You already know the importance of staying up-to-date and fresh wit latest models, technology and news in the automotive world, so I’m not going to lecture you.  Instead, I wanted to share a couple ways to help you keep connected with the latest news, sales ideas, etc.  And did I mention…they’re FREE?!  (Note:  You’ve already taken a step in the right direction by keeping up with the Dealer HD blog!)

Blogs are a great resource for dealers, consumers, third parties…everyone!  And almost everyone is blogging regularly these days.  Find a great blogger who shares relevant industry information and check up with that person often.  You can even RSS Subscribe to a blog or a certain blogger if you want.

Some of my personal favorites:

http://www.dealerrefresh.com/

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/

http://www.drivingsales.com/blog

http://www.autoblog.com/

Webinars are a great way to tune-in to others in the business and learn about designated automotive industry topics of discussion.  They’re setup like a seminar, but are conveniently located right at your own computer.  Have questions?  Want more information?  Want to chat with other webinar attendees about the topic?  Realize that you missed a great topic of discussion or were you just too busy to attend?  No sweat…sometimes you’re even allowed to download the presentation and listen to the recorded session.  Visit http://dealers.cars.com/dealeradvantage_live.php for more information.

I just moved to town and I don’t really know anybody.  I mean, I’m pretty familiar with the cool cats around here.  They’re definitely famous and they’ve got huge followings.  So I was shocked when I got a random e-vite the other day for a party hosted by everyone cool in town.  It was being hosted at this huge mansion on top of a mountain.  No way can this be happening.  Oh well I decided to go and at least see what the buzz was all about.  I walked up to the gates of the mansion and of course there were cool cars everywhere.  There was even a helicopter.  Neat.

I walked through the door and immediately recognized everyone.  Firefox was making drinks behind the bar.  Yahoo was giving MSN a giant wedgie.  I walked a bit further in and saw Google hanging out with what must have been 10 models.  “0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0″, he muttered as I walked by.  I don’t think people like me around here.  Well I think I’ll stay a while and mingle.  Oh by the name, let me introduce myself.  My name is Twitter.

Life is a party!  At least on the web where everything is going “social”.  It’s not entirely new either.  The idea of social platforms has been around for a while but the mediums they are cropping up in are changing almost daily.  Twitter is one of newest and most popular trends in social media.  It may not make sense to you now but the future marketing potential for your dealership is HUGE!  Our next update to Dealer HD brings a lot of changes that will make your dealership extremely unique is the social marketplace.  We’re doing things that no one else has even touched yet.  You’re all in for a treat on this one, I promise.

Let’s get a jump start on learning and putting social media to practice:

1. Sign up for a Twitter account for you personally – Follow people that are relevant to you.  The goal here is to find people who will teach you things and learn as much as you can.
2. Sign up for a Twitter account for your dealership – Again follow those relevant to you and start posting links to your website (specials, hot cars, coupons, news & events and promotions).  Build up your following.
3. Create a Facebook page for your dealership – This will allow you to upload new photos, events, videos and testimonials.  Customers might find you on Facebook before they find your website.  Cover all your angles.
4. Blog – Start a blog for yourself and for your dealership.  Write about anything any everything.  Recycle manufacturer press releases and put a twist on them with your own words.

This is only the beginning and there are new social networks being launched daily.  We’ll make sure that you are prepared for this next wave in online automotive marketing.  Web 2.0 is here and I have a feeling Web 3.0 is just around the corner.  Don’t hide from change, embrace it!  You’ll reap the rewards if you can get over being anti-social.

The weather’s heating up, summer’s coming and so is road trip season.  It’s that time of year, when teens and adults alike pack up and head where ever the road takes them. 

This is the perfect opportunity to up the ante on your service specials and SUV/Crossover deals.  In my experience, there are three things that have the power to doom a road trip.  

1.  No Leg Room.  Nothing’s worse than being packed into a tiny car for 19 hours dreaming of sunshine and wide open spaces.  SUVs and Crossovers provide the perfect get away vehicle, cargo room so Jimmy’s duffle doesn’t end up in your lap and enough leg room for a basketball MVP and heck, maybe even a DVD player.
2. Car Trouble.  Pulling over for gas in Bowling Green at 4 am and finding your brakes are out is no way to get to Panama City.  (Trust me, its happened).  Save travelers a trip to the Bates Motel and offer full service clinics before they go.  Add a healthy mix of service specials to your website and I think you’ll be impressed with the feed back.  After all, some drivers only get their cars worked on before long trips.
3. Bad Directions.  So, you’re not Magellan and your co-pilot thinks the map should be rotated so you’re always driving North.  Before you know it, you’re in Detroit when you were heading for North Carolina.  It happens but unless you’re on survivor, everyone’s in it together.  If you have  vehicles in your inventory with navigation installed, highlight them.  Twice.  Are nav systems something your parts department can install?  Even better.  They’re a great feature and an easy sell, especially for people that love the open road.

There are more than enough road trip woes out there, but these are some of the few you can remedy right at the dealership.  Get your specials up, vehicles priced to sell and the locals ready for adventure.