New York, NY (May 8, 2010) – The Automotive Advertising Network (AAN) leverages the power of member dealers to generate more exclusive consumer sales leads and increase the visibility of their websites on search engines.

 

"All of our vehicles that are listed on the network link back to our dealership website so our website gets more traffic and relevance on search engines because we inherit the search authority of the network." commented Jon Sherell, ISM at the Rairdon Group.

 

The network’s advertising model is being praised by member dealers because competitor’s cars and distracting advertising banners are not placed on their car detail pages.

• Unlimited leads from ready-to-buy consumers who are actively searching for a vehicle in their market.

Auto/Mate Completes Mazda Dealership Communication System Integration

Clifton Park, NY (May 4, 2010) – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems,

(www.automate.com) the highest ranked DMS in the 2009 NADA Annual Survey of Dealership Satisfaction, announced today it has completed two key integration points between its Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) and Mazda North American Operations’ (MNAO) dealership communication system.

The integration improves administrative efficiencies in two vital areas: 1) The Mazda Vehicle Invoice Integration is a new Vehicle Merchandizing functionality that enables Mazda dealers to automatically import all vehicle invoices directly from Mazda into Auto/Mate, simply add a stock number and dealer specific entries, and then send directly to accounting.  2) Auto/Mate’s Mazda Service Campaign/Recall Integration enables Mazda dealers to obtain any open campaigns or recalls from Mazda on a specific vehicle when opening or modifying a Repair Order, and add it to a RO line.

Mazda dealers are delighted with the speed and efficiency the new integration points add to the system, “The new Mazda Integration from Auto/Mate is great. They have made putting inventory into the Auto/Mate system so simple and easy, it has sped up the process so much and left me time for other tasks. The information going into Auto/Mate from Mazda is so complete and accurate.  That is the slickest thing I have seen from a DMS ever. It works like a champ!” commented Deb Judd, Inventory Manager at Polar Chevrolet Mazda.

The new integration points add the following points of functionality:

a)    Auto/Mate’s Mazda Vehicle Download Integration:

·         Mazda will provide Auto/Mate with a feed of all the vehicle invoices for a particular dealership on a daily basis

·         The dealer can import all vehicle invoices directly from Mazda into Auto/Mate, simply add a stock number and any dealer specific entries and send to accounting

·         The integration eliminates the need for manual and double entry of data in multiple fields, lessening the room for human error because the process is now automated

·          Each invoice can be viewed as a report

·         The system provides an import log of all vehicles delivered by Mazda to the dealership

b)    Auto/Mate’s Mazda Service Campaign/Recall Integration:

·         Mazda dealers can obtain any open campaigns or recalls from Mazda when opening or modifying a Repair Order

·         The dealer can then indicate to the customer that their vehicle has these open Campaigns and if the customer agrees, add one or multiple items to the Repair Order

            “We all know the old adage that time is money. Improved efficiency is ever more important in today’s economy and we are delighted by how well this new integration has worked for our Mazda dealers,” said Mike Esposito, CEO and president of Auto/Mate.

AMPS is an easy-to-use comprehensive dealership management system with over 20 integrated modules to help dealers more efficiently and effectively manage their business.  It supports an unlimited number of users, workstations and printers, and can be implemented in any size dealership.  AMPS is available as both a cost-effective in-house and ASP solution.

For more information visit www.automate.com

Videos:  Auto/Mate video: http://www.automate.com/solutions.html

Documents:    The Dealer’s 10-Step Guide to Changing Your DMS” eBook

Pay No Attention to the Mind Behind the Curtain

-30-

About Auto/Mate

Auto/Mate Dealership Systems was established 26 years ago with a simple goal: to provide an efficient and reasonably priced computer system to increase dealers’ profitability. Designed by former auto dealer executives, AMPS (Automotive Management Productivity Suite) by Auto/Mate offers more than 20 fully integrated modules to suit any size dealership and to address every need, including Sales, F&I, Fixed Operations, Accounting, CRM, Fleet Sales and more. Auto/Mate’s success has led to a continuous growth rate of more than 30% per year, with its system currently in use by more than 400 dealers. In three combined surveys conducted by NADA, Auto/Mate has ranked the highest in customer satisfaction over any other dealer system.

AMPS by Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is powerful, scalable and has a unique, graphical interface that makes it familiar and easy to use. AMPS is an open system and will run on most computer hardware that a dealer has in place. When compared to other systems on the market, AMPS offers the most value per dollar, allowing dealerships to operate more efficiently and profitably. For more information, please visit www.automate.com.

For additional information, contact:

Sara Callahan                                             Mike Esposito, President & CEO

Carter-West Public Relations                     Auto/Mate Dealership Systems

Phone: 727-288-2159                                 Phone: 800-371-3970

E-mail: carterwestpr@gmail.com               Email: mesposito@automate.com

San Ramon, CA – May 3, 2010 – MediaTrac, LLC (www.media-trac.com), a marketing technology company providing customized frequency marketing, customer loyalty, retention and media tracking programs, announced today that Gus Johnson Ford in Spokane, Washington has achieved measurable, significant success using its LoyaltyTrac® program. Since signing up with MediaTrac, Gus Johnson Ford’s service department revenue has increased 20%, customer defection has been all but eliminated, and the average customer spend per repair order is $50 higher for program members compared to non-members.

During the first year on the program, the dealership’s service rewards members generated $15,000 per month in revenue for the service department. Today those members generate approximately $50,000 per month in revenue. Additionally, owner Gus Johnson has found that LoyaltyTrac customers spend thousands of dollars more than non LoyaltyTrac customers.

Before signing up with MediaTrac, the dealership did virtually no marketing to its service customers.  “Now, every salesperson promotes the LoyaltyTrac service rewards program as a benefit during the sales process,” said Johnson. As a result, more than 70% of customers sign up for the program, and most of those who decline are from out of the immediate market area.

Upon purchase of a vehicle, customers receive a loyalty card with a sign up bonus of 150 rewards points. This incentive to join the program has resulted in an exceptional e-mail capture rate of over 83%.

MediaTrac works with Gus Johnson Ford to create completely customized, dealer branded monthly marketing campaigns offering sales, service and finance specials such as discounts on oil changes or incentives for a 30-60-90,000 mile maintenance package. Additionally, e-mails incent customers by adding bonus points to their account if they schedule a service quickly or on specific days of the week.

In addition to offering discount and VIP services to members, the dealership partners with local businesses to offer rewards.  After six years, more than 10,000 individual loyalty club memberships have been issued and nearly all of those service rewards club members are still coming back for regular servicing. The cross marketing with local business also helps to grow this dealer’s customer base.

“Before the program, our average customer defection was around 32 months, right about when warranties were expiring,” said Johnson. “Now it’s at 60 months, which is about how long most people own a vehicle, so in effect we have no defection rate.”

LoyaltyTrac is a true automotive customer loyalty and service retention program that utilizes proven loyalty principles and tools to assist dealerships in developing ongoing service and sales business based upon a member’s real past purchases and future purchase predispositions. Dealers using the program realize on average an increase of 24% in customer visit frequency and a nearly 10% increase in customer spending, despite a down market.

By using the many tracking and reporting tools to fine tune various aspects of the LoyaltyTrac program, Johnson has managed to continually increase service department revenue and create thousands of loyal customers. “The two main reasons why people come in is because they trust you and because you’re convenient,” says Johnson. “LoyaltyTrac helps with the trust aspect because we are constantly reaching out to them.” Johnson credits MediaTrac’s LoyaltyTrac program with helping him to create and take care of loyal customers.

About MediaTrac™ LLC:

Headquartered in San Ramon, California, MediaTrac, LLC is a marketing technology company providing customized frequency marketing, customer loyalty, retention and media tracking programs. The company is the largest provider of custom automotive loyalty retention programs in North America. For more information visit www.media-trac.com

Media Contacts:

Jeff Shenk
MediaTrac, LLC
Voice: 925-415-1300
jeff@media-trac.com
www.media-trac.com

Sara Callahan
Carter West Public Relations
www.carterwestpr.com
727-288-2159 (office)
949-742-0477 (cell)
scallahan@carterwestpr.com

 Cascade Auto Group Increases Service Department’s Bottom Line with MPi’s EDGE™ Solution

World Class Inspection™ program tracks vehicle inspections and service recommendations, improving accountability and billable service hours

Las Vegas, NV—April 26, 2010— While many auto dealers are still trying to kick start the road to economic recovery, others are implementing successful programs that continue to increase profitability in their service departments. Cascade Auto Group (www.cascadeauto.com) in Klamath Falls, Oregon is a GM, Honda and Subaru dealership that has been using MPi’s World Class Inspection™ program for more than two years. The system has greatly increased their vehicle inspections and service recommendations, resulting in more than $30,000 of additional service sales income per month.

“We always had a mandate that every vehicle should receive an inspection,” said Brian Lepley, Service Manager for Cascade Auto, “but we were challenged because there was no way for us to verify if the inspections were happening or not, other than thumbing through every Repair Order (RO),” an onerous task for a large service department that repairs 1,500 vehicles per month. Since implementing MPi’s customized EDGE™ solution, Cascade Auto Group’s vehicle inspection request rate has increased to 96%. “As soon as the system went in, everyone became accountable because we had the ability to track and manage what they were doing,” said Lepley.

A direct result of the EDGE reporting metrics is that they provide Lepley insight into what his service team is actually doing on a daily basis.  Lepley says he is now able to validate that more vehicle inspections performed results in more service recommendations, which lead to more upsells and a corresponding increase in service hours logged.  “Before we started this inspection system, we averaged 1.5 hours of work per RO,” said Lepley. “Now we average 3.5 hours or more per RO, and that’s directly attributable to the EDGE system.”

The MPi EDGE solution enables the dealer and service manager to access detailed measurement reports that provide performance data from the overall service department down to the individual. Lepley reviews the technicians’ and service advisors’ reports at a minimum of three times per week. With just a few clicks the reports reveal the number of inspections requested, what the completion rate is, the number of recommendations per RO, total value of inspections, closing rate on upsells, and more. “If the numbers aren’t where they should be, I can go talk to each individual and find out why,” said Lepley.

The EDGE system is also helping the service department improve customer service and retention rates. When vehicle recommendations are made, the service advisor provides the customer a Know Your Vehicle™ report. The report provides easy-to-understand explanations of what needs to be done and why; as well as colorful pictures and diagrams illustrating good parts/bad parts. For example, if a customer is told their brakes are at 3mm, as opposed to 6mm, the report visually shows the difference. The customer feels more knowledgeable and thus more empowered to make a buying decision based on impartial information, rather than just what the service advisor is telling them. “It definitely builds a trust factor between the customer and the service advisor,” said Lepley.

 “As a service manager it’s gratifying when we see our customers return to our service department for work that needs to be performed.  Especially when they have a Know Your Vehicle report in hand that they received from a previous visit,” Lepley continued. “The fact is many customers value the report and they hold onto it for weeks, or sometimes months.  This tells me it helped them make the decision to have the work done.”

Cascade Auto Group is among a growing number of dealerships using the MPi EDGE solution to improve fixed operation profitability and performance. MPi is an industry leader in delivering processes, metrics and software solutions that enable automotive dealerships to achieve World Class™ results in their service departments. Dealerships using the MPi World Class Inspection program consistently see increases in profits, efficiencies and customer loyalty.  For more information on MPi, visit www.mpifix.com

About MPi:

For more information visit:

http://www.mpifix.com/AboutUs/Default.aspx

http://www.mpifix.com/Customers/Videos.aspx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For additional information contact:

Sara West-Callahan                                            Susan Lovett

Carter-West Public Relations                               Mobile Productivity, Inc.

Phone: 727-288-2159                                         Phone: (800) 997-1674 x2010

E-mail: scallahan@carterwestpr.com                   slovett@mpifix.com

Check out the comprehensive state by state ranking from Insure.com just published.

My state, Pennsylvania, ranks at 26th -- splitting the list in half.

Wow, only $1420 a year to 'protect' ourselves. Don't get me wrong.... insurance is practical and necesary. I am simply a 'numbers girl', and can you imagine spending $71,000 in your lifetime or more for the mere pleasure of driving your car? Oh, yea, we all do.

When was the last time you checked to get a new quote with your current insurance provider? If it’s been awhile, take a look at these tips to evaluate ways and areas where you can possibly save some money.

• Shop around. There are a number of insurance companie’s that provide car insurance, and gaining access to the parent company or to the agents is very easy by doing some simple searching on the internet. Get at least 3-5 quotes and compare. An extra $25 or $30 a month can make a real difference.
• Buy on-line. Many times if you buy a policy on line, versus speaking to an agent, you will save even more money.
• Stick with nationally known insurance companies. If you are researching a company that is not well known, ask for their financial ratings and the number of complaints that have been made against them.

Ask for these discounts that may apply when shopping or buying car insurance; they can really add up and make a big dent in your premium payments.

Vehicle Safety Equipment Discounts:

• Front & side air bags in front, passenger or back seats
• Day-time running lights
• Anti-theft devices
• Keyless starter
• Back up rear view monitor/camera
• Wireless tracking devices that monitor your driving behaviors – these are installed by the insurance company themselves at your request. These devices gauge actual mileage and speed driven
• Alcohol sensors that do not allow a car to start if the driver is under the influence

Driver Discounts:

• Low Mileage
• Car pooling
• Women as head of household
• College student living 100 miles away from home that does not have a car on campus
• Adult and  student driver education courses
• Bundle multiple vehicles or drivers from the same household, or, bundle your auto, life and home insurance from the same carrier

Put the savings in your pocket - and,

Drive Your Bargain,

Cloud Computing Access to Data Driven Insight for Best Practices

Sunnyvale, Calif – April 20, 2010– ResponseLogix, Inc., the leading provider of automotive digital response management software for internet leads, today announced the June availability of SmartFacts® 2.0-- powerful analytics to help optimize the performance of auto dealers’ internet sales departments.

Using state-of-the-art cloud computing technology, SmartFacts data-driven insight is now easily accessible online and allows dealership owners and managers to proactively manage their internet sales teams and increase productivity.

“SmartFacts 2.0 new graphics and enhanced data analytics help general managers create internet car sales best practices by identifying, and then reinforcing or teaching the behaviors that get the best results,” said Tom Mohr, President and CEO of ResponseLogix. “By tracking data such as response times, number of calls or e-mails the dealer management can compare actual results and individual sales people can see what they need to do to improve their own results.”

Detailed comparisons are provided for key data points including: time saved in quoting and following-up with leads, percent of leads contacted, number of customers with  renewed interest in purchasing a car, dealership response time to new and reactivated leads, and tracking of consumer behavior to communications from the dealership.  Dealers with multiple franchises will have the information available as individual reports for each franchise. 

“I am a huge advocate of data to help set goals and drive sales; SmartFacts highlights our strengths, pinpoints our weaknesses and provides us with a greater degree of accountability,” said Andrew DiFeo, general manager of Hyundai of St. Augustine.  “I can drill down to the individual associate and provide specific performance coaching.  There is a direct correlation between how many emails and phone calls a sales rep makes and the number of cars sold.”

About ResponseLogix, Inc.

ResponseLogix started in a car dealership.  By observing the internet car buying sales process from both the dealer and the customer side, ResponseLogix determined that effective Digital Response Management is the key to achieving both immediate initial response and effective ongoing follow-up.  With this in mind, the company created its powerful patent-pending solution suite, tailored to the needs of the fast-paced, multi-tasking dealer internet selling environment.

A pioneer in the emerging category of Digital Response Management (DRM), ResponseLogix leads the industry with a marketing solution suite that enables dealers to maximize sales from internet leads.  ResponseLogix helps dealers solve the top three challenges facing their internet sales departments: the speed and quality of the initial response to internet leads, the impact and consistency of ongoing follow-up, and the effectiveness of the internet team’s live communication with the customer.  No other solution provides dealers with a proven, robust marketing solution that delivers such significant increases in the conversion of internet leads to sales. 

ResponseLogix delivers software as a service (SaaS) technology to auto dealers that engages the customer early in the car buying process and then propels them toward purchase. SmartQuote® delivers a relevant quote response within 10 minutes of internet lead receipt 95% of the time.  SmartFollow® automatically follows-up and reactivates leads if the customer doesn’t buy right away.  SmartFacts® delivers powerful analytics to help optimize the performance of Internet sales departments.  ResponseLogix products are available in 40 US markets for Toyota, Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Honda, Lexus, Audi, Acura, Nissan, Infiniti, Kia and Hyundai dealers across the US.  Additional OEM’s will be supported soon.  Additional information is available at www.responselogix.com .

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Dealer.com Partners with DriverSide to Bring Vehicle Service and Retention Tools to Auto Dealer Websites

Burlington, VT — April 20, 2010 — Dealer.com, the global leader of online marketing solutions for auto dealers, today announced an exclusive partnership with DriverSide, provider of the ultimate website for car owners and the most comprehensive customer attraction and retention program for the auto industry.  The two companies are partnering in an exclusive agreement to launch a series of products for new and used car franchises, the first of which will add robust fixed-ops content to Dealer.com’s industry leading platform. A full line up of further Fixed Operations and service marketing products will follow in coming months.

"Dealer.com is the clear leader in the dealership website space and we are pleased to partner with them to add our unique garages to their sites," stated Jad Dunning, DriverSide CEO and Founder.  "Customers appreciate the convenience and ease of having their personalized vehicle information online, and dealers benefit from the enhanced shopper engagement and service.  It's a cost-effective, innovative way for dealers to help protect their customer base.  Everyone wins in this partnership."   

 “We are very excited to work with DriverSide, the industry leader in customer attraction and retention. Dealers can look forward to a powerful line-up of new products as a result of the partnership between these two expert companies,” said Dean Evans, Dealer.com Chief Marketing Officer. “Dealer.com has long been known for keeping our dealers 2-4 years ahead of the competition with our technology investment. We are adding to this by also providing our dealers with the ultimate in fixed operations marketing.   These fixed operations products are at a level beyond anything that has ever existed in the industry and will only be available from Dealer.com.”

About Dealer.com (www.dealer.com)
Dealer.com is the global leader in online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, providing award winning e-marketing solutions to OEMs, auto dealers and media companies.  More dealerships use the Dealer.com platform than any other platform in the world. 

Recent national and international accolades include: The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, top ranking in The Net Promoter® Score Survey of customer satisfaction, Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 and the Web Marketing Association's Automobile Standard of Excellence. In addition, Dealer.com was the 2008 top rated web provider on leading online rating websites, as well as the Diamond Award winner from the Dealers' Choice Awards for best dealer website solutions. For more information visit: http://www.dealer.com/promo/look-inside.htm

About DriverSide
Recognized by CNET as the best site to use to maintain a vehicle, Driverside.com is the first website specifically designed for automobile owners. DriverSide allows consumers to save money on servicing and maintenance costs, diagnose car problems as well as buy and sell automobiles. DriverSide’s in-house editorial staff offers useful advice on how to own and operate a vehicle and new and used auto reviews. The site’s community features allow consumers to participate in forums, meet other owners of a particular vehicle, share knowledge, and post reviews on mechanics and dealers. The company also works with businesses across the auto industry to provide comprehensive programs designed to attract and retain customers and increase profits. The award-winning website has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal and on Good Morning America. 

DriverSide was founded in fall, 2007 by Internet entrepreneurs Trevor Traina, Adam Jackson, and Jad Dunning.  The company is funded by Catamount Ventures and Allegis Capital. For more information, go to www.driverside.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               

For additional information contact:

Sara Callahan

Carter West Public Relations

Phone: 727-288-2159

Email: carterwestpr@gmail.com

Auto/Mate eBook Gives auto Dealers a “10-Step Guide” for Selecting, Changing DMS PRoviders

            Clifton Park, N.Y., April 19, 2010 —  In an effort to help a growing number of franchised auto dealers considering a change in their dealer management system (DMS) provider, Auto/Mate,  the highest ranked DMS in the 2009 NADA Annual Survey of Dealership Satisfaction,  is releasing “The Dealer’s 10-Step Guide to Changing Your DMS” eBook.

            “We wanted to give dealers a quick-read rundown of the best practices they should consider, given a more dealers are looking to change providers,” says Mike Esposito, CEO for Auto/Mate, one of the leading DMS providers for franchised auto dealers. “The eBook is chock-full of practical insights and lessons learned from dealers who have successfully made the switch, as well as insight from some top industry experts.”

            The eBook’s publication comes at a time when many auto industry observers predict a greater number of dealers are contemplating changing their DMS providers as a way to reduce operational costs and provide more in-store efficiencies. In its bi-annual review of DMS satisfaction among dealers last October, NADA reports a 7 percent decline in dealers who are “very” or “somewhat” satisfied with their current DMS providers and 19 percent of dealers and general managers who plan to switch their DMS vendors.

            “The eBook is our effort to help dealers understand how important it is to approach a DMS change with a well-assembled team and plan of attack,” Esposito says. “It’s not uncommon for dealers to overlook or miss key steps that result in a DMS installation that is more disruptive and painful than it needs to be.”

The Auto/Mate eBook, ““The Dealer’s 10-Step Guide to Changing Your DMS,” is available for free downloads at the Auto/Mate Web site: http://www.automate.com/downloads/ebook.pdf

 About Auto/Mate: Auto/Mate is a leading dealer management system provider that offers its AMPS system to franchised dealerships. The company has received top satisfaction rankings from customer in NADA’s 2009 Dealership Management System survey and boasts more than 300 years of collective automotive experience among its key executives and employees—the foundation of its “designed by car people for car people slogan.” For more information, visit www.automate.com or call 877-340-AMPS (2677).

For additional information contact:

Sara West-Callahan                                       

Carter-West Public Relations                        

Phone: 727-288-2159 Cell: 929-742-0477

E-mail: scallahan@carterwestpr.com