CBT Automotive Network Podcast

The Importance of Building Your Dealership's Website with the User Experience in Mind | About Selling, Closing And Negotiation | 5 Tips and Strategies for an Effective Service Department Mentoring Program

Today on CBTNews.com - Wednesday, September 18th, 2019:

The Importance of Building Your Dealership's Website with the User Experience in Mind - Bob George, Dealer.com

According to The Cox Automotive 2019 Car Buyer Journey Study, consumers spend an average of 14 hours researching vehicles online before making a purchase. However, the websites that car buyers visit most often are heavily dependent on the quality of user experience. Here to tell us how dealers can incorporate targeted consumer data into their website design is Bob George, Assistant Vice President of Products at Dealer.com.

About Selling, Closing And Negotiation…

Because most of us got zip for a real education in selling, closing, negotiating and the other critical skills – we defaulted to developing our own hit & miss closes based on bits and pieces of what we heard. My first 5 years I couldn’t sell, or close or negotiate. Yes, technically I did those things, but common sense says whatever I was doing as the 8 car guy, definitely wasn’t selling, closing or negotiating on a serious level.

5 Tips and Strategies for an Effective Service Department Mentoring Program

Apprenticeship is a concept as old as time. It used to be that the ONLY way to learn a trade was to serve an apprenticeship to a master of the chosen craft. Now, with technical schools and refined training programs, the apprenticeship is no longer a necessity, but there is still a lot of value in the mentor/apprentice relationship. Automotive News recently ran an article about dealerships that run effective mentoring programs for service technicians. The programs that are most successful seem to have 5 things in common.

According to The Cox Automotive 2019 Car Buyer Journey Study, consumers spend an average of 14 hours researching vehicles online before making a purchase. However, the websites that car buyers visit most often are heavily dependent on the quality of user experience. Here to tell us how dealers can incorporate targeted consumer data into their website design is Bob George, Assistant Vice President of Products at Dealer.com.

How Toyota of Easley Built a Grassroots Video Marketing Strategy to Drive Sales | EV Owners Face Rising Taxes and Fees in Over 25 States | 6 Simple Tools To Boost Your Productivity

Today on CBTNews.com – Tuesday, September 17th, 2019:

How Toyota of Easley Built a Grassroots Video Marketing Strategy to Drive Sales – Ryan Norris

Every dealer knows that video is an essential part of any marketing strategy, and it’s a great way to create distinction in local markets. Our next guest, Ryan Norris, has capitalized on this idea with a grassroots digital marketing strategy that includes a weekly vlog called Ask Ryan. Filmed every week at Ryan’s dealership, Toyota of Easley, he answers customer questions and tackles topics like leadership, motivation, and culture.

EV Owners Face Rising Taxes and Fees in Over 25 States

Many consumers who have made the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) will tell you they have enjoyed the benefits they have received from the federal government as well as their state. For example, Virginians who drive an EV can get a special license plate that allows them to drive in the HOV lane in certain areas, and other states eliminate the need for emissions testing and offer reduced electricity bills for EV owners. The EV industry still hasn’t boomed for various reasons, but the goal of these incentives is to use less fuel and promote a healthier environment.

6 Simple Tools To Boost Your Productivity

If you own or work at a company such as a dealership you’re an authorized seller and have a mass amount of business coming through you and or your employees at an almost incessant pace. It can be a challenge to manage daily tasks outside of servicing new customers such as setting up appointments, doing meetings, updating emails, following up on your established customer base and drawing up contracts. Here is a list of 5 simple tools and tips that will help get you organized and boost your productivity.

Every dealer knows that video is an essential part of any marketing strategy, and it’s a great way to create distinction in local markets. Our next guest, Ryan Norris, has capitalized on this idea with a grassroots digital marketing strategy that includes a weekly vlog called Ask Ryan. Filmed every week at Ryan’s dealership, Toyota of Easley, he answers customer questions and tackles topics like leadership, motivation, and culture.

How to Incorporate Dynamic Video into Your Dealership’s Marketing Strategy | Why Your Dealership Needs to Review Its Hiring Process | Five Ways to Develop Your Staff into the Automotive Industry’s Future Leaders

Today on CBTNews.com - Monday, September 16th, 2019:

How to Incorporate Dynamic Video into Your Dealership’s Marketing Strategy - Jeff Brown, Force Marketing

On today’s show, we welcome back Jeff Brown, Chief Revenue Officer at Force Marketing. Jeff discussed the big takeaways from Digital Dealer and how to incorporate dynamic video into your dealership’s marketing strategy.

Why Your Dealership Needs to Review Its Hiring Process

When numbers start dropping, dealerships might assume that the cause is vehicle trends, fickle customers, or a general economic slump. They may not realize that their hiring process is what has put them in a losing position. According to a Cox Automotive study, poor staffing strategies often result in high employee turnover rate. And with each new hire costing dealerships approximately $10K, and the current turnover rate in sales standing at about 67%, the cost of a poor hiring process is high.

Five Ways to Develop Your Staff into the Automotive Industry’s Future Leaders

Take a moment to think of the best manager or staff leader you have. Think of their work ethic, creativity, and attention to detail.  Now, imagine of life without them (or how things at your dealership changed once they left). At some point, that employee will—or already has—moved on. The reality is that people will not stay in their current positions.

On today’s show, we welcome back Jeff Brown, Chief Revenue Officer at Force Marketing. Jeff discussed the big takeaways from Digital Dealer and how to incorporate dynamic video into your dealership’s marketing strategy.

Week In Review: Increase Lead Conversion with These Automated Marketing Campaign Strategies | Manage Your Dealership's New Vehicle Inventory More Efficiently with These Tips | How AI Integration Can Increase Productivity and Save Costs in Your Dealership

CBT News Week In Review for Friday, September 13th, 2019:

Increase Lead Conversion with These Automated Marketing Campaign Strategies - Eric Mercado, WeDrive Automotive

According to recent studies by Invesp, automated marketing campaigns, on average, increase sales productivity by 14.5 percent, with 77 percent of automation users reporting an increase in lead conversions. However, by customizing this smart technology even further, your dealership can provide highly personalized experiences for customers, and bring in even more leads. Recently we sat down with Eric Mercado, president of WeDrive Automotive, to discuss this idea in more detail.

Manage Your Dealership's New Vehicle Inventory More Efficiently with These Tips - Dale Pollak, vAuto

On today’s show, we’re pleased to welcome back Dale Pollak, founder of vAuto and Executive Vice President for Cox Automotive, back to CBT News. In this segment, Jim and Dale discussed the importance of managing your dealership's new inventory in a practical and effective way.

How AI Integration Can Increase Productivity and Save Costs in Your Dealership - Dr. Mark Colosimo, Urban Science

There are countless applications for Artificial Intelligence in the auto retail industry and the possibilities they present are endless. In fact, AI technologies are projected to increase business productivity by up to 40 percent by the year 2035. To find out more about how AI is integrating into the auto retail industry and how dealers can utilize its capabilities, we recently spoke to Dr. Mark Colosimo, Vice President of Data and Analytics at Urban Science.

The Benefits of Properly Managing Your Dealership's Online Reputation - Joe Fuca, Reputation.com

According to a study by Think with Google, 92 percent of car buyers conduct their own research online before they buy. This means that managing your dealership’s online reputation is more critical now than ever before. Positive Google or Yelp reviews can affect your dealership’s website traffic and ranking, leading to an increase in sales. To find out more about reputation management and the findings of the recent 2019 Automotive Reputation Report, we spoke to Joe Fuca, CEO of Reputation.com.

The Benefits of Properly Managing Your Dealership's Online Reputation | 3 Ways to Make Sure Your F&I Staff Are Ready for Another Recession…Just In Case | Five Things Your Dealership Can Offer to Decrease Stress-Related Turnover

Today on CBTNews.com - Thursday, September 12th, 2019:

The Benefits of Properly Managing Your Dealership's Online Reputation - Joe Fuca, Reputation.com

According to a study by Think with Google, 92 percent of car buyers conduct their own research online before they buy. This means that managing your dealership’s online reputation is more critical now than ever before. Positive Google or Yelp reviews can affect your dealership’s website traffic and ranking, leading to an increase in sales. To find out more about reputation management and the findings of the recent 2019 Automotive Reputation Report, we spoke to Joe Fuca, CEO of Reputation.com.

3 Ways to Make Sure Your F&I Staff Are Ready for Another Recession…Just In Case

Anyone who was alive in the years 2007-2009 remembers very well the crash of the stock market, the stories of Bear Stearns and AIG employees being walked out of their building with no jobs, and businesses across America shutting their doors. The Great Recession had implications not only here but all over the world.

Five Things Your Dealership Can Offer to Decrease Stress-Related Turnover

For most workers today, job-related stress is having a significant impact on how they work, and if they stay at their jobs. The American Institute of Stress found that 40 percent of workers felt that their job was very or extremely stressful, and a 2018 survey found that 25 percent of workers in America and the UK quit their jobs due to stress.

According to a study by Think with Google, 92 percent of car buyers conduct their own research online before they buy. This means that managing your dealership’s online reputation is more critical now than ever before. Positive Google or Yelp reviews can affect your dealership’s website traffic and ranking, leading to an increase in sales. To find out more about reputation management and the findings of the recent 2019 Automotive Reputation Report, we spoke to Joe Fuca, CEO of Reputation.com.

How AI Integration Can Increase Productivity and Save Costs in Your Dealership - Dr. Mark Colosimo | Why is Local Media Advertising so Important? | Keeping Up Appearances: The Importance of Dealership Cleanliness and Comfort

Today on CBTNews.com - Wednesday, September 11th, 2019:

How AI Integration Can Increase Productivity and Save Costs in Your Dealership - Dr. Mark Colosimo, Urban Science

There are countless applications for Artificial Intelligence in the auto retail industry and the possibilities they present are endless. In fact, AI technologies are projected to increase business productivity by up to 40 percent by the year 2035. To find out more about how AI is integrating into the auto retail industry and how dealers can utilize its capabilities, we recently spoke to Dr. Mark Colosimo, Vice President of Data and Analytics at Urban Science.

Why is Local Media Advertising so Important?

20 years ago, buyers would visit several dealerships and go on dozens of test drives to find the right car. A prime location and a big sign with decent inventory frontage was all a dealership needed to guarantee a lot of foot traffic. While this was the norm 20 years ago, times have changed. A lot. With the advancement of technology, connectivity, and online shopping habits, buyers now tend to do most of the decision making online. Faster decisions can also be made on the fly with the aid of connected mobile devices.

Keeping Up Appearances: The Importance of Dealership Cleanliness and Comfort

Sometimes driving up sales is as simple as investing in a good pressure washer. The general appearance and cleanliness of your dealership, staff, and other client-facing elements can improve with little changes that make significant differences.