One of the other HUGE benefits of doing real video walk arounds is the capability of sending it to AutoTrader.  I'm sure that other inventory management systems do this but the example used below is using VinSolutions Inventory Management System.  Once you upload your video walk around using the VinCamera into the system, VinSolutions takes care of the rest!  VinSolutions will automatically send your video to AutoTrader just like it does to YouTube!

AutoTrader did a good job of displaying the video link on their site - its a tab right next to the Photos tab.  Because its a newer feature for consumers, the only thing better would be to have it flash, change colors or something to have it stick out just a little more.  Make it stand out until consumers are used to it.  That being said, I think it's awesome that AutoTrader allows an automatic feed of video from an inventory system that is FREE of charge for the dealer!




Once the consumer clicks o...

I would like to share with you some things I am working on with one of my clients. This is something we started just two weeks ago and is moving along very nicely. Below are several ways we are using VIDEO with their INVENTORY:


As visitors browse through their inventory, they will see a VIDEO link on the specific vehicles that have videos: Real video walk-arounds are so much more engaging for the consumer than a slide show walk-around and also gives them the chance to introduce themselves and tell the consumer about the vehicle as if they were right there with them.



Once the person clicks on the vehicle, it displays the vehicle details, additional pictures and a video: Being able to not only view additional pictures once they click on the vehicle details page but in this example using VinSolutions inventory management system, they also have the video they created, upfront and center for the consumer to click and watch.




Create a YouTube account: Once they upload th...

If you want it done right, just do it yourself and save money while you’re at it!
1) Control. Having the control of your inventory what and when you want. No more calling to find out when someone is coming to take pictures, having them retake them because they didn’t turn out good, having to wait until next week to get new trades and program cars online, etc, etc. Now you can take pictures that are tailored to your specific vehicle that focus on what is special about your car and have them online today. You will find when you take your own pictures it’s a whole new World with much better results. It’s time to take control.


2) Quality. I am not going to pick on any "on the lot service" but the fact is, when salespeople are trained on how to take pictures and they are the ones selling the cars - they know what are the advantages of taking QUALITY pictures, LOTS of pictures, what attention to detail means and w...

I encountered many of the same things that hold back Dealers/GMs from moving their Internet Departments forward when I went to dealerships to do training as I did as a Director of eCommerce.  Just because the Dealer or GM is all steam ahead does not mean that the whole dealership is all steam ahead.
Lets take the example of pricing.  The Dealer/GM says we definitely need to provide pricing, ie price quotes on specific cars, used cars, etc.  What happens when the ISM needs pricing on a car and goes to the NCM or UCM (that is if he doesn't have access to that already).  Is the NCM/UCM on board with this?  Sure, the Dealer/GM said this is what we are doing but when an ISM is working in the trenches, that doesn't mean that is what the ISM is living day in and day out.
So some of you are thinking, no problem, sounds like a talk is in order.  Really?  I hate to compare going to school or growing up with brothers and sisters with workin...

If you missed the The 5th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas, I uploaded the Power Points from the workshops to my website. 

To access them, CLICK HERE
 


Chris Hanson
Director of eCommerce Consulting
VinSolutions
 

2008/2009 has to be making the most of what we already do!
I think its safe to say, that as an industry, we are not going to sell more cars.  If that's the case, how do we make sure that we get more than our share?  Are there things we can do so we get more than our share or do we have to just take what the industry gives us?  I think we can all agree, when the going gets tough, the dealers/salespeople that are on top of their game, get more than their fair share!  What can you do to make sure you are one of them? 
What we need more than ever today is to be better at what we already currently do and the products we already use.
CRM/ILM......Take a good CRM/ILM.  What a POWERFUL tool.  Does it help us sell more cars?  Over and over again!  But only if we dig into it, learn it and use it to its fullest capability.  In fact, the more we learn the features and functions and start to use them, we find that we...

Accountable Advertising on the Internet with Avinash Kaushik


If you missed Accountable Advertising on the Internet with Avinash Kaushik, I uploaded the PDF: Making Advertising Accountable Bounce, Long Tail, Experimentation & You.
This was a Webinar put on by Automotive News:
CLICK HERE  (It's a fairly large Power Point so give it some time to load)