It's easy to take it for granted. When we want to look for a car or answer any of life's mundane questions, we go to Google and get our answers. It happens every day (a billion times a day, actually). Most of us get our answer without paying a penny and we move on with our daily lives.

Still, Google is making money. The service might be free and something that brings us to the site or to an app on our mobile devices on a semi-regular basis, but the advertising they sell for the service is the most profitable advertising platform in history by far.

With all that said, this latest infographic breaks down the story and technical background behind the most used research tool the world has ever known.  Click to enlarge.

It's easy to take it for granted. When we want to look for a car or answer any of life's mundane questions, we go to Google and get our answers. It happens every day (a billion times a day, actually). Most of us get our answer without paying a penny and we move on with our daily lives.

Still, Google is making money. The service might be free and something that brings us to the site or to an app on our mobile devices on a semi-regular basis, but the advertising they sell for the service is the most profitable advertising platform in history by far.

With all that said, this latest infographic breaks down the story and technical background behind the most used research tool the world has ever known.  Click to enlarge.

There is a distinct taste of irony to this post. I made my feelings known about cross-posting on all of the social networks earlier this month. Now I must break my own personal rule.

This time, I have good reason.

We're trying to compile a complete list of automotive social networks. We've put together a good list but I'm sure I'm missing some, so with a heavy heart I must do the thing I prefer to avoid: post this article across all of the social networks I know.

Over the past 5 years, the automotive industry has managed an amazing transition. We were behind the times half a decade ago as an industry with many dealerships still using old technology or leaning on traditional advertising as their primary method of pushing out their message.

In the short amount of time since, we've gone as an industry from being behind other industries in internet marketing practices to setting the trend and embracing the internet as the primary method through which we market our dealerships. It has been an amazing transition and I believe we can thank the networks on the list for helping to blaze the path that has gotten us all here.

Please review the list and let me know if I'm missing any. You can comment here or email me at jrucker@tkcarsites.com with any additions.

There is a distinct taste of irony to this post. I made my feelings known about cross-posting on all of the social networks earlier this month. Now I must break my own personal rule.

This time, I have good reason.

We're trying to compile a complete list of automotive social networks. We've put together a good list but I'm sure I'm missing some, so with a heavy heart I must do the thing I prefer to avoid: post this article across all of the social networks I know.

Over the past 5 years, the automotive industry has managed an amazing transition. We were behind the times half a decade ago as an industry with many dealerships still using old technology or leaning on traditional advertising as their primary method of pushing out their message.

In the short amount of time since, we've gone as an industry from being behind other industries in internet marketing practices to setting the trend and embracing the internet as the primary method through which we market our dealerships. It has been an amazing transition and I believe we can thank the networks on the list for helping to blaze the path that has gotten us all here.

Please review the list and let me know if I'm missing any. You can comment here or email me at jrucker@tkcarsites.com with any additions.

Many people have asked me over the last couple of days why I wasn't at Digital Dealer. I have had to remain aloof about it... until now.

Today, KPA announces that it has acquired TK Carsites Inc. TK Carsites has over 650 automobile dealership clients throughout the country. The combination of the TK Carsites product line and current KPA product lines establishes KPA as a leading dealer services and Internet marketing provider for over 4,000 automotive, truck, and equipment dealerships and service companies.

The united company offers an exciting prospect for dealers in ways that we've never been able to offer in the past.

“I am impressed by KPA’s 95% year-over-year client retention. There is no automotive Internet marketing company that comes close,” says Richard Valenta, CEO and co-founder of TK Carsites. “For our clients, this means that they can continue to expect high levels of support, as well as a renewed commitment to the evolution of their products.”

You will see much more coming out of KPA and TK Carsites in the coming weeks. If you aren't excited yet, just wait. You will be.

Many people have asked me over the last couple of days why I wasn't at Digital Dealer. I have had to remain aloof about it... until now.

Today, KPA announces that it has acquired TK Carsites Inc. TK Carsites has over 650 automobile dealership clients throughout the country. The combination of the TK Carsites product line and current KPA product lines establishes KPA as a leading dealer services and Internet marketing provider for over 4,000 automotive, truck, and equipment dealerships and service companies.

The united company offers an exciting prospect for dealers in ways that we've never been able to offer in the past.

“I am impressed by KPA’s 95% year-over-year client retention. There is no automotive Internet marketing company that comes close,” says Richard Valenta, CEO and co-founder of TK Carsites. “For our clients, this means that they can continue to expect high levels of support, as well as a renewed commitment to the evolution of their products.”

You will see much more coming out of KPA and TK Carsites in the coming weeks. If you aren't excited yet, just wait. You will be.

I remember sitting down for Thanksgiving in and listening to my uncle tell my father about his car-buying experience the week before. He described in great detail about how he played coy for a while, letting the salesperson lead the conversation up until the point when it came down to money. The back and forth, the getting up and trying to walk out, the manager chasing him into the parking lot, the cut price, the regretful looks of the manager and his salesperson, culminating in the glorious and triumphant results at the end of the sale when he drove off with what he considered a steal.

The two discussed every nuance, every scowl and head shake. They made it sound... fun.

My first car-buying experience didn't go as well. By that time, there was already information available on this new thing called "the internet" that gave me insight into the numbers. I was instantly despised and practically tossed out of two dealerships before finally buying a car. I was lectured by the sales manager and the sales person about how invoice and holdback pricing on the internet was either going to be outlawed or the car business wasn't going to survive.

They were wrong on both counts. Now, the internet is a tool for both buyers and sellers. The market has been normalized so that most car deals are fair for both to some extent. Despite all of the knowledge out there on both sides, the negotiation phase is still something apparently loathed by most buyers.

This infographic by KBB shows information about this and other aspects of the buying process. It's interesting information that can be used to make the car-buying experience easier on both sides of the table. Click to enlarge.

I remember sitting down for Thanksgiving in and listening to my uncle tell my father about his car-buying experience the week before. He described in great detail about how he played coy for a while, letting the salesperson lead the conversation up until the point when it came down to money. The back and forth, the getting up and trying to walk out, the manager chasing him into the parking lot, the cut price, the regretful looks of the manager and his salesperson, culminating in the glorious and triumphant results at the end of the sale when he drove off with what he considered a steal.

The two discussed every nuance, every scowl and head shake. They made it sound... fun.

My first car-buying experience didn't go as well. By that time, there was already information available on this new thing called "the internet" that gave me insight into the numbers. I was instantly despised and practically tossed out of two dealerships before finally buying a car. I was lectured by the sales manager and the sales person about how invoice and holdback pricing on the internet was either going to be outlawed or the car business wasn't going to survive.

They were wrong on both counts. Now, the internet is a tool for both buyers and sellers. The market has been normalized so that most car deals are fair for both to some extent. Despite all of the knowledge out there on both sides, the negotiation phase is still something apparently loathed by most buyers.

This infographic by KBB shows information about this and other aspects of the buying process. It's interesting information that can be used to make the car-buying experience easier on both sides of the table. Click to enlarge.

Ten months down, two to go. 2010 was an interesting "rebound" year for many (particularly, I'm sure, those who are active on Driving Sales). What's next? What is emerging or what will emerge in 2011 that will push the industry to an even better year?

2010 saw the (belated) emergence of SEO and PPC as needs rather than wants. It saw social media become a player in many dealers' marketing budgets. Reputation management has taken center stage of late. What's next?

Will it be even more focused on reputation management based upon the recent Google changes? How about mobile and Location-based automotive marketing? Is car dealer Facebook going to get even bigger or will it prove to be smoke and mirrors?

Sales will always be in focus, but what about customer retention and reclamation? Are we going to focus on using the Internet for fixed-op marketing? What about using it for finance penetration?

Will dealers continue to focus on their dealer PPC budgets or will they switch to dealer SEO? Why not PPC AND SEO?

Perhaps the biggest question is WHO we will listen to when making our decisions. Will be it Joe Webb or Gary May? Paul Potratz or Volker Jaeckel? Missy Jensen or Larry Bruce? Why not all of them?

Luckily, we have those choices here at Driving Sales.

What do you think? What's "the next big thing" in 2011? Comment here or post your thoughts on the discussion about Automotive Marketing 2011.

Ten months down, two to go. 2010 was an interesting "rebound" year for many (particularly, I'm sure, those who are active on Driving Sales). What's next? What is emerging or what will emerge in 2011 that will push the industry to an even better year?

2010 saw the (belated) emergence of SEO and PPC as needs rather than wants. It saw social media become a player in many dealers' marketing budgets. Reputation management has taken center stage of late. What's next?

Will it be even more focused on reputation management based upon the recent Google changes? How about mobile and Location-based automotive marketing? Is car dealer Facebook going to get even bigger or will it prove to be smoke and mirrors?

Sales will always be in focus, but what about customer retention and reclamation? Are we going to focus on using the Internet for fixed-op marketing? What about using it for finance penetration?

Will dealers continue to focus on their dealer PPC budgets or will they switch to dealer SEO? Why not PPC AND SEO?

Perhaps the biggest question is WHO we will listen to when making our decisions. Will be it Joe Webb or Gary May? Paul Potratz or Volker Jaeckel? Missy Jensen or Larry Bruce? Why not all of them?

Luckily, we have those choices here at Driving Sales.

What do you think? What's "the next big thing" in 2011? Comment here or post your thoughts on the discussion about Automotive Marketing 2011.