I love reading blogs. They are an amazing insight to what is going on in the mind of the writer. So, after reading blog after blog I am impressed and ecstatic that everyone seems to be aboard the customer retention train!

Here’s the rub. Everyone (okay, most everyone) would agree that the key to profitability in a dealership is not based on units sold or hours per R.O…it’s based on how many of those sold are retained as customers and refers their friends and family to the dealership.…

For most of us, geographically speaking, the hot summer months are upon us and the daily grind out on the car lot can take its toll on our sales agents.

Looking back on some of the basics in regards to the ”road to the sale” that we all memorized and practiced when we first entered the business and still should be, I see sales agents that continue to take shortcuts and still believe that they will end up with a car deal. Yes, we all know the car deal can still happen but how…

1.…

What would you rather do?

A. perform at a higher level (ie: close more deals or generate more gross profit) from your current opportunities to do business.

OR



B. generate more opportunities to do business.

For me, the answer is obvious. Unfortunately, many of the dealer contacts I’ve been making don’t seem to respond as well to offers of methods for doing better with what they have as they do methods for…

When was the last time you worked with a manager and said, “that person is a great leader”? Early in my career, I can honestly say I learned more about what kind of leader I didn’t want to be rather than the kind I do want to be. Unfortunately, I found myself learning and practicing management traits of those poor leaders. It wasn’t until someone cared about me enough to tell me “you’re a prick to people at times” that I realized I needed to do something about…

Automotive advertising agencies don't know what they don't know and they are turning to social networking communities like http://AdAgencyOnline.Net to listen and learn about the increasing role of social media in automotive advertising. Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad…

If you are advertising your dealership on television, you are likely more successful than the car stores in your market who are not using TV. There is no better advertising medium for selling automobiles than television. But, before you call the production crew to shoot your store and prior to…

When I woke this morning,

I ‘strapped on’ a correct, positive mindset,

Much like a soldier going into battle.

Which is what being in sales today is like.

(That is no disrespect to our true heroes.)

I took stock of yesterday’s successes &…

When I started reading this article I was agitated, thinking that electronic deal jackets, electronic signature pads, electronic document archives and electronic transmission of forms to lenders and vendors was a step towards reducing the F&I Manager's responsibility to a clerk. As I continued reading though, it became clear that the future (paperless) F&I office has been developing over time and based on the reliance of electronic convenience today, it's inevitable. With less time…

AdAgencyOnline.Net is one of many online automotive advertising resource / networking portals that have formed to share best practices for automotive advertising agencies using social media. Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and the host of the blog talk radio station…

When someone is given the task of starting up an e-commerce business for an automobile dealership they are bombarded with what to do and what not to do. It can be so discombobulating that your head will literally start spinning. Let's start with wondering which vendors to use when it comes to things like your website, data feed management, and the where to and which places to effectively market your inventory. Now throw a wrench into it with the all the different companies…

Do you feel like you are missing out on something? Are you confused as to what the next step is in making your dealership successful? It’s a different ballgame than it was even just a few years ago. The traditional dealership is dead and you must bury it to prosper in the future.…