CreationsByRhonda.com
by rhonda ieracitano
BLOG.CREATIONSBYRHONDA.COM
The Most Powerful Aspect of Social Media
The Most Powerful Aspect of Social Media
You hear about the experiences your customers are having at your business (good or bad),
but are you doing something about it.
As I've said before it's the difference between what's expected and the actual service received
that will dictate whether or not they will talk about you,
and they are talking,
it's up to you though if you want to exceed those expectations and gain positive word of mouth or negative word of mouth.
Social media is good for a lot of things: building relationships, finding and spreading news, marketing, a good laugh,
it's up to you though if you want to exceed those expectations and gain positive word of mouth or negative word of mouth.
Social media is good for a lot of things: building relationships, finding and spreading news, marketing, a good laugh,
keeping up with your friends and family and a host of other things,
but there is another aspect of social media that most businesses aren't using. Free Feedback !
The best part of Social Media is that it is a marketing tool that also serves as a collaboration tool as well as a marketing tool. When you implement Social Marketing in this collaborative fashion, then you go a long way to building a true social business by harnessing the true voice of the customer.
Building An Empire By Building Brand Ambassadors
Earlier I said that an emphases was being put on bringing in new customers instead of creating brand ambassadors, before you lambaste me though let me explain what I mean by that. Auto dealerships are notorious for being short sighted, they think in terms of today and because of that they tend not to think in terms of compounding customers.
Much like compounding interest, which Wikipedia defines as "when interest is added to the principal, so that from that moment on, the interest that has been added also itself earns interest", compounding customers works much the same way.
Dealership A
Dealership A spends a ton of money on advertising, they have catchy jingles and bring in a ton of customers every month. They give service that is expected but aren't very good at following up. Let's say that they sell 100 new customers every month, by new I mean that they aren't repeat or referrals.. Through their advertising they are building top of mind, or so their radio and TV reps are telling them so they keep spending a ton of money each and every month on advertising but they still are only selling 100 cars each and every month.
Dealership B
Dealership B is a referral machine, they treat their customers right and work mainly through word of mouth.. Management places an emphases on client follow up but they don't spend much money on traditional marketing so they aren't building a lot of NEW awareness but they are increasing their monthly unit count, but slowly.
Dealership C
Dealership C is a hybrid of Dealership A and B, they have a good marketing mix and spend a fair amount of money on tradition advertising but they also put an emphasis on customer experience and building brand ambassadors and relationship marketing (social media). They understand the Law of Compounding Customers (not really sure if it's a law, I may have just made it up! ) and that each and every single month, because 45% of their sales volume is from repeats and referrals, that they will grow perpetually, if they keep doing what they are doing.
If you follow with me here for a second I will explain in mathematical detail, to the best of my ability anyway, how you can take advantage of the Law of Compounding Customers. Let's say that in month 1, Dealership C sells 50 new customers and 35 referral and or repeat customers for a total of 85 units. Because of Dealerships C's exceptional track record they know that 45% of their customer will either come back or give them a referral.
Instead of starting from 0 each month they know that in any given month, the new customers they sold in previous months will either come back or send them referrals 45% of the time. In other words, out of the 50 they sold the previous month they can expect an additional 22 sales sometime in the future. If this keeps happening, month in and month out, the number of repeats and referrals will compound on the new customers in addition to the repeats and referrals in the previous months.
Breaking It Down
By listening to your customers and increasing the total customer experience in your business you create an environment for rampant word of mouth. If the point of sale experience matches how you portray yourself on social networks and in traditional advertising then you have the beginnings of a truly great customer experience and which increases your chance of effectiveness and frequency at creating influential brand ambassadors.
Building An Empire By Building Brand Ambassadors
Earlier I said that an emphases was being put on bringing in new customers instead of creating brand ambassadors, before you lambaste me though let me explain what I mean by that. Auto dealerships are notorious for being short sighted, they think in terms of today and because of that they tend not to think in terms of compounding customers.
Much like compounding interest, which Wikipedia defines as "when interest is added to the principal, so that from that moment on, the interest that has been added also itself earns interest", compounding customers works much the same way.
Dealership A
Dealership A spends a ton of money on advertising, they have catchy jingles and bring in a ton of customers every month. They give service that is expected but aren't very good at following up. Let's say that they sell 100 new customers every month, by new I mean that they aren't repeat or referrals.. Through their advertising they are building top of mind, or so their radio and TV reps are telling them so they keep spending a ton of money each and every month on advertising but they still are only selling 100 cars each and every month.
Dealership B
Dealership B is a referral machine, they treat their customers right and work mainly through word of mouth.. Management places an emphases on client follow up but they don't spend much money on traditional marketing so they aren't building a lot of NEW awareness but they are increasing their monthly unit count, but slowly.
Dealership C
Dealership C is a hybrid of Dealership A and B, they have a good marketing mix and spend a fair amount of money on tradition advertising but they also put an emphasis on customer experience and building brand ambassadors and relationship marketing (social media). They understand the Law of Compounding Customers (not really sure if it's a law, I may have just made it up! ) and that each and every single month, because 45% of their sales volume is from repeats and referrals, that they will grow perpetually, if they keep doing what they are doing.
If you follow with me here for a second I will explain in mathematical detail, to the best of my ability anyway, how you can take advantage of the Law of Compounding Customers. Let's say that in month 1, Dealership C sells 50 new customers and 35 referral and or repeat customers for a total of 85 units. Because of Dealerships C's exceptional track record they know that 45% of their customer will either come back or give them a referral.
Instead of starting from 0 each month they know that in any given month, the new customers they sold in previous months will either come back or send them referrals 45% of the time. In other words, out of the 50 they sold the previous month they can expect an additional 22 sales sometime in the future. If this keeps happening, month in and month out, the number of repeats and referrals will compound on the new customers in addition to the repeats and referrals in the previous months.
Breaking It Down
By listening to your customers and increasing the total customer experience in your business you create an environment for rampant word of mouth. If the point of sale experience matches how you portray yourself on social networks and in traditional advertising then you have the beginnings of a truly great customer experience and which increases your chance of effectiveness and frequency at creating influential brand ambassadors.
But, it all starts with listening to your customers and using that knowledge into your business operations.
This helps to make an even better customer experience.
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
want a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
5 Tips To Get You The Best Buy On Your Next Used Car
5 Tips To Get You The Best Buy On Your Next Used Car
These days cars a lasting much longer than they used to do with so many people cutting back on finances many families are considering buying a used car.
Smart consumers know that buying a used car can be a much better deal than buying a new one if you know what you are doing.
Here are some tips that you can use to make sure you get the most out of your used car purchase.
1. Due Diligence
When you make any major purchase, it's Important for you to do some research and purchasing a used car is no different. If you do the right research you'll know the perfect make and model that suits your needs. You'll also be able to determine the fair market value of this type of car and therefore, you'll know when you're getting a good deal at the used car lot.
In addition you'll be able to research Important details about the car,
like recalls her things to look for and used models that may help when evaluating used cars and
negotiating deals.
2. Check Out The Car
When you find a car that you like, it is wise to check the car's history.
This will give you Information regarding the repairs as well as any problems with the car.
You can do this for a small fee online and it can save you from buying a car that's been in a flood or other major disaster. You won't want to buy a car that's been a major accident that could have damaged or bent the frame and it may be impossible to tell by just looking at the car so checking on the history is vital. You can find out the history of any car by going to Carfax.com.
3. Think Safety
In order to keep your family safe in the car, you want to consider the safety features of any used car you going to buy. Obviously, the newer model cars will have more safety features.
According to reports, 80% of traffic accidents are made worse because the cars lacked safety features.
4. Check the Documentation
You should check out the documents included with the used car cheerfully. Make sure that the cars are not stolen or that there were no liens on the vehicle and also be sure to check that the signature on the bill of sale is the actual possessor of the car.
5. Car Inspection
Before you make any deals on the used car, you must inspect the entire car.
Look for rust especially around the wheel wells in the frame and carefully scrutinize it for any damage.
Don't forget to check the tires, and the interior as well.
If you don't know much about cars, you can always asked to take it to your mechanic for inspection. Anybody on the up and up selling a car should not object to this.
If any flaws are found, and then you can use this as negotiating leverage and
lost the flaws are so major that you no longer want the car.
Buying a used car can take a bit more work than buying a new one as there are many things to check out. However, doing your due diligence will make sure that you get a great used-car at a fraction of the cost you could buy new one for and that will last for years to come.
Thank you, and let us know how to better serve you!Thank you,
Thomas IeracitanoCan't Make it Here, We'll Take it There!want a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
--
Posted By DigitalCarGuy.com to DigitalCarGuy.com at 1/06/2011 12:46:00 PM
Road Test Review: 2011 Ford F-150 XLT 5.0-liter V-8
From: Mike Levine
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 8:41 PM
Subject: Road Test Review: 2011 Ford F-150 XLT 5.0-liter V-8
By Mike Levine and Mark Williams
Last year, the Ford F-150 offered most buyers a choice of legacy two-valve and three-valve 4.6-liter V-8 engines or a three-valve 5.4-liter V-8. While those engines got the job done, they weren’t known for power or performance.
This year, Ford has totally revamped the F-150’s powertrain lineup with three all-new advanced engines, plus wider availability of the 6.2-liter V-8 that was previously limited to the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor.
We’ve extensively tested the 6.2 in the Raptor and the new entry-level 3.7-liter V-6 during our six-cylinder Work Truck Shootout. We’ve also spent several hours towing and piloting the novel twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, the F-150’s top-of-the-line towing engine. But our time with the fresh 5.0-liter V-8 was limited to a brief drive and drag race in Texas last year. That’s no longer the case.
A 2011 F-150 XLT SuperCrew 5.0 4x4 showed up in our driveway last Tuesday, and we wasted no time putting it through its paces. In less than a week, we drove it 800 miles â€" 622 miles of which it towed a 9,000-pound conventional tandem axle horse trailer.
Snap judgment? This could be the best all-around engine ever offered in the F-150 â€" at least until EcoBoost’s early adopters can confirm that mill’s reliability and efficiency in real-world use.
The 5.0 is positioned as the midrange engine choice for the F-150 â€" below the EcoBoost six-cylinder and 6.2 V-8 and above the 3.7. It’s rated at 360 horsepower (at 5,500 rpm) and 380 pounds-feet of torque (at 4,250 rpm). That’s more power than the old 5.4-liter V-8, but it doesn’t carry as high a tow rating. In the regular cab, it can pull up to 10,000 pounds instead of a maximum 11,300 pounds.
Like its engine, our test SuperCrew four-door was a middle-of-the-road model with a relatively steep MSRP of $39,445, after a $1,500 discount for the optional chrome, convenience and tow packages that runs through the end of the model year.
The metallic red F-150 came equipped with cloth captain’s chairs, AM/FM/CD stereo and Ford’s Sync hands-free multimedia system and Bluetooth connectivity. It lacked navigation, a rear backup camera and reverse sensors, making tail-first maneuvers a challenge in tight spots, and we couldn’t back up to the trailer without the help of a spotter. The optional chrome package added brightwork that included side steps and wheel covers. If it were our choice, we’d skip the package and invest in a nice set of aluminum wheels.
Despite a lack of luxury items, the XLT F-150 was more than comfortable inside. We turned our phone into a substitute for satellite radio by using Sync and Pandora to stream tunes wirelessly over Bluetooth, though we had to pair the phone and truck twice after the F-150 stopped playing music this way.
Ford has updated the F-150’s instrument cluster with nice gauges and an optional 4.2-inch trip computer that Ford calls a “productivity screen†that we’ve liked since it debuted in the F-Series Super Duty. It includes apps that provide fine-grained details about towing, off-roading, fuel economy and more. Controls on the steering wheel make short work of finding the information you want quickly and with minimal distraction.
The truck’s second-row seats and flat load floor made it easy for us to stow our gear for our tow test or accommodate two kids in booster seats running errands around Los Angeles.
Our four-wheel-drive 5.0 was rated 14/19 mpg city/highway. These days, we’d expect fuel economy to be higher, especially in a small-displacement eight-cylinder. It should have at least tied the 15/21 mpg rating of the 5.3-liter V-8 in the Chevy Silverado 1500. But making up for the so-so mileage was an optional 36-gallon fuel tank that gave us peace of mind and extra range pulling the heavy trailer. For comparison, the premium EcoBoost V-6 F-150 is only available with a 26-gallon reservoir.
Unloaded, the F-150’s trip computer calculated a bladder-busting driving range of 521 miles, though we wouldn’t come close to that with the trailer behind us. In our first stretch of towing â€" 226 miles from Norco to Needles, Calif., which included the challenging Cajon Pass on Interstate 15 â€" we averaged 9.42 mpg, burning 24.03 gallons of fuel (versus an optimistic trip computer estimate of 9.8 mpg and 22.9 gallons of fuel). Those are respectable numbers for a rig that weighed 14,780 pounds on a CAT scale -- just 320 pounds less than the truck’s gross combined weight rating.
On that same stretch, we also started to realize the vast potential that’s locked inside the 5.0. As we left the L.A. basin and started climbing Cajon Pass, the truck shrugged off the weight behind it. Visibly, we could see the rear squatting lower, and we could feel the truck hunker down from inside, but power wasn’t an issue. It was available on demand.
On the steepest parts of Cajon, we had no problem keeping up with traffic at around 65 mph with the modest 3.73-to-1 rear axle. When the engine needed more power, its six-speed transmission smoothly downshifted to 3rd gear, and the mill found its sweet spot at around 4,000 rpm. The truck never lost momentum. In fact, it gained speed to the point where we had to ease back on the accelerator. After cresting the top of the grade, the truck quickly upshifted into 6th at 1,600 rpm and 65 mph.
We noticed some interesting transmission behavior as the terrain flattened out. We kept the truck in tow/haul mode the entire time it was hooked up to the trailer. Tow/haul mode does two things: The transmission holds gears longer when the truck is working hard to keep power up, and it downshifts automatically to slow the truck with a tap of the brake pedal on descents. Every cog swap was carlike, but several times after upshifting into 6th, we felt the torque converter lock up about 20 seconds after the gear change. We’re sure that helped with shift feel, but we wonder if we weren’t sacrificing a bit of fuel economy with the torque converter seeming to stay loose for such a long period. If we could squeeze out extra mileage with a faster-locking torque converter, we’d take that option over smoother shifts.
Another trait we noticed as we requested more power from the engine on climbs and to pass traffic was its split personality â€" similar to that of the 3.7-liter V-6. Loping along, the V-8 was subdued and quiet. But when we needed more power, the exhaust note snarled like a sports car â€" not surprising, since the engine is also shared with the Ford Mustang. We loved the deep notes it made. They were perfectly tuned to match the engine’s effort and sounded much better than the flat exhaust note of the EcoBoost V-6 when that engine is under load. There’s nothing like the tenor of a hard-working V-8 in a half-ton pickup.
The 2011 F-150 also features standard 12-volt electric power-assisted steering for every engine except the 6.2 V-8 â€" the first half-ton pickup to do so. (The limited-volume Chevy Silverado Hybrid uses a 42-volt system.) The steering feels light when the truck is stopped and during low-speed maneuvers. It dynamically adjusts steering effort to match the speed and loads the truck is under. On the highway, the steering was precise and provided excellent driver feedback. There was none of the numbness generally associated with electric steering’s early days in small cars.. It seemed to vary boost levels as we entered turns, smoothly assisting the trailer around bends in contrast to the on/off boost that can occur with conventional hydraulic steering pumps.
As we drove across the desert, we encountered strong winds that had knocked several semis off the highway the day before. While we could feel the gusts buffeting the truck and trailer, we never felt control was an issue. At least once, immediately passing an 18-wheeler, we were hit by a strong gale that seemed to trigger the F-150’s trailer-sway control system.
Trailer-sway control senses difference in yaw between truck and trailer and uses the wheel brakes in both vehicles to counteract any sway before it becomes dangerous enough to throw the rig off the road.
If you order a 2011 F-150, we highly recommend you option it with the integrated trailer brake controller, which extends sway control to the trailer (in addition to controlling the trailer’s brakes via ABS). Even though our truck was optioned with the F-150’s trailer towing package, it didn’t include the brake controller, which costs an extra $230 from the factory. A local dealer had to add the controller after it arrived for our test.
Our turnaround point for our road test was near Laughlin, Nev. Cajon Pass was a warm-up for testing the 5.0 F-150 on the 12-mile, 5 percent grade Davis Dam hill climb on Arizona Highway 68, just east of Laughlin. Davis Dam has become the default location for measuring performance against the industry’s new trailer towing standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers. It’s also where Ford recently tested the EcoBoost six-cylinder against competitors’ eight-cylinder engines. On Highway 68, the 5.0 was incredibly strong â€" so strong that we could accelerate at any point along the route and still gain speed to where we had to slow down to safely control the truck and trailer around turns.
We also staked out a 7,500-foot stretch of the grade where we could safely climb the hill from a full stop and measure its performance using our VBOX kit. Zero to 60 mph up the steady 5 percent grade took 30.29 seconds, and the truck finished the quarter-mile in a respectable 25.06 seconds at 55.5 mph.
Those numbers, plus seat-of-the-pants feel, make us wonder how much Ford might be sandbagging the 5.0-liter V-8’s power figures, something we suspected during our first drive in Texas.
We also ran the same performance tests on level ground. The zero-to-60 mph time with the trailer was cut almost in half, to just 16.85 seconds. Unloaded, the 5.0 yielded a zero-to-60 time of just 7.18 seconds â€" almost as quick as the large displacement 6.2-liter V-8 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab 4x4 that was the fastest truck in our 2008 Light-Duty Shootout.
Our final confirmation of the tremendous towing performance and potential of the 5.0 came on the Dynojet Research chassis dyno at our friends at K&N Engineering in Riverside. At the rear wheels, we measured a very healthy 311 hp and 325 pounds-feet of torque. While the torque curve isn’t as flat as the EcoBoost V-6’s curve, it is broad, and power steadily climbs over most of the rev range instead of being peaky near 4,000 rpm.
Overall, we’re very impressed with how comfortable the F-150 5.0 was during our long-haul towing legs. We towed just under the truck’s max GCWR and towing capacity, yet the truck felt like other half-tons towing much less. A truck that drives this smoothly and comfortably, with very little driver fatigue, at max capacities is something quite special â€" even unusual in any truck segment.
The truck was also comfortable and relatively easy to manage in unloaded driving around Los Angeles. It was also fun to show off some of the 5.0’s power at one or two green lights. We averaged between 13 mpg and 17 mpg depending on traffic conditions, surface streets and highway driving. Nothing to brag about for fuel economy, but superior to what we’ve observed driving a 6.2-liter V-8 in LA.
Which engine should F-150 buyers choose? If you’re going to tow and haul more than 10,000 pounds frequently but want something smaller than a heavy-duty pickup, opt for the 6.2. If you’re going to tow more than 10,000 pounds occasionally and need a truck for light-duty hauling activities the rest of the time, a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 would probably be a good fit. But if you’re going to tow 5,000 to 10,000 pounds regularly and aren’t quite ready to trust a twin-turbo six-cylinder to move your rig, the 5.0 is for you. If we were going to buy an F-150 today, the 5.0 is the box we’d likely check on the order form.
Special thanks to K&N Engineering and American Horse Trailer Rentals
Prices for Classic Pickups Pick Up at Auctions
On the third day of the 40th annual Barrett-Jackson classic car auction last week in Scottsdale, Ariz., the vehicle that brought the most money â€" a whopping $157,300 â€" was â€" wait for it â€" a pickup truck.
Of the 250 or so vehicles that sold that day at what’s billed as the “world’s greatest collector car event,†the highest bids weren’t on the featured 1968 Ford Mustang fastback. Or the 1965 Studebaker Champion Conestoga custom wagon. Or the Dodge Viper. Or any of the Chevrolet Corvettes. Or the 1969 Chevy Camaro SS convertible. Or the 1933 Ford Highboy roadster. Or the 1938 Lincoln Zephyr convertible. Or even the well-worn 1954 Buick Special convertible that was found in the Arizona desert. It was a pickup truck â€" albeit a highly customized 1955 Chevrolet 3100 â€" that was deemed worthy of the most money.
The ’55 3100 (pictured at top), nominated for a Goodguys Magazine award, features a new 6.2-liter LS2 Corvette engine, automatic transmission, custom suspension, power windows, power steering, four-wheel power disc brakes and air conditioning, as well as a Graphite Metallic Pearl painted exterior and red leather interior, with a mahogany-stained oak wood bed. The truck rides on 20-inch rear and 18-inch front wheels.
The cab of this 1940 Ford pickup was stretched 32 inches and suicide rear doors were added to produce a crew configuration, and the bed was shortened 10 inches to enhance its proportions. Power comes from a 500 horsepower, 5.7-liter, LS1 GM V-8 engine. The truck sold for $95,700 at Barrett-Jackson.
Spending $157,300 may pale in comparison to the $2.09 million someone would pay later in the week at the Gooding & Co. auction for a 2006 Ferrari FXX road racer, but there’s no doubt that pickup trucks have become genuine collectibles. The 1955 Chevy 3100 was one of 17 pickups up for bids that day, and the day before that was something of a “pickup truck day†at Barrett-Jackson, with nearly 50 crossing the block and finding new owners.
At an auction-week seminar on car collecting, McKeel Hagerty, whose family-owned company is the world’s largest insurer of classic vehicles, was asked what “sleeper vehicles†are just about ready to wake up the hobby. His response: 1950s and 1960s pickup trucks, which he said are an especially good way for newcomers to get involved because they’re relatively inexpensive to buy and spare parts are plentiful.
“Pickup trucks are a great way to start for young people,†Hagerty said, “and they’re remarkably easy to work on.†Hagerty also said you get the added bonus of practicality â€" you can use your classic truck for weekend home-improvement errands.
This 1955 Ford F-100 pickup was created for Sylvester Stallone's movie, The Expendables. Modifications by West Coast Customs included a 347 cubic-inch Ford/Edelbrock engine, revised suspension, a Ford 9-inch diff and flat black paint. The grille was inspired by the 1950 Mercury in Sly's 1986 movie, Cobra. The truck sold at Barrett-Jackson for $132,000.
Hagerty, who owns a 1962 International king cab pickup that formerly was used by a logging business, said at least two categories of classic trucks are becoming popular with collectors. In the first category are 1948-56 Fords with flathead V-8 engines, for which there are lots of parts so they can be “lightly hot rodded,†Hagerty said. In the other category are 1968-72 Chevrolet pickups. Hagerty said that by this time GM was making a better product than its competitors, and “the trucks have pretty good looks, too.â€
A third category, made up of hard-to-find trucks, is made up of ‘50s and ‘60s models from manufacturers such as Studebaker and International Harvester.
Even those who tend to focus on the higher end of the collector vehicle market appreciate the appeal of classic pickups.
This aqua and black 1957 Dodge D-100 Sweptside pickup carries a 315 cubic-inch Hemi V-8 connected to a two-speed, push-button transmission. It also has two-speed windshield wipers and a hardwood bed. The Sweptside was a new body style for Dodge in 1957. The truck sold at Barrett-Jackson for $62,700.
“There’s a great romance to old pickups,†said Donald Osborne, a classic car collector, appraiser and writer. But, he warns, driving a classic pickup may not prove to be quite the romantic experience you might expect, especially compared with an automobile from the same era.
Driving an old truck may not provide the same smooth ride as floating down the road in a big, nautical Detroit sedan from the same era, Osborne said. Driving an old truck, he said, can be an “agricultural†experience.
Dave Kinney, who has bought, sold and appraised classic cars for many years and is the founder of a collector-car pricing guide now sponsored by Hagerty, noted that pickups from the ‘50s and ‘60s “are cheap to restore, and you can use them to move things around.â€
While people would think you’re a rich snob if you flaunted your wealth by driving around town in your million-dollar roadster, “nobody hates you†when you’re in an old pickup, Kinney said. “No one thinks you are a rich bleep,†he said. “You get thumbs up, not middle fingers.â€
Offered at the Silver auction, this three-quarter-ton 1964 International Travelette tow truck has a Chevy V-8 under its hood. Auction price not available.
This 1956 Volkswagen Type 2 three-quarter-ton Transporter pickup featured fold-down sides and tailgate and a lockable and weatherproof cargo area beneath the bed. The truck crossed the block at the Russo and Steele auction. Auction price not available.
Lincoln's Sputnik Moment
Find Reviews by Make
By Edward Niedermeyer on February 7, 2011
Ford's been fixing Lincoln for so long now, it's almost surprising that things on the dealership level are still so broken. But, as Ford told its dealers at last weekend's NADA convention [via Automotive News [sub]], it's time to put up or become a former Lincoln dealership. By the end of this year, every Lincoln dealer must comply with a few of Ford's "more than reasonable" expectations, to wit:
- Offering what Lincoln calls "owner privileges." That includes providing a free car wash and loaner vehicle to owners who come in for service
- Having a dedicated service manager and dedicated sales staff for Lincoln, Bokich said. That applies specifically to Lincoln dealers paired with Ford stores.
- Having only the word "Lincoln" appear on all franchise signage, not Mercury. Ford discontinued the Mercury brand as of Dec. 31.
- Having at least 30 percent of used-vehicle inventory be certified pre-owned vehicles.
You know, those do sound like reasonable standards for a luxury brand dealer network... and if a Lincoln dealer doesn't like them, well, Ford is looking to trim the network by 100 stores or so anyway. Still, isn't Lincoln's problem pretty conclusively product-related? There's no word from Ford's boffins on that front, which means some dealers may be happy to leave the Mercury sign up and become one of those used car lots that still has an Oldsmobile sign up. Yes, Lincoln needs a top-notch dealer experience (and an own-brand sales manager to keep marks away from the Taurus) to make Lincoln viable, but demanding it without even hinting at future product is to ask Lincoln dealers to make an incredible leap of faith.
Posted in Branding, Dealer News, Luxury, New Cars, News Blog
Tagged as Branding, Dealer News, Luxury, New Cars
Tagged as Branding, Dealer News, Luxury, New Cars
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
Can't Make it Here, We'll Take it There!
want a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
The Power of Long Term Follow Up
The Power of Long Term Follow Up
The very first thing I was told when I entered into the world of car sales was "contact them until they buy or die".
This was something that was drilled into my brain all through my first week of training and for the first 6 months of my sales career.
Upon entering the Internet department I found some veterans did not look at their Internet customers in the same way.
They shuffled through their leads vigorously trying to find a sale, and threw away people who were not ready to buy today.
Essentially they were cherry picking their prospects. I sat back after my first month and looked at my numbers thinking there has to be more. There must be something I can do with all these leads that everyone else is tossing aside.
And guess what? THERE WAS.
So, I did research on what happens to prospects;
Do they Buy from another Dealer? Brand ?
Switch from New to Used, Used to New ?
Just not in the market?
the best method and process
I initiated my plan to contact them diligently until they either told me to buzz off or came in to buy. I began broadcast emailing all of the leads that were 30 days and older. At first I tried this every 7 days but that seemed to irritate people. So I changed it to every 2 weeks and found that they did not mind as much. I also found that if I sent information that was relative to their car inquiry I had less negative response.
Then I tried a brief survey, and was astounded when lots of prospects responded to my simple email survey.
The email content asked them specific questions about their shopping experience. Like a website Content is King!
Not only did I sell an extra 5-10 sales per month, but I was also able to tell if they came in and had a bad experience, or bought from my competitor or were just waiting longer. The response was amazing and my closing percentage went up to between 10 and 12 %.
Some critics of my process say that you get a great deal of people opting out, however I disagree because if you are sending valuable information and they are still in the market, they will appreciate it.
It keeps your name fresh in their mind as a reliable source.
My point is that any long term process is better than nothing.
Don't waste money on leads if you do not intend to follow them through the 90 - 120 day process.
I can assure you that if you shop most of your competitors you will find that they are not using a long term process either so why not be the first.
Take your sales to a whole new level by harnessing the power of long term follow up and show the true potential of your investment
Call me to get your process in place and Sell More Cars !
The very first thing I was told when I entered into the world of car sales was "contact them until they buy or die".
This was something that was drilled into my brain all through my first week of training and for the first 6 months of my sales career.
Upon entering the Internet department I found some veterans did not look at their Internet customers in the same way.
They shuffled through their leads vigorously trying to find a sale, and threw away people who were not ready to buy today.
Essentially they were cherry picking their prospects. I sat back after my first month and looked at my numbers thinking there has to be more. There must be something I can do with all these leads that everyone else is tossing aside.
And guess what? THERE WAS.
So, I did research on what happens to prospects;
Do they Buy from another Dealer? Brand ?
Switch from New to Used, Used to New ?
Just not in the market?
the best method and process
I initiated my plan to contact them diligently until they either told me to buzz off or came in to buy. I began broadcast emailing all of the leads that were 30 days and older. At first I tried this every 7 days but that seemed to irritate people. So I changed it to every 2 weeks and found that they did not mind as much. I also found that if I sent information that was relative to their car inquiry I had less negative response.
Then I tried a brief survey, and was astounded when lots of prospects responded to my simple email survey.
The email content asked them specific questions about their shopping experience. Like a website Content is King!
Not only did I sell an extra 5-10 sales per month, but I was also able to tell if they came in and had a bad experience, or bought from my competitor or were just waiting longer. The response was amazing and my closing percentage went up to between 10 and 12 %.
Some critics of my process say that you get a great deal of people opting out, however I disagree because if you are sending valuable information and they are still in the market, they will appreciate it.
It keeps your name fresh in their mind as a reliable source.
My point is that any long term process is better than nothing.
Don't waste money on leads if you do not intend to follow them through the 90 - 120 day process.
I can assure you that if you shop most of your competitors you will find that they are not using a long term process either so why not be the first.
Take your sales to a whole new level by harnessing the power of long term follow up and show the true potential of your investment
Call me to get your process in place and Sell More Cars !
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
229.251.2462
Can't Make it Here, We'll Take it There!
want a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
Ford Ranger Wildtrak Debuts at 2011 Geneva Motor Show
From: Mike Levine
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 10:11 AM
Subject: Ford Ranger Wildtrak Debuts at 2011 Geneva Motor Show
We're not at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show but our friends from Jalopnik are and they've just sent us photos of the new 2011 Ford Ranger Wildtrak double cab making its debut there.
The Ranger Wildtrak is Ford's top-of-the-line midsize truck for markets outside of North America. It's a stylish version of all-new Ranger "T6" that goes on sale later this year.
No official word yet on its powertrain, though we expect there's a five-cylinder 3.2-liter diesel with a robust 197 horsepower and 346 pounds-feet of torque under its hood.
Phone repair
PHONE REPAIR
Lawrence , Kansas, December 12, 2008
A Kansas farm wife called the local phone company to report her telephone failed to ring when her friends called - and that on the few occasions, when it did ring, her dog always moaned right before the phone rang.
The telephone repairman proceeded to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog or senile lady. He climbed a telephone pole, hooked in his test set, and dialed the subscriber's house.
The phone didn't ring right away, but then the dog moaned and the telephone began to ring.
Climbing down from the pole, the telephone repairman found:
1 . The dog was tied to the telephone system's ground wire with a steel chain and collar.
2. The wire connection to the ground rod was loose.
3. The dog was receiving 90 volts of signaling current when the number was called.
4.. After a couple of jolts, the dog would start moaning and then urinate.
5. The wet ground would complete the circuit, thus causing the phone to ring.
Which demonstrates that some problems CAN be fixed by
pissing and moaning.
Thought you'd like to know.
Lawrence , Kansas, December 12, 2008
A Kansas farm wife called the local phone company to report her telephone failed to ring when her friends called - and that on the few occasions, when it did ring, her dog always moaned right before the phone rang.
The telephone repairman proceeded to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog or senile lady. He climbed a telephone pole, hooked in his test set, and dialed the subscriber's house.
The phone didn't ring right away, but then the dog moaned and the telephone began to ring.
Climbing down from the pole, the telephone repairman found:
1 . The dog was tied to the telephone system's ground wire with a steel chain and collar.
2. The wire connection to the ground rod was loose.
3. The dog was receiving 90 volts of signaling current when the number was called.
4.. After a couple of jolts, the dog would start moaning and then urinate.
5. The wet ground would complete the circuit, thus causing the phone to ring.
Which demonstrates that some problems CAN be fixed by
pissing and moaning.
Thought you'd like to know.
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
Can't Make it Here, We'll Take it There!
want a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
SUV Prices May Drop Due to Gas Prices
SUV Prices May Drop Due to Gas Prices
Gas prices rose to around $3 per gallon over the recent Christmas holiday.
Overall, gas prices have almost doubled in the last 2 years, and the predictions for future prices don't look pretty.
So what does all this mean for car buyers?
It's likely there will be some huge price drops on SUVs and pickup trucks, while smaller cars will see price increases if gas continues to rise this year.
Back in 2008 when gas prices hit record highs, consumers turned away from larger vehicles and embraced more fuel-efficient and looked at smaller cars.
Some dealers, in desperation, were offering unbelievable discounts on large SUVs and pickup trucks.
The reverse is also true - small and fuel-efficient cars, due to higher demand, will start seeing price increases, just as they did back in 2008.
If you're thinking of buying a large SUV or pickup truck,do it now. If you're thinking of buying a compact, fuel-efficient car, you may want to wait to buy one.
Gas prices rose to around $3 per gallon over the recent Christmas holiday.
Overall, gas prices have almost doubled in the last 2 years, and the predictions for future prices don't look pretty.
So what does all this mean for car buyers?
It's likely there will be some huge price drops on SUVs and pickup trucks, while smaller cars will see price increases if gas continues to rise this year.
Back in 2008 when gas prices hit record highs, consumers turned away from larger vehicles and embraced more fuel-efficient and looked at smaller cars.
Some dealers, in desperation, were offering unbelievable discounts on large SUVs and pickup trucks.
The reverse is also true - small and fuel-efficient cars, due to higher demand, will start seeing price increases, just as they did back in 2008.
If you're thinking of buying a large SUV or pickup truck,do it now. If you're thinking of buying a compact, fuel-efficient car, you may want to wait to buy one.
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
want a website or an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
No More Shopping at Target
No More Shopping at Target
-------------------------
My wife can be a little demanding at times. For example, she insists that I accompany her when she wants to do some shopping at Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I find shopping to be more than a little boring and I prefer to get in and get the stuff I want and go. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she loves to browse and look at everything. Well, yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target store.
Dear Mrs............,
Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.
1. June 15: He took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals..
3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the woman's restroom.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, "Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away". This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms
on layaway.
6. August 14: Moved a "CAUTION - WET FLOOR" sign to a carpeted area..
7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.
8.. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?" EMTs were called.
9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme.
12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his "Madonna look" by using different sizes of funnels.
13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled PICK ME! PICK ME!"
14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed "OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!"
And last, but not least:
15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, "Hey! There's no toilet paper in here". One of the clerks passed out.
---------------------------
-------------------------
My wife can be a little demanding at times. For example, she insists that I accompany her when she wants to do some shopping at Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I find shopping to be more than a little boring and I prefer to get in and get the stuff I want and go. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she loves to browse and look at everything. Well, yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target store.
Dear Mrs............,
Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.
1. June 15: He took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals..
3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the woman's restroom.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, "Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away". This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms
on layaway.
6. August 14: Moved a "CAUTION - WET FLOOR" sign to a carpeted area..
7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.
8.. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?" EMTs were called.
9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme.
12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his "Madonna look" by using different sizes of funnels.
13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled PICK ME! PICK ME!"
14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed "OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!"
And last, but not least:
15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, "Hey! There's no toilet paper in here". One of the clerks passed out.
---------------------------
Doc! the man yells. I've lost my memory!
Calm down, sir. When did this happen.
The man looked at him. When did what happen?
----------------------
A guest in a posh hotel comes down to breakfast and
called over the head waiter and read from the menu
I'd like one under cooked egg so that it's running,
and one over cooked egg that it's tough and hard to eat.
I'd also like grilled bacon which is a bit on the cold side,
burnt toast, butter straight from the freezer
so that it's impossible to spread, and
a pot of very weak, lukewarm coffee.
That's a complicated order sir, said the bewildered waiter.
It might be quite difficult.
The guest replied sarcastically, It can't be that difficult
because that's exactly what you brought me yesterday!
Calm down, sir. When did this happen.
The man looked at him. When did what happen?
----------------------
A guest in a posh hotel comes down to breakfast and
called over the head waiter and read from the menu
I'd like one under cooked egg so that it's running,
and one over cooked egg that it's tough and hard to eat.
I'd also like grilled bacon which is a bit on the cold side,
burnt toast, butter straight from the freezer
so that it's impossible to spread, and
a pot of very weak, lukewarm coffee.
That's a complicated order sir, said the bewildered waiter.
It might be quite difficult.
The guest replied sarcastically, It can't be that difficult
because that's exactly what you brought me yesterday!
Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas Ieracitano
want an email like this ? go to http://123BrandMe.com
