Establishing an automotive dealer’s online presence can be a difficult proposition.  There are a number of elements to think about in assembling a plan to make your dealership more visible in the online world.

As part of our ongoing series on building an online presence for your automotive marketing initiatives (link to first blog here), we’ve offered a few key points that serve as a foundation for your strategy.  In this edition, we’ll delve into how making a connection with your client database serves as a vital component of those efforts. 

For starters, active listening is a great way to gauge what your customers are saying about your product or service.  It requires a listener to have the ability to comprehend what is taking place and serve in the role of customer relationship manager.  In doing so, you’re establishing yourself as a knowledge leader, a person that online users go to when they’re seeking information.  Active listening requires the listener to understand, interpret, and evaluate what they hear.  To do, utilizing such tools as Twitter, industry forums and blogs can help in getting a better understanding of what people are saying about your brand.

Ideally, the next step is instituting relevant email campaigns that use the gathered data from the listening activities.  If people are saying your store has great customer service (for example), play that up.  If people are saying your store doesn’t, then be sure to emphasize service changes you may be instituting.  Using the data you accumulated via active listening in your messages shows your customers you’re proactive in meeting their needs.

One last point to consider is creating those messages and crafting them in a way that spurs a call to action.  For instance, an automotive service marketing initiative should be crafted in a way that can either serve loyal customers or ones that are unresponsive (remember active and inactive customers?).  For loyal customers, an offer of a discounted oil change or service could drive traffic into your dealership.  On the flip side, non-loyal or unresponsive customers will probably require more aggressive pitches.  Additionally, deeper discounts may be needed to entice them to use your automotive service department.

With these tips in mind, your automotive marketing campaigns can effectively reach all facets of your client database and improve your ROI.

~ Missy Jensen, Social Media Manager at DMEautomotive

Bio:
Missy designs, deploys and maintains the social media initiatives for DMEautomotive in an effort to increase brand awareness, distribute company and industry news, provide updates on products and services and promote consumer engagement. Missy enjoys the process of learning; researching and watching projects come to fruition!

Prior to her transformation into a web specialist and work with DMEautomotive, she has 10 years of experience in the marketing and communications industry. Missy served as the Director, Handicapping & Communications for a regional golf association and helped successfully launch and maintain a cutting edge technology-based ticket resale program on behalf of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Missy attended St. Lawrence University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Psychology. She also holds a Master’s Degree from Miami University in Oxford, OH. She can be reached at missy.jensen@dmeautomotive.com and check her out on LinkedIn.

Establishing an automotive dealer’s online presence can be a difficult proposition.  There are a number of elements to think about in assembling a plan to make your dealership more visible in the online world.

As part of our ongoing series on building an online presence for your automotive marketing initiatives (link to first blog here), we’ve offered a few key points that serve as a foundation for your strategy.  In this edition, we’ll delve into how making a connection with your client database serves as a vital component of those efforts. 

For starters, active listening is a great way to gauge what your customers are saying about your product or service.  It requires a listener to have the ability to comprehend what is taking place and serve in the role of customer relationship manager.  In doing so, you’re establishing yourself as a knowledge leader, a person that online users go to when they’re seeking information.  Active listening requires the listener to understand, interpret, and evaluate what they hear.  To do, utilizing such tools as Twitter, industry forums and blogs can help in getting a better understanding of what people are saying about your brand.

Ideally, the next step is instituting relevant email campaigns that use the gathered data from the listening activities.  If people are saying your store has great customer service (for example), play that up.  If people are saying your store doesn’t, then be sure to emphasize service changes you may be instituting.  Using the data you accumulated via active listening in your messages shows your customers you’re proactive in meeting their needs.

One last point to consider is creating those messages and crafting them in a way that spurs a call to action.  For instance, an automotive service marketing initiative should be crafted in a way that can either serve loyal customers or ones that are unresponsive (remember active and inactive customers?).  For loyal customers, an offer of a discounted oil change or service could drive traffic into your dealership.  On the flip side, non-loyal or unresponsive customers will probably require more aggressive pitches.  Additionally, deeper discounts may be needed to entice them to use your automotive service department.

With these tips in mind, your automotive marketing campaigns can effectively reach all facets of your client database and improve your ROI.

~ Missy Jensen, Social Media Manager at DMEautomotive

Bio:
Missy designs, deploys and maintains the social media initiatives for DMEautomotive in an effort to increase brand awareness, distribute company and industry news, provide updates on products and services and promote consumer engagement. Missy enjoys the process of learning; researching and watching projects come to fruition!

Prior to her transformation into a web specialist and work with DMEautomotive, she has 10 years of experience in the marketing and communications industry. Missy served as the Director, Handicapping & Communications for a regional golf association and helped successfully launch and maintain a cutting edge technology-based ticket resale program on behalf of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Missy attended St. Lawrence University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Psychology. She also holds a Master’s Degree from Miami University in Oxford, OH. She can be reached at missy.jensen@dmeautomotive.com and check her out on LinkedIn.

In order to build an automotive dealer’s online presence, there are a handful of points to consider.  A recent blog on building your dealership’s online presence highlighted such tips as engagement, reach and choice as valuable techniques in establishing that existence.

In this blog, we’ll tackle the practice of engagement as a key component in your marketing efforts online.  In future blogs, we’ll delve into the other components that can help establish and maintain a dealer’s online presence. 

First thing’s first: what is engagement?

By definition, engagement is the act of an encounter between two or more individuals or companies that can be a positive, negative – or even neutral – experience.  Simply put, it’s a level of interaction that can either leave a prospect satisfied or dissatisfied with a dealership’s offerings.

In the online world, there are a number of ways to put you in front of customers and engage them in the sales, customer service or relationship building processes.  Facebook, Twitter and automotive-branded video channels offer three potent portals for online engagement.

Book ‘em, Dano.  As of this writing, Facebook’s online community consists of over 500 million active members.  Of that number, it’s estimated that 50 percent log into their accounts every day.   With those statistics in mind, it would stand to reason that this social media platform is a critical piece in customer engagement.  Facebook provides an important and active communications portal to relate and interact with your customers on issues ranging from customer service to important dealership announcements.

Tweet, Tweet.  With over 190 million visitors per month and users generating over 65 million “tweets” per day, Twitter has become the little social media engine that can.  Despite its 140-character limit, Twitter offers both reach and immediacy to those seeking automotive information.  Moreover, its search function and active user base allow automotive marketing professionals to seek out conversations and engage potential customers in discussion, thus developing relationships and putting a product or service top of mind in the decision process.

Branded and Ready.  When not researching and reading blogs, video channels like YouTube and Hulu provide car dealership marketers with a medium that can offer terrific reach.  Having a branded video channel can offer identity and brand association.  It can also provide potential consumers reviews and relevant information in a quick, direct format that’s easily consumable.

By using these three important outlets in your direct marketing efforts, your dealership can create a high level of online engagement with your customers.  

In an upcoming blog, we’ll discuss how reach can improve sales and offers a better return on investment.

In order to build an automotive dealer’s online presence, there are a handful of points to consider.  A recent blog on building your dealership’s online presence highlighted such tips as engagement, reach and choice as valuable techniques in establishing that existence.

In this blog, we’ll tackle the practice of engagement as a key component in your marketing efforts online.  In future blogs, we’ll delve into the other components that can help establish and maintain a dealer’s online presence. 

First thing’s first: what is engagement?

By definition, engagement is the act of an encounter between two or more individuals or companies that can be a positive, negative – or even neutral – experience.  Simply put, it’s a level of interaction that can either leave a prospect satisfied or dissatisfied with a dealership’s offerings.

In the online world, there are a number of ways to put you in front of customers and engage them in the sales, customer service or relationship building processes.  Facebook, Twitter and automotive-branded video channels offer three potent portals for online engagement.

Book ‘em, Dano.  As of this writing, Facebook’s online community consists of over 500 million active members.  Of that number, it’s estimated that 50 percent log into their accounts every day.   With those statistics in mind, it would stand to reason that this social media platform is a critical piece in customer engagement.  Facebook provides an important and active communications portal to relate and interact with your customers on issues ranging from customer service to important dealership announcements.

Tweet, Tweet.  With over 190 million visitors per month and users generating over 65 million “tweets” per day, Twitter has become the little social media engine that can.  Despite its 140-character limit, Twitter offers both reach and immediacy to those seeking automotive information.  Moreover, its search function and active user base allow automotive marketing professionals to seek out conversations and engage potential customers in discussion, thus developing relationships and putting a product or service top of mind in the decision process.

Branded and Ready.  When not researching and reading blogs, video channels like YouTube and Hulu provide car dealership marketers with a medium that can offer terrific reach.  Having a branded video channel can offer identity and brand association.  It can also provide potential consumers reviews and relevant information in a quick, direct format that’s easily consumable.

By using these three important outlets in your direct marketing efforts, your dealership can create a high level of online engagement with your customers.  

In an upcoming blog, we’ll discuss how reach can improve sales and offers a better return on investment.

With the global economy slowly bouncing back from the depths of a recession, automotive manufacturers are expecting to see a similar bounce back in vehicle sales and leases.  Assuming that both trends go hand in hand that people are more willing to spend on cars thanks to an increase in consumer confidence – automotive direct marketers may be emboldened to try and capture these newly-interested customers with new vehicle marketing campaigns. 

But will new vehicle purchases really rule the day for automotive marketing?  In actuality, customer retention and automotive service marketers may be the ones benefitting the most from the economic upswing.

Why?

In research conducted by R.L. Polk & Co., a premier provider of automotive information and marketing solutions, the trend appears to be heading in another direction – a growing number of vehicle owners are holding onto their vehicles longer than expected.

The study notes that in 2001, vehicle owners held onto their automobiles for 47.5 months.  Fast forward to 2010’s second quarter, and the data shows that rate has climbed to 52.2 months.  Some factors that contribute to this rising number may include the economic climate, tighter financing rules by lenders, warranties/extended warranties, and the increase in vehicle durability ratings.

So how can automotive customer retention and service marketing campaigns capitalize on the trend of owners keeping their vehicles for longer than expected?  DMEautomotive recommends developing proactive, multi-channel communications that talk to your customers about your retention and service programs. Broadcast your customer loyalty initiatives, or create seasonal service campaigns.

When these initiatives are successful, you not only build your service base and reach customers who hold onto their cars – you’ll also create relationships for when customers are in the market to make a purchase.  And with the economy starting to trend towards the black, that time may be fast approaching.

With the global economy slowly bouncing back from the depths of a recession, automotive manufacturers are expecting to see a similar bounce back in vehicle sales and leases.  Assuming that both trends go hand in hand that people are more willing to spend on cars thanks to an increase in consumer confidence – automotive direct marketers may be emboldened to try and capture these newly-interested customers with new vehicle marketing campaigns. 

But will new vehicle purchases really rule the day for automotive marketing?  In actuality, customer retention and automotive service marketers may be the ones benefitting the most from the economic upswing.

Why?

In research conducted by R.L. Polk & Co., a premier provider of automotive information and marketing solutions, the trend appears to be heading in another direction – a growing number of vehicle owners are holding onto their vehicles longer than expected.

The study notes that in 2001, vehicle owners held onto their automobiles for 47.5 months.  Fast forward to 2010’s second quarter, and the data shows that rate has climbed to 52.2 months.  Some factors that contribute to this rising number may include the economic climate, tighter financing rules by lenders, warranties/extended warranties, and the increase in vehicle durability ratings.

So how can automotive customer retention and service marketing campaigns capitalize on the trend of owners keeping their vehicles for longer than expected?  DMEautomotive recommends developing proactive, multi-channel communications that talk to your customers about your retention and service programs. Broadcast your customer loyalty initiatives, or create seasonal service campaigns.

When these initiatives are successful, you not only build your service base and reach customers who hold onto their cars – you’ll also create relationships for when customers are in the market to make a purchase.  And with the economy starting to trend towards the black, that time may be fast approaching.