In a world at a breakneck pace and of mediocre marketing, it is more important than ever to know what you’re doing if you hope to attract, let alone keep, consumers’ attention.  Add to that the entire market essentially being mobile and you might not be prepared at all to address your opportunities appropriately.

As things become more convoluted and confusing (add consolidated at the vendor level) in digital, there are just as many opportunities as there were five years ago, if not more. Trust us. The greatest areas of change are (1) more businesses being online, (2) more solutions being provided by manufacturers and turnkey providers, (3) software and automation becoming more rampant and (4) the public having more access via mobile at breathtaking speeds (read: they typically do not consume traditional advertising when mobile).

What hasn’t changed much are the count of progressive businesses, those willing to try new methods and technologies, applying consumer feedback to businesses’ modeling and execution (especially customer service) and the way businesses buy. Research, contrary to much perception, really isn’t part of what executives and leaders facilitate or understand. When is the last time you had a non-vendor evaluate your business’ performance, if ever?

One thing that is creating massive side effects in digital marketing is the silo-type approach to vendorship. At the beginning of the year one of the Big Six manufacturers forced their franchises to choose between three vendors in regard to “management” of their online reputation. This created a real wrinkle for the retailers that (1) didn’t want to use the companies for any/other services, (2) understood that the vendors, outside of using existing automated software, struggle with actually properly setting up, maintaining and responding to the reviews and (3) understood quickly that, many times, just as many issues are created as are handled. Now consider this: What are the benchmarks? What processes have been installed? When does the reputation management process start?

Add to that you absolutely, positively will not succeed in the online reputation management space without complete buy-in at every franchise plus it must be supported throughout every organization, entirely top to bottom.

From websites to search engine optimization, from mobile websites to applications, from search engine marketing to text and live chat, from customer relation management to integrated marketing, you can’t make a decision without facts, capabilities, assessment, communication and absolutely, positively a third party opinion.  Why would a business make a decision today, with the potential to inflict damage on their multi-million dollar operation(s) and the future of hundreds of people, based on what another dealer is doing 800-1,800 miles away or what a vendor says when they’ll ask a second, third or even fourth opinion on a treatment or drug?

Are you aware of the side affect of taking the wrong or multiple drugs? Yeah, you’ve heard the advertisements for sinus medication that basically tells you that you can die from taking their product if you simple breathe or walk after ingesting it.

So here it goes: buying a potential vendor’s product (especially if you’re dead set on switching after being “disappointed” with your present one based on doing no more investigation then compared to now) may cause loss of customers, lower service penetration rates, bleeding inventory, loss of margin, decreased customer satisfaction, painful penalties from headquarters, general business seepage, night sweats for the rest of your life, or death.

Go ahead, make decisions without paying attention to the side effects. It will either require hospitalization (aka another vendor change and admonishment toward your 20 Group partners), resuscitation (aka realization that no, they can’t do that, or it’ll be no better) or dizziness (aka having to actually ask someone who knows better that’s NOT on the hook of vendors).

Disclaimer: No doctors were harmed in the making of this blog post

Best Practices: Professional Insight, Powerful Results

You can read for IM@CS posts here on DrivingSales.com or on our blog.

In a world at a breakneck pace and of mediocre marketing, it is more important than ever to know what you’re doing if you hope to attract, let alone keep, consumers’ attention.  Add to that the entire market essentially being mobile and you might not be prepared at all to address your opportunities appropriately.

As things become more convoluted and confusing (add consolidated at the vendor level) in digital, there are just as many opportunities as there were five years ago, if not more. Trust us. The greatest areas of change are (1) more businesses being online, (2) more solutions being provided by manufacturers and turnkey providers, (3) software and automation becoming more rampant and (4) the public having more access via mobile at breathtaking speeds (read: they typically do not consume traditional advertising when mobile).

What hasn’t changed much are the count of progressive businesses, those willing to try new methods and technologies, applying consumer feedback to businesses’ modeling and execution (especially customer service) and the way businesses buy. Research, contrary to much perception, really isn’t part of what executives and leaders facilitate or understand. When is the last time you had a non-vendor evaluate your business’ performance, if ever?

One thing that is creating massive side effects in digital marketing is the silo-type approach to vendorship. At the beginning of the year one of the Big Six manufacturers forced their franchises to choose between three vendors in regard to “management” of their online reputation. This created a real wrinkle for the retailers that (1) didn’t want to use the companies for any/other services, (2) understood that the vendors, outside of using existing automated software, struggle with actually properly setting up, maintaining and responding to the reviews and (3) understood quickly that, many times, just as many issues are created as are handled. Now consider this: What are the benchmarks? What processes have been installed? When does the reputation management process start?

Add to that you absolutely, positively will not succeed in the online reputation management space without complete buy-in at every franchise plus it must be supported throughout every organization, entirely top to bottom.

From websites to search engine optimization, from mobile websites to applications, from search engine marketing to text and live chat, from customer relation management to integrated marketing, you can’t make a decision without facts, capabilities, assessment, communication and absolutely, positively a third party opinion.  Why would a business make a decision today, with the potential to inflict damage on their multi-million dollar operation(s) and the future of hundreds of people, based on what another dealer is doing 800-1,800 miles away or what a vendor says when they’ll ask a second, third or even fourth opinion on a treatment or drug?

Are you aware of the side affect of taking the wrong or multiple drugs? Yeah, you’ve heard the advertisements for sinus medication that basically tells you that you can die from taking their product if you simple breathe or walk after ingesting it.

So here it goes: buying a potential vendor’s product (especially if you’re dead set on switching after being “disappointed” with your present one based on doing no more investigation then compared to now) may cause loss of customers, lower service penetration rates, bleeding inventory, loss of margin, decreased customer satisfaction, painful penalties from headquarters, general business seepage, night sweats for the rest of your life, or death.

Go ahead, make decisions without paying attention to the side effects. It will either require hospitalization (aka another vendor change and admonishment toward your 20 Group partners), resuscitation (aka realization that no, they can’t do that, or it’ll be no better) or dizziness (aka having to actually ask someone who knows better that’s NOT on the hook of vendors).

Disclaimer: No doctors were harmed in the making of this blog post

Best Practices: Professional Insight, Powerful Results

You can read for IM@CS posts here on DrivingSales.com or on our blog.

Have you ever tried skiing? Uphill? Are you one for SCUBA diving? In a wading pool? Do you get your kicks running marathons? On a treadmill? How does this grab you: are you a fan of water skiing? On a dry lake bed? It seems that the more you try to distinguish your dealership today, there's someone from the factory telling you that all of the franchises in your brand should be the same. Nice. There's nothing better than showing up to a gunfight with a knife, right?

Know that we understand completely the advantage for the OEM. The level of standards, compliance and requirements shows more (not necessarily better) knowledge and what's happening with endorsed vendors shows that there may be a desire for (less than acceptable) results. "But they're the factory and I don't want problems". Well, Dear John, that train already left the station and you're the one who gets to sell the customers...right? Don't look now but the factory guys, umm, they don't know how to sell cars and neither do their bosses. Shhh, it's a big industry secret!

So how do you win at the "I want to get ahead and they want me to be behind some imaginary digital line that they don't understand" scenario? With more effort, time, cost and resources you can get 'er done! Welp, that's the short, hard to swallow answer. Can it get done? Yes, the same way you eat an elephant.

Look, they're the 800-pound gorilla (or, if you've been to counseling, the "white elephant in the room") and it's usually ugly if you don't take the extra cars they're shoving down your throat. How can the conversation about why the website vendor is failing them or the fact that the social media/reputation management company actually doesn't do what they say they do with any competency go better? It can't...not until there are real conversations at the headquarters. And folks, they've not even started yet. And the people in the digital posts at your OEMs facilities? Yes, they were selling factory replacement parts to you, at best, six months ago. No, everyone with a smartphone, a Facebook account and knows that CMS is content management system doesn't understand digital. Newsflash: SEO is alphabet soup to them.

Our 800-pound gorillas (read: all of them, not just the "big 6") need a major intervention from you right now. If you're reading this, you're in the top 5-10% of progressive dealers in the country. And don't think for a second that by having them out for a heart-to-heart or flying coach back to the OEM HQ for a fireside chat is going to take the covers off your website, CRM and marketing secrets because we still don't have over 17,000 dealers on mobile-optimized websites yet. However it's a step in the right direction and then 90% of your brand brothers won't have to scream that they don't know what their digitalmarketingleadmanagementpaidsearchretargetingonlinereputationconsultinggurus actually do (yes, please hashtag that!).

Did you hear the feedback from NADA? Yuuuuuuuuup! We're sure you did. Are the OEMs the bad guys? Not in the least. However the combination comes from vendors constantly selling (and them buying, BTW), relationships winning over logic and thousands of dealers fighting the "digital machine" for way to long. When a franchise gets over 50% of their traffic from sources they've not looked at in over a year, someone has to get involved. So they're not public enemy #1, they're just one massive speed bump that wrote a blank check to the wrong address.

Tip the scales in your direction, one pound at a time. (No gorillas were harmed in the creation of this post, but some will be offended - and so will many endorsed vendors)

Best Practices: Professional Insight, Powerful Results

You can read more IM@CS posts here on DrivingSales or on our blog

Have you ever tried skiing? Uphill? Are you one for SCUBA diving? In a wading pool? Do you get your kicks running marathons? On a treadmill? How does this grab you: are you a fan of water skiing? On a dry lake bed? It seems that the more you try to distinguish your dealership today, there's someone from the factory telling you that all of the franchises in your brand should be the same. Nice. There's nothing better than showing up to a gunfight with a knife, right?

Know that we understand completely the advantage for the OEM. The level of standards, compliance and requirements shows more (not necessarily better) knowledge and what's happening with endorsed vendors shows that there may be a desire for (less than acceptable) results. "But they're the factory and I don't want problems". Well, Dear John, that train already left the station and you're the one who gets to sell the customers...right? Don't look now but the factory guys, umm, they don't know how to sell cars and neither do their bosses. Shhh, it's a big industry secret!

So how do you win at the "I want to get ahead and they want me to be behind some imaginary digital line that they don't understand" scenario? With more effort, time, cost and resources you can get 'er done! Welp, that's the short, hard to swallow answer. Can it get done? Yes, the same way you eat an elephant.

Look, they're the 800-pound gorilla (or, if you've been to counseling, the "white elephant in the room") and it's usually ugly if you don't take the extra cars they're shoving down your throat. How can the conversation about why the website vendor is failing them or the fact that the social media/reputation management company actually doesn't do what they say they do with any competency go better? It can't...not until there are real conversations at the headquarters. And folks, they've not even started yet. And the people in the digital posts at your OEMs facilities? Yes, they were selling factory replacement parts to you, at best, six months ago. No, everyone with a smartphone, a Facebook account and knows that CMS is content management system doesn't understand digital. Newsflash: SEO is alphabet soup to them.

Our 800-pound gorillas (read: all of them, not just the "big 6") need a major intervention from you right now. If you're reading this, you're in the top 5-10% of progressive dealers in the country. And don't think for a second that by having them out for a heart-to-heart or flying coach back to the OEM HQ for a fireside chat is going to take the covers off your website, CRM and marketing secrets because we still don't have over 17,000 dealers on mobile-optimized websites yet. However it's a step in the right direction and then 90% of your brand brothers won't have to scream that they don't know what their digitalmarketingleadmanagementpaidsearchretargetingonlinereputationconsultinggurus actually do (yes, please hashtag that!).

Did you hear the feedback from NADA? Yuuuuuuuuup! We're sure you did. Are the OEMs the bad guys? Not in the least. However the combination comes from vendors constantly selling (and them buying, BTW), relationships winning over logic and thousands of dealers fighting the "digital machine" for way to long. When a franchise gets over 50% of their traffic from sources they've not looked at in over a year, someone has to get involved. So they're not public enemy #1, they're just one massive speed bump that wrote a blank check to the wrong address.

Tip the scales in your direction, one pound at a time. (No gorillas were harmed in the creation of this post, but some will be offended - and so will many endorsed vendors)

Best Practices: Professional Insight, Powerful Results

You can read more IM@CS posts here on DrivingSales or on our blog

(Warning, 1000 words below!)

OK, who's got their 2013 game face on? Nobody? Good, let's make things difficult!!! 2012 was one heck of a year: consumer demand is still up and growing for cars (although demand still outstrips what sold), mobile use is skyrocketing (albeit not remotely matched by dealers providing strong solutions), digital demand is still growing at a breakneck pace (while use of traditional media by dealerships is up), vehicle technology, especially in-car, is amazing and overwhelming (while we still can't truly get a MPG sticker correct without driving like we're dying) and quality is better than even with IQS improving (hand-in-hand with more "media" coverage of massive recalls). Yup, 2012 was quite the year...

So ask a car dealership what they're doing and about 16,500 answers will flutter around "more _________ and less ________ while focusing on our key strengths in _____________". And that, by the way, will be the answer around January 5-15th because, unlike other industries that revolve around retail, we seem to be focused on a date non later than January 5 to close the year. Newsflash: 2012 is done. Make more calls, send more emails, offer more dealer cash/rebates/incentives/consumer cash/financing discounts and leases and you're still not going to sell more. Hello?!?! The "Oh, we pulled 10 more from our competitor" crap doesn't fly. You'll sell what was essentially already in the hopper and be happy with it.

Over the last twelve months we saw highs and lows in the automotive industry, mostly driven by International factors like economy, emerging markets, regulation, partnership and bankruptcy. As a matter of fact, we are more tied than ever to what happens in Europe and Asia, even considering how insular as we tend to be. Whether or not we get to see a new Cadillac in the States depends more on what happens in Germany than ever while BMW's success likely depends on what happens in South Carolina. 2012 saw the continued demise of storied as well as soft brands everywhere.

In the passing of this last year, it's important to reflect on how we actually invited people into showrooms while not making it any more enjoyable (except for the new showrooms which mostly made the factory happy while getting better looking floor tiles and slightly better tasting coffee to customers and some of those neat kids' play rooms we desperately needed). We switched website CMSs, dealership CRMs, DMSs, SMSs and POPs but did satisfaction with dealerships actually go up as much as 2012 IQS? Jaguar is still tops (well, 2nd behind Lexus for 2012 models) on the list and they can't seem to sell the damn cats...

What did 2012 deliver to your business? If you've not asked your customers more than your factory reps, your salespeople and your accountant, you will miss the boat by a larger gap in 2013. Yes, you will continue to sell cars next year and maybe, fortunately more again, but where does that stop based on solely looking back or not at all?

Where your concentration needs to be, right now, is around March 2013 because your next 6-8 weeks are already figured out for the most part. No matter how many "cycles" we have, after 100 years of automobile sales most think that there is some magic to the last few weeks of the year. Bullhooey.

If you want to succeed starting next Tuesday, there is no other way to do it than be steadfast in every aspect of your staff, processes, facility and follow through. Your greatest efforts need to be put into place around the touch points (hint: it's not the cars!). Those are showroom (real and virtual) and people. Nothing else matters without those. We are asked regularly how to "jumpstart" sales to the effect that many talk about in the industry. If you've not been bombarded by spam marketing and videos, it usually sounds like "100 to 500 cars overnight with our processes" and "our sales events will have people driving in from everywhere" and don't forget "our websites will optimize so well (or drive leads so easily), no other dealer will be able to touch your numbers, you'll dominate and just have to deliver cars". Rat dung!

Get the best assets in your business today that understand how everyday people use technology and expect to be communicated with. If that means more green peas, then do it! Training?!?! Tearing down your salespeople to build them back up means you have the wrong people and wrong processes! It's not "that Internet thing" any more than your cars are "those things that have engines and tires". It's time to grow up and look forward. If you 15-pounder 15% of your customers, expect 50%+ of your reviews to scream you suck.

If you want to look at things in a nutshell, read another whitepaper about how great a solution is (6- to 12-months after it's relevant while you signed up to get marketed like mad by the same company) and look backward. Our industry is depending on people who look forward with only what's needed about past performance as indicators, nothing else. Improve incrementally prior to making the huge, sweeping changes like we hear about so much and maybe, just maybe, you'll see about 3-4 months that the big stuff is not so big after all because you were able to move the needle consistently. Overnight success is a short-term facade over impending disaster. Count on it.

2013 can be great for many, even amongst the raising concerns about economic and other pressures. The best always raise to the occasion, it's just that it needs to be done in newer ways more consistently. And remember to make changes with anything that you do by benchmarking and recording first because so many will pull the wool over your eyes and scream "we did it for you!". We see it every day. There are some great dealership partners out there. Remember that opportunity is missed by most because it comes dressed in overalls. It's work and most of the time it's slow.

So relish in the success you've had in 2012, you deserve it! At the same time try not to look back all that much. It will take longer to catch up than you realize. The automotive world moves at the speed of retail. That is the only truth. So stop slowing yourself down more than needed.

Much success in 2012 and thanks for continuing to read...

Best Practices: Professional Insight, Powerful Results

You can read more IM@CS posts here on DrivingSales.com or on our blog

(Warning, 1000 words below!)

OK, who's got their 2013 game face on? Nobody? Good, let's make things difficult!!! 2012 was one heck of a year: consumer demand is still up and growing for cars (although demand still outstrips what sold), mobile use is skyrocketing (albeit not remotely matched by dealers providing strong solutions), digital demand is still growing at a breakneck pace (while use of traditional media by dealerships is up), vehicle technology, especially in-car, is amazing and overwhelming (while we still can't truly get a MPG sticker correct without driving like we're dying) and quality is better than even with IQS improving (hand-in-hand with more "media" coverage of massive recalls). Yup, 2012 was quite the year...

So ask a car dealership what they're doing and about 16,500 answers will flutter around "more _________ and less ________ while focusing on our key strengths in _____________". And that, by the way, will be the answer around January 5-15th because, unlike other industries that revolve around retail, we seem to be focused on a date non later than January 5 to close the year. Newsflash: 2012 is done. Make more calls, send more emails, offer more dealer cash/rebates/incentives/consumer cash/financing discounts and leases and you're still not going to sell more. Hello?!?! The "Oh, we pulled 10 more from our competitor" crap doesn't fly. You'll sell what was essentially already in the hopper and be happy with it.

Over the last twelve months we saw highs and lows in the automotive industry, mostly driven by International factors like economy, emerging markets, regulation, partnership and bankruptcy. As a matter of fact, we are more tied than ever to what happens in Europe and Asia, even considering how insular as we tend to be. Whether or not we get to see a new Cadillac in the States depends more on what happens in Germany than ever while BMW's success likely depends on what happens in South Carolina. 2012 saw the continued demise of storied as well as soft brands everywhere.

In the passing of this last year, it's important to reflect on how we actually invited people into showrooms while not making it any more enjoyable (except for the new showrooms which mostly made the factory happy while getting better looking floor tiles and slightly better tasting coffee to customers and some of those neat kids' play rooms we desperately needed). We switched website CMSs, dealership CRMs, DMSs, SMSs and POPs but did satisfaction with dealerships actually go up as much as 2012 IQS? Jaguar is still tops (well, 2nd behind Lexus for 2012 models) on the list and they can't seem to sell the damn cats...

What did 2012 deliver to your business? If you've not asked your customers more than your factory reps, your salespeople and your accountant, you will miss the boat by a larger gap in 2013. Yes, you will continue to sell cars next year and maybe, fortunately more again, but where does that stop based on solely looking back or not at all?

Where your concentration needs to be, right now, is around March 2013 because your next 6-8 weeks are already figured out for the most part. No matter how many "cycles" we have, after 100 years of automobile sales most think that there is some magic to the last few weeks of the year. Bullhooey.

If you want to succeed starting next Tuesday, there is no other way to do it than be steadfast in every aspect of your staff, processes, facility and follow through. Your greatest efforts need to be put into place around the touch points (hint: it's not the cars!). Those are showroom (real and virtual) and people. Nothing else matters without those. We are asked regularly how to "jumpstart" sales to the effect that many talk about in the industry. If you've not been bombarded by spam marketing and videos, it usually sounds like "100 to 500 cars overnight with our processes" and "our sales events will have people driving in from everywhere" and don't forget "our websites will optimize so well (or drive leads so easily), no other dealer will be able to touch your numbers, you'll dominate and just have to deliver cars". Rat dung!

Get the best assets in your business today that understand how everyday people use technology and expect to be communicated with. If that means more green peas, then do it! Training?!?! Tearing down your salespeople to build them back up means you have the wrong people and wrong processes! It's not "that Internet thing" any more than your cars are "those things that have engines and tires". It's time to grow up and look forward. If you 15-pounder 15% of your customers, expect 50%+ of your reviews to scream you suck.

If you want to look at things in a nutshell, read another whitepaper about how great a solution is (6- to 12-months after it's relevant while you signed up to get marketed like mad by the same company) and look backward. Our industry is depending on people who look forward with only what's needed about past performance as indicators, nothing else. Improve incrementally prior to making the huge, sweeping changes like we hear about so much and maybe, just maybe, you'll see about 3-4 months that the big stuff is not so big after all because you were able to move the needle consistently. Overnight success is a short-term facade over impending disaster. Count on it.

2013 can be great for many, even amongst the raising concerns about economic and other pressures. The best always raise to the occasion, it's just that it needs to be done in newer ways more consistently. And remember to make changes with anything that you do by benchmarking and recording first because so many will pull the wool over your eyes and scream "we did it for you!". We see it every day. There are some great dealership partners out there. Remember that opportunity is missed by most because it comes dressed in overalls. It's work and most of the time it's slow.

So relish in the success you've had in 2012, you deserve it! At the same time try not to look back all that much. It will take longer to catch up than you realize. The automotive world moves at the speed of retail. That is the only truth. So stop slowing yourself down more than needed.

Much success in 2012 and thanks for continuing to read...

Best Practices: Professional Insight, Powerful Results

You can read more IM@CS posts here on DrivingSales.com or on our blog

As our industry moves (very slowly) toward digital dominance, more companies are chosen each year to assist with certain initiatives driven by the OEMs. As the market fills with mostly fledgling, so-called expert vendors in the major categories (website, SEO, SEM, mobile, reputation management, social media), RFPs and projects are drawn out and the partners are selected. Then, almost like clockwork, the inevitable takes place. The proverbial crap hits the fan and the vendor can't deliver.

If you've paid attention and done a little digging over the past few years, you've watched as the industry has filled with providers that, for the most part, weren't doing what they are now providing for more than a year or two (and sometimes simply weren't even in the space the day before they launched). Many companies have re-branded as digital agencies, marketers, training, search and the like with little more than a presentation deck. And then they walk into the manufacturers headquarters (sometimes on the coattails of a relative or someone they have "pictures" of) for their pitch. Viola, preferred vendor!

Even though relationships dominate despite near incompetence or irrelevance, sometimes it's just that the company/companies that can actually do the work are viewed as too small (staff, revenue, etc.), or they are brought in to pitch simply to hit the right amount of stand up presentations for purchasing. But the litmus test doesn't change: call the vendor, ask a non life-and-death question and see if the first person that's not a receptionist or secretary can answer. If you're talking with a tech support person and they have to ask a manager or someone else, call your OEM rep and give them an earful. Maybe, just maybe, if this happens a few hundred (read: thousand) times, maybe they'll get the message that their preferred provider(s) simply can't do the work.

In working with nearly every brand dealership and nearly all OEMs, their ad agencies and digital vendors over the past twelve plus years, it's scary to witness the process, implementation and support that exists. And the cycle continues due to the incestuous ways in which the programs are executed. The manufacturers want you to believe that real assessments are carried out and that they've done their due diligence. Fact is, that's a pipe dream. Endorsements aren't really want they sound like. And for those people that paid any attention to elections over the past months as well as years, vendor selection is more like how Super Pacs operate or how Wall Street controls their puppets: Follow the money, lunches, perks and relationships and you'll find a substandard product or service get the rubber stamp.

And the pisser is that they keep buying from them, warts and all. Because, among other things, the mentality is still non-digital in marketing. And the people who head the eCommerce and digital divisions are no better at their genre than your local newspaper rep.

So follow the vendor recommendations that are mandatory and voluntary but always keep an ear to the ground and give real feedback to your factory rep (even though the majority of them have no idea what an AdWord extension, heat map or pixel tracking is) and at ad meetings and 20 Groups. Because the majority of what they or you are buying is well under what you deserve, and usually what works.

Best Practices: Professional Insight, Powerful Results

You can read more IM@CS posts here on DrivingSales.com or on our blog

As our industry moves (very slowly) toward digital dominance, more companies are chosen each year to assist with certain initiatives driven by the OEMs. As the market fills with mostly fledgling, so-called expert vendors in the major categories (website, SEO, SEM, mobile, reputation management, social media), RFPs and projects are drawn out and the partners are selected. Then, almost like clockwork, the inevitable takes place. The proverbial crap hits the fan and the vendor can't deliver.

If you've paid attention and done a little digging over the past few years, you've watched as the industry has filled with providers that, for the most part, weren't doing what they are now providing for more than a year or two (and sometimes simply weren't even in the space the day before they launched). Many companies have re-branded as digital agencies, marketers, training, search and the like with little more than a presentation deck. And then they walk into the manufacturers headquarters (sometimes on the coattails of a relative or someone they have "pictures" of) for their pitch. Viola, preferred vendor!

Even though relationships dominate despite near incompetence or irrelevance, sometimes it's just that the company/companies that can actually do the work are viewed as too small (staff, revenue, etc.), or they are brought in to pitch simply to hit the right amount of stand up presentations for purchasing. But the litmus test doesn't change: call the vendor, ask a non life-and-death question and see if the first person that's not a receptionist or secretary can answer. If you're talking with a tech support person and they have to ask a manager or someone else, call your OEM rep and give them an earful. Maybe, just maybe, if this happens a few hundred (read: thousand) times, maybe they'll get the message that their preferred provider(s) simply can't do the work.

In working with nearly every brand dealership and nearly all OEMs, their ad agencies and digital vendors over the past twelve plus years, it's scary to witness the process, implementation and support that exists. And the cycle continues due to the incestuous ways in which the programs are executed. The manufacturers want you to believe that real assessments are carried out and that they've done their due diligence. Fact is, that's a pipe dream. Endorsements aren't really want they sound like. And for those people that paid any attention to elections over the past months as well as years, vendor selection is more like how Super Pacs operate or how Wall Street controls their puppets: Follow the money, lunches, perks and relationships and you'll find a substandard product or service get the rubber stamp.

And the pisser is that they keep buying from them, warts and all. Because, among other things, the mentality is still non-digital in marketing. And the people who head the eCommerce and digital divisions are no better at their genre than your local newspaper rep.

So follow the vendor recommendations that are mandatory and voluntary but always keep an ear to the ground and give real feedback to your factory rep (even though the majority of them have no idea what an AdWord extension, heat map or pixel tracking is) and at ad meetings and 20 Groups. Because the majority of what they or you are buying is well under what you deserve, and usually what works.

Best Practices: Professional Insight, Powerful Results

You can read more IM@CS posts here on DrivingSales.com or on our blog

From time to time, it’s good to get a strong dose of perspective or reality, depending who is describing reality. It’s easy to see why business owners, and especially car dealers, are so confused when it comes to doing anything, let alone well, in the digital/online space. Diluted solutions that favor data over results and backed more by marketing genius than true muscle are more common than wannabe starlets at Hugh Heffner’s gigs at the mansion.

Our reality comes in doses while checking out new markets, our client’s competitors, vendors’ pitch materials or the information the factory eCommerce rep brings around to dealers, from time to time.

The information age is lacking in one large area for businesses; in correct information! In a day where so called experts are giving misleading or incorrect directions, ad agencies are still F-bombing (oops, errant posts to) client social media accounts, SEO companies are still using offshore link/content farms and studies show, for some reason, that 2009 data still needs to be shared on stage as new, not enough people are calling folks out. No, those companies are still getting hired and you’re still using them!

Reality check is you have to consume large amounts of correct information at breakneck speed today to keep up. Mind you, we’re not talking about leading, just keeping up. And most dealers aren’t doing that.

Sure, everyone knows how to eat an elephant. Right? one bite at a time. But trying to take a sip of the digital waters, for most, has been like drinking from a fire hose or the bottom of a waterfall. A little overbearing! Car dealers…get out of your comfort zone and take a big gulp!!

As you prepare to start 2013, here are a few things to think about and maybe, just maybe, put to action:

• Your website should not be the same as your closest in-brand competitor. This is not a vendor thing; it’s a content thing.
• Your emails should not be the same as any local competitor. This is not a vendor thing; it’s a people thing.
• Your social network content should not be the same as any local competitor. This is not a vendor thing; it’s a smart thing.

In 2013, the manufacturers clearly want their stores to be as uniform as possible: experience, showroom, content, website/mobile, email and more. Fight it tooth and nail.  The majority of endorsed vendors are not there for you, they are there for them.  The norm sucks…so don’t settle for it.

The more consumers expect a unique experience, the more our industry fights it. Why? Because it’s not easy to do things that way; even though more of you are just giving in.

The smallest portion of the budgets in our industry, still, happens to be the digital ones. This is a top-down mentality, starting with the manufacturers. Oh, and don’t let the desire to govern response times and having your wrists slapped over a vehicle image with the wrong lug nuts stop you from having a kick ass digital presence and drive more customers to your front door. Do things right the first time and get wet. Get really, really, really, really wet from the digital hose. It’s the only way to lead.

Best Practices: Professional Insight, Powerful Results
 

You can read more IM@CS posts here on DrivingSales.com or on our blog

From time to time, it’s good to get a strong dose of perspective or reality, depending who is describing reality. It’s easy to see why business owners, and especially car dealers, are so confused when it comes to doing anything, let alone well, in the digital/online space. Diluted solutions that favor data over results and backed more by marketing genius than true muscle are more common than wannabe starlets at Hugh Heffner’s gigs at the mansion.

Our reality comes in doses while checking out new markets, our client’s competitors, vendors’ pitch materials or the information the factory eCommerce rep brings around to dealers, from time to time.

The information age is lacking in one large area for businesses; in correct information! In a day where so called experts are giving misleading or incorrect directions, ad agencies are still F-bombing (oops, errant posts to) client social media accounts, SEO companies are still using offshore link/content farms and studies show, for some reason, that 2009 data still needs to be shared on stage as new, not enough people are calling folks out. No, those companies are still getting hired and you’re still using them!

Reality check is you have to consume large amounts of correct information at breakneck speed today to keep up. Mind you, we’re not talking about leading, just keeping up. And most dealers aren’t doing that.

Sure, everyone knows how to eat an elephant. Right? one bite at a time. But trying to take a sip of the digital waters, for most, has been like drinking from a fire hose or the bottom of a waterfall. A little overbearing! Car dealers…get out of your comfort zone and take a big gulp!!

As you prepare to start 2013, here are a few things to think about and maybe, just maybe, put to action:

• Your website should not be the same as your closest in-brand competitor. This is not a vendor thing; it’s a content thing.
• Your emails should not be the same as any local competitor. This is not a vendor thing; it’s a people thing.
• Your social network content should not be the same as any local competitor. This is not a vendor thing; it’s a smart thing.

In 2013, the manufacturers clearly want their stores to be as uniform as possible: experience, showroom, content, website/mobile, email and more. Fight it tooth and nail.  The majority of endorsed vendors are not there for you, they are there for them.  The norm sucks…so don’t settle for it.

The more consumers expect a unique experience, the more our industry fights it. Why? Because it’s not easy to do things that way; even though more of you are just giving in.

The smallest portion of the budgets in our industry, still, happens to be the digital ones. This is a top-down mentality, starting with the manufacturers. Oh, and don’t let the desire to govern response times and having your wrists slapped over a vehicle image with the wrong lug nuts stop you from having a kick ass digital presence and drive more customers to your front door. Do things right the first time and get wet. Get really, really, really, really wet from the digital hose. It’s the only way to lead.

Best Practices: Professional Insight, Powerful Results
 

You can read more IM@CS posts here on DrivingSales.com or on our blog