Automotive Marketing Professional Community Blogs

• How to Boost Your Recall Completion Rate
  Today one of five vehicles on the road are under recall. This year alone there have been 46 million vehicle owners notified of a recall; seven million of which are not related to the Takata airbag issue.   Recalls represent a significant revenue opportunity for dealership service departments. Whenever a customer comes in for a recall repair, there’s an oppor […]
  Scot Eisenfelder
• Hello, is It Me You’re Looking For?
  I frequently write about how, in my opinion, dealerships would be wise to expand their thinking and change attitudes towards recall customers … and not just recall customers, but all customers   The customer experience is key to building customer loyalty, increasing referrals and securing repeat business. It is also one of a dealership’s most important diffe […]
  Chris Miller
• Don’t Miss Revenue Opportunities!!
  It is widely known that Service is the lifeblood of all dealerships and, in many cases, keeps dealerships financially in the black. With the inundation of service requests by consumers, largely due to the increasing amounts of recalls that we’ve seen in the last few years, service departments are finding it more difficult than ever to accommodate all of the […]
  Andy Church
• Can You Sell Cars On Facebook Marketplace?
  Since Facebook has exploded, businesses have all rushed to capture their audience’s attention and leverage the platform’s marketing potential. In the beginning, gaining business exposure on Facebook’s platform was relatively inexpensive. As Facebook continued to modify its algorithm to appease its users and better monetize the platform when it went public, F […]
  Todd Smith
• BLACK BOOK HISTORY ADJUSTED VALUATIONS NOW INTEGRATED INTO DIMONT’S CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT SYSTEMS
  Vehicle Values With Historical Performance Can Greatly Increase Accuracy in Claims Adjustments   Black Book, a division of Hearst that provides industry-leading used vehicle valuation and residual value forecast solutions, today announced its History-Adjusted Valuations (HAV) data and resources will be integrated into an interface with DIMONT, one of the lar […]
  Black Book
• August Auto Lease Prices Increase By Up To 54% On Several Vehicles
  Several Brands Increase Lease Prices by up to 54% on Vehicles of All Sizes as New Model-Year Units Enter Showroom; Interest Rate Hikes Take Effect Wantalease.com, the nation’s first online car lease marketplace for new lease deals, reports the latest update on new lease offerings for the month of August.  Several automotive brands significantly raised prices […]
  John Sternal
• Happy customers grow your CSI
  Intuitively speaking, customer satisfaction and customer experience are the drivers of increased profitability at your dealership. Just think of it: if your customers are happy, they will bring you more business. In most cases, this is a fact, and car dealers often report to see the connection between the two parameters and the successful outcome. However, p […]
  Thomas F. Jung
• In Dealer Reviews, Women Rate Female Sales Consultants Higher Than Male Consultants
  Decrease the Gender Gap and Increase Revenue Changing Culture, Changing Tides Women are buying 45% of all vehicles at new car dealers today. Further, whether purchasing for herself or as part of a couple, this market segment retains 100% of the “veto power” at the dealership. Still, less than 1 in 10 front-line positions are held by women. Does it matter if […]
  Anne Fleming
• How to Manage the Aftermath of a Fatal Accident
  Automobile accidents are traumatic no matter how complicated they are. However, when someone is killed as a result of the accident, matters are more troubling for drivers and passengers of both vehicles as well as for surviving family and friends. If you have been involved in a fatal car accident, here are some steps that you should take to seek resolution. […]
  Rachelle Wilber
• Is the Pre-Qualification Game Losing You Sales?
  The sheer volume of leads many dealerships receive can be overwhelming. And, not only do they have to respond (hopefully quickly) to any new leads, they are also expected to follow up with those leads with a “buy or die” mentality. I can guarantee you that whoever is responsible for following up with leads can quickly be overwhelmed by their to-do list in th […]
  Brett Sutherlin
• The 3 Most Important Components of Your SEM Strategy
  For all of its complexities, the core of a successful paid search campaign is simple: Create the right ad. Deliver it to the right person. Make sure it’s at the right time. You will quickly discover the details of the campaign — when you work with a strategic agency — through the use of other tools to understand local searches. By understanding what queries […]
  Dane Saville
• Reason to buy your car from at an automobile dealership
  Buying a car is fun and exciting at the same time. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your first one or the tenth, a new car gives you ripples especially when you get the one you have always dreamt of. However, you must choose wisely where you to buy your car. Most people do want to buy from a dealer. It is the most excellent option that comes with numerous bene […]
  Rahul Paul
• Automakers want to Make Your DIY and Independent Repairs Illegal
  There was a time when a person could grab a toolbox and head out to the garage to handle everyday vehicle maintenance and repairs. As computers have largely overtaken management of components, even assessing the most basic issues requires the use of a sophisticated and expensive diagnostic equipment. Batteries are tucked away so deep into some vehicles that […]
  Ben Jansen
• New Ride? 5 Tips for Feeling Comfortable on Your New Motorcycle
  There’s something about riding a motorcycle that makes people look and feel invincible. While motorcycles are certainly a terrific mode of transportation, you need to be careful. Serious accidents and fatalities are an unfortunate reality with bikers, often due to careless motorists and other hazardous conditions. Here are five tips for feeling comfortable o […]
  Meghan Belnap
• Values Remained Stable Last Week
  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. This week’s Market Insights Report illustrates how three-year retention rates on Compact Cars have staged a remarkable turnaround in 2018 compare […]
  Black Book
• Three Merchandising Best Practices to Maximize Inventory Turn
  In my last blog, I discussed how dealerships can lose significant profit by failing to merchandise vehicles efficiently. Simply put, you can’t sell something nobody knows you have. And, with thousands of competing vehicles available to car buyers online, a stock photo or “photo coming soon” placeholder just doesn’t cut it – it won’t get your inventory into c […]
  John Wingle
• Know the Rules before Driving Cars in Switzerland
  A large number of modern-day individuals, who have lately planned a vacation in Switzerland can indulge in a large number of amazing activities here. Starting from admiring the breathtaking natural surroundings to relishing a series of delectable dishes and enjoying varied exciting adventurous sports, the list of options simply does not seem to end. Many tou […]
  Rahul Paul
• The Nexus Between Stock Prices and Natural Disasters:  Buy at Pre-Landfall Prices Get Windfall Profits
  I’m by no means a Wall Street Wiz. The stock market is booming right now, but it’s never been a viable option for me because I’ve never had any real interest in it. With that said, I did notice something that may actually be somewhat of a hedge against riskier investments no one has ever thought of...or maybe not. I’m not saying it’s a “sure” thing, but it m […]
  Kelly Kleinman
• 5 Ways to Optimize a Car Dealership Website
  As with any business in the 21st century, your website is the most important bridge between you and your customers. This is especially true if your business is a car dealership, given that a whopping 80% of customers looking for a new car start their search online. This means that for dealerships to succeed, a successful digital strategy is imperative. Since […]
  Roger Kalinowski
• Affinitiv Completes Acquisition of Caldwell & Kerr Enterprises to Create a Full-Service Automotive Marketing Platform
  Strategic partnership enhances digital capabilities for combined customer base Chicago, IL- September 17, 2018- Affinitiv announced today the strategic acquisition of Caldwell & Kerr Enterprises. Affinitiv, an industry leading provider of customized, omni-channel owner retention programs and innovative service lane software solutions, will combine with C […]
  Scot Eisenfelder