​Many people really don’t know exactly what a Public Relations firm does. The common answer is “write press releases,” but I can guarantee you public relations firms do not sit around all day and just write press releases (or at least good ones). So what, exactly, do we do? As defined by the Public Relations Society of America, Public Relations is all of the following: “Anticipating, analyzing and interpreting public opinion, attitudes and issues that might impact, for good or ill, the operations and plans of the organization. Counseling management at all levels in the organization with regard to policy decisions, courses of action and communication, taking into account their public ramifications and the organization’s social or citizenship responsibilities. Researching, conducting and evaluating, on a continuing basis, programs of action and communication to achieve the informed public understanding necessary to the success of an...Read post

It seems the driverless car will soon be reality. I had hoped at one time I might retire before computers became so necessary, but that hope was 30 years off. Not so these man-less vehicles. For those of us who enjoy the physical, mental and spiritual act of driving a motor vehicle and navigating it over hill and dale, simply being driven about seems so, well, unfortunate. Given all this change, I was reminded of an editorial I wrote years back when I was a classic car columnist for a major metro newspaper. I thought it appropriate to republish here:  I’ve been asked many times this question: What is it about old cars that appeals to you?  I find it a question not answered in few words. Why? Because owning and driving an old car is part poetry, part history and a lot of enjoyment. Owning and driving an old car is poetry because of the romance the owner develops with his or her car. A romance it is too – complete with affection, anger, pride and satisfaction...Read post

Driver Connect, a breakthrough mobile app for the auto industry, is recognized in Mobile On-Demand Software Application category   Daytona Beach, FL – May 14, 2013 – DMEautomotive’s Driver Connect has been named a finalist for “New Product or Service of the Year” in the Software - Mobile On-Demand Application category in The 2013 American Business Awards, and will ultimately be a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie® Award winner in the program. “We are honored to be named a finalist for New Product/Service of the Year by the American Business Awards - and to be in such good company,” said Mike Walther, president and CEO of DMEautomotive. “Driver Connect is helping auto retailers across the country adapt to the mobile revolution, and we could not be more proud of this recognition -- for the product itself, the dealers who are using it, and the fantastic and innovative team at DMEautomotive who created it.” Driver Connect is t...Read post

Take a quick moment to laugh at this simplistic reality of most people on the road. Check out Jeff Sterns, CarChat24 VP of Sales and Business Development, at AutoCon 2013 in Las Vegas -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tom LaPointe CarChat24 Interactive Media Manager / Industry Analyst www.carchat24.com/ 24/7 Interactive Automotive Dealer Website Chat Solutions Hosted or In-House Options – FREE web chat software 727-638-0195 Tom has an MBA in Marketing and is an automotive writer and author with more than 15 years experience in virtually every aspect of the retail auto industry. He has been a performance leader in everything from sales and service, to web development and viral marketing. www.facebook.com/CarChat24 / https://twitter.com/CarChat24 / bit.ly/CarChat24GooglePlus   ...Read post

 Ten Steps to Surviving a Start-Up   When reflecting upon my last 10 months in the auto industry I’ve found it necessary to write a short re-cap of what I’ve learned working for two different start-up companies, so that in the future those of you who find themselves working for a start-up, has some sort of step by step process to help you succeed.   The following 10 steps may not apply for every start-up, but the core lessons learned are here and can be tailored to your particular situation.    Steps:   When researching the company that has extended an offer to you. Make absolutely sure that you whole-heartedly believe in the product or solution the company has to offer. Don’t just simply take the job out of necessity, because all that is going to do is cause you more pain and potentially cause you to garnish your relationships with your current book of business. Unless you’re a self-proclaimed seller of ice to Eskimos, se...Read post

Instant Classic!Read post

In today’s world of constant noise, it’s more difficult than ever to market your dealership. Dealers are constantly trying to guess where the best ROI is when considering how to spend marketing dollars. How much money do I invest in traditional marketing? Online marketing? Direct mail marketing? The rep from each medium will tell you that their media is the best to use for your dealership marketing. Dealerships are in competition with their competitors within their DMA for airtime and attention, and even their OEM. With the cost to acquire a new customer increasing each year, how you choose to spend your dealership marketing budget becomes even more important. I know dealers that have chosen very different routes. Some chose to have no traditional marketing and are all digital. While others are at the opposite end of the spectrum with no digital marketing at all and insist on “old school” methods of marketing. I’ve actually heard stories of a dealership...Read post

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