The economy is surely getting better, as evidenced by some of the world’s biggest car brands posting recovered sales numbers. One of the leading producers so far in 2011 is Kia, who has posted gains from the beginning of the recession through today. But the luxury market is the niche we’ll look at today, where your Fairfax Audi dealer is making a killing. Audi has had a strong start to 2011, posting record sales numbers during the month of January. Between Audi, Mercedes and BMW, it looks like premium cars are getting a huge boost in confidence from the driving market. The January numbers skyrocketed 23 percent over last year for Audi, with a total sales output of 95,400 units. These numbers bode well for Audi as to how the brand will perform over the course of the rest of the year, and the brand has some big things coming. For one, the company has definitely moved to more sustainable forms of driving as the entire industry shifts to more fuel-efficient engines. This is a big progression for the luxury market, which lagged at the beginning of the green driving movement but has picked up speed as the years pass. Your Chantilly used car dealer has also noticed Audi’s big gains, evidenced by strong sales of some of the brand’s flagship vehicles.
Posts Tagged ‘Dealer’
Chantilly Used Car Dealer Contributes Big to Record Sales
May 23rd, 2011Out with the Old And In With the New ? Dealer Chat Replaces Traditional Automotive Lead Generation Techniques
March 8th, 2011
If you’re an automotive dealer, purchasing car leads is more than likely a part of your marketing strategy, as it should be. After all, not all customers will land in your lap; some of them you have to go out, look for, and capture. Automotive lead generation has always been a part of the automotive business in some form or another, and as time has passed, it has become a more substantial part of the business. Despite the fact that automotive lead generation is likely be a permanent staple in the automotive business, enhancements and modifications in lead generation strategies are as inevitable as time, technology, and consumer needs and preferences change. Though we don’t have much control over any of these things, that doesn’t mean that we couldn’t or shouldn’t try and stay on top of new practices and methods of quality automotive lead generation. Though it has been around for a considerable amount of time, dealer chat is a product that many dealers aren’t aware of. Moreover, many dealers are probably not familiar with the ways that it can be used to benefit their bottom line and lead them down a road to success. Increase Quality Leads, Decrease Invalid Leads
One of the number one complaints when it comes to utilizing a third party source for lead generation is the growing number of “bad” leads. When using a third-party lead source, you run the risk of obtaining leads from consumers that provide false information, claim to not have placed an inquiry, or that take numerous attempts to even establish contact with. When you integrate a live dealer chat option on your website, you are given the opportunity to interact live with customers who are on your site in real time. Most customers would not take the time to visit your site and interact with you if they were not in the market and serious about at least the idea of buying a vehicle. Provide Superior Customer Service When someone lands on your site, they become a potential customer. It’s important to reach out to them just as you would someone who walks into your showroom. Dealer chat gives you the opportunity to convert this visitor into a lead, then into a customer and potential sale. Additionally, it enables you to answer any questions that your customer has regarding vehicle models, price, or even scheduling service or ordering a part for a vehicle they currently have. Not only are you getting contacts for vehicle sales, but you’re also stepping up your service and parts leads and business as well. Generate Repeat and Referral Business
When it comes to using dealer chat to enhance your website’s own automotive lead generation ability, it isn’t just about the customer you’re interacting with at any given moment. It’s also about the additional contacts you’ll get when your satisfied customers pass your information on. When you provide superior customer service and chat with your customers, you will be much more likely to get repeat and referral business than you would if you were to ignore them by not interacting. The effectiveness of dealer chat is not just hearsay. The proof is in the numbers. The National Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA) provides some impressive statistics on automotive lead generation. According to the NADA, dealer websites generate at least 50 auto sales leads per month. About 15% of these automotive leads will be converted into sales. When a dealer chat service was integrated into the website, the number of sales generated increased by 50%. These figures are only based on sales leads and conversations from the website – the added expense of third party leads were not added in. As times change and consumers become more and more internet savvy, it’s crucial that you as a dealership adapt to their needs and adjustments. If your website does not have a dealer chat function, you’re behind on the times and losing countless opportunities and sales each day from customers who land on your site and leave without being engaged.
Auto Dealer Direct Mail Marketing
February 26th, 2011
Recent surveys show that automotive direct mail is at the top of the list for successful direct mail advertising. Most recent numbers indicate that consumers are responding to auto dealer direct mail about 73% of the time. This is a great improvement over the last few years as automotive direct mail had started to see diminishing returns from 2007 through late 2009.
Auto dealers in the last 25 to 30 years had auto direct mail as a routine part of their advertising plans. Now it appears that direct mail marketing for auto dealers has experienced a very nice resurgence. Here are just a few reasons why any auto dealer, regardless of size or advertising budget, should find room for some direct mail:
Low Costs – High ROI on Direct Mail
One of the great things about auto dealer direct mail is the fact it is so customizable. Any direct mail marketing company should be able to put together a campaign to fit any budget. Don’t let your direct mail company tell you they can’t do this. There are so many different types of automotive direct mail that you want to explore all your options. Since there are so many credit related issues in today’s economy, we have seen the best results when really filtering down by credit score and incomes. The most successful direct mail campaign we have seen is one using a mail piece that is commonly called a snap. It’s the size of a standard business envelope and looks very official and has the highest response rate of any that we have done. There are many formats such as post cards, multi-part in envelopes, give a ways, contests and so on. You will find that most direct mail companies do offer volume discounts usually seeing the discounts beginning around 5000 pieces.
Automotive Dealer Mailing List Options Available for Direct Marketing Efforts
February 17th, 2011
There are several specialty mailing lists available for the automotive industry to increase sales. Automotive dealer marketing efforts will continue to be successful if the correct lists are selected. Direct marketing will continue to out perform any other form of advertising including newspaper, radio and even social media. Selecting the correct list will give automotive retailers the advantage by permitting them to target specific audiences that would be interested in your specific vehicle.
These are the Best Specialty List Options for Automotive Retailers:
Exact Credit Database – this file allows auto dealers to select individuals with an exact credit score, which aids in sending out special offers dependant on certain credit levels. You can also select based on an individuals auto loan or lease is expiring. This allows dealers to time their advertisement perfectly just as their loan or lease is up.
Automobile Database – this list is extensive in the type of automobile each household owns. Dealers have the ability to select by exact year, make and model of the vehicle within the household. Dealers can target households that would be interested in their vehicle offer by targeting people who own competitive make and models.
Saturation Mailing List – dealers often want to target everyone in the area within a specific distance of their dealership. This file will ensure they are getting their mail piece into every household within a specific distance of their location. They also have the option of selecting an average income in each neighborhood.
Car Dealer Scams and How to Avoid Them
February 7th, 2011
When you are looking to buy a car with bad or poor credit it doesn’t leave buyers with lots of options. Occasionally their only choice for finding a lender for their new car purchase is through a car dealer loan.
Car dealership loan deals are not as bad as a lot of people may think. However, it is certainly true that they may hide a lot of surprises so if you are in fact planning to use a Car Credit Loan you should be extra vigilant.
The first thing that you need to watch out for is if the interest rate happens to be fixed. By fixed I mean that it’s clearly stated in your contract and that all of it is written in a way that it wouldn’t allow the car dealership to change it at a later date. What lots of car dealerships tend to do is approve your car loan application, have you sign the documents, and hand you over the car. After that later on they just give you a phone call and state that in fact you do not qualify for the loan because you have poor credit (which is something you already knew to begin with) and that you must pay higher interest rates in order to keep the car. If you fall into this situation you should try to either find a loan from another lender or report the scam and fight back.
Bonus Concept: Supercharge Your Car Dealer Marketing And Branding Efforts By Creating A Super Stellar Selling Environment
February 4th, 2011If you actually want to get the largest bang for your dollar, there’s an extra step to take once the car dealer marketing and branding work is finished-that is creating an surroundings where individuals really WANT to buy a car.
Several folks blame the financial system for his or her lack of sales… however in 90% of cases, it’s not the economy-it’s the EXPERIENCE you offer them.
Let’s be honest… many used car lots have little space to work with and can be pretty ugly. Will this equate to fewer customers and less gross? At some level yes!
However by setting yourself apart from your competitors through your image (on paper and in person) you can effectively reduce the event of commodity shopping.
One method to remove yourself from the commodity car game is to make your dealership astounding. You go to your dealership every day so you are taking the environment for granted. Think about the first time you visit a new place – a brand new restaurant, a friend’s home or an amusement park. Your eyes are opened wider and your brain is processing new information. You notice everything. It’s just what we do. Several of your prospective clientele are seeing your dealership for the very first time and their eyes are wide open and taking it all in.
