What are the ways I sabotage myself? [Getting honest]

Here’s some honest for you. I avoided writing this post because I’ve been going through a lot of change over the past 4 years and I’m tired. I crave the blissful ignorance of imagining I don’t have any major blind spots at the moment. I want to not knowwhat I need to work on for a hot second…but that is not the path I’ve committed myself to, and it’s not the path to growth or success. I’m all in on becoming the best version of myself and there’s no turning back. So who’s with me?  Let’s get started.

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

I said it in my session, and I will say it again…there is only one thing every woman who wants to be successful must fully commit herself to, and that is embracing change. Change is really the only constant in life. And change requires focused mental, emotional and spiritual energy…in other words STRESS. I know it’s very 21st century to seek opportunities to de-stress, but without stress we don’t grow.

There is a purpose to some kinds of pain, so one of the biggest ways we sabotage ourselves happens when we expend the energy we need to change, looking for ways to numb out and ease our pain. We have a drink, take an Advil, say yes when we mean no, give in and feel frustrated and resentful…the list goes on and on. Instead of the pause we ought to give ourselves that would enable us to respond in new ways, we do what we’ve always done, or what we need to do not to feel bad.

And before you decide you’ve got this nailed, understand that self-sabotage is an equal opportunity intruder. It worms its way in when you least expect it, and afflicts even those who don’t struggle with low self-esteem or lack confidence. In fact,thinking you can outsmart self-sabotage is the first step to succumbing to its insidiousness. Let me explain.

I have learned [from a friend of course] that even the most self-aware woman can be blinded to their own bent toward self-sabotage.  We refer to the ways we sabotage ourselves as bad habits or poor life choices, and look for quick fixes to get back on track. We avoid healthy confrontation, or responding to difficult requests and chalk it up to procrastination or lack of good time management. Perfectionism gets the blame when we put off starting new projects, and interruptions are why we can’t focus long enough to do the thing we need to do. And all of these reasons have a ring of truth, but our solutions often only scratch the surface of our need.

Getting Honest Rocks…You’ll See

Getting honest is the doorway to freedom from the tyranny of self-sabotage. Because, what if all of my bad habits that need fixing are really just saboteurs, keeping me from the success I deserve? What if by avoiding confrontation I’m reinforcing the core belief that my perspective isn’t important, or my thoughts and feelings matter less than others’? What if my avoidance in starting new projects is really rooted in believing I’m not worthy of success, and has nothing to do with managing my time better? What if my lack of focus has more to do with my inability to face the pain of [insert the thing] that stands in the way of my success? What if instead of getting a new plan, getting more organized or telling myself to try harder, what I really need is to be kind to myself? Forgive myself? Give myself permission to fail, to want, to start over?

The Physics of the Quest

I didn’t get to show you the last clip of my session because we were having so much fun, I ran out of time. But this clip, and the quote from Eat, Pray, Love sum up what I believe is the attitude of a woman determined to live in the light of truth. (Check out our blog to see the video)

Check your email inbox, or email me for a copy the quote to print out and put somewhere you’ll be sure to see it. [The background is a photo I took one morning when I was hiking at dawn, bravely trying to face some of my own truth and struggling.]

So here’s your homework, because you knew you’d have some!  Answer these questions [yes, honestly]:

1. What is one thing I’m avoiding, and what story am I telling myself about that?
2. What are the false beliefs about others or myself that might be sabotaging me in this particular situation?
3. What are the strengths I’ve identified in myself that I can use to move forward? What is the truth I need to tell myself?
4. If my daughter or my best friend came to me about this, what advice would I give her? Is it the same advice I give myself?
5. Write a letter to yourself.  Tell yourself the new, honest story about what’s holding you back, and give yourself the words you need to hear to be brave.

Thank you for being on this journey with me.  If you’d like to receive extra resources, links, etc, please email me and I’ll add you to my life coach list!  And either way, I’dappreciate it if you’d tweet me and/or comment to let me know you’re reading.  I appreciate each and every one of you!

#StrongerTogether,

Kristin

What are the ways I sabotage myself? [Getting honest]

Here’s some honest for you. I avoided writing this post because I’ve been going through a lot of change over the past 4 years and I’m tired. I crave the blissful ignorance of imagining I don’t have any major blind spots at the moment. I want to not knowwhat I need to work on for a hot second…but that is not the path I’ve committed myself to, and it’s not the path to growth or success. I’m all in on becoming the best version of myself and there’s no turning back. So who’s with me?  Let’s get started.

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

I said it in my session, and I will say it again…there is only one thing every woman who wants to be successful must fully commit herself to, and that is embracing change. Change is really the only constant in life. And change requires focused mental, emotional and spiritual energy…in other words STRESS. I know it’s very 21st century to seek opportunities to de-stress, but without stress we don’t grow.

There is a purpose to some kinds of pain, so one of the biggest ways we sabotage ourselves happens when we expend the energy we need to change, looking for ways to numb out and ease our pain. We have a drink, take an Advil, say yes when we mean no, give in and feel frustrated and resentful…the list goes on and on. Instead of the pause we ought to give ourselves that would enable us to respond in new ways, we do what we’ve always done, or what we need to do not to feel bad.

And before you decide you’ve got this nailed, understand that self-sabotage is an equal opportunity intruder. It worms its way in when you least expect it, and afflicts even those who don’t struggle with low self-esteem or lack confidence. In fact,thinking you can outsmart self-sabotage is the first step to succumbing to its insidiousness. Let me explain.

I have learned [from a friend of course] that even the most self-aware woman can be blinded to their own bent toward self-sabotage.  We refer to the ways we sabotage ourselves as bad habits or poor life choices, and look for quick fixes to get back on track. We avoid healthy confrontation, or responding to difficult requests and chalk it up to procrastination or lack of good time management. Perfectionism gets the blame when we put off starting new projects, and interruptions are why we can’t focus long enough to do the thing we need to do. And all of these reasons have a ring of truth, but our solutions often only scratch the surface of our need.

Getting Honest Rocks…You’ll See

Getting honest is the doorway to freedom from the tyranny of self-sabotage. Because, what if all of my bad habits that need fixing are really just saboteurs, keeping me from the success I deserve? What if by avoiding confrontation I’m reinforcing the core belief that my perspective isn’t important, or my thoughts and feelings matter less than others’? What if my avoidance in starting new projects is really rooted in believing I’m not worthy of success, and has nothing to do with managing my time better? What if my lack of focus has more to do with my inability to face the pain of [insert the thing] that stands in the way of my success? What if instead of getting a new plan, getting more organized or telling myself to try harder, what I really need is to be kind to myself? Forgive myself? Give myself permission to fail, to want, to start over?

The Physics of the Quest

I didn’t get to show you the last clip of my session because we were having so much fun, I ran out of time. But this clip, and the quote from Eat, Pray, Love sum up what I believe is the attitude of a woman determined to live in the light of truth. (Check out our blog to see the video)

Check your email inbox, or email me for a copy the quote to print out and put somewhere you’ll be sure to see it. [The background is a photo I took one morning when I was hiking at dawn, bravely trying to face some of my own truth and struggling.]

So here’s your homework, because you knew you’d have some!  Answer these questions [yes, honestly]:

1. What is one thing I’m avoiding, and what story am I telling myself about that?
2. What are the false beliefs about others or myself that might be sabotaging me in this particular situation?
3. What are the strengths I’ve identified in myself that I can use to move forward? What is the truth I need to tell myself?
4. If my daughter or my best friend came to me about this, what advice would I give her? Is it the same advice I give myself?
5. Write a letter to yourself.  Tell yourself the new, honest story about what’s holding you back, and give yourself the words you need to hear to be brave.

Thank you for being on this journey with me.  If you’d like to receive extra resources, links, etc, please email me and I’ll add you to my life coach list!  And either way, I’dappreciate it if you’d tweet me and/or comment to let me know you’re reading.  I appreciate each and every one of you!

#StrongerTogether,

Kristin

Defining and Attracting Your Mobile Consumer

More people in the world own smartphones than toothbrushes, so if your dealership isn’t already taking notice of the impact mobile marketing has on today’s shoppers, it’s time to sharpen the focus and zero in on how technology and convenience are changing the way consumers are shopping.  Businesses across the globe know that adapting and changing along with consumers is key when it comes to being successful, and everyone knows that today’s market is fast-moving and continually changing.  In order to compete and grab the attention of potential customers, you’ll need to reach them where they are shopping and researching—and the statistics tell us shoppers are increasingly using their mobile devices to help them with both purchases and pre-purchase research.

Why Go Mobile?

Before we get into the details of how to define your mobile audience, let’s take a quick look at the reasons mobile marketing makes sense for a busy dealership.  By going mobile to reach consumers, you’ll be able to target a specific audience with more accuracy, allowing you to deliver a more personalized message to various groups.  Not only will you be able to target specific consumer groups via mobile marketing, you’ll also have the opportunity to reach out and develop two-way communication, encouraging shoppers to interact with you via your marketing campaigns.  Mobile users tend to carry their devices with them most of the time, allowing more opportunity for your marketing to reach them in real-time.  For these very reasons—and simply because today’s consumers feel at home and comfortable with mobile communication, shopping, and research—your dealership will benefit from implementing a mobile marketing plan.

The importance of mobile has never been clearer than it is right now.  In fact, during the past holiday season, Target reported that 60% of its traffic for the months of November and December came from mobile devices.  This past year also showed Black Friday purchases via mobile coming in at double what they were the previous year for the retailer, and mobile doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.  

Defining Your Mobile Market

The first thing you’ll need to know—and really remember—is that your market is constantly evolving, so just as soon as you think you’ve got it all figured out, it will change.  Instead of being discouraging, this merely serves as a reminder to constantly be aware of our audiences and remember to pay attention to consumer needs and preferences.  When things change, we must change with them so we’re not left behind; so as you work to define your market and your mobile plan, just remember you’ll likely repeat the process as your market continues to change.  This constant forward momentum will keep your dealership at the top of its game.

So how do you define your mobile market and maximize your strategy for success?  How do you know who your audience is and whether or not they even hear what you’re saying?  

Defining Your Market

When you begin by defining your market, you’ll find it’s easier and more efficient to get relevant messages out to your audience.  Demographics are a great place to start.  You’ll want to know specifics about consumer characteristics in your market, especially things like income level, median age, occupation, education level, and whether there are specific ethnic groups your products or services could benefit.  By getting to know your potential customers, you’ll start to get a feel for what they might be shopping for, what types of vehicles they might enjoy, and even what budgetary considerations might exist when it comes to car shopping.

Demographics alone won’t tell you everything you need to know, however.  There is more work to do when it comes to getting to know your consumers, and this part is where you’ll really need to buckle in for some serious homework.  Instead of looking at hard numbers and facts, you’ll need to delve into the things that really motivate the shoppers in your area.  In addition to things like income and budget, you also need to look at some of the less tangible—yet just as important—things.  Known as psychographics, these are the things that answer the why, when, and how behind consumers choosing specific products.  What music do they like to listen to?  What services and special offers will best help them in their day-to-day lives?  Why do they prefer certain brands?  What makes them consider new products?  Their values, likes and dislikes, lifestyles, and myriad other details all play into helping consumers make product decisions—and by finding the answers to these questions, you’ll be guiding your dealership toward success as you better connect with your audience.

Once you’ve identified your audience, you’ll want to develop a targeted mobile plan that inspires consumers and lets them know you’re the dealership for them.  By outlining a clear path toward gaining shopper trust and growth in your target market, your dealership will be well on its way to reaching the goals you’ve set.  To get you started, we’re unveiling 6 tips to help you clean up your mobile campaign and reach consumers on a whole new level:

1. Check your compatibility.  The key to mobile is ensuring the content you put out there is compatible with a range of devices.  Consumers use a variety of mobile devices, and no one wants to deal with cumbersome content that doesn’t work seamlessly with the technology at hand.
2. Keep it local.  The great thing about your dealership is that you ARE local, so be sure to reach out to shoppers in the vicinity closest to you.  Leverage the trust you have built in consumers by being the home-town brand, and position your dealership as the neighborhood expert.  Consider providing coupons or specials to get neighbors to stop by with their automotive needs.
3. Get to the point.  Shoppers who are using mobile crave efficiency and information, so you’ll need to plan your marketing content accordingly.  Remember to give them the most important information first and get their attention quickly with headlines of interest and relevant content.
4. Think about your keywords.  In a mobile setting, consumers are often searching with a geographic location in mind, so be sure to include your local area in the keywords.  In fact, clickthrough rate increases by 200% when mobile ads and search results contain location data.
5. Consider a call-to-action.  Consumers are more likely to act when you let them know what you’d like them to do.  Be clear with your CTA and make it easily readable on mobile sites.
6. Be easy to contact.  Include your contact information in an easy-to-locate spot on your mobile site and consider a click-to-call button.  Consumers are continuously more mobile-friendly, and as they gather information on the go, they’ll want to be able to immediately call you when they’re ready to make a purchase or schedule an appointment.

Your consumers are on the move with mobile—and they’re waiting for content from

 you!  Be sure to present a mobile marketing plan that packs a punch by taking the necessary time to get to know your audience.  Your marketing message will be more powerful and will resonate when you work to define your market and present shoppers with exactly what they are looking for from a dealership.  The tremendous opportunity that exists in the mobile arena today makes it well worth the time and effort it takes to develop a quality strategy that creates brand awareness within your market.  So get out there and get mobile!

Defining and Attracting Your Mobile Consumer

More people in the world own smartphones than toothbrushes, so if your dealership isn’t already taking notice of the impact mobile marketing has on today’s shoppers, it’s time to sharpen the focus and zero in on how technology and convenience are changing the way consumers are shopping.  Businesses across the globe know that adapting and changing along with consumers is key when it comes to being successful, and everyone knows that today’s market is fast-moving and continually changing.  In order to compete and grab the attention of potential customers, you’ll need to reach them where they are shopping and researching—and the statistics tell us shoppers are increasingly using their mobile devices to help them with both purchases and pre-purchase research.

Why Go Mobile?

Before we get into the details of how to define your mobile audience, let’s take a quick look at the reasons mobile marketing makes sense for a busy dealership.  By going mobile to reach consumers, you’ll be able to target a specific audience with more accuracy, allowing you to deliver a more personalized message to various groups.  Not only will you be able to target specific consumer groups via mobile marketing, you’ll also have the opportunity to reach out and develop two-way communication, encouraging shoppers to interact with you via your marketing campaigns.  Mobile users tend to carry their devices with them most of the time, allowing more opportunity for your marketing to reach them in real-time.  For these very reasons—and simply because today’s consumers feel at home and comfortable with mobile communication, shopping, and research—your dealership will benefit from implementing a mobile marketing plan.

The importance of mobile has never been clearer than it is right now.  In fact, during the past holiday season, Target reported that 60% of its traffic for the months of November and December came from mobile devices.  This past year also showed Black Friday purchases via mobile coming in at double what they were the previous year for the retailer, and mobile doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.  

Defining Your Mobile Market

The first thing you’ll need to know—and really remember—is that your market is constantly evolving, so just as soon as you think you’ve got it all figured out, it will change.  Instead of being discouraging, this merely serves as a reminder to constantly be aware of our audiences and remember to pay attention to consumer needs and preferences.  When things change, we must change with them so we’re not left behind; so as you work to define your market and your mobile plan, just remember you’ll likely repeat the process as your market continues to change.  This constant forward momentum will keep your dealership at the top of its game.

So how do you define your mobile market and maximize your strategy for success?  How do you know who your audience is and whether or not they even hear what you’re saying?  

Defining Your Market

When you begin by defining your market, you’ll find it’s easier and more efficient to get relevant messages out to your audience.  Demographics are a great place to start.  You’ll want to know specifics about consumer characteristics in your market, especially things like income level, median age, occupation, education level, and whether there are specific ethnic groups your products or services could benefit.  By getting to know your potential customers, you’ll start to get a feel for what they might be shopping for, what types of vehicles they might enjoy, and even what budgetary considerations might exist when it comes to car shopping.

Demographics alone won’t tell you everything you need to know, however.  There is more work to do when it comes to getting to know your consumers, and this part is where you’ll really need to buckle in for some serious homework.  Instead of looking at hard numbers and facts, you’ll need to delve into the things that really motivate the shoppers in your area.  In addition to things like income and budget, you also need to look at some of the less tangible—yet just as important—things.  Known as psychographics, these are the things that answer the why, when, and how behind consumers choosing specific products.  What music do they like to listen to?  What services and special offers will best help them in their day-to-day lives?  Why do they prefer certain brands?  What makes them consider new products?  Their values, likes and dislikes, lifestyles, and myriad other details all play into helping consumers make product decisions—and by finding the answers to these questions, you’ll be guiding your dealership toward success as you better connect with your audience.

Once you’ve identified your audience, you’ll want to develop a targeted mobile plan that inspires consumers and lets them know you’re the dealership for them.  By outlining a clear path toward gaining shopper trust and growth in your target market, your dealership will be well on its way to reaching the goals you’ve set.  To get you started, we’re unveiling 6 tips to help you clean up your mobile campaign and reach consumers on a whole new level:

1. Check your compatibility.  The key to mobile is ensuring the content you put out there is compatible with a range of devices.  Consumers use a variety of mobile devices, and no one wants to deal with cumbersome content that doesn’t work seamlessly with the technology at hand.
2. Keep it local.  The great thing about your dealership is that you ARE local, so be sure to reach out to shoppers in the vicinity closest to you.  Leverage the trust you have built in consumers by being the home-town brand, and position your dealership as the neighborhood expert.  Consider providing coupons or specials to get neighbors to stop by with their automotive needs.
3. Get to the point.  Shoppers who are using mobile crave efficiency and information, so you’ll need to plan your marketing content accordingly.  Remember to give them the most important information first and get their attention quickly with headlines of interest and relevant content.
4. Think about your keywords.  In a mobile setting, consumers are often searching with a geographic location in mind, so be sure to include your local area in the keywords.  In fact, clickthrough rate increases by 200% when mobile ads and search results contain location data.
5. Consider a call-to-action.  Consumers are more likely to act when you let them know what you’d like them to do.  Be clear with your CTA and make it easily readable on mobile sites.
6. Be easy to contact.  Include your contact information in an easy-to-locate spot on your mobile site and consider a click-to-call button.  Consumers are continuously more mobile-friendly, and as they gather information on the go, they’ll want to be able to immediately call you when they’re ready to make a purchase or schedule an appointment.

Your consumers are on the move with mobile—and they’re waiting for content from

 you!  Be sure to present a mobile marketing plan that packs a punch by taking the necessary time to get to know your audience.  Your marketing message will be more powerful and will resonate when you work to define your market and present shoppers with exactly what they are looking for from a dealership.  The tremendous opportunity that exists in the mobile arena today makes it well worth the time and effort it takes to develop a quality strategy that creates brand awareness within your market.  So get out there and get mobile!

Finding your target market is a key part of a successful marketing strategy. Whether you want to highlight new inventory, promote an event, grow your service department’s customer base, or simply boost business, defining your ideal audience is key.

It’s easy to be generic when marketing because the hope is always to connect with as many different demographics as possible, but the truth is that the more personal approach you have, the more success you’ll have. You’ll connect with YOUR people—the ones who are really interested in what you’re offering. When your customers feel like all of the attention is on them, they are more than willing to share their experience with their network and help your dealership achieve even higher community engagement.

Dealerships already have a plethora of tools in front of them to discover their market, including customer insights and social media. Here are some ways your dealership can discover its market by fully utilizing these tools.  

Gain Customer Insights

Knowing consumer demographics is imperative to your marketing success because they give insight on who is already buying your products and using your services. Surveys are a great way to define your current audience and will certainly help you define your target audience as well, putting into perspective who you are best marketing to now, compared to consumer groups you should be targeting. The first portion of a target market survey should include the basics such as age, gender, location, language, and ethnicity. When you include more personal survey questions like questions about income, education, personality, hobbies, and preferences, you’ll gain even greater insights and more detailed information about your audience.

All the components of a survey work together to help your dealership discover which demographics are creating the most revenue for your business. They also show what your current market appreciates and looks for in your brand while simultaneously showing your dealership what to improve upon when trying to effectively market to them. Knowing the qualities your target market values most will help your dealership market even more effectively, as well as show what demographics are being left out of your marketing strategy.

Employees are a huge part of gaining consumer insights when it comes to your target market. Your employees have the most interaction with customers because of their close contact throughout the customer journey, at the point of sale, and at the service center. They know what makes customers most excited about the cars your dealership sells and the services you offer, and they have the opportunity to address customer concerns while simultaneously taking mental notes on the things specific shopper demographics are looking for when they visit your dealership. Listening to your employees and leveraging their experience with consumers on the job can give you a better idea of the things different demographics value in a car and thus, what to highlight in your marketing strategy.

Utilize Social Media

In our highly innovative and ever-changing world, social media has proven itself to be a powerful force. It’s not just for sharing pictures of dogs or vacation stories—now more than ever, people are sharing opinions about almost everything online including their favorite businesses and their best (or worst) experiences with companies. Along with social sharing, social media gives users various opportunities to connect with others in their demographics through the use of groups on Facebook, following on Twitter, or connecting on LinkedIn. These demographics are based on various things such as location, ethnicity, and hobbies. The chances are high that your customers and social media followers, fans, and friends are connected with other consumers who are car shopping, so missing an opportunity to connect with them on social media could mean missing out on an immeasurable number of sales.

Dealerships can effectively target their markets by finding social groups and communities that involve the automotive industry. Joining these groups will create interactions with members on a personal level. Making regular posts, being quick to reply to messages or comments, and encouraging others to share their ideas or suggestions will expose your dealership to more people who qualify as your target audience. In return, these connections can lead to sales, increased brand awareness, and free advertising if members feel inclined to share your dealership with others.

In addition to connecting with your own market, social media is a platform in which your dealership can monitor industry leaders and competitors. It is more than likely your competitors and other industry leaders have connections and contacts with people who aren’t familiar with your brand but who are interested in the automotive industry to some extent. Including these leads in your target market strategy by inviting them to like your Facebook page, following them on Twitter, or connecting with them on LinkedIn will lead them to your brand, inform them your dealership has alternative solutions to offer, and increase the number of genuine car buyers in your market.

Dealerships have many tools available to target their markets, but they sometimes

 overlook the day-to-day things they can do to help them reach consumers. Listening to current customers and connecting to others on social media will show you what consumers love about your dealership and bridge the gap between your dealership and potential buyers. Finding your target market in these simple ways can grow the size of your market while still allowing you to focus on current clients, reducing marketing costs and heightening sales.

Finding your target market is a key part of a successful marketing strategy. Whether you want to highlight new inventory, promote an event, grow your service department’s customer base, or simply boost business, defining your ideal audience is key.

It’s easy to be generic when marketing because the hope is always to connect with as many different demographics as possible, but the truth is that the more personal approach you have, the more success you’ll have. You’ll connect with YOUR people—the ones who are really interested in what you’re offering. When your customers feel like all of the attention is on them, they are more than willing to share their experience with their network and help your dealership achieve even higher community engagement.

Dealerships already have a plethora of tools in front of them to discover their market, including customer insights and social media. Here are some ways your dealership can discover its market by fully utilizing these tools.  

Gain Customer Insights

Knowing consumer demographics is imperative to your marketing success because they give insight on who is already buying your products and using your services. Surveys are a great way to define your current audience and will certainly help you define your target audience as well, putting into perspective who you are best marketing to now, compared to consumer groups you should be targeting. The first portion of a target market survey should include the basics such as age, gender, location, language, and ethnicity. When you include more personal survey questions like questions about income, education, personality, hobbies, and preferences, you’ll gain even greater insights and more detailed information about your audience.

All the components of a survey work together to help your dealership discover which demographics are creating the most revenue for your business. They also show what your current market appreciates and looks for in your brand while simultaneously showing your dealership what to improve upon when trying to effectively market to them. Knowing the qualities your target market values most will help your dealership market even more effectively, as well as show what demographics are being left out of your marketing strategy.

Employees are a huge part of gaining consumer insights when it comes to your target market. Your employees have the most interaction with customers because of their close contact throughout the customer journey, at the point of sale, and at the service center. They know what makes customers most excited about the cars your dealership sells and the services you offer, and they have the opportunity to address customer concerns while simultaneously taking mental notes on the things specific shopper demographics are looking for when they visit your dealership. Listening to your employees and leveraging their experience with consumers on the job can give you a better idea of the things different demographics value in a car and thus, what to highlight in your marketing strategy.

Utilize Social Media

In our highly innovative and ever-changing world, social media has proven itself to be a powerful force. It’s not just for sharing pictures of dogs or vacation stories—now more than ever, people are sharing opinions about almost everything online including their favorite businesses and their best (or worst) experiences with companies. Along with social sharing, social media gives users various opportunities to connect with others in their demographics through the use of groups on Facebook, following on Twitter, or connecting on LinkedIn. These demographics are based on various things such as location, ethnicity, and hobbies. The chances are high that your customers and social media followers, fans, and friends are connected with other consumers who are car shopping, so missing an opportunity to connect with them on social media could mean missing out on an immeasurable number of sales.

Dealerships can effectively target their markets by finding social groups and communities that involve the automotive industry. Joining these groups will create interactions with members on a personal level. Making regular posts, being quick to reply to messages or comments, and encouraging others to share their ideas or suggestions will expose your dealership to more people who qualify as your target audience. In return, these connections can lead to sales, increased brand awareness, and free advertising if members feel inclined to share your dealership with others.

In addition to connecting with your own market, social media is a platform in which your dealership can monitor industry leaders and competitors. It is more than likely your competitors and other industry leaders have connections and contacts with people who aren’t familiar with your brand but who are interested in the automotive industry to some extent. Including these leads in your target market strategy by inviting them to like your Facebook page, following them on Twitter, or connecting with them on LinkedIn will lead them to your brand, inform them your dealership has alternative solutions to offer, and increase the number of genuine car buyers in your market.

Dealerships have many tools available to target their markets, but they sometimes

 overlook the day-to-day things they can do to help them reach consumers. Listening to current customers and connecting to others on social media will show you what consumers love about your dealership and bridge the gap between your dealership and potential buyers. Finding your target market in these simple ways can grow the size of your market while still allowing you to focus on current clients, reducing marketing costs and heightening sales.

Social Media News for the Week of August 24 via @SocialLittleMan

Blab.im Hitting the Social Scene

Still in Beta, Blab.im is a chat app marketers and various other users are keeping their eyes on.  Similar to Periscope, its live streaming functionality allows groups of up to four to video chat simultaneously.  Boasting easy-to-install and easy-to-integrate usability, users will also the Blab emoticons, link accessibility, and variety of color schemes for personalization.  With the popularity of instant-message chat, dealerships will want to keep an eye on this app and consider applying to their daily interactions with savvy online consumers.  Chat away, answer shopper questions, and participate in live sales conversations.

Twitter Ad Network Expands

As it continues to improve and expand its advertising offerings, Twitter recently announced the Twitter Audience Platform, an expanded advertisement platform offering new creative features such as Tweet engagement campaigns that become interstitial and native ads on Twitter, Promoted Video campaigns that are turned into in-app video ads, and app install or re-engagement campaigns that become interstitial or banner ads.  According to Twitter, advertisers will now be able to reach “over 700 million people on and off of Twitter.”  As your dealership continues to focus on your social platforms, increase your reach with Twitter’s newest improvements; get your videos seen more often and drive consumer engagement by reaching out to your target audience.

LinkedIn Lookup Helps

The latest and greatest for LinkedIn is LinkedIn Lookup, a new app that helps users more easily find, learn about, and get in touch with their professional contacts.  According to LinkedIn, most corporate intranet sites do a poor job of providing co-worker information, so they’ve solved that problem by creating Lookup, an effective way for professionals to search for other professionals by name, title, experience, education, and skills.  Now available in the App Store, Lookup is making it easier to create business relationships.  Dealerships looking to connect with industry professionals—either to round out their teams or simply to share expertise—can now look to LinkedIn Lookup to facilitate their searches.

Instagram Makes It Easier to Add Locations

It’s now easier for users to add locations to their Instagram photos.  By removing the “Add to Photomap” button, Instagram changed the way locations will be tagged when posted.  Effectively, all images tagged with a location are now added to user maps, facilitating the location-adding process for users.  For users who want to remove locations from their photos, Instagram provides a process to do so, allowing for privacy via the profile page settings.  For dealerships taking advantage of the Instagram craze, adding your location just got a lot easier—simply post your tagged photos, and Instagram will place your inventory or lot pics on the Photomap for you.

WhatsApp Rolling Out for iOS

Nearly half a year behind the rollout for Android, WhatsApp is rolling out for iOS.  A cross-platform mobile messaging app, allowing users to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS, WhatsApp makes it possible for users to message across iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone, and Nokia.  Users are also able to create groups, send images, video messages, and audio media messages.  Although WhatsApp’s legal docs state “your use of the service as permitted is solely for your personal use,” dealerships would be completely above board in sharing blog posts, engaging with customers, and sharing showroom images.

Tip of the Week—The Social Media Time Warp

It’s happened to all of us.  You get on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram—the list goes on.  And suddenly when you look up, half the day is gone.  You’re left wondering if you’ve accomplished anything productive.  Most professionals, especially those in small- to medium-sized businesses recognize the need to establish a presence on social media, but along with that, one of the biggest concerns is the amount of time it takes to build a platform your consumers recognize and return to time and again.

Fear not!  There are ways to create a killer online presence while still reserving enough time in your day to take care of the other tasks that demand your attention.  Look below for some great time-saving tips:

• Start off with a plan.  No great mountain climber ever walked out of his house and conquered Everest on Day 1—so recognize the fact that you need to start slowly.  Choose one or two (maybe three if you’re a time-juggling genius!) to start off, and get really good at interacting on those platforms.  Find out where your potential customers are interacting, and go where they are.  Hint: Facebook and Twitter are probably great places to start.

• Be consistent.  Your goal is to show your online followers you are a presence they can count on, and that means you need to consistently post content.  Make a schedule and stick to it; your fans will be expecting you.  A schedule will keep your followers satisfied, while also keeping you on task and saving time.

• Don’t stress.  This wastes time and makes you sound inauthentic.  Instead of spending time reworking your posts and trying to come up with perfection, relax and use your own voice.  Trust me, you’ll be a natural at it.  It’s just like talking to customers on the showroom floor.  Your comfort will shine through, and people will want to interact with you.

• Schedule posts.  This is a handy little feature for those of us who tend to wander when posting.  Block off a segment of time and plan on scheduling several posts at once.  It’s efficient, and it will save you time in the long run.

• Go notification-free.  Notifications can be distracting and time-consuming, so when you really need to buckle down and focus, take a second to turn off your notifications.  It will save you valuable time and keep you focused on the task at hand.

When it comes down to it, dedicating time to your social media platforms is necessary as today’s marketplace becomes more fast-paced and consumers demand quicker solutions.  It’s worth the effort you put in today to get the results you’ll see from engaged consumers in the future.

Have a social media tip you’re dealership has used successfully?  Tweet it to me @sociallittleman or comment below.  We love hearing from you!  #StrongerTogether

Social Media News for the Week of August 24 via @SocialLittleMan

Blab.im Hitting the Social Scene

Still in Beta, Blab.im is a chat app marketers and various other users are keeping their eyes on.  Similar to Periscope, its live streaming functionality allows groups of up to four to video chat simultaneously.  Boasting easy-to-install and easy-to-integrate usability, users will also the Blab emoticons, link accessibility, and variety of color schemes for personalization.  With the popularity of instant-message chat, dealerships will want to keep an eye on this app and consider applying to their daily interactions with savvy online consumers.  Chat away, answer shopper questions, and participate in live sales conversations.

Twitter Ad Network Expands

As it continues to improve and expand its advertising offerings, Twitter recently announced the Twitter Audience Platform, an expanded advertisement platform offering new creative features such as Tweet engagement campaigns that become interstitial and native ads on Twitter, Promoted Video campaigns that are turned into in-app video ads, and app install or re-engagement campaigns that become interstitial or banner ads.  According to Twitter, advertisers will now be able to reach “over 700 million people on and off of Twitter.”  As your dealership continues to focus on your social platforms, increase your reach with Twitter’s newest improvements; get your videos seen more often and drive consumer engagement by reaching out to your target audience.

LinkedIn Lookup Helps

The latest and greatest for LinkedIn is LinkedIn Lookup, a new app that helps users more easily find, learn about, and get in touch with their professional contacts.  According to LinkedIn, most corporate intranet sites do a poor job of providing co-worker information, so they’ve solved that problem by creating Lookup, an effective way for professionals to search for other professionals by name, title, experience, education, and skills.  Now available in the App Store, Lookup is making it easier to create business relationships.  Dealerships looking to connect with industry professionals—either to round out their teams or simply to share expertise—can now look to LinkedIn Lookup to facilitate their searches.

Instagram Makes It Easier to Add Locations

It’s now easier for users to add locations to their Instagram photos.  By removing the “Add to Photomap” button, Instagram changed the way locations will be tagged when posted.  Effectively, all images tagged with a location are now added to user maps, facilitating the location-adding process for users.  For users who want to remove locations from their photos, Instagram provides a process to do so, allowing for privacy via the profile page settings.  For dealerships taking advantage of the Instagram craze, adding your location just got a lot easier—simply post your tagged photos, and Instagram will place your inventory or lot pics on the Photomap for you.

WhatsApp Rolling Out for iOS

Nearly half a year behind the rollout for Android, WhatsApp is rolling out for iOS.  A cross-platform mobile messaging app, allowing users to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS, WhatsApp makes it possible for users to message across iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone, and Nokia.  Users are also able to create groups, send images, video messages, and audio media messages.  Although WhatsApp’s legal docs state “your use of the service as permitted is solely for your personal use,” dealerships would be completely above board in sharing blog posts, engaging with customers, and sharing showroom images.

Tip of the Week—The Social Media Time Warp

It’s happened to all of us.  You get on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram—the list goes on.  And suddenly when you look up, half the day is gone.  You’re left wondering if you’ve accomplished anything productive.  Most professionals, especially those in small- to medium-sized businesses recognize the need to establish a presence on social media, but along with that, one of the biggest concerns is the amount of time it takes to build a platform your consumers recognize and return to time and again.

Fear not!  There are ways to create a killer online presence while still reserving enough time in your day to take care of the other tasks that demand your attention.  Look below for some great time-saving tips:

• Start off with a plan.  No great mountain climber ever walked out of his house and conquered Everest on Day 1—so recognize the fact that you need to start slowly.  Choose one or two (maybe three if you’re a time-juggling genius!) to start off, and get really good at interacting on those platforms.  Find out where your potential customers are interacting, and go where they are.  Hint: Facebook and Twitter are probably great places to start.

• Be consistent.  Your goal is to show your online followers you are a presence they can count on, and that means you need to consistently post content.  Make a schedule and stick to it; your fans will be expecting you.  A schedule will keep your followers satisfied, while also keeping you on task and saving time.

• Don’t stress.  This wastes time and makes you sound inauthentic.  Instead of spending time reworking your posts and trying to come up with perfection, relax and use your own voice.  Trust me, you’ll be a natural at it.  It’s just like talking to customers on the showroom floor.  Your comfort will shine through, and people will want to interact with you.

• Schedule posts.  This is a handy little feature for those of us who tend to wander when posting.  Block off a segment of time and plan on scheduling several posts at once.  It’s efficient, and it will save you time in the long run.

• Go notification-free.  Notifications can be distracting and time-consuming, so when you really need to buckle down and focus, take a second to turn off your notifications.  It will save you valuable time and keep you focused on the task at hand.

When it comes down to it, dedicating time to your social media platforms is necessary as today’s marketplace becomes more fast-paced and consumers demand quicker solutions.  It’s worth the effort you put in today to get the results you’ll see from engaged consumers in the future.

Have a social media tip you’re dealership has used successfully?  Tweet it to me @sociallittleman or comment below.  We love hearing from you!  #StrongerTogether

4 Reasons Marketing to Your Employees Matters

Employees are the lifeblood of your dealership and have the most impact on your customer loyalty. If that sentence made you cringe, you probably aren’t doing all you can to ensure your employees are actively engaged and have the tools and guidance necessary to fully do their jobs. Marketing to customers may be the key to bringing in business, but who is responsible for truly conveying the message of your business to consumers? Who gives customers the first impression at your dealership, has meaningful conversations with consumers on the lot, and spends time in the service center showing customers how to check their oil? Who informs customers about their financing options, fosters relationships, and creates customer loyalty? Your very own employees.

Correctly marketing to employees means showing them your dealership is a place they can be proud to work and ultimately leads to success in the marketplace. Below you’ll find four important reasons why marketing to your employees matters.

Employees become more engaged.

Marketing to employees means encouraging communication and positivity, understanding their values, showing every employee respect regardless of job title, and appreciating the work they do. It also includes fostering workplace relationships and assuring they understand your dealership’s culture and mission. They should feel proud to be employed by your dealership.

Consistently listening to employees and measuring their preferences will promote employee engagement, creating the classical win-win relationship for both employees and employers. According to PeopleMetrics, individual companies lose about $2,246 each year per disengaged employee. This is certainly something your dealership wants to avoid. An environment where people feel connected and in sync with the company culture encourages employees to care more about the jobs they do and leads to high levels of employee output. 

Employees will want to stay at your dealership.

Employee turnover costs US business $11 billion a year, and disengaged or dissatisfied employees are far more likely to leave their employers. On the flip side, engaged employees are less likely to leave and seek jobs elsewhere. Retention should be a priority for your dealership, given the added expense of recruiting and hiring replacements. If your dealership is focused on making sure employees know the goals, culture, and mission of your business, retention won’t be an issue. In addition, working toward a common goal or for a cause people want to support can work wonders for a dealership’s engagement and employee satisfaction.

Employees will share your dealership.

It’s true your vocal employees are your best brand advocates. Did you know that on average, your employees have 10 times more connections than your brand? And did you know that leads from employees convert 7 times more frequently than other leads? With these statistics in mind, do you want to miss out on the potential sales your informed and engaged employees could afford your dealership?

Employees will only want to share your dealership with their networks if they fully understand the company mission. Ensuring your employees want to recommend your dealership means highlighting what makes your dealership the best one in the market so they feel comfortable sending their family, friends, and acquaintances to it.

Dealership executives aren’t the only ones who should focus on creating the best customer experience. ALL employees are brand ambassadors, even the ones who aren’t payed the most and have ample opportunities to interact directly with customers. This includes professionals on the sales floor, on the lot, in the service department, in the waiting room, or in the finance office.

Great managers market to employees so they gain an understanding of how their job connects the dealership to the customer. Every direct or indirect point of contact has the potential to make a customer feel more or less engaged with your dealership, and because sales and service employees are almost always in close proximity to customers, ensuring they want to make the customer experience a good one is imperative to the growth of your market and your dealership’s success.

Marketing to your employees has many benefits. Focus on making employees feel valued and convey your mission, goals, and what makes your dealership unique and prepare to be wowed by a highly engaged team, a lower turnover, a bigger market, and guaranteed great customer experiences.  

4 Reasons Marketing to Your Employees Matters

Employees are the lifeblood of your dealership and have the most impact on your customer loyalty. If that sentence made you cringe, you probably aren’t doing all you can to ensure your employees are actively engaged and have the tools and guidance necessary to fully do their jobs. Marketing to customers may be the key to bringing in business, but who is responsible for truly conveying the message of your business to consumers? Who gives customers the first impression at your dealership, has meaningful conversations with consumers on the lot, and spends time in the service center showing customers how to check their oil? Who informs customers about their financing options, fosters relationships, and creates customer loyalty? Your very own employees.

Correctly marketing to employees means showing them your dealership is a place they can be proud to work and ultimately leads to success in the marketplace. Below you’ll find four important reasons why marketing to your employees matters.

Employees become more engaged.

Marketing to employees means encouraging communication and positivity, understanding their values, showing every employee respect regardless of job title, and appreciating the work they do. It also includes fostering workplace relationships and assuring they understand your dealership’s culture and mission. They should feel proud to be employed by your dealership.

Consistently listening to employees and measuring their preferences will promote employee engagement, creating the classical win-win relationship for both employees and employers. According to PeopleMetrics, individual companies lose about $2,246 each year per disengaged employee. This is certainly something your dealership wants to avoid. An environment where people feel connected and in sync with the company culture encourages employees to care more about the jobs they do and leads to high levels of employee output. 

Employees will want to stay at your dealership.

Employee turnover costs US business $11 billion a year, and disengaged or dissatisfied employees are far more likely to leave their employers. On the flip side, engaged employees are less likely to leave and seek jobs elsewhere. Retention should be a priority for your dealership, given the added expense of recruiting and hiring replacements. If your dealership is focused on making sure employees know the goals, culture, and mission of your business, retention won’t be an issue. In addition, working toward a common goal or for a cause people want to support can work wonders for a dealership’s engagement and employee satisfaction.

Employees will share your dealership.

It’s true your vocal employees are your best brand advocates. Did you know that on average, your employees have 10 times more connections than your brand? And did you know that leads from employees convert 7 times more frequently than other leads? With these statistics in mind, do you want to miss out on the potential sales your informed and engaged employees could afford your dealership?

Employees will only want to share your dealership with their networks if they fully understand the company mission. Ensuring your employees want to recommend your dealership means highlighting what makes your dealership the best one in the market so they feel comfortable sending their family, friends, and acquaintances to it.

Dealership executives aren’t the only ones who should focus on creating the best customer experience. ALL employees are brand ambassadors, even the ones who aren’t payed the most and have ample opportunities to interact directly with customers. This includes professionals on the sales floor, on the lot, in the service department, in the waiting room, or in the finance office.

Great managers market to employees so they gain an understanding of how their job connects the dealership to the customer. Every direct or indirect point of contact has the potential to make a customer feel more or less engaged with your dealership, and because sales and service employees are almost always in close proximity to customers, ensuring they want to make the customer experience a good one is imperative to the growth of your market and your dealership’s success.

Marketing to your employees has many benefits. Focus on making employees feel valued and convey your mission, goals, and what makes your dealership unique and prepare to be wowed by a highly engaged team, a lower turnover, a bigger market, and guaranteed great customer experiences.