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While many automotive professionals and vendors are just catching up from NADA, my sights are set for another Orlando convention: the 8th Digital Dealer Conference.  The event will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, April 20th-22nd and I predict it will be a record setting event.

The vendor space for the event sold out quickly as many companies have found that the Digital Dealer conference attracts decision makers seeking to enhance their online sales and marketing strategies.  The event is held twice a year and the previous conference in Nashville was a great success for PCG.  For additional information about the event, visit the  8th Digital Dealer Conference website.

8th Digital Dealer Conference Schedule

PCG has reserved a booth again this year so we look forward to taking with automotive professionals about digital marketing, internet reputation management, microsites and our new automotive advertising network.  If you would like a free one-on-one digital marketing evaluation of your website, please call Carrie Hemphill at 732-450-8200 to schedule a time with the PCG marketing specialists.

At the PCG Digital Marketing booth we will be showing at latest strategies that include:

• Reputation Management Portals
• CarPort App
• Automotive Advertising Network
• Regional Microsite Marketing

Digital Dealer Speaking Schedule

Brian has submitted two seminar topics to share with conference attendees.  If the courses are confirmed in the coming weeks, we will post the class times and Brian’s class descriptions.  In Nashville, the class that Brian conducted was standing room only, so get to the class early to get a seat.

I strongly encourage all automotive marketing executives, owners and partners to attend DD8 in Orlando.  With many dealers moving the needle towards an increase in digital marketing spending, you can not afford to miss the latest strategies to stay competitive.

If You Are Coming, Tell Us Below

Automotive Internet Marketing specialists, the PCG Digital Marketing (PCG), announce the launch of a new comprehensive Internet Marketing package price at $995 per month.  The new offering will provide car dealers with customized online marketing solution that will include microsites, content development, blogging, social media, internet reputation management and Adwords strategies on a monthly basis with the convenience of a predictable monthly budget.  

The services delivered in PCG’s monthly package is configured based on the dealer’s current marketing strategies and vendor relationships. The PCG Digital Marketing package can work with any car dealer platform or existing service providers.

Automotive Social Media Strategies

Automotive social media platforms and online automotive portals have grown in popularity as the majority of consumers begin their car research online. By 2010, Generation Y will outnumber baby-boomers and become one of the most important consumer targets.  96% of Generation Y have already joined social networks. 

Dealers looking to leverage blogging, social media, Automotive SEO and Internet Reputation Management  networks can be overwhelmed with the amount of time and work needed to make an impact online.  Hiring a full time employee who can effectively manage these tasks would require a minimum $50K per year salary. 

With the new PCG package, dealers can saturate their local and statewide online marketing efforts for under $12K per year.   PCG’s new program includes a comprehensive approach to state-of-the-art Automotive SEO, blogging, online press releases, Internet Reputation Management, and social media networking. 

Predictable Marketing Budgets

Brian Pasch founder and CEO of PCG saw a need for this type of fee-based package in the Automotive community.  According to Pasch, “I hear the frustration of dealers at conferences who share stories about just how hard it can be to find the right person, or the person that was designated for Online Marketing was pulled off to work on other projects.  With this package, dealers can leverage the Automotive Internet Marketing expertise that PCG is known for and free up other employees to focus on what they do best.” 

Pasch also points out that Internet Marketing has no one-size-fits-all option.  Those not specifically experienced in the world of Automotive SEO and Marketing may have a harder time understanding the best practices for the industry.  “It’s another gamble that dealers don’t have to take.  PCG has proven success in Automotive SEO that a typical Internet Marketing Agency cannot immediately claim.”

Auto dealers who would like to learn more about our new comprehensive Internet Marketing package can contact the PCG Digital Marketing at 732-450-8200.

I am almost done with the final edits to the 2009 ASMA Study, which will be released at the 7th Digital Dealer Conference in Nashville.

Tonight I decided to to read what other industry professionals have said about the the 34 website providers that I am reviewing.

What I found was odd from an Automotive IRM perspective.

The IRM Buzz

Car industry consultants and software providers have been quick to claim the benefits of posting positive customer reviews online, also known as IRM.

Articles are coming out each week stating the importance of Internet Reputation Management (IRM).

When you look at www.DrivingSales.com  Vendor Reviews, one of the few places that post automotive industry vendor reviews, the numbers are telling.

The children of the shoemaker have holes in their shoes!

Let’s see why.

Automotive Website Vendor Reviews

• Dealer.com has 14,000 dealers using their software and has the most customer reviews and the best scores in this category but a measly 44 dealers posted their comments. That’s less than 1%. (36 Positive / 8 Negative)
• BZ/ADP have over 2,000 dealers using their platforms and only 15 review, less than 1%. (5 positive / 10 negative)
• Dealerskins – 11 Reviews (5 positive/ 6 negative)
• Reynolds & Reynolds – 9 Reviews (5 positive / 4 negative)
• eBizAutos has zero reviews.

www.DrivingSales.com and www.DealerRefresh.com  are two places where dealer website platforms and vendors can be reviewed. On both websites, the representation is the same, very few customers have posted positive reviews.

eBizAutos also has no reviews on DealerRefresh.com nor any I could find doing and Internet search.

As DrivingSales.com grows, I believe it will become to premier place for automotive vendors to be evaluated and scored by the automotive community.

If IRM is good for car dealers, then IRM is good for car dealer vendors and suppliers.