If you’ve been following us over here at DHD, I’m sure you’ve noticed we’ve had a pretty busy 2010 thus far.  We’re very happy with the progress we’ve been making on the development side, and we’re getting ready for our first update of 2010 this weekend.

We’ll be implementing RIMS features that will help us help YOU as dealers.  Our mission here is to make things as easy-to-use as possible when it comes to your website.  In the next few days if you’re a DHD client you’ll be getting our email with the details of the 1.13 update and features you can look forward to.  If you’re not a Dealer HD client yet, don’t worry, we’ll let you in on the features too.  They’ll be added right here on the DHD blog as they’re available.

In addition to our development efforts this year we’ve also made a point make our brand more available.  You’ll be seeing more of us in your dealer publications and dealer forums.  We want you to know what we’re up to and what you think.  Check us out in Auto Success on page 16, Auto Dealer Monthly on pages 26-29 and in our latest AS Podcast.

For all of you heading to Orlando for NADA, we’d love to meet you.  Stop by our booth, #461 to chat.

No, I’m not talking H1N1 here.   I’m talking about the subconscious “watch it and pass it on” phenomenon.  A few weeks ago a friend of mine sent me A Day at the Office.  I watched it, and after I’d cleared the tears of laughter from my eyes I set about sending it to everyone I knew without hesitation.

Video is sticky, we’ve been told that until we were blue in the face for a while now.  Everybody knows and everybody is doing their part to get video of some kind on their website.  Vehicle videos are a popular feature here at Dealer HD too – new vehicles have video reviews and used vehicles have the ability to get live voice video with custom scripts.  Things have come a long way in terms of car shopping, and video has made it possible.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “ok we get it, but what’s with the Day at the Office video?”  The two types of video are essentially unrelated – one works without the other just fine – but what if you used both?  Vehicle videos and commercials are used to directly sell your products.  Viral video, on the other hand, gives added value to your brand without pushing the sale.   Subtle connections can be made between your brand and your customers and when they’re done right they spread like wildfire.

(FRANKFORT, Ill.) – September 29, 2009 – Dealer HD announced the vehicle history feature with the latest 1.12 update.  The Vehicle history feature tracks vehicles customers view while shopping making them available for quick reference while surfing.

Dealer HD’s Director of Product Development, Bruce Etzcorn, shared his excitement about the vehicle history feature, “This has quickly become one of my favorite features of the update. When you see this in one of the Dealer HD websites you think to yourself, Whoa, this makes a lot of sense.”

The vehicle history feature is available on each page of Dealer HD’s websites as a slide out tab that lets shoppers quickly revisit the vehicles they’ve viewed while on the site without getting in their way.  The feature is cookie based, enabling shoppers to extend their vehicle history over several sessions without losing searches.

“Everyone loves shopping online because it’s easy and incredibly convenient.  We’ve given customers a cool virtual shopping cart so they can track back through all the vehicles they looked at.  It’s just one more way Dealer HD is revolutionizing car buying,” said Justin Duff, Dealer HD’s National Sales Director.

Vehicle History is a great addition to Dealer HD’s standard features, giving Dealers even more tools to help customers with their online shopping experience.  Other great features were made available in the 1.12 update, for more information on the latest additions or a demo of Dealer HD’s Automotive Web Services visit dealerhd.com

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Dealer HD is an Automotive Web Solution serving clients Nationwide. Located in the southern suburbs of Chicago, the Dealer HD team has over 100 years of combined automotive experience.  Dealer HD provides customizable dealer web solutions with a comprehensive Admin tool that collects dealer leads, allows the quick and easy editing of website content, inventory modification and more.