Dealers turn to Social Media Sites for leads

Is social media marketing the next big thing for dealerships to capture those all elusive leads? The answer is “Yes” if done correctly.  Unfortunately social media marketing is more of an art than a science.

The marketer has to gather followers, earn their trust and keep them interested all while appearing they are not trying to sell them a car. Savvy internet managers Tweet about local news, Facebook about events and create simple YouTube video reviews of their current inventory (usually the top of the line model) to keep their visitors interested. This approach is seen as being informative and unbiased as opposed to the typical “high pressure – call to action” sales pitch.

Running an effective social media campaign is not without risk. Due to its open nature dealerships are subject to all forms of negative feedback (especially from its competition).

A couple of Social Media Marketing Tips:                     

1. Keep all messaging positive – jokes, local news, events,
2. Offer unbiased informative content – Do not try to “sell” anything
3. Unscripted customer video testimonials
4. Never quote a price
5. Respond to all valid negative comments professionally

Read more here http://www.autonews.com/article/20091123/RETAIL03/311239994/1018

15 Google Interview Questions That Will Make You Feel Stupid

Google search plays an important role in the Internet strategies of the dealerships with whom AutoXloo works. If you have a few minutes, take a look at questions asked during Google interviews.

Used Car Prices predicted to fall

Over the past 10 months used car prices have steadily increased to astronomical dollars due to lack of available new car credit, increase demand and limited supply, but that trend seems to have plateaued. If you have decent credit it almost doesn’t make sense anymore to buy a used car at their current prices. As we go into the holiday season we are bound to see more aggressive incentives and interest rates for qualified buyers offered by new car dealers that will be too good to pass up even in this down economy.

As more people buy new cars, the supply of used cars will increase and prices will drop accordingly making them once again an attractive alternative to purchasing a new car and more affordable for those with marginal credit. This cycle will repeat itself several times through most of 2010 until the economy starts to stabilize. Dealers should be prepared and follow the golden rule of “don’t buy a car for the sake of having inventory” because we all know the money is not made on the sale its made on the purchase. 

Related stories: Used prices drop according to Manheim

$100K Ford F-150 Raptor

Are you looking for a $100k off road half-ton pickup truck capable of running the Baja 1000 out of the box? If so you are in luck!  Ford announced today they will be producing only 50 copies of the 500hp FR Raptor XT. Sadly this monster is not street legal, but I don’t think that will stop Ford from selling out all available units to collectors and racers alike.

Read full press release below

VW Drops Rabbit & Plays Golf

Volkswagen’s marketing department finally realized the revival of the Rabbit name was a mistake and decided to drop the name for 2010. The slightly redesigned VW Golf is now offered in either a 2.5-liter five cylinder with 170 ho and 177 lb-ft of torque or a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four cylinder with 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.  What is odd is that fact the diesel even with almost 60 lb-ft of torque is still almost a full second slower 0-60 than is gas burning brethren coming in at an uninspiring 8.6 seconds (7.8 sec for the gas version).

The diesel by all accounts is a better buy even though it commands almost $4500 more than the base model. For that extra coin you get many standard features like sport suspension, seventeen-inch wheels, leather-clad, multifunction steering wheel, premium audio, fog-lamps, plus optional DSG, nav system, and xenon headlamps that aren’t available on the gasoline version plus at 52 MPG hwy its gas mileage rating make many Prius owners green with envy – no pun intended.

Source: Automobilemag