I always enjoy ringing in the new year - the thought of working with a fresh slate to create bigger and better things is both refreshing and exciting. I'm curious to see how the newest technologies adapt to become viable solutions and strategies for progressive companies and individuals. Here's my list of the technologies with incredible potential for creating new solutions for automotive consumers and professionals in 2010. Real time Search: Google and Bing are squaring off in the first round of real time search results by providing real time results from the likes of Twitter and Facebook. While we don't see these results in the same format as regular search results now, this will move from being a silo to being a primary search result visual. Search Engines such as Topsy will help the competition ramp up improved methods of displaying real time results from relevant and influential sources; other players in this space: Collecta and OneRiot. Geolocation Services: It will be...

A lot of people are beginning to play with Google Wave - even some of us within the car dealer social network community. Many are confused as to what it is, what it does and how it can help you. In a nutshell, it can be whatever you need: A clunky chat-room, a private workspace to share rich content or something even more engaging by using installable gadgets such as napkin, brainstorming and HTML... I like the simple features over other sites like Basecamp. A Google Wave iPhone app is also available for $1.99 - it is't an official Google app, but it looks and feels like the full application - just smaller. It seems to run slow - but does allow the same basic functionality. Here's The Complete Guide to Google Wave to help with pretty much anything you may need to know. Hope it helps... http://completewaveguide.com/ BTW - I'm eric.miltsch@googlewave.com How have you used it?...

Image via CrunchBaseToday’s social media technologies make it easy to connect with great people. Last year, I met Jason Kintzler, Founder of PitchEngine.com and was immediately impressed with his new start up. Jason is shaking up the PR world with his Social Media Release solution. The SMR is a cost effective, easy to use solution that I recommend every company should consider; I created a social media newsroom for Auction Direct USA. Not familiar with PE or Jason? Here’s a few questions Jason answered that will open your eyes about the exciting things he’s doing. Share your own quick pitch about PitchEngine.com…and a brief overview of your unique proposition. PitchEngine is PR for the social web. We make it easy for you to share PR assets like video, images and more with media, friends, fans and followers via Facebook, Twitter and more! What prompted you to go in this direction? What was the problem you aimed to solve? Initially, it was purely about giving PR pros and...

Image via Wikipedia Its great to see the discussions about the different strategies being used to drive traffic and get noticed online; the best laid SEO, SEM and SMO plans won't be able to execute at their full potential if your site lacks key design and usability standards. Color themes, page layout, content elements...all items that trigger a subconscious response for the visitor within the first couple of seconds of arriving to your site. Since these are items you can control, why would you want to discount the efforts that are going to represent your brand online? Conventional wisdom says to pack the pages with content and graphics; brochure style page copy, eye-catching graphics and plenty of "stuff that's cool." Don't fear the white space. Use it to balance the page and direct the viewer's attention where it needs to be. White space lends itself to creating an open, free flowing and comfortable visual experience. Design studies have also demonstrated that white space helps i...

Image via WikipediaCar Czar. That's got a cool ring to it...who wouldn't want to have "Czar" in their job title? Congress is calling for someone to be named "Car Czar" to manage the estimated $7 billion-plus marketing budget allocated to the big three. Whoever gains control of this $7 billion advertising windfall will instantly trump Proctor & Gamble and become the nation's single largest advertiser. The problem? Who the hell do you put in this position? To start, cross off all the automotive advertising guys. They're among the latest adopters of new marketing solutions and have proven they don't get the cost effective structure of the new media landscape. Next, cross off the traditional agencies & Madison Ave. folks. The traditional channel choices are ineffective, expensive and unaccountable. Lastly, cross off the politicians and those out of touch with anything A.G. (After Google) Paul Volker is one name being tossed around. Granted, he's an intelligent guy - but stil...

Image via WikipediaThis is one of many upcoming posts about the changes occurring in the Automobile industry. With all the buzz about change needed within the retail automotive business, there is more happening than people may realize. One micro-trend I've noticed: Individuals and organizations reaching out to the public; Twitter is one creative method being used to build confidence, increase communication and simply listen to what consumers have to say. The automobile industry needs some serious help. Here's my short list of the Top 11 people you should be following on Twitter. They're doing their part to bring about positive changes needed within the automobile industry. MissMotorMouth | Bright, enthusiastic car fanatic with a passion for making great things happen in the car business. TomWhitejr | Smart retail industry pro; customer focused & committed. You'll learn a thing or two following Tom. BobinOregon | Bob clearly enjoys what he does - helping his customers find w...

How New Media Helped Auction Direct USA Boost Sales 40% by Kimberly Smith Case study published on 10/28/2008 Company: Auction Direct USA Contact: Eric Miltsch, IT/Web Director for Auction Direct USA Location: Victor, NY; Jacksonville, FL; Raleigh, NC Industry: Automotive, B2C Annual revenue: Confidential Number of employees: 300 Thanks to MarketingProfs.com for the great article. Be sure to sign up for more of their premium content like this! You can follow Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer for MarketingProfs, on Twitter as well. While auto dealerships across the nation struggle to survive in the new economy, Auction Direct USA's business is expanding. Annual sales are up 40% for the young company that established its first location in Rochester, New York, in 2005. Three years later, that outlet boasts 14% of the area's used car market. Stores in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida, were added within the last year, and the Raleigh dealership is already the t...

Image via CrunchBase Car dealers are always looking for new ways to reach potential customers and retain existing relationships. Newspaper rates continue to rise while readership and reach are dropping; radio and TV results are difficult to track and expensive when compared to newer alternatives. Social media channels offer extremely low cost solutions for visitor communication, sales messages and marketing efforts. I'll begin this series with an overview of Twitter and a few short-cuts to help keep things moving efficiently. By now you've probably heard of Twitter, but are still asking yourself "What's the deal?" For those of you not familiar with this micro-blogging phenomenon, Twitter combines the functionality of instant messages, text messaging and social networking by letting you send out messages limited to 14O characters. Your messages are centered around the basic theme of answering a simple question: "What are you doing?" Before you get started, choose your voice. Deci...

Image via WikipediaUsed car shoppers all agree that doing your research online is a must. Dealer websites, photos, videos, mileage figures, reviews, CARFAX history reports…they will seek all the major resources. Even turning to friends, family and even the guy down the hall at work who claims to know everything. The major difference between all shoppers is how this information is processed and actually absorbed. Many buyers will tell you what they want and how much research they did. But did they? Most car buyers eventually buy something that is closer to what they want rather than what they need. I’ve done it. I blame it on Maslow. Shoppers need to use the resources available to make the best choice rather than just taking the easy route and selecting the familiar choices. I see a striking similarity in the the choices automotive shoppers make and the decisions voters make. And those choices tend to be based on comfort versus the decision that actually shares their current n...

Image via Wikipedia Want to add a little extra value to your customer's buying experience? Have them drive away from your dealership with additional information that makes them feel even more comfortable. Tell them to be sure they have a AAA membership - for that extra protection. A lot of people may not know the benefits available... Did you know that an early form of an automotive social network took root in 1902? A bunch of car fanatics got together in Cleveland, OH to create some maps and directions for drivers because they simply didn’t have enough roads available. The club quickly rose to over 1000 members and was called the American Automobile Association; demand escalated from there. Over the years they began creating hotel guides, driver safety programs and even acted as an official backer of professional automobile racing, including the Indianapolis 500 up until the 1950’s. Everyone is familiar with the typical AAA services such as unlocking your doors and helping wit...

Image via WikipediaA nimble, constantly evolving online marketing strategy helps keep CarsDirect dealer partner Auction Direct USA on the cutting edge of the Internet – and on top of the competition A drive to innovate permeates every department of Auction Direct USA. The Victor, NY-based chain of used car superstores has built a thriving business largely on being different. The differences stood out from the first day Auction Direct USA opened its doors in 2005. Specializing in late-model, low-mileage used cars and trucks, the company offers no-haggle prices on every vehicle and a three-day, 500-mile money back satisfaction guarantee. It established an exclusive 85-point quality inspection process, operates certified service departments, and encourages a relaxed atmosphere that emphasizes personalized customer service. Early success allowed Auction Direct USA to open additional stores in Raleigh, N.C. and Jacksonville, Fla. over the next two years. More locations are in the planni...

Interview from WhyBuyUsedCar.com [WBUC] Everyone wants the best price on a used car. Up to 80% of used car shoppers are looking for their next deal online; shoppers visit over 10 different car sites before even visiting a dealership. Knowing this, a consumer may ask why car dealers don't try harder to price their inventory more competitively. A new company is shaking up the used car market with the first and only solution to an old problem. Only three years old, vAuto is making a strong impact on used car dealers. Their revolutionary system helps dealers price, appraise and stock pre-owned vehicles. The winners? Dealers AND consumers. I spoke with vAuto's Chairman and Founder recently, Dale Pollak. His enthusiasm, knowledge and passion for changing the used car industry rings loud and clear. WBUC: What was your driving motivation in creating vAuto's used car pricing solution? Dale Pollak: I quickly saw the huge disconnect between the way traditional dealers price their vehicles a...

Interview from WhyBuyUsedCar.com [WBUC] I see the paradigm shift within the used car industry more and more every day. The consumer behavior and activity is being noticed by new players within the industry - finally. CarTango is a unique online venture with an extremely interesting concept: Social matchmaking targeting female automotive customers. The power of Web 2.0 is finally making its way to the automotive sector. Talking with Daniel Osborne recently, CEO of CarTango, he enthusiastically shared his thoughts about his company and the industry. Automotive consumers deserve better ways to shop online - CarTango is making great strides by offering online shoppers, especially women, a creative approach to shop for the best used cars available. WBUC: What was your driving motivation behind the launch of CarTango? D.O: Creating a better car shopping experience for women. What we found is that by enhancing the consumer experience we were also providing dealerships with more opport...

Interview from WhyBuyUsedCars.com [WBUC] I was fortunate enough to meet the founder of a new online automotive community. Unique sites can easily be traced back to their equally unique founders. I’m referring to Wei Yang – a very cool and talented entrepreneur. [Follow his Tweets & you’ll quickly see…] Wei was kind enough to share his thoughts on the auto industry with WhyBuyUsedCars.com…and our job is to provide online auto shoppers with the best used car information. WBUC: So Wei, what’s your newest online initiative all about? WY: EasyAutoSales.com is a free, ad-supported autos web 2.0 service which helps private sellers and dealers sell cars online. The EasyAutoSales team consists of a group of serial entrepreneurs with various backgrounds in programming, marketing and sales. WBUC: Share your online career background and highlights. WY: All of us have worked on other startups in one form or another and our team has a rather complementary set o...

Interview from WhyBuyUsedCars.com [WBUC] Crackberry, Sidekick, Smartphone - whatever you want to call them, they’re in everyone’s hands and people aren’t just talking. We’re doing a lot more than just talking and taking pictures now. With over 1 billion text messages sent daily, the practical applications are being recognized and implemented by businesses more frequently. I was fortunate enough to meet Shuki Lehavi, CEO of Gumiyo recently; It didn’t take me long to recognize we shared the same fervent enthusiasm for all things tech related…and our kids. My position gives me a unique perspective on some of the changes to the infrastructure to the car business - some at a snails pace while others in the blink of an eye. Check out some of Shuki’s comments from our conversation. I see things getting easier for both automotive consumers and dealers as they both embrace the changing landscape of car shopping… WBUC: Describe your background and experiences which lead up ...

Thanks to Jared and Paul for asking me to join DrivingSales.com. I may not be a true "car-guy" in the same sense as most of the contributors here have worked in a dealership and/or selling vehicles; my experiences include online business development, web technologies and social media activities. As the IT/Web Director for Auction Direct USA, I try to help improve our guests experiences and make them to be as enjoyable and unique as possible. I can't help but notice the ways in which the people on the front line, the sales professionals and managers, can impact the dealerships in which they're employed. Now is the time to ask critical questions to your staff. Challenge them to raise the bar. Put simply, if they don't want to help themselves with the available resources - then get someone on your showroom floor that does in fact have the desire to continuously improve. I'm not a big fan of putting Type-A , ADD personalities in a room, for any amount of time, to read sales training m...