Every now and then I find the automotive digital marketing controversies and handwringing on sites like LinkedIn, DealerElite.net and others to be both humorous and disturbing.

Humorous, because it’s really not all that complicated (yet some people insist on adding drama to everything); and disturbing, because no matter what the issue, the bad advice always seems to outweigh the good. (Usually because those creating the…

Is there gold here to be mined, or is it just worthless rock?  Are we mining something of value or should we blow up the minefield?

Automotive News April 13, 2015 article…

This was originally posted on the NCM Institute Up to Speed blog.

I think we have all heard that we can’t even fail unless we try. In every class we conduct at the NCM Institute, we begin by focusing on accountability, management, and…

The Good News? Women account for 50% of car purchases, and influence more than 80% of the deals.

The Downside? One in three women report feeling apprehensive or overwhelmed when they shop and buy a car. Only 38% of women feel confident about the process.

Women have different buying criteria and behaviors than men. Women rank trust…

The Importance of Building an Email List

If you are business owner, then you know that the number one thing required for a successful…

Car sales are booming and lenders are clamoring for indirect financing business. Now is a good time to dust off and review your Dealer Agreement (a/k/a lender master financing agreements) with your lenders, particularly the warranty, indemnification and repurchase provisions. Dealerships can, and should, review the terms of their Dealer…

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 report.

 

In this week’s report, the Black Book editorial team reports on data trends straight from the auction lanes that may be showing signs of a tired tax season. Comments from the lanes and data show that used…

     Motor Matters introduces an engaging, easy-to-read article series geared to women car consumers called, "Women Auto Know."

     Interested in featuring this content on your dealer web site or newsletter?…

Twitter Can Be Used For Business Branding?

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that has about 248 million active users as of 2014.  When using this program, people send short…

For many consumers, cars are a necessity. They rely on them to get to work so that they can feed their family. They take their children to soccer practice and their spouses out for nights on the town. Throw in an occasional long-distance road trip to visit a relative or take a vacation, and it’s easy to see how much consumers rely on them. Manufacturers integrate safety messages into their branding. The government tests the vehicles. Consumer agencies review them. And consumers use this data…

Breaking routines can be difficult but change can yield long term results. On this week's Hard Facts, Samantha explains why pressing the time clock should not always be priority.

Here is an example of a Dealership's Value Package Proposition (Why Buy From Us). It is essential that a dealership clearly articulate "WHY" someone should buy from their store. Price is PNLY relevant with the absence of value.

Dealer Synergy's Video Production team created RK's VPP.

Finally, the long-awaited Apple Watch is available for preorder with initial deliveries on April 24^th. Interestingly, for the first time, Apple has chosen to display their new products with stunning 360º displays. …

There’s an old story about two close friends who every weekend used to go out into the mountains near where they lived and hike trails and paths that weaved through the forest on the sides of the mountains.  They had done this for many years and it was a part of the week that they both looked forward to with great anticipation.  It was a great time for camaraderie and exercise, and an important part of their health regimen for staying in shape.

 One day,…

If the only place you’ve ever worked is for one of America’s car dealerships, then you may not be aware that other industries don’t reward those who steal from their coworkers. Only dealership employees enjoy the added perk of being rewarded for cheating each other at will.

We call it skating; and it works like this:

A prospect I assisted a few days ago (and properly entered into the CRM) arrives at the dealership while I’m at lunch. He asks for me, though one of my…

At the end of March, Amazon announced the launch of what they’re calling “Amazon Home Services.” This new service by Amazon enables customers to order services for their homes without the inconvenience of having to search for these service providers, obtain references and obtain pricing. Services range from television installation, painting contractors, electrical work and……

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 report.

 

In this week’s report, the Black Book editorial team identifies a continuation of strength, particularly for smaller car segments. Compact Cars (+0.52%), Entry-Level Cars (+0.45%) and Entry Mid-Size Cars (+0.15%)…

Make them important

Many managers make the mistake of thinking that they need to personally perform any task that is considered important. Some actually consider this a form of job security to be the only person able to perform an important task. In fact I believe it's exactly the…

How To Persuade More Customers

So you’re a salesperson in the car industry… You sell cars for a living… You sell…



But have you ever thought to look at the definition of the word “selling”?

On this week's Think Tank Tuesday:

• What colors convert at the highest rates?
• Which terms don't make sense to consumers?
• Will using a buy price convert better than using a monthly payment?