This Week in Social Media

News for the Week of June 27

Twitter Adds Live Button

Twitter recently added a new button for both iOS and Android that will allow users to broadcast on Periscope from Twitter.  Now users can go live simply by tapping a button in Twitter—without switching apps.  When starting a new Tweet, users will see…

Tired of boring fixed ops training for your automotive service advisors? sw Service Solutions offers online training sessions that are relevant, innovative and engaging. Check out Fixed Ops University at …

Have you ever considered targeting your sales and service customers simultaneously? Try placing a service offer in with your next sales mailer. I promise you’ll be happy with the results.

Service has become a highly competitive market. Shops now exist on practically every street corner. It’s hard to find a conquest customer who is willing to drive more than…

Timonium, MD – June 27th, 2016-- Helion Automotive Technologies announced today it has received a UCSE Tier 1 Support Certification from ShoreTel, a leading provider of business telephony and Unified Communications (UC) solutions. As a certified ShoreTel partner, Helion is authorized to work with auto dealers to design, program and implement custom UC systems, provide…

At the start of every month, I look back over the last 28-31 days of my life and ask myself, “Did I hustle my tail off? Did I give all my sweat, blood and tears to the goals I was trying to achieve?”

What is your perception of the word “hustle”? Is there a positive or negative thought running through your brain? Many people who have never hustled, view it negatively.…

Are you testing your emails before you send them?

More than 80% of the population use smartphone and other mobile devices. Over 60% of people open their emails on mobile devices. So what is your business doing to adapt to these ever-growing numbers?

In this week’s Hard Facts, Samantha explains that you should not only be A/B testing subject…

Well, you know it’s inevitable.  Eventually some in your dealership will leave, either voluntarily or involuntarily, but will exit nonetheless. Instead of just allowing people to ride off into the sunset, why not invest 5 to 10 minutes with them on the off-chance that you could learn a little something? You…

In my last few blogs, I’ve discussed how to handle recall customers and why dealers should embrace them rather than be afraid of them. We’ve also reviewed new and used car recalls, along with the applicable laws and consequences for any failure to comply. The one area I haven’t yet discussed is recalls in your service drive. Sure, you have customers who know they have a…

Words, both written and spoken, have been the primary form of communication for centuries. We use them to share news and stories, comfort loved ones and to connect with long distance friends.

Then along came social media, which almost instantly transformed society from one which was largely based on local interactions, to a more global community. The written…

The Online Perception

Perhaps Buzz is a bit naive... or... maybe Woody has had a bad experience in the past. (For those of you who don't have have kids, I am referencing the image above.) The bottom line is that you have 2 different characters, with 2 different reactions to the same activity: buying vehicles online.  I selected this image because I think it truly reflects the current state of online remarketing as we continue to transition…

Part II: Increase Employee Engagement

When dealerships are focused on social selling, they’ll be able to increase employee engagement, as well as boost their bottom lines.  Most businesses already know increasing employee engagement is important, because engaged employees are more dedicated, motivated, and committed to helping them succeed in their overall endeavors.  You’ve heard quite a bit about how social selling can boost your profits, but it also plays an…

We have all heard the saying, "referrals are the lifeblood of a salesperson's business." This statement is true, and it's true for many different reasons. When a trusted friend refers you, your opportunity to sell is amplified. Referrals must be earned before they are to be expected, yet salespeople often do not know how to build a referral network. When a salesperson asks…

   Mr. / Mrs. Dealer, remember when you were the green pea in this wonderful business? When I first started selling cars, my sales manager was a retired British officer. "Dot your I's and cross your bloody T's", Jack would bellow. He knew Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan dictator, when he was a Lieutenant (Pronounced Left-tenant). He told me the story of Gaddafi demanding air conditioning units installed in their barracks in the otherwise holes in the walls. So, the British Army…

Vast executives to share insights on how a shift in fundamental marketing strategies can lead to increased used vehicle sales for car dealers

Austin, Texas – June 22, 2016 – Vast announced today that two of its executives from its CarStory^® product team will be sharing insights into how dealerships can improve marketing strategies to make stronger…

I frequently talk about the current industry disrupters taking sales from dealers – the Beepis, Vrooms and Carvanas, amongst others. These companies snuck up on dealers and, with little warning, jumped into the spotlight and sucked investors into a future Nirvana of car buying bliss. They are currently blasting feel good messages to consumers portraying car dealerships as inconvenient -- pushing a message of an easy buying experiences which, unsurprisingly, consumers (and investors) have…

Part I: Social Selling and Your Bottom Line

There’s serious hype about social selling in every industry, but do you know what it means for your dealership?  Do you know how it can impact your sales, your employee engagement, and ultimately your bottom line?

If not, it’s time to take a look.  There are several ways social selling can dramatically impact your dealership, and in Part I of this 3-part series, you’ll gain insights that will help you…

Are you looking for fast and easy ways to speed up the success of your business? 

This week on Think Tank Tuesday, Paul will go into detail about techniques you need to use to brand your business and become successful in no time.  The first step? Ask yourself these questions.

Why are you unique?

What do you do as a business owner that is…

CallSource Sponsors “Personal Development” Track at Second Annual 2016 Women in Automotive Conference Company founder and director, Carey Fried, to lead “Mindful & Emotional Intelligence for Leaders” workshop Westlake Village, CA – June 21st, 2016 – CallSource today announced that company director and founder Carey Fried will present a workshop based on Google’s “Search Inside Yourself” curriculum at the upcoming Women in Automotive (WIA) conference taking place in Orlando, FL (June…

Welcome to this week's edition of Black Book Market Insights, with in-depth analysis of used car and truck valuation trends and insights straight from the auction lanes. Click here to download…

Swapalease.com, the nation’s largest car lease marketplace, reports car lease credit approvals registered a 61.1% approval rate for May, a significant drop from the approval ratings in April (69.9%).

As consumer confidence decreases it may be pulling credit approvals down with it. Consumer confidence weakened slightly in May, dropping 92.6, down from 94.7 in April according to The Conference Board. As the year continues,…