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Your Service Waiting Area: Dentist Office or Customer Retention Tool?

(Bear with me here – this one will eventually come back around to the Internet sales team.) Today I feel compelled to deviate from my regular article topics covering Internet sales and digital marketing to alert you to an area of your dealership th
Feb 14, 2011

When is a Factory Incentive Program Legal?

Mercedes Benz has announced the details of its holdback incentive program which will apply to all dealers. The program involves payment of a 3.5% performance bonus where 1% is tied to a facility component. Of course, not all Mercedes Benz dealers are
Feb 14, 2011

Give your Customer a Choice

It has been said that the arrival of a lead is the “moment of truth”. At that moment, the customer has put you on trial. The lead has been sent to you, but it’s also been sent to two to three other dealerships. Which dealer will respond first?
Feb 14, 2011

Make it your Year

How it happened so quickly I don’t know, but it’s time again to reflect and make necessary changes to ensure a more profitable year. As I began the self assessment, I examined the obvious areas where change is warranted and completely necessary.
Feb 14, 2011

Diligent Follow Up

The first word or attribute that comes to mind with “follow up” is tenacity, because to be successful in today’s market, more is needed beyond picking the low hanging fruit. I have developed and adopted my own practical application, helped thou
Feb 14, 2011

Advertising Opportunities for 2011

A little secret. For almost 20 years, some of America’s best dealers have been writing these advertising columns, letting me take the credit. I’ve developed an informal roundtable of some of the brightest young minds as well as seasoned legends i
Feb 14, 2011

Interview with Russell Blackstone, e-Commerce Director at Hewlett Volkswagen

Russell Blackstone, a former political consultant, enjoyed helping friends and family members with their car purchases so much he decided to go work for a dealership. Research led him to a small group owned by Don Hewlett in the Austin, TX market. It
Feb 1, 2011

Interview with John Eagle, John Eagle Dealerships

John Eagle is a member of the PhD club – “Papa had a dealership.” He’s been in the business since age six when he started washing hubcaps and grilles on vehicles. What started as a bankrupt Lincoln Mercury store has turned into 13 franchises
Feb 1, 2011

Five Simple Rules for Digital Marketing Success in the New Year

As with nearly every New Year, I am looking forward to the challenges, successes and even failures that will come my way in 2011. These collective experiences are what define us both personally and professionally, and I welcome each of these with ope
Jan 14, 2011