What do your customers have to say about your service and collision centers? Let's find out and then capitalize on it. On this week's Hard Facts, Samantha explains how video can win you loyal customers.

Over my years in this business I have come to know Mark Tewart, Sean Stapleton and Joe Webb as the true friends and professionals they are in representing and caring about the success of auto dealers

In my opinion, just listening and learning from them alone is worth the price of admission to the Insight 15 Customer Loyalty & Retention Event.  As someone who helped bring about dealer conferences and learning from the first two AAISP Dealer events in Nashville, it is clear that this Loyalty Event has fine tuned its focus to provide EXACTLY what auto retailers need today.

If you haven't registered yet, don't wait any longer go to http://insightcustomerloyalty.com/ and then be prepared to walk away from this event with actionable knowledge to better engage…

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: not all chat providers are the same. Vendor priorities vary, software technology can be user-friendly or not, not all providers hire chat teams within the US, and the quality of managed chat conversations are not equal.

In fact, a bad managed chat service can be detrimental to your business! If the representatives don’t have expert training, do not dominate the English language, and are not held responsible for the conversations they have on behalf of your dealership - it could cost you opportunities and your reputation could suffer.

Whether you already have a managed chat team, or are looking to implement one for the first time -- here are 3 red flags to…

In the world of business, it is very important if you know how to effectively use the right marketing technique. These days most of the businesses know the significance of using digital marketing or online marketing to promote products or services. This is because if you will have a good presence online, it can be an integral key for you to be noticed. If you are in an automotive business, reputation management is one of the best means on how you can succeed in marketing your business online.

The reputation of any business is very essential. This is important in a way that if your business does not have a good reputation then expect that your product will not sell in the market. In the automotive industry, reputation…

The age of social media is upon the auto industry. The eloquence of a beautiful picture or carefully chosen words when shared with a community can exert a powerful influence. Influencers are proliferating in the auto world, bringing change in myriad ways. Automotive News spoke with a handful of them to learn what they’re thinking and the stories they’re sharing with their fans.

“In 2012, women for the first time had more driver’s licenses than men in the U.S. More young women are getting degrees …"

Go here to read the full article.

The one-shot, one-size fits all approach in selling and marketing to women is not working. Come to …

Scott Stratten, author of UnMarketing, UnSelling and other books. He shares some great insights that might be valuable to automotive digital marketers. Here is an interview from last fall's Content Marketing World event in Cleveland.   You can view his video here at Carfolks.net…

With almost everything consumers purchase, there’s an owner’s manual or set of instructions for them to use.  For decades, car manufacturers have included an owner’s manual with new vehicles. Sadly, it is no secret that this tidy three hundred-page booklet is one of the least read publications produced in mass quantity. 

Some car dealerships require that their sales people give each vehicle purchaser a thorough presentation of their vehicle at time of delivery.  This slower-paced and personalized walk-around is perhaps more common in days past, than in today’s busier climate. However, it acquaints the car buyer with their vehicle’s key features, inside their vehicle as well as critical components under the hood.  In short, it offers a much-abbreviated version of what is found in the owner’s…

"We can't sell the cars for you, but we can help get you more opportunities."

I've heard that line dozens of times from many different vendors. I've actually said it myself at times over the last two decades on the vendor side of the automotive industry. Today, I'm here to tell you that it's not true. We really can and should help you sell more cars, and not just in an indirect way.

No, I'm not suggesting that a vendor should be flying over to the dealership and taking ups on Saturdays, but here's the reality of modern automotive sales: the sales process starts before they ever hit your lot. The concept that everything leading up to them driving on the lot is "research" and that the sale itself starts when they shake hands with the salesperson is…

6th Annual Texas Hold ‘em Tournament Night Hosted at Route 23 Ford in Butler, NJ!

Route 23 Ford will be hosting the 6th Annual Charity Poker Tournament (Texas Hold ‘em Tournament) to Benefit Push to Walk!

Doors Open: at 6:30pm

Tournament Starts: at 8:30pm

More Information: http://www.23ford.com/news/route-23-automall-charity-poker-tournament-push-to-walk…

If you still aren’t sold on the importance of video marketing, it only takes a brief glimpse into recent news to illustrate just how important video is in marketing. There are many news stories relating to acquisitions, statistics and trends, which highlight the increasing importance – and value – that platforms of all kinds are placing on video content. The common thread that exists throughout all of these stories is companies recognize consumers have a strong desire to view video content and are positioning themselves to be able to serve that up.

Consider these recent stories:

• Facebook videos are now receiving 3 BILLION views per day. Facebook is all about relevance. It wants to serve up content that its users want to see. A recent report by social media company,…