Korean rapper/insane man PSY is having a pretty good month. His smash hit, “Gangnam Style,” has become the viral version of the Macarena, coupling a catchy beat with the most ridiculous dance moves that a fully grown adult could conceivably perform. Mimicking and mocking the music video is irresistible – “Gangnam Style” has received over 600 million views at the time of this writing. PSY has performed his bizarre equestrian jig on The Today Show, Ellen, and Saturday Night Live. And he owes all of his success in America to the popularity of his viral video.

There are tons of brands, products, and would-be-celebrities who have found fortune and fame by producing a video that spreads around the Internet like wildfire. These videos are called “viral” because, like a virus, they spread infectiously, quickly contaminating the Internet with a fever of sharing and reblogging. The effectiveness of viral videos can not be understated – which is why both presidential campaigns just finished pouring millions of dollars into creating their own  Youtube videos. So the question is – how can car dealers get in on the viral craze?

Howard Polirer, director-industry relations for AutoTrader.com, estimated that 25% of all U.S. dealers now use online video in their marketing efforts. This means that dealerships are doing a better job of targeting their viewer audience. But humor is always the key to making a truly viral video. Check out Clay Corp’s successful “Let’s Get Naked!” video, in which the dealer promises to show his customer’s everything – and then strips down to his tighty-whiteys to prove it.

Viral marketing can catapult your dealership brand into the national spotlight, and sell you more cars. Get creative with your web content. We can help with that – follow ActivEngage’s blog for more ideas, marketing tips, and auto industry news!

Korean rapper/insane man PSY is having a pretty good month. His smash hit, “Gangnam Style,” has become the viral version of the Macarena, coupling a catchy beat with the most ridiculous dance moves that a fully grown adult could conceivably perform. Mimicking and mocking the music video is irresistible – “Gangnam Style” has received over 600 million views at the time of this writing. PSY has performed his bizarre equestrian jig on The Today Show, Ellen, and Saturday Night Live. And he owes all of his success in America to the popularity of his viral video.

There are tons of brands, products, and would-be-celebrities who have found fortune and fame by producing a video that spreads around the Internet like wildfire. These videos are called “viral” because, like a virus, they spread infectiously, quickly contaminating the Internet with a fever of sharing and reblogging. The effectiveness of viral videos can not be understated – which is why both presidential campaigns just finished pouring millions of dollars into creating their own  Youtube videos. So the question is – how can car dealers get in on the viral craze?

Howard Polirer, director-industry relations for AutoTrader.com, estimated that 25% of all U.S. dealers now use online video in their marketing efforts. This means that dealerships are doing a better job of targeting their viewer audience. But humor is always the key to making a truly viral video. Check out Clay Corp’s successful “Let’s Get Naked!” video, in which the dealer promises to show his customer’s everything – and then strips down to his tighty-whiteys to prove it.

Viral marketing can catapult your dealership brand into the national spotlight, and sell you more cars. Get creative with your web content. We can help with that – follow ActivEngage’s blog for more ideas, marketing tips, and auto industry news!

Happy Anniversary!

Last Sunday, ActivEngage celebrated its 5th-year anniversary under the cabanas of Wekiva Island in sunny Florida. We count ourselves lucky – 95% of all businesses fail before they turn 5! To commemorate the occasion, ActivEngage pulled out all the stops by providing canoes, paddle boards, sno-kones, face paintings, lots of food, and an open bar! It was an awesome day of sun, food, and friends.

Happy Anniversary!

Last Sunday, ActivEngage celebrated its 5th-year anniversary under the cabanas of Wekiva Island in sunny Florida. We count ourselves lucky – 95% of all businesses fail before they turn 5! To commemorate the occasion, ActivEngage pulled out all the stops by providing canoes, paddle boards, sno-kones, face paintings, lots of food, and an open bar! It was an awesome day of sun, food, and friends.

Much of the eastern seaboard is expecting (or already experiencing) massive power outages and flooding as Hurricane Sandy makes landfall. We at ActivEngage think this is a good time to talk about what to do when your Internet network goes down. As a live chat provider, it is essential that our Internet connection to our dealership clients remains stable at all times. But in the rare occasion that our ISP flips the wrong switch, or inclement weather causes an Internet outage, we have a backup plan to ensure that our customers stay satisfied. When your website is down, what will you do for online car shoppers?

Here are a few tips:

• Have a backup “Site Down” page ready.

Seen that one before? Nothing frustrates your customers like the unexplained, boilerplate error page. Let’s face it: Your site WILL go down at some point – so be prepared for it by offering shoppers a personalized, branded explanation for the downtime. You can follow this guide to making your own “service unavailable” page.

• Communicate with visitors.

You might not have control over a third party’s service failure, but web visitors won’t know or care. Don’t wait for your shoppers to discover that something went wrong on their own. Communicate in as many ways as possible to prepare your incoming traffic for the downtime. If your website is down, hop on your Facebook and Twitter accounts and offer an apology or explanation to your community of fans.

• Laugh it off.

Your website is down, but these things happen to every business. You might bemoan lost revenue or unsatisfied consumers, but in the end, there isn’t much you can do about it. Try and stay positive about the Internet outage, and keep a light-hearted tone when making the situation better later.

Everyone at ActivEngage is thinking of our friends in the Northeast as the biggest storm system in recent history sweeps through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and about a dozen other states. Stay safe!

Follow ActivEngage’s blog for daily marketing updates for auto dealers!

Much of the eastern seaboard is expecting (or already experiencing) massive power outages and flooding as Hurricane Sandy makes landfall. We at ActivEngage think this is a good time to talk about what to do when your Internet network goes down. As a live chat provider, it is essential that our Internet connection to our dealership clients remains stable at all times. But in the rare occasion that our ISP flips the wrong switch, or inclement weather causes an Internet outage, we have a backup plan to ensure that our customers stay satisfied. When your website is down, what will you do for online car shoppers?

Here are a few tips:

• Have a backup “Site Down” page ready.

Seen that one before? Nothing frustrates your customers like the unexplained, boilerplate error page. Let’s face it: Your site WILL go down at some point – so be prepared for it by offering shoppers a personalized, branded explanation for the downtime. You can follow this guide to making your own “service unavailable” page.

• Communicate with visitors.

You might not have control over a third party’s service failure, but web visitors won’t know or care. Don’t wait for your shoppers to discover that something went wrong on their own. Communicate in as many ways as possible to prepare your incoming traffic for the downtime. If your website is down, hop on your Facebook and Twitter accounts and offer an apology or explanation to your community of fans.

• Laugh it off.

Your website is down, but these things happen to every business. You might bemoan lost revenue or unsatisfied consumers, but in the end, there isn’t much you can do about it. Try and stay positive about the Internet outage, and keep a light-hearted tone when making the situation better later.

Everyone at ActivEngage is thinking of our friends in the Northeast as the biggest storm system in recent history sweeps through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and about a dozen other states. Stay safe!

Follow ActivEngage’s blog for daily marketing updates for auto dealers!

The most trusted name in live chat brings the top ten blogs and auto news stories right to you! We monitor industry trends, current events, and the auto dealer community every week to bring you the top ten blogs and automotive stories from around the globe. In this weekly edition – Einstein belongs to the world, Google visits the Grand Canyon, and the fastest highway in America opens!

The Hierarchy Of Social Media Pages And Profiles

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ – will someone please order all these social networks by importance so I know how to manage my time? Fortunately, that’s exactly what J.D. Rucker did.

Google Visits The Grand Canyon – And Changes The World

Google takes its Maps program one step into the future – and plans to illuminate the entire world with its Street Level initiative. If Google’s Trekker camera can survive the journey into the Grand Canyon, the team says it can go anywhere.

NYPD Officer Planned To Slow Cook Women

A man that was sworn to protect the citizens of NYC had devious plans with a cohort to kidnap and eat women.

At 85 MPH, The Fastest Highway In The U.S. Opens

A 40-mile tollway opened between San Antonio, TX, and Austin – and the speed-limit is the highest in America at 85 MPH. Riding this Autobahn isn’t cheap – the tollway is $6 one way, and there have already been reports of fatal crashes and rollovers.

Mitsubishi Boss Calls French Minister A Retard

Here’s why: as reported by the French newspaper La Provence by way of The Telegraph:

“This mental case, this retard, increases ecological taxes, reduces the speed motorists can go on Paris’ ring road and ruins the life of motorists from all social origins all suffer as a result of him. He is stupid and understands nothing, you can quote me on that.”

The Digital Lot

Keith Shetterly’s newest eBook is available in November and he writes, “I’ve been learning, helping dealers, and writing about this situation for many years now, and, to dealers and to my peers in automotive retail, this is my compilation–dedicated to you!–of all that I have learned and know about successfully running..the Digital Lot!”

Man In China Sues Wife Over Ugly Baby
A man in China sues his now estranged wife for $120k because she gave birth to an ugly baby—and WON!

GM Lawsuit Over Einstein Image Is Dismissed
Great news everyone! Since Einstein has been dead now for over 60 years, his image is now public property! How will you celebrate this news?

East Coast Keeps A Watchful Eye On Hurricane Sandy

Current forecasts show the Category 2 Hurricane Sandy heading directly for New York City. As the Big Apple prepares for high winds and possible flooding, we at ActivEngage hope that the weather predictions are wrong (as they so often are).

Customer Loyalty Begins In The Service Drive

Positive service reviews and social posts can create a line in your service drive and keep your bays full. Fix a blown tire the morning of a vacation, or provide a last minute oil change at closing time, and you’ve gained a fan for life. The need to deliver exceptional service isn’t just aspirational, it’s essential to your bottom line.
_
Did we miss anything important? Like our top ten blogs this week? Leave us a comment below! Or if you really can’t wait for your automotive fix, follow @activengage on Twitter for daily updates on auto industry news!

The most trusted name in live chat brings the top ten blogs and auto news stories right to you! We monitor industry trends, current events, and the auto dealer community every week to bring you the top ten blogs and automotive stories from around the globe. In this weekly edition – Einstein belongs to the world, Google visits the Grand Canyon, and the fastest highway in America opens!

The Hierarchy Of Social Media Pages And Profiles

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ – will someone please order all these social networks by importance so I know how to manage my time? Fortunately, that’s exactly what J.D. Rucker did.

Google Visits The Grand Canyon – And Changes The World

Google takes its Maps program one step into the future – and plans to illuminate the entire world with its Street Level initiative. If Google’s Trekker camera can survive the journey into the Grand Canyon, the team says it can go anywhere.

NYPD Officer Planned To Slow Cook Women

A man that was sworn to protect the citizens of NYC had devious plans with a cohort to kidnap and eat women.

At 85 MPH, The Fastest Highway In The U.S. Opens

A 40-mile tollway opened between San Antonio, TX, and Austin – and the speed-limit is the highest in America at 85 MPH. Riding this Autobahn isn’t cheap – the tollway is $6 one way, and there have already been reports of fatal crashes and rollovers.

Mitsubishi Boss Calls French Minister A Retard

Here’s why: as reported by the French newspaper La Provence by way of The Telegraph:

“This mental case, this retard, increases ecological taxes, reduces the speed motorists can go on Paris’ ring road and ruins the life of motorists from all social origins all suffer as a result of him. He is stupid and understands nothing, you can quote me on that.”

The Digital Lot

Keith Shetterly’s newest eBook is available in November and he writes, “I’ve been learning, helping dealers, and writing about this situation for many years now, and, to dealers and to my peers in automotive retail, this is my compilation–dedicated to you!–of all that I have learned and know about successfully running..the Digital Lot!”

Man In China Sues Wife Over Ugly Baby
A man in China sues his now estranged wife for $120k because she gave birth to an ugly baby—and WON!

GM Lawsuit Over Einstein Image Is Dismissed
Great news everyone! Since Einstein has been dead now for over 60 years, his image is now public property! How will you celebrate this news?

East Coast Keeps A Watchful Eye On Hurricane Sandy

Current forecasts show the Category 2 Hurricane Sandy heading directly for New York City. As the Big Apple prepares for high winds and possible flooding, we at ActivEngage hope that the weather predictions are wrong (as they so often are).

Customer Loyalty Begins In The Service Drive

Positive service reviews and social posts can create a line in your service drive and keep your bays full. Fix a blown tire the morning of a vacation, or provide a last minute oil change at closing time, and you’ve gained a fan for life. The need to deliver exceptional service isn’t just aspirational, it’s essential to your bottom line.
_
Did we miss anything important? Like our top ten blogs this week? Leave us a comment below! Or if you really can’t wait for your automotive fix, follow @activengage on Twitter for daily updates on auto industry news!

Anyone with a computer and 5 minutes of spare time has probably sat down to play with the Google Maps “Street View” application before. You’ve probably zoomed way into your own backyard, trying to catch a glimpse of yourself from a satellite. Maybe you’ve checked out your dealership from an aerial view, or looked up your old house to see if the new tenants have ruined everything. At ActivEngage, we can use Google Maps to instantly pinpoint a shopper’s location – and even look at the car they plan to trade in – in amazing, vivid detail.

Through Street View, you can travel like a pedestrian from your computer. You can take a few steps at a time up the road, and survey neighborhoods through the footage of Google’s high-definition cameras. But just showing us the populated, residential parts of America isn’t enough for the search engine company. Google is taking their cameras on an expedition to the beautiful, Internet-uncharted parts of the world, starting with the Grand Canyon.

Product Manager Ryan Falor writes that if the Google Trekker system can traverse the steep trails of the Grand Canyon, it can go anywhere. Wearing a 40-pound camera with 18 different lenses, Falor and the Google Team are mapping the ridges and valleys of the famed Canyon for later use by armchair travelers. This is the first step towards making a virtual walkthrough of the entire planet available on the Web.

Why is Google doing this? They aren’t stupid – they respect the gripping, compelling power of images on the web. They know that Internet users experience the world around them through images – and they want to build an image-based site that enshrines the world itself. You too, can be part of a visual revolution – by giving your inventory page life. Add colorful photos of your vehicles or panoramic shots of your lot. The customer eye will be drawn to it.

For more information on the power behind sharing images, subscribe to ActivEngage updates – we’re releasing an auto dealer’s guide to social images next month!

Anyone with a computer and 5 minutes of spare time has probably sat down to play with the Google Maps “Street View” application before. You’ve probably zoomed way into your own backyard, trying to catch a glimpse of yourself from a satellite. Maybe you’ve checked out your dealership from an aerial view, or looked up your old house to see if the new tenants have ruined everything. At ActivEngage, we can use Google Maps to instantly pinpoint a shopper’s location – and even look at the car they plan to trade in – in amazing, vivid detail.

Through Street View, you can travel like a pedestrian from your computer. You can take a few steps at a time up the road, and survey neighborhoods through the footage of Google’s high-definition cameras. But just showing us the populated, residential parts of America isn’t enough for the search engine company. Google is taking their cameras on an expedition to the beautiful, Internet-uncharted parts of the world, starting with the Grand Canyon.

Product Manager Ryan Falor writes that if the Google Trekker system can traverse the steep trails of the Grand Canyon, it can go anywhere. Wearing a 40-pound camera with 18 different lenses, Falor and the Google Team are mapping the ridges and valleys of the famed Canyon for later use by armchair travelers. This is the first step towards making a virtual walkthrough of the entire planet available on the Web.

Why is Google doing this? They aren’t stupid – they respect the gripping, compelling power of images on the web. They know that Internet users experience the world around them through images – and they want to build an image-based site that enshrines the world itself. You too, can be part of a visual revolution – by giving your inventory page life. Add colorful photos of your vehicles or panoramic shots of your lot. The customer eye will be drawn to it.

For more information on the power behind sharing images, subscribe to ActivEngage updates – we’re releasing an auto dealer’s guide to social images next month!