As security breaches and data theft become more commonplace, businesses will encounter increasing regulatory and consumer pressure to protect that data. I’ve written numerous articles on the importance of data security in dealerships, especially when dealers share that sensitive customer information with their vendor partners.

According to a recent…

It’s widely accepted that content created by third parties in general holds more value for businesses than content they create themselves. Many have felt that consumers better trusted product information and reviews written by neutral persons. According to new research by Vibrant Media, however, that thought process may no longer be the case, if it ever…

With so many options available when choosing how to allocate marketing budgets, dealers are increasingly finding themselves conflicted over what to use. Every dealer wants to know whether their marketing is producing results – whether that is in sales or service. And all vendors will attempt to show ROI for their services. Furthermore, how is a dealer to know whether the…

This article was written by Steven Banks and was originally published on the NCM Institute Up to Speed blog. 

Have you ever prepared extensively for a certain event only to be caught off guard by an unanticipated circumstance? Maybe you prepared for a recital, fully expecting a Tchaikovsky piece to come out of your fingers but mid-recital a contact lens…

First, a mini-rant. It will make sense why I'm starting with a rant before getting to the meat of the issue.

I was on the phone with a social client and their prospective search marketing provider the other day when I was blindsided by ignorance. It wasn't what I expected from a company that came highly recommended for their search prowess, so I called later…

Is this a reasonable concern with dealers?

Targeted re-marketing to existing DMS contacts is a issue most dealers leave to routine, email and letters generated daily from dealership level.

Is the ROI measured? 

Can the dealer do a better job?

LIVE MARKETING is a new automotive forefront player in the data space, concerning DMS data mining. The company has been in development of a brilliant strategy to use multi-channel media -- and -- to roadmap the process of re…

Geo-targeting and geo-fencing technology has been around for many years. Some social networks use it and provide businesses with ways to show customers offers and specials based on their current location. However, for the most part, these are application-specific. An individual would need to download an app, join a social network and opt-in for push notifications from the…

Recently, AdAge reported that Walmart is starting a loyalty program. Based on their price-match guarantee, Walmart is launching an app named “Savings Catcher,” which consumers can use to receive refunds for items purchased at Wal-Mart that have been found for a lower price…

[This is part 6 in the “What’s the Big Deal With Data Anyways?” series. Click here to read part 5]

The whole goal of this series is to help dealers understand that there is no need to be afraid of your data. It is one of the…

Most dealers recognize the value of their data base of past and present customers.  Many even invest in automated marketing programs that rely on algorithms to target qualified customers and deliver equity alerts for vehicle exchange programs and properly timed service alerts based on factory recommended maintenance to improve customer retention and loyalty after the sale. 

The following potentially missed opportunities to maximize the R.O.I. realized by managing your most valued…

[This is part five in the "What's the Big Deal With Data Anyways?" series. Click here to read part four.]

Segmentation of DMS data can be defined as the process of dividing up your customer data into specific groups for…

[Click her to read part three in this series.]

Over the past few years numerous new marketing companies have emerged as a solution for dealers’ digital and print marketing needs. Some of these new entities specialize in…

What Were You Thinking?

       It has often been said that the questions are the answers when it comes to selling anything.  The better you become at asking questions, the more success you’ll enjoy.  The key is asking the right questions.  But, you can’t teach every question for every situation.  Otherwise your sales people will never leave the training room.

     There is one question that I believe fits any situation and it provides…

In the NFL, one of the most valuable commodities a team can have are its fans. Countless times we hear about the effect that home crowds can have on the gameplay of the athletes on both teams. Termed the “12^th man,” this phenomenon is extremely powerful as it can motivate the home team, while at the same time making it more difficult for the opponent. Think of all…

As I mentioned in part two of this series, many DMS providers make it difficult for dealers to download their customer database. In some cases, it’s because there are control issues arising between dealers and their DMS (or CRM) as to who…

In part one of this series, I discussed the importance of dealerships using their data effectively in marketing and how, when done properly, it can increase vehicle and service sales while improving customer loyalty. Now I’d like to…

This blog is the first in a series I plan based around how to better use dealer data in marketing to customers. There is a reason that ‘Big Data’ has been a hot topic in the automotive industry for the last few years. Many retailers in other industries are using it quite successfully to target their marketing and offers to their customers based on transactional and…

In a world filled with companies vying for consumer attention, many marketing agencies advise that making more noise is an efficient strategy. Think about many dealerships’ sales strategies in handling customers who have actually expressed interest in a vehicle. Many dealerships employ templates and strategies designed to bombard consumers for the first week or so with a…

A fascinating article in Forbes shared a concept that is increasingly winning over customers. In the article, the author described what he termed “anticipatory customer service” as “a customer experience that manages to serve even the…