It’s that time of year, time to show your thanks to the men and women in the U.S. military during Military Appreciation Month. Think about creating a campaign this month to highlight the hard work and dedication of military members and their families. Now I know what you’re thinking, “My OEM already offers exclusive savings for military members and veterans.” However, these two campaign ideas take your appreciation one step further, engage members of your community, and drive additional traffic to your dealership.

Military Family Appreciation Night
Host an event at your dealership where you honor not only military members, but also their spouses and children. You’ll want to make sure that the event is family-friendly, with plenty of stuff for the kids to do. Think about partnering with other local businesses to provide raffle items, food, music, refreshments, etc. With an event like this, you’ll turn your dealership into a community focused, family-friendly atmosphere and drive more traffic to your door.

Send Letters to Deployed Military
There are several organizations that work with companies just like yours to reach deployed military members. Think about partnering with a company like A Million Thanks, who sends millions of letters of thanks and encouragement directly to service members, or Cell Phones for Soldiers, who recycles old cell phones and buys calling cards for deployed soldiers to use to call home. These types of efforts are a great way to give back and show your community and customers you care.

Don’t delay; get your military appreciation campaign started today. You’ll start building rapport with your community, driving foot traffic to your dealership, and demonstrating your thanks to military members.

It’s that time of year, time to show your thanks to the men and women in the U.S. military during Military Appreciation Month. Think about creating a campaign this month to highlight the hard work and dedication of military members and their families. Now I know what you’re thinking, “My OEM already offers exclusive savings for military members and veterans.” However, these two campaign ideas take your appreciation one step further, engage members of your community, and drive additional traffic to your dealership.

Military Family Appreciation Night
Host an event at your dealership where you honor not only military members, but also their spouses and children. You’ll want to make sure that the event is family-friendly, with plenty of stuff for the kids to do. Think about partnering with other local businesses to provide raffle items, food, music, refreshments, etc. With an event like this, you’ll turn your dealership into a community focused, family-friendly atmosphere and drive more traffic to your door.

Send Letters to Deployed Military
There are several organizations that work with companies just like yours to reach deployed military members. Think about partnering with a company like A Million Thanks, who sends millions of letters of thanks and encouragement directly to service members, or Cell Phones for Soldiers, who recycles old cell phones and buys calling cards for deployed soldiers to use to call home. These types of efforts are a great way to give back and show your community and customers you care.

Don’t delay; get your military appreciation campaign started today. You’ll start building rapport with your community, driving foot traffic to your dealership, and demonstrating your thanks to military members.

Digital marketers everywhere have argued for years that direct mail is dead. In the auto industry specifically, dealers have been pushed towards digital medias like email, web, and social marketing. Although these digital channels are low-cost with instant response, it’s important to continue to supplement your digital marketing with direct mail.

To prove direct mail is alive and kicking, Advertising Age’s recent study reported direct mail spend will reach $48.3 billion in 2015. Even in the auto industry, NADA reported direct mail made up 10.7% of a dealership’s total advertising spend in 2014. As you can see, direct mail is not dead and it isn’t going anywhere any time soon. If you’ve abandoned direct mail in your marketing mix or need some help convincing yourself to get back in the direct mail game, here are seven reasons you should still be sending direct mail.

Get Noticed in the Mailbox
More and more businesses are opting for digital methods of marketing simply based on cost. This means these marketers are spending less on and sending fewer pieces of direct mail. With this recent drop in direct mail marketing, consumers are receiving less mail, which presents the perfect opportunity for your dealership to stand out and get noticed in the mailbox.

Too Much Email
Chances are your customers’ and prospects’ email inboxes are just like any other consumer – overcrowded and cluttered. It seems like nowadays everything comes in the form of an email, from personal communications to news updates, offers from retail outlets to spam and solicitations. The truth is consumers receive more emails than they’ll ever read. By sending direct mail, you can use the switch to digital to your advantage and not get your message lost in the overflowing inbox.

Deliver Tangible Marketing
One thing about digital marketing is the recipient receives nothing physical. With direct mail, you get to deliver an actual piece of marketing to the recipient they can literally hold. You get the option to deliver it in an envelope with high-quality graphics to increase its impact and get your piece noticed. Physical marketing tends to leave a better and more cognitive impression on the person receiving it.

Add a Personal Touch
Direct mail is an easy way to build relationships with customer and prospects. Not only is it perceived to be a direct message to the recipient, but it’s also assumed the sender spent an increased amount of time to deliver the message versus digital marketing which can be perceived as spam, unwanted, or very impersonal.

Build Trust
With the growing world of technology, consumers worry more and more about their privacy. Also, many consumers equate digital marketing with their fear of a scam, or worse, a virus. With direct mail, you don’t have these preconceived notions from consumers. They don’t have to worry about your direct mail piece possibly giving them a virus and can trust your marketing over a digital advertisement. Plus, direct mail is probably the most familiar marketing tool for consumers.

Increase Brand Recognition
According to the USPS, 98% of people retrieve their mail daily, and 77% of people sort it immediately, which means you develop brand recognition just by a recipient opening their mailbox and sorting their mail. Additionally, if your piece’s design sticks out in the stack of incoming mail, chances are your recipients will spend a few moments reviewing the contents.

Track Actual ROI
When leveraging digital marketing, it is very easy to track the recipients activity with the piece itself through impressions, clicks, tracking, etc., however, it can be hard to tie it directly back to return on investment. Depending on how you stage the offers in your direct mail campaign, you can track actual ROI. Meaning if your direct mail offer is unique and the recipient has to present it at time of purchase, you can see exactly what your ROI is for each piece.

If you’re one of the millions of marketers who has stopped delivering direct mail campaigns, your competition is probably thankful. Now is the time to get back into the direct mail game. Remember direct mail should not take the place of your digital efforts, just simply complement them.

Digital marketers everywhere have argued for years that direct mail is dead. In the auto industry specifically, dealers have been pushed towards digital medias like email, web, and social marketing. Although these digital channels are low-cost with instant response, it’s important to continue to supplement your digital marketing with direct mail.

To prove direct mail is alive and kicking, Advertising Age’s recent study reported direct mail spend will reach $48.3 billion in 2015. Even in the auto industry, NADA reported direct mail made up 10.7% of a dealership’s total advertising spend in 2014. As you can see, direct mail is not dead and it isn’t going anywhere any time soon. If you’ve abandoned direct mail in your marketing mix or need some help convincing yourself to get back in the direct mail game, here are seven reasons you should still be sending direct mail.

Get Noticed in the Mailbox
More and more businesses are opting for digital methods of marketing simply based on cost. This means these marketers are spending less on and sending fewer pieces of direct mail. With this recent drop in direct mail marketing, consumers are receiving less mail, which presents the perfect opportunity for your dealership to stand out and get noticed in the mailbox.

Too Much Email
Chances are your customers’ and prospects’ email inboxes are just like any other consumer – overcrowded and cluttered. It seems like nowadays everything comes in the form of an email, from personal communications to news updates, offers from retail outlets to spam and solicitations. The truth is consumers receive more emails than they’ll ever read. By sending direct mail, you can use the switch to digital to your advantage and not get your message lost in the overflowing inbox.

Deliver Tangible Marketing
One thing about digital marketing is the recipient receives nothing physical. With direct mail, you get to deliver an actual piece of marketing to the recipient they can literally hold. You get the option to deliver it in an envelope with high-quality graphics to increase its impact and get your piece noticed. Physical marketing tends to leave a better and more cognitive impression on the person receiving it.

Add a Personal Touch
Direct mail is an easy way to build relationships with customer and prospects. Not only is it perceived to be a direct message to the recipient, but it’s also assumed the sender spent an increased amount of time to deliver the message versus digital marketing which can be perceived as spam, unwanted, or very impersonal.

Build Trust
With the growing world of technology, consumers worry more and more about their privacy. Also, many consumers equate digital marketing with their fear of a scam, or worse, a virus. With direct mail, you don’t have these preconceived notions from consumers. They don’t have to worry about your direct mail piece possibly giving them a virus and can trust your marketing over a digital advertisement. Plus, direct mail is probably the most familiar marketing tool for consumers.

Increase Brand Recognition
According to the USPS, 98% of people retrieve their mail daily, and 77% of people sort it immediately, which means you develop brand recognition just by a recipient opening their mailbox and sorting their mail. Additionally, if your piece’s design sticks out in the stack of incoming mail, chances are your recipients will spend a few moments reviewing the contents.

Track Actual ROI
When leveraging digital marketing, it is very easy to track the recipients activity with the piece itself through impressions, clicks, tracking, etc., however, it can be hard to tie it directly back to return on investment. Depending on how you stage the offers in your direct mail campaign, you can track actual ROI. Meaning if your direct mail offer is unique and the recipient has to present it at time of purchase, you can see exactly what your ROI is for each piece.

If you’re one of the millions of marketers who has stopped delivering direct mail campaigns, your competition is probably thankful. Now is the time to get back into the direct mail game. Remember direct mail should not take the place of your digital efforts, just simply complement them.

With warmer weather in the air, many athletes, old and young, are starting their spring sports. From the professional level to little league, athletes, their families, and sports enthusiasts everywhere are excited about the upcoming sports season. For this reason, now is the perfect time to utilize sports marketing to build brand awareness, drive traffic, and spring into revenue. Here are two ideas to help you get started.

Leverage Sports Theme
Spring sports are gearing up, from soccer to softball, baseball to lacrosse, golf to tennis, track and field to swimming, and many more. Depending on your specific area of the country, you may be able to utilize excitement from local professional teams or little league teams. This time of year presents the perfect opportunity to leverage sports themed marketing, like Home Run Savings, Go for the Goal Deals, or even Hole-in-One Incentives to promote your dealership. Whatever sport you decide to highlight in this month’s marketing, you can leverage good old fashion competition to drive additional business.

Sponsor Local Sports
A great way to get involved with your community and give back is by sponsoring a local sports team. Whether you’re looking for a small contribution, like sponsoring a little league team, or a bigger contribution, like sponsoring a high school or college team, this type of involvement is perfect for a local business. Not only will you generate goodwill by helping out a local sports team, but you’ll also drive brand awareness, which translates into increased traffic and revenue for your dealership.

If you’re looking for fun and engaging marketing this month, look no further. You can leverage the season, attract sports fans everywhere, and drive consumers to your store with these simple ideas.

With warmer weather in the air, many athletes, old and young, are starting their spring sports. From the professional level to little league, athletes, their families, and sports enthusiasts everywhere are excited about the upcoming sports season. For this reason, now is the perfect time to utilize sports marketing to build brand awareness, drive traffic, and spring into revenue. Here are two ideas to help you get started.

Leverage Sports Theme
Spring sports are gearing up, from soccer to softball, baseball to lacrosse, golf to tennis, track and field to swimming, and many more. Depending on your specific area of the country, you may be able to utilize excitement from local professional teams or little league teams. This time of year presents the perfect opportunity to leverage sports themed marketing, like Home Run Savings, Go for the Goal Deals, or even Hole-in-One Incentives to promote your dealership. Whatever sport you decide to highlight in this month’s marketing, you can leverage good old fashion competition to drive additional business.

Sponsor Local Sports
A great way to get involved with your community and give back is by sponsoring a local sports team. Whether you’re looking for a small contribution, like sponsoring a little league team, or a bigger contribution, like sponsoring a high school or college team, this type of involvement is perfect for a local business. Not only will you generate goodwill by helping out a local sports team, but you’ll also drive brand awareness, which translates into increased traffic and revenue for your dealership.

If you’re looking for fun and engaging marketing this month, look no further. You can leverage the season, attract sports fans everywhere, and drive consumers to your store with these simple ideas.

Most Americans share in the love of planet Earth which makes Earth Day marketing so popular and retail stores leverage it to communicate with customers and prospects. If you haven’t thought about it yet, now is the time to put your Earth Day marketing together to ensure you’re ready by April 22^nd. Here are three Earth Day marketing ideas to ensure you’re part of the movement to make the world a better place.

Promote Green Vehicles
Earth Day brings about a perfect opportunity for you to highlight new vehicles. You might be thinking, “But vehicles pollute the Earth; why would they be good to promote in Earth Day marketing?” Well, chances are your vehicle lineup is becoming more and more fuel efficient and you probably have some hybrid or electric vehicles that are more earth-friendly, as well. These types of fuel-efficient vehicles are perfect to highlight in Earth Day marketing because consumers looking to be more earth-conscious will be attracted to lowering pollutants and achieving better fuel-economy.

Offer Fuel Savings Tips
The truth is, some of your customers and prospects are just not in the market for a new vehicle right now. So, think about communicating tips to help them save at the pump. You can advise them of items to help their vehicle get better fuel economy like changing air filters regularly, having proper tire inflation, and performing oil changes with the manufacturer recommended grade and intervals. In addition, you can inform customers and prospects that using cruise control, turning off the engine when waiting, and removing excess weight will also improve their fuel economy.

Get Involved
If you’re looking to really get out and promote planet Earth, this may be the idea for you. There are several ways you can give back to planet Earth and promote your dealership. You could plant trees with your local community, give a tree or flower kit for every service performed or vehicle purchased on Earth Day, or even sponsor a local Earth Day event. No matter what you decide, getting involved and helping promote planet Earth will generate brand awareness in your local community.

If you’re looking to capitalize on this day of celebrating the planet, now is the time for you to get started. Regardless of your involvement, an Earth Day campaign ensures your dealership springs into revenue.

Most Americans share in the love of planet Earth which makes Earth Day marketing so popular and retail stores leverage it to communicate with customers and prospects. If you haven’t thought about it yet, now is the time to put your Earth Day marketing together to ensure you’re ready by April 22^nd. Here are three Earth Day marketing ideas to ensure you’re part of the movement to make the world a better place.

Promote Green Vehicles
Earth Day brings about a perfect opportunity for you to highlight new vehicles. You might be thinking, “But vehicles pollute the Earth; why would they be good to promote in Earth Day marketing?” Well, chances are your vehicle lineup is becoming more and more fuel efficient and you probably have some hybrid or electric vehicles that are more earth-friendly, as well. These types of fuel-efficient vehicles are perfect to highlight in Earth Day marketing because consumers looking to be more earth-conscious will be attracted to lowering pollutants and achieving better fuel-economy.

Offer Fuel Savings Tips
The truth is, some of your customers and prospects are just not in the market for a new vehicle right now. So, think about communicating tips to help them save at the pump. You can advise them of items to help their vehicle get better fuel economy like changing air filters regularly, having proper tire inflation, and performing oil changes with the manufacturer recommended grade and intervals. In addition, you can inform customers and prospects that using cruise control, turning off the engine when waiting, and removing excess weight will also improve their fuel economy.

Get Involved
If you’re looking to really get out and promote planet Earth, this may be the idea for you. There are several ways you can give back to planet Earth and promote your dealership. You could plant trees with your local community, give a tree or flower kit for every service performed or vehicle purchased on Earth Day, or even sponsor a local Earth Day event. No matter what you decide, getting involved and helping promote planet Earth will generate brand awareness in your local community.

If you’re looking to capitalize on this day of celebrating the planet, now is the time for you to get started. Regardless of your involvement, an Earth Day campaign ensures your dealership springs into revenue.

It’s that time of year again. Time to promote National Car Care Month and remind customers of needed vehicle maintenance as the warmer weather sets in. Here are three ways you can leverage this national event and spring into revenue in your Service Department.

Host a Vehicle Check-Up Event
Think about participating in a Be Car Care Aware vehicle check-up event at your dealership. You can invite members of your community, current customers, and any potential prospects to stop by and have their vehicle inspected by one of your expert technicians. Be sure to inform participants that there is no cost for the check-up and a full report of needed maintenance will be provided. Also, hand out discount coupons for future service work so they return to you for needed maintenance.

Promote Spring Maintenance
Most Americans associate spring with cleaning and refreshing, so it’s only natural for them to extend that to their vehicles. You could offer customers tips to get their vehicles ready for the spring season, like checking fluids, hoses and belts, battery, brake system, exhaust system, tires, a/c, wipers, and lights. A helpful reminder will prompt customers to take action and get their vehicles ready for the warmer weather.

Provide Spring Savings
Everyone is more motivated when they can save money. For this reason, think about leveraging creative marketing that highlights ways to save on spring maintenance. You could deliver spring themed marketing to customers with bundled spring services at a discounted price. If you’re feeling really creative, you can cut out construction paper in the shape of flowers, put a dollar amount on the back, and tape them to your service desk. Then, when customers stop by to service their vehicle, they can pick one and use it towards their RO.

Spring has officially sprung and if you’re looking to capitalize on the change of seasons, now is the time. Utilize one of these spring ideas to drive service revenue and promote car care month with your customers.

It’s that time of year again. Time to promote National Car Care Month and remind customers of needed vehicle maintenance as the warmer weather sets in. Here are three ways you can leverage this national event and spring into revenue in your Service Department.

Host a Vehicle Check-Up Event
Think about participating in a Be Car Care Aware vehicle check-up event at your dealership. You can invite members of your community, current customers, and any potential prospects to stop by and have their vehicle inspected by one of your expert technicians. Be sure to inform participants that there is no cost for the check-up and a full report of needed maintenance will be provided. Also, hand out discount coupons for future service work so they return to you for needed maintenance.

Promote Spring Maintenance
Most Americans associate spring with cleaning and refreshing, so it’s only natural for them to extend that to their vehicles. You could offer customers tips to get their vehicles ready for the spring season, like checking fluids, hoses and belts, battery, brake system, exhaust system, tires, a/c, wipers, and lights. A helpful reminder will prompt customers to take action and get their vehicles ready for the warmer weather.

Provide Spring Savings
Everyone is more motivated when they can save money. For this reason, think about leveraging creative marketing that highlights ways to save on spring maintenance. You could deliver spring themed marketing to customers with bundled spring services at a discounted price. If you’re feeling really creative, you can cut out construction paper in the shape of flowers, put a dollar amount on the back, and tape them to your service desk. Then, when customers stop by to service their vehicle, they can pick one and use it towards their RO.

Spring has officially sprung and if you’re looking to capitalize on the change of seasons, now is the time. Utilize one of these spring ideas to drive service revenue and promote car care month with your customers.