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As many of you already know, Yahoo has started to use Microsoft’s search engine technology to power their search results. Have you compared your existing search dealership results in Google to the “new” Yahoo?  Try some simple search patterns on Yahoo today.

For example, if you are a Chevrolet dealer in Paramus New Jersey test out a few basic phrases:

• New Jersey Chevrolet Dealer
• Paramus Chevrolet Dealer
• Chevrolet Impala Paramus
• Chevrolet Service Paramus

There are differences in how the Microsoft technology and Google technology work and after you have studied this for a while, those differences become clearer. I would like to challenge all readers to take a moment to take 10 popular search phrases that are part of your SEO strategy and check your rankings in Yahoo.

You can place you name beside each listing to see which your business controls and the work to raise those positions over the next few months.

Practicing What We Preach

For PCG Digital Marketing, the new Yahoo is actually recognizing our leadership in content publishing. We practice what we preach.  Some of our top keyword targets are “Automotive SEO“, “Automotive Reputation Management”, “Automotive Social Media“, and “Automotive Microsites”. You can see that our focus on SEO has rewarded us with good placement in Yahoo.

If your Yahoo results and Bing results are not as strong as Google, or visa versa, it’s a good time to roll-up your SEO sleeves and make some investment in updating your Automotive SEO strategies.

In these snapshots taken on 8/30/2010, TK stands for www.tkcarsites, PR stands for Paul Rushing from www.dealerbytes.com and ADM stands for Ralph Paglia’s ADM Community.  These are companies that are active members of the automotive digital marketing forums.

Yahoo Search: Automotive SEO

Automotive Reputation Management

Yahoo Search: Automotive Microsites

Yahoo Search: Automotive Social Media

VinSolutions makes Inc. 500 as the 33^rd fastest growing software company with three-year revenue growth of 672%

I would like to congratulate the team at VinSolutions for being recognized by Inc Magazine being named the 33rd fastest growing software company is America but I always want to recognize their team for the hard work that represented.

Automotive advertising is going through tremendous change and automotive website providers  have been scrambling to keep up with the demands of automotive retailers. 

At the upcoming Digital Dealer Conference in Las Vegas we will be recognizing the top website providers with the 2010 ASMA Awards.  This year 46 website providers will be included in the comprehensive SEO analysis and search marketing study.  Nine website companies were recognized last year and the competitive for the 2010 awards has gone red hot.

VinSolutions has been on a strong push to innovate and extend their technology platform and it looks like from this award, the fruits of their labor is paying off.  It’s nice to see passion rewarded with strong financial growth.  Here is the official press release that was sent out to media outlets.

VinSolutions Press Release

Inc. Magazine ranked VinSolutions as the 33^rd fastest growing software company in the US on its prestigious Inc. 500 list, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. VinSolutions grew by 672% in the three year period and was ranked #447 overall. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy – America’s entrepreneurs. As an Inc. 5000 honoree, VinSolutions shares a prestigious pedigree with such notable alumni as Microsoft, Intuit, Zappos, Under Armor, Jamba Juice, Timberland, Visa, Cliff Bar, Patagonia, Oracle, and scores of other powerhouses. Other Automotive technology companies that were recognized on the Inc 5000 list were vAuto at #125 with 2044% growth, Dealer.com at #1056 with 286% growth and Dealer Socket at #1829 with 150% growth.

“The leaders of the companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 have figured out how to grow their businesses during the longest recession since the Great Depression,” said Inc. president Bob LaPointe. “This year’s list is a testament to the creativity, resilience, and tenacity of America’s top entrepreneurs,” said Jane Berentson, Editor of Inc. Magazine. 

“We are honored to make the Inc 500 list and we are proud of our dealers who have fought through these difficult times by using state of the art technology to improve their business,” said Mike Dullea, CEO of VinSolutions. “I am glad there were so many automotive companies on the list and I am proud of our employees who work so hard around the clock to serve our customers.”

VinSolutions dealership marketing system contributed to over 2.8 billion dollars in automotive sales and helped their dealer partners save an estimated $33 million in expenses during a difficult 2009.  VinSolutions dealership marketing system integrates all of the tools a dealership needs to run their business and their system makes it easier for consumers to shop, buy and maintain their vehicle on the internet or through their mobile phone.  “I was spending too much with 15 different companies that did not integrate and now I pay 75% less for one system that does it all and more,” said Todd Crossley, owner of #1 retailer in Kansas City.  “VinSolutions has revolutionized the automotive market the way Apple revolutionized the consumer market – by creating a completely integrated system that is easy to use and that helps me manage my business from my iPhone.”

Despite the fact that most of this year’s measuring period of 2006-2009 took place during the latest recession, aggregate revenue among the companies on the list actually increased to $321.6 billion, up more than 50 percent from last year. The effects of the recession are seen, however, in the median three-year growth rate, which dropped to 96 percent from last year’s 126 percent. This year’s Inc. 5000 employ a record 1.4 million people, up from one million on last year’s list. With unemployment remaining stubbornly high, policymakers and business leaders will do well to look to the Inc. 5000 companies for fresh ideas on achieving growth and creating jobs.

About VinSolutions

VinSolutions has the leading “Dealership Marketing System” that helps retailers attract, sell and retain more customers profitably. Their “all-in-one” sales and service marketing system includes digital marketing, search marketing, online advertising, social media marketing tools, mobile marketing, websites, internet lead management, CRM (Customer Relationship Management), Sales force automation, Sales Management and Desking, Appraisal, Finance, Used Vehicle Marketing and Market Pricing, Inventory Management and Distribution, Hand held inventory marketing tools, window stickers, automated video tours, Loyalty Management and Targeted marketing with email, text, direct mail and telemarketing services.

The “Dealership Marketing System” has complete mobile integration and is accessible from any mobile phone that has access to the internet including blackberry, Google DROID and iPhone. VinSolutions Dealership Marketing System is installed by their strategic consulting team who specializes in retail strategy and process training for large dealer groups and individual dealerships. VinSolutions is certified by Honda, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Subaru, Nissan and Audi and integrates with ADP, R&R, AutoSoft and Arkona. Vin also has alliances and integrations with Kelley Blue Book, CarFax, Autodata, RouteOne and DealerTrack. For more information visit www.VinSolutions.com

About Inc. Magazine

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures LLC, Inc. (www.inc.com) is the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies that delivers real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. With a total paid circulation of 712,647, Inc. provides hands-on tools and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology. Visit us online at www.inc.com.

Inc 500 List Methodology

The 2010 Inc. 500|5000 list is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2006 to 2009. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by June 30, 2006. Additionally, they had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies — as of December 31, 2009. Revenue in 2006 must have been at least $80,000, and revenue in 2009 must have been at least $2 million. The top 10 percent of companies on the list comprise the Inc. 500, now in its 29th year.

Media Contact:

Jessie Tappel

786-9721351

I often remark why it will be difficult to publish a traditional book on Automotive SEO when the rules pertaining to Google search results continue to change. On Friday August 20th, Google announced another change in how organic search results will be displayed in SERP’s.  The 10 organic listings shown on any search is called a Search Engine Results Page (SERP).

According to a post on Google’s Webmaster blog, large websites that have strong consumer interest, can now have more than two organic search results. This is a big change because if website can get four organic listings, they will dominate the top places where consumers click above the fold.

 In the example on the Google blog, a museum can have four organic listings at the top of a SERP:

This change would seem to apply to larger website that have a well organized website structure.   You can always tell a large, well organized website because it has Google Sitelinks.  Sitelinks are helpers to get consumers to popular inside pages on your website.

Car dealers who have a number of sitelinks already under their main page would most likely be a candidate.  In the graphic below, Google created Sitelinks for Checkered Flag’s main website because it is well organized and there are a number of brands that they sell:

Sitelinks can not be added by a dealer but once Google decides to add these links, you can delete any that you don’t want to show using Google Webmaster Tools.

Is This a Good Change?

The reactions on the Google Webmaster Blog are mixed but for car dealers I like this change.  This will definitely help with Google Page One Management when car dealers have lead collectors and distractions showing on Google Page One for their dealership name.  It may also drive more traffic to relevant inside pages to facilitate a better consumer experience.

So this brings up another reason why all pages on your website need to be optimized for the best user experience because Sitelinks and their new SERP feature will be driving consumers to popular inside pages. 

What are your thoughts on this change in how organic search results will be displayed?