Listen to Kathi Kruse: Successful Automotive Social Media Strategies or subscribe on iTunes

In this episode of DHD Profiles, we asked Kathi Kruse of Kruse Control Inc. to share successful automotive social media strategies your dealership can use to stay focused on your social media marketing goals.

“We’re just talking about marketing… with a social component.”

Kathi is a social media consultant with years of dealership experience behind her. Being an expert in both social media and the automotive industry, we reached out to her to share what it takes for dealers to be successful on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.

Actionable Automotive Social Media Advice from this episode includes:

• How to create an automotive social media strategy.
• Three critical steps to defining your social media strategy
• How social media should be managed by dealerships.

Listen to Elise Kephart: Video Autoresponders To Personalize Customer Contact ( iTunes)

Video autoresponders are a unique way to get your customers’ attention. Elise Kephart is an expert. We’d go as far as saying she started the trend. In order to rise above the noise and do something different to be noticed, Elise created personalized video responses for many of the internet leads at Sunset Honda.

“[customers] receive an email that is completely different from the other 20 dealerships that are trying to earn their business by price.”

“…instead of just an autoresponder, customers are getting an actual personalized video with my name, my face, some customer testimonials…”

Many dealers don’t realize that the autoresponder is often the first opportunity you have to deliver a great first impression. Use it give them a reason why they’re going to buy their vehicle from your dealership. If two dealers reply back with the same price on the same vehicle, this first impression will win the sale.

The video auto responder Elise creates personalizes the car buying process before a customer even walks in the door. Not only are they wowed by the fact that they received a personalized video talking directly to them about their request, they’re also making a decision. Deciding if they want to buy this car from your dealership.

“…uploading to youTube is the longest part of the process.”

If you think this is “hard,” think again. Elise makes these video autoresponders in 5 minutes. In Jim Ziegler’s Internet Battle Plan Sessions, Elise goes in depth about how to shoot, edit and upload your video to ensure that personalization doesn’t consume your day.

Elise Kephart created a unique way to respond to every customer personally. I was inspired by her technique and asked her to provide more insight into how other dealerships can implement personalized video autoresponders into their process. This episode of DHD Profiles is dedicated to Elise Kephart. Even though these videos were intended for an audience of one, they inspired me and many others. Thanks Elise.

Photo credit: Weston Neuschafer