car reviews - Blog - Automotive Internet Sales - BDC - Free Training Resources2024-03-28T09:44:53Zhttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/car%2BreviewsWhat Leads to Great Chemistry? Check Out The Key Elementshttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/what-leads-to-great-chemistry-check-out-the-key-elements2016-01-27T14:30:00.000Z2016-01-27T14:30:00.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p><span><span><a target="_blank" href="http://women-drivers.com/whats-your-dealerships-chemistry-with-women/"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1475172?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"></a></span></span><span><strong>What Are The Elements?</strong><br> What are the various elements in creating great chemistry with women visiting your dealership? The good news? Half of all women buyers shop at only one (1) dealership. The bad news? 6 in 10 women report that once they leave a dealership and didn’t buy, they never return there. YOU HAVE A SMALL WINDOW TO MAKE AN OUTSTANDING IMPRESSION.</span></p>
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<p><span><span><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/whats-your-dealerships-chemistry-with-women/" target="_blank">Download The Dealership Periodic Table</a></strong> and review this with your executive staff and sales, service and BDC advisors. Lets review these closer:</span></span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>Chemistry Matters</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>1. Website</strong></span></p>
<p>Today’s shopping starts long before a woman walks in. What chemistry are you creating with your Internet, Facebook and Twitter presence? Is your site appealing & personal? Is it engaging? How about reviews – are they easy to find? Don’t forget to show various demographics. Have value-add content. And, certainly you site should be mobile responsive.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>2. Social Media</strong></span></p>
<p>Social media keeps your message current. Daily posts show that your dealership is actively engaging. Be a trusted resources by providing educational, lifestyle and life-stage content. Reviews by women for women will bring great results, too; women rely on reviews more than men.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>3. Advertising</strong></span></p>
<p>Be sure to offer women-centric ads that speak to what matters - like safety and practicality. Think of ways to differentiate your store from the competition. How do you show a woman and her family that you are the better choice? Your advertising should speak of engagement and service.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>4. Store Environment</strong></span></p>
<p>When a woman arrives, her perception forms instantaneously. Aesthetic chemistry matters. Flowers, artwork, fresh paint and a warm environment add comfort. Another important aspect is a balanced workforce – it reflects that you are heading into the future.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>5. Sales</strong></span></p>
<p>Your sales advisors have the task of engagement. A good impression is mandatory, and goes beyond appearance and friendly demeanor. Women demand a respectful, trusted advisor who is interested in finding the best car for her. How well does your team understand the nuances of Emotional Intelligence? Advisors should be able to detect frustration and concern, which means they must be excellent listeners, too.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>6. F & I</strong></span></p>
<p>Here, she is dealing with a new person, altogether. If she perceives she is being coerced or her questions aren’t being answered to her satisfaction, she can become uncomfortable; that can unravel the entire buying experience. Keeping it easy, be patient, and be a solution provider.</p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-3">7. Service Drive</span></strong></p>
<p>Here she will again interact with a new group of people. This critical relationship delivers revenue to your dealership for 5-8 years, and is a lifeline. Getting a car serviced is rarely a welcome task, so it is important to take steps to ensure convenience and comfort. A courtesy vehicle is a must, as well as a comfortable waiting area with Wi-Fi. Dealerships that build great chemistry go beyond the standard – they provide healthy snacks & beverages, PlayStations and child play areas as well as workout rooms and business lounge. Educational videos and seminars help retain and engage clients.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>8. Reputation</strong></span></p>
<p>Larger dealerships have a Director of Customer Experience that takes a true pulse of your customer’s journey and charts course corrections if necessary. They solicit fair and authentic reviews, thanking and acknowledging your customer’s contribution. Be sure to use reviews by and for women in your advertising, outbound emails, web site and social media.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>9. Your Ideal Buyer</strong></span></p>
<p>Last but not least is the chemistry of an ideal woman buyer. Not all buyers will fall into this category, but you and your staff have a <strong>real say</strong> here. With your dealership’s help, she can be confident and comfortable throughout. She can drive away in a car that she loves, feeling satisfied and excited. She can feel empowered knowing she has a thorough understanding of her car and your ongoing commitment to her satisfaction. If she has a question, she knows exactly who to call.</p></div>What’s Your Dealership’s Chemistry with Women? Download Periodic Tablehttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/what-s-your-dealership-s-chemistry-with-women-download-period-tab2016-01-13T14:30:00.000Z2016-01-13T14:30:00.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin: 10px 0; padding: 0; color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 125%; text-align: left;">Happy New Year to you all! Now is the perfect time to reflect on your current customer engagement and interactions strategies in order to exceed this past year's business. How to achieve this? Does this sound unreasonable? For starters, with the emerging buying power of women, unemployment at its lowest rate in years, and millennial buyers out in full force, 2016 may very well be a repeat performance. Naturally, it's nothing to be taken for granted and every walk-in matters.</p>
<p style="margin: 10px 0; padding: 0; color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 125%; text-align: left;"><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://women-drivers.com/whats-your-dealerships-chemistry-with-women/?utm_source=Industry&utm_campaign=4fca6c565d-Women_Wednesday_14_1_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_994e8d4510-4fca6c565d-"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1475179?profile=original" height="242" width="303"></a>The Right Formula</strong><br> When it comes to customer service or sales, we often talk about having the right chemistry with a customer. But what does that really mean? What are the right ingredients to attract women shoppers, turn them into buyers and keep them coming back to your service center? There are many combinations of the “right formula” and it can seem very complex to find the optimal combination. We have created a handy chart to use as a reference for steps your dealership can take to help “re-create” the right synergy and drive more dollars to your bottom line this new year.</p>
<p style="margin: 10px 0; padding: 0; color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 125%; text-align: left;"><span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/whats-your-dealerships-chemistry-with-women/" target="_blank">Download Now</a> and share this with your team at the next sales/company meeting. Women-Drivers.com will take the next few weeks to touch upon the elements creating chemistry and trust including WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, ADVERTISING, SALES, STORE ENVIRONMENT, F & I, SERVICE, and REPUTATION. Lastly, we will discuss how all of the processes, people and planning you have in place have a huge difference in driving in YOUR IDEAL BUYER.</span></p>
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<h2 style="color: #c63029; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 100%; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left;">Do You Know?</h2>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; margin: 10px 0; padding: 0; line-height: 125%;"><em>CERTIFIED Women-Friendly Dealers</em> have a 92% Satisfaction score – 23% higher than Non-Certified Dealers. Further, 6 in 10 women DO NOT return to a dealership when they leave and 55% of women only go to 1 dealership. The take-away? <u>There is a lot at stake on that first visit.</u> #ChemistryMatters</p>
</blockquote></div>Neuroscience: Pay Real Attention to Women & Sell More Cars in 2016, Pt 2https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/neuroscience-pay-real-attention-to-women-sell-more-cars-in-2016-p2015-12-23T14:00:00.000Z2015-12-23T14:00:00.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p>Last week we began a two-part series on the brain. More specifically, the science of how it works, or Neuroscience. This is a hot topic. Leveraging scientific knowledge about the brain can create a better sales process, drive more dollars to your dealership’s bottom line and create happy women customers that remain loyal to your dealership for years to come.</p><p>Let's check “under the hood” at the <em><strong>Limbic System</strong></em> and the <em><strong>Neocortex</strong></em>. After last week’s <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/womens-wednesday-38-the-new-year-neuroscience-the-basics-of-selling-more-cars-to-women-part-1/" target="_blank">Part 1 article</a>, you know that when selling cars, it had better be your NeoCortex doing the work – and definitely not your Limbic System. When selling to women, having the optimim level of engagement with your buyer is imperative. While you know that intellectually, it helps to have reminders in place to reduce the natural tendency to let your brain’s autopilot take control.</p><p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>4 Strategies for Interrupting the Autopilot of your Brain</strong></span></p><p><strong>1. Know what matters to women.</strong> Women have a list of needs when buying a car, but emotional factors also figure into this decision. The top reason women report buying at a particular dealership is not price. The top reason is the customer service and treatment received. Price ranks second. This is important, because it really means you have to have the best price and top that off with unparalleled sales and customer service.</p><p>When it comes to what women look for when working with a specific sales person, trust and respect rank first and second. Here, the Limbic System is at work in your woman prospect’s brain, comparing you with her memories and making emotional judgements. The easiest way to build trust is to listen carefully and remain present.</p><p><strong>2. Be confident, but not overly so.</strong> Confidence matters in life, but over-confidence can derail a potential deal. Overconfidence can allow you to miss the subtle emotions from your prospect that may be signaling she is apprehensive, intimidated or frustrated. Keeping overconfidence in check can help you ask the questions necessary to mitigate any concerns she may have.</p><p>Her emotions may have <em>nothing</em> to do with your dealership or your sales process. She may have brought those emotions with her from another experience, and it is up to you to find out how to overcome the issues. Listen more and talk less to help you assess how the deal is proceeding.</p><p><strong>3. Stay logical.</strong> While emotions will play into a car sale for your woman buyer, it is important that you stay logical and focused. Relying on your intuition, instinct or “gut feel” has great potential to mislead you. Relying on a “smile” from your prospect as an indicator of her happiness, can be completely wrong. Studies show that 90% of people smile when they are frustrated. Again, culture and gender can be at play here – women often smile out of habit to placate others.</p><p>Your instinct has a good chance of perceiving false signals of success. Keep a logical perspective on the immediate situation to keep from misreading anything.</p><p><strong>4. Find out what you don’t know.</strong> I’s easy – and natural - to rely on experience and knowledge when selling. Your prospect will expect you to have answers to her questions. Often times, however, it’s what you don’t know that will break the deal.</p><p>Maintain an open mind, and ask questions until you know what you need to know to lead the sale to a successful close. For example, some women may have trouble articulating their issues about the car they want, the warranty, or the loan. Don’t assume you know what they are asking before you answer a question. Careful not to interrupt or answer the question before she’s finished asking.</p><p>There is nothing easy about being human. But paying close attention to paying attention will make a real difference when selling to this emerging, powerful market in the New Year.</p></div>The New Year + Neuroscience | The Basics of Selling MORE Cars to Women, Part Ihttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/the-new-year-neuroscience-the-basics-of-selling-more-cars-to-wome2015-12-16T13:30:00.000Z2015-12-16T13:30:00.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p>As we get ready to embark on a new year, we will dedicate the last two issues of Women’s Wednesdays in 2015 to an ultra-sophisticated topic….the Brain. More specifically, the science of how it works, or Neuroscience. Why? Leveraging scientific knowledge about the brain creates a better sales process, drives more dollars to your dealership’s bottom line and creates happy women customers that remain loyal to your dealership. Toning down the Limbic System and firing up your Neocortex will help your sales team avoid “autopilot” and turn potential lost sales into successful deals and new clients.</p><p>Lots of times women come into the dealership and may say “just browsing”. But when a genuine buyer or potential successful sale falls through, that is met with real surprise to the staff. There may be questions like “What did we miss? What was going on with her?”</p><p>When an expected conversion doesn’t happen, it is human nature to blame or to shrug it off and say someone wasn’t a serious buyer. By employing new ideas, however, your sales team will avoid miscues – and missed sales. Let’s take a closer look.</p><p><strong>The Brain’s Autopilot</strong><br/> Any activity that is repeated over and over can become routine. Our brains are built that way for efficiency. The brain’s <em><strong>Limbic System</strong></em> stores these memories and reactions so we can call on them again rather than “recreate the wheel.” This system can be handy when we are doing tasks that don’t require a lot of new thought, such as driving a car.</p><p>The <em><strong>Neocortex</strong></em>, on the other hand, is the best part of the brain to use during a car sale. The Neocortex is in charge of language, reason and analysis. This part of the brain needs to be active and supercharged during the sales process in order to take in all of the information necessary to understand interactions with your customers.</p><p>Here are some ideas for reducing the natural tendency to let your brain’s autopilot take control:</p><p><strong>1. Assume your woman browser is a buyer until she buys a car.</strong> This may sound silly, but it is important not to dismiss anyone who is IN A DEALERSHIP looking at a car. On average, women visit two dealerships prior to buying a car. Dismissing any prospect may mean she buys at the “other” store. Stay engaged and find a way to interact with your women prospects.</p><p><strong>2. Beware of blind spots.</strong> Gender is a powerful filter for the way people look at the world. Bridget Brennan, author of “Why She Buys” and CEO of Female Factor, thinks it is “more significant than age, income, ethnicity or geography” in the way we see the world. It pays to examine if your dealership and sales advisors have preconceived notions about women buyers. Brennan suggests studying women as you would a foreign market, because “cultural differences dictate language, behaviors and perceptions.”</p><p>Making assumptions can prevent accurate assessments of the potential success of a sale. Allowing emotions to cloud logic is easy to do – that Limbic System is always ready to turn on and take over! Work to remove any unconscious bias so that the sales engagement doesn’t follow the path of past unsuccessful encounters. Next week we will examine 4 new ways to Interrupt the Brains AutoPilot.</p></div>What’s Exceptional About Your Dealership? Share THAT with Women Buyershttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/what-s-exceptional-about-your-dealership-share-that-with-women-bu2015-11-18T22:11:16.000Z2015-11-18T22:11:16.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last time, we discussed <em>not</em> selling cars like they are “power tools” in your advertising. You know, “the best this, the best that”— it is so cliché and it doesn’t resonate with women. Here are four recommendations to ensure that your sales approach doesn’t fall into the “power tool sales” category, but rather, speaks to women about what’s important to them:</p><p style="margin-top: 12px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Sell more than cars in your advertising.</strong> Women look at car ads, read dealer reviews and use social media to help make a car buying decision. Do your ads only talk about price? If so, spend more time conveying your reputation for excellent service and trustworthy business. Be the dealership that attracts women buyers because they can get a great car from a trusted, respectful sales advisor AND great service for the next five to eight years.</p><p style="margin-top: 12px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Show that your customers matter before, during and after the sale. Include reviews by women on your website and social media. Provide stories about happy customers. Show women that your service center is professional, fast, trustworthy and provides amenities that matter to women.</p><blockquote><p style="margin-top: 12px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #ff0000;" class="font-size-4"><strong>Did You Know?</strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 12px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span>Nearly 40% of women out earn their husbands. And when researching for a car, women rely on car reviews about 50% more than men.</span></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 12px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span><strong>Understand and respect women’s emotions.</strong> Be sure your sales advisors understand woman aren’t “ just shopping". Understanding body language will teach you if your customer is engaged in the process. (e.g., folded arms, stiff body and short responses probably mean the conversation is not going well). Be sure to listen – distinct from hearing.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 12px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Be ready to answer tough questions.</strong> For women, a car is much more than a way to get from point A to point B. Women will do plenty of research before visiting. Be ready to listen to a woman’s needs and have truthful, knowledgeable answers ready. If you don’t have those answers, the dealership down the road will.</p><p style="margin-top: 12px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Sell your dealership, too.</strong> Let women shoppers know what is exceptional about your service business Is it free car washes? Courtesy vehicles? Do you have extended service hours or exercise rooms? How about quiet spaces to conduct business? What is exceptional about your dealership? <u>Let women know this when they are shopping for a car!</u></p><p style="margin-top: 12px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ultimately, the most important thing to remember when selling to women is: don’t assume anything. The world of women’s car buying is changing continuously.</p></div>Is Your Dealership Selling Cars Like They’re Power Tools?https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/is-your-dealership-selling-cars-like-they-re-power-tools2015-11-04T19:12:39.000Z2015-11-04T19:12:39.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Women buyers have different reasons than men for choosing where they finalize the deal. Understanding the nuances of women’s buying habits can mean the difference of making a sale or losing it.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's easy to make the assumption that price is the first priority. Price does matter, but it’s weighed along with more emotional priorities like <em>trust and respect</em>. When women are asked their reasons for purchasing at a particular dealership, price is the #2 factor. The <strong>top</strong> reason is a positive engagement with the sale associate.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span>Now, think about your car ads and commercials that run each week. How much focus is on the price? Remember women are buying over half of the cars today and influencing 80% of the deals! Be careful your advertising isn’t too slanted toward sounding like power tools from the home improvement store. Cars and power tools may be perceived the same by men, but women see more nuance in the car deal.</span></p><blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Did You Know?</strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span>Women rely on reviews and reputation 50% more than men. Showcase your stellar reputation in commercials so women "get" what a reputable, comfortable and trustworthy place your store is to do business.</span></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Sell more than cars in your advertising.</strong> Women look at car ads, read dealer reviews and use social media to help make a car buying decision. Be the dealership that attracts women because they can get a great deal from a trusted, respectful sales advisor AND great service for the next five to eight years.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Show that your customers matter before, during and after the deal. Include reviews by women on your website and social media. Provide stories about happy customers. Show women that your service center is professional, fast, and trustworthy and provides amenities that matter to women, like a comfortable place to wait, service hours that respect her time and extras, like a courtesy car.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="https://women-drivers.com/millennials/" target="_blank">Have You Downloaded Our FREE Report On Millennial Women Car Buyers?</a></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p></div>FREE REPORT: 6 Keys to Sell More Cars to Millennial Womenhttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/6-keys-to-sell-more-cars-to-millennial-women2015-10-14T17:39:08.000Z2015-10-14T17:39:08.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You asked for it and here it is. THE white paper that delivers the goods on how to leverage sales to this emerging market. You need to understand the differences between Millennial women and women of other generations, like:</p><ul><li style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Millennial women travel over 25% further to purchase a car</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What are the top reasons they buy the vehicle</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What are their top emotions at the dealership</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">How they use dealer reviews and engage with dealers' social communities</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">and, More!</li></ul><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=9256c4ada6&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #0000ee; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><strong>Download The FREE Report Now >></strong></a></p></div>Leverage these emotions to sell more cars to millennialshttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/leverage-these-emotions-to-sell-more-cars-to-millennials2015-09-30T16:26:15.000Z2015-09-30T16:26:15.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Today’s news is full of articles about the buying power and habits of the “millennials”, which has an estimated population of 78 million. This Women’s <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Wednesday</span></span> is part of a multi-part series we are exploring about women buyers <em>within</em> this segment. Of millennial buyers, 53% are female. Understanding the nuances of selling to this new generation of women can put your dealership in a position to leverage the newest car buyers and truly increase your market share in today’s ever competitive industry.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Our latest study tracked 620 reviewers and sheds light on the similarities and differences between millennial and non-millennial women that will help you create age-specific sales techniques. Both millennial and non-millennial women ranked their satisfaction level with dealerships as very high.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>1. While “excited/excitement” is the #1 emotion the buyer felt while shopping for a car, millennials report “relaxed” as being number two, versus “apprehensive” for non-millennials.</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong><em>Why it Matters and How to Leverage:</em></strong> The newest generation of women reports they are more relaxed and confident when buying a car than previous generations. Why? According to a study by Ameriprise Financial (June 2014), millennial women are more in control of their finances and enjoy making these decisions. Six in ten millennial women (vs. 43% of non-millenial women) reported they learned about finances from their parents.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" alt="Percentage of women who learned about finances from their parents" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/dFL9Ee_GElnQvUl8m-i_T7cacw5PXWL6r61aGPnLkxLXXOePBGtM1EUJBIqtKo7gB1Su5ZntOH2kV2xmVq7ySMiQ5ECZtNbkweJIFa2O-ZCYdX_Bh4M7GRRIl7wCQz6j=s0-d-e1-ft#http://women-drivers.com/new_wd_wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/finances.png" style="border: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; min-height: auto; line-height: 100%; outline: none; text-decoration: none; text-transform: capitalize; display: inline; margin-bottom: 10px;"/></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Additionally, younger women are more comfortable using technology to arm themselves with the information they need to make car buying decisions. Astute sales advisors who understand and respect this confidence will quickly gain the trust of their potential car buyer. A good sales approach is to ask questions, respond truthfully, and guide car shoppers through the remaining information needed to make a decision. Above all, assume these women are smart, and have spent a lot of time learning about what they want. While they may have less experience buying cars than older generations, they have a wealth of information at their fingertips that has not been readily available in the past. They are prepared and fully capable of accessing that information while inside your dealership.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>2. “Trustworthiness” and “respect” are ranked #1 and #2 for millennials’ reason to buy from a sales advisor. “Understanding” replaces “knowledgeable” as #3. Millennials visit slightly more dealerships to look for a car.</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong><em>Why it Matters and How to Leverage:</em></strong> Millennial women hold trust and respect as the top qualities they insist on for a sales advisor. They expect their sales advisor to understand them and what they want in a new car. Many millennials are first time buyers and combined with the knowledge and confidence described above, want to feel they are making a comfortable choice. Trust and respect comes from realizing millennial women have done their homework about what is available to them.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sales advisors will benefit from listening carefully to what their millennial shopper is saying and provide honest answers to her questions. A prepared buyer doesn’t need help with all of the decisions. Learning to perceive where the grey areas are can help accelerate a sales decision. Be there to help, not coerce. And listen, don’t lead.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=2715f8d8e9&e=563220adae" style="font-size: 16px; color: #0000ee; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><strong>Get The Full Millennial Women Buyers Report Now!</strong></a></span></p></div>Building Smarter Sales Advisors Will Increase Your Dealer’s Revenuehttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/building-smarter-sales-advisors-will-increase-your-dealer-s-reven2015-09-16T21:02:30.000Z2015-09-16T21:02:30.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Today’s cars continue to become smarter as they “learn” and adapt to the behaviors of drivers. Cars “listen and learn” about the driver to provide the optimal driving experience.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">How can your sales advisors learn to engage, optimize and convert women shoppers into buyers and provide the optimal sales experience? What changes can your dealership make to create an ongoing relationship with this demographic, which is 50% of the national market?</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Women shop at 30% more dealerships than men. How do you differentiate yourself beyond all that noise - and create an effective sales process that lasts beyond a car sale?</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>1. Think emotionally.</strong> Emotions matter! Respect and trustworthiness are the top two reasons a woman buys from her sales advisor. While 50% of women are excited about their car purchase, only 30% are confident. Price matters, but emotions carry the day when buying and securing a woman buyer’s satisfaction level.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>2. Respect your shopper’s time.</strong> Everyone is busy. Your woman shopper may be on her lunch hour or ready to pick up her kids from school shortly. She certainly isn’t window shopping; she is there to accomplish something. If a woman senses you can’t assist her – even if she said “no, I’m just looking” - she will go elsewhere. And, when buying, the average woman spends 3 hours and 20 minutes at a dealership. See where you can save time to make it quicker and more efficient. Be honest, when was the last time you bought a car from your own dealership?</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>3. Visualize Your Best Dealership.</strong> How do you help your sales advisors have the highest possible EQ? How do you see your dealership changing if you proactively educate your sales and service advisors to read your buyer’s emotions? What would happen if you empowered them to adjust to advance a sale? What if your hiring procedures screened for people with high EQs as well as strong sales skills?</p></div>3 Ways to Ensure Women Shoppers Return to Your Dealership to Buyhttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/3-ways-to-ensure-women-shoppers-return-to-your-dealership-to-buy2015-09-02T16:42:15.000Z2015-09-02T16:42:15.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Surveys indicate the top reason women do not purchase at a dealership on their first visit is they are still looking. However, only 4 in 10 of those “shoppers” who leave a dealership without buying a car will ever return to the dealership. Given that women shop at 30% more dealerships than men, it is important to create an environment that welcomes a return visit. Here’s how:</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1. Establish trust and respect. Women place “respect” and “trustworthiness” as the top two reasons to buy from a sales advisor. Treating a potential buyer with respect and establishing trust at the onset of the sales process will create a positive environment and relationship, which increases a woman’s confidence in her buying decision. She will remember that trust and it will create a strong reason to return to your store.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2. Understand what a woman buyer is looking for. During the initial visit, a sales advisor should ask the right questions to understand her priorities. Are certain features non-negotiable? If the right model and features are not available right away, how quickly can it be located? Taking the extra step toward finding the right fit can bring a buyer back to the showroom.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span>3. Create an efficient buying process. Women nationally report the average time spent purchasing a vehicle is 3 hours and 20 minutes. Reducing this time lets customers know you respect their time and creates a positive feeling that will encourage return visits, positive reviews and referrals. So can a 3-Day Guarantee Return Policy; it’s all about making customers feel safe, confident and comfortable in doing business with your store. Women have different selection criteria than men when deciding on a car. Understanding the differences can help women reach a decision more quickly, making it less likely she will feel the need to visit a competitor.</span></p></div>Why Do Women Visit More Dealerships Than Men?https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/why-do-women-visit-more-dealerships-than-men2015-08-20T16:54:20.000Z2015-08-20T16:54:20.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Women visit 30% more dealerships than men when buying a car. Several factors contribute to this variance. According to KBB, women are twice as likely as men to be undecided about which car they want. Add to this the fact that women are less confident (38%) about car buying than men (58%), and take longer to make a decision; 75 days for women vs. 63 days for men.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The tendency for women to shop at more dealerships, coupled with different buying criteria, can be turned into an advantage for any dealership willing to lean in and take the right steps to meet the needs of this emerging segment of car buyers.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>4 Ways to Attract Women to Your Store</strong><br/> Check this out -- 60% of women do not purchase from the dealership brand closest to their home.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1. Women rely on car dealership reviews 50% more than men and they prefer reading reviews written by women. A dealership will benefit from encouraging happy and satisfied women clients to write reviews. This has an additional benefit, because women who are satisfied will leave a higher-scoring review.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2. Nearly one-third of women report their dealer’s website as “unhelpful”. Making sure your website appeals to women will keep them on the site longer and help speed a buying decision. This means knowing and highlighting what matters to women, such as durability, safety and economy, not just MSRP.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">3. Women rank respect and trust at the top of the list when it comes to working with a sales advisor. Customer excellence ranks higher in a purchase decision than finding the best price or deal. Creating a comfortable environment that establishes trust and respect makes the difference for sales now and in the future.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">4. Women now account for half of car purchases and influence up to 80% of auto buying choices. In a study by University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, women drivers now outnumber male drivers 105.7 million to 104.3. Understanding these statistics and reflecting them in your sales approach and process are important to foster an environment of trust and respect.</p></div>5 Ways to Deliver an Outstanding Service Drive Experience to Womenhttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/5-ways-to-deliver-an-outstanding-service-drive-experience-to-wome2015-08-05T22:22:25.000Z2015-08-05T22:22:25.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Women are responsible for two-thirds of the vehicles brought in for repair. Dealerships who understand this and seek to deliver the ultimate customer experience will reap the rewards at their service drive.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Offering top-notch car services in this department is critical for retaining women clients, as well as for up-selling a new or leased car to them and their family in the future. For a complete dealership experience, here are 5 key features of a women-friendly service department.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>1: More Women:</strong> Women make up only 1 out of every 5 employees at auto dealers. Adding more female service advisors makes many of your female (and male) customers more comfortable to ask questions about the repair.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>2: Use Technology to Educate:</strong> It is essential to adopt modern technologies, instead of just focusing on communicating a repair verbally, especially with women who may be cynical and not trusting about what repair is being recommended.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Use mobile apps, expert illustration content and web based tools to visually explain car repairs with real-time photos and videos, like ClearMechanics.com or others. By presenting hard visual evidence, women will understand repair needs in a quick, clear manner.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>3: Comfortable, High Tech Lounge Area and Courtesy Vehicles:</strong> Women often wait at the dealerships during repair work. To ensure they feel comfortable and make good use of their waiting time, go beyond just having seats and a TV in the waiting area. Make sure the lounge area has:</p><ul><li style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Comfortable seating</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Wi-Fi connectivity</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Play area for kids</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Impeccably clean restrooms</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Coffee, Fruit, Water, Soda</li></ul><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">More importantly, provide the #1 requested concierge item from women: a courtesy vehicle if their car is going to be in overnight. What will that afford your dealership? Loyalty from moms, business women, single women, divorced women, widowers, etc., who can now independently get themselves home and don’t have to rely on family or renting a car while their car is being serviced.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Don’t leave this for the luxury brands to offer. Regardless of what flagship brand you sell, market the convenience and ease that your dealership delivers.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>4: Expand Hours:</strong> NADA DATA reports most service department are open 56 hours a week compared to 80 hours on average for a specialty car repair chain store. To deliver top-notch service, consider expanding servicing hours. Research shows that 3 in 10 households are run by single moms, highlighting how women are juggling work, home and children. Getting to the dealerships 3-4 times a year is not the easiest thing to do during the hours of <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">9 – 6pm</span></span>. By offering flex hours, women can bring their car to you and you retain more customers.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>5: Don’t Just Hear.</strong> <em><strong>Listen</strong></em>. Everyone likes it when they are listened to. Put your best listener in the service drive to hear what women say – and, what they don’t say. <strong>This department is critical for maintaining retention. How will you know when 4 in 10 women leave your dealership and DON’T return?</strong> An unhappy woman will pay the bill, leave your building, and you will never hear from her again.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">By listening to what they have to say, women naturally feel more empowered and relaxed. They know that once they have communicated their opinion to the service provider, they will be served better.</p></div>Poor Service Review? How it¹s Handled is Key to Your Successhttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/poor-service-review-how-it-s-handled-is-key-to-your-success2015-07-22T19:12:03.000Z2015-07-22T19:12:03.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p>So, you’ve received a poor review from a woman customer. Now what? First, remember poor reviews will happen. Someone will be unhappy with your dealership at some time. The same happens to Starbucks, Apple and Nordstrom. As long as the poor reviews are infrequent, they really are good news. Why?</p><ol><li>Customers expect to see a variety of ratings when reading reviews. If all are “exceptional”, customers will think they aren’t seeing the whole picture.</li><li>You have a chance to correct the issue. Your dissatisfied customer could have not mentioned the problem and just told her friends. Instead, she took the time to tell you about it, and now you have a chance to work on it – and most importantly, the relationship</li><li>It allows other women prospects to see the entire thread and see the larger picture as well as understand how you respond and treat customers.</li></ol><p>The key issue for any ‘poor review’ is how you handle it. Here are a few things to consider:</p><ol><li>Use rating services that allows this type of feedback to be held offline until you have a chance to resolve the problem. (Certified Dealers on Women-Drivers.com allows 10 working days for customer resolution before posting the review.)</li><li>Carefully read and note the real issue. Determine if it's a problem you need to address internally. Don’t dismiss it or think it is a one-time problem.</li><li>Discuss the problem in a prompt manner with your customer. Be sure to thank her for the feedback and make sure she has been “heard and gotten.” Once the issue is firmly resolved, you may consider:<br/> <br/> a. Offer a service coupon and ask her to give you a chance to make up for the inconvenience.<br/> <br/> b. A follow up call from the Service Advisor or even the GM provides an appreciative touch.<br/> <br/> c. Free car washes or lunch for two can be in order.</li><li>Resolve the issue internally, even if it was a one-time problem. If one customer reported the issue, other customers may have experienced the same thing.</li><li>Ask the customer if they are willing to re-write another review based upon this issue being resolved to their satisfaction.</li></ol><p></p><p></p><blockquote><p style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 20px; line-height: 12px; color: #cc3333; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><strong>Did You Know?</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 13px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Customers who leave a bad review have taken the time to tell you about it rather than just walking her business elsewhere. View this as an opportunity rather than a threat and reap the rewards. <strong>Customer retention and recognizing the residual revenue in the service drive is paramount. Keeping a customer costs a lot less than getting a new one.</strong></p></blockquote></div>3 New Ways to Advertise Effectively to Womenhttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/3-new-ways-to-advertise-effectively-to-women2015-06-24T18:20:02.000Z2015-06-24T18:20:02.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p><span>Car advertising is heavily slanted towards price. The buying demographic has shifted to women who now make up more than half of the sales, and influence over 80% of the deals. Today, it makes sense to move advertising to accommodate this powerful market sector.</span></p><blockquote><p style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 2px; font-size: 20px; color: #cc3333; padding-top: 0; text-align: center; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><strong>Did You Know?</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 13px; padding: 0px 8px 5px 8px; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">When women are asked why they bought a car at a particular dealership, the “Sales Advisor” was the #1 reason. “Price” and “Dealership Reputation” tie for second place.</p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">All customers want the “best” deal possible and women are no exception. In fact, 7 of 10 women report that price is a top factor in purchasing a particular vehicle.1</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>What Does this Mean for Your Dealership?</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It means that applying “softer and smarter” factors can improve the overall messaging effectiveness in traditional TV, radio and print advertising. Improved effectiveness increases reach, and provides more advertising dollar value. Let’s take a closer look:</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Idea #1: Ensure your advertising conveys reputation, trust and respect.</strong> Reviews and scores are subtle forms of advertising that are ongoing, persistent and pervasive. Frankly, they create an evidence-driven reputation. Numbers speak louder than words. Emphasize your dealership’s rankings and how you compare with others in your brand category and geographic area. Consider using:</p><ul><li><em>Customer Testimonials:</em> Authentic and local testimonials will personalize your advertising and convey a customer-centric approach.</li><li><em>Reviews, especially reviews from women.</em> Women are 50% more likely than men to read reviews, and prefer reviews written by women.</li><li><em>Statistics to convey reputation</em>, e.g., “#1 in customer satisfaction” from reputable sources.</li><li><em>Positive words</em> that convey a high level of service: happy, comfortable, delighted, pleasant.</li><li><em>Supportive Digital content</em>. Make sure your web site conveys inclusion, with women as an identifiable demographic. Showcase reviews on your home page.</li></ul><p><strong>Idea #2: Supplement competitive pricing with specifics that speak to women.</strong> Show women (happy women) in your ads. Include a broad demographic. Photos speak volumes and convey emotions. Remember, 50% of car buyers are women; and 53% of millennial buyers are women.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Idea #3: Show that your dealership is more than a showroom full of cars.</strong> Be sure your advertising includes:</p><ul style="padding-left: 15px;"><li style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><em>Showcasing your service center</em>. Mention courtesy vehicles, and any other amenities that show the value you place on customer loyalty and an ongoing business relationship. Ensure your advertising promotes the message “when you buy from us, you receive a good price, PLUS you receive great service.” Describe what “that great service is.”</li></ul><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Putting these ideas into practice</strong><br/> Using these ideas can mean a fresh conversation with your creative agency. Let them know what you want to convey as you reach out to women buyers. A comprehensive advertising program is the best way to start the process of customer engagement. Including and targeting your most powerful buying segment will increase your overall advertising success, provide more value from your budget, and drive more dollars to your dealership’s bottom line.</p></div>Overselling: What is it Costing You?https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/overselling-what-is-it-costing-you2015-06-03T17:33:16.000Z2015-06-03T17:33:16.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p><span>Selling cars to women takes a confident equipped sales person with a high level of communication skills, personal engagement and EQ. Women visit 30% more dealerships and may take a longer time in the shopping funnel than men. Patience is another key aspect to making a sale. Understanding when to stop pitching ideas and pull back is extremely important. Going overboard can be perceived as annoying or assertive an end up being a deal-breaker.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Surefire Signs of Overselling</strong><br/> Here are some signs of overselling. These show shoppers may be changing their minds and no longer interested. Paying attention to these can help your sales team pull back when they start overselling without realizing it.</p><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; margin-top: 13px; font-size: 13px;"><strong>1. Shopper becomes Distracted</strong> - When customers get busy with their phones while having a conversation with their salesperson, this is an indication that Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram are winning. It shows the potential buyer is losing interest and could leave soon if their interests or needs are not piqued.</p><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; margin-top: 13px; font-size: 13px;"><strong>2. Unease in Body Language</strong> - Body language, like averting eye contact and fidgeting, can be signs that are not hard to miss. These body movements show that customers are tired of listening to the pitch. They may believe their salesperson is trying to assert his/her personal opinion on them regardless of understanding what it is they want. This can cause frustration.</p><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; margin-top: 13px; font-size: 13px;"><strong>3. Moving Away From Salesperson</strong> - When women shoppers begin to move away, it shows the salesperson might have overdone it. This is the time to stop focusing on techniques and check in by asking them questions on their interest.</p><p style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 2px; font-size: 20px; color: #cc3333; padding-top: 0; text-align: center; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><strong>Did You Know?</strong></p><blockquote><p style="margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 12px; padding: 0px 8px 5px 8px; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">One of the main reasons women go to more dealerships is NOT price. Rather, it’s because they want to get their buying experience “right”. If that initial engagement doesn’t go as well as they want, they will leave your dealership and go elsewhere. The sale and residual revenue have been lost forever. What’s the cost of your cumulative lost sales due to poor first engagement?</p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 12px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Tips to Avoid Overselling</strong><br/> 1. Understanding what women buyers want and need is the key. Instead of pitching ideas right from the beginning, provide a space for women to express themselves. Ask questions and then ask some more. This is the best way to learn what their car buying needs are. It also provides a great opening to get related, so there is a connection; women buy when there is trust and respect provided. Listen to them first and then pitch ideas.</p><p style="margin-top: 12px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2. Friendly sales people are easier to talk to and women feel more comfortable around them. They find friendly salespersons more likeable. Our research shows that likeability is one of the top factors that help close a deal.</p></div>Boost Women's Confidence to Boost Your Saleshttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/boost-women-s-confidence-to-boost-your-sales2015-04-29T17:41:05.000Z2015-04-29T17:41:05.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p><strong><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1474999?profile=original"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1474999?profile=original" width="230"></a>The Good News?</strong> Women account for 50% of car purchases, and influence more than 80% of the deals.</p>
<p><strong>The Downside?</strong> One in three women report feeling apprehensive or overwhelmed when they shop and buy a car. Only 38% of women feel confident about the process.</p>
<p>Women have different buying criteria and behaviors than men. Women rank trust and respect at the top of their list when it comes to choosing a sales advisor and are 50% more likely to read dealer reviews. They prefer to read reviews written by her peers.</p>
<p>Reading dealer reviews, bringing someone with her to the dealership --- these actions show women are seeking ways to be confident about their purchase. Here are tips to boost women’s confidence and impact your sales revenue:</p>
<p><strong>1. Convey trust and respect.</strong> At the core of building trust and respect is the ability to listen and respond to what a woman is saying. Listen, don’t lead, and pursue a goal of truly understanding. After all, she is in your store and she is there for a reason, even if she isn’t purchasing today.</p>
<p><strong>2. Support the decision making process.</strong> When it's time to buy, just 1 in 10 women know exactly which one they want. What this means is she has a list of needs and desires in a car, and wants to find the best fit for that list. This isn’t indecision, it is a smart and more open way to shop. A savvy sales advisor will create a “decision tree” that helps reduce the list of cars to the best choice. Following a logical decision-making process will help a woman feel she bought the right car.</p>
<p><strong>3. Create a powerful evidence-driven reputation digital-to-showroom story.</strong> Encouraged happy female clients. Why? Their scores rate higher than men, and they acknowledge their dealership and sales person with rave posts. Use your reviews and reputation in your advertising so this buying segment puts you at the top of the list.</p>
<p><strong>What’s in it for Your Dealership?</strong><br> A confident, delighted buyer who has written a positive review of her experience can influence countless others to follow her lead. When that buyer decides to purchase or lease again, the loyalty created during her engagement with your dealership will bring her back.</p></div>2015 Top Shopping Brands Rated by Women | How Does Your Brand Rank?https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/2015-top-shopping-brands-rated-by-women-how-does-your-brand-rank2015-04-08T13:50:00.000Z2015-04-08T13:50:00.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The average woman visits 30% more stores than men when car buying. Dealers that have a high WSI “shopping” score convert on average 15% more browsers to buyers. W<em>omen perceive these stores as more trustworthy and comfortable places to do business with and go there first.</em> That is ROI. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=d36e25f0e5&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Watch this video to learn more</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Top 2015 Car Brands as Rated by Women</strong><br> The number of women shopping and buying cars continues to escalate in our country. As a result, in this highly competitive industry their shopping, or “browsing”, habits are being analyzed more than ever.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Women rely on car dealer reviews 50% more than men. They also prefer to read reviews from other women. That is why our business focuses on reviews exclusively from this powerful buying sector. Likewise, we are the only company in the reputation space that captures reviews on the shopping, i.e. the browsing experience.</p>
<p style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=c65e9f46be&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #0000ee; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img class="CToWUd" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/yT2mp-kTqyaDbDAhrMw8Yfgijj-HQ3B7ZAV9uwocMD7m6rjN6940IeiR-n8FAYTo6qSLHvEuYZ7egFgb_OiKT5cWop8-KvOXiXTz19oNGKZSgKbmQaUPmImXL9V1zNl6Vi6ReZxpkFrCAnubxL6XmNsehNdu8d9bchYsqpc=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a/images/f30e96f8-6f6f-49de-865d-ef7da407a3fe.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 600px; border: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; min-height: auto; line-height: 100%; outline: none; text-decoration: none; text-transform: capitalize; display: inline; margin-bottom: 10px;" width="100%"></a></p>
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<td style="vertical-align: top;"><p style="margin-top: 10px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Our <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=6aec6ca143&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2015 US Women’s Car Dealership Report</a>, compiled from 3,450 women’s car dealer ratings and reviews, showcases the top “shopping” car brands as rated by women; the overall WSI score for all brands was 4.37. Each brand’s WSI®, or Women Satisfaction Index, is derived by taking the aggregate of all the dealer’s scores from that brand’s reviews on the site ranging from a 5.0 (highest) to 1.0 (lowest).</p><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; margin-top: 12px; font-size: 13px;"><strong><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1474983?profile=original"><img class="align-right" style="padding: 10px;" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1474983?profile=original" width="226"></a>Shopping Scores of the Top 15 Brands:</strong><br> The overall WSI score for all brands was 4.37. Keep in mind these reviews are from a controlled environment. Meaning our company works with about 400 dealers, not 17,000. These dealers use our platform to understand women’s unmet or unrecognized needs. By evaluating the data, dealers measure women’s satisfaction in key areas to create and maintain high scores. The difference these high scores make significantly impact perception, reputation, walk in’s and conversions.</p><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; margin-top: 12px; font-size: 13px;">Here is the list by brand.</p><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; margin-top: 10px; font-size: 13px;">1. Volkswagen, scored 4.75<br> 2. Ford, scored 4.74<br> 3. Chevrolet, scored 4.66<br> 4. Jeep, scored 4.63<br> 5. Buick, scored 4.61<br> 6. Hyundai, scored 4.59<br> 7. Audi, scored 4.54<br> 8. Honda, scored 4.53<br> 9. Toyota, scored 4.52<br> 10. Nissan, scored 4.49<br> 11. Subaru, scored 4.46<br> 12. Chrysler, scored 4.40<br> 13. Dodge, scored 4.31<br> 14. Lexus, scored 4.28<br> 15. Mazda, scored 4.26</p></td>
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<td colspan="2"><p style="margin-top: 2px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><p style="margin-top: 2px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>US Women’s Car Dealership Report: How to Get Yours</strong><br> Get customized WSI® data and actionable research to improve the customer experience helps shape advertising and increase sales to women at your dealership. These trends and predictive patterns help take the guesswork out of marketing to women with the rich, WSI Dealer research provided from your very own reviewers. Would it surprise you to learn that over 90% of women that write a review will voluntarily complete a 25-question survey about their shopping experience with you... with ABSOLUTELY NO INCENTIVE AT ALL?</p><p style="margin-top: 2px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><p style="font-size: 21px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; border: 2px dashed #cc3333; text-align: center; padding: 5px 6px 5px 6px;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=c056137c1a&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click Here For Your FREE Copy Of The <strong>2015 US Women’s Car Dealership Report</strong></a></p></td>
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</table></div>Top Car Brands as Rated by Women: The Growing Importancehttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/top-car-brands-as-rated-by-women-the-growing-importance2015-02-11T18:29:30.000Z2015-02-11T18:29:30.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p>It’s Officially the Women Buyers Era...</p>
<p>OEM’s are increasing their advertising towards this powerful buying segment. Smart dealerships are too. Women bought an estimated 13 million cars at new car dealerships last year; an estimated 35,000 vehicles a day.</p>
<p>How many female “up’s” are converting to buyers at your store? If you aren’t tracking that number yet, we suggest you start accounting for sales by gender. The upside of your gross profit potential is tied to this.</p>
<p>The <span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/2015uswomenscardealershipreport-form.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">2015 US Women’s Car Dealership Report</span></a></strong></span>, compiled after 3,450 women’s car dealer ratings and reviews, showcases the top car brands as rated by women when purchasing. Each brand’s WSI® or Women Satisfaction Index is derived by taking the aggregate of all the dealer’s scores from that brand’s reviews on the site ranging from a 5.0 (highest) to 1.0 (lowest).</p>
<p>The average WSI® for purchasing was 4.73, up from up from 4.65 last year. The top ten rated brands are Mercedes-Benz (also held the #1 spot in 2014), Lincoln, Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Lexus, Chevrolet, Ford and Volvo. They were followed by Audi, Toyota, Hyundai, Subaru, and Nissan brands.</p>
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<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span class="font-size-4">Did You Know?</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;">One in 3 women buyers describes being “apprehensive”, “nervous” or “overwhelmed” at a dealership when buying. Another 13.4% say they feel “intimidated” or “frustrated”. In this hyper-competitive market, what is your dealership doing to combat this? Do you offer a hassle-free, seamless experience?</span></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1474981?profile=original"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1474981?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"></a></p>
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<p>You’ve heard it before: women have a different set of needs and expectations when buying a car. Yet, it’s a pretty straightforward equation. Car manufactures and dealerships that focus on treating women well by engaging and respecting them in a trustworthy manner throughout the purchase process are positioning themselves exceptionally to capture future business. It is not the luck of the draw; these businesses have processes and training in place to optimize the customer visit. More importantly, the execution of that training is being fulfilled.</p>
<p><strong>Certified Dealers Rate Higher</strong></p>
<p>While the overall WSI® score was 4.73, there is a distinct difference in the dealerships’ reviews and scores.</p>
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<li>Certified Women-Drivers Friendly® Dealers have a 4.85 WSI® or 97.0%</li>
<li>Non-Certified Dealers have a 4.48 WSI® or 89.6%</li>
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<p>There is a tremendous upside for dealers to become Certified and distinguish their business to women+families. These numbers indicate a correlation between Certification, higher CSI and increased sales and profits.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font-size-4"><strong>HOW DO I BECOME A CERTIFIED DEALER?</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font-size-3"><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.women-drivers.com/certified-signup.aspx" target="_blank">Click here to find out!</a></strong></span><span class="font-size-3" style="color: #ff0000;"><br></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font-size-4" style="color: #ff0000;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/2015uswomenscardealershipreport-form.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Click Here For Your FREE Copy Of The 2015<br> US Women’s Car Dealership Report</span></a></span></strong></p></div>Top Brands Rated by Women | 2015 US Womens Car Dealership Reporthttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/top-brands-rated-by-women-2015-us-womens-car-dealership-report2015-01-29T00:00:29.000Z2015-01-29T00:00:29.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p>Our company has published it’s second annual report which showcases women are having empowering experiences at progressive car dealerships in the United States.</p><p>Women are responsible for buying over 13 million cars at new car dealerships; that’s an impressive 36,000 vehicles a day. Dealerships have to literally change gears, advertising, amenities and their sales strategies to attract this powerful buying force. “It’s a very competitive industry” shares Women-Drivers.com President, Anne Fleming. “Women know they can buy a car anywhere in their respective city. It’s in dealer’s best interest to strategize and market to women. However, it takes more than just having a family female spokesperson.”</p><p>The research in the <span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/2015uswomenscardealershipreport-form.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">2015 US Women’s Car Dealership Report</span></a></strong></span> comes from over 3,450 women’s surveys from the company’s website. From these surveys, the company generates a Women Satisfaction Index® or WSI score. The range is from a 5.0 (the highest) to 1.0 (the lowest).</p><p>Unlike other 5-star review sites, Women-Drivers.com offers women the opportunity to write a quick review and then opt-in to a ‘deeper dive’ survey to share more thoroughly about their dealership visit. Over 90% of the reviewers opt-in to the twenty-five question survey.</p><p>Fleming goes on to share, “In the past, women haven’t been asked for any real feedback by the industry, with the exception of the dutiful CSI. Through our platform, women are empowered by the opportunity to share their voice and provide productive opinions. Generally, these buyers are having more than “satisfied” visits at car dealerships; they are truly delighted by the respectful and trustworthy manners of their sales advisors. In turn, when asked to write a review, they are generous.”</p><p>Dealership groups and manufacturers use the data collected by the company to better understand, improve and shape the customer’s experience. From the analytics, trends and predictive patterns are captured to help take the guesswork out of marketing to women.</p><p><strong>Key Findings</strong></p><ul><li>When shopping for a vehicle, the overall WSI was 4.37, up from 4.25 last year. The top five rated shopping brands by women are Volkswagen, Ford, Chevrolet, Jeep, and Buick.</li><li>When purchasing a vehicle, the overall WSI was 4.73, up from 4.65 last year. The top five rated purchasing brands by women are Mercedes-Benz (also held the #1 spot in 2014), Lincoln, Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler.</li><li>When leasing (a subset of purchasing), the overall WSI was...<span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/2015-us-womens-car-dealership-report-top-brands-rated-by-women/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Click here for more about Trends of Women at Car Dealerships.</span></a></strong></span></li></ul><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font-size-4"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/2015uswomenscardealershipreport-form.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Click Here For Your FREE Copy Of The 2015 US Women’s Car Dealership Report</span></a></span><br/></strong></span></p></div>How Customer-Centric is Your Dealership? Take the Test!https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/how-customer-centric-is-your-dealership-take-the-test2014-12-17T17:57:52.000Z2014-12-17T17:57:52.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We are well into December. It's time to take stock of your year and your accomplishments. It’s definitely time to have fun and to be mindful of what is ahead. As we turn the corner into a new year, 2015, today’s Women’s Wednesday you are invited to take a short, interactive quiz to evaluate where there is room to expand your dealership’s customer excellence. And in doing so, your competitive edge.</p><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: top; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; width: 315px;"><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The idea to establish a quick test came from a family of dealerships with extraordinarily high CSI and WSI (Women Satisfaction Index) scores. They asked Women-Drivers.com to establish a baseline to gauge how they compared to other dealerships in order to further increase customer loyalty and engagement for their business. We interviewed a number of other forward-thinking dealers in the following areas: Sales, Service, BDC, Brand Reputation, Concierge Services, Social Media, etc.</p></td><td style="width: 235px; height: 230px; border: 2px solid #cc3333; padding: 5px;" valign="top"><p style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 12px; color: #505050; padding-top: 0; text-align: center; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=8f45229afb&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Read the Latest Her + His Car Review<br/> <em>Share with your Social Communities</em></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=a5434acd58&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #0000ee; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img class="CToWUd" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/eCg6Z7hAGW8lH08AZdiE8wEMaZuAR53f-A3stJ8Xof7BT8xuweBtsrxK9U-QoE1gNcApY9-fMOsA8W4vnXZqnTr2ydXvG5OQGpojG6jF2oNoBA=s0-d-e1-ft#http://women-drivers.com/img/reviews/2015-subaru-outback.jpg" style="width: 208px; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 2px; border: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; min-height: auto; line-height: 100%; outline: none; text-decoration: none; text-transform: capitalize; display: inline;"/></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; padding: 0; font-size: 11px; color: black; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">There are always two sides to everything, right? To keep our car reviews innovative and well-rounded, we are providing you with not just one, but two points of view on the same exact vehicle – Her + His perspectives.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #cc3333;"><h3 style="font-size: 20px; color: #ffffff; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;">DID YOU KNOW?</h3><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; padding: 0px 10px 5px 10px; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;">Ever notice how narrow advertising messaging is from one dealership to another? According to most marketing messages, every dealership has the ‘best’ pricing. Truth is, not all dealerships offer the best customer service. How come more dealers don’t advertise their customer excellence+service? A-HA! THAT’S what women+families are most interested in is having a trusting, respectful and comfortable experience!</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; margin-top: 10px; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Litmus Test Take Aways</strong><br/> After completing the 12-question test, dealers are assessed and scored into one of four categories: <strong>Leading the Pack, Standing Tall, Holding Your Own and Missing the Mark</strong>. In this highly competitive industry, dealers are constantly looking for new ways to expand their level of customer service and retention.</p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 350px;"><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; padding-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; font-size: 13px;">Some simple recommendations are provided upon completion of <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=02a0d27652&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #0000ee; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img class="CToWUd align-right" alt="take the test" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/46RtC8xYR38dE2kp_REsVFc95reqsUB1XNRQ0SCaYOcXm2N-xF-54PSaDFYMwxT28InM3oIppMVOples8bE9DVfANVXd2WU0tmk=s0-d-e1-ft#http://www.women-drivers.com/img/DealerChallenge.png" style="border: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; min-height: auto; line-height: 100%; outline: none; text-decoration: none; text-transform: capitalize; display: inline; margin-bottom: 10px;"/></a>the quiz such as courtesy cars and a child-friendly area. These are not novel ideas, yet it is surprising how many dealerships have yet to embrace fairly effortless changes such as these. The quiz feedback also includes innovative initiatives in each of the four categories to stretch your customer service and standards to meet the changing landscape of the customer. What's your score?</p></td><td style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;" valign="top"><p style="text-align: right;"></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-size: 14px; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><strong>Get Started Here: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=de0141759f&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">www.HowFriendlyisYourDealership.com</a> to take the test</strong></p><p style="font-size: 14px; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women?<br/> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=5961e82add&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p><p style="font-size: 14px; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><strong>Did you receive a Free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=cdf514c469&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p></div>Report: Top Sites Visited by Women When Buying A Carhttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/report-top-sites-visited-by-women-when-buying-a-car2014-12-03T10:30:00.000Z2014-12-03T10:30:00.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p>Womens-Drivers.com, the leading dealer ratings and review site for Women buyers, conducts ongoing research through our Women’s Satisfaction Index (WSI®) report to provide dealers with important insights into buying habits of women.</p><p>Women-Drivers.com asks women to complete an optional 25 question survey about their dealership experience after completing a dealer review. An amazing ninety-two percent of women complete this extensive survey primarily to share their experience with other women! There are separate sections and questions asked for Shopping, Purchasing and Service. The survey also asks women to list the sites they visited during their shopping experience.</p><p>Listed below are the top sites women visited from our most recent 3,200 surveys.</p><p>1. Dealership (41.27%)<br/> 2. Manufacturer (39.75%)<br/> 3. KBB (39.62%)<br/> 4. Consumer Reports (22.23%)<br/> 5. AutoTrader (21.34%)<br/> 6. Edmunds (20.38%)<br/> 7. Cars.com (18.85%)<br/> 8. Carfax (15.29%)<br/> 9. Craigslist (7.64%)<br/> 10. JD Power (6.05%)<br/> 11. TrueCar.com (4.71%)<br/> 12. Autobytel (2.29%)<br/> <span class="font-size-1">Total adds up to greater than 100% as women can leave multiple responses.</span></p><p>Obviously it is important to understand the research habits of women because they account for over 50% of auto sales and are involved in at least 80% of the purchase decisions. Additionally, research shows that sixty-five percent of all customers taking their vehicles in for service are women. That's a lot of buying power!</p><p>The data mining available in the WSI® Dealer Insight report offers actual behaviors and experiences of women who have written reviews at dealerships. The analytics and findings of the monthly reports provide critical information to improve personal sales interaction with women, resulting in better conversion rates and sales. Imagine if you could increase your sales to women just 5% by understanding their buying habits. That’s an additional two-million dollars in sales based on the average 2013 sales by dealership of $41.3 million.</p><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong>For more on this topic, <a rel="nofollow" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://women-drivers.com/dealers-website-is-1-with-women/" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women?<br/> <a rel="nofollow" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.women-drivers.com/certified-signup.aspx" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p><p style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong>Did you receive a Free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report? <a rel="nofollow" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://women-drivers.com/uswomenscarbuyingreport-form.aspx" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p></div>5 Ways to Deliver a Competitive Edgehttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/5-ways-to-deliver-a-competitive-edge2014-11-12T17:59:48.000Z2014-11-12T17:59:48.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p>Today, our Women’s Wednesday focuses on the road to ultimate business success. This is powered by a growing customer base, increasing loyalty and customer retention. Here are some innovative marketing ideas to increase your competitive edge by delivering more value to women customers.</p><p><img class="CToWUd align-right" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/QavI5aYp1fnfGfWJGG-YOk2_txtFFlwpVLDXXCVDnIYsivlPDzDCPkQ_6V_u12oPhXjB37tCDPWyouzqdzK5zvXEOo23NuGiYBtUIA=s0-d-e1-ft#http://women-drivers.com/img/competitive-advantage.jpg" style="float: left; margin-right: 15px; width: 35%; border: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; min-height: auto; line-height: 100%; outline: none; text-decoration: none; text-transform: capitalize; display: inline; margin-bottom: 10px;" height="253" width="232"/><strong>1. Buy A Car In Less Than 2 Hours</strong><br/>Do you know it currently takes a woman an average of 3 hours and 20 minutes to buy a car? Most women feel "highly inconvenienced" by this, especially because time is one of women’s most prized commodities. Implement a marketing approach where buyers can seal the deal in 2 hours or less.</p><p><strong>2. Test Drives On-Call</strong><br/>Half of the buyers at a dealership are women – but most women work. With professional females and moms on the go, a way to distinguish your dealership is having “test-drives-on-call.” Bring a new vehicle to her place of business or home to test drive; this concierge service is attractive to women as again, it is time saving.</p><p><strong>3. Access To Technology Experts</strong><br/>Car buying is a costly purchase. Women buyers, especially, take a lot of time to research the dealership and learn about the vehicles before they make their final decision. In the car itself, there are so many buttons and touch points on a dashboard. Who can remember all the things said during a test drive? Most buyers spend no more than 5 minutes learning about their NAV or tech packages and leave the dealership unfamiliar with these aspects of their new vehicle. Have classes for consumers to attend - post purchase - about the cars’ technology and perhaps some one page cheat sheets for them. Having access via email, text, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook to your dealership’s technology expert is a must.</p><p><strong>4. Build A Strong Brand Dealer Reputation</strong><br/>Women rely on car dealer reviews 50% more than men. It makes sense, they want to get their car buying right! They really want to buy from well-reputed and trusted dealers. To build strong brand reputation and attract more women buyers, dealers can get reviews from women shoppers and train their sales team to deliver the ultimate car buying experience to every customer who walks in the store. This low cost model is a win-win.</p><p><strong>5. Acknowledge Mistakes And Show Customers They Are Valued</strong><br/>It is difficult for businesses to acknowledge their mistakes. When it comes to client retention, “holding up your hand” in business, is paramount. For example, when it comes to Reviews – keep it real and be transparent. Ask to have a one-on-one discussion with the consumer via telephone. Market your dealership in such a way so that all customers feel included and a valued part of the process.</p><p>Positioning your dealership in this way – and clearly communicating these services - makes clients and potential customers feel that your business is working in the clients’ best interest rather than just "selling cars and making money."</p><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>For more on this topic, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=e37e454a45&e=563220adae" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women?<br/><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=9a57985585&e=563220adae" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Did you receive a Free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=0a25158c54&e=563220adae" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p><p></p></div>7 Ways to Leverage Sales to Women and Increase CSI Nowhttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/7-ways-to-leverage-sales-to-women-and-increase-csi-now2014-10-29T17:27:35.000Z2014-10-29T17:27:35.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><div style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left;"><p style="margin-top: 0px;">In today's Womens Wednesday, we focus on selling to women. Let's get real: Research indicates that women rely on reviews 50% more than men. They account for 52% of the vehicles purchased in the US and influence over 80% of the total purchases! So developing a marketing strategy to target this substantial buying segment is critical. Wouldn’t becoming a Certified Women-Drivers Dealer be a great first step?<br/> </p></div><div style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left;"><p><strong><span style="font-size: 14px;">7-Ways to Leverage and Merchandise your Certification to Increase Sales and CSI</span></strong><br/> Leverage your Women-Drivers Certification by distinguishing your dealership from others in your city! Advertising the Certification like this shows women that you are serious about their business and treat them exceptionally. Over one-third of women buyers feel that the dealership website that they visited was not helpful. So that is an excellent place to start!</p><p><strong>1. Integrate the Women-Drivers Car-Buying and Service Guide</strong> into your website. The WCBSG is a micro-site within your site that contains an abundance of content and tips for women on many areas of shopping and servicing vehicles and is a clear indication that you appreciate their business. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.women-drivers.com/dealerships.aspx?pg=1&SEO=Facebook%20Women+Family%20Content" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for more information. Make sure you include the WCBSG in your navigation and main site rotator.</p><p><strong>2. Incorporate the Women-Drivers logo</strong> into your website. Include it in main navigation items such as About Us, New Cars, Used Cars and Service and Parts. Provide a link to your reviews.</p><p><strong>3. Be a ZMOT practitioner.</strong> Incorporate W-D Reviews on your VDP’s to take advantage of that Zero Moment of Truth when the shopper is trying to determine if you have the Right vehicle and if you’re the Right dealership for her!</p><p><strong>4. Improve your Women-Drivers conversion ratio</strong> by including your Certified Logo and status in every lead response to female shoppers. Let them know that you are the only, or one of few, W-D certified dealers in your town and provide them a link to your reviews.</p><p><strong>5. Make your reviews more engaging.</strong> With our mobile platform and photo upload system, you can get a positive review AND take a picture of your happy customer with their new vehicle, right at time of delivery. This will make your reviews much more engaging and more likely to be shared by your women buyers. Remember all Women-Drivers positive reviews are automatically pushed to Facebook.</p><p><strong>6. Targeting your Digital Advertising.</strong> One of the best ways to reach women these days is on Pandora radio. Its unique format and technology allows you to target JUST women. One of the neat aspects of Pandora radio is your radio ads come with “companion” digital display ads. So you could create a digital ad specifically targeting women and link the ad to the WCBSG on your website. Pretty cool!</p><p><strong>7. Traditional Advertising still strong among women.</strong> As you know, there are certain TV and Cable shows geared specifically towards women. Your rep can show you the research and put together a buy to target women. Using your W-D Certified Logo, produce a commercial specifically designed to reach women and leverage your certification and desire to make their shopping experience both pleasant and productive.</p></div><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women?<br/><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.women-drivers.com/certified-signup.aspx" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Did you receive a Free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/uswomenscarbuyingreport-form.aspx" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p></div>(Don’t Say) “We Treat Everyone the Same”https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/don-t-say-we-treat-everyone-the-same2014-10-15T17:22:54.000Z2014-10-15T17:22:54.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px;">Today we focus on customization when selling to women. When dealership personnel say that they “treat everyone the same,” what they really mean is that they greet prospects consistently and similarly with a sales process - whether in person or digitally. However, having the capacity and ability to treat each customer the same simply can’t be accomplished. It sounds nice as a concept, but after all we are humans, not robots. We can’t be shaped and programmed to treat everyone the same. And, who would want that anyway? Certainly not your customers. But, it’s more than semantics.</p><div style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left;"><p><strong>It Simply Isn’t True</strong><br/> Does a physician treat all her patients the same? Does your child’s teacher treat all his students the same? Of course not. They would have a pretty bad reputation if they did. Why? Each patient has his own well-being issues and each student performs at her own learning style that is personal to them. Why would it be any different for a client or customer purchasing a car? What brings them in, their finances, influencing factors, comfort and ability to negotiate are all personal and individual.</p><p><strong>Don’t Let Past Experiences Interfere with Sales</strong><br/> It’s important to advise and remind your sales team not to let their past experiences interfere with their sales engagement. But that is much easier said than done! Folks who sell cars are just like all of us; sometimes those experiences from the past influence the way we behave in the present. It’s largely because each and every one of us has a neurological make-up filled with fright and flight responses. Let's take a closer look.</p><p>Sales advisors interact with numerous customers every day. The good, bad and ugly experiences, behaviors, reactions and emotions of previous situations are all stored in the human brain. When confronted with a similar situation, whether consciously or not, elicits reactions based on past recollections, right? A dealerships’ sales team undergoes the same level of training. How is it that some sales advisors are very engaged and sell to women with ease? Others, even seasoned ‘car guys’, may get through it, but have less comfort and success.</p><p><img class="CToWUd" alt="" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/JGKJ-Yl6hUuRVL3MTKcDxEQvONhNZNt8VJFHPhHASFq3FUan6Uxd4gX2WG-DDJNiOe5UxuMaO_iqQ9y0usxakidVSdlfnrWAZYXhK9RZ_X1cRQjnuKgKqZjDIpwdnjm1_sqrYRWQ=s0-d-e1-ft#http://women-drivers.com/new_wd_wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/group-of-women.jpg" style="float: right; width: 220px; border: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; min-height: auto; line-height: 100%; outline: none; text-decoration: none; text-transform: capitalize; display: inline; margin-bottom: 10px;"/><strong>Customized Treatment is Critical</strong><br/> Today is about customization, both in offering tangible and intangible services. The same holds true in selling and approaching customers. Using the same opening line to sell customers equally isn’t going to work. Being ‘customer-focused’ means going the extra mile in delivering quality experience to each customer individually according to their preferences.This means dealerships must ensure that their team of experts on the sales floor and BDC don’t deliver cookie cutter lines, openers, or emails to customers; but rather understand each customer as well as possible. That’s what customers are now looking for. Not, just a sales exchange. Wow, it’s a tall order!</p><p>Understanding the customer is more crucial today because our industry is shifting from male to female-focused, leaving dealership management trying to truly understand this growing market segment. It's time to break away from some idea that you are ‘treating everyone the same’ and start to deliver tailored treatment to each customer.</p></div><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>For 7 Tips on How to Customize the Customer Experience, and more on this topic, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=bb3033f155&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here to read</a></strong></p><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women?<br/> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=318a48c706&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Did you receive a Free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=b30b7a9c5e&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p></div>The Good + Bad News about Your Service Drive: What Women Wanthttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/the-good-bad-news-about-your-service-drive-what-women-want2014-10-01T15:27:17.000Z2014-10-01T15:27:17.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px;">Today we are looking at the Service Drive. This is the critical department where your female customers visit in between purchasing or leasing their vehicles. With all the touch points in the service department, it's also happens to be the highest gross margin department in your store. It's the place where retention happens - or doesn’t.</p><div style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left;"><p><strong>The Good News?</strong> <br/> Women are having very good experiences on the front end of the dealership. 93% of women report it was easy to schedule their service appointment. Furthermore, a stellar 95% of women report being satisfied with the way they were greeted by the service advisor. Better yet, 96% were completely satisfied with their dealership experience. Bravo!</p><p><strong>The Bad News?</strong><br/> There is a drop off at the end of the interaction. How so? Only 69% of women report receiving follow-up communication from their dealership… a huge miss! Why not send them a personalized email for a free car wash? A free tire rotation or oil change? Additionally, 13% of our reviews report the service was not completed correctly, on time or at the estimated price. This is more troubling, as over one in 10 women can be leaving your dealership, and because you don’t even know it , you can’t resolve the issue and retain that customer.</p></div><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Want more information on this all-important topic? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.dealertrack.com/blog/2014/9/22/what-do-women-want-answering-this-age-old-question-for-your-service-lane#.VCnKCyldXDQ" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here to read</a></strong></p><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women?<br/> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.women-drivers.com/certified-signup.aspx" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Did you receive a Free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/uswomenscarbuyingreport-form.aspx" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p></div>Women Walking Out - What is it Costing Your Dealership?https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/women-walking-out-what-is-it-costing-your-dealership2014-09-17T16:34:18.000Z2014-09-17T16:34:18.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1474731?profile=original" width="113">Today’s Women’s Wednesday is a <em>must-read</em> as we focus on the cost to your dealership when women walk out.</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=cc42791d66&e=ade7025e0c" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">In the Wall Street Journal</a> last month, it was reported there are now more women drivers on the road than men. The last several years the auto industry has witnessed a big and not so surprising shift in the car buyer demographics particularly in terms of gender.</p>
<p>This leaves many dealerships shifting their paradigm in terms of how to re-strategize their business and marketing plan to truly optimize sales to women. And, it’s leaving other dealers unsure as to exactly how to do <em>that!</em></p>
<p><strong>Women Walkouts: A $4 Million Cost Analysis</strong><br> Dealerships don’t even know that they can increase their sales another <strong>$4 million dollars a year</strong>. How? Most walk 10-15 women out their door each month and don’t even know it. By paying more attention to women and providing critical respect + trust the whole way through the sales engagement process; those browsers can be converted to buyers. Easily.</p>
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<h3 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><strong>Did You Know?</strong></h3>
<p style="margin-top: 1px;">Today, when a woman walks out your store dissatisfied without making a purchase, it’s a matter of concern, because:</p>
<ol>
<li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">If she isn’t buying from you then she IS going to buy from your competitor</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">If she isn’t buying from you then there is a good chance she will be writing a review on a car dealer review platform about that experience</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">If she isn’t buying from you, you not only lost the sale, you lost the RESIDUAL REVENUE</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">RESIDUAL REVENUE = Vehicle + (Service Drive Visits X 3-6 years)<br> + Future Vehicle(s)</li>
<li>THIS is happening at your store EVERY DAY; It's what you DON’T KNOW THAT YOU DON’T KNOW</li>
</ol>
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<div style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left;">
<p><strong>Double Check Your Automatic Response, “That Doesn’t Happen Here, We Treat Everyone the Same”</strong><br> Women shop at 1.9 dealers before buying a vehicle, or the equivalent of 30% more dealerships than men. Why is that? They want to get it right, and avoid getting it wrong. Don’t be so quick to think she is not leaving your store. An unhappy potential car shopper walking out of your store costs you a fortune - literally. Here’s what is put on the line when this happens:</p>
<p><strong>1. You Lose the Opportunity to Make a Quarter-of-a-Million Dollar Sale</strong><br> Women buy or lease an average of 8 cars in their lifetime. At today’s average price of $32,500 that money adds up quickly. Plus service drive visits over the long haul; that is a huge chunk of gross profit and sales, too.</p>
<p><strong>2. You Lose a Customer for Life, or at least a Long time</strong><br> Lose the loyalty that this woman and family + friends bring. Not to mention, her many referrals. Huge miss!</p>
<p><strong>3. You Lose More Potential Buyers</strong><br> Women are influential. This can work in your favor or against you. So, whether she is just looking around and browsing, you need to offer the ultimate shopping experience so that she walks out your door feeling content. If that happens, she’ll spread the word and - return to buy. If it doesn’t, she will walk and talk. It’s a pretty simple formula. Which side of the $4 million will your dealership be on? In today’s hyper-competitive market, its time to pay much closer attention.</p>
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<p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Want more information on this all-important topic? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=c7656e4a99&e=ade7025e0c" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here to read</a></strong></p>
<p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=a45e476f6b&e=ade7025e0c" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p>
<p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Did you receive a Free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=6caef2be88&e=ade7025e0c" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p></div>Empowering Women at Your Store: What's in it For Youhttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/empowering-women-at-your-store-what-s-in-it-for-you2014-09-03T16:26:07.000Z2014-09-03T16:26:07.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p style="margin-top: 0px;">In today’s competitive marketplace, women buyers are crucial for auto dealers' success. Just take a look at numbers and reported growth opportunities in a recent <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=c2d673a332&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal article</a>.</p><p>It may be no surprise that car buying is an emotional purchase for women. Even on the heels of <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=7106a888bf&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">a recent survey</a> showing women are comfortable with negotiation than men, there is still a huge upside for dealers to create an empowering buying experience for women.</p><div style="background-color: #cc3333; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; padding: 2%; margin-top: 1%; color: #ffffff; text-align: left;"><h3 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 5px; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;"><strong>Did You Know?</strong></h3><p>Every other woman in the United States purchases a car by herself. While many women are confidant and excited, others walk in with different emotions. Consider, that 3 in 10 women report being apprehensive about their visit while 20% are nervous and overwhelmed. You don’t know which woman coming in your door is feeling what. Nonetheless, it is vital to encourage and boost women's confidence, respect and trust from the <em>get-go</em>. Establishing trust-based relationships and assisting them in a considerate, flexible, non-intimidating manner is the equation for having a browser convert to a buyer. Anything short of that, she walks.</p></div><div style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left;"><p><strong>Tips to Empower Women and Increase Buyers + Retention:</strong></p><ol><li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">Respect and Trust are the building block to every car sold today. It begins with greeting her in a timely and friendly manner. Eye contact is locked in and the smart phone is put away.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">Invite women to use your wifi or child play area. Would they like a cold or warm beverage?</li><li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">Have them lead the conversation, but it's your job to ask questions. What distance does she drive to work? Does she have children? What type of activities does she do? Talk to women like you are having coffee with her. Don’t be in a hurry to get her into the car for a test drive.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">When asking about features, be sure to use full sentences with women, not “leather or cloth.” Our senior trainer friend, Vicki Parker, provides these tips that make a difference when engaging with prospects. Women don’t want to be rushed, they want to build and create a sense of relationship.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">The four-corner-around-the-block-11-minute-test-drive doesn’t serve all customers anymore. Let women make their own trail. Bring the car to their work place to test drive when needed. Better yet, let her take it overnight so the family can give it a true road test. That is one way to surprise and delight your customer.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">The average length of time it takes a woman to buy a car is 3 hours and 30 minutes. How about a “Buy a Car in 120 Minutes or Less”? Women love saving time.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 4px;">Have an open door Car Wash Policy.</li><li>The #1 concierge item requested by women is an overnight vehicle. It is no mystery women do not want to have to wait for someone else to pick her up, be dropped off by a van, or — have to pay for a rental car. Make it easy for your customers.</li></ol></div><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=3df3a39ce4&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p><p style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Did you receive a Free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=a3b6bde4b3&e=433e5fd390" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></p></div>What's the NEW TOP Reason Women Buy?https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/what-s-the-new-top-reason-women-buy2014-07-23T18:05:32.000Z2014-07-23T18:05:32.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p>Today's Women’s Wednesday we are focusing on the new top reason women are buying from their sales advisor. Trust has always trumped price when it comes to buying from a sales advisor, but now, in our latest mid-year #bigdata report directly from women's reviews, “trust” no longer has the top spot.</p><p>R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Aretha Franklin couldn’t define it better. Respect is now the #1 prerequisite to trust in the formula to selling to women.</p><p>The top 5 reasons women buy from their sales consultant are ranked as follows:</p><p>1. Respectful<br/> 2. Trustworthy<br/> 3. Likeable<br/> 4. Knowledgeable<br/> 5. Understanding</p><div style="background-color: #cc3333; padding: 2%; line-height: normal; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><h3 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 5px; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;"><strong>Did You Know?</strong></h3><p>The 6th reason women buy a car from a salesperson is price. Of course, it doesn’t mean that price is not important to women. It means that having a personable, empathetic, real, approachable, open, and friendly engagement is paramount first and foremost. Pretty much like a first date. Nothing can happen before she sums you up. You have to pass the first test - <strong>then, and only then</strong> will there be a discussion regarding the price of the vehicle.</p></div><div style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left;"> </div><p><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=5180620570&e=563220adae" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a>. </strong></p><p><strong>Did you receive a Free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4075c4f693a82f17ee5f2226a&id=c0d83e3ed9&e=563220adae" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a>. <br/></strong></p></div>The Top Rated Car Brands by Women: How does Your Stack Up?https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/the-top-rated-car-brands-by-women-how-does-your-stack-up2014-07-09T14:30:00.000Z2014-07-09T14:30:00.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p>Today, our Women's Wednesday focuses on the ranking of the top 20 auto brands, as of July 1st, and how they are rated by women car buyers.</p><p>After analyzing the car dealer reviews written by women when purchasing a vehicle from January through June, the information below summarizes the top 20 brands by Women Satisfaction Index® scores on a scale of 5.0 (perfect) to 1.0 (lowest). The average WSI® for all brands is <strong>4.72</strong> during this time period.</p><p>1. Mercedez-Benz - <strong>4.98</strong><br/> 2. Volvo - <strong>4.96</strong><br/> 3. Lincoln - <strong>4.89</strong><br/> 4. Dodge - <strong>4.88</strong><br/> 5. Mitsubishi - <strong>4.87</strong><br/> 6 & 7. Chrysler & Jeep - <strong>4.86</strong><br/> 8. Buick - <strong>4.84</strong><br/> 9. Volkswagen - <strong>4.83</strong><br/> 10. Lexus - <strong>4.82</strong><br/> 11. Chevrolet - <strong>4.80</strong><br/> 12. Ford - <strong>4.79</strong><br/> 13. Audi - <strong>4.78</strong><br/> 14. Toyota - <strong>4.74</strong><br/> 15. Mazda - <strong>4.72</strong><br/> 16. GMC - <strong>4.71</strong><br/> 17. Honda - <strong>4.70</strong><br/> 18 & 19 & 20. Hyundai & Nissan & Subaru - <strong>4.68</strong></p><div style="background-color: #cc3333; padding: 2%; line-height: normal; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><h3 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 5px; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;"><strong>Did You Know?</strong></h3><p>3 in 10 women are apprehensive about their car dealership visit when buying a car. In fact, 20% feel downright overwhelmed. Top rated dealerships get the critical importance of establishing trust with their female clients the moment they walk onto the showroom floor or reach<br/> out digitally. It is the only thing that matters to her. Price is secondary.<br/> If rapport and respect cannot be immediately established, she will buy a vehicle elsewhere.</p></div><div style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left;"><p></p><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/dashboard/report/dealer_report/wsi-demo.htm" style="color: #0000ee; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/bNjq2PEHKcZzHrVBctuDqfVaIxvAdluTSVbemNnHl1Tzl0RYAfhs8jkjxUtqapWRP2YNvzCWqV0Kd5AYGVT9tXs=s0-d-e1-ft#http://www.women-drivers.com/img/slide5.png" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; width: 35%; border: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; min-height: auto; line-height: 100%; outline: none; text-decoration: none; text-transform: capitalize; display: inline; margin-bottom: 10px;" height="236" width="221"/></a>Congratulations to dealers that are using the Women-Drivers.com Certification to distinguish and market their store! They are selling more cars and their WSI® shows how satisfied - how happy - women are when buying their car.</p><p>Our model goes beyond reputation management to an expanded level of really understanding your women clientele. Dealers with 50 reviews and more receive their own customized WSI® Dealer DATA Report that helps take guesswork out of marketing to women. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/dashboard/report/dealer_report/wsi-demo.htm" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click to view Demo</a>.</p></div><p><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.women-drivers.com/dealer_addition.aspx" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a>. </strong></p><p><strong>Did you receive a Free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/uswomenscarbuyingreport-form.aspx" style="color: #cc3333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here</a>. <br/></strong></p></div>What Women Really Wanthttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/what-women-really-want2014-06-11T14:30:00.000Z2014-06-11T14:30:00.000ZAnne Fleminghttps://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AnneFleming<div><p>Today’s Women's Wednesday is going to focus on what it is women <span style="text-decoration: underline;">really want</span> when buying a car.</p><p><em>What Women Want</em>, starring Mel Gibson, was a great movie about an ad executive, who, after an injury, had the ability to read women’s minds. He could do wondrous things with that power. Knowing what women car buyers want is crucial for dealerships to be successful in today’s market.</p><p>Female customers are the fastest growing buying segment. They buy over 75,000 cars a day at new and used dealerships.</p><blockquote><p>Did You Know?</p><p>1. Trust is the #1 reason women buy from their sales associate. Price is important, too, but is secondary to trust and respect.<br/> 2. Despite the fact that there is a brand dealership closer to her home, 65% of women report they are travelling farther to another dealership to buy.<br/> 3. Women shop at 2 dealerships before buying a vehicle. When women leave and do not buy, two-thirds do NOT return. First impressions count.</p></blockquote><p><strong>What Do Women Really Want?</strong><br/> While each woman has her own unique set of circumstances, needs and wishes, there are two key things they universally want:</p><p><strong>1. Acknowledgment & Trust</strong><br/> Women want an empowering dealership experience so that they are fully satisfied with the decision they make without any regrets. They want to be greeted pleasantly and respectfully upon entering the dealership; not overlooked by the sales advisor – even when they say that are ‘just looking’. This gives them the confidence to proceed with this same dealership when they purchase.</p><p>Likewise, when a friendly sales advisor welcomes women, this instantly develops into a rapport. Rapport typically transforms into trust in just a moment or two. Women feel empowered when they are heard. This tends to win their loyalty and they reward the dealership with a purchase.</p><p><strong>2. Dealer Reputation</strong><br/> Women want to get their buying decision right so they research a dealer’s reputation and credibility <strong>before</strong> they visit. Women especially appreciate reading the reviews and experiences from other women – it means more to them. Distinguish your dealership on more than price alone– having the “best” price is no longer the sole motivator with women.</p><p>You don’t have to go as far as Mel Gibson and put on mascara and panty hose to “know what women want.”</p><p><strong>For more on What Women Want When Buying, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/what-women-want-a-trusted-dealership/" target="_blank">Click here</a>.</strong></p><p><strong>Want to Sell More Cars and Distinguish your Dealership to Women? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.women-drivers.com/dealer_addition.aspx" target="_blank">Click here.</a></strong></p><p><strong>As the Big Data Authority on women’s dealership experiences, we invite you to download our free copy of the 2014 Women’s Car Buying Report: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://women-drivers.com/uswomenscarbuyingreport-form.aspx" target="_blank">Click here</a>.</strong></p></div>