Digital Dealer:

J.D. Power forecast sees total sales increase

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT

While November new-vehicle retail sales are expected to decline slightly compared with one year ago, total vehicle sales are projected to increase marginally, according to J.D. Power and Associates, which gathers real-time transaction data from more than 8,900 franchisees across the United States.

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Coupons boost e-mail open rate

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Some of the most successful dealers and ISMs we talk to often cite the effectiveness of e-mail campaigns that contain coupons for such things as quick lubes, tires or even discounts for online vehicle purchases. They're on to something. The recession has had its effect on consumer behavior online, and the watchword is frugality, eMarketer writes this week. Whether or not shoppers go back to their spendthrift ways, for now coupons are cool and deal-seeking is the norm. That mindset has consequences for marketers across the board, and e-mail marketers are no exception. There is a pronounced difference between open rates for e-mails that include a coupon offer and those that do not. Open rates of around 24% to 25% for coupon e-mails dropped to just 16% to 18% for noncoupon campaigns, according to Experian. Higher open rates for coupon offers translated into higher click rates as well, though the difference was much smaller. E-mails with coupons that could be used online were most likely to be clicked, at 4%.

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Social sites less friendly to video ads

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Digital media buyers may want to think twice about where they place online video ads -- as social networking and gaming sites don't measure up to content sites and e-mail when it comes to user engagement, AdWeek reports.That's according to a wide-ranging report produced by third-party ad server Eyeblaster, which examined data from thousands of campaigns it executed for brands over the past year encompassing billions of impressions. Specifically, the report focused on two metrics deemed key by Eyeblaster analysts: Dwell Rate, which measures the proportion of ad impressions resulting in users engaging with an ad, such as mousing over or clicking on them, and Dwell Time, which measures the amount of time users spend engaged with a particular ad. Eyeblaster found that overall online video boosts both Dwell Rate and Dwell Time when compared to other forms of online advertising. However, online video tends to perform better when adjacent to content or e-mail than in social media and gaming environments -- both areas that have enjoyed major spikes in usage over the past five years, resulting in increased interest from advertisers.

Deep brand engagement creates customers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The power of online brand interaction is not to be denied: A solid majority of connected consumers have had their opinion of a brand swayed, either positively or negatively, by an online experience, eMarketer also reports this week. And more than 97% said that experience influenced whether they purchased a product or service from that brand. Razorfish’s “2009 FEED” survey polled US broadband users who had visited a community site, consumed or created digital media, and spent at least $150 online in the past six months. These connected consumers were also connected to brands. About one-quarter had produced content to participate in a contest held by a brand, and close to the same amount had followed a brand on Twitter. Two-fifths had friended a brand on Facebook or MySpace.

kbb.com adds CPO value tool to site

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Kelley Blue Book Tuesday said it is adding a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Value to its Web site beginning next month "to educate consumers on the benefits and value of CPO vehicle programs."

Minnesota ISM featured in November issue of Digital Dealer magazine

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Click the link to see how she pushed online sales to 30% of her dealership's business

Congress running out of time to help targeted dealerships

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT

More than four months after the House voted to reverse the closing of more than 2,000 auto dealerships, time is running short to get a deal done this year, The Detroit News reports. On Tuesday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., held an hour-long meeting with about a dozen members of Congress to update the status of talks between General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC and their dealers. He held a separate meeting with dealers. Hoyer "is still working on a resolution," said his spokeswoman, Katie Grant. But with exactly one month before Congress plans to adjourn for the year, there is little time to get a deal done. On July 16, the House approved a spending bill that sought to reverse Chrysler's closing of 789 dealers in July and GM's planned closing of at least 1,300 dealers by October 2010. Dealers have gotten strong support on Congress in part because many are long-time campaign contributors.

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Learn more about the CRM solution chosen by the Holman Auto Group (as featured in July 08 Digital Dealer magazine). Read about Holman Auto Group here, and visit us online at www.autobase.net.