Twitter, an online micro-blogging social networking site, can be a difficult thing to manage for a business profile. However, if you think of it as a cocktail party it might make things easier for you. Don’t be the drunk guy spilling over his words, constantly saying things that don’t make any sense but also, don’t be the person in the corner that holds onto his drink never saying a word. Be the person that is engaging, fun, and the life of the party.

First off, let’s get familiar with Twitter lingo, if you already know this, you can just skip to the next paragraph.

@ = reply or mention

ex. @activengage your last blog post was great!

.@ = allows your tweet to be seen as a broadcast, meaning EVERYONE can see it.

ex. .@activengage your last ebook was awesome!

RT = retweet or in other words, sharing. It has been said that the most effective time to RT is around 5pm.

ex. RT @activengage: Happy #memorialday! Enjoy the day off - and be sure to check out our tribute to vets: livechat.ae/memorday

DM = Direct Message, no one can see this tweet but you and the person you are tweeting to

ex.  DM here is link to Todd's cameo clip from NADA that I plan to use in the upcoming @lead2show video ow.ly/94QdJ

#=  this hashtag symbol is short for a trending topic. On Friday, the trending topic for the day is #FF (Follow Friday) in which you mention fellow Tweeters

ex. #FF TGIF @vickioneill @joe4pres@GeorgeMagda @Toddlearsmith@HookLogic @drivingsales @RalphPaglia

Now that you’ve mastered the Twitter lingo, you might be asking yourself, what do I Tweet? Simply put, you want to Tweet things that add value, not noise, to your followers. A dealership, for example, can Tweet about a new shipment of vehicles that just arrived, special giveaways,  service specials for the week or even some pop culture posts. Below I’ve highlighted some examples of good tweets.

Hendrick Atlanta has a good example of a giveaway:

To make this Tweet even better you can see if there are any trending topics on hashtag.org 
I typed in Dale Jr and noticed a lot of tweets on him as well as the Camaro and autographed. So I would have written this Tweet like this to get the most exposure and chance of being re-tweeted.

Win #DaleJr 2011 #Camaro delivered by #Jr himself. One ticket will win an #autographed prize pack this week!

This Tweet by Charleston Honda has good use of #hashtags

Here Charleston Honda focused on keywords that are trending topics, and in turn, the chance of their tweet being re-tweeted is higher.

Here is a good example of a mention that Rosen Nissan had with a customer:

Not only does this tweet humanize Rosen Nissan as a dealership, but it also has great use of a #hashtag!

Taking notes? I’ll make it easier for you. Let’s review the do’s and don’ts of Twitter for your dealership:

DO

• RT and give props - if your Tweeps (Twitter Users) share something interesting, give them credit.
• Comment
• Share interesting links (ones specific to your audience)
• Ask questions - get your Twitter followers involved!
• Use link-shortening services such as bit.ly  and ow.ly which make it easy to incorporate condensed, trackable links that don’t take up so much of the available 140 characters of space in tweets.
• Check sites like hashtag.org, Monitter , Tweetmeme , and Trendistic to see what’s trending and currently being tweeted the most.
• Respond to a RT, DM, or mention in less than 4 hours.
  • Here is a Tweet, that if it wasn’t quickly responded to, would have been bad news for Chevy:

DON’T

• Tweet nonsense or the same message every hour- it’s annoying.
• TUI (Tweet under the influence). Think of Twitter as living in a glass house, everyone will see what you post, sure you can delete it, but to those who managed to see the tweet before termination, will not forget.
• Tweet about sex, religion, or politics - these topics should be seen as the plague. Be like Switzerland and stay neutral.

Are you ready to Tweet? Wait! Take time to do a little research by listening in on the Twitterverse so that you can get a feel for the conversations taking place and discover the ways your Tweeps  like to interact and engage on Twitter. Twitter has various built-in tools to help you in your research:

• Twitter has a search engine  that produces real-time RSS feeds for the keywords orphrases you enter.
• If you are trying to figure out whom to follow, you can start by connecting with people you already know by importing your email address book. 
• You can also use Twitter’s general “Who To Follow” function which offers suggestions based on those you’realready following.
• And, you can select by topic of interest  when figuring out whom to follow.

Remember, building a Twitter following doesn’t happen overnight, unless you're a celebrity with a substance abuse or criminal record. If you keep at it,   make valuable contributions, add to your stream, respect your community, and show that you’re in it for the common good,  they will come.

Twitter, an online micro-blogging social networking site, can be a difficult thing to manage for a business profile. However, if you think of it as a cocktail party it might make things easier for you. Don’t be the drunk guy spilling over his words, constantly saying things that don’t make any sense but also, don’t be the person in the corner that holds onto his drink never saying a word. Be the person that is engaging, fun, and the life of the party.

First off, let’s get familiar with Twitter lingo, if you already know this, you can just skip to the next paragraph.

@ = reply or mention

ex. @activengage your last blog post was great!

.@ = allows your tweet to be seen as a broadcast, meaning EVERYONE can see it.

ex. .@activengage your last ebook was awesome!

RT = retweet or in other words, sharing. It has been said that the most effective time to RT is around 5pm.

ex. RT @activengage: Happy #memorialday! Enjoy the day off - and be sure to check out our tribute to vets: livechat.ae/memorday

DM = Direct Message, no one can see this tweet but you and the person you are tweeting to

ex.  DM here is link to Todd's cameo clip from NADA that I plan to use in the upcoming @lead2show video ow.ly/94QdJ

#=  this hashtag symbol is short for a trending topic. On Friday, the trending topic for the day is #FF (Follow Friday) in which you mention fellow Tweeters

ex. #FF TGIF @vickioneill @joe4pres@GeorgeMagda @Toddlearsmith@HookLogic @drivingsales @RalphPaglia

Now that you’ve mastered the Twitter lingo, you might be asking yourself, what do I Tweet? Simply put, you want to Tweet things that add value, not noise, to your followers. A dealership, for example, can Tweet about a new shipment of vehicles that just arrived, special giveaways,  service specials for the week or even some pop culture posts. Below I’ve highlighted some examples of good tweets.

Hendrick Atlanta has a good example of a giveaway:

To make this Tweet even better you can see if there are any trending topics on hashtag.org 
I typed in Dale Jr and noticed a lot of tweets on him as well as the Camaro and autographed. So I would have written this Tweet like this to get the most exposure and chance of being re-tweeted.

Win #DaleJr 2011 #Camaro delivered by #Jr himself. One ticket will win an #autographed prize pack this week!

This Tweet by Charleston Honda has good use of #hashtags

Here Charleston Honda focused on keywords that are trending topics, and in turn, the chance of their tweet being re-tweeted is higher.

Here is a good example of a mention that Rosen Nissan had with a customer:

Not only does this tweet humanize Rosen Nissan as a dealership, but it also has great use of a #hashtag!

Taking notes? I’ll make it easier for you. Let’s review the do’s and don’ts of Twitter for your dealership:

DO

• RT and give props - if your Tweeps (Twitter Users) share something interesting, give them credit.
• Comment
• Share interesting links (ones specific to your audience)
• Ask questions - get your Twitter followers involved!
• Use link-shortening services such as bit.ly  and ow.ly which make it easy to incorporate condensed, trackable links that don’t take up so much of the available 140 characters of space in tweets.
• Check sites like hashtag.org, Monitter , Tweetmeme , and Trendistic to see what’s trending and currently being tweeted the most.
• Respond to a RT, DM, or mention in less than 4 hours.
  • Here is a Tweet, that if it wasn’t quickly responded to, would have been bad news for Chevy:

DON’T

• Tweet nonsense or the same message every hour- it’s annoying.
• TUI (Tweet under the influence). Think of Twitter as living in a glass house, everyone will see what you post, sure you can delete it, but to those who managed to see the tweet before termination, will not forget.
• Tweet about sex, religion, or politics - these topics should be seen as the plague. Be like Switzerland and stay neutral.

Are you ready to Tweet? Wait! Take time to do a little research by listening in on the Twitterverse so that you can get a feel for the conversations taking place and discover the ways your Tweeps  like to interact and engage on Twitter. Twitter has various built-in tools to help you in your research:

• Twitter has a search engine  that produces real-time RSS feeds for the keywords orphrases you enter.
• If you are trying to figure out whom to follow, you can start by connecting with people you already know by importing your email address book. 
• You can also use Twitter’s general “Who To Follow” function which offers suggestions based on those you’realready following.
• And, you can select by topic of interest  when figuring out whom to follow.

Remember, building a Twitter following doesn’t happen overnight, unless you're a celebrity with a substance abuse or criminal record. If you keep at it,   make valuable contributions, add to your stream, respect your community, and show that you’re in it for the common good,  they will come.

At my parent’s house my mother has a plaque that reads, “En esta casa canta el gallo pero manda la gallina.”  For my non-Spanish speaking readers, it translates to: 

In this house, the rooster sings, but the hen gives the orders. Simply put, who runs the world? Girls!

We all know mothers are very influential in the household and when it comes to major purchases, but how influential are they? According to Marketingprofs.com women make around 80% of all purchases. They buy more electronic equipment, vehicles, and home-improvement products than men do. Women hold nearly 50% of all jobs, and in dual income families, more than 30% outearn their husbands.
 

In addition, women are more likely to discuss products on social media sites and conduct research through them. According to a survey by Performics, moms are 75% more likely than other women to trust information from companies on social sites and 45% more likely to base their purchasing decisions on peer recommendations.

Daina Middleton, Global CEO of Performics states, “Brands have an opportunity to motivate moms to participate through their social media properties,” adds Middleton, “In this age of participation, moms expect a constructive, two-way relationship. To stay current, build loyalty and, in many cases, drive sales, brands must provide that meaningful connection with their customers.”

Consumers, and women especially, aren’t a static demographic to market to. Learning more about your female customers and how they buy is key. Gerry Myers is CEO, president, and cofounder of Advisory Link  says in order to reach this demographic you must understand the four new P’s: Pearls, Pumps, Purses, and Power. He explains:

• Pearls signify the prosperity the female customer represents to businesses. Her increasing discretionary dollars can make or break even large corporations, and will in the years to come. The woman consumer is truly a precious gem and should be treated as one.
• The Purse holds trillions of dollars that women will spend in the next decade. In many sports, the prize is referred to as the Purse. Think of the woman consumer as a valuable prize you need and want to secure. Without winning her Purse, you will lose not only this race but also the prospect of success in the future.
• Pumps represent the force women propel in the marketplace. She isn't afraid to put on those pumps and walk out the door if she doesn't get respect, fair prices, and professional treatment. Women today wear these pumps when shopping, climbing the corporate ladder, running their own businesses, or managing their households.
• Her Power is endless. Women have the money and the power to purchase. She should be sought after by you not because she makes up 51 % of the population but because she spends 85 % of the money. She is the buying agent for herself, her family, her business, and often her corporate purchasing department. She is both the inheritor of great wealth and the maker of it.

Andrea Learned, an expert on gender-based consumer behavior, noted that women tend to use both their left and right brains, they look at the fact and figures, but at the same time they will consider the emotional implications of a purchase. How can you implement these strategies at your dealership? Check out our ActivEngage’s helpful tips below:
1. Update Social Media Sites Often: As always, make sure your social media sites are up to date as women will be researching your brand as well as comments your customers make on your sites.
2. Dealers Are Humans Too: Create a corporate culture album/board on your social media sites to humanize your dealership and show your community involvement, interest in community events/issues, etc.
3. Market Your “Go Green” Efforts: If you have a green dealership, showcase it! Women, and moms especially, think of the long term ramifications of, well...everything.
4. Do Some Research: Women seek common ground.They gravitate towards people that share their interests so take a look at what is affecting women in your community to create that common ground.
5. Include the Entire Family: Women are constituent-driven and think of how their purchase will affect their loved ones. In part, their purchasing power isn’t just, “all about me.” Be sure to include the indirect benefits to family members and friends which purchasing from your dealership can have.

How does your dealership cater to women? Would you implement these strategies at your dealership? Post your thoughts in the comment section below! 

At my parent’s house my mother has a plaque that reads, “En esta casa canta el gallo pero manda la gallina.”  For my non-Spanish speaking readers, it translates to: 

In this house, the rooster sings, but the hen gives the orders. Simply put, who runs the world? Girls!

We all know mothers are very influential in the household and when it comes to major purchases, but how influential are they? According to Marketingprofs.com women make around 80% of all purchases. They buy more electronic equipment, vehicles, and home-improvement products than men do. Women hold nearly 50% of all jobs, and in dual income families, more than 30% outearn their husbands.
 

In addition, women are more likely to discuss products on social media sites and conduct research through them. According to a survey by Performics, moms are 75% more likely than other women to trust information from companies on social sites and 45% more likely to base their purchasing decisions on peer recommendations.

Daina Middleton, Global CEO of Performics states, “Brands have an opportunity to motivate moms to participate through their social media properties,” adds Middleton, “In this age of participation, moms expect a constructive, two-way relationship. To stay current, build loyalty and, in many cases, drive sales, brands must provide that meaningful connection with their customers.”

Consumers, and women especially, aren’t a static demographic to market to. Learning more about your female customers and how they buy is key. Gerry Myers is CEO, president, and cofounder of Advisory Link  says in order to reach this demographic you must understand the four new P’s: Pearls, Pumps, Purses, and Power. He explains:

• Pearls signify the prosperity the female customer represents to businesses. Her increasing discretionary dollars can make or break even large corporations, and will in the years to come. The woman consumer is truly a precious gem and should be treated as one.
• The Purse holds trillions of dollars that women will spend in the next decade. In many sports, the prize is referred to as the Purse. Think of the woman consumer as a valuable prize you need and want to secure. Without winning her Purse, you will lose not only this race but also the prospect of success in the future.
• Pumps represent the force women propel in the marketplace. She isn't afraid to put on those pumps and walk out the door if she doesn't get respect, fair prices, and professional treatment. Women today wear these pumps when shopping, climbing the corporate ladder, running their own businesses, or managing their households.
• Her Power is endless. Women have the money and the power to purchase. She should be sought after by you not because she makes up 51 % of the population but because she spends 85 % of the money. She is the buying agent for herself, her family, her business, and often her corporate purchasing department. She is both the inheritor of great wealth and the maker of it.

Andrea Learned, an expert on gender-based consumer behavior, noted that women tend to use both their left and right brains, they look at the fact and figures, but at the same time they will consider the emotional implications of a purchase. How can you implement these strategies at your dealership? Check out our ActivEngage’s helpful tips below:
1. Update Social Media Sites Often: As always, make sure your social media sites are up to date as women will be researching your brand as well as comments your customers make on your sites.
2. Dealers Are Humans Too: Create a corporate culture album/board on your social media sites to humanize your dealership and show your community involvement, interest in community events/issues, etc.
3. Market Your “Go Green” Efforts: If you have a green dealership, showcase it! Women, and moms especially, think of the long term ramifications of, well...everything.
4. Do Some Research: Women seek common ground.They gravitate towards people that share their interests so take a look at what is affecting women in your community to create that common ground.
5. Include the Entire Family: Women are constituent-driven and think of how their purchase will affect their loved ones. In part, their purchasing power isn’t just, “all about me.” Be sure to include the indirect benefits to family members and friends which purchasing from your dealership can have.

How does your dealership cater to women? Would you implement these strategies at your dealership? Post your thoughts in the comment section below! 

In one of my college classes, my professor asked a student to pick five people at random. I was chosen as one of the five. We stood up in front of the class and my professor asked, “Which ethnic group isn’t represented by these students?”  One of the students raised their hand and said, “There are no Hispanics in this group.” I shook my head in annoyance and said, “No, I’m Puerto Rican!” Which was followed by, “Oh I’m sorry, you don’t look Hispanic.”

We all know race and ethnicity are touchy issues and just because I don’t “look Hispanic” doesn’t mean I am not. Yes, I am a 2nd generation Latina and I am not disconnected from my family in Puerto Rico by any means. According to The U.S. Census Bureau, “Hispanic or Latino” is defined  as a  person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population increased 43%; now one out of every six Americans in the U.S. is Hispanic according to 2010 US Census data. Moreover, the spending power of Hispanics is forecasted to increase 50% by 2015, from $1 trillion in 2010, to $1.5 trillion, according to the report.

What does that mean for U.S. Dealerships?
Hispanics are a growing force in the U.S market and dealerships need to learn the best ways we are to be marketed to in order to receive a piece of the 1.5 trillion dollar pie. For example, in the US, Hispanics are more likely than African Americans and Caucasians to log in to various social networking sites on a daily basis or more often, according to a new American Pulse Survey from BIGinsight. Among online adults surveyed, Hispanics are roughly three times more likely than Caucasians to log into LinkedIn at least daily (15.5% vs. 4.8%), and they are more than two times more likely than Caucasians to log into Twitter (35.4% vs. 12.6%).

In order to capture the attention of the 60% who log in to a social media platform once a day, target your daily Tweets, Facebook, and LinkedIn messages to the collective family oriented culture Hispanics have.

Understanding the Hispanic Culture:
Below I’ve highlighted some differences between Western and Hispanic cultures:

For 2nd and 3rd generation Latinos, let’s not forget, our parents came to the U.S. to provide a better future for their kids. My father, for example, joined the military to provide a better future for my brother and I.  Any content that speaks to empowerment—whether it is focused on education, self-expression, scholarships or cultural energy—will usually grab our attention..

Generally speaking, Lations buy to enhance their experience with family and community. Chanin Ballance,  co-founder of ViaLanguage, explains “Their decisions are based on cultural norms and word-of-mouth. Their brand loyalty is high compared with that of Anglos, and passes from generation to generation."

As Felipe Korzenny, Ph.D., Director, of  Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication at Florida State University states, “ A first mover advantage is available for those that devote the time and resources to engage these critical audiences in ways that they find meaningful... companies that deliver value to this segment today will be rewarded with the long term loyalty of this market.” In other words, speak to the heart of this culture in order engage your Hispanic customers more successfully.

Dealer Take Away:

1. Understand what defines the Hispanic Culture: Remember, we are defined  as a  person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

2. Family Matters: We are a collective culture which means family matters to us so tap into this emotional appeal.

3. Avoid stereotypes/prejudices:  I hate it when someone tells me that I don’t look Hispanic, so don’t make this mistake with your customers. Again, we have many races in the Hispanic community which means we don’t all “look Hispanic”.

4. Show diversity in your ads: Because we are a diverse culture,diversity draws our attention and we love it!

5. Update your Social Media daily (Facebook, Twitter, etc..): This is the #1 Social Media Rule all dealers should be following. Whether or not you are targeting Hispanics, you should be updating your social media sites with content that stimulates feedback and sharing.

6. Be authentic: Whether it is a spokes person you choose or a print ad you have in the paper, your marketing efforts should promote trustworthiness and dependability.



 

In one of my college classes, my professor asked a student to pick five people at random. I was chosen as one of the five. We stood up in front of the class and my professor asked, “Which ethnic group isn’t represented by these students?”  One of the students raised their hand and said, “There are no Hispanics in this group.” I shook my head in annoyance and said, “No, I’m Puerto Rican!” Which was followed by, “Oh I’m sorry, you don’t look Hispanic.”

We all know race and ethnicity are touchy issues and just because I don’t “look Hispanic” doesn’t mean I am not. Yes, I am a 2nd generation Latina and I am not disconnected from my family in Puerto Rico by any means. According to The U.S. Census Bureau, “Hispanic or Latino” is defined  as a  person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population increased 43%; now one out of every six Americans in the U.S. is Hispanic according to 2010 US Census data. Moreover, the spending power of Hispanics is forecasted to increase 50% by 2015, from $1 trillion in 2010, to $1.5 trillion, according to the report.

What does that mean for U.S. Dealerships?
Hispanics are a growing force in the U.S market and dealerships need to learn the best ways we are to be marketed to in order to receive a piece of the 1.5 trillion dollar pie. For example, in the US, Hispanics are more likely than African Americans and Caucasians to log in to various social networking sites on a daily basis or more often, according to a new American Pulse Survey from BIGinsight. Among online adults surveyed, Hispanics are roughly three times more likely than Caucasians to log into LinkedIn at least daily (15.5% vs. 4.8%), and they are more than two times more likely than Caucasians to log into Twitter (35.4% vs. 12.6%).

In order to capture the attention of the 60% who log in to a social media platform once a day, target your daily Tweets, Facebook, and LinkedIn messages to the collective family oriented culture Hispanics have.

Understanding the Hispanic Culture:
Below I’ve highlighted some differences between Western and Hispanic cultures:

For 2nd and 3rd generation Latinos, let’s not forget, our parents came to the U.S. to provide a better future for their kids. My father, for example, joined the military to provide a better future for my brother and I.  Any content that speaks to empowerment—whether it is focused on education, self-expression, scholarships or cultural energy—will usually grab our attention..

Generally speaking, Lations buy to enhance their experience with family and community. Chanin Ballance,  co-founder of ViaLanguage, explains “Their decisions are based on cultural norms and word-of-mouth. Their brand loyalty is high compared with that of Anglos, and passes from generation to generation."

As Felipe Korzenny, Ph.D., Director, of  Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication at Florida State University states, “ A first mover advantage is available for those that devote the time and resources to engage these critical audiences in ways that they find meaningful... companies that deliver value to this segment today will be rewarded with the long term loyalty of this market.” In other words, speak to the heart of this culture in order engage your Hispanic customers more successfully.

Dealer Take Away:

1. Understand what defines the Hispanic Culture: Remember, we are defined  as a  person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

2. Family Matters: We are a collective culture which means family matters to us so tap into this emotional appeal.

3. Avoid stereotypes/prejudices:  I hate it when someone tells me that I don’t look Hispanic, so don’t make this mistake with your customers. Again, we have many races in the Hispanic community which means we don’t all “look Hispanic”.

4. Show diversity in your ads: Because we are a diverse culture,diversity draws our attention and we love it!

5. Update your Social Media daily (Facebook, Twitter, etc..): This is the #1 Social Media Rule all dealers should be following. Whether or not you are targeting Hispanics, you should be updating your social media sites with content that stimulates feedback and sharing.

6. Be authentic: Whether it is a spokes person you choose or a print ad you have in the paper, your marketing efforts should promote trustworthiness and dependability.



 

This past weekend my brother was in town visiting and the moment he walked into any store or bar he exclaimed, “Oh! I gotta check-in on Foursqaure! 

There might be deals!”  According to an Empathica survey, one in three consumers recently followed through with a recommendation made via social media. Foursquare is a valuable app that dealers can use to drive traffic to their dealership, offer an incentive to frequent your spot, and make recommendations.

Not familiar with Foursquare? Simply put Foursquare allows users to:

1) “Check-in” to different places or add new ones worth visiting
2) Let their presence be known to their contacts and the online community
3) Lay claim of ownership after multiple visits to the same location
4) Earn “badges” for usage levels
5) Leave tips and shouts for future visitors of the establishments

Social media outlets offer opportunities for companies to encourage brand engagement, taking it past an in-store experience to further validate their commitment to the customer. Here are some tips tfor your dealership  when using Foursquare:

• Use Foursquare like a customer loyalty card. You can give customers a special discount after a certain number of check-ins at your store. For example, every time your customer comes in for an oil change and checks in, you can give them a 15%  discount. If they become the mayor (have the most check-ins) ,you can bump their discount to 20% or so. Make sure you set clear rules about how to redeem the offer,  such as a limit of one check-in per day.
• Lure first-time visitors to your store with a special offer. Tell new customers about the discount or deal you offer when they show you their inaugural Foursquare check-in.
• Actively request reviews and tips from customers and respond to their reviews in a timely manner. Also, you can reward a consumer with the best tip and showcase it on your social media sites.
• Have employees check-in with FourSquare to give tips/shouts which let other customers checking in know what some recommended specials may be.
• Remember that Foursquare is a game and that’s what makes it fun and addicting! Tap into this aspect of your customers.

It's time to, “ be there or be square.” You might not use Foursquare, but according to the the American Pulse Survey, based on a poll of 3,349 online adults in the US, 23.2% use Foursquare at least once a day or more often.  You can leverage the power of their social network by engaging them and finding cool ways to respond to their preferences.

This past weekend my brother was in town visiting and the moment he walked into any store or bar he exclaimed, “Oh! I gotta check-in on Foursqaure! 

There might be deals!”  According to an Empathica survey, one in three consumers recently followed through with a recommendation made via social media. Foursquare is a valuable app that dealers can use to drive traffic to their dealership, offer an incentive to frequent your spot, and make recommendations.

Not familiar with Foursquare? Simply put Foursquare allows users to:

1) “Check-in” to different places or add new ones worth visiting
2) Let their presence be known to their contacts and the online community
3) Lay claim of ownership after multiple visits to the same location
4) Earn “badges” for usage levels
5) Leave tips and shouts for future visitors of the establishments

Social media outlets offer opportunities for companies to encourage brand engagement, taking it past an in-store experience to further validate their commitment to the customer. Here are some tips tfor your dealership  when using Foursquare:

• Use Foursquare like a customer loyalty card. You can give customers a special discount after a certain number of check-ins at your store. For example, every time your customer comes in for an oil change and checks in, you can give them a 15%  discount. If they become the mayor (have the most check-ins) ,you can bump their discount to 20% or so. Make sure you set clear rules about how to redeem the offer,  such as a limit of one check-in per day.
• Lure first-time visitors to your store with a special offer. Tell new customers about the discount or deal you offer when they show you their inaugural Foursquare check-in.
• Actively request reviews and tips from customers and respond to their reviews in a timely manner. Also, you can reward a consumer with the best tip and showcase it on your social media sites.
• Have employees check-in with FourSquare to give tips/shouts which let other customers checking in know what some recommended specials may be.
• Remember that Foursquare is a game and that’s what makes it fun and addicting! Tap into this aspect of your customers.

It's time to, “ be there or be square.” You might not use Foursquare, but according to the the American Pulse Survey, based on a poll of 3,349 online adults in the US, 23.2% use Foursquare at least once a day or more often.  You can leverage the power of their social network by engaging them and finding cool ways to respond to their preferences.