There’s a chance that not many have heard of the new "Six Strikes" copyright alert system, a new program that is being rolled out soon to crack down on illegal web piracy — downloads from Mega, BitTorrent, etc.

The big Internet Service Providers (Verizon and Comcast) are behind the push to stop the downloads, which according to a report in New York Magazine, costs the economy about $58 billion annually.

How does this Six Strikes rule work?

Ars Technica earlier this month reported some details on exactly how the oft-delayed six strikes policy will work in practice. Basically, there are three “stages” Internet Service Providers will go through before taking action: a “notice” phase that “involves letting users know they’ve been tracked on copyright-infringing sites”; an “acknowledgement” phase in which “the customer will have to actually acknowledge having received those notices”; and finally, the “mitigation” phase where “users who have traded copyrighted files are actually punished” through either having their speeds throttled or blocking access to certain sites.

How does this affect my dealership?

This may sound like it doesn’t pertain to dealerships, but it does to those who offer free Wi-Fi in your waiting areas.  If your customers are regularly downloading or distributing pirated content from your establishment, you could be liable.

The solution?

This rule applies to residential internet connections, so it may be time to upgrade to a business level-internet connection.

If you would like to learn more about this rule, click here to read a FAQ about this rule.

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What do you think of this new rule? Is it fair?

There’s a chance that not many have heard of the new "Six Strikes" copyright alert system, a new program that is being rolled out soon to crack down on illegal web piracy — downloads from Mega, BitTorrent, etc.

The big Internet Service Providers (Verizon and Comcast) are behind the push to stop the downloads, which according to a report in New York Magazine, costs the economy about $58 billion annually.

How does this Six Strikes rule work?

Ars Technica earlier this month reported some details on exactly how the oft-delayed six strikes policy will work in practice. Basically, there are three “stages” Internet Service Providers will go through before taking action: a “notice” phase that “involves letting users know they’ve been tracked on copyright-infringing sites”; an “acknowledgement” phase in which “the customer will have to actually acknowledge having received those notices”; and finally, the “mitigation” phase where “users who have traded copyrighted files are actually punished” through either having their speeds throttled or blocking access to certain sites.

How does this affect my dealership?

This may sound like it doesn’t pertain to dealerships, but it does to those who offer free Wi-Fi in your waiting areas.  If your customers are regularly downloading or distributing pirated content from your establishment, you could be liable.

The solution?

This rule applies to residential internet connections, so it may be time to upgrade to a business level-internet connection.

If you would like to learn more about this rule, click here to read a FAQ about this rule.

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What do you think of this new rule? Is it fair?

Car Dealers! Have you heard of the term, “Showrooming?” It’s basically a customer that comes into your dealership to look at vehicles while looking online on their smartphone at your competitor’s pricing. Annoying, right? So how do you combat these “show-roomers?”

One thing you can do is create a loyalty program. For loyalty programs to have the desired effect, you must consider these anti-showrooming strategies:

1. Your prices have to be in the same ballpark as those of your competitors.
2. Customers make every purchasing decision independently. You can't expect them to take long-term loyalty rewards into account as part of the buying decision unless those customers are explicitly prompted to do so.
3. Buying decisions often take place in a matter of seconds, which means that any anti-showrooming strategy needs to be executed in near real time to have any effect.

According to Marketingprofs.com  there are five tactics that are worth exploring when showrooming is a problem:

1. Closing the price gap. When customers in a loyalty program receive discounts, the distance between the in-store price and the competitor's online price diminishes. Dealers must find a way to communicate the "effective price" (the current price minus the points-based discount) quickly and clearly: for example, "With your Valued Customer discount, the effective price of this [item]  is $14,999!" Customers can't be expected to do the math themselves.
2. Bonus points. When showrooming is a problem with specific items, retailers can offer increased discounts or points on those items to further mitigate the price difference.
3. Free accessories. Dealers can offer free items that complement the purchase, such as a a bobble head for the car or some cool sunglasses to wear with the customer’s new ride. Often, such items have a perceived value that's significantly higher than their actual dollar value.
4. Bounceback offers. If a customer's behavior indicates the potential for a lost sale, dealers can transmit a bounceback offer, either with a discount or some other incentive. To be effective, however, the bounceback needs to happen in near real-time and it must relate very specifically to the customer's interests (Ex. free window tinting with vehicle purchase).
5. Pushed coupons. With today's technology, retailers can offer instant discounts and special cross-sell or up-sell opportunities; they can even reward customers simply for entering the store. The value of so-called push technology is that it gives customers a reason to make an in-store purchase. For example, ActivEngage, thanks to an integration with Hooklogic, offers ActivShow, which brings customers into your showroom by offering great incentives like a $25 prepaid MasterCard or $25 incentives to popular stores like Starbucks® or Target®.

What do you think of these tactics? Do you have any strategies in combating showrooming?

Car Dealers! Have you heard of the term, “Showrooming?” It’s basically a customer that comes into your dealership to look at vehicles while looking online on their smartphone at your competitor’s pricing. Annoying, right? So how do you combat these “show-roomers?”

One thing you can do is create a loyalty program. For loyalty programs to have the desired effect, you must consider these anti-showrooming strategies:

1. Your prices have to be in the same ballpark as those of your competitors.
2. Customers make every purchasing decision independently. You can't expect them to take long-term loyalty rewards into account as part of the buying decision unless those customers are explicitly prompted to do so.
3. Buying decisions often take place in a matter of seconds, which means that any anti-showrooming strategy needs to be executed in near real time to have any effect.

According to Marketingprofs.com  there are five tactics that are worth exploring when showrooming is a problem:

1. Closing the price gap. When customers in a loyalty program receive discounts, the distance between the in-store price and the competitor's online price diminishes. Dealers must find a way to communicate the "effective price" (the current price minus the points-based discount) quickly and clearly: for example, "With your Valued Customer discount, the effective price of this [item]  is $14,999!" Customers can't be expected to do the math themselves.
2. Bonus points. When showrooming is a problem with specific items, retailers can offer increased discounts or points on those items to further mitigate the price difference.
3. Free accessories. Dealers can offer free items that complement the purchase, such as a a bobble head for the car or some cool sunglasses to wear with the customer’s new ride. Often, such items have a perceived value that's significantly higher than their actual dollar value.
4. Bounceback offers. If a customer's behavior indicates the potential for a lost sale, dealers can transmit a bounceback offer, either with a discount or some other incentive. To be effective, however, the bounceback needs to happen in near real-time and it must relate very specifically to the customer's interests (Ex. free window tinting with vehicle purchase).
5. Pushed coupons. With today's technology, retailers can offer instant discounts and special cross-sell or up-sell opportunities; they can even reward customers simply for entering the store. The value of so-called push technology is that it gives customers a reason to make an in-store purchase. For example, ActivEngage, thanks to an integration with Hooklogic, offers ActivShow, which brings customers into your showroom by offering great incentives like a $25 prepaid MasterCard or $25 incentives to popular stores like Starbucks® or Target®.

What do you think of these tactics? Do you have any strategies in combating showrooming?

In a recent blog post of mine, I highlighted some research done on mobile ads and if it is worth a dealership to spend money on it. Today, I am here to tell you why you should have a mobile site for your dealership (if you don’t already). Some 12.6% of total website traffic was generated via mobile device in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 102% from the 6.3% recorded a year earlier, according to the Walker Sands Quarterly Web Traffic Report.  Additionally, according to AD:60, having a mobile site is a must and they have compiled an infographic that lists 10 Reasons Why You Need a Mobile Site. “The list should obliterate any reasons against putting mobile at the top of your digital must-haves,” Alex Matjanec said, partner and CMO of AD:60.

So here are the top 10 Reasons you need a mobile site:

1. 8% of all digital traffic comes from smartphones and tablets

2. Most mobile phones in America will be smartphones by the end of 2012

   3.    More and more users are making purchases on their phones

4. The proportion of mobile-only users is even higher in developing countries

5. Mobile commerce is growing fast

6. Smartphone users cover a wide range of demographics

7. Couch Commerce is rising

8. Smartphone users have a higher than average income

9. Mobile sites are important for both physical and digital stores

10. Your normal site is not  thumb friendly!

Still not interested? Well, mobile search queries already account for roughly 15% of all Google search volume across categories, according to Google.
So what are you waiting for? By creating experiences that connect, convert, and engage your audiences you will be sure to attract your tech savvy shoppers as well as provide better services to existing customers. Therefore, in saying that, set up a user-friendly mobile website ASAP! Thumbs are the new fingers!

In a recent blog post of mine, I highlighted some research done on mobile ads and if it is worth a dealership to spend money on it. Today, I am here to tell you why you should have a mobile site for your dealership (if you don’t already). Some 12.6% of total website traffic was generated via mobile device in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 102% from the 6.3% recorded a year earlier, according to the Walker Sands Quarterly Web Traffic Report.  Additionally, according to AD:60, having a mobile site is a must and they have compiled an infographic that lists 10 Reasons Why You Need a Mobile Site. “The list should obliterate any reasons against putting mobile at the top of your digital must-haves,” Alex Matjanec said, partner and CMO of AD:60.

So here are the top 10 Reasons you need a mobile site:

1. 8% of all digital traffic comes from smartphones and tablets

2. Most mobile phones in America will be smartphones by the end of 2012

   3.    More and more users are making purchases on their phones

4. The proportion of mobile-only users is even higher in developing countries

5. Mobile commerce is growing fast

6. Smartphone users cover a wide range of demographics

7. Couch Commerce is rising

8. Smartphone users have a higher than average income

9. Mobile sites are important for both physical and digital stores

10. Your normal site is not  thumb friendly!

Still not interested? Well, mobile search queries already account for roughly 15% of all Google search volume across categories, according to Google.
So what are you waiting for? By creating experiences that connect, convert, and engage your audiences you will be sure to attract your tech savvy shoppers as well as provide better services to existing customers. Therefore, in saying that, set up a user-friendly mobile website ASAP! Thumbs are the new fingers!