New Feature Caps Year of Significant Growth and Improvement for Leading Car Buying Site

 

Sunnyvale, Calif – March 10, 2010– ResponseLogix, Inc., the leading provider of automotive digital response management software for internet leads, today announced the general availability of its marketing solution suite for Kia auto dealerships.  With this software as a sevice (SaaS) technology, Kia dealers can engage customers early in the car buying process and then propel them toward purchase.

Kia dealers in geographic markets throughout the country participated in the pilot program.  They used the ResponseLogix suite of software products to dramatically improve the speed and quality of their response to internet leads. From Oregon to New York, these dealers executed multi-vehicle price quotes within 10 minutes in response to their customers’ requests.

“SmartQuote® has increased our sales especially during nights and weekends when we are busy and would not be able to respond to our internet leads in a timely manner.  This saves me labor, without it I’d have to hire another person,” said Jim Connelly, Director of Internet at Bob Bell Kia of Glen Burnie, Maryland.  “The quotes look better than anything that we could put together ourselves; the graphics are nice and clean, customized for my dealership, and provide my customers with a choice of new and pre-owned options.”

ResponseLogix drives sales for dealers across the country.  ResponseLogix products are available in 40 US markets for Toyota, Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Honda, Lexus, Audi, Acura, Nissan, Infiniti, Hyundai and now Kia dealers across the US.

“A dramatic shift has occurred in the control of the car buying process; the internet empowers consumers to expect instant information at their fingertips,” said Tom Mohr.  “Car buyers demand comprehensive, detailed vehicle information that directly addresses the questions they pose.”

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.

 About ResponseLogix, Inc.

ResponseLogix is a pioneer in the emerging category of Digital Response Management (DRM), leading 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, Hyundai and Kia dealers across the US.  Additional OEM’s will be supported soon.  Additional information is available at www.responselogix.com .

Sean Wolfington has agreed to serve as Chairman of the Board of VinSolutions, the industry leading automotive "Dealership Marketing System" that helps retailers attract, sell and retain more customers profitably February 14, 2010 -- Sean Wolfington has agreed to serve as Chairman of the Board of VinSolutions, the industry leading automotive "Dealership Marketing System" that helps retailers attract, sell and retain more customers profitably. "We asked Sean to join our board because of his vision and his unique experience leading some of the most successful marketing and consulting companies in the industry," said Doug Kinney, CEO of VinSolutions. Wolfington co-founded and led Cyber Car and Automark (sold to Reynolds and Reynolds in 2001) and BZ Results (sold to ADP in 2006). Wolfington currently owns Tier 10 and Level 5 Marketing and serves on the board of the Lumen Institute. "After I saw the power of their all-in-one system to do everything a dealer needs I had to get involved. Their system reminds me of Apple, because they revolutionized the automotive technology market the way apple revolutionized the mobile market," said Wolfington. VinSolutions offers retailers one platform that integrates all of the tools they need to run their business and it integrates with all the main DMS systems including ADP, Reynolds, AutoSoft and Arkona. "I was spending too much to 15 different companies that did not integrate and now I pay 75% less for one system that does it all and more," said Todd Crossley from Crossley Ford, the #1 Ford retailer in the Kansas City Market. "Now I have one system that does everything from managing my internet marketing to desking and financing in one system that is easy to use." "We work tirelessly so we continue to have the best technology in the industry and we invited Sean to join our team because we want to have the best team in the industry," said Mike Dullea, co-founder and COO. ABOUT VINSOLUTIONS (www.vinsolutions.com) VinSolutions has the leading "Dealership Marketing System" that helps retailers attract, sell and retain more customers profitably. Their "all-in-one" sales and service marketing system includes digital marketing, search marketing, online advertising, social media marketing tools, websites, internet lead management, CRM (Customer Relationship Management), Sales force automation, Sales Management and Desking, Appraisal, Finance, Used Vehicle Marketing and Market Pricing, Inventory Management and Distribution, Hand held inventory marketing tools, window stickers, automated video tours, Loyalty Management and Targeted marketing with email, text, direct mail and telemarketing services. The "Dealership Marketing System" has complete mobile integration and is accessible from any mobile phone that has access to the internet including both blackberry's and iPhones. VinSolutions Dealership Marketing System is installed by their strategic consulting team who specializes in retail strategy and process training for large dealer groups and individual dealerships. VinSolutions is certified by Honda, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Subaru and Audi and integrates with ADP, R&R, AutoSoft and Arkona. Vin also has alliances and integrations with Kelley Blue Book, CarFax, Autodata, RouteOne and DealerTrack. About Sean Wolfington Sean Wolfington, Chairman and CEO of The Wolfington Companies, is an entrepreneur with businesses in the marketing, technology, real estate and entertainment industries. Wolfington founded some of the leading automotive marketing and consulting companies in the industry - Automark and Cyber Car (sold to Reynolds and Reynolds in 2001) and BZ Results (sold to ADP in 2006). BZ Results was recognized as the "Innovative Company of the Year" for pioneering digital marketing in the automotive industry and enabling billions of dollars of retail sales over the Internet. At the age of 34 Wolfington was a finalist in Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year Award" which was won by Wayne Huizenga, founder of Blockbuster and Autonation, the previous year. Wolfington currently owns two leading automotive marketing companies; Tier 10 specializes in working with large dealer groups and Level 5 marketing specializes in working with regional advertising associations. Both organizations help retailers implement results-oriented marketing strategies that increase market share and profitability by building the brand, attracting more hi-quality opportunities, improving sales and service revenues, and increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Wolfington will serve as chairman of the board of VinSolutions, the pioneer of the market leading "Dealership Marketing System" that helps retailers attract, sell and retain more customers profitably. Media Contact: Sharon O'Connel SOconnell(at)L5Digital(dot)com mobile: 301-437-3644

Award Winners Received Highest Dealer Satisfaction Ratings in 9 Categories, including Websites, CRM, SEO, 3rd Party Leads, Vehicle Classifieds/Listings

Orlando, Florida - February 12th, 2010 -- DrivingSales (www.drivingsales.com), the auto industry's leading social media platform and largest online community, today announced award winners in the first annual DrivingSales Vendor Ratings Awards.  The Awards measure dealer satisfaction with vendors by allowing dealers to publically rate and review their vendors in a real-time, anonymous - yet verified - setting.  Vendors who achieve the highest rankings in dealer satisfaction, as determined by the thousands of dealers who are part of the DrivingSales community, are eligible to receive "Highest Rated" and "Top Rated" Awards. "We would like to congratulate the winners of the first annual DrivingSales Vendor Ratings Awards, all of whom have achieved a standard of excellence in satisfaction that is resonating with the nation's dealers," said DrivingSales CEO and Founder Jared Hamilton.  "We launched DrivingSales Vendor Ratings to help dealers find and select the best vendor partners based on feedback from those who know best -- their colleagues who use them -- while at the same time holding vendors accountable to deliver better products for the dealers." The DrivingSales Vendor Ratings Awards will be presented to the winners at the 2010 NADA Convention and Expo in Orlando, Florida on February 13^th and 14th.  Award winners are also featured in the inaugural issue of DrivingSales Dealership Innovation Guide, an annual publication that features cutting-edge and proven best practices as submitted by the DrivingSales.com community. "These awards are a natural extension of the collaborative process of DrivingSales.com and the Vendor Rating section inside the DrivingSales community," said Hamilton.  "We are proud to recognize the top three vendors in each category as ranked by the dealers who use them." The 2009 DrivingSales Vendor Ratings Award Winners are (listed by category):

• CRM System
  • Autobase Highest Rated
  • DealerSocket Top Rated
  • CAR Research XRM Top Rated

• Database/Owner Marketing
  • OneCommand Highest Rated
  • CIMA Systems Top Rated
  • Cobalt Top Rated

• DMS
  • Reynolds and Reynolds Highest Rated
  • ADP Dealer Services Top Rated
  • DealerTrack DMS Top Rated

• Internet Lead Management System
  • Dealer.com Highest Rated
  • AVV WebControl Top Rated
  • ADP iLead Control Top Rated

• Inventory Pricing Tools
  • vAUTO Highest Rated
  • DealerTrack AAX Top Rated
  • HomeNet Inc. Top Rated

• Online Vehicle Listings,
  • AutoTrader.com Highest Rated
  • Cars.com Top Rated
  • Dealix UsedCars.com Top Rated

• SEO Provider
  • eXteresAUTO Highest Rated
  • Pasch Consulting Group Top Rated
  • Dealer.com Top Rated

• Website Provider
  • Dealer.com Highest Rated
  • Cobalt Top Rated
  • Dealer eProcess Top Rated

• 3rd Party Lead Provider
  • Dealix, a Division of Cobalt Highest Rated
  • AutoUSA Top Rated
  • Cars.com Top Rated

Full award results are available online at www.DrivingSales.com/innovation. About Vendor Ratings DrivingSales Vendor Ratings are the industry's first and only neutral, comprehensive vendor rating forum featuring real-time peer reviews and honest competitor comparisons - searchable by category, company or rating - and are one of the most popular features of DrivingSales.com.  DrivingSales.com opened nationally in 2008 in response to the industry's need for an open, objective collaborative forum to help the leading edge of the industry navigate through the current crisis -- and into the future. Awards Methodology Dealers were asked to rate their vendors on a 1-5 star scale, including whether they would recommend the vendor product to colleagues, and why they would or would not recommend the product.  All survey-takers were verified to ensure that the reviewers were actual dealership employees.  Vendors are scored based on a weighted bayesian algorithm, a standard mathematical calculation that looks at the number of stars the reviewer gave as well as the statistically valid sample size needed, relative to the competitive set, to create a ranking based on the statistical accuracy of the results.  The top three vendors in each category earned the awards.  All dealers and dealership managers are encouraged to participate in the ratings by visiting www.DrivingSales.com/ratings. About DrivingSales DrivingSales.com (www.drivingsales.com) is the largest and premiere online community for the auto industry, where its thousands of members, including dealers, dealership managers, manufacturers, industry experts and vendors, collaborate and share best practices in a 20-group style setting. At DrivingSales, members create profiles and communicate with each other; build their networks and knowledgebase; share and rate proven strategies, and have access to relevant content contributed by fellow industry experts, including blogs, videos, interviews, a social news feed and more. Dealer members rate and review vendor products - sharing their experiences with the DrivingSales community - while vendors have the opportunity to provide feedback on reviews and showcase their products and services. DrivingSales was created and built from the ground up in 2003 by Jared Hamilton, a third generation auto dealer, as a private automotive business community to network his NADA Dealer Candidate Academy class.  The site opened nationally in 2008 and is the auto industry's leading social media custom platform. Media Contact: Melanie Webber (Melanie@mwebbcom.com), mWEBB Communications, 949.307.1723

VISIT DEALERUPS AT NADA BOOTH: 3235 For additional information contact: Sara Callahan                                                                Stanley Parayil Thomas Carter-West Public Relations                                 Chief Executive Officer Phone: 949-742-0477                                             PMDS scallahan@carterwestpr.com                               Phone: 888-866-6999 stan.thomas@dealerups.com

PMDS Announces DealerUps Mobile CRM, Enables Auto Dealers to Manage Sales Force and Customer Follow up Anytime, Anywhere

Fully Functional Mobile CRM Allows Auto Dealers to Synchronize Updates

on Mobile Devices with Central CRM System

LEVITTOWN, New York – (Feb 12, 2009) - Parayil & Mann Dealer Services Inc. (PMDS), a leading retail automotive consulting and technology provider, today announced the release of DealerUps Mobile, a fully functional mobile CRM that allows auto dealers to view and update any part of the CRM on a mobile device as if they were using the system in the store. Now auto dealers can update accounts, access sales reports, follow up on leads, etc., at any time and from any location, and every action is simultaneously recorded in the central CRM system. DealerUps Mobile CRM will be showcased at the 2010 NADA Convention and Exposition in Orlando, FL, February 12-15 at booth #3235. The fully functional mobile CRM expands on the DealerUps CRM Internet Lead Management Tool, Mobile Mailroom, released mid-2009. Mobile Mailroom allows dealers to receive and respond to any in-coming email leads using web-enabled cell phones, PDAs or iPhones, with full data capture by PMDS’ popular DealerUps CRM system. It speeds up Internet lead response time by allowing dealerships to immediately respond to email inquiries at any time and from any location. DealerUPs Mobile adds complete mobile functionality for all aspects of the CRM. Auto dealers can now have a complete snapshot and overview of their entire Customer Relationship Management System in the palm of their hand. “Today's customers are ever more demanding expecting a fast tailored response to enquiries. In a more competitive and fast-paced business environment the companies with the best customer service generate customer loyalty,” Stan Thomas, DealerUps CEO. “Being able to service customers' demands while outside of the office is becoming a necessity for an increasingly mobile workforce. We know that complete mobile functionality is the future of CRM, and are excited to provide our dealers with a full fledged mobile CRM.” PMDS’ DealerUps (www.dealerups.com) is a state-of-the-art CRM system that enables automotive dealers to effectively manage current and prospective customers from one database. Tracked and reported in real time is information such as Internet leads, sales, service, walk-ins, and incoming telephone calls. Dealers can also receive and respond to any in-coming email leads using web-enabled cell phones, PDAs or iPhones, with all incoming and outgoing data captured and pushed directly into DealerUps and the customer’s record. -30- About Parayil & Mann Dealer Services, Inc. Parayil & Mann Dealer Services, Inc. (PMDS) is a privately held automotive consulting and technology company specializing in the optimization of dealership processes and customer relationship management (CRM). PMDS is lead by industry experts with more than four decades of extensive automotive retail experience. The company has headquarters in Long Island, New York and regional offices in Dallas, Texas. For more information visit www.dealerups.com. .

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoSuccess Magazine recently released the 2010 Special Edition recognizing the "Top 10 Companies to Watch in 2010" (click to view Special Edition). "The Top 10 Companies are high-growth organizations who have helped dealers dramatically improve their profitability during a difficult time in the automotive industry," said Susan Givens, the publisher of AutoSuccess Magazine. Each of the companies chosen by AutoSuccess, provide unique areas of expertise that together generated measurable profits and outstanding achievements in an otherwise difficult year for the automotive industry. AutoSuccess is pleased to shine a spotlight on the companies who, through their vision and vigor, have created enterprises that blaze trails for others to follow. Dealers from the top 1000 Automotive Retailers have been invited to attend the prestigious AutoSuccess Reception on NADA's opening day, Saturday, February 13th, honoring the Dealer of the Year, Brian Benstock and Edith Singer of Paragon Automotive, and the Top 10 Companies to Watch in 2010. To read more about the award winners visit www.AutoSuccessTop10.com, brief summaries of the Top 10 are listed below. vAuto is the fastest-growing provider of web-based inventory-management systems for the automotive industry. Visit www.vauto.com. DrivingSales is the industry's largest best practice social network and vendor ratings community. Visit www.DrivingSales.com. Tier 10 delivers a holistic marketing system that integrates all 10 tiers of marketing under one roof. Visit www.Tier10marketing.com. Level 5 Marketing specializes in working with regional automotive associations to build their brand, increase their market share and help their retailers attract, sell and retain more customers profitably. Visit www.L5Digital.com. Team Velocity is a digital targeted marketing company exclusively devoted to the automotive industry, serving dealers and associations throughout the U.S. Visit www.thevdrive.com. HomeNet's signature solution, Inventory Online (IOL) vehicle marketing suite, is an industry-leading vehicle inventory management and marketing system.  Visit http://www.homenetauto.com. Car-mercial's proprietary digital marketing platform automates thousands of activities to ensure dealers dominate the most popular search terms. Visit www.car-mercial.com. CallRevu provides the Profit Saver System, an integrated solution to one of dealers' largest profit leaks: the phone system. Visit www.CallRevu.com. eXteresAuto helps dealers appear at the top of search engines while protecting and promoting their online reputations on peer-peer consumer review sites. Visit www.exteresauto.com. Black Book Daily^TM is the most recent innovation from Black Book®. Visit www.blackbookusa.com. About AutoSuccess AutoSuccess addresses the specific researched needs of new car and light truck dealerships by providing entrepreneurial, cutting-edge, solution-based editorials to increase dealership profits and reduce expenses. AutoSuccess Magazine is released to Owners/General Managers at over 22,500 new car and light truck dealerships from coast to coast. AutoSuccess is a member of the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), and is listed in SRDS's Business Publication Advertising Source and Bacon's Media Directories. AutoSuccess' parent company, Systems Marketing Inc., is a Dun and Bradstreet listed company.

Mobile management of inbound leads and integration of DealerTrack^TM lease rates and residuals into DealerSocket's Desking application save time, money and increase profitability San Clemente, CA - February 10, 2010 - Leading automotive CRM provider DealerSocket announced today two significant upgrades to their core CRM solution. Beginning immediately, DealerSocket customers can now respond to inbound leads via a mobile device and "stop the clock." This important enhancement allows users to respond via mobile email or phone call and have the action automatically recorded into the DealerSocket customer record. In addition, DealerSocket has announced that it has completed integration of its CRM Desking tool with DealerTrack lease rates and residuals. Still in pilot with two DealerSocket key customers, this vital enhancement will be available to all DealerSocket Desking customers by the end of March 2010. "These two key improvements are things our customers told us they must have, and we listened," said Brad Perry, DealerSocket co-founder and CTO. "Last year we released over 46 enhancements to our core product and the majority of them were based on suggestions from our valued customers. With these two upgrades, our auto dealer customers will save time, save money and be able to improve profitability in their dealerships." A key concern from some dealerships is "stopping the clock" to be able to qualify for special manufacturer incentives and bonuses based on lead response times. With the ability to do this from a mobile device and have it automatically record in the DealerSocket CRM, Internet Lead Managers, Sales Managers and Sales personnel can now respond quickly and efficiently without being in front of their computers, allowing them to communicate with leads 24/7 and have it count towards incentives. With the integration of DealerTrack lease rates and residuals into the DealerSocket Desking application, dealers can now "desk" deals more efficiently, effectively and in a way that ensures the greatest profitability. With the ability to see current manufacturer incentives and bank rates directly within the DealerSocket Desking application, dealers can be confident in knowing that they are putting together a deal for their customer that is accurate and profitable at the same time. This feature will be available to all DealerSocket Desking customers by the end of March 2010. About DealerSocket DealerSocket provides the automotive industry with the most comprehensive Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and training solutions available in the market today, allowing auto dealers to save time, save money, and improve sales staff effectiveness with one consolidated product. With the power to manage sales, service, CSI, marketing and training, DealerSocket is the complete source for all customer facing automotive dealership departments. DealerSocket's core CRM is enhanced by a powerful data mining tool called MoneyMaker, an online process training university called Carmind and an efficient CallCenter solution. Top auto dealers are making their existing assets work harder and uncovering hidden revenue in leasing, sales and service through the use of DealerSocket's MoneyMaker and CallCenter tools. Dealers are also getting more out of their people through the DealerSocket Carmind training university.  These products can be used alone or in conjunction with the core CRM solution to provide an end-to-end marketing and revenue producing engine. More than 50,000 users at over 1000 auto dealerships throughout the U.S. and Canada now leverage DealerSocket's automotive CRM solution to optimize and manage marketing activities, sales processes, customer satisfaction and retention, and service department operations. Based in San Clemente, California, DealerSocket has won numerous awards and industry recognition, including being named to the Inc. 5000 list two times, member of Red Herring 100 North America in 2009, Best Management Team in the 2009 American Business Awards and Best Overall Company in the 2008 International Business Awards.  DealerSocket is recognized by Deloitte & Touche as one of the fastest growing companies in North America.  For more information, call 949-900-0300, email info@dealersocket.com or visit www.dealersocket.com

Orlando, Florida, February 10, 2010- ActivEngage, the automotive industry's premium live chat with business intelligence for dealer websites, today announced the release of ActivProspect, a proprietary technology that targets website visitors who are most likely to respond to chat invitations and ultimately end in sales.  Based on click paths and behavioral targeting, ActivProspect pre-qualifies site visitors as prospective chats.  This allows busy dealerships to more effectively manage their resources, and to spend the most time with site visitors who are most likely to chat, schedule appointments and make purchases.  The new tool is yet another ActivEngage advancement to help dealers with proactive chat, sending just the right message, at just the right time. ActivProspect resulted from analyzing automotive website shopper outcomes over three years on dealership sites across the nation.  ActivEngage created the new feature to assess all website visitors and identify the dealership's hottest prospects, based on time on site, click paths and other website behavior patterns.  Dealers can then maximize efficiency by spending more time with consumers who are most likely to make a purchase.  Only ActivEngage has the capability to send customized chat messages to shoppers based on their website activity. "It can be incredibly challenging for dealers to send customized chat invitations to every single website visitor, and this is why we created ActivProspect," commented Todd Smith, ActivEngage president.  "It is designed to help you take action with site visitors who have the highest probability of chatting.  With ActivProspect, dealers can target and communicate with only those shoppers who are most likely to chat and ultimately buy.  This focus can greatly increase ROI and help dealers convert significantly more online shoppers." ActivProspect also recognizes repeat visitors for more personalized communication and allows dealers to see visitors' entire interaction history with the dealership's website.  Just as dealers communicate differently with showroom ups who are repeat visitors, they can target and customize communication online with ActivProspect, providing an exceptionally high level of service and value.