Company Ranks #1 for SEO for Second Straight Year – Merla Turner Also Honored as “Top Rated” Internet Trainer

The winners of the 2010 DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards were just unveiled at the NADA Convention, and eXteresAUTO has again won “Highest Rated” for SEO. The company received the #1 SEO ranking for the second straight year, as determined by the thousands of auto dealers who are part of the DrivingSales.com community. eXteresAUTO’s Director of Dealer Training, Merla Turner, was also honored as a “Top Rated” Internet Trainer.

“It’s a special honor to rank as the #1 SEO provider again for 2010 at DrivingSales, because their awards are uniquely based on the real-world opinions of dealers across the nation who actually use these products and services,” noted Richard Winch, eXteresAUTO’s CEO. “And I’m thrilled Merla Turner was so deservedly recognized as one of the country’s top Internet trainers.”

eXteresAUTO provides total “Search Asset Management” (SAM™), combining the very first, and consistently highest-rated, SEO and Online Reputation Management solutions for dealerships. Every eXteresAUTO solution is designed to help auto retailers establish the most powerful, positive presence across the search engines and online review/social media sites. The company also currently ranks #1 for Reputation Management at DrivingSales.com, was recently honored as one of 2011’s “Best of the Best” companies by AutoSuccess magazine and selected by Mercedes-Benz USA as a “Preferred SEO Vendor” for its nationwide dealership network.

“We are proud to present both the DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction ‘Highest Rated’ SEO and ‘Top Rated’ Internet Trainer Awards to eXteresAUTO for achieving what we consider to be the highest possible accolade: the satisfaction of their customers,” said DrivingSales CEO and Founder Jared Hamilton. “Their awards are a reflection of the excellent results eXteresAUTO has generated for dealerships across the nation.”

Full award results are available online at: www.DrivingSales.com/dealersatisfactionaward

Broadcast coverage of the DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards ceremony is available at www.drivingsalestv.com

For more information about eXteresAUTO, contact: Beth McGroarty @ beth@rbicom.com or 213-300-0107

Company Ranks #1 for SEO for Second Straight Year – Merla Turner Also Honored as “Top Rated” Internet Trainer

The winners of the 2010 DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards were just unveiled at the NADA Convention, and eXteresAUTO has again won “Highest Rated” for SEO. The company received the #1 SEO ranking for the second straight year, as determined by the thousands of auto dealers who are part of the DrivingSales.com community. eXteresAUTO’s Director of Dealer Training, Merla Turner, was also honored as a “Top Rated” Internet Trainer.

“It’s a special honor to rank as the #1 SEO provider again for 2010 at DrivingSales, because their awards are uniquely based on the real-world opinions of dealers across the nation who actually use these products and services,” noted Richard Winch, eXteresAUTO’s CEO. “And I’m thrilled Merla Turner was so deservedly recognized as one of the country’s top Internet trainers.”

eXteresAUTO provides total “Search Asset Management” (SAM™), combining the very first, and consistently highest-rated, SEO and Online Reputation Management solutions for dealerships. Every eXteresAUTO solution is designed to help auto retailers establish the most powerful, positive presence across the search engines and online review/social media sites. The company also currently ranks #1 for Reputation Management at DrivingSales.com, was recently honored as one of 2011’s “Best of the Best” companies by AutoSuccess magazine and selected by Mercedes-Benz USA as a “Preferred SEO Vendor” for its nationwide dealership network.

“We are proud to present both the DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction ‘Highest Rated’ SEO and ‘Top Rated’ Internet Trainer Awards to eXteresAUTO for achieving what we consider to be the highest possible accolade: the satisfaction of their customers,” said DrivingSales CEO and Founder Jared Hamilton. “Their awards are a reflection of the excellent results eXteresAUTO has generated for dealerships across the nation.”

Full award results are available online at: www.DrivingSales.com/dealersatisfactionaward

Broadcast coverage of the DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards ceremony is available at www.drivingsalestv.com

For more information about eXteresAUTO, contact: Beth McGroarty @ beth@rbicom.com or 213-300-0107

Will Provide Dealerships Crucial, Actionable Data on Phone Leads from Search Engines and Review Sites

eXteresAUTO, the leading “Search Asset Management” (SAM™) provider for auto dealerships, and CallSource, the industry leader in call tracking and management, today announced a partnership to provide eXteresAUTO clients with objective, robust and actionable data on phone leads they’re generating directly from search engines and online review sites/directories.

CallSource tracking and analytics will now be included with every eXteresAUTO SEO and Online Reputation Management subscriptions. Now, dealer clients will be able to view all their search- and review-driven calls (i.e., reporting on call volume/traffic, etc.); access detailed data behind each call (callers’ phone numbers, addresses, zip codes, etc.); listen to calls via recorded audio files; and utilize tools helping the sales and service departments to take action on these valuable leads. Combined with eXteresAUTO’s rich website analytics, dealerships will now have a 360-degree view of the phone and website traffic they’re driving directly from Google, Yahoo!, Bing and review sites/directories.

“We’re thrilled to partner with CallSource, the most respected, innovative call-tracking provider. Search engine and online review/social media site usage is exploding. And our dealers, with their powerful search and review presence, are driving hundreds of calls a month from these sources - but fully understanding the business generation has remained too anecdotal,” noted eXteresAUTO CEO, Richard Winch. “Our dealers now have the hard data to measure the extraordinary ROI of SEO and Reputation Management, bringing the same transparency and tangibility to high-volume, high-closing first-party leads that they’ve typically received from third-party sources.

“It’s crucial for dealerships to have objective, actionable data on their search- and review-driven phone leads,” noted Pogo Parr, V.P., Automotive, for CallSource. “And given the new Google Places local search layout - where businesses’ online reviews have intense visibility, and searchers are grabbing phone numbers from Place Pages rather than dealer sites - the need for call tracking is even more profound.”

eXteresAUTO’s “Search Asset Management” (SAM™) combines the first, and consistently highest-rated, SEO and Reputation Management dealership solutions. Every eXteresAUTO solution is designed to help auto retailers establish the most powerful, positive presence across the search engines and online review/social media sites. The company just received the 2010 DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Award for “Highest Rated” SEO, and also ranks #1 for Reputation Management at DrivingSales.com.

CallSource solutions (integrating call tracking and recording, business analytics, lead scoring and management, telephone performance analysis and training, etc.), ensure every phone lead is tracked, every call recorded and every opportunity is followed up – helping dealerships make information-based decisions on their advertising’s ROI. The company manages nearly 2,000,000 toll-free and local tracking numbers for more than 300,000 businesses throughout the US and Canada.  CallSource just received the 2010 DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Award for “Highest Rated” Call Management Solution.

For more information about eXteresAUTO, contact: Beth McGroarty @ beth@rbicom.com or 213-300-0107

CallSource media contact: Elliot Leiboff, Chief Strategy Officer, 888-668-0766 or marketing@callsource.com

Will Provide Dealerships Crucial, Actionable Data on Phone Leads from Search Engines and Review Sites

eXteresAUTO, the leading “Search Asset Management” (SAM™) provider for auto dealerships, and CallSource, the industry leader in call tracking and management, today announced a partnership to provide eXteresAUTO clients with objective, robust and actionable data on phone leads they’re generating directly from search engines and online review sites/directories.

CallSource tracking and analytics will now be included with every eXteresAUTO SEO and Online Reputation Management subscriptions. Now, dealer clients will be able to view all their search- and review-driven calls (i.e., reporting on call volume/traffic, etc.); access detailed data behind each call (callers’ phone numbers, addresses, zip codes, etc.); listen to calls via recorded audio files; and utilize tools helping the sales and service departments to take action on these valuable leads. Combined with eXteresAUTO’s rich website analytics, dealerships will now have a 360-degree view of the phone and website traffic they’re driving directly from Google, Yahoo!, Bing and review sites/directories.

“We’re thrilled to partner with CallSource, the most respected, innovative call-tracking provider. Search engine and online review/social media site usage is exploding. And our dealers, with their powerful search and review presence, are driving hundreds of calls a month from these sources - but fully understanding the business generation has remained too anecdotal,” noted eXteresAUTO CEO, Richard Winch. “Our dealers now have the hard data to measure the extraordinary ROI of SEO and Reputation Management, bringing the same transparency and tangibility to high-volume, high-closing first-party leads that they’ve typically received from third-party sources.

“It’s crucial for dealerships to have objective, actionable data on their search- and review-driven phone leads,” noted Pogo Parr, V.P., Automotive, for CallSource. “And given the new Google Places local search layout - where businesses’ online reviews have intense visibility, and searchers are grabbing phone numbers from Place Pages rather than dealer sites - the need for call tracking is even more profound.”

eXteresAUTO’s “Search Asset Management” (SAM™) combines the first, and consistently highest-rated, SEO and Reputation Management dealership solutions. Every eXteresAUTO solution is designed to help auto retailers establish the most powerful, positive presence across the search engines and online review/social media sites. The company just received the 2010 DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Award for “Highest Rated” SEO, and also ranks #1 for Reputation Management at DrivingSales.com.

CallSource solutions (integrating call tracking and recording, business analytics, lead scoring and management, telephone performance analysis and training, etc.), ensure every phone lead is tracked, every call recorded and every opportunity is followed up – helping dealerships make information-based decisions on their advertising’s ROI. The company manages nearly 2,000,000 toll-free and local tracking numbers for more than 300,000 businesses throughout the US and Canada.  CallSource just received the 2010 DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Award for “Highest Rated” Call Management Solution.

For more information about eXteresAUTO, contact: Beth McGroarty @ beth@rbicom.com or 213-300-0107

CallSource media contact: Elliot Leiboff, Chief Strategy Officer, 888-668-0766 or marketing@callsource.com

First we had the new Google Places plastering a business’ reviews all over the local search results and Place Pages – and now another reason to get serious about Online Reputation Management…According to recent articles in Automotive News and MediaPost, Edmunds is about to unveil a major re-launch of its site in mid-December, and dealership reviews (and a new dealer rating system) will figure far more prominently.

First we had the new Google Places plastering a business’ reviews all over the local search results and Place Pages – and now another reason to get serious about Online Reputation Management…According to recent articles in Automotive News and MediaPost, Edmunds is about to unveil a major re-launch of its site in mid-December, and dealership reviews (and a new dealer rating system) will figure far more prominently.

A news story that was 100% bound to break, and now has...

A dealership in San Antonio, TX in hot water because (it appears quite strongly) of the review-posting practices of the Reputation Management company Review Boost they hired. Read on (and watch the TV news clip) to see how the investigation uncovers these suspicious 'reviewers' bouncing around the ENTIRE nation writing 5-star reviews about all kinds of businesses and dealerships ON THE SAME DAY!

It's not the dealership's fault - they were probably told the company would be gathering and POSTING reviews of their real customers...This is really a SERIOUS, emerging issue, as more companies/dealerships, understandably, need help with the heavy-lifting of Online Reputation Management/Social Media.

Authenticity is KEY and it's going to get more CRUCIAL - and when it comes to Reputation Management/Social Media solutions there are NO 'magic wands' - there are good tools and good 'wands.' 

These kind of consumer backlashes against dealerships' inauthentic reviews have been brewing online for quite some time - and now the news media is running with it....

The Story: Longtime BMW Owner Calls For Defenders Investigation Of 5-Star Reviews

April Molina, KSAT 12 News Reporter - POSTED: Thursday, October 14, 2010

SAN ANTONIO -- A consumer is questioning the online ratings of a local auto dealership.

Watch April Molina's Report: http://www.ksat.com/video/25398360/index.html

"They're just five-star ratings, five-star ratings -- five-star after five-star," said BMW owner, Greg Kinney of some dealership reviews he found posted online.

Kinney said he was a little surprised, as his own experience with BMW of San Antonio fell short of the exceptional reviews he found online Though he is quick to note, no dealership is perfect, Kinney said he questions the number of great reviews and the suspicious pattern.

"It's really very thinly veiled," said Kinney.

Skimming through some online posts, Kinney clicked on the profile of a person who'd given BMW of San Antonio a glowing review on City Search, and soon found all the other reviews posted by the same person on the same day referring to different businesses in different cities.

"(There are) 20 reviews by him. Here's one for backpackers Vacation Inn and Plantation Village. Nob Hill Hotel was posted on the sixth, so I guess he was there too. The Bridal Superstar by Posie Patch got five stars on the same date," said Kinney.

Wondering whether the profile was actually a paid service, Kinney contacted the KSAT Defenders.

Reporters contacted BMW General Manger John Bruns, who confirmed they did hire a service through Review Boost. Bruns said he was under the impression Review Boost would be in contact with their customers, generating actual reviews, but they too questioned the authenticity once they viewed them online.

"Obviously, there's a business out there that's decided to make money by writing five-star reviews," said Kinney.

BMW has since canceled the service and is working to remove questionable reviews taken from the various websites. The dealership also said they do conduct interviews with actual customers and that those reviews are the real deal. They attributed suspicious reviews to other companies.

Copyright 2010 by KSAT.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

A news story that was 100% bound to break, and now has...

A dealership in San Antonio, TX in hot water because (it appears quite strongly) of the review-posting practices of the Reputation Management company Review Boost they hired. Read on (and watch the TV news clip) to see how the investigation uncovers these suspicious 'reviewers' bouncing around the ENTIRE nation writing 5-star reviews about all kinds of businesses and dealerships ON THE SAME DAY!

It's not the dealership's fault - they were probably told the company would be gathering and POSTING reviews of their real customers...This is really a SERIOUS, emerging issue, as more companies/dealerships, understandably, need help with the heavy-lifting of Online Reputation Management/Social Media.

Authenticity is KEY and it's going to get more CRUCIAL - and when it comes to Reputation Management/Social Media solutions there are NO 'magic wands' - there are good tools and good 'wands.' 

These kind of consumer backlashes against dealerships' inauthentic reviews have been brewing online for quite some time - and now the news media is running with it....

The Story: Longtime BMW Owner Calls For Defenders Investigation Of 5-Star Reviews

April Molina, KSAT 12 News Reporter - POSTED: Thursday, October 14, 2010

SAN ANTONIO -- A consumer is questioning the online ratings of a local auto dealership.

Watch April Molina's Report: http://www.ksat.com/video/25398360/index.html

"They're just five-star ratings, five-star ratings -- five-star after five-star," said BMW owner, Greg Kinney of some dealership reviews he found posted online.

Kinney said he was a little surprised, as his own experience with BMW of San Antonio fell short of the exceptional reviews he found online Though he is quick to note, no dealership is perfect, Kinney said he questions the number of great reviews and the suspicious pattern.

"It's really very thinly veiled," said Kinney.

Skimming through some online posts, Kinney clicked on the profile of a person who'd given BMW of San Antonio a glowing review on City Search, and soon found all the other reviews posted by the same person on the same day referring to different businesses in different cities.

"(There are) 20 reviews by him. Here's one for backpackers Vacation Inn and Plantation Village. Nob Hill Hotel was posted on the sixth, so I guess he was there too. The Bridal Superstar by Posie Patch got five stars on the same date," said Kinney.

Wondering whether the profile was actually a paid service, Kinney contacted the KSAT Defenders.

Reporters contacted BMW General Manger John Bruns, who confirmed they did hire a service through Review Boost. Bruns said he was under the impression Review Boost would be in contact with their customers, generating actual reviews, but they too questioned the authenticity once they viewed them online.

"Obviously, there's a business out there that's decided to make money by writing five-star reviews," said Kinney.

BMW has since canceled the service and is working to remove questionable reviews taken from the various websites. The dealership also said they do conduct interviews with actual customers and that those reviews are the real deal. They attributed suspicious reviews to other companies.

Copyright 2010 by KSAT.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

“Highest-Rated” Across 2009 and 2010 at DrivingSales’ Vendor Ratings Program

Riverside, CA - October 19, 2010 - eXtéresAUTO, the leading “Search Asset Management” provider for auto dealerships, announced today that according to DrivingSales Vendor Ratings, the company ranks as the “Highest-Rated” SEO provider for auto dealerships in 2010. In the recently published DrivingSales Dealership Innovation Guide, the company retains its #1 ranking this year, after winning the award for #1 dealership SEO provider in 2009.

DrivingSales’ Vendor Ratings are determined by thousands of dealerships that are part of the DrivingSales community. According to the 2010 Innovation Guide, eXtéresAUTO SEO achieved a 5-star overall rating - with a dealer recommendation rate of 98%. The company also currently ranks as the #1 Online Reputation Management provider (with a 100% dealer recommendation rate) at DrivingSales.com.

“It’s a special honor to rank as the top SEO provider for the second straight year at DrivingSales, because their ratings program is unique in measuring the real-world opinions of dealers nationwide - the people who actually use these products and services,” noted eXtéresAUTO CEO, Richard Winch.

SEO and Online Reputation Management are critical components in eXtéresAUTO’s comprehensive “Search Asset Management” approach, which also integrates online piracy solutions and website analytics. Each of the company’s solutions is designed to ensure that dealerships have the most powerful, positive visibility wherever their customers happen to be searching online.

“Highest-Rated” Across 2009 and 2010 at DrivingSales’ Vendor Ratings Program

Riverside, CA - October 19, 2010 - eXtéresAUTO, the leading “Search Asset Management” provider for auto dealerships, announced today that according to DrivingSales Vendor Ratings, the company ranks as the “Highest-Rated” SEO provider for auto dealerships in 2010. In the recently published DrivingSales Dealership Innovation Guide, the company retains its #1 ranking this year, after winning the award for #1 dealership SEO provider in 2009.

DrivingSales’ Vendor Ratings are determined by thousands of dealerships that are part of the DrivingSales community. According to the 2010 Innovation Guide, eXtéresAUTO SEO achieved a 5-star overall rating - with a dealer recommendation rate of 98%. The company also currently ranks as the #1 Online Reputation Management provider (with a 100% dealer recommendation rate) at DrivingSales.com.

“It’s a special honor to rank as the top SEO provider for the second straight year at DrivingSales, because their ratings program is unique in measuring the real-world opinions of dealers nationwide - the people who actually use these products and services,” noted eXtéresAUTO CEO, Richard Winch.

SEO and Online Reputation Management are critical components in eXtéresAUTO’s comprehensive “Search Asset Management” approach, which also integrates online piracy solutions and website analytics. Each of the company’s solutions is designed to ensure that dealerships have the most powerful, positive visibility wherever their customers happen to be searching online.