SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com is the top site used by consumers to help them select a car dealer, according to a new study conducted by online and social media agency Digital Air StrikeTM. The 2012 Automotive Dealership Social Media and Online Reputation Studybills itself as “the first automotive-specific study to analyze the use of social media and review sites by car buyers during the dealership selection process,” while at the same time ”auditing how dealers engage with consumers on these sites.”
According to the study, an estimated 22 percent of surveyed car buyers used Edmunds.com to help them select a car dealer, making it the top destination among all independent review sites like Yelp and Google Reviews. The study also found that 68 percent of car shoppers said that dealership reviews affected which dealership they visited when shopping for a vehicle. Car buyers can find local dealer locations, contacts and reviews on Edmunds.com at http://www.edmunds.com/dealer-
“This study proves what we’ve known all along: Edmunds.com is the top online destination for serious car shoppers,” said Edmunds.com Senior VP for Dealer Initiatives Donna Sechrist. “We’re proud to offer a valuable platform to connect these high-quality customers to our nationwide network of dealers – especially those participating in our Direct Dealer Program.”
Members of Edmunds.com’s Direct Dealer Program receive multiple benefits on Edmunds.com, including flat-fee listings on Edmunds.com’s shopping funnel and inventory channels, and a customized territory radius. For more information on the program, please visit http://www.edmunds.com/
Dealers can learn more about best practices and other trends in the auto industry by signing up for Edmunds.com’s Dealer Insight Newsletter at http://www.edmunds.com/
About Edmunds.com, Inc.
Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its acclaimed mobile site, Edmunds.com Android App and five-star Edmunds iPhone and iPad apps make car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and on the go. Its automotive enthusiast web site, InsideLine.com, is the most-read car publication of its kind. Its highly regarded mobile site and iPhone app features the wireless Web’s most comprehensive gallery of automotive photos and videos. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook.
