All auto leads are not created equal. Find out a reputable auto lead provider with a proven track record. Auto Friend Leads connects your dealership with serious shoppers looking for their next car. Learn how you can actually find quality auto leads

The transformation of ‘car selling business’ has been happening right before our eyes at an incredible pace!

Research results reveal, in the US alone, 90% of car consumers use the internet for comparing new and old car rates and to learn about the vehicle of their choice.

With the proliferation of the internet the automotive lead generation market has also seen a shift in consumer behavior. In this competitive environment it is thus now more important than ever to judge auto leads in terms of quality.

So; how can you identify qualified auto leads? It is impossible to answer this in one simple line because there are a number of contributing factors to mull over. But before we delve any further let us

What is a qualified lead?

A qualified lead on the other hand is much more than a mere contact detail. A qualified lead thus includes further information on the person that it represents.

The qualifying questions in judging a lead thus relate to the BANT approach -

• Budget: does the lead have the budget to buy the product?

• Authority: can the lead make a buying decision?

• Need: does the lead have the need of the particular product/ service in question

• Timescale: when can the lead make a purchase

By gathering answers to all of the above mentioned questions at the lead stage, you can prioritize the leads you gather.

Stop wasting time on bad leads. In the automotive industry a sales lead is considered as ‘unqualified’ when it fails to meet all or at least some of your identified criteria. Start with a scientific approach to your sales process

Start with the First Contact Filter with the following questions

• Is it a duplicate lead?

• Are the data valid?

• Is the target lead still representing an opportunity?

• Is the lead a part of a hierarchy?

• Is the lead a part of a larger opportunity?

Assessing these points not only save your time but it also keeps your sales pipeline full with viable opportunities.

All leads are not equal; importance and significance of ‘fit’ stands as the crucial element for lead qualification. Assess the deal fit, budget fit, interest fit, power fit & timing fit to identify a qualified subprime auto lead.

Deal Fit - This is however the very first step, which you really need to understand well in the lead qualification process.  Answer the following question

• Does the lead fit your targeted customer profile?

• Will you be able to manage the geographic region if in case you win the lead?

• Can you identify the lead’s primary need/demand/ challenge?

If your answers to the above questions are YES then the auto lead is worth fostering.  

Budget Fit – Find out the budget of the lead and find out who controls the budget. Determine the size of the deal and ensure that the lead can pay for it. Assess the prospect’s budget before moving any further.

Interest Fit – Is the lead showing enough interest? This is yet another important aspect to mull over. This is the buyer’s market and savvy buyers will avoid if they are not interested. Assess whether the lead is an Interest Fit.

• Is the lead taking your call?

• Has the lead shown interest in your product or pricing?

• Have they clicked through your promo offers?

If the lead fits all these, then rest assured that you have a qualified lead, which can be moved to the next stage.

Power Fit – The next significant element is to assess –

• Whether your lead is the decision maker

• Has the ability in influencing the decision

• Has the ability to connect you with the decision maker

If your lead fits at least one of the above mentioned assessments, you have a sale qualified lead, which you can pass to your sales team.

Timing Fit – Finally, assess the timing fit. It is all about learning if there’s enough motivation in your lead to act.

• Has the lead requested additional information?

• Is he interested in a product demo?

If the lead fits any one of these, the lead is an opportunity which deserves your attention and priority.

Find out a reputable auto lead provider with a proven track record. Auto Friend Leads connects your dealership with serious shoppers looking for their next car.

We utilize user-friendly search tools that help customers find the car they want and buy it from you! After visiting our websites, prospective buyers can virtually visit your dealership 24 hours a day and 7 days a week!

A loaded question indeed! Speak with 10 different individuals and you may get 10 different answers. But before delving any further and before we answer that question it’s time to understand the basics.

It’s time to take a closer look at some of the dynamics of the 3rd party exclusive auto lead industry.

3rd party auto leads are usually provided for specific purposes:

• New vehicles leads
• Used vehicle leads
• Special finance leads also known as Subprime leads

Why do you need 3rd party auto leads at all?

Think once; you have a sleek website with great navigation, snappy images and live chat support, still you are unable to attract auto buyers to your dealership. So; what could be the reason?

 It’s impossible to point out one single reason as there could be a number of contributing factors. For instance you probably don’t have a tailored marketing strategy in place, or probably you are not spending an adequate amount of time in marketing or possibly hiring inexperienced marketers might have resulted in drop off your car sales figures.

Moreover; the whole automotive lead generation market has witnessed a great shift in consumer behavior.

More than 90% of car consumers nowadays use the internet for comparing new and old car rates and learn more about the vehicle of their choice. But with overloaded internet information, dealers struggle to attract the genuinely interested shoppers.  This is where professional auto lead providers come in.

Benefits of hiring a professional lead generating company.

You Get Maximum Amount Of Quality Auto Leads: Doesn’t really matter if you are looking for subprime auto leads or insurance leads the professional lead generating companies offer a wide variety of leads for the car dealers to meet their business requirements.

You Get Verified Leads: Honestly; there is no point in getting fruitless leads until and unless they actually turn into customers quickly. Worry not; the reputed automotive lead providers only supply leads that are verified. For the uninitiated; verification is done employing highly sophisticated in-house verification system that screens a good lead and filters out the bad ones.

Meeting Deadlines Become Easier: Every dealership has its own individual business goal and business demands and it is the responsibility of the professional auto lead providers to satisfy the business needs within the stipulated time frame. Usually, a reputed auto lead provider supplies a consistent flow of fresh, high quality and effective leads every month within the time frame as agreed upon.

Their Research Team Looks Out For Innovative Ways To Get The Attention Of Maximum Potential Auto Buyers: It’s pretty logical for the lead generating companies to develop landing pages; car leads websites, carry on email marketing campaigns and other online and offline marketing methods to attract an increased number of visitors per day. The auto lead providers thus have a research team that is always on the lookout for fresh ways to arrest the attention of only the potential auto buyers.

It is thus clear why so many dealers all across the world are now looking for auto lead providers on a regular basis. Because they supply the dealers with the maximum amount of new and used car leads and insurance leads at the most competitive rate.

Now, let us come back to the question we started with - automotive lead providers – A friend or a foe? The answer—YES to both!

They are a friend because the lead providers leverage technology to gather, filter and deliver quality auto leads in a more efficient manner. The coin however flips when you hire the wrong people for the right task.

All leads are not created equal as they differ in terms of quality and efficacy. “Quality is job number one” - The old Ford slogan stands as the absolute truth in automotive leads as well.

Yes, quality and consistent lead flow is the bedrock of any car dealership and the must element to help dealers survive in a brutal marketplace.