Are you a sales person or an order taker? 

Businesses today can no longer count on passive consumers; in fact, it’s a given that shoppers will enter your dealership empowered with more information and technology than ever before.  In order to build trust in your brand and win over savvy shoppers, it’s important to keep up with what’s important to them in the marketplace.  While it may not be possible to pinpoint everything that’s transformed shoppers from passive to empowered, it’s clear consumers entering your dealership…

As consumers, we are influenced by everything we hear and see, everywhere we go, and in everything we do. Whether we realize it or not, no purchasing decision is made entirely on our own. Instead, however large or small the influences may appear, we are swayed by people, marketing, and opinions every day.

It might be a recommendation from a friend, an online review, or a Facebook post recommending a great new product that was recently purchased.  ­Whatever form it takes, all of these…

You Can’t Sing

 

I used to be a fan of American Idol. I found it interesting in the way the season series started. People would stand in line for hours and hours just to get the chance to audition for the show.…

By Sally Whitesell for Fixed Ops Magazine.

"It’s human nature to want to work with people we like and can relate to. As a matter of fact, we not only want to work with them but we want to work harder for them."…

There’s no question – the recall crisis is eroding the confidence consumers have in vehicle safety. Every day, we hear of more vehicles being recalled for various reasons. If nothing else were to get recalled, we’d be looking at an “estimated” completion date of around 2020. That’s assuming the parts to fix the recalls aren’t themselves recalled -- as was the case when TRW…

Social Media has become an important channel customers use to reach out to businesses. From tweets expressing their displeasure, to Facebook wall posts asking for additional information, increasingly, customers utilize these channels to engage and communicate with you.

Facebook realizes this and, as a result, has opened up new ways for customers to…

Attention to detail can lead to fewer car accidents. In this week's Think Tank Tuesday‬, Paul explains how being dumped into an automated voicemail system can make it extremely difficult for customers to access your business.…

Swapalease.com, the nation’s largest car lease marketplace, recently conducted a survey in which drivers from Southern California were asked about their driving preferences, habits and largest annoyances. Most people polled (40%) said Long Beach to Los Angeles is the most difficult corridor to drive, with Anaheim to Los Angeles (25%) coming next.                                          …

How Marketers Are Responding to Connectivity and Transformation in the Automotive Industry

Connectivity and digitalization are the number one key trends disrupting the automotive business in 2016.  According to KPMG’s Global Executive Survey…

One of the most common frustrations I hear from dealership employees is vendor finger pointing. Have you ever experienced anything like this?

Your inventory management software is not delivering updated information to the DMS.…

While car dealerships aren’t necessarily held in high regards by consumers, there are many dealers out there that are pillars of their community. Big hearted philanthropists who understand the sense of community and the importance of being involved. A great example of this – and the impact it has had on the community – is the story of a dealership in Victorville, CA, featured…

"The Language of Closers: Communication that Wins," presented by CDK Global,

named 2016’s Most Valuable Insight at third annual DrivingSales Presidents Club

Salt Lake City, UT– June 13, 2016 – DrivingSales today announced that "The Language of Closers: Communication…

Microsoft buys LinkedIn for $26,000,000,000 cash ! Guess who is Next ?

Was this a good acquisition for Microsoft in your opinion ?…

Wantalease.com, the nation’s first online car lease marketplace for new lease deals, reports sixteen lease offers currently under $199 per month, and thirty-six deals under $299 per month.  

The Ford Focus SE is the least expensive lease payment currently at $119 monthly, and the Toyota RAV4 LE FWD is the least expensive payment offered on a truck currently at $179 per month. 

Here are the top ten least expensive vehicle lease deals with the…

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…

Has your blog reached its greatest potential? 

Your blog can boost traffic to your website, create demand for your products and services, and position your business as a credible resource for information. If you’re not utilizing your blog properly, you’re missing out on awesome opportunities!

Watch this week’s Hard Facts to learn about some…

The time is NOW for anyone wanting success to make a plan on how to get better for the next season in your life. How do I get better? I get asked this all the time from wrestlers. 

As I think about how I improved so quickly in wrestling, only starting as a 9th grader at Chardon high school and later winning two Ohio State titles in my junior and senior years, including two undefeated seasons, it’s very clear to me how I did it. I CORRECTLY answered…

IT’S BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE THE LAUNCH OF OUR COMPANY, THE MAR-KEE GROUP.  MY GOODNESS, WHERE DID THE TIME GO?…

Are employees in your dealership using mobile tablets in service, sales and/or F&I departments? Despite much interest and even hype surrounding usage of mobile tablets in the dealership, the reality is that fewer than 50% of dealerships currently use or plan to use them in the near future.

Why the disparity between usage and interest? Primary reasons why dealers haven't yet adopted…