Automotive Social Networking – Time to Catch Up
The automobile industry typically runs “behind the times” in it’s initiatives. So it is refreshing when I see the industry start to catch up with the times. Online marketing initiatives are suffering from atrophy with the current market environment on the dealer services end. Fortunately for the automotive industry some are starting to take notice. Right now there is buzz about a variety of initiatives inside of the industry. In my opinion most are very positive some are still so 2006.
Right now the never ending conversation about Autotrader.com going on over at Jeff Kershner’s Blog and their never ending battle to gain market share with a bad business model, for dealers. Here is a report worth reading at www.Digital20Group.com
Dealer Micro Sites seem to be a hot topic inside of a social network set up by Ralph Paglia. This seems to be a self serving topic as most of the participation is by the vendors trying to hawk their wares to the limited number of dealer employee participants. This marketing tools time has passed in it’s current form. (more on this later)
I have discussed CRM/ILM vendors issues at my other blog about being an Internet Sales Manger and their lack of compliance with the CAN SPAM Act and deliverability issues. Read where I talk about problems with the BZ Results BuzzTrak and their non compliance at www.ismintraining.com.
Now for the real killer…….
In steps www.DrivingSales.com, the first automotive social network created by a dealer for dealers, to help the industry get the real deal on the vendors in the automotive marketplace and to share ideas with each other to help better the industry in it marketing efforts.
Dealers and their employees have generally played their cards close to their vest when it comes to sharing ideas with each other. Now the relics who have held on to these old principals will need to step up and get into this century to remain competitive in todays information age. Consumers are empowered with the wealth of knowledge that is available to them. Now dealers have the opportunity to work from a level playing field just as consumers do when it comes time to make decisions and have real feedback on vendors that service them.
It is time to get on board today start by joining www.DrivingSales.com today.
