Do you have a piece of highly relevant and insightful information to share, but haven’t found the appropriate outlet through which to share it? Or maybe you haven’t been able to reach the audience for which your information is intended? Well, if you want to take your thought leadership to the next level and get in front of the real decision-makers in the industry – Dealer Principals and GMs – then we’ve got just the place for you.

At this year’s DrivingSales Presidents Club, we’ll be hosting the Most Valuable Insight Competition.  Created in the spirit of progress and industry thought leadership, we invite you to take the conversation to the highest level and share your thoughts and insights with the most progressive dealership executives in the country.

The Most Valuable Insight Competition encourages automotive professionals to illuminate a topic and define a stance that will impact dealership executives and organizations at the top.

If you have some groundbreaking information that you think every Dealership Operator ought to know, we invite you to submit your application to be considered for the competition, which take place during at the 2013 DrivingSales Presidents Club, held in New York, April 21-22.  Sales Pitches will not be accepted.

All automotive professionals are encouraged to apply, but only a few will have the chance to compete for the opportunity to claim the Most Valuable Insight by presenting their presentations to a panel of judges and the attendees of the DrivingSales Presidents Club.

There is NO CHARGE to apply, but the competition will be fiercely competitive. Selected finalists will present their Most Valuable Insight onstage at the Presidents Club in front of a room filled with Dealer Principles and General Managers.  The winner will also have the opportunity to present an expanded version of the Insight at DSES 2013.

Do you have what it takes? Apply now.  Applications will close on February 21, 2013.

Learn more about the contests, rules, and things to be prepared with on the DrivingSales Presidents Club Website.

About the Presidents Club:

The DrivingSales Presidents Club is an intimate, private event for Dealer Principals and General Managers to gather and study the trends regarding the three most important assets in operating a dealership: your capital, your brand, and your people. Seth Godin, known as one of the top branding experts in the world, a best-selling author and successful entrepreneur, will be spending time with the dealers discussing how to make your dealerships brand a powerful asset that stands out in your market. In addition to Seth, the Club will be bringing in an economist to shed light on some macroeconomic trends that are placing pressure on stores and how to navigate them, new and unreleased research regarding automotive retailing, and leadership practices in today’s progressive dealerships. The event is designed to be ultra intimate, giving the dealers ample face time with the experts in attendance and to facilitate a high level of networking. 

Do you have a piece of highly relevant and insightful information to share, but haven’t found the appropriate outlet through which to share it? Or maybe you haven’t been able to reach the audience for which your information is intended? Well, if you want to take your thought leadership to the next level and get in front of the real decision-makers in the industry – Dealer Principals and GMs – then we’ve got just the place for you.

At this year’s DrivingSales Presidents Club, we’ll be hosting the Most Valuable Insight Competition.  Created in the spirit of progress and industry thought leadership, we invite you to take the conversation to the highest level and share your thoughts and insights with the most progressive dealership executives in the country.

The Most Valuable Insight Competition encourages automotive professionals to illuminate a topic and define a stance that will impact dealership executives and organizations at the top.

If you have some groundbreaking information that you think every Dealership Operator ought to know, we invite you to submit your application to be considered for the competition, which take place during at the 2013 DrivingSales Presidents Club, held in New York, April 21-22.  Sales Pitches will not be accepted.

All automotive professionals are encouraged to apply, but only a few will have the chance to compete for the opportunity to claim the Most Valuable Insight by presenting their presentations to a panel of judges and the attendees of the DrivingSales Presidents Club.

There is NO CHARGE to apply, but the competition will be fiercely competitive. Selected finalists will present their Most Valuable Insight onstage at the Presidents Club in front of a room filled with Dealer Principles and General Managers.  The winner will also have the opportunity to present an expanded version of the Insight at DSES 2013.

Do you have what it takes? Apply now.  Applications will close on February 21, 2013.

Learn more about the contests, rules, and things to be prepared with on the DrivingSales Presidents Club Website.

About the Presidents Club:

The DrivingSales Presidents Club is an intimate, private event for Dealer Principals and General Managers to gather and study the trends regarding the three most important assets in operating a dealership: your capital, your brand, and your people. Seth Godin, known as one of the top branding experts in the world, a best-selling author and successful entrepreneur, will be spending time with the dealers discussing how to make your dealerships brand a powerful asset that stands out in your market. In addition to Seth, the Club will be bringing in an economist to shed light on some macroeconomic trends that are placing pressure on stores and how to navigate them, new and unreleased research regarding automotive retailing, and leadership practices in today’s progressive dealerships. The event is designed to be ultra intimate, giving the dealers ample face time with the experts in attendance and to facilitate a high level of networking. 

Facebook today announced a new feature that could have tremendous impact on dealers. Its called "Nearby" and its on the iOS and Android Apps.  

The feature is a discovery engine, allowing people to discover business around them that resonate with their social graph.  Imagine users looking for an oil change and viewing service stations nearby.  Will you be listed?  Will you be at the top of the list?  Will you have good reviews?  It marks a big step into a new market for Facebook that could have profound impact on dealers.

Whats new with "Nearby"?

People have long been able to check in to places with their Facebook app, accumulating an average of 250 million users per month checking in to places. Now, not only will people be able to check in with their Facebook account, but they can rate the business or choose to like the business’s Facebook page as well.  This will power a list of recommendations from your friends when you’re out looking for places to eat, a favorite retail spot, or even a local gas station. 

We know this is sending Foursquare and Yelp for a loop, but it has potential to really help, or hurt your dealership, too.  What should dealers so?

Get a page!

Now, more than ever, it’s time for your dealership to get and manage a Facebook page.  Yes, it’s true – there are still dealerships that don’t have one. If you do have one, is it optimized for mobile users to find you?  The fact is, Facebook is no longer just a social place to interact with potential customers – it’s a phonebook.  If you’re not on it, you’re not being found. 

And for those of you keeping up and already have a business page, it’s even more important to optimize it.  Fill out all your company information (for starters), update your images, and get to interacting 

Categorize yourself.

Think of all the reasons people might come to your dealership.  For a new car, of course, but what about after getting into an accident and they need to find a collision center?  Or, perhaps they just need an oil change.  Be certain you’re listed in the right categories, making sure your being found in all the right places.

Ask for a review!

This is where it really counts.  Just like you ask for reviews on Google, be sure to encourage your customers to check in and leave a review.  This is where the magic really happens, as the Facebook algorithm takes people’s recommendations into consideration when friends are looking for a spot.  You want to be sure you show up on top.

Bottom line – get to optimizing your Facebook page and ask your customers for reviews.  This brings a whole new meaning to SoLoMo (Social Local Mobile).

How do you see this impacting the industry? Do you think the feature will attract wide spread traction or will this be a bust?

Facebook today announced a new feature that could have tremendous impact on dealers. Its called "Nearby" and its on the iOS and Android Apps.  

The feature is a discovery engine, allowing people to discover business around them that resonate with their social graph.  Imagine users looking for an oil change and viewing service stations nearby.  Will you be listed?  Will you be at the top of the list?  Will you have good reviews?  It marks a big step into a new market for Facebook that could have profound impact on dealers.

Whats new with "Nearby"?

People have long been able to check in to places with their Facebook app, accumulating an average of 250 million users per month checking in to places. Now, not only will people be able to check in with their Facebook account, but they can rate the business or choose to like the business’s Facebook page as well.  This will power a list of recommendations from your friends when you’re out looking for places to eat, a favorite retail spot, or even a local gas station. 

We know this is sending Foursquare and Yelp for a loop, but it has potential to really help, or hurt your dealership, too.  What should dealers so?

Get a page!

Now, more than ever, it’s time for your dealership to get and manage a Facebook page.  Yes, it’s true – there are still dealerships that don’t have one. If you do have one, is it optimized for mobile users to find you?  The fact is, Facebook is no longer just a social place to interact with potential customers – it’s a phonebook.  If you’re not on it, you’re not being found. 

And for those of you keeping up and already have a business page, it’s even more important to optimize it.  Fill out all your company information (for starters), update your images, and get to interacting 

Categorize yourself.

Think of all the reasons people might come to your dealership.  For a new car, of course, but what about after getting into an accident and they need to find a collision center?  Or, perhaps they just need an oil change.  Be certain you’re listed in the right categories, making sure your being found in all the right places.

Ask for a review!

This is where it really counts.  Just like you ask for reviews on Google, be sure to encourage your customers to check in and leave a review.  This is where the magic really happens, as the Facebook algorithm takes people’s recommendations into consideration when friends are looking for a spot.  You want to be sure you show up on top.

Bottom line – get to optimizing your Facebook page and ask your customers for reviews.  This brings a whole new meaning to SoLoMo (Social Local Mobile).

How do you see this impacting the industry? Do you think the feature will attract wide spread traction or will this be a bust?

The most important part of our job here at DrivingSales is making sure we’re serving our dealers in the best way possible and listening to our community.  We’ve had our ears to the ground, reached out to many of you, and frantically taken notes on how we your experience on DrivingSales.com can be better.  And now, after nearly 18 months of push and pull, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of the new and improved DrivingSales.com website.

From first notice, you’ll see that many things have changed:

Forums come first:  The conversations between automotive professionals are what push each community member to be better. It is the centerpiece of DrivingSales and the driving force of the community. It’s where people engage, interact, and find inspiration to build more profitable businesses.  This is why we’ve placed the forums front and center.  You can see which posts are new, how active the conversations are, and easily contribute your piece to the puzzle.

Celebrate the Individual:  Logging in to your DrivingSales.com account is going to change your world.  We’ve totally revamped the profile pages, allowing you to share more impactful and relevant information, and make better connections. And now, the information you see is the most relevant to you.  You’ll want to be sure to select your departments and topics of interest because that is what will shape the content you see in your feed.  Of course, you’ll always be able to find any of the information posted on DrivingSales.com by navigating through topic or individual blog pages, but now you won’t have to put up with those pesky posts that you could care less about.  If SEO is your thing, then let your feed be riddled with SEO. If you’re like me and not so inclined toward SEO, worry not.  It doesn’t have to be there if you don’t want it.

We’ve stepped up our game – it’s time for you to step up yours.  You’ll notice the new addition of achievements and the DScore.  Your engagement with the community online and your activity in the industry offline will begin to form your treasure chest of achievement badges and your ever-climbing DScore.  Fear not, loyal DrivingSales members, all activity will be retroactively included, making sure the years you’ve spent posting and commenting will live on forever.

There’s plenty of new zoozoos and whamwhams to dig into, so have at it!  Notifications have been dusted off, profiles have been upgraded, and there’s lots of great navigation to dive into.  But the one thing that hasn’t changed through all of this is our commitment to serving you, the dealer.  If you have any questions or feedback, leave them here or email me directly.   We’re excited to hear what you think! Tour the features of the new DrivingSales.com site by clicking here.

Of course, nothing about the DrivingSales.com Update would be possible without a HUGE shout out to the team that made it possible.  Great work done by Steven Richard, Kevin Vance, Mark Leeds, and Brian Young, led by Eric Miltsch and Jared Hamilton.  Way to go, team!

The most important part of our job here at DrivingSales is making sure we’re serving our dealers in the best way possible and listening to our community.  We’ve had our ears to the ground, reached out to many of you, and frantically taken notes on how we your experience on DrivingSales.com can be better.  And now, after nearly 18 months of push and pull, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of the new and improved DrivingSales.com website.

From first notice, you’ll see that many things have changed:

Forums come first:  The conversations between automotive professionals are what push each community member to be better. It is the centerpiece of DrivingSales and the driving force of the community. It’s where people engage, interact, and find inspiration to build more profitable businesses.  This is why we’ve placed the forums front and center.  You can see which posts are new, how active the conversations are, and easily contribute your piece to the puzzle.

Celebrate the Individual:  Logging in to your DrivingSales.com account is going to change your world.  We’ve totally revamped the profile pages, allowing you to share more impactful and relevant information, and make better connections. And now, the information you see is the most relevant to you.  You’ll want to be sure to select your departments and topics of interest because that is what will shape the content you see in your feed.  Of course, you’ll always be able to find any of the information posted on DrivingSales.com by navigating through topic or individual blog pages, but now you won’t have to put up with those pesky posts that you could care less about.  If SEO is your thing, then let your feed be riddled with SEO. If you’re like me and not so inclined toward SEO, worry not.  It doesn’t have to be there if you don’t want it.

We’ve stepped up our game – it’s time for you to step up yours.  You’ll notice the new addition of achievements and the DScore.  Your engagement with the community online and your activity in the industry offline will begin to form your treasure chest of achievement badges and your ever-climbing DScore.  Fear not, loyal DrivingSales members, all activity will be retroactively included, making sure the years you’ve spent posting and commenting will live on forever.

There’s plenty of new zoozoos and whamwhams to dig into, so have at it!  Notifications have been dusted off, profiles have been upgraded, and there’s lots of great navigation to dive into.  But the one thing that hasn’t changed through all of this is our commitment to serving you, the dealer.  If you have any questions or feedback, leave them here or email me directly.   We’re excited to hear what you think! Tour the features of the new DrivingSales.com site by clicking here.

Of course, nothing about the DrivingSales.com Update would be possible without a HUGE shout out to the team that made it possible.  Great work done by Steven Richard, Kevin Vance, Mark Leeds, and Brian Young, led by Eric Miltsch and Jared Hamilton.  Way to go, team!

Follow John on his adventure to finding a new website provider with DrivingSales Vendor Ratings -- The Unbiased Venue for Automotive Ratings and Reviews.  

Rate your solution providers or browse the categories.

Follow John on his adventure to finding a new website provider with DrivingSales Vendor Ratings -- The Unbiased Venue for Automotive Ratings and Reviews.  

Rate your solution providers or browse the categories.

The DrivingSales Executive Summit isn’t just a place to come and hear world-renowned speakers or thought-provoking breakout sessions.  It doesn’t only provide an intimate networking setting with the most progressive dealers in the country.  DSES is the place to come to hear about the cutting-edge strategies and the most volatile topics that directly impact your bottom line, as well as happenings that influence the industry at large, and how that affects you, the dealer.

When things are moving and shaking in our industry, you bet you’ll hear about it at DSES.  We focus in on the topics that have a bearing on the dealer atmosphere and dealer success.  That’s why DrivingSales Founder and CEO, Jared Hamilton, will be sitting down for a face-to-face exclusive interview with the Chairman and CEO of TrueCar, Scott Painter, onstage at the 4^th annual DrivingSales Executive Summit. 

Throughout all of Painter’s businesses in the automotive industry, he’s always not only pushed the boundaries of the industry, but also tested out new and sometimes unpopular ideas of how the industry should work.  His current operations with TrueCar have caused quite a ruckus in the last 12 months. Jared will ask Scott the hard questions, many of which dealers will have the opportunity to submit ahead of time, to examine what our industry has been through and discuss what the future holds.

See Jared interview Scott exclusively on stage at #DSES.  You won’t want to miss this showstopper, so reserve your seats today!

The DrivingSales Executive Summit isn’t just a place to come and hear world-renowned speakers or thought-provoking breakout sessions.  It doesn’t only provide an intimate networking setting with the most progressive dealers in the country.  DSES is the place to come to hear about the cutting-edge strategies and the most volatile topics that directly impact your bottom line, as well as happenings that influence the industry at large, and how that affects you, the dealer.

When things are moving and shaking in our industry, you bet you’ll hear about it at DSES.  We focus in on the topics that have a bearing on the dealer atmosphere and dealer success.  That’s why DrivingSales Founder and CEO, Jared Hamilton, will be sitting down for a face-to-face exclusive interview with the Chairman and CEO of TrueCar, Scott Painter, onstage at the 4^th annual DrivingSales Executive Summit. 

Throughout all of Painter’s businesses in the automotive industry, he’s always not only pushed the boundaries of the industry, but also tested out new and sometimes unpopular ideas of how the industry should work.  His current operations with TrueCar have caused quite a ruckus in the last 12 months. Jared will ask Scott the hard questions, many of which dealers will have the opportunity to submit ahead of time, to examine what our industry has been through and discuss what the future holds.

See Jared interview Scott exclusively on stage at #DSES.  You won’t want to miss this showstopper, so reserve your seats today!