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Opportunities flat. Walk-in traffic down. "Where should I spend my money? Who should I cut?"

On this episode of Driven by Intelligence, Coach Cage sits down with Justin Friend of Proficy Digital, a 26-year automotive marketing veteran, to break down where shoppers are really spending their time and how dealers can stop reacting and start predicting.

In this conversation:
🎯 Why almost 70% of shoppers prefer video to start their research
📺 The channels most dealers are missing: YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, streaming TV, and streaming audio
🔮 Predictive advertising explained simply: knowing it will rain in two weeks beats knowing it rained yesterday
🛣️ The 4 stages of the buyer journey: awareness, consideration, intent, and urgency
🏠 Why your "About Us" page and your why buy matter more than your next lease special
🔧 Marketing your service department, and why sending an oil change ad to your homepage loses the customer
🤖 AI creative: where it helps and where it can hurt your brand
⚡ Lightning round: where dealers overspend, where they underspend, and where automotive marketing will be in 3 years

"Don't just roll over before the game has begun." If your Septembers are "always like that," this one's for you.

🔗 Connect with Justin Friend, Vice President at Proficy Digital
Proficy Digital: https://proficydigital.com
LinkedIn:   / justin-d-friend 
Email: [email protected]

🔗 Connect with Coach Cage
Cage Automotive: https://cageautomotive.com
video4victory.com
LinkedIn: Durran Cage
Email: [email protected]

#youtube #podcast #business #automotive

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This year feels weird.
Retail can still win.
Today’s playbook is simple.
Back to basics that scale.

Tier-4 Marketing.
Market to your team.
Onboard right.
Coach weekly.
Train the HOW, not just the WHAT.
Then stack the tools.
Video that sells.
Real SEO (beyond AI fluff).
Switch strategy to save deals.
Fixed Ops in the mix.

JT breaks it down.
I take notes.
You get the blueprint.


Guest:JT (Jonathan Thompson) — amg.team • xdc.team
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-thompson-marketing/
Follow Cage + Work with us:
https://video4victory.com/

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In this Driven by Intelligence episode, Durran Cage sits down with the brilliant Jeane Reitelbach — a culture-shaping force, video visionary, and co-founder of Engage Women in Automotive.

Jeane doesn’t just talk about branding and leadership. She lives it.

This episode dives deep into:

Why brand isn’t what you say — it’s what your culture proves.

How video builds real trust (and why most people are using it wrong).

The role of AI, authenticity, and feminine energy in reshaping our industry.

And the goofy, geeky side of Jeane’s love for LLMs and intelligent tech.

Whether you lead a dealership, brand, or movement — or you’re just trying to grow without losing who you are — this conversation will speak to you.

🎙️ This is not your typical automotive talk. It’s heart, humor, and hard truths with a purpose.

👇 Watch now, and let us know in the comments:
What’s one way you’ve built culture before content?

Connect with Jeane here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanreitelbach/

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In this episode you'll learn:
How to evaluate your marketing partners using Lead Source ROI
When it's time to cut a vendor—and when it isn't
The hidden trap of judging lead quality without understanding cost per sale
The two CRM metrics every leadership team should inspect every Monday
Why contact rate and appointment-setting rate reveal your biggest opportunities
How after-hours leads are impacting dealership performance
Why coaching your team often produces a bigger ROI than replacing your vendors

One of the biggest takeaways:

Before spending another dollar—or cutting another vendor—inspect your process first.

The best dealerships don't guess.

They measure.

They coach.

They improve.

Key Performance Benchmarks

✅ Contact Rate: 70%+

✅ Contact-to-Appointment Rate: 40%+

✅ Inspect vendor ROI weekly—not quarterly

✅ Track after-hours opportunities separately

If this episode brought value, please:

Like the video
Subscribe for more dealership leadership, AI, CRM, and marketing insights
Share this episode with your GM, marketing manager, or internet director

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In this episode of Driven By Intelligence, I'm joined by Malik Braner for a conversation on leadership, relationships, growth, and why the best people in automotive don't operate from a scarcity mindset.

Malik has built a reputation for helping dealerships and leaders elevate their performance, and in this conversation, we dive into the habits, mindset, and strategies that create long-term success.

Let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments.

💬 Comment "DRIVEN" and tell us what's one lesson that's helped you grow as a leader.

Connect with Durran Cage
🌐 [www.CageAutomotive.com](http://www.CageAutomotive.com)

Video4Victory website: https://video4victory.com/
🎥 YouTube: @CoachCage
💼 LinkedIn: Coach Cage
📸 Instagram: @CoachCage

Connect with Malik Braner
🔗 LinkedIn: @Malik Braner
📸 Instagram: @MalikBraner

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What does it really take to go from cutting lawns for $20 to leading high-performing dealership teams with purpose and vision?

In this powerful episode of Driven by Intelligence, Rasean Comeaux shares his journey—from growing up in a military family, navigating leadership early, to declaring (out loud) that he’d become a General Manager in five years... and doing it.

We talk emotional intelligence, modern dealership culture, authentic connection through video, and why you are your first investment.

🔥 Plus, hear how a simple personalized video sparked our connection and reminded us that it’s not always about pitching—it’s about people.

This is leadership, legacy, and leveling up—delivered straight from the heart.

👉 Connect with Rasean on LinkedIn: raseancomeaux

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In this powerhouse episode of Driven by Intelligence, Durran Cage sits down with automotive strategist, dealer whisperer, and inventory guru Frank Knox.

Frank pulls back the curtain on how to turn data into domination — from CarMax playbooks to leveraging AI for smarter acquisitions and stronger community connections. We dive deep into:

Why predictive pricing is winning over flashy dashboards

How to build inventory strategies that actually convert

The future of AI in sourcing and acquiring vehicles

How small dealers can use AI to compete (and win) against the big players

The power of connection and community in an increasingly automated world

Frank shares lessons from decades in the trenches, including his time at CarMax, Off Lease Only, and his work with AutoAcquire.AI. If you're serious about using data and AI to drive growth — and build meaningful connections — this is a must-listen.

📧 Connect with Frank Knox:
Website: https://uniqueautosolutions.ai/ 
Instagram: @frankknox_

🚀 Connect with us & learn more:
Website: www.cageautomotive.com
Video strategy: https://video4victory.com/
LinkedIn: Durran Cage on LinkedIn
Instagram: @durrancage

💥 Join the Cage Campus community and get access to this full conversation and more exclusive strategies: Join Cage Campus

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What happens when you mix luxury sales mastery, deep human connection, and real-deal F&I wisdom? You get Marion Cain III.

In this 🔥 episode of Driven by Intelligence, we sit down with the United States’ #1 luxury auto sales trainer to break down:

✅ How growing up with a brother battling sickle cell sharpened his sales intuition
✅ Why video is the new showroom—and how to dominate it
✅ The myth of price-driven sales (and how to actually create trust)
✅ The AI mirror: how tech reflects what you're doing right—and wrong
✅ The mindset shift that makes slumps disappear

Whether you’re a GM, sales pro, trainer, or just someone trying to level up in life and business, this episode is your next move.

🧠 Grab your pen. Take notes.
🎥 Then go execute.

👇 Drop a comment if this sparked something in you.

📲 Connect with Marion:  @themarioncain
📲 Connect with Durran: https://video4victory.com/

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🚨 Part 2 is HERE.

If you thought Part 1 was wild… get ready for the real disruption.

In this episode, Hoss Devine, Founder & CEO of Automotive Innovations, returns to break down how to build a fully paperless, high-efficiency delivery system inside your dealership — and why most stores are losing money, time, and energy by doing it the old-school way.

We dive deep into:
✅ The heartbeat of a deal (and how most dealers are flatlining)
✅ Going truly paperless in 2026 — not just scanning docs
✅ A sneak peek at the Finance Director in a Box
✅ The secret to increasing sales by reducing TIME
✅ Why tech should serve your people — not slow them down
✅ Creating a delivery experience customers want to record 📸
✅ The future of leadership, comp plans, and CRM adoption

🔊 If you're an operator, GM, GSM, F&I director, or tech-minded leader — this is required viewing. Don’t miss what Hoss drops in this one.

🌐 Connect with Hoss Devine:
🔗 Website: https://automotiveinnovations.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 LinkedIn:   / hossdevine 
📸 Instagram: @hoss.devine
🐦 X / Twitter: @HossDevine

🎙 Hosted by Durran Cage
📲 LinkedIn: Durran Cage
📸 Instagram: @durrancage
🌐 Learn more at: https://video4victory.com/

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In this powerful first part of our two-part conversation, we sit down with Hoss Devine — automotive legend, mentor, and the high-tech redneck himself — to uncover the real story behind Automotive Innovations.

From being homeless at 15 to becoming a top-performing GSM and eventually founding one of the most dealer-centric tech companies in the business, Hoss' journey is one of grit, grace, and God-given guidance.

We talk:

The hard truths behind dealership data and why most tools fail

His personal transformation (down 200+ pounds!)

Why he built software by a car guy, for car guys

What it really takes to lead, not just manage

And why we must stop having conversations and start having business meetings

🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you don’t miss Part Two — premiering Saturday, June 21st, where we dive deeper into the tech, the impact, and a full walk-through of Automotive Innovations in action.

—
📩 Want a demo or to connect with Hoss?
📧 Email: [email protected]

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🎥 Hosted by Durran Cage