Music is an element of life that courses through our entire planet. Every species, from insects to birds to humans, communicate with their unique version of music. Even our universe emits a sound that resembles a melody. In our modern age, music has become extremely accessible with our portable devices and countless music streaming services. Movies like Footloose and Step Up are proof that music has the power to heal and bring groups of people together that otherwise…

According to Black Book® data, the average price of a used vehicle for model years 2013-2017 decreased in value -1.2% during June, with cars changing -1.6% and trucks -1.0%. All vehicles are averaging a 12-month change of -13.9%, which is a lower average depreciation than typical pattern of -16% to -18% annually.

Two segments each saw positive changes in their average values during June: Sporty Cars at +0.5%, and Compact Vans at +0.3%. Vehicles in the Sporty Car segment include the…

• 49% of dealers expect customer traffic to increase over the next quarter.
• Dealers are encouraged to get more creative with preapprovals and credit checks as they remain a critical component of the automotive shopping process.
• Equifax found in a recent study that 52% of prospective purchasers have undergone a credit check, while just 15% have the intention of getting pre-approval on their desired vehicle. Even more interesting, nearly a third (32%) said they do not…

You know how service visits affect service retention, but do you know how service visits relate to the customer buying process? According to a recent study conducted by AutoLoop, we discovered that the peak repurchase rate occurs between the fourth and eighth service visit. This valuable insight gives you an edge in your marketing strategy: increase engagement and revenue by…

I recently read a great blog  about our industry by thought-leader Seth Godin. It explains how manufacturers and dealers do things very differently. Godin shares that manufacturers have worked for hundreds of years to refine and create more efficient ways to produce a quality…

Many feel video creation and posting videos socially can be difficult or you will need special equipment and skills which causes some to resist using this powerful strategy.

Often times, this resistance can be attributed to being seen as imperfect; not knowing where to start, or why videos are important when branding.…

This week, Jeff continues his series on how to find and hire service advisors. Whether it is finding grammatical errors on resumes or some key signals during the actual interview, there are some crucial points to look out for. Stay tuned to hear Jeff's top 4 points during the interview! Write them down, use them, and let us know how successful your advisor search turns out to be! Copyright 2018 Wm Jeff Cowan

Website: automotiveservicetraining.com…

Going to any trip through car or trains or buses is a very boring experience, so a best alternative to this boring trip is to opt for motorcycle rather than cars. Riding in the best environment and chilling in the cool air and experiencing the whole city and that too on the motorcycle, so what can be better than this? No one can even miss the opportunity of wonderful ride on the motorcycle. Exploring the new cities through the motorcycle is the most convenient, comfortable and…

What’s the definition of multi-tasking? It's doing a lot of things at once, and most often, that means doing them poorly. In fact, research proves that multi-tasking is largely a myth; our brains are not wired to focus on multiple things at once. Studies show that multi-tasking ruins productivity, causes mistakes and dampens creative thought.

Yet, many people keep…

From a consumer perspective, access to loaner vehicles is a major factor in service location choice—both in terms of franchised dealer versus independent repair facility, and among franchised dealer locations. Loaner vehicles help to overcome the inconvenience of having to drive further for service, and from having to wait at the dealership or make alternative transportation…

No one can see the future however, the decisions you make on a daily basis definitely develop the chances for failure or success. Kenny Rogers said in a song “You got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them” illustrating the same concept that the choices we make today develop our future. What we all need to understand…

Working inside a dealership as the owner, manager, sales or service professional, is a full-time job and if you have started to personally brand yourself, you may have noticed that personal branding is a full-time job too.

There is no faking it: personal branding can be difficult to do, especially when attempting to do it without the right tools and team to…

This week, Jeff tells a personal story that perfectly outlines how we all act as "closers" in our daily life! By tying together some key points and sometimes unnoticed steps to a sale, we maximize our opportunity. Opportunity does not always equal more money, but stay tuned to hear how it can get you to your goals! Copyright 2018 Wm Jeff Cowan

Click HERE to watch!

For more info, email to:…

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 the full…

These days, the most competitive dealerships win the game by being transparent and finding ways to quickly provide customers with the information they request.

In the not too distant past, prior to the Internet, dealerships had all the information and consumers had little or none. However, today’s consumers have access to a wealth of information which, at…

Have you ever noticed that a single interaction between your customer service representatives and customers could make or break the relationship? At the time when your customers can jump over to your closest competitor, it is critical to identify these moments and try to avert disaster.

At car dealerships, customer service must be…

Staying connected with your dealership’s customers is strongly desirable. If you can communicate everything, things get done – fast. Especially today when time is money and customers are often impatient to get everything completed as soon as possible and as expected – or else they will switch to your closest competitor.

Data…