Backlinks are still a core element of any organic search results strategy. The key to mastering this activity is knowing the quality factors Google is looking for when they're evaluating the links they scan every day. 

Even if you're not actively building your own backlinks, it's still a wise move to understand the guidelines Google has created. Maybe you're looking to hire an outside agency to assist with your organic search results. If so, you need to be prepared to ask about their methodology to protect your dealership's website. 

Here's a list of 11 backlink types Google doesn't want to see. And if they do discover any of these activities happening within your website, you could either be penalized or even worse - stripped from the organic listings altogether. 

1. Google does not like paid links

Buying and/or selling links that pass PageRank can negatively impact your website's ranking in search results. This includes exchanging money for links, or posts that contain links; exchanging goods or services for links; or sending someone a 'free' product in exchange for them writing about it and including a link.

Do not buy or sell backlinks if you don't want to risk your website or blog rankings.

2. Google does not like excessive link exchanges

Exchanging links with other websites is fine. It happens all the time between websites. So, websites about electric or green cars can cross-link to other websites about electric or green cars and not worry about getting in trouble.

If the cross-linking looks unnatural (the electric cars websites links to a bike store and vice versa), Google might think that you're trying to build unnatural links.

Use common sense when exchanging links with other sites. If the link exchange makes sense for a human website visitor, everyone will .

3. Google does not like large-scale article marketing or guest posting campaigns

It's okay to publish your articles and guest posts on other websites as long as you don't do it in bulk. If you do guest posts just to get keyword rich backlinks, your website might get penalized.

Only publish articles and guest posts on other websites if you really want to contribute a valuable article.

4. Google does not like automated programs or services that create backlinks to your site

You've probably seen the ads for tools and services that promise hundreds (if not thousands) of backlinks with very little work. Don't use them. Ever. 

Avoid tools and services that automatically build backlinks to your website. Google is very, very smart. If you (or your vendor) found them, Google already knows about them as well. 

5. Google does not like text ads that pass PageRank

If you place a text ad on another website, be sure the ad uses the rel=nofollow attribute in the link. Google sees these as a manipulative backlink. 

6. Google does not like advertorials and ads that include links that pass PageRank

Simple rule: Always use links with the rel=nofollow attribute if you pay for an article or an ad. If the ad includes a paid link that passes PageRank, it might trigger a penalty.

7. Google does not like links with optimized anchor text in articles or press releases

If your article contains paragraphs that look like the following, you might invite Google's spam algorithm to take a closer look at your website:

"With so many automotive parts stores on the market, if you want to have buy online parts, you can visit the best online parts store in the region. You can find the automotive parts you're looking for easily at our website's eCommerce parts store."

8. Google does not like links from low quality directories or bookmark sites

If you're submitting your website to hundreds of Internet directories that will never send you a single visitor, don't waste your time as most of them will be classified . These links won't help your Google rankings.

If a directory sends your website visitors, it's worth getting the link. You can ignore other lower quality directories. (Keep in mind, a high quality directory that doesn't send traffic to your site is still worth the effort) 

9. Google does not like widely distributed links in the footers of various websites

Some websites put keyword rich links to other websites in their footers. These links are always paid links and you should not use them to promote your website.

This doesn't apply to 'About us' or 'Privacy policy' footer links but to backlinks such as 'buy insurance' or 'buy automotive parts.' This is simply a no-no today. It worked years ago but won't float today. (It was also a great way to earn extra income from your website - I did it on my blog until the algorithm updates warned against it) 

10. Google does not like links that are embedded in widgets that are distributed across various sites

Some widget developers offer free widgets that contain links to other websites: "Visitors to this page: 4,723 - buy car parts"

If a widget developer offers you a widget to advertise on your blog, just make sure the links use the nofollow attribute. But you also need to consider the utility of the widget as well - is it really something someone needs? Or are you simply doing it to help boost rankings and/or earn a payout on it?  

11. Google does not like forum comments with optimized links in the post or signature

There are automated post commenting tools that can be used in forums - Google isn't a fan of these as well. The efforts need to resemble natural human efforts - not something that is going to generate 7,000 low quality links in 48 hours. That's simply not possible by even the most dedicated and focused employee.

"That's an awesome blog post with great information! Thanks so much lot!
Randy
buy online automotive parts buy car parts best aftermarket car parts"

Just don't do this. Google hates this. Avoid tools that automatically post your links to forums. It's really simple: Google does not like bulk links and they also don't like artificial links.

Backlinks are still a core element of any organic search results strategy. The key to mastering this activity is knowing the quality factors Google is looking for when they're evaluating the links they scan every day. 

Even if you're not actively building your own backlinks, it's still a wise move to understand the guidelines Google has created. Maybe you're looking to hire an outside agency to assist with your organic search results. If so, you need to be prepared to ask about their methodology to protect your dealership's website. 

Here's a list of 11 backlink types Google doesn't want to see. And if they do discover any of these activities happening within your website, you could either be penalized or even worse - stripped from the organic listings altogether. 

1. Google does not like paid links

Buying and/or selling links that pass PageRank can negatively impact your website's ranking in search results. This includes exchanging money for links, or posts that contain links; exchanging goods or services for links; or sending someone a 'free' product in exchange for them writing about it and including a link.

Do not buy or sell backlinks if you don't want to risk your website or blog rankings.

2. Google does not like excessive link exchanges

Exchanging links with other websites is fine. It happens all the time between websites. So, websites about electric or green cars can cross-link to other websites about electric or green cars and not worry about getting in trouble.

If the cross-linking looks unnatural (the electric cars websites links to a bike store and vice versa), Google might think that you're trying to build unnatural links.

Use common sense when exchanging links with other sites. If the link exchange makes sense for a human website visitor, everyone will .

3. Google does not like large-scale article marketing or guest posting campaigns

It's okay to publish your articles and guest posts on other websites as long as you don't do it in bulk. If you do guest posts just to get keyword rich backlinks, your website might get penalized.

Only publish articles and guest posts on other websites if you really want to contribute a valuable article.

4. Google does not like automated programs or services that create backlinks to your site

You've probably seen the ads for tools and services that promise hundreds (if not thousands) of backlinks with very little work. Don't use them. Ever. 

Avoid tools and services that automatically build backlinks to your website. Google is very, very smart. If you (or your vendor) found them, Google already knows about them as well. 

5. Google does not like text ads that pass PageRank

If you place a text ad on another website, be sure the ad uses the rel=nofollow attribute in the link. Google sees these as a manipulative backlink. 

6. Google does not like advertorials and ads that include links that pass PageRank

Simple rule: Always use links with the rel=nofollow attribute if you pay for an article or an ad. If the ad includes a paid link that passes PageRank, it might trigger a penalty.

7. Google does not like links with optimized anchor text in articles or press releases

If your article contains paragraphs that look like the following, you might invite Google's spam algorithm to take a closer look at your website:

"With so many automotive parts stores on the market, if you want to have buy online parts, you can visit the best online parts store in the region. You can find the automotive parts you're looking for easily at our website's eCommerce parts store."

8. Google does not like links from low quality directories or bookmark sites

If you're submitting your website to hundreds of Internet directories that will never send you a single visitor, don't waste your time as most of them will be classified . These links won't help your Google rankings.

If a directory sends your website visitors, it's worth getting the link. You can ignore other lower quality directories. (Keep in mind, a high quality directory that doesn't send traffic to your site is still worth the effort) 

9. Google does not like widely distributed links in the footers of various websites

Some websites put keyword rich links to other websites in their footers. These links are always paid links and you should not use them to promote your website.

This doesn't apply to 'About us' or 'Privacy policy' footer links but to backlinks such as 'buy insurance' or 'buy automotive parts.' This is simply a no-no today. It worked years ago but won't float today. (It was also a great way to earn extra income from your website - I did it on my blog until the algorithm updates warned against it) 

10. Google does not like links that are embedded in widgets that are distributed across various sites

Some widget developers offer free widgets that contain links to other websites: "Visitors to this page: 4,723 - buy car parts"

If a widget developer offers you a widget to advertise on your blog, just make sure the links use the nofollow attribute. But you also need to consider the utility of the widget as well - is it really something someone needs? Or are you simply doing it to help boost rankings and/or earn a payout on it?  

11. Google does not like forum comments with optimized links in the post or signature

There are automated post commenting tools that can be used in forums - Google isn't a fan of these as well. The efforts need to resemble natural human efforts - not something that is going to generate 7,000 low quality links in 48 hours. That's simply not possible by even the most dedicated and focused employee.

"That's an awesome blog post with great information! Thanks so much lot!
Randy
buy online automotive parts buy car parts best aftermarket car parts"

Just don't do this. Google hates this. Avoid tools that automatically post your links to forums. It's really simple: Google does not like bulk links and they also don't like artificial links.

Can you believe we're halfway through the year? I've always believed that while you're tracking your daily activities to stay on course and hit your monthly goals you still need to keep your finger on the pulse of the bigger trends. What's the industry direction? Where are things headed? What will shape our decisions for our activities and tactics?

I shared my thoughts, at the end of 2012, about a few topics and trends that I felt would be important for us as an industry.

"What are your thoughts? What other trends are you seeing develop?"

Seven Concepts That Will Define The Retail Automotive Business In 2013.

1. Changing Website Design Standards

The time has come for a new standard in website content design. The familiar template design we've all grown tired of needs to change. Website design standards are changing and we need to adapt to this as well. Where is it written that says car dealership websites must live within a static grid system of non-effective content boxes filled with random content? Look at what's happening with the user interfaces within the sites the average Internet user spends their time. Top visited sites such as Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Netflix are moving away from directing the user via standard navigation and letting the user control more of their experience.

Imagine your dealership website as a palette of interactive vehicle images and videos with interactive research and shopping tools augmented with social elements such as ratings and reviews. That's all the consumer wants - plus it would adapt to their mobile devices so much easier. This also opens the door for the next wave of mobile navigation controls as we move from clicks to gestures. This concept rests solely on the industry's website providers to push the envelope of creativity.

So far, I have seen a couple nice examples of websites that step away from the rigid cookie cutter style; I like what DealerFire is doing with their widescreen, multi-container approach within some of their new automotive websites. Keep the changes coming vendors, I believe shoppers will embrace these new experiences.

2. Separation of Internet Directors and Marketing Ninjas

This concept of an Internet Director who manages sales staff, sales activities and Internet Marketing needs to stop now. You don't ask your sales people to sell the car and also change the oil every 3000 miles, do you? We'll start to see a massive shift in the delegation of activities and the types of people hired into these roles as dealers become educated and understand their responsibilities.

In my dealership, I focused on one thing: managing our online presence. That's it. Someone else managed the sales activities. We worked together to create solid processes and manage the flow of activity generated from our online presence. The concept works well because it lets talented people work within their interests and passions. 

Not sure if this is changing quickly or I'm just giving it more attention, but the dealers I've been in contact with this year have made a direct shift towards dedicating more internal resources towards managing the marketing efforts. The emphasis on digital asset performance creates a strong need for dedicated resources.

3. Managing is out. Leadership is in.

Look for an intense focus on leadership in 2013 as deeper concepts of ownership take hold at the dealer principal, executive and corporate levels. Teams will move beyond simply managing activity, they will become experts in mastering concepts within their respective areas of expertise to create a waterfall of knowledge and learning experiences for their entire organization. These experiences will influence the behaviors and actions of the entire staff rather than just one person driving the activity. Process, structure and marketing understanding have paved the way for a new layer of leadership as industry thought leaders become more savvy. Mastering the art of telling your brand's story, retaining customers and employees for life via inspirational experiences, education and embracing the power of your data will transform today's managers into tomorrow's leaders. 

Leading your teams by example, providing an educational element and creating a culture of ownership is definitely "In" - managing by simply following a tick sheet and barking out orders is "out." Which side are you on?

4. Mobile Payments (& Behaviors) Will Shorten Buying Cycles

I'm not concerned so much with the actual solution, rather the actual concept of how our behavior will change as result of this solution. NFC, Square, Paypal apps, Passbook and others will continue to provide more options for consumers to learn a new behavior. And with this behavior will become a shorter buying cycle, pushing us closer to providing better solutions for your customers to connect and purchase - anything from parts, general services and even make down payments. I've said this before: customers don't need new ways of finding things to buy, but they do need more efficient ways of paying for things. This action alone changes the perception of the shopping experience. 

We'll also see more contextual actions which integrate functionality from other social networks that help us complete actions based on our activity and those of our friends. Not only will we be alerted of a friend's upcoming birthday or newborn child, we'll also be able to find either products or retailers nearby based on our recent activity and interests. We'll also find relevant feedback and have the ability to purchase and ship within a few simple gestures as this all happens within our various mobile devices. 

More specifically, and within my favorite segment, location based services will not only hit a new level of awareness and understanding, but they will also achieve a new height of effectiveness with the introduction of better algorithms which learn and predict our habits, usage and interests - based on our permissions. Hype free, no spam and exactly what we want to see. Central hubs of our activity will exist, making it easier for us to stay connected to the key informational elements of our life - Grokr is a wonderful example of this new effective hub.

I'll admit this one is still a bit further out for our industry, however the concept and the activity is moving at incredible speeds for other sections of the retail industry. Square is on pace to process $15 Billion in mobile payments in 2013. Geo-fencing strategies and concepts are beginning to trickle down to more retail establishments; OEM's and large dealer groups are starting to experiment with these activities. We'll keep watching for more results and behavior data. I'm still betting big on this movement.

5. Niche Industry Events

The industry has spoken about macro events that happening just for the sake of having an event. Buying products based on sales pitches is out. Broad based integrated solutions based on awareness and education is in. It's time for dealership leaders to understand how the clock works rather than just being able to tell the time. The best example of this is next year's DrivingSales President's Club event headlined by Seth Godin. This will be a key niche event focusing on areas such as leadership, global economic impact, dealership M&A activity, industry regulations, and other retail industry insights which make up your key foundation assets.

While everyone at DrivingSales was a little cautious about the President's Club event it proved to be an overwhelming success based on the feedback from the attendees, the speakers and the vendors in attendance. Look for more of these events to provide a nice balance to the DrivingSales Executive Summit in the fall. Maybe an international event could be added to the mix?

6. Increased Mobile Video Presence and Effectiveness

Mobile video will become more helpful based on a couple of simple factors: Improved network infrastructure creating better connections on 4G and LTE networks and faster, more powerful chip sets within the devices constantly at an arms length away from us. Pictures will become old school, video will become the standard and keep an eye out for more practical uses of augmented reality as well.

Look for major improvements in mobile workflow solutions for all dealership departments, even better customer facing solutions, and especially new expanded solutions within your social media efforts with regards to real-time story telling. This all ties into shortening buying cycles, improving digital footprints and creating more effective social signals to help drive your local mobile search results.

Video continues it's charge. New devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, the iPhone 5S and others are positioning video as a core element of their experience. Vehicle merchandising tactics are also focusing on the importance of mobile. This one is a no brainer. Get on the mobile video train, the seats are filling up quickly.

7. Strong Focus on Professional Experiences and Personal Brands

As company leaders, Internet directors and marketing ninjas continue to be defined by their areas of expertise, so will the awareness of how important their individual brand is to the dealership's customers, staff and the industry. This is how the next wave of excellence and talent will be discovered within our industry. 

Tools like the DrivingSales dScore will help drive awareness around individual activity and relevant experience. Branding platforms such as About.me will continue to define your personal brands and provide greater context for our abilities and affiliations within the industry.

We've had some fun with the dScore so far this year. Every week someone else asks me about it, what it is, how it works and what it means. Another shift this year has been the changes Klout made with regards to introducing Klout answers. The ability to demonstrate relevant activity, authority and experience is important when building personal brands. Different solutions such as the dScore, Klout answers and Quora all help the cause.

Can you believe we're halfway through the year? I've always believed that while you're tracking your daily activities to stay on course and hit your monthly goals you still need to keep your finger on the pulse of the bigger trends. What's the industry direction? Where are things headed? What will shape our decisions for our activities and tactics?

I shared my thoughts, at the end of 2012, about a few topics and trends that I felt would be important for us as an industry.

"What are your thoughts? What other trends are you seeing develop?"

Seven Concepts That Will Define The Retail Automotive Business In 2013.

1. Changing Website Design Standards

The time has come for a new standard in website content design. The familiar template design we've all grown tired of needs to change. Website design standards are changing and we need to adapt to this as well. Where is it written that says car dealership websites must live within a static grid system of non-effective content boxes filled with random content? Look at what's happening with the user interfaces within the sites the average Internet user spends their time. Top visited sites such as Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Netflix are moving away from directing the user via standard navigation and letting the user control more of their experience.

Imagine your dealership website as a palette of interactive vehicle images and videos with interactive research and shopping tools augmented with social elements such as ratings and reviews. That's all the consumer wants - plus it would adapt to their mobile devices so much easier. This also opens the door for the next wave of mobile navigation controls as we move from clicks to gestures. This concept rests solely on the industry's website providers to push the envelope of creativity.

So far, I have seen a couple nice examples of websites that step away from the rigid cookie cutter style; I like what DealerFire is doing with their widescreen, multi-container approach within some of their new automotive websites. Keep the changes coming vendors, I believe shoppers will embrace these new experiences.

2. Separation of Internet Directors and Marketing Ninjas

This concept of an Internet Director who manages sales staff, sales activities and Internet Marketing needs to stop now. You don't ask your sales people to sell the car and also change the oil every 3000 miles, do you? We'll start to see a massive shift in the delegation of activities and the types of people hired into these roles as dealers become educated and understand their responsibilities.

In my dealership, I focused on one thing: managing our online presence. That's it. Someone else managed the sales activities. We worked together to create solid processes and manage the flow of activity generated from our online presence. The concept works well because it lets talented people work within their interests and passions. 

Not sure if this is changing quickly or I'm just giving it more attention, but the dealers I've been in contact with this year have made a direct shift towards dedicating more internal resources towards managing the marketing efforts. The emphasis on digital asset performance creates a strong need for dedicated resources.

3. Managing is out. Leadership is in.

Look for an intense focus on leadership in 2013 as deeper concepts of ownership take hold at the dealer principal, executive and corporate levels. Teams will move beyond simply managing activity, they will become experts in mastering concepts within their respective areas of expertise to create a waterfall of knowledge and learning experiences for their entire organization. These experiences will influence the behaviors and actions of the entire staff rather than just one person driving the activity. Process, structure and marketing understanding have paved the way for a new layer of leadership as industry thought leaders become more savvy. Mastering the art of telling your brand's story, retaining customers and employees for life via inspirational experiences, education and embracing the power of your data will transform today's managers into tomorrow's leaders. 

Leading your teams by example, providing an educational element and creating a culture of ownership is definitely "In" - managing by simply following a tick sheet and barking out orders is "out." Which side are you on?

4. Mobile Payments (& Behaviors) Will Shorten Buying Cycles

I'm not concerned so much with the actual solution, rather the actual concept of how our behavior will change as result of this solution. NFC, Square, Paypal apps, Passbook and others will continue to provide more options for consumers to learn a new behavior. And with this behavior will become a shorter buying cycle, pushing us closer to providing better solutions for your customers to connect and purchase - anything from parts, general services and even make down payments. I've said this before: customers don't need new ways of finding things to buy, but they do need more efficient ways of paying for things. This action alone changes the perception of the shopping experience. 

We'll also see more contextual actions which integrate functionality from other social networks that help us complete actions based on our activity and those of our friends. Not only will we be alerted of a friend's upcoming birthday or newborn child, we'll also be able to find either products or retailers nearby based on our recent activity and interests. We'll also find relevant feedback and have the ability to purchase and ship within a few simple gestures as this all happens within our various mobile devices. 

More specifically, and within my favorite segment, location based services will not only hit a new level of awareness and understanding, but they will also achieve a new height of effectiveness with the introduction of better algorithms which learn and predict our habits, usage and interests - based on our permissions. Hype free, no spam and exactly what we want to see. Central hubs of our activity will exist, making it easier for us to stay connected to the key informational elements of our life - Grokr is a wonderful example of this new effective hub.

I'll admit this one is still a bit further out for our industry, however the concept and the activity is moving at incredible speeds for other sections of the retail industry. Square is on pace to process $15 Billion in mobile payments in 2013. Geo-fencing strategies and concepts are beginning to trickle down to more retail establishments; OEM's and large dealer groups are starting to experiment with these activities. We'll keep watching for more results and behavior data. I'm still betting big on this movement.

5. Niche Industry Events

The industry has spoken about macro events that happening just for the sake of having an event. Buying products based on sales pitches is out. Broad based integrated solutions based on awareness and education is in. It's time for dealership leaders to understand how the clock works rather than just being able to tell the time. The best example of this is next year's DrivingSales President's Club event headlined by Seth Godin. This will be a key niche event focusing on areas such as leadership, global economic impact, dealership M&A activity, industry regulations, and other retail industry insights which make up your key foundation assets.

While everyone at DrivingSales was a little cautious about the President's Club event it proved to be an overwhelming success based on the feedback from the attendees, the speakers and the vendors in attendance. Look for more of these events to provide a nice balance to the DrivingSales Executive Summit in the fall. Maybe an international event could be added to the mix?

6. Increased Mobile Video Presence and Effectiveness

Mobile video will become more helpful based on a couple of simple factors: Improved network infrastructure creating better connections on 4G and LTE networks and faster, more powerful chip sets within the devices constantly at an arms length away from us. Pictures will become old school, video will become the standard and keep an eye out for more practical uses of augmented reality as well.

Look for major improvements in mobile workflow solutions for all dealership departments, even better customer facing solutions, and especially new expanded solutions within your social media efforts with regards to real-time story telling. This all ties into shortening buying cycles, improving digital footprints and creating more effective social signals to help drive your local mobile search results.

Video continues it's charge. New devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, the iPhone 5S and others are positioning video as a core element of their experience. Vehicle merchandising tactics are also focusing on the importance of mobile. This one is a no brainer. Get on the mobile video train, the seats are filling up quickly.

7. Strong Focus on Professional Experiences and Personal Brands

As company leaders, Internet directors and marketing ninjas continue to be defined by their areas of expertise, so will the awareness of how important their individual brand is to the dealership's customers, staff and the industry. This is how the next wave of excellence and talent will be discovered within our industry. 

Tools like the DrivingSales dScore will help drive awareness around individual activity and relevant experience. Branding platforms such as About.me will continue to define your personal brands and provide greater context for our abilities and affiliations within the industry.

We've had some fun with the dScore so far this year. Every week someone else asks me about it, what it is, how it works and what it means. Another shift this year has been the changes Klout made with regards to introducing Klout answers. The ability to demonstrate relevant activity, authority and experience is important when building personal brands. Different solutions such as the dScore, Klout answers and Quora all help the cause.

Do you refresh your home screen apps? What about folders on the home screen? I don't use folders anymore, that's the digital equivalent of the junk drawer in the kitchen. But I do like to keep things fresh. 

• Grokr: This is a great solution for pulling in those pieces of content that are relevant to you and also leverages location based info to help provide weather and traffic data. The headlines, trending info and personal trending topics are all pulled in from your connected social accounts. Don't like what you see, change your preferences on your other social networks. I'm seeing content for movies, apps and headlines from my key sources, pulled together elegantly into one spot. And yes, standard social sharing features apply to the content consumed. 
• Spun: Same deal as above, but focused on content and news targeted around specific locations. (NYC, LA, San Fran, DC, Chicago, Portland, Austin, Boston, Seattle & Philly - for now) Access location specific content in different categories: Top Stories, Arts & Entertainment, Food & Drink & Lifestyle - its like having each cities top newspaper sections in your hand. Plus, it has what is probably the most unique and coolest user interface you've seen yet. It makes full use of the swipe, tap and pull down gestures yet. (And even neat sound effects too)  You'll find yourself exploring new categories in different cities simply due to the UI
• Prismatic: This is my new favorite. Simple aggregation going on here. Select your top categories for context and let it pull in what you want, plus it has plenty of recommended category and topic suggestions based on your preferences. And again, killer gesture based controls to save, star and share the content.

What on your home screen for the new year? Got anything cool to share as well? 

 

Do you refresh your home screen apps? What about folders on the home screen? I don't use folders anymore, that's the digital equivalent of the junk drawer in the kitchen. But I do like to keep things fresh. 

• Grokr: This is a great solution for pulling in those pieces of content that are relevant to you and also leverages location based info to help provide weather and traffic data. The headlines, trending info and personal trending topics are all pulled in from your connected social accounts. Don't like what you see, change your preferences on your other social networks. I'm seeing content for movies, apps and headlines from my key sources, pulled together elegantly into one spot. And yes, standard social sharing features apply to the content consumed. 
• Spun: Same deal as above, but focused on content and news targeted around specific locations. (NYC, LA, San Fran, DC, Chicago, Portland, Austin, Boston, Seattle & Philly - for now) Access location specific content in different categories: Top Stories, Arts & Entertainment, Food & Drink & Lifestyle - its like having each cities top newspaper sections in your hand. Plus, it has what is probably the most unique and coolest user interface you've seen yet. It makes full use of the swipe, tap and pull down gestures yet. (And even neat sound effects too)  You'll find yourself exploring new categories in different cities simply due to the UI
• Prismatic: This is my new favorite. Simple aggregation going on here. Select your top categories for context and let it pull in what you want, plus it has plenty of recommended category and topic suggestions based on your preferences. And again, killer gesture based controls to save, star and share the content.

What on your home screen for the new year? Got anything cool to share as well? 

 

Check out these stats regarding teen texting and driving. Statefarm insurance is taking a strong position on reducing this public health risk by adopting a supportive and positive approach towards teens.

September 15th, 2012 is Celebrate My Drive day across the US. Check it out to see how you can participate and help reduce the number of teens texting and driving.

Click image to enlarge

Kudos to Andy Oberright from Harris Interactive for his awesome work on this.

Check out these stats regarding teen texting and driving. Statefarm insurance is taking a strong position on reducing this public health risk by adopting a supportive and positive approach towards teens.

September 15th, 2012 is Celebrate My Drive day across the US. Check it out to see how you can participate and help reduce the number of teens texting and driving.

Click image to enlarge

Kudos to Andy Oberright from Harris Interactive for his awesome work on this.

Jared Hamilton has done it again. He has been busy at the drawing board trying to solve the problem of bringing together W-Fi services, tablet applications and fixed operations. Its something every dealer and consumer has been asking for buy didn't even realize was a problem yet. The solution: The Brake iPad.

The Brake iPad is simply a new type of brake pad made from Rhodium. When installed with the proprietary DrivingSales installation package, and integrated with the accompanying iPad app, it harnesses the energy created while the brakes are applied and creates a Wi-Fi signal - turning your vehicle into a free hotspot for up to 7 devices.

"Jared has high expectations of the team, so we went out and solved a problem that hasn't actually occurred yet." Said Eric Miltsch, Director of Product Strategy at DrivingSales. "We're all about genius innovation here - we simply call it 'genuvation', humbly added Shaun Raines, Executive Director of DrivingSales University.

The Brake iPad does have its limitations though. The Wi-Fi signal created is only available while you apply the breaks. "We've perfected the ability to capture and convert the energy, however we haven't been able to crack the code on how to efficiently store this energy without it becoming cost prohibitive and dangerous for passengers." Said Jared Hamilton, CEO of DrivingSales.

If the user can anticipate when the driver is about to apply the brakes, the signal may last long enough to play at least one turn of Words With Friends or half a turn of Draw Something. 

DrivingSales will conduct special Brake iPad installation instruction courses through DrivingSales University - special class rates today only!

Jared Hamilton has done it again. He has been busy at the drawing board trying to solve the problem of bringing together W-Fi services, tablet applications and fixed operations. Its something every dealer and consumer has been asking for buy didn't even realize was a problem yet. The solution: The Brake iPad.

The Brake iPad is simply a new type of brake pad made from Rhodium. When installed with the proprietary DrivingSales installation package, and integrated with the accompanying iPad app, it harnesses the energy created while the brakes are applied and creates a Wi-Fi signal - turning your vehicle into a free hotspot for up to 7 devices.

"Jared has high expectations of the team, so we went out and solved a problem that hasn't actually occurred yet." Said Eric Miltsch, Director of Product Strategy at DrivingSales. "We're all about genius innovation here - we simply call it 'genuvation', humbly added Shaun Raines, Executive Director of DrivingSales University.

The Brake iPad does have its limitations though. The Wi-Fi signal created is only available while you apply the breaks. "We've perfected the ability to capture and convert the energy, however we haven't been able to crack the code on how to efficiently store this energy without it becoming cost prohibitive and dangerous for passengers." Said Jared Hamilton, CEO of DrivingSales.

If the user can anticipate when the driver is about to apply the brakes, the signal may last long enough to play at least one turn of Words With Friends or half a turn of Draw Something. 

DrivingSales will conduct special Brake iPad installation instruction courses through DrivingSales University - special class rates today only!