As technology has caused a significant shift in consumer interactions and desires, retailers have to follow suit in order to retain the consumers’ business. Customer loyalty is an increasingly fickle thing. And, as convenience has become so easily attainable for today’s consumers, some retailers believe that the only competitive arena left is price. However, this is not…

Today’s automotive consumers are more educated than ever, and that plays an enormous role in how they interact with your dealership.  Shoppers expect even more from your team, and it’s important everyone is prepared to interact with the newest consumer generations—savvy, connected individuals with access to endless information that…

Have you ever wanted to increase the number of views on your YouTube videos? Of course you have! Who wouldn’t? But when there are over 100 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute, it can be hard to get yours at the top of the list.

There are a ton of factors that increase the number of views on your YouTube video rank. On this week’s Hard Facts, Samantha gives you 11 things you should adjust in order to optimize your SEO.…

Great customer experiences can win customer loyalty. That’s why dealerships install restaurants, movie theatres and Starbucks. But while that customer experience is integral to keeping the customer’s business and loyalty, it doesn’t take much to shatter that loyalty and see that once loyal customer desert to a competitor.

Why? Because deep down, people don’t…

How far should a salesperson take the transaction before they get someone else involved? When is the right time to make a "turn over"? What is the best way to make a turn? Should turns even be made?

These are questions common to virtually every car training event I've been involved in. My colleagues and I (in the training field) each have our own experiences,…

Just about everything we buy now has some sort of smart technology—and as soon as new products are created, safeguards must be put in place to protect consumers and their purchases.  While we’re excited when new technology is introduced, we’re wary of those who wait on the sidelines and try to sneak their way in.  When it comes to automotive,…

One dealer in Florida is taking a stand to ensure that pre-owned vehicles with open recalls never hit the streets. When the Takata airbag crisis first reared its ugly head, Earl Stewart of Earl Stewart Toyota, started informing customers of in-stock vehicles with open recalls by clearly marking them with signs, while still continuing to sell them.

In June of…

Transparency

In an era where transparency is the cornerstone of any successful digital marketing campaign, the opaque tactics used by car dealers to convert Internet leads into appointments astonish me.

Mystery Shop 100 Dealers

In order to better understand of our industries lead conversion culture, my team and I mystery shopped 100 randomly selected dealerships from across the country and compared the results.

Best Price

We went to…

If you’re looking to buy or sell a business, this episode is for you! Whether you’re selling a product or a service, your website is one of the most critical things that affects the success of your company. 

On this week’s Think Tank Tuesday, Paul gives you very important facts that you should take into consideration when buying or selling a business. Your website is only one of them! Watch this episode for more information.…

As Henry Ford stated, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

Technology changes in our industry faster than many of us can keep up with. It seems like new services and innovations pop up weekly. Do we know which innovations consumers are sure to like or not? Of course we don’t. We can’t actually know until they end up…

Great brands differentiate themselves through storytelling.  Not the “once upon a time” kind, but rather the kind that gives consumers an inside view of what the brands are really all about.  Instead of simply telling shoppers what they do or what they sell, the secret behind their successful brand strategies lies in telling their stories—who they are,…

CRM as we know it is dead. Its sole purpose was to replace index cards and rolodexes with a more organized digital solution – one which helped salespeople more efficiently follow-up, track and manage conversations. However, in most cases, the ultimate beneficiary is the user, not the customer.

In terms of communication, today’s world is filled with noise. So…

Have you heard of message extensions? With Google's new technology, you can send and receive texts from customers right through search ads. The phone’s SMS application launches automatically, and you are able to communicate one-on-one with the customer at hand. 

From answering questions to helping them schedule appointments, you’re building a relationship with your customers through these new ad formats.…

With automakers expecting a slow-down in sales we should soon see how each manufacturer chooses to respond.

Typically, when looking to boost sales, OEMS add incentives or special lease deals. However, that may not be the right strategy. These types of campaigns tend to end up starting a domino effect that creates a catalyst for competing manufacturers to offer…

Dealerships are no strangers to change, especially now with all the vehicle innovation that’s being introduced, as well as the flexibility consumers now have with shopping and buying.  Professionals in the automotive industry have learned that, to be successful, they need to be able to turn on a dime and adjust to whatever comes their way—and even better, those leading change and setting the…

Do you have one of these 5 marketing viruses?

It’s so easy to get caught up in new technology and focus on what your competition is doing. From shiny object syndrome to your addition to cutting-edge technology, you (or someone you know) probably has one of these. 

Bring it back to the basics in this week’s Think Tank Tuesday.…

With a marketplace full of choices, technology, and customization, today’s consumers are more empowered than ever.  They’ve taken control when it comes to shopping, making their preferences known, and ensuring they get exactly what they want.  Whatever the product, there’s no shortage of options and…

Humans naturally crave interaction with other humans. However, as technology advances, there is an increasing push by companies to automate as much of their processes as possible. While this is understandable, as it saves on costs, the path technology is taking us down could prove to be a double-edged sword.

Think about all the automated technology that you…

Ride sharing.  Corporate fleets.  Short-term rentals.  Mass transit.  Ride subscription plans.  The list continues to grow—and traditional dealerships are rethinking how they’re going to position themselves to win with consumers who are approaching personal transportation in a whole new way.  Brand-new drivers are no longer forming lines at the DMV the second they…