Yesterday, Bruce Etzcorn discussed a feature we’re adding to our 1.11 Service Update that allows Dealer HD customers to tweet your inventory for free. Today I’d like to dicsuss it a bit further and tell you a few more reasons you need to be using this service.  I also want to go over some social networking “Best Practices”.

We discussed that Twitter is a search engine.  You can’t afford to be missing from a search engine.  Customers have the ability to search twitter for content that interests them.  Let’s take a look at a quick real world example.

I want to buy a 2005 Mustang because I know that this was the first year of the new body style and I feel I can get the most for my money by picking the oldest “updated model” available.

So I start at Google and do a quick search.  I don’t really find any specific cars.  One or two yes, but most of the results are for review sites.  Great if I’m in the research phase but what if I want to know what inventory is out there and at what price.

Next I perform a twitter search (Your results may be different because twitter is a time based search)  and my first result is an actual vehicle with pricing and photos.  I can scroll down and find similar links to compare a few different vehicles on Twitter.  Cool so I’ve done a search on my own terms and found exactly what I was looking for.

Twitter is NOT a classified service so I will see a mix of results, which is great.  I may find another person talking about the 2005 mustang and befriend them.  Now I’ve got a buddy to chat about cars with.  I may see a customer who says “Looking for a Red 2005 Mustang GT with black leather”.  As a dealer, it just happens that I have that car in stock.  I send a message to that customer letting him know I have it with a link back to my dealer website.  The customer then follows my dealership on twitter and I gain a little additional exposure.

This is the Lewis and Clark phase of Twitter.  It’s very experimental.  Dealer HD realizes the enormous potential that Twitter brings to the automotive marketplace and has integrated twitter into your dealer websites so you can market to your customers on their terms.

Tweeting inventory is very important and it needs to be done the RIGHT way.  Alter the message so that you aren’t spamming customers with 10 identical phrases.  Tweeting your inventory should only be one component of your social stream.  Try and make sure to post as many, if not more posts related to your dealership and who you are.  Make it personal.  You need to also communicate news, events, sales information, incentives and other relavant information to your followers.  Leave the tweeting your inventory to us. It’s already built in to your Dealer HD web site.   Get invovled on a personal level.  Focus more on the relationship building and the customer service end, rather than trying to make a quick sale.  The sales will come, but they shouldn’t be the driving focus behind your twitter identity.  Keep it real and connect with the world.  We’re all getting a little more social every day.

Social Networking -- perhaps you’ve heard of it before, but are not quite sure what it means.  We talk an awful lot about it here at Dealer HD.  I understand we’re all on different learning levels when it comes to talking about social networking so here is a quick refresher course.

Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will.  Although social networking is possible in person, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online.  This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users to develop friendships and business relationships, too.

When it comes to online social networking, websites are commonly used.  These websites are known as social sites.  Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users.  Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share a common interest such as hobbies, religion, or politics.  Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize.  This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.

Watch the video below for an awesome visualization.

Social networking plays a very important role in our industry.  Myself and others use LinkedIn to connect with peers.  I’ve created a facebook fan page for our business.  I also have a personal Twitter account, as well as a company one.

Now as a dealer you can begin to create accounts and identities on the various social networks.  You’ll begin to exist as a digital entity and allow customers to access you with their preferred social network(s).  You might be thinking, “How does this help sell cars?”  There are millions of consumers on social networks and they now have access to your digital dealership.  They use these social networks EVERY DAY to connect with friends, family and to meet new people with similar interests.

Imagine having your banner ad displayed for the people in your local area for a fraction of a cost of traditional media.  Imagine customers becoming fans of your dealership on Facebook.  Post a bunch of vehicle specials and they instantly see the cars on their main Facebook page.  Imagine sending out a “Tweet” on Twitter about a vehicle special and having customers check out your website because of it.  Imagine hiring your next General Manager via LinkedIn instead of paying thousands of dollars to advertise in the newspaper.

We’re going to delve more into these topics in more detail in the coming weeks and months.  We’ll transform you from internet beginners to internet professionals.  So sit back, relax and stay tuned.

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.