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.

At DealerHD, 2009 was an incredible year for our young company in terms of growth, research, development and execution.  We put everything into developing a comprehensive solution for the next generation of online dealerships, now we’re unveiling it to dealers.  We are changing our focus and approach to the way we do business and offering transparency to dealerships that give us an opportunity to earn their business.

We’re implementing the “90 Day Test Drive.”  Dealerships within eight months of expiration with their current website provider will be eligible for our “90 Day Test Drive” at NADA with no contract or cost to the dealer, letting dealers witness firsthand what we can do and our strategy driven relationship.  We simply ask you to apply the NADA stimulus voucher to the 3 month agreement.  If DealerHD proves to be a great fit after the trial a contract will be a month-to-month agreement proving every day the right choice was made.  In doing this, we hope to provide dealerships with a true experience before they make the decision to move forward with DealerHD.

During the trial, dealerships will use our tools and the capabilities of our new platform, and our flexibility in development and strategy around an individual dealership.  Our attitude is one of “we can.”  If dealers have a progressive idea not currently used or built in the industry we will work to implement or create the technology at no cost.  DealerHD wants to be part of the innovation for automotive digital and dealership ideas are critical in that venture.  Most website vendors in the industry would agree when sitting with a dealership they talk about what their competitor can’t or isn’t doing. With DealerHD, whether its functionality or service, we will prove our worth before you make a decision.

We are scheduling demos at NADA and participating dealers can sign up to take a 90 Day Test Drive.  After NADA we will be implementing a one-time set-up fee for dealerships that are interested in our 90 Day trial to drive their online goals, again no contracts will be involved.  Set-up pricing hasn’t been set but will be minimal, around a couple hundred dollars for the full 3 months.  We believe this one-time charge to be fair in helping you decide the dealership’s online future without commitment.

Our goal is to be the vendor that works best with your dealership and not simply known as having incredible marketing or a top-notch sales force.  Our resources are dedicated to our account management, research and development efforts. “Salesmanship” is being replaced with “relationship” in our world.  We want to have the lowest ratio of account mangers to dealerships in the industry; our goal is 10:1 which puts us in incredible shape.

Currently we work with dealers on websites, mobile, SEO, PPC, banner advertising, texting, reputation management, social media, lead management, live analytics and rewards programs.  Ninety-nine percent of our products are built in-house to keep the cost down for the dealer and we’re always looking for progressive ideas to build new products.  We look forward to working with experts in the industry to help drive innovation forward.  If you have any questions or would like to schedule a demo at NADA please contact NADA@dealerhd.com.  You can also email me at jeff@dealerhd.com.  DealerHD looks forward to helping the community grow and the exchanging of ideas in 2010.

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.