CBS Sunday Morning aired a news package over the weekend that highlights the prevalence of plagiarism in the digital world. With just a few quick mouse clicks, we can highlight, copy, and paste another’s work and claim it as our own. While it may be completely innocuous – or even unintentional – plagiarism is an intellectual offense that can discredit you and your organization. This is a warning to all you content creators out there to avoid plagiarism – write in your own words!

Here are some tips to avoid unintentional plagiarism:

• Give credit where credit is due.
• 
  If you’re citing data from another site or borrowing a phrase from another blog, credit the original author and link back to the source. Make sure that you are crediting the right author and delineate their words by using quotation marks. You can also cite your source using footnotes or endnotes at the bottom of your page.

• Say something new.

It’s totally fine to base your content off of an idea that already exists. We wouldn’t be able to write if we didn’t do this. But make the effort to say something other than what’s already out there. Expand upon the ideas of your source material by writing something personal and original.

• Encourage intellectual integrity.

Michael Strong, author of the best-selling book The Habit of Thought, says that intellectual integrity is the act of seeking out ideas that might be contradictory to your own. If you find contradictory evidence, you might need to reexamine your own beliefs. Keep your mind open to new ideas – and you might not have to plagiarize existing ones.

So think for yourself – don’t copy the work of others. Don’t forget to subscribe to the ActivEngage blog for daily updates on marketing, entertainment, and the automotive world!

CBS Sunday Morning aired a news package over the weekend that highlights the prevalence of plagiarism in the digital world. With just a few quick mouse clicks, we can highlight, copy, and paste another’s work and claim it as our own. While it may be completely innocuous – or even unintentional – plagiarism is an intellectual offense that can discredit you and your organization. This is a warning to all you content creators out there to avoid plagiarism – write in your own words!

Here are some tips to avoid unintentional plagiarism:

• Give credit where credit is due.
• 
  If you’re citing data from another site or borrowing a phrase from another blog, credit the original author and link back to the source. Make sure that you are crediting the right author and delineate their words by using quotation marks. You can also cite your source using footnotes or endnotes at the bottom of your page.

• Say something new.

It’s totally fine to base your content off of an idea that already exists. We wouldn’t be able to write if we didn’t do this. But make the effort to say something other than what’s already out there. Expand upon the ideas of your source material by writing something personal and original.

• Encourage intellectual integrity.

Michael Strong, author of the best-selling book The Habit of Thought, says that intellectual integrity is the act of seeking out ideas that might be contradictory to your own. If you find contradictory evidence, you might need to reexamine your own beliefs. Keep your mind open to new ideas – and you might not have to plagiarize existing ones.

So think for yourself – don’t copy the work of others. Don’t forget to subscribe to the ActivEngage blog for daily updates on marketing, entertainment, and the automotive world!

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 – a Ken doll comes to life, Newsweek announces the end of its print edition, and we release the Ultimate Social Media eBook!

10. Real Life Ken Doll 
In lieu of working out, this walking Ken doll elected to have 90 plastic surgeries.

9. Disney’s First Latina Princess
Disney finally debuted their first Latina Princess which drew some criticism from some Hispanics. One Latina tweeted, “Is it me, or does Disney’s first Latina princess look… white?” Others say that all Hispanics come in different colors, shapes, and sizes.

8. Twitter Blocks Neo-Nazi Group
Twitter said late Wednesday it has blocked a German group’s account to users in that country at the request of police — the first time the company has implemented its targeted censorship policy.

7. TomTom Publishes List of Most Congested Cities
Since 2007, Dutch manufacturer of automotive navigation systems TomTom has initiated a program to better understand the traffic flow of more than 80 major cities in all continents to improve its guidance systems.

6. Newsweek To End Print Edition In 2013
Newsweek announced that it would be ending its long reign as one of America’s most notable weekly publications. This move to a digital format seems to signify the end of the print age.

5. The Ultimate Social Media eBook For Auto Dealers
Finally, a comprehensive social media guide for auto dealers. Our very own Ketty Colom  invested a lot of time in researching the best practices that converts a dealership’s facebook fans into profitable leads and customers. Download your free copy today!

4. Google Accidentally Leaks Q3 Financial Information
Google’s earnings were mistakenly published months in advance – and they showed that the Internet company was far below expected revenues. As a result of panicked investors, Google’s stock plummeted on Thursday.

3. 10 Spooky Cyber Attacks of 2012
Halloween is just around the corner and the team at cybercrime prevention company ThreatMetrixhas put together an infographic detailing the top 10 spookiest cyberattacks of the year so far.

2. The Most Abused Statistic In Automotive Internet Marketing
According to J.D. Rucker’s latest blog post, “conversion rate” is a misleading statistic. Check out this illuminating blog post about how the best marketers actually have lower conversion rates.

1. Google And Youtube Make Algorithm Updates
Hubspot published some top marketing stories of the week, including a detailed overview of the search changes coming to Youtube and Google. Stay on top of these changes!
_
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 – a Ken doll comes to life, Newsweek announces the end of its print edition, and we release the Ultimate Social Media eBook!

10. Real Life Ken Doll 
In lieu of working out, this walking Ken doll elected to have 90 plastic surgeries.

9. Disney’s First Latina Princess
Disney finally debuted their first Latina Princess which drew some criticism from some Hispanics. One Latina tweeted, “Is it me, or does Disney’s first Latina princess look… white?” Others say that all Hispanics come in different colors, shapes, and sizes.

8. Twitter Blocks Neo-Nazi Group
Twitter said late Wednesday it has blocked a German group’s account to users in that country at the request of police — the first time the company has implemented its targeted censorship policy.

7. TomTom Publishes List of Most Congested Cities
Since 2007, Dutch manufacturer of automotive navigation systems TomTom has initiated a program to better understand the traffic flow of more than 80 major cities in all continents to improve its guidance systems.

6. Newsweek To End Print Edition In 2013
Newsweek announced that it would be ending its long reign as one of America’s most notable weekly publications. This move to a digital format seems to signify the end of the print age.

5. The Ultimate Social Media eBook For Auto Dealers
Finally, a comprehensive social media guide for auto dealers. Our very own Ketty Colom  invested a lot of time in researching the best practices that converts a dealership’s facebook fans into profitable leads and customers. Download your free copy today!

4. Google Accidentally Leaks Q3 Financial Information
Google’s earnings were mistakenly published months in advance – and they showed that the Internet company was far below expected revenues. As a result of panicked investors, Google’s stock plummeted on Thursday.

3. 10 Spooky Cyber Attacks of 2012
Halloween is just around the corner and the team at cybercrime prevention company ThreatMetrixhas put together an infographic detailing the top 10 spookiest cyberattacks of the year so far.

2. The Most Abused Statistic In Automotive Internet Marketing
According to J.D. Rucker’s latest blog post, “conversion rate” is a misleading statistic. Check out this illuminating blog post about how the best marketers actually have lower conversion rates.

1. Google And Youtube Make Algorithm Updates
Hubspot published some top marketing stories of the week, including a detailed overview of the search changes coming to Youtube and Google. Stay on top of these changes!
_
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!

30 seconds might seem like a very small amount of time to you – but how long is it, really? Try closing your eyes and counting to 30.

One…

Two…

Three…

In the time it took you to perform this exercise, Google added $30,000 to its revenues, 500 iPhones were sold, and beams of light circled the earth over 200 times. In today’s digital age, 30 seconds is an eternity – so don’t let that be the bar by which you measure your live chat pick-up times.

Pick-up time is the single most important metric for your chat service. It measures how long a web shopper has been waiting to speak with a chat representative – and your shoppers don’t have 30 seconds to spare. At ActivEngage, we’ve found that abandonment greatly increases after just 6 seconds of waiting for a chat request. Don’t let this happen! When time is of the essence, you need chat representatives that you trust to be there for your shoppers.

When a shopper is frustrated that no one is answering a chat request, he/she will often pass that frustration onto the dealership. Your customers might think that poor customer service online will translate into poor customer service in-store. It is more important than ever that you greet the ups on your virtual lot in a timely manner (or hire someone who can!).

We know that monitoring your website for shopper chats can be a very time-consuming enterprise. That’s why we offer our fully-managed service for our auto dealer partners. If you are managing your own chat, the ActivEngage software provides an extensive reporting suite that measures (among other things) the average waiting time for chat operators.

The potential cost of leaving your website chats up to chance is just too high. Pick a chat vendor that can start relationships with your online customers on the right foot – by attending to them in under 6 seconds. If you’re shopping around for a live chat solution for your dealership, we highly recommend that you check out this eBook, The Live Chat Buyer’s Guide.

30 seconds might seem like a very small amount of time to you – but how long is it, really? Try closing your eyes and counting to 30.

One…

Two…

Three…

In the time it took you to perform this exercise, Google added $30,000 to its revenues, 500 iPhones were sold, and beams of light circled the earth over 200 times. In today’s digital age, 30 seconds is an eternity – so don’t let that be the bar by which you measure your live chat pick-up times.

Pick-up time is the single most important metric for your chat service. It measures how long a web shopper has been waiting to speak with a chat representative – and your shoppers don’t have 30 seconds to spare. At ActivEngage, we’ve found that abandonment greatly increases after just 6 seconds of waiting for a chat request. Don’t let this happen! When time is of the essence, you need chat representatives that you trust to be there for your shoppers.

When a shopper is frustrated that no one is answering a chat request, he/she will often pass that frustration onto the dealership. Your customers might think that poor customer service online will translate into poor customer service in-store. It is more important than ever that you greet the ups on your virtual lot in a timely manner (or hire someone who can!).

We know that monitoring your website for shopper chats can be a very time-consuming enterprise. That’s why we offer our fully-managed service for our auto dealer partners. If you are managing your own chat, the ActivEngage software provides an extensive reporting suite that measures (among other things) the average waiting time for chat operators.

The potential cost of leaving your website chats up to chance is just too high. Pick a chat vendor that can start relationships with your online customers on the right foot – by attending to them in under 6 seconds. If you’re shopping around for a live chat solution for your dealership, we highly recommend that you check out this eBook, The Live Chat Buyer’s Guide.

According to this recently published study by J.D. Power, 59% of auto shoppers with smartphones access dealership websites from the dealership. But why would a car shopper go to your website when they’re already in your store? Consumers today are more wary than ever of car sharks – and now they have the tools to conduct product research right in their pocket. They’ll visit your website from your store in order to verify your inventory and prices, and to ensure that they’re not getting hustled.

But an infrequently updated website can create big trouble for dealers. What if a vehicle’s price has a cheaper price on your website than the one quoted by your sales rep? What if a vehicle is listed “available” on your website but was actually sold days ago? Dealerships walk a dangerous line by letting their websites remain inactive for too long – even the best in-store sales process  and customer service strategy can be ruined by an outdated inventory page.

Arianne Walker, Senior Director of Automotive Media and Marketing Solutions at J.D. Power, says that “this interplay between the dealership experience and digital information has become more intertwined with the availability of shopping content on mobile devices…Now that buyers can easily access information right from their pockets, it is essential that the dealer body is as well versed as the shoppers in order to provide consistent information both online and in the dealership.”

What does this mean for auto dealers? Keep your website consistent with your in-store sales process. A customer should receive a uniform message regardless of where he/she goes to shop. This trend of interconnected virtual/physical shopping is only going to rise. The J.D. Power study reports that digital automotive research continues to have the most impact on brand and model selection. Remember – your website can have more of an impact than price or your sales staff!

According to this recently published study by J.D. Power, 59% of auto shoppers with smartphones access dealership websites from the dealership. But why would a car shopper go to your website when they’re already in your store? Consumers today are more wary than ever of car sharks – and now they have the tools to conduct product research right in their pocket. They’ll visit your website from your store in order to verify your inventory and prices, and to ensure that they’re not getting hustled.

But an infrequently updated website can create big trouble for dealers. What if a vehicle’s price has a cheaper price on your website than the one quoted by your sales rep? What if a vehicle is listed “available” on your website but was actually sold days ago? Dealerships walk a dangerous line by letting their websites remain inactive for too long – even the best in-store sales process  and customer service strategy can be ruined by an outdated inventory page.

Arianne Walker, Senior Director of Automotive Media and Marketing Solutions at J.D. Power, says that “this interplay between the dealership experience and digital information has become more intertwined with the availability of shopping content on mobile devices…Now that buyers can easily access information right from their pockets, it is essential that the dealer body is as well versed as the shoppers in order to provide consistent information both online and in the dealership.”

What does this mean for auto dealers? Keep your website consistent with your in-store sales process. A customer should receive a uniform message regardless of where he/she goes to shop. This trend of interconnected virtual/physical shopping is only going to rise. The J.D. Power study reports that digital automotive research continues to have the most impact on brand and model selection. Remember – your website can have more of an impact than price or your sales staff!

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 – Facebook hits a billion users, a presidential debate, and social media from 1985!

10. The Top Dogs of Klout

See the complete list of influencers in social media for the automotive industry by JD Rucker. I believe they are missing our own Ketty Colom who has a Klout score of 50….

9. Denim Style

Jay Leno wants everyone to know just how much he loves denim shirts.

8. Even in 1985, We Knew Facebook was Possible
Steve Case, the co-founder, former CEO and chairman of America Online, wrote an interesting blog on his role in social media. BONUS! There’s also a retro AOL ad included in this blog too!

7. Pranksters Glue iPhone 5 to the Floor

Watch what happens when you combine a super adhesive and an iPhone 5.

6. How Your Team Is Torn Apart by Five Words

What are the five deadliest words that a manager can hear? “That is not my job.” Find out how to counter this self-limiting belief in the workplace.

5. KitchenAid’s Tweet Shows The Dangers Of Multiple Twitter Accounts

Things weren’t looking good for KitchenAid earlier this week. After a rogue offensive tweet was sent from the company’s account, the houseware manufacturer was embroiled in a social media crisis. Take a look at how KitchenAid responded.

4. Live Free or FLY!

What would you do if your presidential candidate didn’t win the election? Leave the country? JetBlue will fly you there for FREE! Just enter this contest and your preferred destination (mine was Costa Rica) and cross your fingers and hope to win! Wait…do you really want to win this free trip?

3. Presidential Debate Hits 32-Year Record In Gross Ratings

On Wednesday night, all major news networks aired the most widely-watched presidential debate in history, with an estimated 60 million viewers. Everyone was watching (except Jim Lehrer).

2. Dealership Has Customer Arrested For Getting Too Good Of A Deal
When a Virginia Chevy dealership drove off with an accidental discount of $6,000 off his new car, the dealership called him and asked him to return it. When he refused, the dealership reported the car stolen to the police. After spending the night in jail, the former customer is now suing for $2.2 million.

1. Facebook Tops One Billion Users
Facebook reaches a billion users, and how do they celebrate? With a chair.

_

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 – Facebook hits a billion users, a presidential debate, and social media from 1985!

10. The Top Dogs of Klout

See the complete list of influencers in social media for the automotive industry by JD Rucker. I believe they are missing our own Ketty Colom who has a Klout score of 50….

9. Denim Style

Jay Leno wants everyone to know just how much he loves denim shirts.

8. Even in 1985, We Knew Facebook was Possible
Steve Case, the co-founder, former CEO and chairman of America Online, wrote an interesting blog on his role in social media. BONUS! There’s also a retro AOL ad included in this blog too!

7. Pranksters Glue iPhone 5 to the Floor

Watch what happens when you combine a super adhesive and an iPhone 5.

6. How Your Team Is Torn Apart by Five Words

What are the five deadliest words that a manager can hear? “That is not my job.” Find out how to counter this self-limiting belief in the workplace.

5. KitchenAid’s Tweet Shows The Dangers Of Multiple Twitter Accounts

Things weren’t looking good for KitchenAid earlier this week. After a rogue offensive tweet was sent from the company’s account, the houseware manufacturer was embroiled in a social media crisis. Take a look at how KitchenAid responded.

4. Live Free or FLY!

What would you do if your presidential candidate didn’t win the election? Leave the country? JetBlue will fly you there for FREE! Just enter this contest and your preferred destination (mine was Costa Rica) and cross your fingers and hope to win! Wait…do you really want to win this free trip?

3. Presidential Debate Hits 32-Year Record In Gross Ratings

On Wednesday night, all major news networks aired the most widely-watched presidential debate in history, with an estimated 60 million viewers. Everyone was watching (except Jim Lehrer).

2. Dealership Has Customer Arrested For Getting Too Good Of A Deal
When a Virginia Chevy dealership drove off with an accidental discount of $6,000 off his new car, the dealership called him and asked him to return it. When he refused, the dealership reported the car stolen to the police. After spending the night in jail, the former customer is now suing for $2.2 million.

1. Facebook Tops One Billion Users
Facebook reaches a billion users, and how do they celebrate? With a chair.

_

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!