7 Things we look for in Sales Applicants

Finding a job in today's economy is no easy chore. As companies downsize, file for bankruptcy, or shut down completely, the number of employers hiring naturally decreases and the byproduct is that we also have more people looking for jobs. Unfortunately for the employee, employers can now afford to be more selective when hiring.

Despite the woe of the general perception on the economy, companies are still hiring. This week I attended a job fair hosted by a local WaMu branch that is closing their doors on 400+ employees. At this job fair, there were 30 different local companies all looking for qualified candidates to fill open positions. Certainly there are fewer options available right now in the job world, but there are options.

Reply! is gearing up for 2009, expanding our sales teams dramatically. We're receiving resumes from a variety of people with all different backgrounds. While different companies and different positions all have...

Few things in life bother me more than management teams of various companies conveniently blaming their shortcomings on the macroeconomic environment. Never mind that before the slow-down their company wasn’t in a much better situation.
When was the last time Chevrolet, Ford, or Chrysler produced the best-selling car in the country? Over the last ten years—besides the massive, gas-guzzling SUVs that lacked any significant innovation—what other claims to fame do these companies have?
Is it really that complicated to figure out that the market responds positively to cars like Accord, Camry and Prius? How many millions of these models do Toyota and Honda need to sell in order for the domestic manufacturers notice the trends?
Interestingly enough, I see similarities between the problems plaguing the domestic "big three" and a company in a very different industry, Yahoo. They all try to solve their problems through deal-making, rather than turning to innovation and a long-term, via...

I’ve been in the online lead generation industry for four years now and, in our business, it makes me a senior citizen. I’ve worn many different hats at Reply!—from starting out on our retail automotive sales floor, selling to single dealerships, to managing our entire Retail Automotive business. I’ve also worked with real estate agents, selling face-to-face at the National Association of Realtors Convention in 2004. While I’ve never directly sold cars or real estate, I speak to lead buyers all day long. In all the feedback I’ve received, there’s one thing I hear time and time again; Internet leads only work when they are worked.

Most lead buyers are constantly hiring and firing lead providers because "the leads don’t close." Six months down the road, they get a call from the provider they left, and the salesperson discusses changes to lead generation techniques and validation processes. The dealership or real estate agent gives the provider another chance—six...

I wanted my first post with DrivingSales.com to be something fun. Normally, I will be posting information regarding automotive lead generation, online marketing and the utility of lead exchanges to elimiate advertising waste. But, to kick things off, here are 18 interesting sites to help with car & fuel maintenance. Original article on Mashable.



DriverSide.com - DriverSide can help you find a car and maintain it once it’s yours. The site provides news about recalls, when to get your car serviced, helps you find out how much parts cost, and they will even help you sell it. Covers pretty much the entire life cycle of an automobile.
Ownersite.com - Ownersite is a subscription plan service that helps you keep track of your car’s maintenance, costs and reminders of when you next need service.
RepairPal.com - RepairPal assists you with getting estimates for repairs, finding well reviewed shops and keeping track of your car’s maintenance.
ServiceBeacon.com - Keep tra...