branding - Blog - Automotive Internet Sales - BDC - Free Training Resources
2024-03-28T11:04:16Z
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/branding
The Million Dollar Marketing Strategy
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/the-million-dollar-marketing-strategy
2017-02-07T22:00:39.000Z
2017-02-07T22:00:39.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p>Is there such a thing as a million dollar strategy or a one-size-fits-all strategy for your digital advertising?</p><p></p><p>On this episode of Think Tank Tuesday, Paul, Ashley, and Juliana discuss brands that have attempted to utilize a million dollar strategy and whether or not it could be repeated for your business. </p><p></p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPotratzAdvertising%2Fvideos%2F10154433772102887%2F&show_text=0&width=560" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p></p><p><font size="2">We’d love to hear what you have to say. Comment below and follow us on Facebook.<br/></font><span>Website: </span><span class="m_4503944007904589169gmail-s2"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ppadv.com/" target="_blank">http://www.ppadv.com</a><br/></span><span>Facebook: </span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvert" target="_blank"><span class="m_4503944007904589169gmail-s2">http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvert</span></a><span>...<br/></span><span>Twitter: </span><span class="m_4503944007904589169gmail-s2"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.twitter.com/Potratz" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</a><br/></span><span>Instagram: @Potratz</span></p></div>
Make Money Mondays with Sean V. Bradley - Special Edition - You Are Your Brand
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/make-money-mondays-with-sean-v-bradley-special-edition-you-are-yo
2017-01-23T15:38:17.000Z
2017-01-23T15:38:17.000Z
Christopher German
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/ChristopherGerman
<div><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U43Y2E1sDwE?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p></p><p>http://www.BradleyOnDemand.com/ 856-546-2440</p><p>Make Money Mondays with Sean V. Bradley - Special Edition - You Are Your Brand</p><p>In this week's Episode of Make Money Mondays Special Edition, Chris Herman, President at Herman Advertising explains the importance of building your own brand. How do you establish and straighten your brand? You must have a great personality and dress for success. Remember that your brand means being yourself.</p><p>To visit all of our Make Money Mondays in one place visit: www.MakeMoneyMondays.net</p><p>If you like Make Money Mondays, you will love Bradley On Demand: http://www.BradleyOnDemand.com/ <br/>856-546-2440</p><p>For more information about Dealer Synergy, visit http://www.DealerSynergy.com/</p><p>Sign up now for the next Internet Sales 20 Group!<br/>http://internetsales20group.com</p><p>If you have any questions, call or text Sean on his cell 267-319-6776.</p></div>
Lee Lee Williams Gives Advice on Networking & Brand Building
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/lee-lee-williams-gives-advice-on-networking-brand-building
2016-10-27T12:52:40.000Z
2016-10-27T12:52:40.000Z
Christopher German
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/ChristopherGerman
<div><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wTQ7tonkYEw?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p></p><p>http://www.BradleyOnDemand.com/ 856-546-2440</p><p>Dealer Synergy Presents Lee Lee Williams, Internet Director of Grindstaff Automotive Group, giving advice on branding and networking on a personal level. You need to go out into your community and interact and network with the people of your community. You need to create a personal website branded for you even if you are part of a bigger automotive group.</p><p>For more information about Dealer Synergy, visit http://www.DealerSynergy.com/</p><p>If you are interested in working with Dealer Video Production, visit http://www.DealerVideoProduction.com/</p><p>Sign up now for the next Internet Sales 20 Group!<br/>http://internetsales20group.com</p><p>To find out more about Grindstaff Automotive, visit<br/>http://www.grindstafffordinc.com/</p><p>If you have any questions, call or text Sean on his cell 267-319-6776</p></div>
1 in 3 adults in the U.S. watches auto content on YouTube once per month!
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/1-in-3-adults-in-the-u-s-watches-auto-content-on-youtube-once-per
2016-10-23T21:54:14.000Z
2016-10-23T21:54:14.000Z
Sean V. Bradley
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/SeanVBradley
<div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1475257?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1475257?profile=original" width="559" height="432" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">http://www.BradleyOnDemand.com 856-546-2440 </p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>1 in 3 adults in the U.S. watches auto content on YouTube once per month! </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Consumer behavior is changing—and video is leading the drive </strong></p>
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<p>In years' past, a consumer might have read reviews in magazines, asked friends and relatives for advice, and visited any number of dealerships before settling on a vehicle. That practice has gone the way of the in-dash tape deck.</p>
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<p class="flag">Leveraging YouTube and Search, consumers are positively bingeing on digital content before making their purchases—and multiplying opportunities for marketers to be there in shoppers' <a href="https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/articles/five-auto-shopping-moments-every-brand-must-own.html" target="_blank" title="The 5 Auto Shopping Moments Every Brand Must Own">which-car-is-best moments</a>. Last year, consumers spent on average three hours more time researching than they did in 2013.8 They also performed 75% of that research on digital.9</p>
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<p>All that research has huge ramifications for the brick-and-mortar showroom. With shoppers armed with so much information, dealerships have moved from being places to shop and explore—as they were in the days of in-dash tape decks—to mere points of sale. The average in-market shopper makes just two visits to a dealer before making a purchase.10</p>
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<p>There's no substitute for sliding into the driver's seat, but consumers increasingly turn to YouTube before a test drive. In fact, one in three adults in the U.S. watches auto content on YouTube once per month.11 Research shows that consumers are gravitating particularly toward five video styles: test drives, walk-around, feature highlights, reviews, and safety tests.12 Mobile video particularly drives in-market consumers to take action; after watching content about cars, trucks, or racing on a smartphone, one in four will visit a dealer.13</p>
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Last year, consumers spent on average three hours more time researching than they did in 2013, and performed 75% of that research on digital.
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<p>These tendencies highlight an opportunity to attract viewers to brands' official channels. Mercedes-Benz recently responded to audiences' research behavior with a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8E9A7B93BDE98098" target="_blank" title="Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan">suite of videos</a> that scratched viewers' walk-around itch, as well as offering feature demos of its redesigned E-Class sedan.</p>
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<p>Takeaway: As a resource to whittle down a car shopper's consideration set, video is invaluable. Consider creating content around the five popular video styles (test drives, walk-around, feature highlights, reviews, safety tests), which allows shoppers to research by simply hitting play, and make sure it's optimized for mobile. Mercedes-Benz's example illustrates how marketers can be there in shoppers' which-car-is-best moments in creative, digital-first ways.</p>
<p>Source: (Repost from "Think With Google") </p>
<p>https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/articles/auto-trends-consumer-behavior.html</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1475257?profile=original" target="_self"> </a> </p></div>
Honda Skips the Fanfare for Redesigned CR-V - A Repost from www.autonews.com
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/honda-skips-the-fanfare-for-redesigned-cr-v-a-repost-from-www-aut
2016-10-17T20:50:55.000Z
2016-10-17T20:50:55.000Z
Andrew Zielinski
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/AndrewZielinski
<div><div class="text-content1"><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CA/20161017/RETAIL03/310179864/AR/0/AR-310179864.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CA/20161017/RETAIL03/310179864/AR/0/AR-310179864.jpg" class="align-full"/></a></p><p><span class="font-size-1">The 2017 Honda CR-V has a new modular chassis, with more cargo room and rear legroom.</span></p><p></p><p>In the age of relentless spy shots, leaked patent filings and drawn-out teaser campaigns, automakers are generally terrible at keeping an upcoming debut to themselves.</p><p>So why was Honda so quiet ahead of last week's debut of the fifth-generation CR-V crossover?</p><p>It certainly had plenty to crow about with the redesigned model: the addition of a turbocharged engine, a new chassis, advanced safety features and a crisp new design.</p><p>But Honda didn't want to miss a beat. Given the popularity of the outgoing model, the outsize importance of the CR-V's segment, and a brisk schedule of debuts over the next several months, Honda had little patience for a long wind-up before the 2017 model begins arriving in dealerships a few weeks from now.</p><p>"This is how Honda likes to make debuts," Dave Sullivan, AutoPacific analyst, told <em>Automotive News</em>. "It's without much fanfare. No extravagant displays or pyrotechnics. Honda is letting the product do the talking. It's not the most exciting product, but CR-V is outselling the Accord, and that goes to show just how important of a vehicle this is for Honda."</p><p>That importance is only growing, as consumers increasingly give up on sedans in favor of crossovers, a trend that's expected to continue even if gasoline prices begin to rise again.</p><p>The trend has been especially good for the CR-V, which has racked up close to 4 million sales since its introduction in 1997 and leads the crowded compact-crossover segment amid stiff competition from Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet and Subaru.</p><div class="sub-image mugshot-landscape"><div class="image-caption">Knobs return for radio volume, as well as buttons for fan speed.</div></div><p>Although it was last redesigned for the 2012 model year and refreshed in 2014, the outgoing CR-V is still going strong, ranking as Honda's No. 2 seller through September, with 263,943 sales, up 1.5 percent from a year earlier.</p><p>With little appetite for incentive spending or fleet sales, Honda didn't want to put that volume at risk by telegraphing the redesigned model months ahead of time. The compressed timeline of the 2017 CR-V launch gave Honda and its dealers ample time to keep selling the older CR-V without throwing cash on the hood. September sales were up 6.5 percent, following a 5 percent rise in August.</p><p>Dealers will be able to switch over to the 2017 model quickly, without any downtime between the two iterations. To keep supplies steady, Honda will start building CR-Vs at the Greensburg, Ind., plant where it builds Civics, in addition to its factories in East Liberty, Ohio, and Alliston, Ontario.</p><p>"I think it's a very deliberate move -- and probably a very smart move -- on the part of Honda to maybe reduce pressure on incentive support," Bob Navarre, former chairman of Honda's dealer advisory board and owner of Valley Honda in suburban Chicago, told <em>Automotive News</em>. "It's such a high-volume vehicle now that I think if you took some percentage of market and put it on hold earlier than you need to, it might have been a more costly transition."</p><p>Honda has long held a tighter rein on fleet sales and incentive spending than other automakers. "Keeping incentives low in a record market means you're keeping more money to the bottom line but also you're not distressing the vehicles," John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda, told <em>Automotive News</em>, commending General Motors for adopting a similar approach<em>.</em> "I think it's a good indication also that customers are buying the product for what it is."</p><p>Honda's hurry-up offense continues. The Paris auto show marked the debut of the Civic Type R Concept, which will be followed by the Civic Si debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, the next-generation Odyssey minivan debut early next year and a redesigned Accord later in the year.</p><p>Honda has gotten out of the oddball business such as the Element, Crosstour, and ZDX to focus on their core model lineup, and it is paying off handsomely," Sullivan said. "I don't think any other manufacturer out there is looking at Honda right now and not feeling a bit of envy."</p></div><div class="left-padding"></div><div class="left-padding"></div><div class="left-padding"><i>You can reach David Undercoffler at <a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:undercoffler@crain.com">undercoffler@crain.com</a> -- Follow David on Twitter:<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.twitter.com/autonews_west" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/autonews_west</a></i></div><div class="left-padding"></div><div class="left-padding"><span class="font-size-1"><i>The original article can be found at the following address: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20161017/RETAIL03/310179864/1223" target="_blank">http://www.autonews.com/article/20161017/RETAIL03/310179864/1223</a></i></span></div></div>
7 Ways to Mix Up Your Auto Dealership Marketing - Repost from www.AutoRaptor.com
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/7-ways-to-mix-up-your-auto-dealership-marketing-repost-from-www-a
2016-10-10T19:48:09.000Z
2016-10-10T19:48:09.000Z
Christopher German
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/ChristopherGerman
<div><p><img class="size-full wp-image-1222 alignright" src="http://www.autoraptor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/photodune-14423179-salesman-with-car-keys-xs1.jpg" alt="photodune-14423179-salesman-with-car-keys-xs" width="744" height="496"/></p><h1 class="entry-title">7 Ways to Mix Up Your Auto Dealership Marketing</h1><p></p><div class="entry-content"><h2><strong>Give your auto dealership marketing a new look: here are seven ways to shake up your marketing and start attracting more customers </strong></h2><p>If there is one thing you can count on for marketing, it’s this: there is no one way to do it. It’s always changing. What worked yesterday may not work in a year from now.</p><p>Digital technology has sped up the process. Now dealerships have <a rel="nofollow" href="http://try.autoraptor.com/blog/how-to-master-sms-text-marketing-and-boost-sales">more possibilities to connect with customers</a>.</p><p>If you feel as though your auto dealership marketing is beginning to flat line, it may be time to mix it up and try something new.</p><h3><strong>Shaken not stirred: 7 ways to mix up your auto dealership marketing </strong></h3><ol><li><strong>Make your brand more exciting </strong></li></ol><p>Branding is the starting point for all your marketing efforts. Without a strong brand name, logo, and message, it’s difficult to catch the eyes and ears of customers. Even an excellent marketing campaign suffers if the brand doesn’t have that extra “oomph!”.</p><p>If you’ve had your dealership name for some time, it’s okay to keep it (in fact, that may be a better idea). You can<a rel="nofollow" href="http://try.autoraptor.com/blog/5-powerful-car-dealership-branding-ideas-for-the-modern-era">make your brand more engaging</a> and interesting without a complete overhaul.</p><ul><li>Create a byline for your brand. A short message that communicates your “promise” to customers. That message creates a common theme for the rest of your marketing efforts.</li><li>Hire a professional designer to create a new logo.</li></ul><ol start="2"><li><strong>Optimize your blog content </strong></li></ol><p>Search engine optimization (SEO) is not a new trend. Most dealership GM’s and managers are familiar with PPC advertising, targeting keywords, and the goal of ranking higher in Google. But, there is another way to marketing your business using SEO techniques, and, believe it or not, it’s all about your blog.</p><p>You can target specific keywords within your blog content. Each piece of content you publish effectively turns into a landing page for your dealership, drawing more targeted traffic to your website.</p><ul><li>Hire a professional content writer to write SEO’d content for your blog each week.</li><li>Make your blog content informative and helpful to your readers.</li><li>Keep each post short, visually appealing (use pictures), and easy to read.</li></ul><ol start="3"><li><strong>Switch to a CRM for car dealers </strong></li></ol><p>If you are using a generic CRM tool, think about switching to one that offers features specifically tailored to dealerships. AutoRaptor is made by car sales professionals, for car sales professionals. Every feature is <a rel="nofollow" href="http://try.autoraptor.com/blog/how-to-utilize-automotive-crm-features-for-more-effective-sales-management">intuitively designed to help your salespeople</a> work more efficiently.</p><ul><li>Lead assignments within the software tool.</li><li>Send text messages and phone calls with no additional carrier charge.</li><li>Complete mobile capability with unique features, such as license and VIN number scanning.</li><li>Daily workflow reminders.</li></ul><ol start="4"><li><strong>Focus on mobile readers </strong></li></ol><p>Many of your customers view your website, emails, and inventory with mobile phones. If you haven’t already, it’s time to ensure that all of your digital content is responsive to mobile devices, including tablets. Content that is not easily readable on mobile screens is losing you conversion opportunities.</p><ul><li>Design all of your auto dealership marketing with mobile browsers in mind.</li><li>Think about how your content is read: make your email messages short and to the point. Mobile readers will skim and scan before they decide to read.</li></ul><ol start="5"><li><strong>Modernize your website experience </strong></li></ol><p>Get your website up to snuff, in other words. In terms of digital marketing (or perhaps all of your auto dealership marketing), your website is the most important piece of the puzzle. It’s the virtual doorway to your dealership. Your leads will pass through to view your inventory, read your content, and get a feel for how you do business. What will they see?</p><ul><li>Create video content to post on your website. Dealership walk-throughs, salespeople spotlights, virtual car presentations, etc.</li><li>Hire a web designer to give you a new, sleek look. Make your website look attractive, fun, and engaging.</li><li>Make sure to build links to all your pages so Google can index them correctly.</li><li>Include pictures of the salespeople with short bios and contact information.</li></ul><ol start="6"><li><strong>Build your opt-in lists </strong></li></ol><p>Converting your web visitors into qualified leads is a step-by-step process. Gaining an email address is easier if you offer something free in return, such as an e-book, white paper, redeemable coupon, etc. This is one of the main methods of inbound (or permission-based) marketing.</p><p>A simplified process would look like this:</p><ol><li>A person visits your website, views inventory, and researches your dealership.</li><li>He watches your videos of vehicle presentations and reads your blog.</li><li>At the bottom of your web page is an offer to download your entire library of video content.</li><li>To download the content, he needs to provide an email address and/or phone number.</li><li>He provides his information and is added to your opt-in marketing list.</li><li>You sent out automated messages (email drip campaign) offering more useful content.</li><li>After a few messages, you sent out a targeted promotion based on his vehicle search and behavior.</li><li>He responds, comes into the dealership, and now your salespeople have a qualified lead.</li></ol><ol start="7"><li><strong>Segment and personalize </strong></li></ol><p>Finally, if you want your marketing to provide effective ROI, you need to target specific groups and personalize your efforts. The “spray and pray” techniques do not work like they used to. People want to have a personal connection to your dealership. They will not respond to vague, objective, or generic marketing material.</p><p>For better results, segment your marketing lists into specific groups and demographics. Use your research and tracking tools to see what they’ve viewed, what vehicles they’re interested in, and what promotion would best attract their attention.</p><ul><li>Break your email lists into specific groups. Create promotional material specifically for them.</li><li>Make sure your emails and text messages are personal. One-to-one conversations are the messages people respond well to.</li><li>Think small: brainstorm ways to target specific groups with engaging, useful, and relative promotions.</li></ul><h3><strong>Give your auto dealership marketing a regular dose of new ideas and methods </strong></h3><p>Every dealership needs to mix up their marketing efforts on a regular basis. Of course, if something is working well, there is no reason to try and change it. But, if you see that your “go-to” tactics are starting to flat line, use these tips to diversify your marketing mix. Remember: your internet marketing is a critical aspect of your overall strategy. Give your website the attention it deserves and build up your inbound marketing sales funnel.</p><p><strong>What’s your opinion? Do you have any marketing tips to add? Share your thoughts!</strong></p></div></div>
Make Money Mondays with Sean V. Bradley - Special Edition - Using Other Audiences to Expand Your Own
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/make-money-mondays-with-sean-v-bradley-special-edition-using-othe
2016-10-10T12:48:31.000Z
2016-10-10T12:48:31.000Z
Christopher German
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/ChristopherGerman
<div><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gmJ9RK-sucU?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p></p><p>In this week's Episode of Make Money Mondays Special Edition, Allyn Hane, Digital Marketing Director at Coastal States Automotive Group talks about creating your very own video strategy on Youtube. Allyn runs a successful Youtube channel called "The Lawn Care Nut". He gives us advise and techniques he personally used to grow his own channel. You have the opportunity to use or rent someone else's community or audience. With these tips you can build a Youtube channel from scratch. </p></div>
Does Email Marketing Still Work?
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/does-email-marketing-still-work
2016-08-30T13:05:31.000Z
2016-08-30T13:05:31.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p class="p1">Whether you like it or not, email marketing will always come in handy as long as you’re checking your email. </p><p class="p2"></p><p class="p1">This week on Think Tank Tuesday, Paul will give you 3 tips that will help you improve your email marketing exponentially. By taking these marketing tips and putting them into action, your open rates and click through rates may increase! Watch people engage more with your business and brand by utilizing this week’s Think Tank Tuesday in your marketing strategy.</p><p class="p2"></p><p class="p1"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CmrmSVW95wc?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p class="p1">We’d love to hear what you have to say. Comment below and follow us on Facebook.</p><p class="p3"><span class="s1">Website: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ppadv.com/"><span class="s2">http://www.ppadv.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p3"><span class="s1">Facebook: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvert"><span class="s2">http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvert</span></a>...</span></p><p class="p3"><span class="s1">Twitter: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.twitter.com/Potratz"><span class="s2">http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</span></a></span></p><p class="p1">Instagram: @Potratz</p><p class="p1">Snapchat: PotratzAgency</p><p><span> </span></p></div>
Is Your Website Doing This?
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/is-your-website-doing-this
2016-07-12T13:00:00.000Z
2016-07-12T13:00:00.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p class="p1"><span class="s1">What’s your website doing while you’re not looking?</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">This week on Think Tank Tuesday, I reveal the steps you should be taking to increase conversion and traffic on your landing pages, and it’s more than just a "Thank You" page. After watching this episode of Think Tank Tuesday, your website will be successful in no time!</span></p><p class="p1"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DZhUHQep06E?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p class="p1">Website: http://www.ppadv.com</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instagram: @Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Snapchat: PotratzAgency</span></p><p><span> </span></p></div>
Is Your Campaign Compatible?
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/is-your-campaign-compatible
2016-06-24T17:39:59.000Z
2016-06-24T17:39:59.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Are you testing your emails before you send them?</span></p><p class="p2"></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">More than 80% of the population use smartphone and other mobile devices. Over 60% of people open their emails on mobile devices. So what is your business doing to adapt to these ever-growing numbers?</span></p><p class="p2"></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In this week’s Hard Facts, Samantha explains that you should not only be A/B testing subject lines, but also make sure your email looks great on iPhones, Androids, and other types of smartphones. The more consistent and better it looks over all devices, the better your open rate and click-to-open rate will be!</span></p><p class="p2"></p><p class="p1"></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NwMzuRj3XJw?list=PL6Ab3p497ntepICdBHWx5MmUOdctTDTID&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Comment below to list some of your ideas for the next Hard Facts!</span></p><p class="p2"></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Website: http://www.ppadv.com</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instagram: @Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Snapchat: PotratzAgency</span></p></div>
Speeding up the Success of Your Business
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/speeding-up-the-success-of-your-business
2016-06-21T18:28:13.000Z
2016-06-21T18:28:13.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Are you looking for fast and easy ways to speed up the success of your business? </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">This week on Think Tank Tuesday, Paul will go into detail about techniques you need to use to brand your business and become successful in no time. The first step? Ask yourself these questions.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Why are you unique?</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">What do you do as a business owner that is different than any other company or competitor without comparing price?</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">After you've figured this out, you'll move on to the next small pieces of advice Paul will give you that make a huge impact. Change your marketing strategy and advertising techniques by watching the rest of this week's Think Tank Tuesday.</span></p><p class="p1"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IDs4TK1NnSU?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Website: http://www.ppadv.com</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instagram: @Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Snapchat: PotratzAgency</span></p></div>
Should you compare yourself to your competitors?
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/should-you-compare-yourself-to-your-competitors
2016-06-17T16:04:27.000Z
2016-06-17T16:04:27.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p class="p1">Comparing yourself to competitors in the same market...is it really such a good idea?</p><p class="p2">In this week’s Hard Facts, Samantha explains why it's not always ideal to compare your business to a competitor's, but how to do it properly in the right circumstances. Watch now!</p><p class="p1"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/36gbAj1Wodo?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p class="p1">Website: http://www.ppadv.com</p><p class="p1">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising</p><p class="p1">Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</p><p class="p1">Instagram: @Potratz</p><p class="p1">Snapchat: PotratzAgency</p></div>
It's all in the detail...
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/it-s-all-in-the-detail
2016-06-14T18:40:13.000Z
2016-06-14T18:40:13.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p>Attention to detail can lead to fewer car accidents. In this week's Think Tank Tuesday<a rel="nofollow" class="_58cn" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/thinktanktuesday?source=feed_text&story_id=10153758589282887"><span class="_58cm"></span></a>, Paul explains how being dumped into an automated voicemail system can make it extremely difficult for customers to access your business.</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PObMV_D_dfw?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>What do you want to hear for next week? Leave your ideas in the comments below.</p><p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Website: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ppadv.com/">http://www.ppadv.com</a></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Facebook: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising">http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising</a></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Twitter: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.twitter.com/Potratz">http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</a></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instagram: @Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Snapchat: PotratzAgency</span></p></div>
Developing Your Brand
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/developing-your-brand
2016-05-31T20:56:19.000Z
2016-05-31T20:56:19.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p>I'm re-launching my Think Tank Tuesday series next week. Until then, I've been encouraging business owners, entrepreneurs, and dealerships to watch the last 4 episodes on branding.</p><p>How important is a brand? Critical. Without a brand, your business will lack trust in its followers and won't gain loyal customers or increased sales.</p><p>Watch these episodes to help develop your brand and become a successful business!</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rXwhVd0q0bw?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Website: http://www.ppadv.com</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instagram: @Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Snapchat: PotratzAgency</span></p></div>
Setting up Google User Explorer
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/setting-up-google-user-explorer
2016-05-27T14:20:31.000Z
2016-05-27T14:20:31.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p class="p1">Google's User Explorer lets us identify individual users by client ID and isolate data. That way, we can evaluate the user and identify the path that they're taking so we can better personalize the experience for them.</p><p class="p1">You can also create segments to narrow down users who performed a certain action or engaged with specific content. From these discoveries, you can personalize your website based on relevance.</p><p class="p1">User Explorer allows you to get a 360 view of your current and perspective clients.</p><p class="p1"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A-A_ZK4PLwc?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p class="p1">If you're an entrepreneur or business owner, subscribe for our channel for free marketing tips every week! </p><p class="p1">Website: http://www.ppadv.com</p><p class="p1">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising</p><p class="p1">Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</p><p class="p1">Instagram: @Potratz</p><p class="p1">Snapchat: PotratzAgency</p></div>
How to Tell Your Brand Story
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/how-to-tell-your-brand-story
2016-05-24T15:31:35.000Z
2016-05-24T15:31:35.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p class="p1">For this week's <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ppadv.com/category/resources/think-tank-tuesday/" target="_blank">Think Tank Tuesday</a>, I interviewed Ray Bleser: owner of Northeastern Fine Jewelry.</p><p class="p1">Ray introduces a different way that he portrays his brand to instill trust in his customers. Many business owners still use price to advertise their brand; storytelling is a unique method that Ray uses to make sure that he is giving his customers the best service that they've had.</p><p class="p1">If you're a small business or an entrepreneur, this is the episode you want to watch in order to grow your brand and make sure your business is successful.</p><p class="p1"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D65W20X9oy0?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p class="p1">I want to hear your thoughts! Comment below:</p><p class="p2"></p><p class="p1">Website: http://www.ppadv.com</p><p class="p1">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising</p><p class="p1">Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</p><p class="p1">Instagram: @Potratz</p><p class="p1">Snapchat: PotratzAgency</p><p></p></div>
Using Twitter to Grow Your Brand
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/using-twitter-to-grow-your-brand
2016-05-20T19:55:47.000Z
2016-05-20T19:55:47.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Use Twitter to its fullest potential! In this week’s Hard Facts, Samantha talks about how you can use Twitter to search for potential customers and engage with clients. Using this resource will ensure that you’re expanding your brand and business.</span></p><p class="p2"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HTK35rE90l4?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p class="p2">If you're an advertising or marketing agency, this is definitely a Hard Facts episode that you should be watching. Let us know what you think! Comment below:</p><p class="p2"></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Website: http://www.ppadv.com</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instagram: @Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Snapchat: PotratzAgency</span></p></div>
Can you create a timeless brand?
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/can-you-create-a-timeless-brand
2016-05-17T18:22:28.000Z
2016-05-17T18:22:28.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p class="p1"><span class="s1">What are you doing to make sure your business stands out? On this week’s <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ppadv.com/category/resources/think-tank-tuesday/" target="_blank">Think Tank Tuesday</a>, I spoke with Andy Heck about what makes Alpin Haus such a distinct brand. It’s more than a slogan or the logo that comes with any business. Watch now to see what Andy had to say about branding: </span></p><p class="p2"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CcAQrW6P3aw?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Website: http://www.ppadv.com</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvertising</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instagram: @Potratz</span></p></div>
How do you define your brand?
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/how-do-you-define-your-brand
2016-05-10T21:11:59.000Z
2016-05-10T21:11:59.000Z
Paul Potratz
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/PaulPotratz
<div><p class="p1"><span class="s1">On this week’s <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ppadv.com/resources/think-tank-tuesday" target="_blank">Think Tank Tuesday</a>, my team and I visited Ryan Norris on a production trip to Toyota of Easley. In that experience, I got Ryan’s interpretation on what makes a brand…and it’s more than just a logo or a jingle. </span></p><p class="p1"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rXwhVd0q0bw?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">I want to hear your ideas! Leave a comment here or connect with me on Facebook and share your thoughts. You may get a free <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ppadv.com/getmore" target="_blank">POTRATZ Coffee Mug Strategy</a>!</span></p><p class="p2"></p><p class="p3"><span class="s2">Website: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ppadv.com/"><span class="s3">http://www.ppadv.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p3"><span class="s2">Facebook: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvert"><span class="s3">http://www.facebook.com/PotratzAdvert</span></a>...</span></p><p class="p3"><span class="s2">Twitter: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.twitter.com/Potratz"><span class="s3">http://www.twitter.com/Potratz</span></a></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instagram: @Potratz</span></p></div>
Make Money Mondays with Sean V. Bradley - Special Edition - Branding
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/make-money-mondays-with-sean-v-bradley-special-edition-branding
2016-02-08T13:53:43.000Z
2016-02-08T13:53:43.000Z
Elizabeth A. Miller
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/ElizabethAMiller
<div><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oquI6Nd7suE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
</div>
Building Your Personal Brand
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/building-your-personal-brand
2015-06-18T19:10:30.000Z
2015-06-18T19:10:30.000Z
S. Davis
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/ContentWriter
<div><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1475038?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1475038?profile=original" width="382" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Personal branding is no longer exclusively for high-level executives within a corporation. The tactic is gaining popularity among professionals across all industries, even making its way into the automotive sales industry. As an automotive sales professional, you may question why you need to establish a personal brand when you are part of a dealership. The answer is simple. When buying a car, people buy from people! The more comfortable you make a potential customer, the more they are able to relate to you on a personal level, the more likely they are to purchase a car.</p>
<p>A successful brand is about more than a logo. A brand is what people think and feel when they encounter you. Your personal brand should be an accurate reflection of you. It should be an indication of your performance, what you have to offer, and your overall value. Building your personal brand, and ultimately positioning yourself as an expert in the automotive industry, can mean success for you as a sales professional and your dealership as a whole. </p>
<p>Not sure how to develop your personal brand? Here are a few simple tips to get you on your way. </p>
<p>Create a video channel - YouTube is the second most used search engine. Starting a YouTube channel, and posting educational videos, is a great way to get your face out there, get noticed, and gain validity in the industry. Posting videos about your sales process will mark you as an authority, have your peers wanting to learn from you, and potential customers wanting to buy from you. </p>
<p>Get published - Write a book, submit an article to an automotive trade magazine, or even start a blog! Sharing your information and gaining a strong network is great for building a personal brand. </p>
<p>Speak at conferences - whether big or small having the opportunity to present to a group of your peers is something you cannot afford to miss. </p>
<p>Personal branding is no longer just for CEOs. It is very important for automotive sales professionals to build themselves as a brand. The more personable you can appear, the more comfortable customers will be purchasing from you. </p></div>
Should You Care About Branding?
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/should-you-care-about-branding
2014-06-02T15:50:22.000Z
2014-06-02T15:50:22.000Z
Willis Williams
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/WillisWilliams
<div><div class="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong>"I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man."</strong><span>-</span> <strong>Jay-Z</strong></div><div class="center"></div><div class="center"></div><p>What most people don't realize is that even a living person can become a brand. This is a basic staple of advertising and sometimes it needs to be asked: what exactly is a <em>brand</em>? In a nutshell, The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines a brand as a "name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers."</p><p><span><span>You don't have to be a genius to realize that Jay-Z for example, can attach his likeness or endorsement to anything and it will sell. What if a Jay-Z created cereal comes to market right now...would you buy it? Someone absolutely will.</span> <span>Let's really explore the basics of a branding campaign. Smart people know that if you have a product or offer a service, you <em>must</em> advertise. This is essential to building a brand and honestly, it's hard selling something you have if no one knows it exists. There's a great line from Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross where he states that sales is about "A.B.C. - Always Be Closing." In this case, we can go with "A.R.A - Always Run Ads". The main DNA for running an ad is composed of two elements: Frequency and Reach.</span></span></p><p><span><span>Frequency is based on your advertising schedule. Ask yourself: Are you going to run this ad every day? Four times a week? Only on Thursdays? When you can answer that question, move on to Reach. For example, I can create the most amazing, awesome, astonishing ad of all time. You've never seen anything like it before and It will blow you away. If I only show it in a five mile radius, then it's not worth a lot. There's no substantial return on investment (ROI). You must have the ads run repeatedly and cover as much geographic area as financially allowable. That’s how advertising breathes and more importantly, how building your brand <em>really</em> works.</span></span></p><p><span><span>As a former advertising executive, the HARDEST part of my job was convincing business owners they still needed to advertise. You don’t want your customers thinking you’re going out of business if they don’t see the ads you <em>used</em> to run. Business owners feel that because they've been around a several decades that running ads are not necessary. That's not entirely true but telling them in a delicate way that they're wrong takes a certain amount of finesse. On the other hand, there are some situations where running an ad campaign sporadically makes sense. Think about <span>t</span>hat really popular annual football game with the extremely expensive commercials? Those are <em>all</em> about reach and because of the audience it draws in, frequency is not a huge factor. Your message has impacted the masses on a global scale and the cost definitely justifies the motive.<br/></span></span></p><p><span><span>When it comes to building a brand, I would say that one important step is to create a logo. A symbol that when recognized will tell a prospective consumer or client exactly what your company, products and services are all about. That same logo will eventually lead the public to your brand's awareness on a social level. People see your logo and will always recognize your company under any circumstance. Does it mean they will always to buy in that moment? Of course not, but they will always know your company and when they need what you have, they will come. If it still remains whether you should care about branding then you're asking the wrong question.</span></span></p></div>
Branding is the Consolation Prize in Social Media
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/branding-is-the-consolation-prize-in-social-media
2013-06-15T10:30:00.000Z
2013-06-15T10:30:00.000Z
JD Rucker
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/JDRucker
<div><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://uberly.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Glengarry-Glen-Ross-Steak-Knives.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-423" alt="Glengarry Glen Ross Steak Knives" src="http://uberly.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Glengarry-Glen-Ross-Steak-Knives.jpg" width="750"/></a></p><p>"Second place is a set of steak knives."</p><p>When Alec Baldwin's character lectured the sales team in <em>Glengarry Glen Ross</em>, he made it clear that the winner was the one on top, that everyone else was lucky to have a job, and that if they continued to perform the way they did they wouldn't have a job for much longer. The same holds true in social media. If you're not winning, you're losing, and all too often the strategies used in social media marketing are designed to lose.</p><p>I'm referring to branding. It's become too apparent over the last couple of years that many businesses and the social media companies that support them have turned branding into the ultimate goal of social media efforts. They believe that sales cannot be attained, that leads cannot be generated, and that trying to define the benefits is best left with something intangible like increased exposure of the brand. While this isn't completely wrong, it's selling the industry short. Social media can do so much more than branding.</p><p>In the automotive industry, for example, the goals of social media marketing should be first to drive foot traffic to the dealership. The 2nd place prize of every effort would be to drive website visitors. When all else fails, branding is the tertiary goal, the consolation prize. When that perspective is taken and an understanding is had that so much more can and should be done, the branding actually has the opportunity to flourish even more as a result.</p><p>Focus on business. Do the right things. Hire the right agencies, the ones that can demonstrate tangible ROI from their efforts rather than falling for the pitch that exposure is the best thing you can hope for. When branding becomes the top level goal, it's possible for one to be convinced that they should be posting funny cat pictures in order to get the exposure they need on social media. That couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, the goal is to get tangible benefit. Cat pictures won't do that.</p><p>Here's a video I did that highlights this myth and demonstrates why it's possible to have a proper hierarchy of goals to achieve the fullest level of success.<iframe width="750" height="563" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/47TKiwDiZlk?rel=0&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe></p></div>
http://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/apply-local-flair-to-your-facebook-promotional-posts
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/http-automotiveinternetsales-com-profiles-blogs-apply-local-flair
2013-05-23T22:00:00.000Z
2013-05-23T22:00:00.000Z
JD Rucker
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/JDRucker
<div><p><a href="http://soshable.com/social-media-is-more-than-a-branding-tool/black-book/" rel="attachment wp-att-9286"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9286" alt="Black Book" src="http://soshable.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Black-Book.jpg" width="750"/></a></p><p>Branding is important. It’s something that most businesses want but few do well enough considering the tools that we all have at our disposal through the internet in general and social media in particular. However, too many are starting to use social media as a branding tool only. The reality for local businesses is that it can and should be used to drive foot traffic and website visitors. Branding should be a secondary benefit, a side-effect of a proper promotional strategy.</p><p><span id="more-9285"></span>Look at the image above. It’s compelling. It’s branded (though not by the company that posted it). It combines the power of the OEM’s brand (this is posted on a Chevrolet dealer’s Facebook page), the trust associated with a partner brand (in this case, Black Book), and the clever wording in the description designed to achieve a goal. In this case, the goal is website traffic to a form that is specific to the message of the post. Here’s how the message reads:</p><blockquote><p>“First and foremost, check out that beautiful Camaro. Once you’re done reminiscing about a body style that didn’t really get the attention it deserved, look down at the bottom left corner. You’ll see a logo that you should trust. We trust it.</p><p>“Black Book is the most accurate way to get an idea of what your trade in is worth. Before you go shopping for a new car, prepare yourself with knowledge about your own trade in… <a href="http://bit.ly/13nyr5E" target="_blank" rel="nofollow nofollow">http://bit.ly/13nyr5E</a>“</p></blockquote><p>At the end is the call to action, of course. Sometimes it’s good to make the link the focus of the post. In this case, because it’s a permanent page (a trade in evaluation tool) and not a time-sensitive landing page surrounding a short-term event, it’s best to hook the viewers with the image and description, then give them a valid and relevant reason to click through to the website itself.</p><p>After 18 hours and with the bulk of the Facebook advertising budget still available, it’s at 48 likes and has been seen by 1,300 people. Both numbers will go up in the coming days, as will the number of clicks to the link.</p><p>The challenge facing most who attempt posts like these is getting them enough localized traction. There are some posts that are good for branding that have no call to action. Even in those cases, the goal is to massage the Facebook EdgeRank algorithm to favor the page’s posts and display them in more news feeds. Those posts are primarily designed to enhance the success of the “money posts”, the ones with a specific promotional message designed to drive foot traffic or website visitors. If every post that goes up is a “money post”, the algorithm will start kicking the posts down on the feed. If all of the posts are “fun posts” designed strictly for branding and popularity, the point of using social media for business is lost.</p><p>Branding-only strategies are easy, which is why many businesses and even marketing agencies focus on them. It allows for intangible benefits. It also makes the success level much harder to track.</p><p>As you develop your strategy and campaigns, keep this post in mind. You can definitely have some fun and feel like you’re accomplishing something with a branding-only strategy. Unfortunately, it’s not the way to make social media really hum for your business.</p></div>
Branding versus Marketing on Facebook
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/branding-versus-marketing-on-facebook
2013-02-15T03:39:46.000Z
2013-02-15T03:39:46.000Z
JD Rucker
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/JDRucker
<div><p><a href="http://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profiles/blogs/branding-versus-marketing-on-facebook" rel="attachment wp-att-8129"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8129" alt="Facebook Logo" src="http://soshable.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Facebook-Logo.jpg" width="750"/></a></p><p>First and foremost, it’s important to understand that Facebook (and social media in general) is a communication tool. It’s a way for businesses to connect with customers and a safe venue through which customers and potential customers can interact with your business.</p><p><span id="more-8128"></span>With that said, let’s look at the other two primary functions of Facebook: marketing and branding. Both are similar. Both are categories that can mean different things to different people and businesses. While it’s definitely possible to do both well on Facebook at the same time, the safer and less time-intensive strategy would be to pick one or the other as the primary goal (outside of communication, of course).</p><p>Here are the two basic options. There will be those who will say that it’s being oversimplified, but this isn’t a tutorial. It’s a way to distinguish between the two so that a business can make an intelligent decision about which mindset to take in their efforts. Once the mindset is established, the strategies can form.</p><p> </p><h2>Facebook for Branding</h2><p>This is becoming the more common practice among businesses because it is more open in form and more singular in goal. More importantly, using Facebook as a marketing tool is considered by many to be harder (depending on your business type, of course). Many, particularly those who are engaged with individual customers on a daily basis such as car dealers and realtors will opt for this approach because it gives them the freedom to simply be entertaining or informative without having to put the time into crafting an appropriate marketing strategy.</p><p>It’s the easy road, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s any less rewarding.</p><p>Using Facebook for branding is all about getting your name, logo, and general message out there. The general message is often abstract – it’s not talking about a sale or a particular product but rather trying to convey a company attitude with the message.</p><p>This strategy can use popular images, interesting (and sharable) facts, or funny concepts to will encourage liking and sharing. While some take the road of using ideas that are completely off topic, I’m a firm believer that it’s possible to stay focused on either the local area, the industry, or both with every post. In other words, a car dealer shouldn’t be posting pictures of cats. They should be posting pictures of cars, videos of cars, and images or discussions about the local area.</p><p>The branding message is easier to spread because it doesn’t involve marketing. There’s no goal of direct conversions or clicks to the website. It’s all about getting the brand out there as much as possible.</p><p>The downside, of course, is in proving ROI. Without direct marketing applied to the messages, it’s a leap of faith that by getting interaction and engagement around content that does not lead directly to a lead or a sale but that keeps the name and logo of the business in mind, that there are intangible benefits that are happening.</p><p> </p><h2>Facebook for Marketing</h2><p>Unlike using Facebook for branding, the marketing strategy is trickier. It’s easier to mess up. There’s a risk of actually doing damage to the Facebook account by being too “spammy” with the posts. Those who are not ready to take a little heat on their path to get more conversions should not even go down this road.</p><p>However, if your goal is to achieve demonstrable ROI and take what you can today in a concrete manner, this is the right approach. It will rely on Facebook ads. There’s no way around it – unless you’re marketing something that resonates while also being productive such as a funny T-Shirt company, you’re very unlikely to get away with a hardcore marketing message without the use of ads.</p><p>Thankfully, Facebook ads are cheap.</p><p>Using a marketing strategy on Facebook does not mean that it’s all business. While some I have spoken to on the subject (including a VP at Facebook) have said that businesses can find success by only posting once or twice a week and promoting those marketing posts, I’ve found that a mix of interesting or entertaining content with the marketing messages can be beneficial.</p><p>People aren’t going to Facebook to see marketing messages, so yours has to be truly valuable. It’s not about putting up a picture of a car and calling that marketing. It’s about generating messages that they can only get through Facebook. For example, having Facebook-only sales events can be effective with next to zero risk. If people come to the store as a result, awesome! If they do not, then the expenditure was minimal. If they aren’t successful, you shouldn’t give up. You simply need to tweak the message, adjust the advertising, or go through a series of “fun” posts to set up the marketing posts properly.</p><p> </p><h2>Don’t Forget Communicating</h2><p>Regardless of which path you choose, remember the number one rule: Facebook (and social media in general) is about communication. It’s about talking to your customers and having them talk to you. It’s about giving them a venue through which you can be completely open about your business and hold public conversations with unsatisfied customers as well as the happy ones.</p><p>Which way fits best with <strong>your</strong> business? That’s the only real question you need to ask to get started down the right path.</p></div>
Don't Let Your Dealership Be a Snob: Brand and Communicate with Facebook Likes
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/don-t-let-your-dealership-be-a-snob-brand-and-communicate-with
2013-02-15T03:00:00.000Z
2013-02-15T03:00:00.000Z
JD Rucker
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/JDRucker
<div><p><a href="http://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profiles/blogs/don-t-let-your-dealership-be-a-snob-brand-and-communicate-with" rel="attachment wp-att-7793"><img alt="Snob" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7793" src="http://soshable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Snob.jpg" title="Snob" width="750"/></a></p><p>There are many mistakes made by dealers on Facebook. We detail the most egregious ones here from time to time in an attempt to help others not make the same mistakes. There's one mistake in particular that is almost unforgivable for the simple reason that it's so darn easy while being pretty darn effective. Dealerships are so focused on their own pages that they often neglect to take their pages out into the rest of the Facebook world and interact there.</p><p><img alt="" class="mceWPmore" src="http://soshable.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" title="More..."/>Here's the short version of what you should be doing with your page: log in <strong>as</strong> the page (top right arrow next, "Use Facebook as:") and go like other pages and posts. Done right, it should take no more than 5-10 minutes a day. Like your local newspaper. Like local charities. Like other local businesses. Like the posts that are on those pages that you truly enjoy (more on that later). It takes a certain creative and professional personality to comment appropriately as a dealership on other Facebook pages. It takes the ability to read and click buttons to like things that others post.</p><p>Here's the longer version...</p><p> </p><h2>Interacting with the Community by Pushing the Like Button</h2><p><a href="http://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profiles/blogs/don-t-let-your-dealership-be-a-snob-brand-and-communicate-with" rel="attachment wp-att-7794"><img alt="Facebook Liking as a Business" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7794" src="http://soshable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Facebook-Liking-as-a-Business.jpg" title="Facebook Liking as a Business" width="750"/></a></p><p>Facebook gives you the ability to humanize your dealership. That's one of the most important attributes of Facebook as a marketing and public relations tool. It's great for communicating and most dealerships are starting to be more active on their Facebook pages when people seek them out and talk to them there, but so few are going out into Facebook as their pages and doing the interacting there.</p><p>This is way too easy of a task. It's so easy and so potentially effective that it's shocking so few do it.</p><p>Here it is, step by step:</p><ol><li>Using Facebook as your page, find relevant local businesses, charities, organizations, and publications to like.</li><li>Be open but vet your selections. Make sure the pages are active, posting content that your business would agree with and that your fans would also enjoy, and have a real following. Avoid pages that are too big - your likes will not be seen if their page has hundreds of thousands of fans and each posts gets hundreds of likes. Think Goldilocks - not too big, not too small. If they're getting 1-10 likes per post, that's perfect.</li><li>Like content on their pages that you enjoy. This is important - don't go through "blind liking" things on others' pages. Only push the like button if it's something that you would want to be associated with online and in real life.</li><li>Check your news feed daily while using Facebook as your page. Again, be selective. The urge to save time and start hitting the like button a lot is strong for many, but be certain that you really like what you're liking.</li><li>Set a schedule to vet the pages that you have already liked as well as finding new pages to like. I do it once or twice a month.</li><li>Rinse. Repeat.</li></ol><p> </p><h2>Why this Helps</h2><p>This may seem like a frivolous activity. It's not. It works.</p><p>Every time you like something on another page, your business name appears on the post. The branding implications here are clear - repetition and reinforcement are keys in this uber-competitive auto sales environment.</p><p>More importantly, it's not just how often people see your name. It's where they see it. There's a certain level of goodwill associated with a like. This can register on a conscious or unconscious level. Either way, your brand is associated itself with worthy causes, other local businesses, and stories posted on publications that other people agree with or enjoy as well. When they see that you liked a recent post by the local March of Dimes chapter, for example, it shows that your dealership is potentially involved with good things happening in the community.</p><p>There's also the return-reaction factor. Let's say a car dealership likes a post by a local restaurant. The restaurant's Facebook page manager will likely see this. They might "return the favor" and go to your page to like something there as well. That's the minor benefit. The major benefit comes into play during those rare but real moments when an actual sale is made as a result. There's a dealership that recently liked and commented on a post by a local college promoting their book sale drive that was going to benefit the math department. A math professor at the university bought a car from the dealership a week later, noting that they were "in the market anyway and was pleased that the dealership was supporting his department."</p><p>A $35,000 vehicle sold as a direct result of clicking a button and writing a nice comment - it doesn't get any better than that.</p><p>Cases like that are ideal but obviously very rare. People are normally not so easily swayed. While the direct benefits are often never seen, the indirect benefits of branding, exposure, and goodwill are easy to understand. Remember, it takes 5-10 minutes a day <strong>at most</strong>. Some may do it less often and still find success. The key is to do it. If you don't have the time to be engaging with your local community by clicking the mouse a few times a day... who am I kidding. You do have the time. You just have to make it a priority.</p></div>
On Social Media, They Don't Have to Follow You to be Listening
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/on-social-media-they-don-t-have-to-follow-you-to-be-listening
2012-11-27T05:32:55.000Z
2012-11-27T05:32:55.000Z
JD Rucker
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/JDRucker
<div><p><a rel="attachment wp-att-7429" href="http://soshable.com/on-social-media-they-dont-have-to-follow-you-to-be-listening/listening/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7429" title="Listening" src="http://soshable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Listening.jpg" alt="Listening" width="750"/></a></p><p>Some people have a misunderstanding about what is seen and heard through social media. It's happening on two major fronts: personal communications and business communications. Both are completely separate, but the fact that the same basic premise popped up from both angles made picking out this blog topic a no-brainer.</p><p>I was talking to a family member who made a surprising statement. "I wish [redacted] was following me on Twitter so I could tell him how I feel about [redacted]."</p><p>Now, those of us who use social media often realize the error in this statement. Twitter allows for communication with anyone. Facebook and Google+ can allow for communication with anyone who has their settings open to receive communication from strangers. Many of us have had conversations on social media with celebrities and businesses that weren't following us, but who were open to receiving and responding to these communications.</p><p>They don't have to follow you to be listening. More importantly, just because they are following you doesn't mean that they're listening. It's a minor point but we have to get that out of the way before moving on to the business reason for this post...</p><p> </p><h3>Customers See Your Business Social Profiles and Pages without Following You</h3><br/> The second instance of misunderstanding came on the same day. I was talking to a potential client who said that they're not worried too much that their Facebook and Twitter accounts hadn't been updated in a couple of months. "We only have a few followers, anyway. It's not like anyone can see these pages."<p>Wrong.</p><p>I had her show me her website analytics. They, like many websites, had links at the bottom of their homepage to their social profiles. The number of clicks from the page to the social profiles wasn't large, but I pointed out that the people doing the clicking were potential customers. Why would they want potential customers to see a lack of efficiency and follow through? Some people hold Facebook and Twitter as important communication tools and when a business demonstrates a lack of interest in social media, it can speak poorly about the company's willingness to listen to and communicate with their customers.</p><p><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://i.imgur.com/BAE3x.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://i.imgur.com/BAE3x.jpg?width=300" width="300"/></a>She quickly understood the point and declared that she would have the links removed immediately.</p><p>I literally "facepalmed".</p><p>We went to Google and looked up the business by name. Facebook was ranked #3. Twitter was #7. She started frowning.</p><p>If you're going to have a social media presence, you must either keep it up to date or declare very clearly that you're not active on social media and offer an alternative method of contact. I've never seen it done before (I always push for option 1, of course) but I have heard of businesses leaving their top post as "This is our Facebook page, but we prefer talking to you directly. Please contact us at..."</p><p>It's not ideal, but it's better than letting your social presence be an embarrassment.</p><p>As social media continues to expand, understanding that your lack of involvement does not mean that your customers aren't looking at you is a must. When you stick your head in the sand, what are you presenting to people looking at you? Your tail end.</p></div>
YouTube Quietly Launches InVideo Programming: Apply In-Player Branding Across All Your Videos, Instantly
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/profiles/blogs/youtube-quietly-launches-invideo-programming-apply-in-player-bran
2012-10-10T05:30:55.000Z
2012-10-10T05:30:55.000Z
Sean V. Bradley
https://automotiveinternetsales.com/members/SeanVBradley
<div><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1473300?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1473300?profile=original" width="497" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>YouTube keeps adding cool stuff out of nowhere and not announcing the changes. I get this odd feeling that the YouTube staff gets very excited about releasing a new feature and taking bets on how long it takes before someone notices. Within the last 24 hours, YouTube has just added a feature called "InVideo Programming" under the Settings tab. Clicking on it gives creators two options. You can now "brand" all of your videos by uploading an icon that represents you, and you can also "feature" a video on all of your other videos, giving creators the chance to push a video across their entire catalog.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>InVideo Programming: How It Works</strong></span></p>
<p>Here's what you do:</p>
<p>Go to your Video Manager and click Settings.<br> Underneath Channel Settings, click InVideo Programming.<br> When you click that, you see this:</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1473368?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1473368?profile=original" width="606" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>InVideo Programming – Feature Channel:</strong></span><br> Feature Your Channel allows you to upload an image, whether your channel's avatar or a custom image, and you can place it in the top/bottom, left/right of the picture. You can keep the branding throughout the duration of the video, or you can customize the length that it lasts:</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1473390?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1473390?profile=original" width="606" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>So this gives you the chance to "brand" your channel much like a TV network does with their logo at the bottom of the screen. Branding like this is a good way to give viewers context: if they are specifically looking for your videos, a logo like this ensures that what they are seeing is yours, and if you happen to have a lot of entertaining/informative videos that keep coming up during a viewer's stay on the site, seeing the brand over and over gives your channel great recognition while people browse YouTube.<br> Here's the latest ReelSEO Creator's Tip, with our icon showing up during the last 15 seconds (top right):</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>InVideo Programming – Featured Video</strong></span></p>
<p><object width="640" height="360" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"> <param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ysSFn_D_VxY?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"> <embed wmode="opaque" width="640" height="360" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ysSFn_D_VxY?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"></object></p>
<p><br> The other feature is Feature A Video. With annotations, you can direct people through links to videos, and you have to go to each individual one to create them. With this feature, you can push a video of your liking across every single video you have in your catalog. It places a thumbnail of the featured video into the corner of every video so that no matter which one a viewer is watching, it's there, ready to be clicked. You get to push a video that you think either represents your best, or you can push one you don't think got the attention it deserved. Now, it's way more dynamic than having a little text link show up. Hopefully, they'll make this more customizable in the future so that you can feature a number of different videos across different areas of your catalog. But for now, this is a nifty feature.</p>
<p>Source: YouTube Quietly Launches InVideo Programming: Apply In-Player Branding Across All Your Videos, Instantly <a href="http://www.reelseo.com/youtube-invideo-programming/#ixzz28s1pkETZ">http://www.reelseo.com/youtube-invideo-programming/#ixzz28s1pkETZ</a><br> ©2012 ReelSEO</p></div>