Yes, for those of you who were wondering, Just Say Thank You is a Wayne's World Reference.  For the purpose of our discussion, though, Thank You will serve as the two most important words in marketing In the simplest terms, marketing is all about remaining highly visible to your customers, and reinforcing your business so that you’re presented exactly the way you intend.  It may seem like a no-brainer, but some companies have a tendency to take their sold customers for granted, and stop finding new and relevant ways to connect (and forget to keep the appreciation meter running).  Any excuse to say thank you or show appreciation is a good reason to touch base.  With that said.... Here are some tips on how you can keep things fresh and flowing, and earn the respect and continued business you work so hard to achieve.  These are all small gestures, but if regularly nurtured, they will add up to a lot of quantifiable success. MAKE THE CALL Few...

It used to be so simple, didn't it? Once upon a time, dealerships had a very specific arsenal of advertising options from which to draw traffic and maintain visibility.  Daily newspaper ads were essential.  There were television and radio commercials, of course.  You might attend a trade show or two, advertise in the trade magazines, and maybe even consider an expanded listing in the Yellow Pages. Polish the big sign, raise the balloons, and wait for the up-bus to spill out onto the lot.  This was how the car business worked for decades. Then some funny things started happening. The internet burst onto the scene, ushering in a paradigm shift on par with the Renaissance.  Satellite radio provided access to international radio content, making radio a less effective medium for regional advertisers.  We all love DVR, because it allows us to fast-forward through commercials with ease.   Small local newspapers are hanging on by a thread. ...

  I am fairly new to the automotive industry, but I've already learned a lot about what strategies work better than others with regard to properly managing internet leads. Here are a few things I do that work. I'd love your input on my approaches, and to hear some of yours. STRATEGIES THAT WORK 1. Rapid Response - It's imperative to catch the customer while they're still experiencing the "high" from browsing cars online. Incorporate yourself early, because who knows where the customer will be mentally/emotionally/physically in an hour or two. People are also often pleasantly surprised (sometimes shocked) when you catch them only minutes after they've submitted information, and are most receptive to cues when still in a "car-shopping" mindset. 2. Establish Correspondence - When I first started managing internet leads, I tried to go for the appointment right away. But much like the oft-preached "road to the sale," I al...