Warning! This blog post contains thoughtful reflections, a heaping spoonful of sentimentality and maybe (just maybe) the dose of inspiration you didn’t know you were looking for.

When I launched my automotive digital marketing blog three years ago, I wrote on my About Me page that “it was mostly by accident that I got involved in this great industry (but that’s a blog post for another time).”

Well guess what? That time is now!

So yes, I stumbled into the automotive business quite by accident back in 2008. If you would have asked me at any point before then if I wanted to be a car salesman, I would have snorted in disgust. Me? A car salesman? Never, I’m better than that!

Of  course I was wrong about myself and this industry. Now as I approach the eight year anniversary of entering the car biz, it’s easy to recognize that these past eight years have been the most fulfilling years of my life – both professionally and personally.

And make no mistake about it, I have this business to thank for that.

Almost from the day I started my journey selling Hyundai’s in Michigan (not the easiest cars in the world to sell in the Motor City…in 2008…before Hyundai enjoyed the reputation that it does today) I started looking for ways to be different and to make a difference.

I didn’t want to be that stereotypical car guy who was only concerned with gross and how many units he could push out in a month. I didn’t want to live the life of a mercenary salesman always looking for the greener grass. I didn’t want to be the guy who bragged about his best month ever, 15 years after it happened and never got close to it again.

Quite the opposite.

I wanted to see my coworkers succeed as much as possible. I wanted the dealerships I worked at to be held to a higher standard. I wanted to be a part of something bigger. I wanted to change the perception of what a sales professional could be in the car biz.

Respected. Knowledgeable. Innovative. Trustworthy. All traits I did my best to uphold on a daily basis – and still do.

Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t perfect and I’m still not. There were times when I acted selfishly instead of selflessly. There were times where I flat out did the wrong thing. There were more failures than I care to admit.

Perhaps you can relate to that.

At the end of the day though, it doesn’t matter if we succeed or fail. What matters is how we react to these things the next day.

If you had a good day, do you give yourself permission to coast through the next one at the expense of what could be?

If you had a bad day, do you allow yourself to carry the weight of that day into the next and let it drag you down?

When the sun rises each morning we’re given a gift. A gift of starting anew. A gift of making the day as good (or as bad) as we choose. Our actions determine our reality.

Even though I’m on the “other side” of the business these days, not much has changed with how I approach my career. I still keep trying to get better every day. I surround myself with only positive people. I stay away from as much negativity as I can. I try to hang around with people who are smarter than me in an effort to keep learning and growing.

It’s funny that the industry I once regarded as an unsavory one is actually filled with the most influential people in my life.

There are so many brilliant people in the car business (both on the dealer and vendor side) and the vast majority of them are gracious enough to share their insights and experiences with anyone who takes the time to ask.

Sometimes I take for granted how lucky I am to be able to reach out and talk to to some of the brightest minds in the industry to ask questions and bounce ideas off of.

I truly am blessed.

So if there’s any one thing I want you to take away from this blog post is this….

Take a moment today and reflect upon your own journey in the car biz. Whether you're a lifer, relatively new or somewhere in between, reach out to a person who has influenced you – right now – and let them know how much you appreciate their support. Don’t be surprised if your call to that person profoundly affects them as much, or more, as it will affect you.

I’ve made myself a goal to do this once a day for the next year. So if you get a random phone call, tweet, Facebook message or email from me that’s dripping with sappy sweetness, at least you’ll know why.

Oh, and one last thing. If you’re in the car biz and sitting there on wondering where you can find a tribe of like minded people to connect with and learn from – look no further than the website you’re on, DrivingSales.com.

There’s a community of people here who visit the website weekly – even daily – to give back freely to the automotive community at large. So pop over to the forums to ask that unanswered question that’s been on your mind, or check out the other blogs here on DrivingSales to learn something new.

What’s your journey been like in the car biz? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section below!

Warning! This blog post contains thoughtful reflections, a heaping spoonful of sentimentality and maybe (just maybe) the dose of inspiration you didn’t know you were looking for.

When I launched my automotive digital marketing blog three years ago, I wrote on my About Me page that “it was mostly by accident that I got involved in this great industry (but that’s a blog post for another time).”

Well guess what? That time is now!

So yes, I stumbled into the automotive business quite by accident back in 2008. If you would have asked me at any point before then if I wanted to be a car salesman, I would have snorted in disgust. Me? A car salesman? Never, I’m better than that!

Of  course I was wrong about myself and this industry. Now as I approach the eight year anniversary of entering the car biz, it’s easy to recognize that these past eight years have been the most fulfilling years of my life – both professionally and personally.

And make no mistake about it, I have this business to thank for that.

Almost from the day I started my journey selling Hyundai’s in Michigan (not the easiest cars in the world to sell in the Motor City…in 2008…before Hyundai enjoyed the reputation that it does today) I started looking for ways to be different and to make a difference.

I didn’t want to be that stereotypical car guy who was only concerned with gross and how many units he could push out in a month. I didn’t want to live the life of a mercenary salesman always looking for the greener grass. I didn’t want to be the guy who bragged about his best month ever, 15 years after it happened and never got close to it again.

Quite the opposite.

I wanted to see my coworkers succeed as much as possible. I wanted the dealerships I worked at to be held to a higher standard. I wanted to be a part of something bigger. I wanted to change the perception of what a sales professional could be in the car biz.

Respected. Knowledgeable. Innovative. Trustworthy. All traits I did my best to uphold on a daily basis – and still do.

Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t perfect and I’m still not. There were times when I acted selfishly instead of selflessly. There were times where I flat out did the wrong thing. There were more failures than I care to admit.

Perhaps you can relate to that.

At the end of the day though, it doesn’t matter if we succeed or fail. What matters is how we react to these things the next day.

If you had a good day, do you give yourself permission to coast through the next one at the expense of what could be?

If you had a bad day, do you allow yourself to carry the weight of that day into the next and let it drag you down?

When the sun rises each morning we’re given a gift. A gift of starting anew. A gift of making the day as good (or as bad) as we choose. Our actions determine our reality.

Even though I’m on the “other side” of the business these days, not much has changed with how I approach my career. I still keep trying to get better every day. I surround myself with only positive people. I stay away from as much negativity as I can. I try to hang around with people who are smarter than me in an effort to keep learning and growing.

It’s funny that the industry I once regarded as an unsavory one is actually filled with the most influential people in my life.

There are so many brilliant people in the car business (both on the dealer and vendor side) and the vast majority of them are gracious enough to share their insights and experiences with anyone who takes the time to ask.

Sometimes I take for granted how lucky I am to be able to reach out and talk to to some of the brightest minds in the industry to ask questions and bounce ideas off of.

I truly am blessed.

So if there’s any one thing I want you to take away from this blog post is this….

Take a moment today and reflect upon your own journey in the car biz. Whether you're a lifer, relatively new or somewhere in between, reach out to a person who has influenced you – right now – and let them know how much you appreciate their support. Don’t be surprised if your call to that person profoundly affects them as much, or more, as it will affect you.

I’ve made myself a goal to do this once a day for the next year. So if you get a random phone call, tweet, Facebook message or email from me that’s dripping with sappy sweetness, at least you’ll know why.

Oh, and one last thing. If you’re in the car biz and sitting there on wondering where you can find a tribe of like minded people to connect with and learn from – look no further than the website you’re on, DrivingSales.com.

There’s a community of people here who visit the website weekly – even daily – to give back freely to the automotive community at large. So pop over to the forums to ask that unanswered question that’s been on your mind, or check out the other blogs here on DrivingSales to learn something new.

What’s your journey been like in the car biz? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section below!

When you hear the word “leader”, what image immediately comes to mind? Do you picture a figure like a NFL quarterback or NBA point guard? Or maybe you imagine someone like an executive or CEO of a major tech company. Perhaps it’s great military mind or head of state. Heck you might even picture someone you know like your own General Manager or Dealer Principal.

The reality is that being a leader is more than just having a snazzy title. True leaders have qualities that allow them to achieve incredible success, not just for themselves, but for everyone they work with.

So take a minute and think of a leader….

Got one?

Ok, now I want you to picture that leader clearly in your head. What kind of qualities would you ascribe to that person that would make them great?

For me it’s not too difficult of an exercise. The great leadership qualities  I’m about to go over aren’t traits I just made up or read on someone else’s blog. These qualities are based solely on the observations I made the past five years working with Carlos Mojica, Marketing Director, of the LaFontaine Automotive Group.

Carlos in my eyes and in the eyes of his peers and colleagues is an exceptional leader. It’s been an honor to work and grow with his guidance over the years. While I may have moved on to pursue a new opportunity and to continue my professional growth, I will always think of Carlos as a great leader, mentor and (most importantly) friend.

So what qualities does Carlos and other great leaders possess? Based on my time working with him, here are 10 signs of greatness you should find in a leader.

1. They Support the Team

In my opinion the most important thing a leader can do is support his or her team. Through the good times and bad, a great leader will continually set the example and make sure the team has what it needs to succeed.

2. They Don’t Micromanage

Have you ever worked with a micromanager? If you have you probably just got the chills like I do when I think about it.

A micromanager never let’s you tackle a task or project your way. They feel that they have to be “guiding” you every step of the way (much to your chagrin).

Whereas a great leader let’s you get on about your business and checks in with you as needed to ensure everything is going to plan.

Consequently it’s much easier to ask for help if you work for a great leader because you’ll get the assistance you need and not open yourself up to further micromanaging.

3. They Listen to All Voices

A great leader often possesses great ideas, but that doesn’t mean they don’t listen to their team or others within your company.

Being able to accept the input of others is a trait that not everyone has. If you work for a person who values your input and asks for opinions up and down the ladder you just might be working with a person of exceptional leadership.

4. They Are Open to New Ideas

Ever work for someone who didn’t like any idea that wasn’t their own? Yeah, been there done that. Not too fun is it?

A leader of greatness will listen to new ideas with an open mind and collaborate with you.

And the best part, they’ll let you bask in all your glory if your idea is amazing.

5. They Don’t Take Credit For Your Success

That same person who isn’t open to new ideas is also the same person who just might take credit for what success you achieve.

Having been on the receiving end of this I can’t tell you how frustrating this is. To put your heart and soul into a project only to have your boss take all the credit and not give you the recognition you deserve is total weak sauce.

The true leader will hold you up for the world to see and praise your hard work and effort to anyone who will listen.

6. They Help You Grow

I think anyone who’s reading this has the drive to continually grow in their profession. There’s only so much we can do ourselves however.

A great leader helps you develop as time passes by, challenging you to take on new things. Today I’m not the person I was five years ago because I had a leader who encouraged and aided in my development.

7. They Communicate Clearly

For any team to succeed, communication has to be clear and concise.

I don’t know about you but I’m of the opinion that if you’re having a lot of team meetings that means that there’s not a lot of clear communicating going on.

While the occasional team meeting is important, we still need to get on with our day. Great leaders can get their thoughts across without the constant need to disrupt the work week with meetings to cover the notes from the last meeting before moving on to prepping for their afternoon meeting.

8. They Remove Obstacles

Throughout any given week, month or quarter there are going to be obstacles that arise that prevent you from doing your job effectively.

Sometimes it’s something simple like getting ink for the printer or escalating an IT issue. Other times it reaching out to a colleague on your behalf because they haven’t answered the last three emails and phone calls to give you the details you needed to finish up a project.

A great leader will do whatever they can to remove these obstacles so you can keep moving forward and not wasting time.

9. They Understand Life / Work Balance

Notice I said life / work balance instead of the traditional work / life variation? That’s because I’m a firm believer that life comes first.

If your not happy and productive in your home, your marriage and with your family, you’re never going to be happy and productive at work.

Have you ever come to work after something upsetting happened at home and your boss in his or her ultimate wisdom said something like “hey bud, you gotta check your problems at the door when you come to work.”?

Yeah, that’s helpful…thanks for the great advice Dr. Phil. Next why don’t you tell me to just bury my feelings deep down inside and never talk about them because that’s what you do. I’m sure that’ll turn out just fine…

True leaders recognize that being flexible with their team leads to increased productivity and loyalty. It may sound crazy, but research has shown that a many people won’t take a different job for more money if it means they lose what they perceived to be a superior life / work balance.

Money isn’t the key to happiness kids. Trust me.

10. You Work With Them Not For Them

This is more than just semantics. Real leaders see themselves on an equal level with the rest of the team. Now obviously they have different roles and responsibilities, but rarely does that stop them from rolling up their sleeves and getting dirty.

Because of this a great leader will succeed along side of you or fail alongside of you. They won’t swoop in and steal the spotlight when all is well, neither will they point fingers and abandon ship when all is not.

People in roles who feel it necessary to constantly remind you who they are and what their title is, aren’t leaders. They’re “bosses” in the loosest sense of the word. They simply have a title and they let it dictate their behavior.

As Yoda might say, a title makes not a leader.

Do You Work With a Great Leader? What qualities do they possess that make them a leader of greatness in your eyes? Share your thoughts with the DrivingSales Community in the comments section below!

When you hear the word “leader”, what image immediately comes to mind? Do you picture a figure like a NFL quarterback or NBA point guard? Or maybe you imagine someone like an executive or CEO of a major tech company. Perhaps it’s great military mind or head of state. Heck you might even picture someone you know like your own General Manager or Dealer Principal.

The reality is that being a leader is more than just having a snazzy title. True leaders have qualities that allow them to achieve incredible success, not just for themselves, but for everyone they work with.

So take a minute and think of a leader….

Got one?

Ok, now I want you to picture that leader clearly in your head. What kind of qualities would you ascribe to that person that would make them great?

For me it’s not too difficult of an exercise. The great leadership qualities  I’m about to go over aren’t traits I just made up or read on someone else’s blog. These qualities are based solely on the observations I made the past five years working with Carlos Mojica, Marketing Director, of the LaFontaine Automotive Group.

Carlos in my eyes and in the eyes of his peers and colleagues is an exceptional leader. It’s been an honor to work and grow with his guidance over the years. While I may have moved on to pursue a new opportunity and to continue my professional growth, I will always think of Carlos as a great leader, mentor and (most importantly) friend.

So what qualities does Carlos and other great leaders possess? Based on my time working with him, here are 10 signs of greatness you should find in a leader.

1. They Support the Team

In my opinion the most important thing a leader can do is support his or her team. Through the good times and bad, a great leader will continually set the example and make sure the team has what it needs to succeed.

2. They Don’t Micromanage

Have you ever worked with a micromanager? If you have you probably just got the chills like I do when I think about it.

A micromanager never let’s you tackle a task or project your way. They feel that they have to be “guiding” you every step of the way (much to your chagrin).

Whereas a great leader let’s you get on about your business and checks in with you as needed to ensure everything is going to plan.

Consequently it’s much easier to ask for help if you work for a great leader because you’ll get the assistance you need and not open yourself up to further micromanaging.

3. They Listen to All Voices

A great leader often possesses great ideas, but that doesn’t mean they don’t listen to their team or others within your company.

Being able to accept the input of others is a trait that not everyone has. If you work for a person who values your input and asks for opinions up and down the ladder you just might be working with a person of exceptional leadership.

4. They Are Open to New Ideas

Ever work for someone who didn’t like any idea that wasn’t their own? Yeah, been there done that. Not too fun is it?

A leader of greatness will listen to new ideas with an open mind and collaborate with you.

And the best part, they’ll let you bask in all your glory if your idea is amazing.

5. They Don’t Take Credit For Your Success

That same person who isn’t open to new ideas is also the same person who just might take credit for what success you achieve.

Having been on the receiving end of this I can’t tell you how frustrating this is. To put your heart and soul into a project only to have your boss take all the credit and not give you the recognition you deserve is total weak sauce.

The true leader will hold you up for the world to see and praise your hard work and effort to anyone who will listen.

6. They Help You Grow

I think anyone who’s reading this has the drive to continually grow in their profession. There’s only so much we can do ourselves however.

A great leader helps you develop as time passes by, challenging you to take on new things. Today I’m not the person I was five years ago because I had a leader who encouraged and aided in my development.

7. They Communicate Clearly

For any team to succeed, communication has to be clear and concise.

I don’t know about you but I’m of the opinion that if you’re having a lot of team meetings that means that there’s not a lot of clear communicating going on.

While the occasional team meeting is important, we still need to get on with our day. Great leaders can get their thoughts across without the constant need to disrupt the work week with meetings to cover the notes from the last meeting before moving on to prepping for their afternoon meeting.

8. They Remove Obstacles

Throughout any given week, month or quarter there are going to be obstacles that arise that prevent you from doing your job effectively.

Sometimes it’s something simple like getting ink for the printer or escalating an IT issue. Other times it reaching out to a colleague on your behalf because they haven’t answered the last three emails and phone calls to give you the details you needed to finish up a project.

A great leader will do whatever they can to remove these obstacles so you can keep moving forward and not wasting time.

9. They Understand Life / Work Balance

Notice I said life / work balance instead of the traditional work / life variation? That’s because I’m a firm believer that life comes first.

If your not happy and productive in your home, your marriage and with your family, you’re never going to be happy and productive at work.

Have you ever come to work after something upsetting happened at home and your boss in his or her ultimate wisdom said something like “hey bud, you gotta check your problems at the door when you come to work.”?

Yeah, that’s helpful…thanks for the great advice Dr. Phil. Next why don’t you tell me to just bury my feelings deep down inside and never talk about them because that’s what you do. I’m sure that’ll turn out just fine…

True leaders recognize that being flexible with their team leads to increased productivity and loyalty. It may sound crazy, but research has shown that a many people won’t take a different job for more money if it means they lose what they perceived to be a superior life / work balance.

Money isn’t the key to happiness kids. Trust me.

10. You Work With Them Not For Them

This is more than just semantics. Real leaders see themselves on an equal level with the rest of the team. Now obviously they have different roles and responsibilities, but rarely does that stop them from rolling up their sleeves and getting dirty.

Because of this a great leader will succeed along side of you or fail alongside of you. They won’t swoop in and steal the spotlight when all is well, neither will they point fingers and abandon ship when all is not.

People in roles who feel it necessary to constantly remind you who they are and what their title is, aren’t leaders. They’re “bosses” in the loosest sense of the word. They simply have a title and they let it dictate their behavior.

As Yoda might say, a title makes not a leader.

Do You Work With a Great Leader? What qualities do they possess that make them a leader of greatness in your eyes? Share your thoughts with the DrivingSales Community in the comments section below!

In a recent post on Think With Google, a compelling study shows how “Near Me” type searches are on the rise. And not just a steady rise either, these searches are up 34x since 2011.

You know the kind of search I'm talking about, right? You're in a town that you're not too familiar with and in need of nourishment so you whip out the trusty smartphone and google restaurants near me.

And just like a good Google should, up pops a list of restaurants near your present location complete with reviews, the address, the type of food and the hours of operation allowing you to make an immediate decision on where you're going to go stuff your face with food.

Google refers to these scenarios like the one I just described as "I Want To Go" moments. A consumer has a need, want or desire and they're using mobile search to provide a solution now.

In these moments, consumers aren't just getting information, they're making decisions and often heading straight to stores.

According to the Think With Google study, 50% of consumers who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit a store within a day. A Day!

What About Car Dealerships?

So while the research that Google presents is compelling and gives great insight in to consumer behavior, I was thinking the same thing you probably are - yeah this is great info for restaurants and retail stores - but what about car dealerships?

Great question, I'm glad you asked.

Google didn't report on anything car dealer specific,  however they did mention this,

There are some searches or services you may not expect. People have started to search for "dermatologists near me," "plumbers near me," "jobs near me" and other things that are typically in a high consideration set.

After reading this snippet, I thought it's probably safe to include "dealerships near me" in that high consideration set. But is anyone really searching this way?

Not wanting to just guess, I fired up my browser to do some good ol' fashioned research to see if "near me" style searches were being used (and how often) for car dealerships.

In my research I discovered two things.

1. Consumers are indeed searching using terms like "Toyota Dealers Near Me"
2. The volume of these searches has a similar increase to other 'near me' style searches

What's a Car Dealer to Do?

While being aware of how consumers are behaving is important, it's another thing to understand how that behavior can impact your business.

Here are 6 things you can do to make sure your dealership is looking its best when a consumer searches for a car dealership near them.

1. Use the Google AdWords Keyword Planner

If you've never used the Google AdWords Keyword Planner before, it's a fantastic tool that helps you plan your Search campaigns and helps you learn what your customers are looking for.

Once you launch the keyword planner, do this:

• Click get search volume and data trends.
• Enter your keyword phrase (i.e. Toyota dealers near me)
• Select your targeting (State, County, City, etc.)
• Choose your Date Range (Up to 2 years)

Now you'll see the month-by-month search volume trend in your location by consumers looking for your brand of dealership near them.

2. Put on Your Consumer Hat

I'll admit that because I'm so engrossed in automotive digital marketing that sometimes I can get blinders on and not see something the way someone outside of our business would.

Because of this, it's important that we try to remove ourselves from our dealerships and become the consumers we're trying to attract.

Remember, when a customer performs a "near me" search, most are looking to fulfill a need immediately - not in a week or two.

3. Do a 'Near Me' Search

Now that you're in the mindset of a consumer, take out your smartphone and do a 'near me' search for the brand of vehicles your dealership carries.

Take note of the information that's visible to the consumer - two or three ad placements and a map displaying the car dealerships along with the users location. You'll also find:

• A list of the closest dealers sorted loosely by distance and review count
• Address & distance to each dealership
• A star rating & number of Google reviews
• Hours of operation
• An easy-to-tap call button

4. Target "Near Me" Searches With You SEM

As you can see and as I noted above, there are also two ad placements at the top of most "near me" searches.

You may want to geo-target specific "near me" searches that you might not normally show up for in the first 3 organic map listings.

5. Reviews

You already know why your dealership needs to build reviews on Google, so no need to dive into that here.

Because you're still wearing your consumer hat (you haven't taken it off, have you?) it's easy to see how a consumer could be influenced more so from your review count and star rating that relative distance to your location.

Having a solid reputation on Google can be enough to win a consumers first consideration and ultimately their tap (click).

6. Check Your Google My Business Page

Take the time to make sure you have current photos uploaded to your My Business page. Heck you can even work with a Google Trusted Photographer to capture a virtual tour for your dealership that will show up right in your business listing.

Having a completely filled out business page complete with good photos and content will give a fantastic first impression to a consumer.

Also don't forget to check your My Business Dashboard to track number of Driving Direction Requests and Phone Calls generated from your mobile listing.

Are You Ready?

The mobile device is becoming our first screen and the one we all rely on most often. Being aware of consumer trends when it comes to mobile can keep your dealership ahead of the curve and in line with consumer behavior and expectations.

How do you feel the increase in "Near Me" search will affect your dealership? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section below.

In a recent post on Think With Google, a compelling study shows how “Near Me” type searches are on the rise. And not just a steady rise either, these searches are up 34x since 2011.

You know the kind of search I'm talking about, right? You're in a town that you're not too familiar with and in need of nourishment so you whip out the trusty smartphone and google restaurants near me.

And just like a good Google should, up pops a list of restaurants near your present location complete with reviews, the address, the type of food and the hours of operation allowing you to make an immediate decision on where you're going to go stuff your face with food.

Google refers to these scenarios like the one I just described as "I Want To Go" moments. A consumer has a need, want or desire and they're using mobile search to provide a solution now.

In these moments, consumers aren't just getting information, they're making decisions and often heading straight to stores.

According to the Think With Google study, 50% of consumers who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit a store within a day. A Day!

What About Car Dealerships?

So while the research that Google presents is compelling and gives great insight in to consumer behavior, I was thinking the same thing you probably are - yeah this is great info for restaurants and retail stores - but what about car dealerships?

Great question, I'm glad you asked.

Google didn't report on anything car dealer specific,  however they did mention this,

There are some searches or services you may not expect. People have started to search for "dermatologists near me," "plumbers near me," "jobs near me" and other things that are typically in a high consideration set.

After reading this snippet, I thought it's probably safe to include "dealerships near me" in that high consideration set. But is anyone really searching this way?

Not wanting to just guess, I fired up my browser to do some good ol' fashioned research to see if "near me" style searches were being used (and how often) for car dealerships.

In my research I discovered two things.

1. Consumers are indeed searching using terms like "Toyota Dealers Near Me"
2. The volume of these searches has a similar increase to other 'near me' style searches

What's a Car Dealer to Do?

While being aware of how consumers are behaving is important, it's another thing to understand how that behavior can impact your business.

Here are 6 things you can do to make sure your dealership is looking its best when a consumer searches for a car dealership near them.

1. Use the Google AdWords Keyword Planner

If you've never used the Google AdWords Keyword Planner before, it's a fantastic tool that helps you plan your Search campaigns and helps you learn what your customers are looking for.

Once you launch the keyword planner, do this:

• Click get search volume and data trends.
• Enter your keyword phrase (i.e. Toyota dealers near me)
• Select your targeting (State, County, City, etc.)
• Choose your Date Range (Up to 2 years)

Now you'll see the month-by-month search volume trend in your location by consumers looking for your brand of dealership near them.

2. Put on Your Consumer Hat

I'll admit that because I'm so engrossed in automotive digital marketing that sometimes I can get blinders on and not see something the way someone outside of our business would.

Because of this, it's important that we try to remove ourselves from our dealerships and become the consumers we're trying to attract.

Remember, when a customer performs a "near me" search, most are looking to fulfill a need immediately - not in a week or two.

3. Do a 'Near Me' Search

Now that you're in the mindset of a consumer, take out your smartphone and do a 'near me' search for the brand of vehicles your dealership carries.

Take note of the information that's visible to the consumer - two or three ad placements and a map displaying the car dealerships along with the users location. You'll also find:

• A list of the closest dealers sorted loosely by distance and review count
• Address & distance to each dealership
• A star rating & number of Google reviews
• Hours of operation
• An easy-to-tap call button

4. Target "Near Me" Searches With You SEM

As you can see and as I noted above, there are also two ad placements at the top of most "near me" searches.

You may want to geo-target specific "near me" searches that you might not normally show up for in the first 3 organic map listings.

5. Reviews

You already know why your dealership needs to build reviews on Google, so no need to dive into that here.

Because you're still wearing your consumer hat (you haven't taken it off, have you?) it's easy to see how a consumer could be influenced more so from your review count and star rating that relative distance to your location.

Having a solid reputation on Google can be enough to win a consumers first consideration and ultimately their tap (click).

6. Check Your Google My Business Page

Take the time to make sure you have current photos uploaded to your My Business page. Heck you can even work with a Google Trusted Photographer to capture a virtual tour for your dealership that will show up right in your business listing.

Having a completely filled out business page complete with good photos and content will give a fantastic first impression to a consumer.

Also don't forget to check your My Business Dashboard to track number of Driving Direction Requests and Phone Calls generated from your mobile listing.

Are You Ready?

The mobile device is becoming our first screen and the one we all rely on most often. Being aware of consumer trends when it comes to mobile can keep your dealership ahead of the curve and in line with consumer behavior and expectations.

How do you feel the increase in "Near Me" search will affect your dealership? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section below.

When I got the good news that I was selected to be a breakout speaker at the 2014 DrivingSales Executive Summit, I'm not too ashamed to admit that a single tear slid down my cheek as I read my acceptance email.

(editors note from Mrs. Stum: if by 'a single tear' Jason he means cried like our one-year old daughter for an hour before finally regaining his composure, then sure, it was a single tear...#NotImpressed)

A single tear of joy to be sure, as this is something I worked long and hard to achieve over the past year.

But as soon as I wiped that solitary tear off my supple cheek, I saw who the other breakout speakers were....and I started to hyperventilate.

As panic set in, I was having quite the Wayne's World "I'm not Worthy" moment to see my name listed among those who I admire from near and far. 

Dare I say it was almost too much for me to handle - I mean c'mon people, this is a veritable list of who's who in the automotive marketing biz.

David Kain, Brian Pasch, Jerry Thibeau & Jon Quade - all veteran speakers and industry pros that I admire greatly.

Jeff Kershner master of DealerRefresh and all things digital (and hair-care products!)

Bryan Armstrong, Megan Barto and Aaron Wirtz - subject matter experts and former guests on the MarketPunch Podcast.

Bobbie Herron, my neighbor to the north whom I recently met IRL and one of Automotive News' 40 Under 40.

Joe Chura, JD Rucker, Jeremy Anspach & Eric Miltsch - a few fellas who've influenced me greatly the past year.

The YouTube Diva herself, Elise Kephart.

And just when you think that's a pretty solid line-up worth the price of admission, you realize there are 18 more breakout speakers packing the 2014 DSES Agenda for a total of 33!

That's when it dawned on me just how lucky DSES attendees will be this year (and no, it has nothing to do with me). 

These 33 breakout speakers are coming together in one location to share with you their knowledge over a three day span so you are prepared to have a prosperous 2015.

(and I haven't even mentioned the outstanding Keynote Speakers who will tie the whole event together).

For there to be an automotive conference that puts the focus on giving dealers the information they want and need to succeed in the upcoming year is pretty damn fantastic.

Last year the price of admission for our team at LaFontaine was returned multiple times over when we were able to take home plenty of actionable intelligence and a little something called the Appointment Boarding Pass courtesy of Best Idea Contest winner, Robert Karbaum.

Can't you see what I'm trying to say?

The fact is that the DrivingSales Executive Summit is one of the best investments you can make for you and your team this year.

Why am I so passionate about what DSES offers to attendees?

It simply because DrivingSales.com and the DrivingSales Executive Summit have been an integral part of my growth and success.

And since you're reading this here on DrivingSales.com, you probably feel the exact same way I do.

Will I see you at the 2014 DrivingSales Executive Summit? Let me know in the comments section below so we can connect this October!

When I got the good news that I was selected to be a breakout speaker at the 2014 DrivingSales Executive Summit, I'm not too ashamed to admit that a single tear slid down my cheek as I read my acceptance email.

(editors note from Mrs. Stum: if by 'a single tear' Jason he means cried like our one-year old daughter for an hour before finally regaining his composure, then sure, it was a single tear...#NotImpressed)

A single tear of joy to be sure, as this is something I worked long and hard to achieve over the past year.

But as soon as I wiped that solitary tear off my supple cheek, I saw who the other breakout speakers were....and I started to hyperventilate.

As panic set in, I was having quite the Wayne's World "I'm not Worthy" moment to see my name listed among those who I admire from near and far. 

Dare I say it was almost too much for me to handle - I mean c'mon people, this is a veritable list of who's who in the automotive marketing biz.

David Kain, Brian Pasch, Jerry Thibeau & Jon Quade - all veteran speakers and industry pros that I admire greatly.

Jeff Kershner master of DealerRefresh and all things digital (and hair-care products!)

Bryan Armstrong, Megan Barto and Aaron Wirtz - subject matter experts and former guests on the MarketPunch Podcast.

Bobbie Herron, my neighbor to the north whom I recently met IRL and one of Automotive News' 40 Under 40.

Joe Chura, JD Rucker, Jeremy Anspach & Eric Miltsch - a few fellas who've influenced me greatly the past year.

The YouTube Diva herself, Elise Kephart.

And just when you think that's a pretty solid line-up worth the price of admission, you realize there are 18 more breakout speakers packing the 2014 DSES Agenda for a total of 33!

That's when it dawned on me just how lucky DSES attendees will be this year (and no, it has nothing to do with me). 

These 33 breakout speakers are coming together in one location to share with you their knowledge over a three day span so you are prepared to have a prosperous 2015.

(and I haven't even mentioned the outstanding Keynote Speakers who will tie the whole event together).

For there to be an automotive conference that puts the focus on giving dealers the information they want and need to succeed in the upcoming year is pretty damn fantastic.

Last year the price of admission for our team at LaFontaine was returned multiple times over when we were able to take home plenty of actionable intelligence and a little something called the Appointment Boarding Pass courtesy of Best Idea Contest winner, Robert Karbaum.

Can't you see what I'm trying to say?

The fact is that the DrivingSales Executive Summit is one of the best investments you can make for you and your team this year.

Why am I so passionate about what DSES offers to attendees?

It simply because DrivingSales.com and the DrivingSales Executive Summit have been an integral part of my growth and success.

And since you're reading this here on DrivingSales.com, you probably feel the exact same way I do.

Will I see you at the 2014 DrivingSales Executive Summit? Let me know in the comments section below so we can connect this October!