If you’re like most dealers I speak with lately, you’re either looking to add a Business Development Center (aka BDC) or trying to find ways to make your current BDC more successful? If so, then there are just a few simple “must haves” that are truly non-negotiable if you’d like your BDC to succeed today and over the long term.

MUST #1: BDC’s Must be Profit (not Cost) Centers

The primary reason BDCs failed in the past is they simply weren’t very successful at…

It took a mini-debate with a potential client to bring me to a conclusion: numbers do lie. Conventional wisdom says otherwise, but in the digital age there is a huge gap between seeing the numbers and understanding them in a meaningful way.

I should go ahead and add an addendum to the premise before I begin. Numbers aren't really lying, but they can definitely…

Phone Up Dialogue

Most car Salespeople are unaware of the value that phone ups bring to their business.  The phone up is the most reliable source for Customers who will end up buying a car.  Because of this it is…

WE ARE ENTERING AN ERA OF CRM DOMINATION



- BY JAMES A. ZIEGLER, THE ‪#‎AlphaDawg‬

Third party Vendors are waking up to their worst nightmare. The party is almost over and we're turning the lights on. They…

That time of year is rapidly approaching -- Black Friday. Black Friday is typically the beginning of the Christmas shopping season and an indicator of how well retailers will fare throughout the holidays. In fact, many retailers report that the majority of their holiday season sales happen on this single day. Consumers go wild with excitement, and some even choose to…

http://autosuccessonline.com/news/blog/625-spotlight-joe-clementi

Dealing with today's informed customers is as challenging as any time in history. Information is readily available as dealerships around the country lean on the Internet to compete for market share.

Third-party Websites acting as consumer advocates continue to compete for the attention of the Web-savvy…

The struggle for a competitive edge requires skill enhancement. Knowledge of products, technology and problem solving all take on new meaning while working with today’s customer.

Consumers no longer accept mediocre presentations, canned closing questions and product demonstrations that lack comprehensive knowledge. The customer is and will continue to be, more prepared for the buying process. They will ask questions that an untrained salesperson will not be able to…

Last day of the month people! Get everything you can today and make every deal possible! Revisit missed opportunities and close with urgency! Remember that today will always be the best day to make it happen! Finish Strong! Hit your bonus levels! Refuse to quit! Stay positive! Keep asking for the deal! Have a great day! Keep calm & close the deal!!…

Automated marketing is a huge industry (and growing) and it’s also a hot topic for businesses. Is it really necessary? Will it truly benefit my business? The only way to know for sure if marketing automation is the right choice for your dealership is to try it out, but before you invest the time and money there are some questions that can help you make that decision.

Do you send out personalized…

Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that a crime ring in Russia has “amassed the largest known collection of Internet credentials, including 1.2 billion user name and password combinations and more than…

Article from October 2004, Ward's Dealer Business highlighting the Launch of the Car Sales Simulator

What do I have to do to develop a great sales team?

An ideal sales team of veteran salespeople would allow each dealership to maximize revenue.  In reality, sales departments experience a high level of turnover.  As a result, there is no easy answer to this question.

Focusing on what we can’t control while ignoring what we can is a pathway to frustration and declining success.  Fearing turnover is no excuse for not investing in training your sales staff.  A…

Millions of years ago dinosaurs became extinct. They became extinct for one reason only, a failure to adapt to a changing environment. Not all dinosaurs became extinct. Many, according to scientists evolved and became the birds that soar in our skies today.

The theory is a massive meteorite struck the planet, changing the environment dramatically. This new environment made it difficult, no impossible to survive without adapting.

Metaphorically…

The Business Case

In 1989 the Internet came online and disrupted the car buying and selling process by tipping the scales heavily in the consumer’s favor. The easy access to pricing and product information made shoppers better researchers and negotiators, and to an unprepared industry this shift was unsettling. Since then, manufacturers and their dealers have…

Change is never easy, especially when you’re dealing with individuals who are entrenched in their beliefs. It sometimes feels like trying to make a U-turn in the middle of a narrow street without the maneuver of a three-point turn; stopping, backing up and then going in another direction, yet that is exactly what is needed in most cases. The consensus is that no one has had…