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Monday, November 14, 2011
Reminder: Thomas Ieracitano invited you to join Facebook...
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Mobile Marketing Mania
Mobile Marketing Mania
| Written by Alex Rodrigues |
| Tuesday, 14 June 2011 11:10 |
| Mobile mania is officially here. It is not the future, it is now. And it's going to dominate how dealerships interact and market to their customers. Already, 93 percent of the U.S. population has a mobile device, and 40 percent have smart phones or mobile web devices. At some point in 2013, more people will access the internet using a mobile device than they will with a PC. In 2010 alone, mobile web browsing jumped 32 percent while there was a 90 percent increase in mobile app users. Mobile Commerce The kicker is that people are using their mobile devices to conduct business-researching and shopping for products, even buying and selling products. Clearly, people are becoming more comfortable using their smart phones for various activities. People spend what amounts to 125 years every day playing the popular game Angry Birds. On eBay, a mobile transaction occurs every second; and recently, 72,000 burgers were sold in 72 hours via a Groupon coupon. According to a recent study conducted by Ipsos OTX on behalf of Google, 78 percent of smart phone owners use their phones for shopping. "It's happening faster than all of our internal projections," Google Chairman Eric Schmidt told attendees at the Interactive Advertisers Bureau Leadership Conference in April of this year. There are more than 200 million YouTube videos played on mobile devices daily, he notes. The study for Google is hardly the only example. Even, investment firm Morgan Stanley estimates more than $119 billion in commerce will be conducted over mobile devices by 2015. Automotive Mobile Opportunity Numerous studies indicate much of that commerce will happen in automotive. A recent study by mobile ad platform GreyStripe shows that 78 percent of the people planning to buy a vehicle in the next 12 months will use some sort of touch smart web device (iPhone, iPod Touch, Android) during the purchase process. "Industry studies show approximately 17 percent of the U.S. mobile audience are 'auto-intenders'-people who will buy a new car over the next six months," says Sean Wolfington, owner of www.Tier10Marketing.com. "With 20 million auto-intenders in the mobile universe and one of three of them using a mobile device at some point during their vehicle search process, car dealers need to capture this market." Cars.com, which developed a mobile application four years ago, gets 18 percent of its traffic today from mobile devices. AutoTrader.com, meanwhile, is getting nearly a million hits a month with its mobile application. Traffic patterns indicate mobile users were most interested in finding vehicles for sale and locating a dealer, versus some of the more in-depth auto reviews and "research and compare" functionality. Like Cars.com, much of the traffic occurs on the weekends. According to the GreyStripe study, 48 percent of the people who say they will use a mobile web-enabled device in their vehicle search will conduct initial research into vehicles; 44 percent will compare prices of different dealerships while on the lot; 32 percent will find a dealership using their mobile device; and 23 percent will actually use their mobile device to contact a dealership. Importance of Apps It's not going to be enough for a dealer to have the mobile website or texting capabilities. Much of the interaction is going to come in the form of apps-compact software downloaded to the smart phone that performs specific tasks and is easy to use. There was 90 percent increase in app usage in 2010 and that number is only going higher. As of the fourth quarter 2010, 68 percent of smart phone owners used apps. The question for car dealers is: How will they leverage mobile technology to market to and maintain relationships with their customers? At this early stage there are a few automotive mobile solutions providers who help manufacturers and retailers use mobile to attract, sell, and retain more customers for less cost than traditional or internet marketing. The leading mobile solution providers in the industry today are CarFactor.com, GroupAutos.com, IntellaCar.com, and DealerAppVantage.com. Using Mobile Solutions to Attract Consumers Some mobile apps help customers shop and are used by dealers to attract more leads and sales. Two popular apps that help customers in the car shopping process are Car Factor (www.Car-Factor.com) and GroupAutos.com (www.GroupAutos.com). As of April, Car Factor was the No. 1 most downloaded automotive app in the world. It has a four-star user rating, the highest consumer rating of any automotive app in the App Store. Using Car Factor, consumers can build and compare vehicles, view vehicle reviews, and obtain pricing. Another app, newly patented, GroupAutos.com, gives consumers the ability to scan the bar code on a vehicle's MSRP sticker and get an instant guaranteed low price on every vehicle in the dealer's inventory. "Dealers can advertise that they can provide Instant Guaranteed Low Price quotes in 60 seconds or less," says Chad Collier, CEO of GroupAutos.com. GroupAutos.com has partnered with Affinity Development Group, Inc. (www.aagautogroup.com,) which operates auto buying programs for 50+ million Costco, AAA, and Navy Federal Credit Union members who bought more than 300,000 vehicles from 2,300 participating franchise dealers last year, more than any retailer in the world.Our auto buying programs offer attractive, pre-arranged pricing and deliver in-market purchasers with a 45 percent closing rate within 72 hours of first meeting with our exclusive, local participating dealer. We believe that GroupAutos.com's patented mobile pricing app can significantly shorten the time it takes our members to drive off with their new car," says Jeff Skeen, Affinity's CEO. "We are working with Affinity to build an exclusive national dealer network of 3,500+ participating franchise dealers for GroupAutos.com's customers to be able to instantly see GroupAutos.com's Guaranteed Low Price while standing in front of the exact car they want to buy", states Chad Collier. Using Mobile Solutions to Serve and Sell Consumers One observation regarding the growth of smart mobile devices is that customers have greater access to information and often are more informed about the vehicle than even the dealership salesperson is. So, IntellaCar is putting a different spin on mobile apps creating one that is for dealership usage. It has developed an app for the iPad and other mobile devices that help salespeople promote the dealership, vehicles, finance, accessories, and service. "Since most customers research online before visiting a dealership, they often know more than most salespeople about the vehicle they are considering, and this knowledge gap can hurt a salesperson's credibility," says Jim Hughes, cofounder of IntellaCar. IntellaCar's app helps salespeople quickly access product benefits that are tailored to the customers' hot buttons (safety, performance, comfort, convenience, etc.), walk-around videos, pictures, videos about the dealership, certified programs, leasing, finance products, and accessories, along with introducing the customer to the service department. "When used properly in the sales process, these showroom apps help salespeople increase their closing ratios, average gross profits and CSI, because they can answer questions quickly while also building value in the dealership and the products they sell," says Bruce Polkes, Hughes' partner at IntellaCar. Sales consultants typically see an impact in the first week using IntellaCar, with results such as selling two to four more vehicles each per month while generating up to 30 percent higher gross and 47 percent higher CSI. Dealers are also giving service customers access to these apps on iPads in the service lounge where they can view videos about additional services like car detailing, dent removal, and even new and used vehicle specials. Using Mobile Solutions to Retain and Resell Consumers Just in the last year, hundreds of dealers have started providing free apps to their customers following the purchase or service of a vehicle. One such dealer app, created by DealerAppVantage.com, lets customers view their owner's manual, schedule appointments, buy accessories, get roadside assistance, find their vehicle in a crowded parking lot, find a cheaper gas station, report an accident, receive alerts when the parking meter expires or when their kids are going beyond the speed limit. Enterprising dealers are finding the app helps to improve the customer ownership experience, satisfaction, and loyalty by delivering service reminders, recall notices, lease end tutorials, equity alerts, and specials that bring the customer in more often for service, repeat sales, and referrals. The most popular tool on the DealerApp Vantage's app is the ability to find gas stations that are less expensive, says Ed Louis, co-founder of the company. "Customers can save hundreds of dollars by using the Cheap Gas station finder to save money on gas," he says. "Customers love to use the app to make service appointments and view specials," says Mike Adler of Laurel BMW, an AutoNation store. "Customers aren't typing the dealer's URL into the mobile browser anymore because it is a lot easier to use the app to get there." Dealerships are finding it a lot easier to give the customer a free app that they can use on their mobile phone than it was trying to obtain email addresses a few years ago. The good news is that their phone is always with them and the read rates of messages delivered to the phone are dramatically higher than through email. "Our dealers post signs all over the dealership promoting the app in sales and service," syas Louis. "Dealers download the app onto customers' phones as they wait for the finance department and in service while they wait for their car. Many dealers also promote it to people who visit the dealership but aren't ready to purchase by showing them how it can help them in the shopping process." "Our dealerships mobile app is advertised on all of our newspaper ads, in our service department and it's a great selling point for salespeople in the showroom. The app has generated a big increase in website, Facebook, and showroom traffic," Adler adds. Get On Board Now The time to put a mobile strategy in place is now. "The rate of adoption for dealers leveraging mobile solutions seems to be much faster than it was for the internet," Wolfington, of Tier10 Marketing, explains. "A lot of dealers took a 'wait and see' posture when the internet first arrived, but it seems like they are reacting faster this time around." Dealers are learning that mobile is a cost effective way to stay in front of the customer. "We get a lot of leads from our app for a fraction of the cost of internet leads," says Brian Benstock, co-owner of Paragon Honda and Acura, the top selling Honda and Acura dealer. Dealers that get it and understand technology are going to be the businesses consumers want to interact with. It's time to get ready with a clear mobile strategy that integrates into existing marketing plans. |
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
Facebook
Twitterwant a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
Monday, June 20, 2011
SYNC Steps Up to the Plate with Fantasy Baseball Updates Available Hands-Free from Ford
SYNC Steps Up to the Plate with Fantasy Baseball Updates Available Hands-Free from Ford
Ford SYNC®, the company's award-winning hands-free in-vehicle connectivity technology, offers access to an on-demand weekly fantasy baseball update through available Traffic, Directions and Information Services
Drivers can get a list of weekly hitting and pitching leaders in both the American League and National League using simple voice commands
SYNC Services is an off-board network of voice-requested features, connected via a customer's cellphone, including directions, traffic, business search, weather, news, sports scores, stock quotes, horoscopes and movie listings - all free for the first three years of vehicle ownership
DEARBORN, Mich., June 16, 2011 - With baseball season in full swing, die-hard fantasy team fans who are also Ford owners can get weekly player updates in their vehicle on-demand and hands-free through Ford SYNC® with Traffic, Directions and Information Services.
Using a properly paired Bluetooth®-enabled phone with an active SYNC Services account, Ford owners can receive weekly player updates to find out who's hot and who's not. Once connected to Services, the driver simply says "Sports," then "Baseball" then "Fantasy Update." The weekly leaders in both the American League and National League are then read out aloud, along with hitting statistics including batting average, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases and runs scored. Pitching statistics include records, saves and strikeouts.
"It's been estimated that nearly 7 million people play fantasy baseball, and all of them scramble to get any kind of information about the very best players they should be putting in their lineups," said David Gersabeck, SYNC Services product manager. "This is all about giving our customers what they want. The Fantasy Update feature on SYNC gives our customers fantasy baseball updates quickly and concisely using easy voice commands."
No longer do fantasy baseball players need to pore through pages of statistics and articles to find out who they should be adding - and dropping - from their fantasy team. SYNC Services users simply press the voice button and say the command "Services" to access a wide range of cloud-based on-demand voice-activated features and information, including turn-by-turn navigation, business search, traffic, news coverage, sports reports, weather forecasts and even horoscopes and stock prices. The most recent additions to the Services network include movie listings and travel information, offering a direct connection to 150 airlines, 50 hotel chains and 11 of the largest rental car companies in the U.S.
SYNC Services also offers portability because the service is mated with the user's Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, not the vehicle, and therefore can be used in select 2010 model or newer Ford and Lincoln SYNC-equipped vehicles.
Vehicle owners even can dial up SYNC Services when on the move outside the vehicle, accessing the voice-command portal, which provides free access to information that network service providers usually charge additional fees for.
Ford SYNC®, the company's award-winning hands-free in-vehicle connectivity technology, offers access to an on-demand weekly fantasy baseball update through available Traffic, Directions and Information Services
Drivers can get a list of weekly hitting and pitching leaders in both the American League and National League using simple voice commands
SYNC Services is an off-board network of voice-requested features, connected via a customer's cellphone, including directions, traffic, business search, weather, news, sports scores, stock quotes, horoscopes and movie listings - all free for the first three years of vehicle ownership
DEARBORN, Mich., June 16, 2011 - With baseball season in full swing, die-hard fantasy team fans who are also Ford owners can get weekly player updates in their vehicle on-demand and hands-free through Ford SYNC® with Traffic, Directions and Information Services.
Using a properly paired Bluetooth®-enabled phone with an active SYNC Services account, Ford owners can receive weekly player updates to find out who's hot and who's not. Once connected to Services, the driver simply says "Sports," then "Baseball" then "Fantasy Update." The weekly leaders in both the American League and National League are then read out aloud, along with hitting statistics including batting average, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases and runs scored. Pitching statistics include records, saves and strikeouts.
"It's been estimated that nearly 7 million people play fantasy baseball, and all of them scramble to get any kind of information about the very best players they should be putting in their lineups," said David Gersabeck, SYNC Services product manager. "This is all about giving our customers what they want. The Fantasy Update feature on SYNC gives our customers fantasy baseball updates quickly and concisely using easy voice commands."
No longer do fantasy baseball players need to pore through pages of statistics and articles to find out who they should be adding - and dropping - from their fantasy team. SYNC Services users simply press the voice button and say the command "Services" to access a wide range of cloud-based on-demand voice-activated features and information, including turn-by-turn navigation, business search, traffic, news coverage, sports reports, weather forecasts and even horoscopes and stock prices. The most recent additions to the Services network include movie listings and travel information, offering a direct connection to 150 airlines, 50 hotel chains and 11 of the largest rental car companies in the U.S.
SYNC Services also offers portability because the service is mated with the user's Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, not the vehicle, and therefore can be used in select 2010 model or newer Ford and Lincoln SYNC-equipped vehicles.
Vehicle owners even can dial up SYNC Services when on the move outside the vehicle, accessing the voice-command portal, which provides free access to information that network service providers usually charge additional fees for.
Press release from Ford.
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
Facebook
Twitterwant a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Ram Trucks Plays Cowboys and Pickups in Latest Ads
From: Mike Levine
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 11:56 AM
Subject: Ram Trucks Plays Cowboys and Pickups in Latest Ads
There's a new set of Western-themed truck commercials in town that aim to promote the tough attributes of Ram pickups. Giddyap!
"The brand's outstanding craftsmanship and beliefs are delivered in this campaign by using the rustic 'Old West' as the perfect juxtaposition of past and present American values; a time when hard-working and well-crafted manmade machines were a must," said said Olivier Francois, Chrysler's chief marketing officer and CEO of the Chrysler brand.
Francois came to Chrysler via Fiat, where he was responsible for the global marketing of Fiat's brands, including Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia. Known for bold ad campaigns in Europe, Francois approved the well-received "Imported from Detroit" campaign for Chrysler that kicked off last January during the Super Bowl with a TV spot that featured Eminem.
Last month, the Ram brand unveiled its new tagline: Guts. Glory. Ram. So, it's not surprising Francois is pushing Old West imagery for its trucks.
The first four spots are:
"Code of the West"
It's the Ram truck counterpart to Chrysler's Eminem commercial. The one-minute ad ties in Ram trucks with the "Code of the West". If you're an honorable cowboy, you should be driving a Ram.
Apparently bad guys drive Ford F-150s, including what appears to be a brief cameo by actor Walton Goggins, aka Detective Shane Vendrell from "The Shield."
"Cummins Standoff"
This spot highlights the heavy-duty heritage of the proven Cummins engine, which was first used in 1989 Dodge three-quarter-ton and one-ton pickups. The 30-second ad shows other Cummins-powered vehicles have the Ram HD's back in a high-noon showdown with the Ford F-Series Super Duty.
"RamBox Locking"
What does one do when the bad guys roll into town? Warn the town, protect the family, hide away in a secret place and store the valuables — and, there is no better place for the town's courageous blacksmith to stow his precious tools than in his lockable and waterproof RamBox.
"Letterpress"
There's no truck shown in this commercial. The ad was filmed inside an actual letterpress that's meant to convey the same mechanics and precision that exists inside the soul of Ram.
Which is your favorite new ad for Ram Trucks?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
How Clean Is Your Driving License
How Clean Is Your Driving License
June 14th, 2011
When you pass your driving test and get your driving licence you will no doubt be feeling very proud and happy and there are few things in life which will give you the same feeling. The problem is that for some people having a clean driving license is not something they experience for long.
Not having a clean driving licence can be a major issue for some people; in fact it can affect your car insurance quotes and your ability to get a job or to rent a car.
Some job application forms will ask you to list any endorsements on your driver's licence and this can be a question that will throw you. You may have had points on your licence in the past but assume they have expired; if you are mistaken but do not mention these points then you could be in trouble later on if you are found out.
It is better to make a point of checking your licence before applying for any jobs so that you are not left feeling very embarrassed down the road. Failing to disclose endorsements on a job application could lead to dismissal for deception which is something no honest person wants in their past employment record. However there is more to check than just penalty points.
Many people are driving around with an invalid licence but are totally unaware of this fact. It is important that you notify the DVLA if you have changed address or if you have any changes in your personal circumstances; this is also something that many people are unaware of. If you are reaching the age of 70 any time soon you will be sent a letter notifying you of your need to apply for an extension.
Knowing what your driving licence says about you is very important these days. More and more companies are now checking licenses thoroughly so it's wise to stay one step ahead of the game.
Get all the information you need about driving tests, licences and legal requirements for driving by visiting our site at licence check.
June 14th, 2011
When you pass your driving test and get your driving licence you will no doubt be feeling very proud and happy and there are few things in life which will give you the same feeling. The problem is that for some people having a clean driving license is not something they experience for long.
Not having a clean driving licence can be a major issue for some people; in fact it can affect your car insurance quotes and your ability to get a job or to rent a car.
Some job application forms will ask you to list any endorsements on your driver's licence and this can be a question that will throw you. You may have had points on your licence in the past but assume they have expired; if you are mistaken but do not mention these points then you could be in trouble later on if you are found out.
It is better to make a point of checking your licence before applying for any jobs so that you are not left feeling very embarrassed down the road. Failing to disclose endorsements on a job application could lead to dismissal for deception which is something no honest person wants in their past employment record. However there is more to check than just penalty points.
Many people are driving around with an invalid licence but are totally unaware of this fact. It is important that you notify the DVLA if you have changed address or if you have any changes in your personal circumstances; this is also something that many people are unaware of. If you are reaching the age of 70 any time soon you will be sent a letter notifying you of your need to apply for an extension.
Knowing what your driving licence says about you is very important these days. More and more companies are now checking licenses thoroughly so it's wise to stay one step ahead of the game.
Get all the information you need about driving tests, licences and legal requirements for driving by visiting our site at licence check.
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
229.251.2462
Facebook
Twitterwant a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
Saturday, June 11, 2011
SEM SEO Backlinks, a HomeNet Group discussion
SEM SEO Backlinks, a HomeNet Group discussion
ekephart
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009 7:15:39 PM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/30/2009
Posts: 9
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/SUNSETHONDA
LET ME KNOW SOME FEEDBACK. THANKS!
Back to top
idickey@davedennis.com
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009 8:11:10 PM
Rank: Green Pea (less than 10 posts)
Groups: Member
Joined: 10/17/2009
Posts: 1
Great video!
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thomas
Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009 9:14:00 AM
Rank: Seasoned Veteran
Groups: Member
Joined: 9/1/2009
Posts: 49
That is cool !
Thomas Ieracitano
http://DigitalCarGuy.com
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ekephart
Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009 11:56:13 AM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/30/2009
Posts: 9
THANKS EVERYONE. MORE TO COME EVENTUALLY.
Back to top
ekephart
Posted: Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:57:29 PM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/30/2009
Posts: 9
everyone be sure to check out our latest videos. also, as far as the youtube marketing strategy, how effective is it for everyone else?
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ekephart
Posted: Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:58:00 PM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/30/2009
Posts: 9
www.youtube.com/sunsethonda
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bmoulton
Posted: Thursday, December 10, 2009 5:14:40 PM
Rank: Green Pea (less than 10 posts)
Groups: Member
Joined: 7/22/2009
Posts: 4
Yeah that is not bad, I can see that working
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bondys1
Posted: Monday, February 15, 2010 11:42:52 AM
Rank: Seasoned Veteran
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/21/2008
Posts: 28
what software do you use to create your videos at Sunset Honda ? Very Cool Stuff!
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thomas
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 2:39:19 PM
Rank: Seasoned Veteran
Groups: Member
Joined: 9/1/2009
Posts: 49
http://www.youtube.com/roberthutson
It helps with your seo and sem
Thomas Ieracitano
http://DigitalCarGuy.com
Back to top
ekephart
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 3:23:12 PM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/30/2009
Posts: 9
I use the basic windows movie maker. its free to download. i just upgraded my camera to a hd handheld, so it shoots in hd so the film quality will be a little better.
thomas wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/roberthutson
It helps with your seo and sem
Thomas Ieracitano
http://DigitalCarGuy.com
For those of you who are interested in SEO/SEM the following might be useful.
Thomas is correct - independent sites which offer value to the consumer like these YouTube Video hubs are important pieces of the "SEM puzzle". I would suggest that you tone the "keyword stuffing" down on that Youtube page though. There are creative ways to engineer those key phrases into content which can appear pertinent and intended for the user, even if it really isn't. ;)
The SEO-centric goal of these independent sites or "MicroSites" is to manufacturer backlinks to your website. Backlinks are simply links located on a website independent of yours which link to your website. Google sees these links as an "endorsement" or a "vote". The number of "votes" your website receives in conjunction with other factors determine your sites "PageRank". Pagerank is a rating which scales from 1-10; 1 being the worst and 10 being the best. Sites like CNN.com have a PageRank of 10 because they are well known reputable resources.
A hypothetical example of an extremely powerful backlink would be a link to your dealership from the CNN.com homepage. Because CNN has a PR of 10, a link directly from their homepage would be seen as a huge endorsement for your website. Your site's PageRank is one factor that determines where your website shows up when users conduct searches on Google.
SEO/SEM is founded on a basic principal and that is:
Google and other Search Engines want to deliver the highest quality results and ensure the searcher has the best possible web surfing experience. If you build your website in a organized, easy to follow manner and provide quality content to the user, you're already ahead of the game.
A great quote from SEOBook:
In using a marketing based approach you build up many signals of trust and many rankings as a side effect of doing traditional marketing. If people are talking about you and like your products then you are probably going to get some free high-quality links. And this leads us to the paradox of SEO: "the less reliant your site is on Google the more Google will want to rely on your site."
If you have questions or would like more information feel free to contact me directly at mscalcione@homenetauto.com or post here on the forums.
ekephart
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009 7:15:39 PM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/30/2009
Posts: 9
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/SUNSETHONDA
LET ME KNOW SOME FEEDBACK. THANKS!
Back to top
idickey@davedennis.com
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009 8:11:10 PM
Rank: Green Pea (less than 10 posts)
Groups: Member
Joined: 10/17/2009
Posts: 1
Great video!
Back to top
thomas
Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009 9:14:00 AM
Rank: Seasoned Veteran
Groups: Member
Joined: 9/1/2009
Posts: 49
That is cool !
Thomas Ieracitano
http://DigitalCarGuy.com
Back to top
ekephart
Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009 11:56:13 AM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/30/2009
Posts: 9
THANKS EVERYONE. MORE TO COME EVENTUALLY.
Back to top
ekephart
Posted: Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:57:29 PM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/30/2009
Posts: 9
everyone be sure to check out our latest videos. also, as far as the youtube marketing strategy, how effective is it for everyone else?
Back to top
ekephart
Posted: Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:58:00 PM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/30/2009
Posts: 9
www.youtube.com/sunsethonda
Back to top
bmoulton
Posted: Thursday, December 10, 2009 5:14:40 PM
Rank: Green Pea (less than 10 posts)
Groups: Member
Joined: 7/22/2009
Posts: 4
Yeah that is not bad, I can see that working
Back to top
bondys1
Posted: Monday, February 15, 2010 11:42:52 AM
Rank: Seasoned Veteran
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/21/2008
Posts: 28
what software do you use to create your videos at Sunset Honda ? Very Cool Stuff!
Back to top
thomas
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 2:39:19 PM
Rank: Seasoned Veteran
Groups: Member
Joined: 9/1/2009
Posts: 49
http://www.youtube.com/roberthutson
It helps with your seo and sem
Thomas Ieracitano
http://DigitalCarGuy.com
Back to top
ekephart
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 3:23:12 PM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/30/2009
Posts: 9
I use the basic windows movie maker. its free to download. i just upgraded my camera to a hd handheld, so it shoots in hd so the film quality will be a little better.
thomas wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/roberthutson
It helps with your seo and sem
Thomas Ieracitano
http://DigitalCarGuy.com
For those of you who are interested in SEO/SEM the following might be useful.
Thomas is correct - independent sites which offer value to the consumer like these YouTube Video hubs are important pieces of the "SEM puzzle". I would suggest that you tone the "keyword stuffing" down on that Youtube page though. There are creative ways to engineer those key phrases into content which can appear pertinent and intended for the user, even if it really isn't. ;)
The SEO-centric goal of these independent sites or "MicroSites" is to manufacturer backlinks to your website. Backlinks are simply links located on a website independent of yours which link to your website. Google sees these links as an "endorsement" or a "vote". The number of "votes" your website receives in conjunction with other factors determine your sites "PageRank". Pagerank is a rating which scales from 1-10; 1 being the worst and 10 being the best. Sites like CNN.com have a PageRank of 10 because they are well known reputable resources.
A hypothetical example of an extremely powerful backlink would be a link to your dealership from the CNN.com homepage. Because CNN has a PR of 10, a link directly from their homepage would be seen as a huge endorsement for your website. Your site's PageRank is one factor that determines where your website shows up when users conduct searches on Google.
SEO/SEM is founded on a basic principal and that is:
Google and other Search Engines want to deliver the highest quality results and ensure the searcher has the best possible web surfing experience. If you build your website in a organized, easy to follow manner and provide quality content to the user, you're already ahead of the game.
A great quote from SEOBook:
In using a marketing based approach you build up many signals of trust and many rankings as a side effect of doing traditional marketing. If people are talking about you and like your products then you are probably going to get some free high-quality links. And this leads us to the paradox of SEO: "the less reliant your site is on Google the more Google will want to rely on your site."
If you have questions or would like more information feel free to contact me directly at mscalcione@homenetauto.com or post here on the forums.
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
Facebook
Twitterwant a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
EPA Debuts New Fuel Economy Labels
From: Mike Levine
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 11:35 AM
Subject: EPA Debuts New Fuel Economy Labels
The EPA has revealed all-new fuel-economy labels designed to help car and truck buyers determine new vehicle efficiency and operating costs in a world of burgeoning propulsion choices.
The redesigned labels are expected to provide the public with information on fuel economy, energy use, fuel costs and pollution. They are roughly split into three design groups to help buyers compare energy use and cost between conventional fossil-fuel-powered and new-technology vehicles that use electricity and clean fuels. The three groups are:
- Conventional internal-combustion fuels: gasoline, diesel and E85 ethanol, where fuel economy is displayed in miles per gallon (mpg)
- Advanced technology vehicles: compressed natural gas, electricity or hydrogen, where fuel economy is displayed in miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe)
- Plug-in hybrids: vehicles that straddle both of the previous areas will display both MPGe and mpg ratings
Major design elements of each label include:
- Estimates on how much consumers will save or spend on fuel over the next five years compared to the average new vehicle.
- Easy-to-read ratings of how a model compares to all others for smog emissions and emissions of pollution that contribute to climate change.
- An estimate of how much fuel or electricity it takes to drive 100 miles.
- Information on the driving range and charging time of an electric vehicle.
- A QR code that will allow smartphone users to access online information about how various models compare on fuel economy and other environmental and energy factors. This tool also will allow consumers to enter information about their typical commutes and driving behavior in order to get a more precise estimate of fuel costs and savings.
Automakers may voluntarily adopt new fuel-economy labels for 2012-model-year vehicles. Starting with 2013 model year, the labels will be required.
Diesel vehicle
E85 ethanol label that compares E85 driving range to using gasoline
Compressed natural gas vehicle like the GMC Savana van with fuel economy displayed in MPGe
Parallel (blended) plug-in hybrid vehicle like the Toyota Prius Plug-in or PHEV Ram 1500
Series (range-extending) plug-in hybrid like the Chevrolet Volt
Full electric vehicle like the Nissan Leaf
Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle like the Honda FCX Clarity
Plug-In Rams Will Protect and Serve as Police Patrol Trucks
From: Mike Levine
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 12:36 AM
Subject: Plug-In Rams Will Protect and Serve as Police Patrol Trucks
Chrysler and the U.S. Department of Energy have delivered the first 10 Ram 1500 plug-in hybrid electric pickup trucks to Yuma, Ariz. for testing in the region's extreme summer climate. Fittingly, they'll also be used to put the heat on criminals.
Eight of the experimental trucks will be modified and used as patrol vehicles by the Yuma Police Department, according to the YumaSun newspaper.
Jerry Geier, Yuma's police chief, said he's "really looking forward to the trucks ... getting them outfitted and out on patrol and putting them to use."
The trucks have several advantages over conventional police cars. Besides getting at least 32 miles per gallon in the city, after depleting its battery's charge, the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and electric motors are rated at a combined 399 horsepower. The PHEV Rams can also generate 6.6 kilowatts of electricity to provide emergency power when needed, such as for spotlights at an accident.
The remaining two PHEV Rams will be used by Yuma's Utilities Department for customer service, such as water hookups, shutdowns and meter reading.
[Source: YumaSun]
Mopar Ram Runner Kit Visual Guide
From: Mike Levine
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 6:15 PM
Subject: Mopar Ram Runner Kit Visual Guide
Mopar has released the full specs for the bolt-on Ram Runner off-road conversion kit that promises to turn a stock Ram 1500 half-ton into a high-speed desert pre-runner.
The Ram Runner details come just in time for this weekend's kickoff of the 2011 Traxxas TORC off-road race series.
Ram Trucks is the official vehicle of the TORC series and a Mopar Ram Runner is serving as the official pace truck. The deal puts five PRO-class drivers at the wheel of a Ram truck during the 14-race season.
If you can't wait for the race to come to a track near you, here's how you can turn your Ram 1500 into a hardened race truck.
[Sources: Mopar, Ram Trucks, Photo: Pat Schutte / TORC]
Fw: Fiat expanding beyond Chrysler-paired dealerships
From: Chris Shunk
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 11:59 AM
Subject: Fiat expanding beyond Chrysler-paired dealerships
Filed under: Car Buying, Chrysler, Fiat
2012 Fiat 500c - Click above for high-res image gallery
Fiat dealerships aren't popping up quite as quickly as the original plans showed they would, but the retail outlets could get a push now that the automaker is looking outside of the Chrysler family. Automotive News reports that Fiat is now offering franchises to non-Chrysler dealers for the first time. There are currently 59 Fiat dealers nationwide, and the automaker plans to open 130 stores by the end of 2011
At one point, there were reportedly 130 Chrysler dealers that had been approved for a Fiat store, but many deals fell through for various reasons. A Chrysler spokesperson tells AN that letters of intent have already been sent out to seven non-Chrysler dealers.
While opening up the franchising process will likely speed up the pace of adding Fiat stores to the U.S., there are still many hurdles for the Italian make. For starters, the 500 is currently the only Fiat available in the U.S., and it could sit alone on the show floor for at least another year. And so far, Fiat has insisted that new franchises will only be awarded to those with plans to build a standalone store.
Though it doesn't sound like a great situation to us, we're guessing there are at least 71 more entrepreneurs willing to sign on the dotted line to gain another foothold in the car business.
Fiat expanding beyond Chrysler-paired dealerships originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord F-150 V-6 Engines Outselling V-8s
From: Mike Levine
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 1:01 PM
Subject: Ford F-150 V-6 Engines Outselling V-8s
For Ford, six is greater than eight. In May, the company sold more F-150 full-size pickups with V-6 engines than traditional V-8 power plants.
The new 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo gasoline direct-injection V-6 engine made up 41 percent of F-150 retail sales in May, up 4 percentage points from April. Sales of the new 3.7-liter naturally aspirated six-cylinder were 14 percent of retail, for a total F-150 six-cylinder engine share of 55 percent, beating sales of F-150s equipped with the new 5.0-liter V-8 and 6.2-liter V-8 mills.
What's stunning about this news is the extremely high take rate for Ford's new six-cylinder engines. Toyota's and GM's V-6 sales are in the single-digit percentages.
What's likely driving the small-displacement adoption in Ford's big trucks? Gas prices are more than a dollar higher than last year's prices, at $3.77 a gallon for regular octane fuel, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report.
A two-wheel-drive EcoBoost F-150 carries EPA ratings of 16/22 mpg city/highway but can also tow up to 11,300 pounds when properly equipped — the same as the Ford F-150's large-displacement 6.2-liter V-8 that's rated at 13/18 mpg. That makes the EcoBoost attractive to new-truck buyers looking for the right combination of power and frugality.
EcoBoost is also priced aggressively. It's $1,750 more than the F-150's entry-level 302-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6, $750 more than the midrange 360-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 and $1,245 less than the premium 411-hp, 6.2-liter V-8.
[Source: Ford]
May 2011 Top 10 Pickup Truck Sales
From: Mike Levine
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 1:36 PM
Subject: May 2011 Top 10 Pickup Truck Sales
Top 10 Pickup Truck Sales in May 2011
 | |||||
| Rank | YTD Sales | YTD vs. 2010 | Year-Over-Year | Monthly Sales | Last 12 months |
| |||||
| 1 | Ford F-Series | +10.6% | May 2011 | 42,399 | Coming Soon |
| 214,461 | May 2010 | 49,858 |
| 2 | Chevrolet Silverado | +10.6% | May 2011 | 28,409 | Coming Soon |
| 150,206 | May 2010 | 33,690 |
| 3 | Ram Trucks | +31% | May 2011 | 20,117 | Coming Soon |
| 90,536 | May 2010 | 17,298 |
| 4 | GMC Sierra | +25% | May 2011 | 10,753 | Coming Soon |
| 55,221 | May 2010 | 11,305 |
| 5 | Toyota Tacoma | +5.2% | May 2011 | 9,091 | Coming Soon |
| 44,764 | May 2010 | 8,630 |
| 6 | Toyota Tundra | -11.6% | May 2011 | 4,307 | Coming Soon |
| 33,233 | May 2010 | 8,491 |
| 7 | Ford Ranger | -2.6% | May 2011 | 5,713 | Coming Soon |
| 23,544 | May 2010 | 6,651 |
| 8 | Nissan Frontier | +22.6% | May 2011 | 4,674 | Coming Soon |
| 19,010 | May 2010 | 3,739 |
| 9 | Chevrolet Colorado | +34% | May 2011 | 2,944 | Coming Soon |
| 13,104 | May 2010 | 2,535 |
| 10 | Nissan Titan | -24% | May 2011 | 1,160 | Coming Soon |
| 7,231 | May 2010 | 2,063 |
Ford Announces New 8-Speed Transmission, Split Cooling System Technology
From: Mike Levine
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 12:32 PM
Subject: Ford Announces New 8-Speed Transmission, Split Cooling System Technology
Ford says it plans to offer new eight-speed automatic transmissions across its vehicle lineup that offer improved fuel economy and ultra-precise shifts.
The gearbox will allow Ford to continue its effort to downsize engine displacement without affecting performance, said Joe Bakaj, Ford's vice president of global powertrain engineering.
"The eight-speed will offer 2 to 6 percent better fuel economy" compared with today's six-speed transmission, like that found in the Ford F-150, Bakaj said. "It will have a wide ratio spread, so customers can run a shorter gear [than today] pulling away from a stop."
The eight-speed will also feature what Ford says is the industry's first torque input sensor. The sensor will measure torque coming into the transmission, enabling faster gear selection, reducing gear hunting and helping smooth out shifts.
"The transmission knows how much torque is needed and will be able to variably control pressure on the clutch packs to deliver smooth shifts," Bakaj said.
Hydraulic actuators that control line pressure applied to clutch plates during shifts will be directly integrated into the transmission case instead of embedded in a separate assembly that's bolted inside the housing, like today's Ford transmissions use. The integrated construction promises tighter component fit and less component flexibility which can stress the sensitive parts.
Bakaj didn't say which cars and trucks will get the new transmission, but we imagine it will be a perfect match for the Ford F-150, which currently uses a six-speed 6R80 automatic gearbox.
Ford also announced a so-called split cooling system that allows the cylinder block to warm up before the cylinder head, improving engine mileage and efficiency. The system saves fuel during cold weather or short trips because oil and engine fluid viscosity rises as temperatures fall, so more work and more fuel is required to overcome friction in the powertrain.
"It's actually a single cooling loop with multiple circuits," said Brett Hinds, manager of Ford EcoBoost engine development. "We [variably] block coolant to the radiator [when the engine is cold] to warm up the engine block sooner while still allowing coolant to flow to the heads [which sit on top of the engine block over the cylinders]."
The split cooling system will debut on Ford's new 1-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine coming to Ford's small cars, but in a case of trickle-up engineering, it will migrate to other vehicles.
Spied! Ram 2500 Heavy Duty with RamBox
From: Mike Levine
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 6:05 PM
Subject: Spied! Ram 2500 Heavy Duty with RamBox
Photos by Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Company
Judging by these photos just snapped by our spies, plus word from our sources, Ram is set to broaden the availability of its innovative RamBox storage feature to its heavy-duty pickups.
RamBox debuted on the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5-foot-7-inch cargo box. It offers 8.6 cubic feet of dry lockable side-saddle space, with room to squeeze a 4-by-8-foot sheet of plywood between the bed walls.
What's unique about the availability of the RamBox for the single-rear wheel Ram Heavy Duty 2500 pictured here is its availability with the 6-foot-4-inch cargo box. We estimate this will increase secure cargo capacity to about 9.75 cubic feet per side. Heck, we might even be able to fit in it.
The 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman added the availability of a $205 gun rack/fishing rod combo holster that fits in the half-ton truck's unique optional RamBox side-saddle cargo box storage bins. The Mopar RamBox Holster can secure two rifles or shotguns, or it can rotate 90 degrees to hold up to six fishing rods.
Current pricing for the RamBox starts at $1,895. Pricing for the 6-foot-4-inch version is unknown. We expect it to be available next year for the 2012 Ram HD pickups. Allpar reports that Ram 1500 half-tons with the longer box will also have the higher interior volume RamBox.
Our sources also say that Chrysler is working on a RamBox for dual-rear wheel models, too.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Keith Shetterly
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
want a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
Keith Shetterly
Copyright 2011 All Rights ReservedDealer floor traffic has tracked steadily downward since 1995, while Internet shopping has concurrently risen—and that drop in floor traffic and rise in Internet shopping has dramatically sharpened in both directions since 2005. So, in the last six years, shoppers have confirmed that if you're waiting for the "UP Bus" and watching the lot through the window, you're just a dinosaur waiting to be encased in rock.
And, yet, so many dealerships populate their sales floors and thinking with just that strategy! We no longer get them at the door and take them to the driver's seat, customers are interacting with us first from their mouse click—and we have to engage them there, where they are, in order to get them into the driver's seat later. And that takes a lot more "doing" on a dealer's part than any sales manager's preparation of whatever ads used to be put in the newspaper.For example, Social Media is still a new Internet "undiscovered country" for most dealers. I was recently struck by two rather-successful industry consultant icons and their different assessment of the vehicle sales impact of social media: One thinks it's the next great thing, and one thinks it will never be a lead generator. For the next couple of years, I'd have to say I agree with them both.The easiest way to currently get direct impact from social media is not in leads, but instead in using it to get attention from interesting content (funny videos to pass around to friends, not still pics of your inventory!) and then also to create back links to your website. That's not lead generation, that's shopper direction, and it shows up, for example, in higher organic ranking in search engines—which leads even more shoppers to find you! And shopper direction is all what SEO and PPC (some call SEM) really are, purposed efforts to promote your dealership's website for shopper inventory review and ultimately lead submission (via forms, email, chat, or phone). In that way, social media is not a lead generator but certainly is "the next great thing" for sales enabling. For now.And understand that we no longer so easily restrict the information about the vehicle, as with the fuller bloom of the Internet now our shoppers control it—really, the OEMs have made sure of that, and we have followed right along because competition made it necessary. Any efforts online to restrict information (for example, empty email responses) just frustrate shoppers, creating opportunity for competitors. Control of information is another thing altogether, and that has always been a hallmark of good car sales because it means a conversation that is sales enabling and still is. For example, on the phone: "Yes, we have the car, but I have several others to choose from that might save you even more money. And with the differences in options, the ride of each really needs to be evaluated in a test drive. When can you come in, this afternoon or this evening?" This still works very well in a conversation.And also beware of giving too much information: Internet or phone responses that are full of answers to questions but are without enticements for the customer to write back (or, better yet, call back) do not yield conversations. And conversations are still what lead to visits and sales! So, what dealers need online is their inventory to be easily and quickly found on the Internet, to then provide website motivation for customers to interact (Make an Offer forms, Email Us, Facebook, Chat, etc.), and to then use that interaction to create conversations which provide avenues to sales. Really, the whole conversation part of car sales hasn't changed—it's just that the Internet has changed how and when people decide to actually visit your lot. And, you need to get that conversation started to get that visit!Vehicle shoppers, via the Internet, are maturing their purchase decision on their own much further down the sales funnel than ever before. And every step in that maturation has to include enticements, incentives, and information control (NOT restriction) from the dealer aimed at continuing the maturation to a sale. That is why the lot traffic has trended downward for 16 years: "Window" shopping is all done on the Internet now, and the folks arriving on your lot--though there are fewer--are more ready to buy than ever before.Now you can see why the floor and Internet traffic have proceeded in the last sixteen years as they have: How do we get folks from the mouse click to the driver's seat? We accept the change the Internet has brought us—that shoppers are further along in the sales process and more educated than ever when they contact us or come in!—and we use all the tools, from email to the phone to social media, to get better at what is still as true it has always been: Conversations lead to sales.So, everybody: Get clicking, get emailing, get calling, get talking--and get selling!
Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved2."Running Tiger"
執行老虎
Driving Traffic to Your Website is More Than Just Meta Tags and Page Titles and Ad Spends
Don't expect your current success via yesterday's SEO to last—are you creating and posting online video on your site? Do you YouTube? Are you pursuing back-links from Social Media? Do you blog? Have any micro sites? The Internet isn't a RonCo "Set It and Forget It" appliance, so don't treat it that way. Stay on top of it! And are you thinking of PPC? Any effort for search engines not including PPC is leaving money on the table—PPC is proven, measurable, and very valuable. Use it smartly!跳舞猴子
3. "Dancing Monkey"
Live Chat to a Dead Head is Only Good at Concerts
The mega fans of the Grateful Dead should never provide live chat services—are you checking what you're getting with your online chat service? Make sure they answer well and successfully set appointments by "mystery chatting" them yourself. And do it often. And if you're not using chat or not considering it, you're missing a very valuable sales conversion tool—you worked hard to get the shopper to your site, so start the sales engagement there!4."Lightning Snake"
閃電蛇
Hosting Short Videos Means Never
Having to Say We Suck
Twenty seconds is a long time on the Internet. Don't be afraid to edit down your customers' video testimonials before you post them, or better yet tell them briefly how to "get to the meat" when they talk. Even the most positive but too-long testimonial says "We Suck!" out in the wilds of the Internet. And also get any product video down to the "Quick and Powerful" level. And one more thing: Be sure to scroll your website and phone number across the bottom of all videos—don't waste those precious few seconds of a customer's attention by not doing the right self-promoting.5."Knowing Crane"
知道蒼鷺
The Buzz of Social Media Might be From the Chainsaw You're Taking to Your Business
You need to get past buzz words with Social Media, and in a hurry--you shouldn't just "buy services" for this, you need to understand and plan what you're doing. Do you know how to monetize Tweet for your fixed ops, how to respond to issues, and how to create business for yourself on Facebook and other Social Media? You would laugh at a dork who walked into a party and shoved his business car rudely under everyone's nose—so don't be that dork in Social Media! Learn how to interact or you'll get ignored, or, worse, derided in business-killing ways. And Online Reputation Management is a modern and very real business need, encompassing both Social Media and the Internet at large (can you say "Google Business Reviews"?). Do you manage your Facebook fan pages several times a day? Do you watch Twitter for your business' name—what are people saying about you? And there's so much more!
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