How come everybody isn't using Google Voice?   Here are 15 reasons why you should be, if you're not already… This may sound like a commercial, but I am just a fan and user trying to pass on the idea.   It's FREE with a GMail account. You can get a new phone number or port over an existing number. You can even choose your new number from an available list in most area codes. You can also have your number include a word or phrase like SALE (7253), if it's available. Free voicemail and call recording (optional). Route incoming calls to as many as 6 different phone numbers simultaneously - one phone number can ring to your office, cell AND home phone! Make calls from your cell phone's data plan with the free Google Voice app (iPhone, Android and even Blackberry) - save your minutes! Add a "Call Me" Button to every page of your website with the Google Voice ...

Who Would You Nominate for a "Green Jacket?" As the best golfers in the world compete for the Green Jacket at Augusta, I can't help but think of the largest similarity that Major tournament golf champions have with the champions of the Automotive Internet Sales world - Consistent Excellence. Great golfers lead The Masters for a day or two and often fade. Only the best of the best are still in contention late on Sunday. These are the professionals that have paid their dues - made mistakes and learned from them, pushed themselves, sacrificed, maintained focus in the face of adversity and persevered. The most successful BDC Directors and Automotive Internet Salespeople did not get that way overnight. They fight for respect, advertising budget and credit for sales in an industry that's looked down upon the BDC or Internet Sales Department as "those guys in the back that play on computers", compared the salespeople who work the floor e...

If the answer is yes, claim them and merge them with your current Fan page! Many dealerships have multiple Facebook pages representing them out there. Which page are your customers checking into? You can merge these other pages with your fan page, but you must claim each of these non-fan-page  pages before you do so. Here's how to claim and administer the pages that are not your fan page, but represent your business: First, you should be an administrator of your dealership's Facebook fan page - you will need to be in order to merge the two (or more) pages. Next, search Facebook for your dealership name (in the white search box at the top blue bar). Are there multiple entries coming up? Click on the first dealership page that is not your fan page. Click on the box in the top right corner that says: Know the Owner?  In the box that pops up, enter your email address. It must be the same address as the one that administers your fan page.  You...

I originally wrote this blog post (CLICK THIS LINK) almost 2 years ago, titled, "We need to Re-Position and Re-Name The Internet Department," on AutomotiveDigitalMarketing.com, but the subject matter is more relevant than ever. An "Internet Sales department" will, sadly, no longer be sufficient for car dealerships going forward. That day is coming sooner rather than later.

As online consumer use has grown, the size of the staff working to capitalize on that 



increased usage has remained relatively stagnant. There will continue to be the need for appointment setters responding to leads via email and phone, business development coordinators to make lease retention, unsold showroom and service follow-up calls.

However, there is also enough work in marketing a dealership online to occupy one person (or an entire staff) on a full-time basis, in a DIGITAL MARKETING DEPARTMENT without that person having the burden or responsibi

I was inspired by a discussion on this site,  where an Internet Marketing Manager at a VW dealership was soliciting help on improving his closing percentage above its current consistent 10%. This manager has a basic set of steps he follows, which are widely accepted as the best practice to achieve the best results in the automotive industry: AutoResponse Send Qualifying Questions (Fact Finding) email Send Price Quote email Call Customer Follow Up I had a few suggestions for him, which you can apply to your dealership's process to improve your closing percentage: How many days out are you following up with each prospect right now? And how often do you email/call them? Converting more 30-90 day old prospects through diligent follow up is a key factor in increasing closing ratio. Do you send TARGETED broadcast (bulk) emails? Targeting by model would make the offers more relevant to your existing prospect base. Do you have a sold follow ...

This article can also be found by visiting http://wp.me/p1zj9v-1i or http://infiniteprospects.wordpress.com. As an Automotive Internet Sales Expert, I am often asked: How should I price my cars online for my dealership? Dealerships need to have a strategy for setting markup on new vehicle pricing online. Of course, consumers want to see the lowest price for the car they want. So... give them what they want! Remember that front-end gross is only one of the many ways to profit from a sale: you also have the Accessories/Warranty avenue, plus the potential of profiting from a trade-in. That doesn't even count the future service revenue or ancillary profit received from any referrals the consumer may send you. The best practice I've seen, after years of experience, research and thought, is: Mirror-image the markup and pricing offered in your traditional offline advertising, most often your newspaper ad. Mirror-imaging your traditional...

  Is your dealership's Internet sales process focused largely on converting consumers within the first 72 hours of receiving their lead? If so, you're leaving a large chunk of sales on the table... How much time do you spend working your 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90-day old prospects? Probably not enough... While this published data may be a few years old, the statistics have not changed much since that time. Put together a strategy with a combination of phone calls, personal emails, email newsletters and direct mail (where possible) to stay in touch with the consumer for 90+ days and keep your dealership in their thoughts. Excerpt from: 2008 AUTOMOTIVE ESHOPPER EXPERIENCE STUDY, conducted by The Cobalt Group and J.D. Power & Associates.  "The 2008 J.D. Power and Associates New Autoshopper.com Study found that on average AUIs (Automotive Internet Users) report that they first decide to buy a new vehicle 15.4 weeks before they act...