.  Social Media is one of the newest tools available to the global economy, but how does it affect your business?  Why should you invest some of your marketing resources in the…

Below is one of my favorite tales of two dealerships. It is a favorite story because I believe both dealerships had the best of intentions, just one made a positive impact and the other a not so positive impact on how one woman in a vast world of consumers experienced buying her first brand new car.

The ink on the divorce decree was nearly dry and I was out to make some big changes in my…

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…

I never question the freshness of a candy bar when I buy it.  If the candy bar is not up to my standard, I toss it.  It would “cost” me more in effort than what I spent on the candy bar to report my dissatisfaction.  When it comes to big ticket items, there is a lot more at “risk” and customer satisfaction becomes a turning point in the decision making process.  So how can a salesperson narrow the gap…

In today’s competitive marketplace we must place our focus on the most important part of the business which is our customer. In my position travel is a must and exposes me to the differences companies place on the customer. The airlines are a prime example when hot meals have been replaced with a small bag of pretzels and a cup of soda. Seats are crammed together with long lines to be processed into the aircraft. Customers complain of lost luggage and poor service as prices soar into the…