New York, NY— January 21, 2015 –  HookLogic, the global leader in commerce search advertising and premium provider of lead-generating incentive solutions for automotive dealers, today announced the launch of Mobile2Show, a best in class mobile targeting and showrooming solution. Mobile2Show targets competitive dealership/brands in the mobile environment, both on the dealer’s site as well as other local and regional sites, and drives prospects away from competitors and into the dealership’s showroom.

“Mobile usage has become an important part of the car buying process. Over 60 percent of customer’s visiting an auto dealer’s lot will use their smartphones to simultaneously shop the competition. And two thirds of those will leave that dealership and visit another store within a day. This is called showrooming. Now, more than ever, dealers need a mobile strategy,” said David Metter, president of automotive for HookLogic.

Mobile2Show helps dealers to conquest customers away from a competitor’s dealership and into their showroom. Its responsive design enables the display of a call to action on mobile devices or the dealer’s mobile site. Once clicked, the incentive is delivered by email or text message and the customer is promptly connected to the dealership through the e-delivery of driving directions, or via phone.

HookLogic’s user interface has over 19,000 franchised dealerships precisely mapped out, making it an easy process for dealers and OEMs to locate and choose specific competitive dealerships to target with Mobile2Show. When a customer at a targeted competitor searches the dealer’s or OEM’s site, a dynamic offer pushes the customer out of the competitor’s dealership and into the Mobile2Show dealership for a test drive.  Once at that dealership, the customer redeems their offer via a simple 30-second process that precisely attributes the showroom visit and sale back to the mobile offer.  Mobile2Show is the first true automotive showrooming solution tied to HookLogic’s award-winning attribution engine, which can directly attribute sales at the dealership, and in most states, from other dealerships as well.

Should the customer fail to visit the dealership’s website while showrooming, HookLogic’s dynamic incentives enable Mobile2Show to target customers browsing on hundreds of other mobile websites and apps powered by Verve Mobile.  Each dealership and OEM can customize the targeting of customers based on geographic region and local Auto Intenders. Mobile2Show can also retarget consumers that showed interest in an earlier mobile visit, enabling dealers to reach the right customer at the right time with the right offer. “Our dealers and OEM partners can protect their own backyard, conquest around competitor’s dealerships, and even retarget opportunities,” said Metter.

Mobile2Show is the latest addition to the AutoHook Suite of Solutions which includes: Web2Show, a tool that converts traffic from the dealer’s website into more showroom visitors. Prospects that visit the dealer’s site are invited to choose a free gift, redeemable by visiting their showroom. And Lead2Show, a tool that maximizes the dealers 3^rd party leads using scoring via data partners, such as Polk and Dataium, to immediately identify the highest intent to buy customers.

To schedule a demonstration of Mobile2Show or any of the AutoHook Suite of Solutions at NADA 2015, January 23-25, or at any time, visit:   http://www6.hooklogic.com/autodemo

# # # # #

About HookLogic

HookLogic, the global leader in commerce search advertising, partners with the world’s leading retailers, online travel agencies, and automotive companies to provide marketers unprecedented access to active category shoppers and a clear view into resulting sales attribution. The company’s high-performance vertical marketing programs accelerate sales for product brands, marketplace sellers, hoteliers, and automotive marketers. Network partners and advertisers including Walmart, Target, Intel, Asda, L’Oreal, Expedia, Priceline, General Motors, and Chrysler use HookLogic to increase sales and monetize site traffic. Backed by Bain Capital Ventures and Intel Capital, HookLogic is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Ann Arbor, Santa Monica, Atlanta, and London, UK.

DealerSocket today announced the acquisition of DealerFire, an award winning and leading provider of custom automotive websites and digital marketing.

Established in 1999, DealerFire has led the way in providing custom automotive website solutions from large automotive dealer groups to independent dealers; supplying dealerships with extensive automotive websites, mobile applications, content marketing, and search engine marketing (SEM).

“DealerFire has demonstrated wonderful innovation and high-integrity service to many of our dealers for a long time,” said Jonathan Ord, CEO of DealerSocket. “They know automotive, they are passionate in what they do for the industry, and they are a perfect addition to our ‘We Are Automotive’ platform. This acquisition is just one more step in demonstrating our ability to leverage the right tools and service offerings to make life easier and more profitable for dealerships around the world.”

“We could not be more excited to join forces with DealerSocket,” said Eric Hoopman, founder of DealerFire. “They have proven to be totally focused on their customers, and we think the same way. I am so excited for the future.”

To learn more about DealerSocket’s acquisition of DealerFire call 775-473-6622.

About DealerFire

DealerFire is a custom automotive web design and digital marketing firm that has been providing leading internet solutions and direct leads to large dealership groups and independent car dealers internationally for over a decade. Headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, DealerFire has earned numerous business and industry accolades, including being named to the Inc. 5000 list, winning four consecutive Automotive Website Awards and receiving customer service nods from DrivingSales and Desk.com. Currently on a mission to help dealers break free from vendor churn, DealerFire delivers best-in-class responsive websites, content marketing, paid search marketing and social media. Please call 877-828-9717 for more information or visit the company online at www.dealerfire.com.

ALBANY, N.Y. – January 19th, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) today launched Option/Mate™ Mobile, a mobile-optimized version of its advanced F&I menu solution for auto dealers. F&I managers using Auto/Mate's dealership management system (DMS) can now offer customers at their auto dealerships a variety of menu presentations on a mobile tablet. Option/Mate Mobile allows the customer to view F&I product menus, learn more about products that interest them, and drag and drop different product selections into a customized package.

"Offering customers a mobile tablet featuring F&I product menus paves the way for increased engagement, sales and retention opportunities," said Mike Esposito, President and CEO of Auto/Mate Dealership Systems. "Using Option/Mate Mobile has the potential to increase a dealer's gross profit per deal by an average of 20 percent."

After the turn over from sales, often customers have to wait until the F&I manager is available. Handing customers a tablet with a display of the F&I menu during this wait time is optimal and helps to shorten the sales process. While they are waiting, the customer can answer a questionnaire about how they plan to use their vehicle. The answers they provide results in a custom menu presentation of F&I products such as warranties, service contracts, tire and wheel protection plans, insurance, roadside assistance and more.

If the customer is not familiar with the benefits of a product, they can click on a link to find more information or watch a video demonstration. A mobile presentation of product benefits is often perceived by customers as imposing less pressure upon them to make a purchasing decision, compared with when they are sitting in front of the F&I manager. This makes the customer feel more in control and empowered with information, which in turn builds trust and ultimately increases product sales.

When the customer is finished viewing all the menu items, information on which products they chose and forfeited is instantly updated in the menu on the F&I manager's computer for easy processing.

Option/Mate Mobile is compatible with all tablet devices including Apple OS (iPads), Android and Windows platforms. Option/Mate is a five-in-one product allowing F&I staff to create detailed menus for customers. Group options, rate schedules, and display features can be set as defaults but can be changed on a case-by-case basis.

For more information on Option/Mate Mobile or to see a product demonstration, visit Auto/Mate at Booth #3310N at the NADA Convention & Expo, January 24th-26th. Make an appointment at www.automate.com or call 877-340-2677.

About Auto/Mate

Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is a leading provider of dealership management system (DMS) software to retail automotive dealerships. Its Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) is a user-friendly, feature-rich DMS in use by more than 1,000 auto dealers nationwide. Auto/Mate received the “Highest Rated DMS of 2012" and the "Highest Rated DMS of 2013" awards in the annual Driving Sales Dealer Satisfaction Awards.

Auto/Mate’s employees have more than 850 years of combined experience working in auto dealerships – the foundation of its “Designed By Car People For Car People^TM” slogan. For more information visit our website, follow us on Twitter @AutoMateDMS and subscribe to our blog at http://blog.automate.com

Consumers can now view their service invoice and ‘tap to pay’ instantly when the mobile app alerts them that their car is ready from service

New study shows that consumers are embracing dealership mobile apps and want mobile payment functionality, as well as quick access to service history, scheduling and special offers

Daytona Beach, FL – January 15, 2015 – DMEautomotive (DMEa) today unveiled version 3.0 of its groundbreaking mobile app, Driver Connect, with new ‘tap to pay’ functionality.  This new functionality is one of several new features consumers say they demand and that Driver Connect has added to help dealers better serve and retain their customers. The company also announced results of a new survey of dealerships across the country confirming that consumers are embracing mobile apps, with 75% saying they would recommend Driver Connect to a friend.

Driver Connect’s new payment functionality notifies dealership customers when their vehicle is ready for pickup, through a smartphone push notification alert, and then allows them to view their invoice and tap-to-pay. Consumers are able to view a complete breakdown of services provided, taxes and fees, exactly as they would on an in store paper receipt, then pay instantly using Apple Pay and email themselves a copy of the receipt, as well as retaining a copy of the receipt in the app.  In addition, they have the option of tapping to call a service advisor for more information and/or tapping to request a shuttle for dealerships that offer shuttle service.

“This takes dealership customer convenience to a new level and, with it, customer retention and satisfaction. Rather than calling to see if their car is ready and then waiting around in the service bay to pay, customers simply check their smartphone, tap to pay and when they return to the dealership, just grab their keys and go,” said Mike Walther, president and CEO of DMEautomotive.  “Not only is this great for the customer, but it is great for the dealer, with the potential to save service advisor time and reduce personnel costs.  But, most importantly, it improves the customer experience which should greatly enhance loyalty and CSI.”

According to Walther, DMEa is responding to what consumers have said they want in a dealership-branded app. In the survey, 45% said they would pay for service through an app if that feature were available. The top three new features they wanted were 1) seeing when their vehicle was being serviced and being alerted when it was ready; 2) information on pre-paid maintenance programs, and 3) the ability to pay for service through the app (prior to picking up vehicle) -- all of which are now available on Driver Connect.  The survey also showed that the top three features driving downloads were service history tracking, service appointment scheduling and access to special offers and coupons. 

In addition to Mobile Payment, Driver Connect 3.0 features include:

• Mobile Wallet so customers can store coupons and promotion
• Multi-location Geo-fencing support for mobile wallet, coupons, and promotions
• Real time “vehicle-in-service” and “vehicle is ready” messages with push notification
• Service history tracking
• Service appointment setting
• Map Search and Dealer List Sorting
• Loyalty status and point/balance history
• Recall notifications
• Kelly Blue Book car valuation
• Parts & Service offers and promotions
• Reporting through Red Rocket Technology

About DMEautomotive
DMEautomotive (DMEa) is the industry leader in science-based, results-driven automotive marketing, and provides turnkey marketing to the largest and most innovative automotive organizations, from automobile dealerships to many of the largest aftermarket companies in the U.S. DMEa's uniquely panoramic view of the complete automotive sales and service market, combined with its cutting-edge, science-based marketing programs, increases customer yield, conversion and retention. 

DMEa does not take marketing performance on faith, and each product and service is measured by a simple, precise scientific approach: Is it true? Prove it. Will it work? Test it. Does it generate results? Show it! Supported by DMEa’s proprietary, cloud-based Red Rocket Technology Platform, the DMEa product suite includes science-based, data driven, multi-channel customer acquisition and retention marketing programs; best-in-class campaign reporting; data management and analytics; auto-focused Customer Interaction Center solutions, and complete on-site mail and email fulfillment services. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, DMEa also has major operations in Jacksonville, Florida. 

Media Relations

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, (424) 603-4340, melanie@mwebbcom.com
Crystal Hartwell, mWEBB Communications, (949) 929-4637, crystal@mwebbcom.com

New Driver Connect mobile app enhancements make customer loyalty points easily available to “on-the-go” dealership customer; attacks increasing service interval with program proven to increase retention

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – January 13, 2015 – DMEautomotive (DMEa) today launched Mobile Loyalty, a new mobile app-enabled customer loyalty program targeting today’s “always-on” customer, designed to help dealerships capture greater loyalty and increase service retention and visits from an increasingly mobile, increasingly disloyal dealership customer.

Using email and mobile app messaging with push notifications, the new program is able to reach customers on the go – and on their smartphones – with loyalty rewards.  New enhancements to Driver Connect, DMEa’s consumer-facing, dealer-branded mobile app, enable consumers to easily track loyalty points and receive loyalty rewards from their dealership right where they are increasingly active, on their mobile apps.  

“The average dealership’s service visit interval has increased from 140 to 145 days, costing dealers an average of $91K in lost revenue each year – meaning customer loyalty is more critical to dealerships than ever,” said Mike Walther, president and CEO of DMEautomotive. “We created our new Mobile Loyalty program because our research and experience proves that mobile-centric programs mean better business and that loyalty programs increase retention.  By enhancing Driver Connect to join seamlessly with our loyalty program, dealers can start driving even more customers into service bays and showrooms.”

According to DMEa research:

• Customers who use a dealer-branded mobile app are 73% more likely to purchase a vehicle.
• Customers who use a dealer-branded mobile app will spend 7% more on a vehicle purchase.
• Customers who download a dealer-branded mobile app make 25% more dealership service appointments.
• Less than half of consumers are likely to visit a dealership for “bread and butter” core maintenance services within the first two years of ownership.  Within 7+ years, only 13% of customers will select dealerships for these services.
• 62% of customers surveyed expressed an interest in joining an automotive loyalty program.
   

How DMEa Mobile Loyalty Works:

• Customers receive mobile app push notifications and emails informing them of their reward eligibility.
• If not already installed, customers are provided with step-by-step instructions to download the dealership’s mobile app.
• Customers can easily track their points and future rewards through the app.
• Customers receive points for dollars spent (sales and service) by their household at the dealership.
• After reaching dealer specified thresholds, customers receive gift certificate that they can claim via the app.

About DMEautomotive

DMEautomotive (DMEa) is the industry leader in science-based, results-driven automotive marketing, and provides turnkey marketing to the largest and most innovative automotive organizations, from automobile dealerships to many of the largest aftermarket companies in the U.S. DMEa's uniquely panoramic view of the complete automotive sales and service market, combined with its cutting-edge, science-based marketing programs, increases customer yield, conversion and retention.

DMEa does not take marketing performance on faith, and each product and service is measured by a simple, precise scientific approach: Is it true? Prove it. Will it work? Test it. Does it generate results? Show it! Supported by DMEa’s proprietary, cloud-based Red Rocket Technology Platform, the DMEa product suite includes science-based, data driven, multi-channel customer acquisition and retention marketing programs; best-in-class campaign reporting; data management and analytics; auto-focused Customer Interaction Center solutions, and complete on-site mail and email fulfillment services. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, DMEa also has major operations in Jacksonville, Florida.

Media Relations

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, (424) 603-4340, melanie@mwebbcom.com
Crystal Hartwell, mWEBB Communications, (949) 929-4637, crystal@mwebbcom.com

New Study of Over 200 US Dealerships, by Prospect Vision, Reveals Direct Mail Campaigns Deliver Dramatic Conversions/ROI; In-Equity Customers are Ready-to-Buy and Their Trade-ins Sell Faster

Hickory, North Carolina - January 13, 2015 – A comprehensive study of 200 US dealerships has revealed that old-fashioned postal mail, when used strategically, still packs a punch, delivering much stronger results than other marketing channels.

The study, by Prospect Vision, the pioneer in automotive equity marketing, showed that each targeted direct mail marketing campaign delivered, on average, thirteen incremental sales at a cost of just $112 per vehicle sold. This is almost 80% less than NADA’s current $616 estimate of the amount dealers typically spend advertising each car they sell.

“Most of a dealership’s marketing spend goes to attracting new customers, while the potential incremental profits sitting in their databases are often overlooked,” said Allen Levenson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Prospect Vision. “This study shows that one of the oldest, tried-and-true marketing methods in the book - the humble direct mail piece – leads the way when it comes to ROI and retaining current customers.”

In addition to the incremental sales, dealers also saw an increased gross profit per car sold to these customers, on average the gross profit was $422 more than that of a first-time customer sale.

And, because equity marketing nearly always results in a customer trading their one-owner vehicle back to the dealership, trade-ins generated from targeted direct mail campaigns are highly profitable and sell through faster than typical pre-owned vehicles: 64% of trades sell within 30 days of being on the lot vs. 37% for non-repeat sale trades.

New York-based Honda dealership, Friendly Honda’s general sales manager, Michael Glynn says, “Because the direct mail pieces accurately tell customers the value of their car and impress upon them that there’s a high need for their current vehicle and, when applicable, a great incentive to ‘buy now,’ customers are very receptive to the offer.” Glynn reports, on average, that Friendly sells 23 cars per targeted direct mail campaign at a $54 cost per vehicle sold.

Today’s “big data” opportunities deliver a wealth of data on each customer that can be turned into actionable marketing information to drive them back to the dealership. The biggest opportunity here is the low-hanging fruit of customers who are currently ‘in equity’ in their vehicle. Using complex data mining processes to create targeted direct mail with personalized messages about the customer’s current vehicle and equity position, reaped significant, measurable results for all 200 dealerships, regardless of make, model or territory.

In the study, dealers report that using turnkey solutions, like Prospect Vision, work so well because the campaigns are customizable and able to deliver results on a dealership’s objectives – whether moving specific inventory, generating sales or bringing in specific trade ins.

The full case study can be accessed here.

About Prospect Vision

Based in Hickory, North Carolina and staffed by a team of retail automotive veterans, Prospect Vision (www.prospectvision.com) pioneered equity data mining and marketing in 2001 to help dealers target market to customers whose current vehicles are in-equity in order to cost-effectively increase sales and retention. Today, the company offers dealers the highest ROI in its space and is the industry’s only full-service equity marketing system, delivering customers to a dealer’s showroom without the need for labor intensive systems or dealership training, utilizing direct mail, e-mail, phone follow-up, and a service drive solution. Prospect Vision’s mission is to make equity marketing simple and painless for the dealer and to create irresistible offers for the in-equity consumer, and the results, including measurable increased ROI and incremental sales, prove it. Hundreds of dealerships, including AutoNation, Penske Automotive Group and Asbury Automotive group, as well independent dealerships, are loyal Prospect Vision customers.

Prospect Vision Media Relations: 

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, (949) 307-1723, melanie@mwebbcom.com 

Cassandra Cavanah, mWEBB Communications, (818) 397-4630, cassandra@mwebbcom.com

ALBANY, N.Y. – January 12th, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) today introduced Rev/Mate, an online service scheduling and menu building solution for auto dealers. Rev/Mate will be rolled out in the Automotive Productivity Management Suite (AMPS) Fixed Ops/Mate module in 2015. Rev/Mate is designed for service departments to maximize customer pay revenue while creating a quality customer relations service experience.

"Rev/Mate puts knowledge and power into the hands of the customer, giving them a better experience and allowing them to make informed decisions," said Mike Esposito, President and CEO of Auto/Mate Dealership Systems. "In turn, this increases customer retention rates and dealership profitability."

Rev/Mate scheduling software offers service departments a dealer-branded solution that enables customers to schedule appointments at their convenience. Additionally, customers can view their vehicle history, request a specific service advisor and request transportation, if needed. Appointment confirmations and reminders are delivered via e-mail and texts. Real-time updates appear in the service appointment module within AMPS, so service employees can easily convert appointments into ROs with a click of a button.

Rev/Mate includes a menu building solution that creates trust and confidence with VIN-specific factory recommended services. Additionally, dealers can create and customize their own recommended maintenance and repair menus for the customer to choose from. The menu builder presents good/better/best recommendations with transparent pricing, communicates with parts for efficiency inventory pulls and includes service advisor notes on specific service recommendations for improved customer consultations.

Additionally, Rev/Mate provides detailed measurement reports and reliable information for managing service capacity. It supports and is scalable to all dealer sizes, from single stores to large auto groups

Auto/Mate’s AMPS’s service suite provides dealers with a comprehensive DMS solution for their service and parts departments. The suite offers advanced auto dispatch, electronic RO and mobile lane check-in capabilities, as well as productivity boosting and reporting features that increase service department profitability.

For more information visit Auto/Mate at Booth #3310N at the NADA Convention & Expo, January 24th-26th. Make an appointment at www.automate.com or call 877-340-2677.

About Auto/Mate

Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is a leading provider of dealership management system (DMS) software to retail automotive dealerships. Its Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) is a user-friendly, feature-rich DMS in use by more than 1,000 auto dealers nationwide. Auto/Mate received the “Highest Rated DMS of 2012" and the "Highest Rated DMS of 2013" awards in the annual Driving Sales Dealer Satisfaction Awards.

Auto/Mate’s employees have more than 850 years of combined experience working in auto dealerships – the foundation of its “Designed By Car People For Car People^TM” slogan. For more information visit our website, follow us on Twitter @AutoMateDMS and subscribe to our blog at http://blog.automate.com

Dallas, TX – January 12, 2015 -- Pearl Technology Holdings, LLC (Pearl) an automotive technology incubator created by auto industry entrepreneur Bruce Thompson, today announced that it has partnered with HalyconTech, LLC,  to release the industry’s first digital hang tags for auto dealers, eCartag. Pearl Technologies will be debuting the new product and providing live demonstrations at booth # 919S at the 2015 NADA Convention & Exposition in San Francisco, CA, January 23-25.

The hang tags sync with the dealer’s Internet pricing feeds and update the physical vehicle pricing within 15 seconds of an Internet change.  They can be reused an indefinite number of times and auto sync with a vehicle’s VIN by simply plugging them into the vehicle’s OBD; requiring no programming and giving users a plug and play solution. The tags are GPS-enabled and have much more functionality than pricing updates. Additional features include pre-scheduled and real-time floorplan checks, battery monitoring, engine auto-start from a smartphone or central portal, test drive activity and much more.        

“Hang tags are one of the biggest hassles in a dealership.  Every time a price is changed on a vehicle a new hang tag has to be created and installed in the vehicle.  It’s costly, time consuming and fraught with errors and compliance issues because the Internet price and lot price don’t match,” said Bruce Thompson, CEO and Founder of Pearl Technology Holdings, LLC. “eCarTag represents a new and efficient way to not only solve the manual pricing issue, but also deliver a whole new suite of tools from floorplan checks to battery monitoring, remote starting and many other applications.  We partnered with Halcyon Technologies to build and deliver the technology.”

Commenting further on the partnership, Kartik Kakarala, Founder and CEO of HalcyonTech, LLC, stated, “We spoke to many dealers and listened to their frustrations with the current process that dates back to the 1940’s and 1950’s. Partnering with Pearl was exactly what we wanted to do.  We’ve worked on various projects with Mr. Thompson since 2002, and love the vision and creative freshness the Pearl team brings to the table.”

eCarTag will also  enable a dealer to monitor battery levels in all vehicles on the lot from a central portal.  “It’s great to know a battery needs charging before finding out too late when attempting a test drive with a customer,” commented Thompson.  By the end of the 1^st quarter the system will also allow a user to remotely start and turn off the vehicle engine from the central portal or the user’s smartphone, as well as lock and unlock the vehicle. 

Floorplan checks can also be done in real-time from portal or smartphone.  Every vehicle can be geo-located within a 4-5 feet disparity.  Automatic scheduled floorplan checks can be done and reports auto generated to lenders and dealership management.  eCarTag is fool proof because the tag must be plugged into the vehicle’s OBD to be activated.  The system seamlessly communicates with a dealer’s DMS so discrepancies are auto checked against sales status at the dealership.   

For more information or to schedule a live demo at NADA, call 888-339-1116 or visit:  www.pearlsolutions.com/nada .

About Pearl Technology Holdings, LLC, 

Auto industry entrepreneur Bruce Thompson announced earlier this year the formation of a new holding company, Pearl Technology Holdings, LLC.   Pearl was created to be an automotive technology incubator.  The company’s mission is to create and deliver innovative new impact tools to the industry.  Thompson has been credited with creating the “used car inventory management” space when he formed American Auto Exchange (AAX) in 2001.  In 2010 he started RedBumper, LLC, which is also primarily focused on “used car inventory management.” Pearl launched three new subsidiaries in 2014; CarOffer, LLC, NewCar IQ, LLC and VehicleXchange, LLC. 

About HalcyonTech, LLC

Halcyon Technologies USA offers development and consulting services that address IT Professional services like Web architecture, Application Development, Mobile Applications and development of enterprise business systems. Halcyon Technologies IT Professional Services has set High Industrial standards providing entire IT Solutions without compromising in delivering Quality product and services provided. In Halcyon we are passionate about creating innovative IT Solutions for our clients and work with them as a partner to conceptualize and Support them in maintenance of Web Design, Application development, Mobile application or any other technology driven businesses.

Orlando, FL – JKR Advertising & Marketing, already one of the country’s preeminent automotive agencies, has acquired NOW Digital, the automotive division of Orlando-based online company NOW Marketplace. The acquisition gives JKR new levels of expertise and support as it grows its menu of digital marketing services.

This makes JKR Advertising & Marketing one of the largest agencies in Florida and comes on the heels of JKR’s recent acquisition of Benedict Advertising & Marketing, located in Daytona Beach. Together, the JKR roster of companies now boasts 65 employees and bills more than $90 million annually.

Founded in 2009, NOW Digital’s offerings include Web site design and re-design, profit center updates, and co-op advertising compliance documentation. Having developed  strategies and tactics using themed and interactive graphics and coupons; landing page development for specific ad campaigns, comparative advertising; micro-sites and banner creative, the company provides comprehensive digital marketing and best practices to dealers through their unique, “90 Days from NOW” program.

“JKR’s strategy has always focused on core segments where we can be the industry leader, and digital marketing is fundamental to our growth strategy and future,” said Kevin Baumann, CEO at both JKR and NOW. “In NOW Digital, we have found the perfect partner to immediately take our digital advertising department to a market-leading position.”

NOW Digital will continue to be led by Christy Roman, who remains as President. “JKR and NOW Digital complement each other very well,” said Roman, an industry veteran whose achievements include developing a highly profitable software program for AutoTrader.com. “JKR can now call upon a one-stop shop that will help clients leverage their traditional and Internet advertising to the best advantage. We look at things from a very granular viewpoint, something most digital agencies don’t do; we can successfully impact and improve a dealership’s online presence.”

JKR Advertising & Marketing is one of the nation’s top-five largest automotive-only advertising agencies delivering all aspects of automotive retail advertising. JKR provides market analysis, creative, radio, TV, print, public relations, and digital. JKR’s experience, knowledge, and dedicated focus result in the overwhelming majority of clients outperforming their peers, markets, and competitors. Clients include individual dealerships to multi-brand, multi-store groups.

Urbandale, IA--January 5th, 2014--Flick Fusion (www.flickfusion.com) today announced a collaboration with ZMOT Auto (www.ZMOTauto.com), a leading automotive digital velocity firm, to produce vehicle inventory videos with voiceovers in a conversational style for Spanish-speaking car buyers. Auto dealerships that cater to a Spanish-speaking clientele can now include inventory videos as part of a comprehensive marketing strategy designed to reach a segment of the car-buying population that has been traditionally underserved by retail automotive marketers. Through this collaboration, Flick Fusion and ZMOT Auto are the industry's only marketing and velocity firms to produce videos with voiceovers recorded by native-language speakers.

"For dealers who are serious about attracting and retaining Spanish-speaking customers, the ability to provide videos in a conversational style is important," said Brian Cox, President and CEO of Flick Fusion Video Marketing. "Native language translation instills a far greater emotional connection than a computer-generated voiceover produced by an auto translator. This collaboration with ZMOT Auto allows us to provide distribution of relevant video merchandising of vehicles in conversational Spanish."

When aligned with ZMOT Auto's integrated digital marketing, Flick Fusion's Spanish-language videos leverage the power of SEO and targeted behavioral marketing to attract and convert the many car buyers who conduct online research in the Spanish language. According to Google, over 30 percent of searches in the U.S. are conducted by people who speak Spanish or both Spanish and English interchangeably. If the primary language in a household is Spanish, the browser settings are likely to be set to Spanish. Even if users conduct some of their searches in English, if a dealer's language targeting is set to English only, its inventory listings and ads will not display to this audience. Because of this collaboration, Flick Fusion and ZMOT Auto's inventory videos incorporate Spanish keywords and are more likely to be displayed in organic search results and drive traffic to a dealership's website.

Conversational Spanish videos are a unique component of ZMOT Auto’s integrated marketing solution designed to extend the brand reach and relevance of auto dealers with local Spanish-speaking car buyers. Other components of ZMOT Auto's solution include; targeted and behavioral marketing; classified listing merchandising, long tail inventory marketing, social media, reputation management, blog marketing, live-chat and more.

"Spanish-speaking consumers prefer to purchase in an environment where they feel most comfortable," said Robert Powell, Chief Performance Officer at ZMOT. "Providing consistent access as well as relevant information to this large and growing customer base, ensures our auto retail clients are in a position to be of service and capitalize on a huge business opportunity."

Some demographic experts estimate the current population of Hispanics in the U.S. is over 50 million, which means approximately one in six people speak Spanish. All of the major auto manufacturers have dedicated advertising and marketing campaigns that cater to this growing population, but the majority of dealerships in the U.S. do not have dedicated Spanish-language marketing programs.

The collaboration between ZMOT and Flick Fusion is designed to assist and empower auto dealers to capture and engage this demographic with the goal of converting interest into direct-action leads and customers. For more information on a comprehensive Spanish-language marketing campaign, contact ZMOT, Nathalie Ruelas Godoy at ngodoy@ZMOTauto.com. To schedule a private consultation or to meet with our team at NADA please email: corporate@ZMOTauto.com

About ZMOT Auto

ZMOT Auto (a member of the Cardinale-Group of companies) was created by dealers for dealers and is recognized as the only digital-partner managed by active dealers. ZMOT is best known for providing tailor-designed digital sales solutions, 1:1 sales attribution and regional exclusivity for automotive dealerships within the United Stated and Canada. ZMOT targets and delivers a buyer direct to the client-dealership through an integrated digital strategy focused on a ‘zero moment’ buyer action.  To learn more about a ‘zero moment’ solution, visit ZMOTAuto.com

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion specializes in creating, managing, and distributing dynamic and cost-effective online and mobile video products. Each video is designed to help dealerships reach and engage with customers, delivering rich content that results in increased sales and ROI. Flick Fusion produces video content for more than 3,000 dealerships and more than a dozen reseller partners. For more information, visit www.flickfusion.com.