Yahoo! Local for Auto Dealers

Yahoo! Local has created an algorithm to gather content from local blogs, newspapers and local retailers to create another great opportunity for Auto Dealers.  Although this service remains as a Limited Beta there are more cities being added rapidly.  This is an attempt by Yahoo! to aggregate deals from sites like Living Social and Groupon with content from authors writing in the community.

For those Automotive Dealers that already optimize their Car Blogs, this could be a great opportunity to get your local message picked up by some other bloggers in the community.  Not only does this create an opportunity for the more tech savvy among car sales, but also creates a space to potentially focus some of your Dealership’s Interactive Advertising Revenue.

This would be a great place to showcase your dealership's face because content is being generated regularly.  This is also a great place to get content for your dealership’s social media campaigns.  We talk a lot about making your Social Media Campaign a diverse one that includes News and Events from the Local Community.  Yahoo! Local is a great resource that can keep your dealership’s Social Media Message consistent with the stories that are happening right within your dealership’s community.

Even if your Car Dealership’s Internet Team doesn’t use Yahoo! Local as a resource for generating content for your Social Updates, it’s still a great place to market your dealership to readers in the community.  The fact that this page is composed of content specific to the community, it will undoubtedly attract car buyers from within your Dealership's Market Area.  Be on the lookout for when Yahoo! Local opens up shop in your community.

PAUL POTRATZ

Yahoo! Local for Auto Dealers

Yahoo! Local has created an algorithm to gather content from local blogs, newspapers and local retailers to create another great opportunity for Auto Dealers.  Although this service remains as a Limited Beta there are more cities being added rapidly.  This is an attempt by Yahoo! to aggregate deals from sites like Living Social and Groupon with content from authors writing in the community.

For those Automotive Dealers that already optimize their Car Blogs, this could be a great opportunity to get your local message picked up by some other bloggers in the community.  Not only does this create an opportunity for the more tech savvy among car sales, but also creates a space to potentially focus some of your Dealership’s Interactive Advertising Revenue.

This would be a great place to showcase your dealership's face because content is being generated regularly.  This is also a great place to get content for your dealership’s social media campaigns.  We talk a lot about making your Social Media Campaign a diverse one that includes News and Events from the Local Community.  Yahoo! Local is a great resource that can keep your dealership’s Social Media Message consistent with the stories that are happening right within your dealership’s community.

Even if your Car Dealership’s Internet Team doesn’t use Yahoo! Local as a resource for generating content for your Social Updates, it’s still a great place to market your dealership to readers in the community.  The fact that this page is composed of content specific to the community, it will undoubtedly attract car buyers from within your Dealership's Market Area.  Be on the lookout for when Yahoo! Local opens up shop in your community.

PAUL POTRATZ

Social media gives you the opportunity to talk to the world in real time about what you're watching on TV. By posting to Facebook or Twitter on your smartphone, you can reach far beyond the world of your ugly upholstered couch and tell the world what you think about what you see. Positive words about a show can encourage your friends to watch it, and vice versa.

Now, think about the millions of people who use social networks and how many of them post about what they see on TV. Yes, couch potatoes have influence in numbers. The impact of social media discussions should play a role in placing media for automotive advertising.

In a recent Mashable article, the Senior VP of Bravo Digital Media shares how tracking social conversation gives insight into how many people are talking about shows, what their opinions are, and how these discussions tie into ratings. Networks can use these social results to see what works and what doesn't.

Ultimately, social stats can also show what shows are best for auto dealer ads and what demographics are watching which shows at which times. The possibilities are endless.

Social media gives you the opportunity to talk to the world in real time about what you're watching on TV. By posting to Facebook or Twitter on your smartphone, you can reach far beyond the world of your ugly upholstered couch and tell the world what you think about what you see. Positive words about a show can encourage your friends to watch it, and vice versa.

Now, think about the millions of people who use social networks and how many of them post about what they see on TV. Yes, couch potatoes have influence in numbers. The impact of social media discussions should play a role in placing media for automotive advertising.

In a recent Mashable article, the Senior VP of Bravo Digital Media shares how tracking social conversation gives insight into how many people are talking about shows, what their opinions are, and how these discussions tie into ratings. Networks can use these social results to see what works and what doesn't.

Ultimately, social stats can also show what shows are best for auto dealer ads and what demographics are watching which shows at which times. The possibilities are endless.

So you're managing PR for an automotive brand rolling out a new model, and you're ready to reveal specs that the public is waiting to hear. How do you announce those specs? Traditional PR guidelines would say to write a press release and send it out to major media outlets. Well, for the new 2011 Ford Explorer, Ford has bypassed traditional media and revealed the vehicle step by step over social media. Most recently, the manufacturer announced the new Explorer's MPG through an entertaining YouTube video without even mentioning the mileage in any press release.

After weathering the recession better than any other American auto manufacturer, Ford continues to see successful sales. Besides knowing how to make a quality vehicle, Ford knows how to market to today's generation. People today use social media sites like Facebook and YouTube constantly. When a manufacturer can tease a product and promise to reveal features over time, people will flock to a page and also tell their friends. Long before the official revelation of the 2011 Explorer, Ford pumped up its release with sneak pics and continues to add interesting content to the official Explorer Facebook page. Their efforts have picked up almost 80,000 fans on the page!

Take a lesson from Ford and learn that traditional automotive marketing efforts just don't work the same way in an interactive world. Build a social media following for your auto dealership to reach today's audience.

Paul Potratz
 

So you're managing PR for an automotive brand rolling out a new model, and you're ready to reveal specs that the public is waiting to hear. How do you announce those specs? Traditional PR guidelines would say to write a press release and send it out to major media outlets. Well, for the new 2011 Ford Explorer, Ford has bypassed traditional media and revealed the vehicle step by step over social media. Most recently, the manufacturer announced the new Explorer's MPG through an entertaining YouTube video without even mentioning the mileage in any press release.

After weathering the recession better than any other American auto manufacturer, Ford continues to see successful sales. Besides knowing how to make a quality vehicle, Ford knows how to market to today's generation. People today use social media sites like Facebook and YouTube constantly. When a manufacturer can tease a product and promise to reveal features over time, people will flock to a page and also tell their friends. Long before the official revelation of the 2011 Explorer, Ford pumped up its release with sneak pics and continues to add interesting content to the official Explorer Facebook page. Their efforts have picked up almost 80,000 fans on the page!

Take a lesson from Ford and learn that traditional automotive marketing efforts just don't work the same way in an interactive world. Build a social media following for your auto dealership to reach today's audience.

Paul Potratz