Technology creates virtual connection between dealership staff and car shoppers

Urbandale, IA—April 20, 2020—For a limited time, Flick Fusion is offering auto dealerships a free, no obligation 60-day trial of StreaMe, its live-streaming video communications application. At a time when car shoppers aren’t visiting dealership showrooms, StreaMe enables dealership personnel to connect with and engage car shoppers and current customers, regardless of which operating platform the callers are on.

“The StreaMe app makes it easy for salespeople to do real-time, virtual vehicle walkarounds. For car shoppers, StreaMe mimics the experience of standing right there with the salesperson on the lot, looking at the car,” said Tim James, COO of Flick Fusion. “The usage of live-streaming video communications has soared since the COVID-19 stay at home recommendations, which means that more consumers are becoming comfortable with live-streaming video as a form of every-day communications.”

With StreaMe, dealers can embed a click-to-call button anywhere on their website, including Vehicle Details Pages (VDPs).  The call can be answered by any member of a dealership’s team that is logged into the StreaMe app via a round robin connection. The customer is then instantly connected to the team member in a one-way, live-streaming video call, allowing the dealership employee to be seen and heard, while the customer can be heard but not seen. This allows the caller to remain anonymous, if desired, although they do have the option to engage in a two-way video call as well.  StreaMe can also be integrated into VidMail, Flick Fusion’s video email and video texting platform. When video emails or video texts are sent to customers, all the customer has to do is click on the StreaMe button to initiate a live video call that is only directed to the sales person who sent the video email and/or text.

Additionally, VidMail is a great tool for the service department. VidMail makes it easy for service advisors to video a multi-point inspection (MPI) and send it to the customer with recommended repairs. If the customer is still hesitant, you can request them to initiate the integrated StreaMe live video call to talk to the mechanic and see the needed repairs first-hand. There is no better way to increase recommended services acceptance rates while building a higher level of customer trust than ever before. 

StreaMe is a multi-platform application that can be used on both mobile and desktop devices. Most commercially available video chat applications require that both parties download an app or use designated access codes and log-in credentials. StreaMe enables cross-platform “one-click” video calls with no customer facing apps or log-in requirements. All your shopper, lead, or customer has to do is click the Video Call button to utilize StreaMe, regardless of the device they are using.

Additionally, all StreaMe communications can be captured and stored, eliminating any "he said, she said" scenarios, and providing sales and training managers with access to every video call exchange.

To see a short demo of StreaMe, click here.

To learn more, contact sales@flickfusion.com or call 515-333-4337.

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion offers a full-solution video hosting, marketing and distribution platform to automotive and other inventory-based industries. The platform delivers automated, integrated and rule/behavior-based, including geo-targeted, video content in real-time, across multiple touchpoints and throughout the entire purchase cycle.

Flick Fusion makes it easy for dealers to create desktop and mobile-friendly vehicle inventory videos, video email and customer engagement videos such as testimonials, service department overviews and more. Videos are proven to capture more buyers' attention, advance organic SEO rankings, generate leads and increase conversion rates. The Flick Fusion system builds emotional value and customer loyalty for more than 3,500 brands and preferred partners.

Video solution helps dealers stay connected at a social distance

URBANDALE, IOWA and MISSION, KANSAS, April 8, 2020 — To help dealers win the battle with social distancing, VinSolutions has selected Flick Fusion’s Smart Flicks platform to deliver integrated video communications to auto dealership customers via VinSolutions Connect CRM and the Connect CRM mobile app. The collaboration makes it easier for dealership staff to capture and share videos from within their existing CRM system – a capability that is more important than ever in today’s unprecedented climate. In turn, this enhanced ability to engage and inform car shoppers helps propel the buying process while expanding opportunities to make customer connections both in and outside the showroom.

“Video communication has a powerful impact on the automotive shopper and is proven to increase appointments, shows, and sales. Though there are a large number of stand-alone video communication options, the fact is that most owners and General Managers would prefer that all of their communications—including video—originate from their CRM,” said Tim James, COO at Flick Fusion. “Full integration of our video communication products with VinSolutions Connect CRM provides dealerships with a platform to easily create, store, and deliver a powerful video experience that is more informative and engaging than any other form of communication.”

“When customers contact a dealership, they’re looking for comprehensive information and videos are the most effective way to meet this need,” said Chase Abbott, vice president of sales at VinSolutions. “Flick Fusion’s video platform allows dealership staff to deliver a highly personalized and immersive customer experience, which ultimately drives more engagement, lead conversions and sales.”

Connect CRM customers will be able to upload or create new personalized video content and access a library of pre-populated new model vehicle videos to send out to their customers from within their CRM. A dealership’s inventory videos can also be pre-populated into the library and, with the Connect Mobile app, salespeople can capture live walkaround vehicle inventory videos to send in response to lead inquiries.

“With the constant change we’re seeing, communicating to our customers quickly and easily is a must. Our partnership with Flick Fusion and VinSolutions gives every member of our team the ability to use videos to answer questions, do deep dive vehicle walk arounds, or communicate important messages so our customers get the individualized attention they expect from the comfort of their own home,” said Erich Black, general manager at Gulf Auto Direct.  “The availability of communication records for every shopper profile and real-time reporting is really important from an accountability standpoint and enables us to identify which messages really make a difference.” 

For additional resources on how to adjust processes and to take advantage of a variety of tools on offer to help dealerships thrive in these uncertain times, visit

vinsolutions.com/here-for-you. To learn more about Flick Fusion, contact sales@flickfusion.com or call 515-333-4337.

About VinSolutions

As the provider of Connect CRM, a leading dealership customer relationship management system, VinSolutions helps more than 5,000 dealers make every connection count. VinSolutions products integrate dealership systems, processes and tools to deliver a single view of the customer across the business – so dealers can focus on building relationships throughout the sales cycle. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Mission, Kansas, VinSolutions fosters dealership success by providing a fully customizable suite of solutions, including equity mining, market pricing and desking tools, combined with the continuous, personal support of a designated Performance Manager. VinSolutions is OEM certified by every major manufacturer and is Autosoft, CDK, Reynolds & Reynolds and Dealertrack DMS certified.

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion offers a full-solution video hosting, marketing and distribution platform to automotive and other inventory-based industries. The platform delivers automated, integrated and rule/behavior-based, including geo-targeted, video content in real-time, across multiple touchpoints and throughout the entire purchase cycle.

Flick Fusion makes it easy for dealers to create desktop and mobile-friendly vehicle inventory videos, video email and customer engagement videos such as testimonials, service department overviews and more. Videos are proven to capture more buyers' attention, advance organic SEO rankings, generate leads and increase conversion rates. The Flick Fusion system builds emotional value and customer loyalty for more than 3,500 brands and preferred partners.

Groundbreaking technology transforms the online vehicle shopping experience

Urbandale, IA—February 11, 2020—Flick Fusion has launched AutoSpin 360, a ground-breaking Artificial Intelligence and Image Recognition technology designed to transform consumers’ online vehicle shopping experience. AutoSpin 360 makes it easy for dealerships to create 360° Exterior & Interior interactive presentations of their vehicle inventory, increasing customer engagement and conversion rates from vehicle detail pages (VDPs) and from text and email video communications.

Flick Fusion’s AutoSpin 360 displays automated clickable “hotspots.” When a car shopper clicks on a hotspot, a window pops up and displays information about that feature. For example, if a viewer wants to know more about the infotainment system in a vehicle, they simply click on the hotspot in the interactive display and a window pops up with information about that system.

“There’s simply no better way to get shoppers interacting with your inventory online than to let them experience it the way that they (each individual shopper) wants to experience it. And adding a 360° Interactive Presentation to your online merchandising (photos, inventory videos, and vehicle descriptions) can make certain that you are providing each individual shopper with the very best shopping experience possible, while simultaneously getting the shopper more emotionally attached to a vehicle,” said Tim James, COO of Flick Fusion. “The best part about AutoSpin 360° is that the entire interactive production process can be automated. Dealers don’t need any special equipment or special apps, and they don’t need to change their current merchandising process in any way. AutoSpin 360° can utilize the dealership’s existing merchandising assets (photos, videos, data feeds) to automatically create the interactive presentation. It doesn’t matter what order the photos were taken or delivered to us in. Our Artificial Intelligence and Image Recognition will look at each photo and determine if it belongs in a 360° Interactive Presentation and if so, where in the presentation it should reside. It then instantly builds the 360° presentation, associates any additional images that should be attached to the presentation, and then automatically associates any hotspots that it recognizes from the images and/or data feed.” 

As an additional feature, dealerships and their lot service or photography vendors can use smartphones or cameras to capture 360° presentations, then instantly upload them with Flick Fusion’s mobile application.

The completed AutoSpin 360 interactive presentations are displayed on dealerships’ VDPs in blazing fast, customizable multimedia players that can simultaneously feature the dealership’s photos, inventory videos, value proposition & testimonial videos, along with the Exterior 360° and Interior 360° interactive presentations.

Flick Fusion’s AutoSpin 360 interactive presentations provide dealers with greater insight into their customers’ online shopping behaviors with complete reporting on consumer engagement with the interactive presentations, no matter where the presentations are posted, including third-party sites and social media platforms. Views, clicks and other viewer interactions are trackable, and this data can be pushed into the dealership’s CRM for real-time account updates and activity notifications.

Flick Fusion has integrated AutoSpin 360 with a large number of website partners. Additionally, AutoSpin 360 interactive presentations are easily integrated into a dealership’s video email and texting campaigns, as well as live video calling technologies.

Dealers can also choose to generate inventory vehicle videos from AutoSpin 360 presentations, with no additional time or effort beyond their normal merchandising process.

To learn more about AutoSpin 360, visit Flick Fusion’s Booth # 6400N at the NADA Convention & Expo, February 14-17 in Las Vegas, NV. View a sample AutoSpin 360 presentation here, or contact sales@flickfusion.com or call 515-333-4337.

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion offers a full-solution video hosting, marketing and distribution platform to automotive and other inventory-based industries. The platform delivers automated, integrated and rule/behavior-based, including geo-targeted, video content in real-time, across multiple touchpoints and throughout the entire purchase cycle.

Flick Fusion makes it easy for dealers to create desktop and mobile-friendly vehicle inventory videos, video email and customer engagement videos such as testimonials, service department overviews and more. Videos are proven to capture more buyers' attention, advance organic SEO rankings, generate leads and increase conversion rates. The Flick Fusion system builds emotional value and customer loyalty for more than 3,500 brands and preferred partners.

Urbandale, IA—June 4, 2019—Flick Fusion Video Marketing's internal data reveals that full-motion walkaround videos are the fastest growing video products among auto dealerships in 2019. As a percentage of total video views that consumers have watched on dealership websites, social media platforms and third-party auto shopping sites, full-motion walkaround video views have risen 20% in Q1 2019 compared to Q1 2018.

In Q1 2018, 15% of all inventory videos viewed were full-motion walkaround videos, compared to 85% of inventory videos that were stitched-photo videos. In Q1 2019, full-motion walkaround videos accounted for 18% of all inventory video views, while the remaining 82% of video views were stitched-photo videos. In Q1 2017, just 11% of inventory video views were full-motion walkaround videos.

"I believe the primary reason for this increase is because more people are seeing the significant impact that full motion walkaround videos have on their sales," said Tim James, COO of Flick Fusion. "However, I want to caution dealers that before you run out and sign up for a full-motion video package, make sure that you or your lot services provider is able to produce professional-quality videos."

To determine which type of video is best for your dealership's video marketing program, James recommends paying attention to view rate. Stitched photo videos have an average 70-75% completion rate, while some full-motion videos only have a 20% completion rate. "If the video is amateur quality, shot with a smartphone without a stabilizer and the audio is bad, you're better off sticking with stitched photo videos until your full motion video production process is improved."

Flick Fusion's data reveals that it's the use of any video that's the driving factor, and that both stitched-photo and full-motion videos are important to increase website conversion rates. In fact, James notes that when a dealership first switches from using only inventory photos to stitched-photo videos on their VDPs, the website visitor engagement rate spikes significantly. So, if a dealership doesn't have a process in place, or if their photography company doesn't yet offer full-motion videos, stitched-photo videos are still a better option than inventory photos alone.

More important than the type of video is the exposure of the video. "What baffles me the most is when I see someone shoot a great full motion walkaround of a vehicle to post to their Facebook page, but then don’t have that same video syndicated to their website and 3rd Party listing services to improve their merchandising of that vehicle on those sites," said James.

"That same vehicle is going to get just as many, and probably a lot more, views on these other sites than it will get on their Facebook page, but they won’t take the time or use the right technologies to get that video working for them across all of their online marketing touch-points," he added. James recommends that if someone is going to take the time to shoot a full motion walkaround for one touch-point, ensure that video is used across all online marketing touch-points.  "Your efforts will be rewarded 10X," said James.

Another benefit to investing the time to shoot Full Motion Inventory Videos is that you can repurpose those existing videos for Personalized Walkarounds.  Many sales & BDC professionals want to shoot Personalized Walkaround videos for their leads; however, it can be a time-consuming process and the weather doesn’t always cooperate. With today's technology, lack of time and weather conditions are no longer excuses to not make videos.

"Shooting Personalized Walkaround videos can be a 15- to 20-minute process on a good day, but what if it’s raining, snowing, hot, or cold outside," said James. "With today’s technology, you can simply take an existing Full Motion Inventory Video, click on a button and record a personalized, custom voice over on top of the existing video. It takes about two minutes, is done from the comfort of your desk, and you'll see a massive increase in your lead follow-up response."

For more information contact sales@flickfusion.com or 515-333-4337.

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion offers a full-solution video hosting, marketing and distribution platform to automotive and other inventory-based industries. The platform delivers automated, integrated and rule/behavior-based, including geo-targeted, video content in real-time, across multiple touchpoints and throughout the entire purchase cycle.

Flick Fusion makes it easy for dealers to create desktop and mobile-friendly vehicle inventory videos, video email and customer engagement videos such as testimonials, service department overviews and more. Videos are proven to capture more buyers' attention, advance organic SEO rankings, generate leads and increase conversion rates. The Flick Fusion system builds emotional value and customer loyalty for more than 3,500 brands and preferred partners.

Urbandale, IA—April 16, 2018—Flick Fusion announced today that Lehel Reeves has joined the company as Director of Partnerships and Business Development. In his new position, Reeves will oversee the creation and management of synergistic partnerships that will raise awareness for Flick Fusion’s leading video marketing technology, and increase sales and create greater ROI for auto dealerships.

“Lehel’s experience and track record in the automotive industry are exceptional and he is already making an impact due to his energy and enthusiasm for our products, and his extensive industry connections,” said Tim James, COO of Flick Fusion.

Previously Reeves was president and co-founder of Wheels TV, where he spent eleven years developing and managing partnerships with a number of prominent vendors including CDK Global, Dealer.com, Cox Enterprises and Autotrader.com. Additionally, he co-managed operations and represented the company at automotive marketing conventions and industry functions.

“Flick Fusion leads the automotive industry with their video and mobile video technology and a team well-known for exceptional customer support,” said Reeves. “This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a company that has highly-respected leadership and compelling products, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth.”

Flick Fusion’s award-winning Smart Flicks platform allows auto dealers to create, automate and elevate their video marketing strategies to maximize reach, engage customers and increase leads and sales.

For more information, visit www.flickfusion.com

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion offers a full-solution video hosting, marketing and distribution platform to automotive and other inventory-based industries. The platform delivers automated, integrated and rule/behavior-based, including geo-targeted, video content in real-time, across multiple touchpoints and throughout the entire purchase cycle.

Flick Fusion makes it easy for dealers to create desktop and mobile-friendly vehicle inventory videos, video email and customer engagement videos such as testimonials, service department overviews and more. Videos are proven to capture more buyers' attention, advance organic SEO rankings, generate leads and increase conversion rates. The Flick Fusion system builds emotional value and customer loyalty for more than 3,500 brands and preferred partners.

Urbandale, IA—April 3, 2018—Flick Fusion today announced that its flagship video marketing platform, Smart Flicks, has won a 2018 Automotive Website Award (AWA) for the Best Website Merchandising Software. The award was presented to Flick Fusion at a ceremony hosted by PCG Companies on March 22nd at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. 

“We’d like to thank PCG Companies for a great event and everything they do to help provide dealers with the education and tools they need for successful website marketing,” said Tim James, COO of Flick Fusion.

A statement posted on the AWA website summarizes why Flick Fusion’s Smart Flicks platform was honored with the award:

“As the PCG team researched the newest edition of the Smart Flicks platform, it became apparent that multiple tweaks, customizations, and new apps have been added through the years to make a stronger product. Dealers using Smart Flicks have had direct input to help identify product improvements. Flick Fusion has responded with new iterations, reports, apps, or codes that made Smart Flicks even smarter.

The science and technology of displaying inventory and offers on a dealer’s website is continually changing, along with today’s consumer expectations of their shopping experience. Award recipients in the Website Merchandising category continue to enhance existing products and deliver new solutions to help this area of our industry grow.

We congratulate Flick Fusion for being named a 2018 AWA winner for Website Merchandising and thank them for participating in this year’s review process.”

Flick Fusion recently exhibited at the NADA Convention & Expo, where it showcased both Smart Flicks and VidCom, its recently released mobile communications app. VidCom combines the power of video email with the emotional impact of live-streaming video communications, and was featured in an Automotive News Show Daily article titled “7 Things to Check Out at NADA.”

For more information visit www.flickfusion.com  or call 515-333-4337.

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion offers a full-solution video hosting, marketing and distribution platform to automotive and other inventory-based industries. The platform delivers automated, integrated and rule/behavior-based, including geo-targeted, video content in real-time, across multiple touchpoints and throughout the entire purchase cycle.

Flick Fusion makes it easy for dealers to create desktop and mobile-friendly vehicle inventory videos, video email and customer engagement videos such as testimonials, service department overviews and more. Videos are proven to capture more buyers' attention, advance organic SEO rankings, generate leads and increase conversion rates. The Flick Fusion system builds emotional value and customer loyalty for more than 3,500 brands and preferred partners.

Urbandale, IA—March 12, 2017—Flick Fusion today unveiled the Video Warrior Package, a complete turnkey solution with all of the video marketing components that an auto dealership needs for success, including inventory videos, test-drive videos, video email and automated value proposition videos. The Video Warrior Package is customizable and the video production process can be entirely automated if a dealership has limited resources. 

“Most dealers have tried video, but without the right strategy they tend to have limited success,” said Tim James, COO of Flick Fusion.  “The Video Warrior Package includes a strategy built right into the technology, so dealerships can be as involved as they want to be, or not involved at all, depending on their preference.”

For a limited time, Flick Fusion is offering special pricing on the Video Warrior Package that includes everything an auto dealer needs to implement and accelerate a video marketing strategy. “Auto dealers that utilize this entire package will see an instant uptick in website traffic, video views, lead conversions and appointments,” said James.

The Video Warrior Package includes:

Automated Inventory Videos. Flick Fusion’s video generation system (VGS) extracts photos and data from dealers’ inventory management systems and automatically creates stitched photo videos with Human Voice Over. Inventory videos are then automatically posted on dealers’ websites, both on the search results page (SRP) and the Vehicle Display Pages (VDPs), ensuring that the right content is where shoppers are looking for it. These automated inventory videos are then distributed to third-party shopping sites, including Autotrader, Cars.com and Kelley Blue Book.

To create the best shopper experience, a dealer can display the VIN specific video and an additional four videos. “When a shopper lands on a VDP from an organic search, paid search or third-party search, it’s imperative that the dealer creates an emotional response in that shopper before they hit the ‘back button’ and return to their search,” said James. “By populating these four additional slots with value proposition videos, a dealer can see as much as a 300-400 percent increase in video views, along with a spike in return visitors to their website.”

Inventory video add-ons in this package include CarStory integration, CarFax integration and Flick Widget. The Flick Widget is a home page dynamic banner that displays up to eight videos that a car shopper viewed during their previous website visits. By tracking car shoppers’ behavior, Flick Fusion is able to get the most relevant content in front of the right shopper at the right time.

AutoFlicks with Landing Pages. AutoFlicks are virtual test-drive videos of all the newest makes and models. These videos can be used to create a virtual showroom on a dealership’s website, sent out in emails and newsletters, posted on social media platforms, displayed on a showroom kiosk and attached to VIN-specific listings for instant videos of new car inventory.

With the Video Warrior Package, dealers will also receive the bonus add-on of Flick Fusion’s video landing pages. These dynamic video landing pages can host test drive videos plus an entire library of video assets such as TV commercials, testimonials, how to videos, FAQ videos and value proposition videos. Landing pages help to build trust and increase the organic SEO value of websites.

Interactive Banners. Only Flick Fusion allows dealers to filter options to serve up the right message on the right video to the right shopper at the right time. Interactive banners are ideal for re-targeting website visitors and geo-targeting potential shoppers at specific locations, such as a competitor’s showroom.

Automated Value Proposition Videos. The Video Warrior Package includes automated value proposition videos for those dealers that don’t have the time or resources to create their own video assets.  Though these videos have automated content, they are creatively customized to each dealership and their location. Video titles include:

• Pre-Owned Vehicle Standards
• Fair, Upfront Pricing
• Better Trade Values
• Respect for Your Time
• Our Informed Staff
• Service: Facilities & Technicians
• Service: Comfort & Amenities

“We researched what customers want from a dealership and created a series of videos designed to emotionally engage and build trust with shoppers,” said James.

The series of automated videos also includes a series of automated finance FAQ videos to answer car shoppers’ most frequently asked questions.

VidMail – No video marketing strategy is complete without video emails that can be used in newsletters, campaigns and the lead follow-up process. VidMail allows dealers to set up autoresponder video e-mails, saving personnel valuable time. VidMail also delivers the ability to capture video from a desktop webcam or mobile device when used with the VidCom App, Flick Fusion’s award-winning video communications mobile app.

The VidCom App allows dealership personnel to deliver videos via email and/or text to customers from one platform that dealership management can both track and control.  The VidCom App also enables live-streaming video calls regardless of smartphone platform, so customers can connect with dealership staff, whether in sales or in the service department.

Total Live Package. Flick Fusion’s Video Warrior Package includes bonus tools that allow dealers to streamline their full motion video marketing process. Whether the dealer has a lot service capturing their inventory videos or they producing them in-house, using Flick Fusion’s Live Video Uploader enables them to upload those videos from a smartphone or any other recording device, in any size and in any format.

Additional tools that enhance the Total Live Package include:

• Custom Voice Overs enable dealers to create unlimited customized audio track recordings for their inventory videos, which can add both personalization and increase emotion with shoppers

• AdVideo allows dealers to easily add any video asset to a website page and/or emails

• Vid2Pic automatically extracts in real-time inventory photos from a video, then distribute those photos back to the inventory provider for immediate distribution to their website.

For more information about the Video Warrior Package and Flick Fusion Video Marketing, visit Booth #2032C at the NADA Convention & Expo in Las Vegas, NV. To schedule an appointment click here, email sales@flickfusion.com, or call 515-333-4337.

About Flick Fusion

Urbandale, IA—March 5, 2018—Flick Fusion today revealed the three biggest misconceptions that auto dealers have about video marketing. The three reasons auto dealers are not implementing video marketing strategies based on Flick Fusion’s internal research are: (1) videos are expensive, (2) videos are time consuming and (3) videos provide little to no marketing ROI or attribution.

“Video marketing is actually one of the cheapest forms of content and the least time-consuming for dealerships to create, because most of the process can be automated,” said Tim James, COO of Flick Fusion. “In addition, there’s no other media out there that gives dealers more insight into what customers are interested in, and the touchpoints they are viewing on, than video.”

To change these misconceptions, James offers auto dealers three tips to implement an affordable, successful video marketing strategy.

To keep expense and time at a minimum, look for a video marketing solution that automates the entire video production process. Libraries of stock videos offer choices that require little time or investment, and can be customized to a dealership’s brand by adding logos and photos.

To ensure maximum exposure for videos, dealers need to make sure they are getting seen on multiple touchpoints. “Many dealers post videos on their website and YouTube and that’s it,” said James. “Videos can and should be used in email marketing, display ads, social media, third-party auto shopping sites and in the lead follow-up process with customers.”

To measure video ROI and attribution, it’s necessary to host videos on a platform that can track viewer data and use the data to enhance the video content in real-time based upon each shopper’s individual viewing data. Many dealerships use YouTube as a primary hosting platform for their videos, which hurts them in several ways. 

First, YouTube-hosted videos offer no Video SEO (VSEO) value for a dealership’s actual website.  Even though a YouTube video may be embedded on a webpage, once the video is found on Google, the shopper is directed to YouTube to view the video and not the dealer’s website where it is embedded.  This is because YouTube claims all the SEO value for that video. The dealership’s website gets none.

Second, videos that are hosted on YouTube are at risk of being flagged by AdRev if they have any kind of music associated with them. AdRev is a company that leverages YouTube’s copyright polices to open a video up to the YouTube Ad Network by filing a copyright claim against virtually any video that has music.

The Copyright claim is often filed “on behalf of” the copyright holder even though the copyright holder may not have authorized AdRev to file claims on their behalf and may not even be aware that a claim has been filed. If the owner of the video has a legal license to utilize the music, they can easily have the Copyright Claim dismissed. Unfortunately, the video is immediately opened up to the YouTube Ad Network the instant that the claim is filed and other companies (including a dealership’s competitors) can run ads on their videos until the claim is released.   

Third, dealers have no control over which "Recommended videos to watch" YouTube will show to their viewers. After a car shopper finishes watching a dealership video, YouTube may recommend a series of other videos that fit that viewer’s viewing history, including video ads of a competitor.

Finally, YouTube doesn't offer a dealership the ability to easily access and utilize their viewer’s data outside of the YouTube platform. 

“This video viewer data is necessary to enhance the informational and emotional value of a video by updating a video’s content in real-time across multiple touch-points,” said James. “Relevant content attracts and engages more customers, increases time spent on a dealer’s website, boosts search engine rankings, improves CTRs and other metrics, and produces higher quality leads. This is really the name of the game when it comes to using video in your marketing successfully. Most dealerships just focus on the creation of video content and then they’re done. To use the power of video marketing successfully, you need a strategy that gets the right video content in front of the right shopper at the right time of the buying cycle. This takes a combination of content, exposure, and data and without all three your videos are simply enforcing these common misconceptions.“

For information about Flick Fusion Video Marketing, visit Booth #2032C at the NADA Convention & Expo in Las Vegas, NV. Schedule an appointment by emailing sales@flickfusion.com, or call 515-333-4337.

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion offers a full-solution video hosting, marketing and distribution platform to automotive and other inventory-based industries. The platform delivers automated, integrated and rule/behavior-based, including geo-targeted, video content in real-time, across multiple touchpoints and throughout the entire purchase cycle.

Flick Fusion makes it easy for dealers to create desktop and mobile-friendly vehicle inventory videos, video email and customer engagement videos such as testimonials, service department overviews and more. Videos are proven to capture more buyers' attention, advance organic SEO rankings, generate leads and increase conversion rates. The Flick Fusion system builds emotional value and customer loyalty for more than 3,500 brands and preferred partners.

Urbandale, IA—October 23rd, 2017—Flick Fusion today announced the release of VidCom Mobile App, a groundbreaking new app that takes customer communications to a new level. VidCom is a multi-platform video communication app that enables dealership personnel to engage consumers by sending them a video email or video text that encourages the customer to click on a "Video Call" button. When the customer initiates the call, dealership staff is connected with them via a live-streaming, one-way or two-way video conversation.

VidCom combines features from both VidMail, Flick Fusion's email marketing application and StreaMe, a live-streaming video communications app. Dealers can use VidCom to follow up with leads, engage and build rapport with auto shoppers, send personalized video emails and texts and to perform live-stream vehicle walkarounds.

"Today's consumer demands instant information and transparency during the car-buying process. VidCom was designed to fulfill this demand while providing the dealership with greater insight into each consumer via Flick Fusion's SMARTFLICKS video-hosting platform," said Tim James, COO of Flick Fusion.

VidCom video calls are initiated when the customer clicks on a "Video Call" button. The button can be embedded into a variety of communications formats, including on a website's Vehicle Details Pages (VDPs), or into emails, social media postings and display ads.

Once the video call is initiated, both the customers and dealership staff can choose to engage in one-way or two-way live-streaming communications. During the call the customer also has the option to mute the audio and use a built-in chat feature to communicate.

With CRM integration, VidCom creates and updates CRM records in real-time and allows dealers to set real-time alerts on customer browsing activity after engaging in VidMail or StreaMe communications.  This allows dealers to know when their customers or leads are live on any website and watching one of their videos—any video—in real-time. VidCom also allows dealers to push personalized, data driven offers directly to individual customers based upon their viewing activity as well.

Additionally, all VidCom communications are captured and stored in the CRM, eliminating any "he said, she said" scenarios, and providing sales and training managers with access to every video exchange.

VidCom is integrated with Flick Fusion's SMARTFLICKS video marketing platform. SMARTFLICKS incorporates behavior-based marketing technology that creates user profiles of individual consumers and tracks their video-viewing behavior. This data allows dealers to generate relevant and targeted marketing messages that result in more leads, appointments, and shows. 

"VidCom provides auto shoppers with an additional way to communicate with dealerships based on their preference," said James. "The younger generation has embraced video emails and video chat, and over time dealers will see engagement rates steadily increase as this form of video communications becomes mainstream."

VidCom Mobile App is a multi-platform app that can be used on any phone, computer or tablet regardless of operating system. Most commercially available video chat apps require that both parties use the same operating system, restricting Android users to one app and iPhone users to another app.

Flick Fusion is the industry's leading video marketing solutions provider. The award-winning SMARTFLICKS video marketing platform makes it easy for dealers to create desktop and mobile-friendly vehicle inventory videos, video email and customer engagement videos such as testimonials, service department overviews and more.

VidCom Mobile App is now available for download in all App stores.

For more information contact sales@flickfusion.com or 515-333-4337.

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion offers a full-solution video hosting, marketing and distribution platform to automotive and other inventory-based industries. The platform delivers automated, integrated and rule/behavior-based, including geo-targeted, video content in real-time, across multiple touchpoints and throughout the entire purchase cycle.

Flick Fusion makes it easy for dealers to create desktop and mobile-friendly vehicle inventory videos, video email and customer engagement videos such as testimonials, service department overviews and more. Videos are proven to capture more buyers' attention, advance organic SEO rankings, generate leads and increase conversion rates. The Flick Fusion system builds emotional value and customer loyalty for more than 3,500 brands and preferred partners.

AUSTIN, Texas—October 3, 2017—CarStory, the automotive AI platform from Vast, today announced a partnership with Flick Fusion Video Marketing. An industry first, the partnership combines CarStory's AI-based insights for the automtoive industry with Flick Fusion's video marketing platform, SMARTFLICKS. Dealers can now automatically receive CarStory branded videos and have them added to their inventory for no additional charge.

"Anyone who has ever sold cars knows there are key selling features for every vehicle that make it truly unique, add value and are important to the shopper," said Tim James, COO of Flick Fusion. "Merchandising inventory is really about storytelling, and the best story is the one that gets a shopper emotionally attached to a vehicle. SMARTFLICKS is a perfect match for the AI-driven insights and analytics of CarStory."

CarStory.com will also feature Flick Fusion's videos on its widely used site. Flick Fusion's customers and their partners will gain free access to CarStory Market Reports. These mobile-friendly reports are currently used by Volkswagen, Hyundai and Ford. In addition, 7,000 dealers nationwide are creating a more engaging experience thanks to CarStory.

Video marketing is becoming a touchstone for customer relationship building. Eighty-four percent of customers watch a video before buying a car, according to Flick Fusion data. The integration of video, with CarStory’s analytics, arms dealers with the smartest tools available to not just sell a car, but impress customers with an engaging experience. 

"The ability to take our CarStory Market Reports and turn them into videos takes inventory merchandising to a whole new level," said Vast CEO John Price. "Flick Fusion's SMARTFLICKS platform automates the entire production and distribution process, making it easy for dealers to reach and engage in-market vehicle shoppers across multiple touch-points. This partnership continues to drive forward what it means to sell cars in the Information Age, benefitting dealers and shoppers alike.”

About CarStory
Powered by the industry’s largest database of inventory and shopper insights, CarStory uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help both consumers and dealers make confident decisions. With a network of over 7,000 dealers nationwide, and touching over 15 million consumers a month, CarStory is the leading automotive analytics platform in the industry. To learn more or sign up, visit: carstory.ai.

About Vast

Vast is the leader in Automotive Vertical AI for automotive industry, applying domain knowledge, expertise and content to service customer-acquisition, vehicle sales and data analysis. Vast’s auto platform, CarStory, supports a number of products including CarStory Market Reports and CarStory.com. Founded in 2005, Vast is the premier provider of automotive big data solutions for the largest brands in automotive. Learn more at vast.com.

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion Video Marketing offers a full-solution video hosting, marketing and distribution platform to automotive and other inventory-based industries. The platform delivers automated, integrated and rule/behavior-based, including geo-targeted, video content in real-time, across multiple touchpoints and throughout the entire purchase cycle.

Flick Fusion makes it easy for dealers to create desktop and mobile-friendly vehicle inventory videos, video email and customer engagement videos such as testimonials, service department overviews and more. Videos are proven to capture more buyers’ attention, advance organic SEO rankings, generate leads and increase conversion rates. The Flick Fusion system builds emotional value and customer loyalty for more than 4,500 auto dealerships through a network of 80 to 100 resellers. Visit www.flickfusion.com.