Everyone in the car business seems to have a opinion about TrueCar's CEO Scott Painter. Everyone seems to have the right answer or solution to the problems associated with TrueCar's business model. And of course, everyone has a question about what's going on with their current activities. 

Well, Jared Hamilton is giving you the ability to ask questions about TrueCar's views on the industry, their new business model and anything else you want to address. DrivingSales has always been a conduit of premier access to the best events, people and resources. We encourage your involvement to help make this year's DrivingSales Executive Summit the best ever. 

And, in typical DrivingSales style, here's our full disclosure and transparency on a hot issue: Topics and sponsors at DSES are requested by the dealer community. The topic of TrueCar and their business model was also requested. So, we did what we do best and Scott Painter agreed to an Q&A session with Jared. And no, this isn't a "gotcha" session to corner him; he's willing to accept questions from the community and address them in a professional setting. And yes, they're a sponsor. No, not a "major" sponsor - a mid-level sponsor at best. One's sponsorship level doesn't create any special treatment with regards to speaking and stage presence. However, the level of demand from the dealer board does.

DSES is the hottest automotive conference ticket this fall. (Only five tickets remaining for DSES as I write this) Send us your questions, get involved and be heard - send them to Lindsey Auguste.

Still need a ticket to DSES? Better hurry up, they're almost all gone! Register here.

Everyone in the car business seems to have a opinion about TrueCar's CEO Scott Painter. Everyone seems to have the right answer or solution to the problems associated with TrueCar's business model. And of course, everyone has a question about what's going on with their current activities. 

Well, Jared Hamilton is giving you the ability to ask questions about TrueCar's views on the industry, their new business model and anything else you want to address. DrivingSales has always been a conduit of premier access to the best events, people and resources. We encourage your involvement to help make this year's DrivingSales Executive Summit the best ever. 

And, in typical DrivingSales style, here's our full disclosure and transparency on a hot issue: Topics and sponsors at DSES are requested by the dealer community. The topic of TrueCar and their business model was also requested. So, we did what we do best and Scott Painter agreed to an Q&A session with Jared. And no, this isn't a "gotcha" session to corner him; he's willing to accept questions from the community and address them in a professional setting. And yes, they're a sponsor. No, not a "major" sponsor - a mid-level sponsor at best. One's sponsorship level doesn't create any special treatment with regards to speaking and stage presence. However, the level of demand from the dealer board does.

DSES is the hottest automotive conference ticket this fall. (Only five tickets remaining for DSES as I write this) Send us your questions, get involved and be heard - send them to Lindsey Auguste.

Still need a ticket to DSES? Better hurry up, they're almost all gone! Register here.

Joe Webb is at it again with another comedic, yet real, take on what's happening inside dealerships every single day.

Are you giving your customers the information they're seeking? Or are you still trying to "get them in?"

Joe Webb is at it again with another comedic, yet real, take on what's happening inside dealerships every single day.

Are you giving your customers the information they're seeking? Or are you still trying to "get them in?"

You'll definitely want to tune into this exclusive interview with GM's Director of Social Media, Mary Henige.

The interview is courtesy of two highly respected marketing communications professionals Hugh Macken and Deirdre Breakenridge. Be sure to follow them on twitter & check out their blogs - top notch quality. (I had the pleasure of meeting Deidre last year at an RIT symposium where she delivered an excellent presentation) 

Here's an excerpt of Hugh's blog post: 

Henige, a 25 – year corporate communications veteran at GM and award-winning corporate communications professional, outlined the company’s approach to social media as it relates to both internal and external stakeholders. In doing so she stressed the importance of an empowering corporate culture that has provided the foundation for strong levels of internal communication. It’s that internal communication and collaboration that have been key to GM’s recent social media successes according to Henige.

“It’s not magic,” said Henige. “What we do in social media is a lot of hard work, it’s engagement, it’s building relationships and that’s something that people in corporate communications and media relations are particularly skilled at doing.”

What struck me as most interesting was the willingness and ability of Henige and her counterparts in marketing to take a collaborative approach to social media rather than one based on a turf-war mentality.

What’s even more interesting to me is the nature of that collaborative relationship. Indeed, one of the most important roles of the social media team led by Henige in relation to social media appears to be that of a trusted internal social media consulting center of excellence.  According to Henige, ”Because we serve as a resource to our internal…colleagues, our expertise is sought after all the time.”

Citing GM’s sponsorship of the South by Southwest Conference as an example, Henige stressed that the collaboration between GM corporate communications and various departments within the divisional brands like Chevrolet have been key to GM’s success.

“Increased collaboration is the way that you win…[Responsibility for social media - related initiatives] should be shared. If you really want to do [social media-related initiatives] well, you need to leverage the expertise of each team…We’ve made great progress this last year.”

Read the entire post here

The collaborative efforts Mary spoke of are a vital key to any social program - especially given the size of an organization such as GM. The layers upon layers of people offer an endless supply of internal feedback, ideas and support when the concepts are positioned correctly. If a company with 32k employees can wrap their head around this strategy, why is it so difficult for dealerships with only 50 employees? 

We often talk about the disconnect between the OEM's and the dealerships, both new and used. I hope the success GM, and other manufacturers, can use this momentum to help push the boundaries of their collaboration to the dealership levels as well.

I often wanted the ability to reach out to the OEM's for an extra boost of relationship marketing to the used car buyer as well. Shopper loyalty doesn't just apply to the new car market. Brand loyalty can be created and retained at the used car level. How many times have we seen that loyal buyer who loves his Chevy Silverado and is perfectly happy buying used? Now imagine GM connecting with that segment all the way down to the independent dealer as well. Possible win-win-win for OEM's, franchises & independents. 

Lofty goal? Sure. But someone like Mary sure seems like she could tackle that task. 

Thanks again Hugh and Deidre!

What are you thoughts about GM's efforts and your experiences at the dealership level? 

Hugh Macken's Blog: VMR Communications

Deirdre Breakenridge's Website: DeirdeBreakenridge.com

You'll definitely want to tune into this exclusive interview with GM's Director of Social Media, Mary Henige.

The interview is courtesy of two highly respected marketing communications professionals Hugh Macken and Deirdre Breakenridge. Be sure to follow them on twitter & check out their blogs - top notch quality. (I had the pleasure of meeting Deidre last year at an RIT symposium where she delivered an excellent presentation) 

Here's an excerpt of Hugh's blog post: 

Henige, a 25 – year corporate communications veteran at GM and award-winning corporate communications professional, outlined the company’s approach to social media as it relates to both internal and external stakeholders. In doing so she stressed the importance of an empowering corporate culture that has provided the foundation for strong levels of internal communication. It’s that internal communication and collaboration that have been key to GM’s recent social media successes according to Henige.

“It’s not magic,” said Henige. “What we do in social media is a lot of hard work, it’s engagement, it’s building relationships and that’s something that people in corporate communications and media relations are particularly skilled at doing.”

What struck me as most interesting was the willingness and ability of Henige and her counterparts in marketing to take a collaborative approach to social media rather than one based on a turf-war mentality.

What’s even more interesting to me is the nature of that collaborative relationship. Indeed, one of the most important roles of the social media team led by Henige in relation to social media appears to be that of a trusted internal social media consulting center of excellence.  According to Henige, ”Because we serve as a resource to our internal…colleagues, our expertise is sought after all the time.”

Citing GM’s sponsorship of the South by Southwest Conference as an example, Henige stressed that the collaboration between GM corporate communications and various departments within the divisional brands like Chevrolet have been key to GM’s success.

“Increased collaboration is the way that you win…[Responsibility for social media - related initiatives] should be shared. If you really want to do [social media-related initiatives] well, you need to leverage the expertise of each team…We’ve made great progress this last year.”

Read the entire post here

The collaborative efforts Mary spoke of are a vital key to any social program - especially given the size of an organization such as GM. The layers upon layers of people offer an endless supply of internal feedback, ideas and support when the concepts are positioned correctly. If a company with 32k employees can wrap their head around this strategy, why is it so difficult for dealerships with only 50 employees? 

We often talk about the disconnect between the OEM's and the dealerships, both new and used. I hope the success GM, and other manufacturers, can use this momentum to help push the boundaries of their collaboration to the dealership levels as well.

I often wanted the ability to reach out to the OEM's for an extra boost of relationship marketing to the used car buyer as well. Shopper loyalty doesn't just apply to the new car market. Brand loyalty can be created and retained at the used car level. How many times have we seen that loyal buyer who loves his Chevy Silverado and is perfectly happy buying used? Now imagine GM connecting with that segment all the way down to the independent dealer as well. Possible win-win-win for OEM's, franchises & independents. 

Lofty goal? Sure. But someone like Mary sure seems like she could tackle that task. 

Thanks again Hugh and Deidre!

What are you thoughts about GM's efforts and your experiences at the dealership level? 

Hugh Macken's Blog: VMR Communications

Deirdre Breakenridge's Website: DeirdeBreakenridge.com

Another excellent year for the NADA Convention in Las Vegas has passed. I wasn’t speaking this year, so I was excited about spending more time on the show floor. I had the opportunity to interview vendors and several successful dealers. (Look for those video interviews from @DrivingSalesTV soon!)

The knowledge and experience base, with regards to advanced digital strategies, has increased tremendously throughout the retail industry in just a couple of years. Dealers clearly recognize the need for an optimized online presence and efficient internal processes. They were hunting for the next set of products and services creating buzz.

We’re seeing another major shift in focus as the community begins to embrace the importance of deeper social integration, data management and mobile strategies for both consumers and internal workflow.

The philosophies have become more encompassing as dealers and vendors look to connect with customers on multiple channels. You may have even heard Search Engine Optimization (SEO) being replaced with Social Engagement Optimization. Dealers continue to see the importance of user-generated content, (ratings/reviews) how it impacts consumers at different stages of the buying cycle and how it also fits into the grand scheme of search as well.

And, where hyper-local concepts left off last year, the SoLoMo (Social+Local+Mobile) movement is quickly gaining traction as a necessary element of any digital marketing platform.

My NADA experience started bright and early at the DrivingSales Awards breakfast Friday morning at the Bellagio. The room was packed with an all-star cast of automotive executives. Considering the success of the people in the room, a noticeable level of humility was consistent among all the award recipients. Another great thing to see was the mutual respect given to each other, their products and their companies.

A Friday night tweet-up sponsored by Jared Hamilton from DrivingSales and Jeff Kershner from DealerRefresh, had a strong turnout. I love having the chance for casual, yet highly detailed, conversations about the nuances of our business and the finer things that make us all tick. A quick stop to the Dominion/Autobytel party was met with another great showing of respectable people doing great things in the industry. A chance meeting with Glen Garvin, Cliff Banks, George Nenni and Will McGinnis will make anyone walk away feeling smart and energized. Throw in conversations with the guys from DealerFire (Eric, Brian, Carl & of course Kristen & Jessica) and Ken Potter from SureSale.com you’ll be so pumped up you’ll want to go out and build a new dealership with your own bare hands.

Friday night ended on the highest end of the excitement spectrum possible as I found myself jumping off the Stratosphere with Sean Stapleton, a group of VIN adrenaline junkies, Brian Young, Dan Moore and Larry Bruce. Spontaneous Vegas at it’s best. If you didn’t jump, you’ll get your chance at DSES in October. Do it.

On Saturday, Dealer.com secured it's spot as a top-notch NADA entertainer with their party at Haze nightclub featuring Grace Potter, Billy Gibbons and the “Most Interesting Man in the World” from the Dos Equis commercials. Sunday’s festivities also included the Autotrader.com Super Bowl party, DealerTrack and J&L Marketing’s events. Monday's closing session with President Bush was entertaining and inspirational.

I couldn’t possibly see everyone on my hit list, but I did have the opportunity to catch up with several new people along with those who I’ve come to know and respect over the years. The activity on the floor was frenzied compared to NADA of just two years ago in Orlando. I noticed a greater urgency from dealers as they appeared more receptive with ideas and how technology is impacting their processes. Another difference is how much more consideration was being given to how consumer behaviors are changing and how they’re connecting with dealerships. Finally.

Here's a quick recap of a few of the booths I visited:

Scan & Drive: QR codes are ok, but a QR code application with specific call to actions for conversion, CRM integration, vehicle history reports and a more value options is ok in my book. And this coming from someone who isn’t a big QR Code fan.

cDemo: Allan and Jay are moving fast with their innovative mobile appraisal application. Simple to use, increased functionalities and a bevy of new enhancements slated for this year make this one of the neatest retail start-ups to watch. I can see their platform moving beyond an operations/sales platform to incorporating deeper customer activities. I like what they’re talking aboot:).

3 Birds Marketing: Kristen and Layton gave a wonderful demo of their integrated newsletter management system. This platform not only helps you produce stunning newsletters, but also helps improve SEO performance with it’s ability to generate additional content and most importantly, provide a deep reporting function to help determine what’s working and what isn’t.

Dealer.com: Everyone was dizzy with excitement to hear more about their new mobile CRM product announcement. (Product name still TBA) Alex Snyder and team have been working away in the labs for a long time – apparently live launch is slated for later this year. Matt Murray was gracious enough to give us an off-camera preview of some other new products as well. Although I promised not to share specifics, I will comment on their overall attention to detail with regards to usability and design – this stuff oozed quality.

Enough can’t be said about the small city they occupied on the convention floor. I especially like the “check-out” style demo lanes, which flanked the center bar. As I watched, it seemed to invited guests nicely without creating the perception of a lengthy sit-down style sales pitch demo.

DealerSocket: Hunter “Thompson” Swift shared his thoughts on the new products introduced: SocketTalk, RevenueRadar, EnterpriseDashboard, MobileCRM and MarketPlace. The general theme centered around integrating multiple data points for additional business intelligence, laser-focused marketing strategies and of course, mobile connectivity to workflows and reporting. They’ve done a great job of wrapping their heads around how the social enterprise concept can help dealerships stay connected with their employees and their customers.

DealerSocket also pulled off a fun social rock-star theme into their conference experience with a dress-up photo booth. Hilarious photos were uploaded to their company facebook page where friends could vote on the best costumes and poses; winners walked away with some pretty sweet guitars.

CallSource: Here’s another great example of how vendors are responding to dealer’s needs with a solid mobile solution for tracking customer phone calls, integrating across multiple devices and providing easy access to the reporting. The mobility workflow movement is alive and well – and for every department now.

Phone Ninjas: Jerry Thibeau has taken his phone skills training company from 0-60 in just a couple of years. Today’s customer is in a rush, wants the best information and demands to talk to well-prepared professionals – Jerry is responding full-steam ahead with his programs and also his expanding support team with talented individuals like Elise Kephardt. 

Dealers United: Everyone is watching Jesse Biter’s new company closely. He’s got a solid concept: helping individual and small dealerships by providing access to group buying power when using automotive vendor solutions. Their first deal is slated to be annouced very soon.

Mudd Advertising: The powerhouse agency was busy introducing their new analytics platform called Mudd AdSuite. The platform is designed to provide real time access to client campaigns and performance data. Another nice example of how agencies are making the shift to accountability and metrics with regards to their marketing efforts.

The one item I didn’t hear much about is the inclusion of more location based marketing strategies. I can see LBS being integrated into more loyalty programs, using photo-sharing and as an extension of dealership analytics as mobile usage continues it’s rise.

Thanks to everyone who met with us, look for more interviews with Brian Pasch, Andrew Wright, Andrew Difeo, Sean Stapleton, Joe Little, Todd Smith, Stan Sher, Shaun Raines, Paul Potratz, John Hairabedian & Tom White Jr.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect on camera with people such as Jeff Kershner, Dan Moore, Ralph Paglia, Jim Zeigler, Alex Schoeneberger, Ken Potter, Eric Hoopman, Bill Playford, Joe Pistell, Alex Snyder, Gary May and Joe Webb. (Simply because Joe wasn’t there this year – and he was greatly missed.)

Huge thanks to the DrivingSales & DrivingSalesTV crews for letting me tag along in my first reporting stint. A little more practice and I could get into doing that more often – the DrivingSales Executive Summit is only eight months away!

What did you get out of NADA 2012? What caught your eye on the floor?

Another excellent year for the NADA Convention in Las Vegas has passed. I wasn’t speaking this year, so I was excited about spending more time on the show floor. I had the opportunity to interview vendors and several successful dealers. (Look for those video interviews from @DrivingSalesTV soon!)

The knowledge and experience base, with regards to advanced digital strategies, has increased tremendously throughout the retail industry in just a couple of years. Dealers clearly recognize the need for an optimized online presence and efficient internal processes. They were hunting for the next set of products and services creating buzz.

We’re seeing another major shift in focus as the community begins to embrace the importance of deeper social integration, data management and mobile strategies for both consumers and internal workflow.

The philosophies have become more encompassing as dealers and vendors look to connect with customers on multiple channels. You may have even heard Search Engine Optimization (SEO) being replaced with Social Engagement Optimization. Dealers continue to see the importance of user-generated content, (ratings/reviews) how it impacts consumers at different stages of the buying cycle and how it also fits into the grand scheme of search as well.

And, where hyper-local concepts left off last year, the SoLoMo (Social+Local+Mobile) movement is quickly gaining traction as a necessary element of any digital marketing platform.

My NADA experience started bright and early at the DrivingSales Awards breakfast Friday morning at the Bellagio. The room was packed with an all-star cast of automotive executives. Considering the success of the people in the room, a noticeable level of humility was consistent among all the award recipients. Another great thing to see was the mutual respect given to each other, their products and their companies.

A Friday night tweet-up sponsored by Jared Hamilton from DrivingSales and Jeff Kershner from DealerRefresh, had a strong turnout. I love having the chance for casual, yet highly detailed, conversations about the nuances of our business and the finer things that make us all tick. A quick stop to the Dominion/Autobytel party was met with another great showing of respectable people doing great things in the industry. A chance meeting with Glen Garvin, Cliff Banks, George Nenni and Will McGinnis will make anyone walk away feeling smart and energized. Throw in conversations with the guys from DealerFire (Eric, Brian, Carl & of course Kristen & Jessica) and Ken Potter from SureSale.com you’ll be so pumped up you’ll want to go out and build a new dealership with your own bare hands.

Friday night ended on the highest end of the excitement spectrum possible as I found myself jumping off the Stratosphere with Sean Stapleton, a group of VIN adrenaline junkies, Brian Young, Dan Moore and Larry Bruce. Spontaneous Vegas at it’s best. If you didn’t jump, you’ll get your chance at DSES in October. Do it.

On Saturday, Dealer.com secured it's spot as a top-notch NADA entertainer with their party at Haze nightclub featuring Grace Potter, Billy Gibbons and the “Most Interesting Man in the World” from the Dos Equis commercials. Sunday’s festivities also included the Autotrader.com Super Bowl party, DealerTrack and J&L Marketing’s events. Monday's closing session with President Bush was entertaining and inspirational.

I couldn’t possibly see everyone on my hit list, but I did have the opportunity to catch up with several new people along with those who I’ve come to know and respect over the years. The activity on the floor was frenzied compared to NADA of just two years ago in Orlando. I noticed a greater urgency from dealers as they appeared more receptive with ideas and how technology is impacting their processes. Another difference is how much more consideration was being given to how consumer behaviors are changing and how they’re connecting with dealerships. Finally.

Here's a quick recap of a few of the booths I visited:

Scan & Drive: QR codes are ok, but a QR code application with specific call to actions for conversion, CRM integration, vehicle history reports and a more value options is ok in my book. And this coming from someone who isn’t a big QR Code fan.

cDemo: Allan and Jay are moving fast with their innovative mobile appraisal application. Simple to use, increased functionalities and a bevy of new enhancements slated for this year make this one of the neatest retail start-ups to watch. I can see their platform moving beyond an operations/sales platform to incorporating deeper customer activities. I like what they’re talking aboot:).

3 Birds Marketing: Kristen and Layton gave a wonderful demo of their integrated newsletter management system. This platform not only helps you produce stunning newsletters, but also helps improve SEO performance with it’s ability to generate additional content and most importantly, provide a deep reporting function to help determine what’s working and what isn’t.

Dealer.com: Everyone was dizzy with excitement to hear more about their new mobile CRM product announcement. (Product name still TBA) Alex Snyder and team have been working away in the labs for a long time – apparently live launch is slated for later this year. Matt Murray was gracious enough to give us an off-camera preview of some other new products as well. Although I promised not to share specifics, I will comment on their overall attention to detail with regards to usability and design – this stuff oozed quality.

Enough can’t be said about the small city they occupied on the convention floor. I especially like the “check-out” style demo lanes, which flanked the center bar. As I watched, it seemed to invited guests nicely without creating the perception of a lengthy sit-down style sales pitch demo.

DealerSocket: Hunter “Thompson” Swift shared his thoughts on the new products introduced: SocketTalk, RevenueRadar, EnterpriseDashboard, MobileCRM and MarketPlace. The general theme centered around integrating multiple data points for additional business intelligence, laser-focused marketing strategies and of course, mobile connectivity to workflows and reporting. They’ve done a great job of wrapping their heads around how the social enterprise concept can help dealerships stay connected with their employees and their customers.

DealerSocket also pulled off a fun social rock-star theme into their conference experience with a dress-up photo booth. Hilarious photos were uploaded to their company facebook page where friends could vote on the best costumes and poses; winners walked away with some pretty sweet guitars.

CallSource: Here’s another great example of how vendors are responding to dealer’s needs with a solid mobile solution for tracking customer phone calls, integrating across multiple devices and providing easy access to the reporting. The mobility workflow movement is alive and well – and for every department now.

Phone Ninjas: Jerry Thibeau has taken his phone skills training company from 0-60 in just a couple of years. Today’s customer is in a rush, wants the best information and demands to talk to well-prepared professionals – Jerry is responding full-steam ahead with his programs and also his expanding support team with talented individuals like Elise Kephardt. 

Dealers United: Everyone is watching Jesse Biter’s new company closely. He’s got a solid concept: helping individual and small dealerships by providing access to group buying power when using automotive vendor solutions. Their first deal is slated to be annouced very soon.

Mudd Advertising: The powerhouse agency was busy introducing their new analytics platform called Mudd AdSuite. The platform is designed to provide real time access to client campaigns and performance data. Another nice example of how agencies are making the shift to accountability and metrics with regards to their marketing efforts.

The one item I didn’t hear much about is the inclusion of more location based marketing strategies. I can see LBS being integrated into more loyalty programs, using photo-sharing and as an extension of dealership analytics as mobile usage continues it’s rise.

Thanks to everyone who met with us, look for more interviews with Brian Pasch, Andrew Wright, Andrew Difeo, Sean Stapleton, Joe Little, Todd Smith, Stan Sher, Shaun Raines, Paul Potratz, John Hairabedian & Tom White Jr.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect on camera with people such as Jeff Kershner, Dan Moore, Ralph Paglia, Jim Zeigler, Alex Schoeneberger, Ken Potter, Eric Hoopman, Bill Playford, Joe Pistell, Alex Snyder, Gary May and Joe Webb. (Simply because Joe wasn’t there this year – and he was greatly missed.)

Huge thanks to the DrivingSales & DrivingSalesTV crews for letting me tag along in my first reporting stint. A little more practice and I could get into doing that more often – the DrivingSales Executive Summit is only eight months away!

What did you get out of NADA 2012? What caught your eye on the floor?

Google confirmed another algorithm update, Panda 3.2, effective January 18th. Maybe you noticed some changes to your listings. (You are watching your search results placements, right?)

Fortunately I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary, just one new listing and it happens to be one of my favorites: our Foursquare venue pages made a significant jump to page 1, 2nd result; from page 2, 8th spot.  Click image to enlarge.

So, if Google is giving  preference to an optimized location based venue page - how can this be leveraged? (Plus, a few other ways to ensure your Foursquare venue works off-line as well)

• Verify your business on Foursquare. (If you haven't, you can do so in 3 easy steps)
• Create specials. More choices now let you target new customers with first time check-in specials or check-ins with friends and multiple visits or Mayor check-ins for returning visitors to help drive loyalty efforts.
• Add your category (EX: Car dealership) - This will ultimately help drive additional exposure within Foursquare Explore, a location based search engine.
• Add the appropriate tags for your venue.
• Optimize your description. (Looks like they're displying about 150 characters or so - knowing this I want to improve what's shown on our venue)
• Add your twitter handle & a link to your website.
• Be sure your staff is aware of the venue special and how it works. Not knowing ruins the experience for the user.
• Print the employee and customer Foursquare fliers provided - they're free & very helpful.

Have you noticed anything different with your listings? 

Google confirmed another algorithm update, Panda 3.2, effective January 18th. Maybe you noticed some changes to your listings. (You are watching your search results placements, right?)

Fortunately I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary, just one new listing and it happens to be one of my favorites: our Foursquare venue pages made a significant jump to page 1, 2nd result; from page 2, 8th spot.  Click image to enlarge.

So, if Google is giving  preference to an optimized location based venue page - how can this be leveraged? (Plus, a few other ways to ensure your Foursquare venue works off-line as well)

• Verify your business on Foursquare. (If you haven't, you can do so in 3 easy steps)
• Create specials. More choices now let you target new customers with first time check-in specials or check-ins with friends and multiple visits or Mayor check-ins for returning visitors to help drive loyalty efforts.
• Add your category (EX: Car dealership) - This will ultimately help drive additional exposure within Foursquare Explore, a location based search engine.
• Add the appropriate tags for your venue.
• Optimize your description. (Looks like they're displying about 150 characters or so - knowing this I want to improve what's shown on our venue)
• Add your twitter handle & a link to your website.
• Be sure your staff is aware of the venue special and how it works. Not knowing ruins the experience for the user.
• Print the employee and customer Foursquare fliers provided - they're free & very helpful.

Have you noticed anything different with your listings?