According to research of http://trendwatching.com the year 2011 will have changes in consumer behavior which screams for a change in business behavior and attitude as well. No more Business as Usual please, when you want to keep the edge.

Here are the first three points trendwatching.com is pointing out of the eleven findings

1. Consumers will look for more realness and human touches

Chances for dealerships to engage with social media sharing more than ever. Consumer’s are craving for more authenticity, realness, human touch and less canned approaches to win their business. When dealerships taking the time to analyze, or even better watch the behavior and comments of their followers – you’ll gain insights to moods, wants and even their location, which then enable the dealership to send out targeted messages. Geo location based applications like Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook detected these trends early, early on and made targeted advertising for businesses to their clientele an easy and achievable task.

2. Consumers will be more prone to try new products and services

Danger for dealerships – falling in old and not any longer workable habits. The old formula "one time a Benz or Chevy driver always a Chevy driver" is a tale of the past. Due to globalization of new products and services the customers becoming more liberal, more tolerant and also more experienced to digest information. This means, the customers knows more than you - the sales professional - when arriving in your showroom.

TMV or True Market Value, Show me the CarFax or Yelp reviews are not any longer just terms an insider buyer knows how to obtain the best deals or to questioning the heck out of the sales persons' brain. Since manufacturers producing more models than anybody possibly can handle or needs to buy a car, customers making decisions based on following facts

1. Car Makers who are understanding the value of human globalization (Ford and their new so called World Cars) and engaging in a s subliminal but consistent way via social media interaction, and
2. Companies who will offer the biggest value (maintenance free plans, Hyundai Assurance programs, Chrysler's "you don't like it - you bring it back", etc.) to potential buyers. Further transparency is the next big word, you'll hear more and more, especially on dealership levels.
3. Transparency on dealer levels are easy to achieve, when...., when the processes are in place and everybody in the dealership buys into the idea what needs and has to happen. However, transparency and reputation can be the evil twins for a dealer or Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny at once, presenting surprises like positive reviews, testimonials, rankings and ratings displaying your performance for everybody to see. It is essential for each sales professional to ask not any longer only for referrals but also to follow up and guide the customers post sales to review site that count in the automotive industry. Ask for a good grade and let the customer tell everybody how great you are.

3. Targeted pricing and offers for your potential customers

The times of the good old shotgun advertising – blast out your pellets or in this case your ad message and possibly you’ll hit one or two potential clients and trigger a purchase are over. I actually don’t care what your advertising agency or offline advertising rep is telling you. The fact that “radio and print is so hot right now and will never die” – is just not true, especially in the huge Metro markets. Rather going for the rabbit hunting approach, blasting into a bulk of running rabbits and two will possibly not make it. Instead develop the skills of a sniper. Sit in your hideaway, observe the target(s), make no noise and wait – wait until you see the desired 13-pointer, mark it - and "boom" - touche. You got this large deer because you were hiding out where the pack is eating - you targeted exactly the location where you'll find the best of the best. So, I am asking now, why don't you "hide out" where your customers are today? Online!

For example: Look at your fan base on Twitter, Facebook – what is your average follower age group, are these more female or male customers, are they actively engaging with comments on your postings? Target your message!

A Nielsen Study revealed that Baby Boomers just discovered the power of Facebook around a year ago, and this particular customer group loves to shop online (THOUGHT: are you offering a shopping card / check-out for your automotive parts and accessories)?

The second group of valuable customers - The Generation X is looking for offers or amenities who are considered “convenience factors” – like real-time online service scheduling, pick-up service and drop-off loaner cars for families with little kids of two and more – and the most upcoming digitally involved and engaged generation –

The Millennials – are having more than 2 social media profiles, using text messaging on mobile devices more than they use the device to phone around. Using texting to submit your instant mobile coupons and discounts, flash sales and even dynamic ad hoc pricing will make you “hip” in their eyes and gain you the edge.

This concludes part 1 of Trends for 2011 - What is your customer up to

Part 2 will be posted in the next couple of days.

According to research of http://trendwatching.com the year 2011 will have changes in consumer behavior which screams for a change in business behavior and attitude as well. No more Business as Usual please, when you want to keep the edge.

Here are the first three points trendwatching.com is pointing out of the eleven findings

1. Consumers will look for more realness and human touches

Chances for dealerships to engage with social media sharing more than ever. Consumer’s are craving for more authenticity, realness, human touch and less canned approaches to win their business. When dealerships taking the time to analyze, or even better watch the behavior and comments of their followers – you’ll gain insights to moods, wants and even their location, which then enable the dealership to send out targeted messages. Geo location based applications like Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook detected these trends early, early on and made targeted advertising for businesses to their clientele an easy and achievable task.

2. Consumers will be more prone to try new products and services

Danger for dealerships – falling in old and not any longer workable habits. The old formula "one time a Benz or Chevy driver always a Chevy driver" is a tale of the past. Due to globalization of new products and services the customers becoming more liberal, more tolerant and also more experienced to digest information. This means, the customers knows more than you - the sales professional - when arriving in your showroom.

TMV or True Market Value, Show me the CarFax or Yelp reviews are not any longer just terms an insider buyer knows how to obtain the best deals or to questioning the heck out of the sales persons' brain. Since manufacturers producing more models than anybody possibly can handle or needs to buy a car, customers making decisions based on following facts

1. Car Makers who are understanding the value of human globalization (Ford and their new so called World Cars) and engaging in a s subliminal but consistent way via social media interaction, and
2. Companies who will offer the biggest value (maintenance free plans, Hyundai Assurance programs, Chrysler's "you don't like it - you bring it back", etc.) to potential buyers. Further transparency is the next big word, you'll hear more and more, especially on dealership levels.
3. Transparency on dealer levels are easy to achieve, when...., when the processes are in place and everybody in the dealership buys into the idea what needs and has to happen. However, transparency and reputation can be the evil twins for a dealer or Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny at once, presenting surprises like positive reviews, testimonials, rankings and ratings displaying your performance for everybody to see. It is essential for each sales professional to ask not any longer only for referrals but also to follow up and guide the customers post sales to review site that count in the automotive industry. Ask for a good grade and let the customer tell everybody how great you are.

3. Targeted pricing and offers for your potential customers

The times of the good old shotgun advertising – blast out your pellets or in this case your ad message and possibly you’ll hit one or two potential clients and trigger a purchase are over. I actually don’t care what your advertising agency or offline advertising rep is telling you. The fact that “radio and print is so hot right now and will never die” – is just not true, especially in the huge Metro markets. Rather going for the rabbit hunting approach, blasting into a bulk of running rabbits and two will possibly not make it. Instead develop the skills of a sniper. Sit in your hideaway, observe the target(s), make no noise and wait – wait until you see the desired 13-pointer, mark it - and "boom" - touche. You got this large deer because you were hiding out where the pack is eating - you targeted exactly the location where you'll find the best of the best. So, I am asking now, why don't you "hide out" where your customers are today? Online!

For example: Look at your fan base on Twitter, Facebook – what is your average follower age group, are these more female or male customers, are they actively engaging with comments on your postings? Target your message!

A Nielsen Study revealed that Baby Boomers just discovered the power of Facebook around a year ago, and this particular customer group loves to shop online (THOUGHT: are you offering a shopping card / check-out for your automotive parts and accessories)?

The second group of valuable customers - The Generation X is looking for offers or amenities who are considered “convenience factors” – like real-time online service scheduling, pick-up service and drop-off loaner cars for families with little kids of two and more – and the most upcoming digitally involved and engaged generation –

The Millennials – are having more than 2 social media profiles, using text messaging on mobile devices more than they use the device to phone around. Using texting to submit your instant mobile coupons and discounts, flash sales and even dynamic ad hoc pricing will make you “hip” in their eyes and gain you the edge.

This concludes part 1 of Trends for 2011 - What is your customer up to

Part 2 will be posted in the next couple of days.

Similar to the fairy tale of the Princess and the Frog, there is another phenomenon in the real marketing and advertising world what pretty much reminds me on this tale. You know it is something new out there, you are not really certain what it does, if it works – and most likely you only will find out when you try it. Just like giving the Frog a kiss and see if it turns into a prince.

We all have by now heard (I guess and hope for you) about Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr and other social media networking websites and networks. One of the newer kids on the blocks are social hubs like Gowalla, Where, Loopt and Foursquare. These three named social engagement tools are considered Geo-location based services which have only one goal in mind: To lure Users, Advertisers and Investors into their fangs. When in 2009 the Mobile Advertising segment scratched the $320 million mark, according to researchers at BIA/Kelsey, the year 2013 is expected to soar to $3.1 billion in the U.S.

May be I should quick reflect on the purposes of these Geo-location based services and explain what they are actually doing. Geo-location services are being embraced by mobile devices and encourage their owners to shop, communicate and socialize. When the purpose of these applications in the early phases were more likely game playing and seeing where my friends were hanging around, the momentum has now shifted. Capital Venture analysts nail it down: Location is one of the most important tools a merchant and marketer can use today. The opportunity to connect with potential consumers and existing customers of a brand can grow deeper. When you still doubt the success or let’s say upcoming phenomenal success of the last 3 mentioned platforms take this my friend:

• Just a few days ago Foursquare was able to secure $20 million in additional venture funding
• In April Foursquare just passed its first million member mark only to just passed 2 months later the 1.8 million member mark
• With this speed Foursquare is able to maintain a growth rate of approximate 15,000 users/day
• Foursquare has more than 15,000 business partnerships established, including Starbucks and even the news channel CNN
• The company “Where” has so far connections and business relations with more than 20,000 businesses
• Loopt has accumulated already 3 million users and attracted Gap and Burger King to their portfolio of clients
• Gowalla is up to 350,000 users

With the driving force of skyrocketing Smart-phone sales and approximate 11,000+ iPhone apps offering location services – the trend is not reversible. As you possible already know; Google with their location based application “Latitude”, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and numerous other Social Network platforms are adding or have already added Geo-location tagging. This is just the beginning. Further down the road is planned to combine Photos and Content with the locations. Chances for dealerships? Huge!!!

Just think about following scenario I discovered when I was a few weeks back in PA. In the evening hours I went to a restaurant, 4-squared my location to share it with my friend and followers to just say what I am up to and typing the info on the home screen of 4SQ. All this happened mobile (using a Blackberry). With my location (tracked to the smartphones GPS system) I also get a small information icon, placed on the right hand corner of the screen with the message “Check offers nearby”. One of the basic principles in Social Media “create curiosity” hit me up, I clicked and “voila” a Starbucks message shows up to tell me that the store right next to the restaurant offers $1 off any Frappuccino. What a perfect scenario in wanting to settle your nightly meal with a nice cold (or warm) Chocolate Chip Frappuccino.

The follow-up post on this topic will handle "how a dealer can utilize this technology for their advantage". In case you do not want to miss this, just sighn up for my RSS-feed @ SocialMediaBuzzer.com and being notified when the follow-up post will be life.

Similar to the fairy tale of the Princess and the Frog, there is another phenomenon in the real marketing and advertising world what pretty much reminds me on this tale. You know it is something new out there, you are not really certain what it does, if it works – and most likely you only will find out when you try it. Just like giving the Frog a kiss and see if it turns into a prince.

We all have by now heard (I guess and hope for you) about Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr and other social media networking websites and networks. One of the newer kids on the blocks are social hubs like Gowalla, Where, Loopt and Foursquare. These three named social engagement tools are considered Geo-location based services which have only one goal in mind: To lure Users, Advertisers and Investors into their fangs. When in 2009 the Mobile Advertising segment scratched the $320 million mark, according to researchers at BIA/Kelsey, the year 2013 is expected to soar to $3.1 billion in the U.S.

May be I should quick reflect on the purposes of these Geo-location based services and explain what they are actually doing. Geo-location services are being embraced by mobile devices and encourage their owners to shop, communicate and socialize. When the purpose of these applications in the early phases were more likely game playing and seeing where my friends were hanging around, the momentum has now shifted. Capital Venture analysts nail it down: Location is one of the most important tools a merchant and marketer can use today. The opportunity to connect with potential consumers and existing customers of a brand can grow deeper. When you still doubt the success or let’s say upcoming phenomenal success of the last 3 mentioned platforms take this my friend:

• Just a few days ago Foursquare was able to secure $20 million in additional venture funding
• In April Foursquare just passed its first million member mark only to just passed 2 months later the 1.8 million member mark
• With this speed Foursquare is able to maintain a growth rate of approximate 15,000 users/day
• Foursquare has more than 15,000 business partnerships established, including Starbucks and even the news channel CNN
• The company “Where” has so far connections and business relations with more than 20,000 businesses
• Loopt has accumulated already 3 million users and attracted Gap and Burger King to their portfolio of clients
• Gowalla is up to 350,000 users

With the driving force of skyrocketing Smart-phone sales and approximate 11,000+ iPhone apps offering location services – the trend is not reversible. As you possible already know; Google with their location based application “Latitude”, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and numerous other Social Network platforms are adding or have already added Geo-location tagging. This is just the beginning. Further down the road is planned to combine Photos and Content with the locations. Chances for dealerships? Huge!!!

Just think about following scenario I discovered when I was a few weeks back in PA. In the evening hours I went to a restaurant, 4-squared my location to share it with my friend and followers to just say what I am up to and typing the info on the home screen of 4SQ. All this happened mobile (using a Blackberry). With my location (tracked to the smartphones GPS system) I also get a small information icon, placed on the right hand corner of the screen with the message “Check offers nearby”. One of the basic principles in Social Media “create curiosity” hit me up, I clicked and “voila” a Starbucks message shows up to tell me that the store right next to the restaurant offers $1 off any Frappuccino. What a perfect scenario in wanting to settle your nightly meal with a nice cold (or warm) Chocolate Chip Frappuccino.

The follow-up post on this topic will handle "how a dealer can utilize this technology for their advantage". In case you do not want to miss this, just sighn up for my RSS-feed @ SocialMediaBuzzer.com and being notified when the follow-up post will be life.