Dominion Dealer Solutions

Dominion Joins Automotive Industry Leaders at AN Marketing Event

Peyton Hoffman

Last week, I had the pleasure and privilege of attending the 2012 Automotive News Marketing Seminar in Los Angeles, CA. This was my first Automotive News- hosted event and I have to say, it was First Class. Held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel (famous for...

Dominion Dealer Solutions Massachusetts Office Presented with The Presidents Award from Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.

Peyton Hoffman

Dominion Dealer Solutions was presented with The Presidents Award from Downtown Pittsfield today. The award was given for making a substantial investment in downtown Pittsfield by moving its business, with more than 50 employees, to the Cooper Building a...

Dominion VP Embarks on the 2013 Nissan Altima Experience

George Nenni

My Nissan Altima ExperienceFor those of you who havent been following along on Twitter or Pinterest, I won the 2013 Nissan Altima Experience, based on a promotion done by PinPuff.com (a Klout-type website based on Pinterest influence). Despite poor ...

Dominion Dealer Solutions Sponsors Automotive Marketing Boot Camp

Dominion Dealer Solutions

May 15-17 at the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas, NVDominion Dealer Solutions is pleased to sponsor the 2012 Automotive Boot Camp May 15-17 at the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.Stayed tuned for some great pres...

'Pin It If She Loves It' Contest

Peyton Hoffman

Continuing with our Mothers Day celebration, were excited to present to you a opportunity to WIN utilizing the social media site Pinterest. To enter you simply need to create a pin board on the site that features automotive images (i.e. cars, car access...

We have a Winner!

Peyton Hoffman

Congratulations to Donna Hougnon with Kelleher Motor Company for winning the "Can you Spot the Difference" contest. Donna will receive a $100 VISA gift card, courtesy of Dominion Dealer Solutions. Thank you to everyone who participated and again, Congratu...

Spot the Differences and Win a $100 VISA gift card!

Peyton Hoffman

Below are two photos, one is the original (top) and one has been altered (bottom). There are 10 things that have been changed in the bottom photo. Can you spot all of them?List all 10 differences correctly and you will be entered to win a $100 VISA gift...

Which Auto OEM Sites Are Getting Pinned on Pinterest?

George Nenni

I remain very curious of Pinterest, and its increased activity from the automotive perspective. Ive followed a few car dealers, more than a few OEMs, and have been carefully watching the pinning activity thats been going on related to vehicles, ...

Group General Manager of Dominion Dealer Solutions Teaches How to Unlock Potential Inventory Treasures from your CRM at the 12th Digital Dealer

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Glen Garvin, Group General Manager of Dominion Dealer Solutions, will be sharing his knowledge with dealers at Digital Dealers 12th conference, on practical ways they can improve their sourcing for used vehicles using both traditional and progressive tech...

Federal Trade Commission and Auto Dealership Advertising

Peyton Hoffman

If dealerships were a meal, advertising & marketing would be the dessert. It is the cherry-on-top, and usually receives that level of attention. However, recently here in the automotive industry, sometimes not-advertising isnt as bad as what could be pe...

5 Strategies for Reputation Management Success

Dominion Dealer Solutions

George Nenni, Vice President of Operations for Dominion Dealer Solutions, discusses the importance of successful Reputation Management strategies in a recent DealerRefresh blog post. George writes specifically about how automotive dealerships should handl...

How Auto Dealers Ensure Getting Reviews on Yelp!

Peyton Hoffman

Anytime I go somewhere new, you better believe I utilize my Yelp app on my iPhone. Its my go-to for restaurants, shopping, and as of lately, car dealerships. Yelp is the best place to read online reviews for basically anything. This means that its neces...

The Oscars Bring Everyone Together, Even Hyundai & Wes Anderson

Peyton Hoffman

This past week kicked off with Hollywoods biggest night, the Academy Awards. It is a night to celebrate great films and the minds behind them. Billy Crystal hosted the event with tremendous winners that included the likes of Christopher Plummer (Beginner...

Nissan Recalls 250,000 Vehicles for Safety Issues

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Do you own a Nissan Juke, Infiniti M or Infiniti QZ56? Then pay attention! Nissan is recalling almost 250,000 of these vehicles. The direct-injection engine can become loose- causing potential leaks. Hearing the word recall, can be terrifying and potent...

Should Dealers Have an Interest in Pinterest?

George Nenni

During a recent management retreat, a colleague introduced the group to the Internets fastest growing Social Networking site, Pinterest.com. Pinterest (pronounced pin-terest, not pin-interest) has burst onto the Internet with growth rates we havent see...

Find it at NADA 2012 Booth 964

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Going to NADA 2012? Dominion Dealer Solutions (DDS) is a proud participant at this year's National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention and exposition, February 3-6. DDS will be setting up shop for the course of the event in NADA Booth 964, w...

2012 :: The Year of Dominion

Steve Lausch

By Robert Berndt, president of Dominion Dealer SolutionsThis is an exciting year for those of us in the Dominion family. For the last few years, our business managers have been listening to our customers' needs and working towards product and organizatio...

Use mobile marketing to drive traffic to your showroom

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Mobile marketing is the use of cell phones and other mobile devices to market a brand or message, and it plays a powerful role in an integrated marketing strategy. Mobile marketing is commonly used in order to increase brand awareness, generate customer o...

What is your digital strategy when it comes to vehicle photos?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

The experts state that pictures are worth a 100,000 words. Posting vehicle photos of your new and used inventory is critical to conveying a complete story to your shoppers and potential customers. Vehicles without photos are essentially not telling a co...

Are You Listening?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Every one of your customers is talking about you. Some are just quick verbal exchanges with friends and family. But in increasing numbers, your customers are beginning to share their opinions with anyone who takes the time to listen. And its all happenin...

What is Google up to now?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Now that you have all claimed your Google Places page and begun incorporating reviews into your overall reputation management strategy, you may be wondering exactly what Google is doing with this new Places initiative. Since your Places page is absolutely...

Do Industry Awards Really Matter for a Dealership?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

The answer is yes, awards can make a difference. Its human nature to want to win and to be around winners. The benefits of winning something will impact, in a positive way, both your staff and customers.As the marketing director, I am proud to say ...

Dealers use the top Auto CRM to hire (and keep) top automotive salespeople

Dominion Dealer Solutions

We interact with numerous auto dealers on a daily basis. We keep our eye out for what auto dealers are doing for their dealership advertising and will often catch their employment listings. We love it when we see Autobase listed as a benefit in a deal...

Getting more done, faster with Auto CRM in your car dealership

Dominion Dealer Solutions

We all look for ways to get though our day-to-day tasks quickly. Between all the clients that are coming into the showroom and adding and/or updating customer records in the dealership CRM, its easy to feel that all the pointing and clicking is draggi...

Prime To Google Change

Dominion Dealer Solutions

You may have heard that Google recently made substantial changes to their Google Places functionality and with that, the rating system that represents your dealership. For those not fully up to speed on these changes, or the impact to your dealership, we ...

The Power of Influence

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Over the last few months we have been discussing the different components of Prime Response, the all-new reputation management solution from Autobase. The first component, PROFILE enables your dealership to distribute professionally created content...

Don't Turn A Blind Eye To Your Online Reputation

Dominion Dealer Solutions

We have already discussed the first component of reputation management, known as PROFILE, and how it enables your dealership to distribute professionally created content across the web. Once your dealership's profile shows up professionally on...

Fighting Back With Reputation Management

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Thanks to Google and the new Internet, online reputation management has quickly become a vital component of any successful branding strategy. This is as true for the auto dealer as it is for his favorite restaurant across the street. In fact, 25% of ...

Soar by mining the data in your Auto CRM System

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Am I a lemming or an eagle? Not sure? Unfortunately, most auto dealers, either consciously or unconsciously seem to opt for the lemming answer. Here's what I mean ...When most auto dealers consider advertising and look at their marketing budgets th...

CRM, ILM, and BDC dealership software drives process on the road-to-the-sale

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Everything we do in life has a process whether we realize it or not. Once you think about it, you can start to see that even the smallest act require certain steps. Perfect example: when you brush your teeth, you arent going to start without ...

The Power of Search in Auto Dealer CRM Software

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Were I still in retail and fortunate enough to use Autobase as our dealership CRM system, I would have had a Search button in every screen and logbook. Talk about saving me some time back then!Man, talk about "Knowledge is Power!" With one push of a but...

Four Keys to a Winning Video Strategy

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Featured in the March 2011 AutoSuccess Magazine http://bit.ly/eUx194Written by Bryan AndersonTodays customers are more mobile than ever. They are also more distracted by apps, games, and constant communication via social networking. Because of th...

Using Automotive CRM To Drive Fixed Ops Business

Dominion Dealer Solutions

In a previous blog we discussed the "Serviced, Not Sold" customers (servicing with your dealership but never purchasing). But what of the reverse? Customers who buy from the dealership but never come back for service. Are you taking advantage of the po...

Using Automotive CRM to drive sales appointments

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Do you need the help of automotive CRM to bring customers into your auto dealership? For automotive salespeople, the Business Planner in Autobase CRM provides a great starting place. Additionally, the following are a few, simple suggestions that you sho...

Profile by Prime Response Reputation Management

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Reputation Management :: the process of tracking customer actions and their opinions about a specific brand or company; reporting on those actions and opinions; and reacting to that report creating a feedback loop.1With massive changes by Google last Octo...

Auto dealer Equity Lead Management made easy

Dominion Dealer Solutions

What is easier than shooting fish in a barrel?Well you can find out by visiting the February issue of AutoSuccess Magazine, page 39 to be exact. Here is a quick glimpse.Selling customers that are in an equity position is nothing new; but where this used...

Reputation Management simplified

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Reputation Management has been the buzz of the year from the Digital Dealer Conference to NADA, most recently. So why is auto dealer reputation management gaining so much steam in the automotive industry? Why right now?It is all about a tale of lost traf...

Decision making Deal Breakers when choosing Auto Dealer CRM software

Dominion Dealer Solutions

If you're an auto dealer looking for an automotive CRM system, chances are you begin your research with certain features in mind -- CRM software features that you can use every day to sell more cars at lower costs. With over 20 years of auto CRM experien...

Autobase and @utoRevenue Will Release ALL NEW Reputation Management Solution at NADA

Dominion Dealer Solutions

The word is out: Autobase and @utoRevenue are due to release our ALL-NEW reputation management solution at NADA!The Internet is changing before our eyes. Many stores are seeing as much as half their web traffic being diverted away from their dealer ...

Planning Tips for Automotive Professionals at NADA 2011

Dominion Dealer Solutions

This time of year is quite busy for most in the automotive industry and with the fast approach of NADA 2011, things wont be slowing down anytime soon. Preparing, planning, organizing, and prioritizing for the annual visit is vitally important to a succe...

Set More Appointments Using Automotive CRM

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Look around your auto dealership right now. What do you see? Do you have a constant flow of showroom traffic? Are all sales professionals busy? Each member of dealership management helping to work a deal? More often than not, most of these questions ...

Using Auto Dealer CRM Software to market Serviced, Not Sold customers

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Are you marketing your dealership sales staff to your service customers? Using your service drive to identify potential sales? Everyone in the automotive industry knows that now, more than ever, your service drive is driving profits. So ...

Newest Automotive Market? Teens Text More Than 3,705 Monthly!

Dominion Dealer Solutions

I'm Maddie Anderson, and I am currently interning at Autobase. I traveled around to most of the departments while spending time here this week which gave me an exclusive look at each of the integral parts and people that make up Autobase. While spending...

Equity Lead Generation � Putting the Power Back in Your Hands

Dominion Dealer Solutions

In one month we sold 68 vehicles with an average gross of nearly $2,400 per unit from Equity Alerts. My managers all agree: This is the best lead generation tool they have ever seen. Illinois Toyota/Lexus DealerThe recon work collected from Dea...

Increase Campaign Related Sales by 358%

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Going Digital! It isn't a want to anymore, it is a must do. Check out a glimpse from the full story, Going Digital How David Withnell Increased Campaign Related Sales by 358%, which was featured in AutoSuccess Magazine. Making it happen is exa...

Auto CRM Software helps you find the used car inventory you need

Dominion Dealer Solutions

I overheard a conversation the other day at an auto dealership between a sales person and a sales manager that went something like this ... "Where did your customer go? They left. Why did they leav...

Discover new value in your Automotive CRM system

Dominion Dealer Solutions

As I visit auto dealerships, it is fairly common for me to hear the complaint that there just isnt anybody walking in to the showroom to buy cars anymore. New approaches by consumers to car buying and the economic turn have changed the industry.&nb...

Making December Your Top Sales Month

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Making the most of the holiday season can be a huge task, considering that things typically slow down for auto dealers this time of year. Below are a few ways to keep the phones ringing, doors swinging, and leads dinging.1. Partici...

Need a tune-up for your Auto CRM?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Ultimately, your CRM solution is in place for a single reason -- to help your store make more money, today and in the long term. If that is not happening, there are times when a relaunch of the automotive CRM effort is exactly what an auto dealership n...

What makes work with Auto Dealer CRM Software so exciting?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

What excites you to go to work every day? If you're an auto dealer, part of dealership sales management, or an automotive salesperson, you are in the business of putting people in vehicles. But is that what drives you? Is there anything ...

Winterizing Fixed Ops - Preventing Cold Weather Slumps

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Winter is quickly approaching which means things can slow down in auto dealerships because of bad weather and cold temperatures. To avoid a lull in business, specifically that surrounding fixed operations; here are some simple marketing suggestions ...

The Sky's the Limit with Automotive CRM Software

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Six years ago, I boarded a plane and headed to New York. I was visiting my first automotive dealership for CRM training. I didnt really know what to expect when I walked through the doors. Sure I had been to auto dealerships before, but only as a cust...

Happy Thanksgiving from Autobase!!

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Thanksgiving is a great time of year. Not that we should need occasion to stop and count our blessings, but it does provide unique opportunity to think about the things for which we are truly thankful.Here at Autobase, we are thankful for the last 20 yea...

Using the Auto CRM Service Logbook to amplify sales

Dominion Dealer Solutions

OK, confession: Ive never serviced my car at the dealership where I bought my car. In fact, I dont recall going on a service walk with my salesman or receiving follow-up to schedule my first service visit. Maybe I'm the exception? I wish that were ...

Auto Dealer CRM and the value of accurate customer data

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Auto dealers face the perpetual task of investing in their own places of business. In doing so, dealership management must embrace the immutable laws of business. For one, there is no lack of progress in the retail automotive world: if it isnt happenin...

Sweet Tweets For Your Holiday Season

Dominion Dealer Solutions

The Holidays are near and with that comes frantic gift buying, hectic family get-togethers, insane traffic, overdone holiday music in stores, and the chance to win a web ad -- on us! And it all happens on Twitter!During the month of November, followers o...

How Auto CRM can help with dealership orphans

Dominion Dealer Solutions

When a salesperson leaves your auto dealership (for whatever reason), what do you do with their customers? Perhaps you have an "orphan account" in your auto CRM system where you hold these customers records. Dealers often miss out on potential revenue b...

Put Automotive CRM to work for your auto dealership!

Dominion Dealer Solutions

One of the most basic functions of any Auto Dealer CRM software worth its salt is to send letters, emails and schedule follow up calls to customers. When you break down the owner lifecycle you have 3 general timeframes:1. After delivery follow up- than...

Automotive CRM and the golden rule for auto dealer salespeople

Dominion Dealer Solutions

I visited an auto dealership in New Jersey about two years ago and met Bob, the salesman. Bob was able to play 9 holes of golf in the morning, come in to the dealership around 1 or 2 in the afternoon, and sell 2 cars daily ... once again (for effect) D...

Prevent "Garbage in, Garbage out" with Automotive CRM Software

Dominion Dealer Solutions

So weve all heard the old adage garbage in, garbage out. If incomplete, altered, and incorrect data is allowed to enter your CRM system you have just that, garbage in. And after years of garbage in going unchecked a database can become a mine fie...

Special Treatment ....Amazing Results

Dominion Dealer Solutions

The other week, I saw something unique at one of the auto dealerships using Autobase CRM. It is a high volume import store with an automotive BDC (business development center), and in an effort to increase their appointment, show, and sold rates, they ha...

Tough economy means better Automotive CRM software data for auto dealers

Dominion Dealer Solutions

One thing that is crystal clear since the economy has been on the rocks is that auto dealerships are more aware of the quality of the data that is in their automotive CRM.When times are good and Floor Traffic is bountiful, the number of email addresses th...

Is the CPR in your Auto Dealer Software MIA?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Sometimes even those of us at Autobase take for granted the functionality within our own Automotive CRM software. I started with Autobase as a trainer back in 2002 and I can still remember when we released the CPR (Customer Problem Resolution) module. D...

Automotive CRM Software featured at the 9th Digital Dealer Conference

Dominion Dealer Solutions

The 9th Digital Dealer Conference started today in Las Vegas at The Mirage and continues through Thursday. The exposition focuses on the advances and newcomers in digital technologies in the automotive world. Based on the turnout at DD8, over 1,000 deal...

Who's driving Auto CRM at your auto dealership?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Any customer relationship management system (it wouldn't have to be an auto dealer CRM for the automotive industry) doesnt run its self. Someone has to be at the wheel driving, to avoid crashes. So who is driving your vehicle?Having and involved Dealer...

No such thing as a forgotten customer with Automotive CRM Software

Dominion Dealer Solutions

What if you were given a list of hot leads every month, leads for the sales people in your auto dealership to contact? You would jump on the opportunity for such a list of prospective buyers, right? Unfortunately, without a true automotive CRM system, t...

When the light goes on with Automotive CRM Software

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Just like the fictional A Team, I love it when a plan comes together! It's great to see an auto dealer realize some functionality that he held in his Autobase CRM, but didnt know about. Just the other day, I had a dealer comment to me that he had tak...

Automotive CRM Software: A one-stop shop for customer information?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

More auto dealers scratch their heads and wring their hands, genuinely wanting to market to ALL of their customers. Of course only a handful the people who interacted with the dealer are in their Internet Lead Management solution (ILM); and frankly, only...

From coffee and donuts to True Auto CRM

Dominion Dealer Solutions

One of the more successful dealership sales people I knew in my days of auto retail gave credence to "the early bird gets the worm" theory and also clearly demonstrated the ability to farm every opportunity he could find. Now, you have to recall that thi...

Leads That Do All of The Work For You with Auto CRM

Dominion Dealer Solutions

If you havent already heard Autobase now offers Equity Alerts. This offering is truly nothing short of amazing! For our dealers that are taking advantage the pay offs are huge. Equity Alerts has been a huge success at our dealership. The information...

Got Tylenol? Multiple headaches from mulitple CRM Systems

Dominion Dealer Solutions

The mere thought of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is enough to raise the blood pressure of some auto dealers. While this response is due much in part to souring experiences with some CRM providers, many are frustrated from confusion over the c...

Autobase at GM eSummit 3.0

Dominion Dealer Solutions

General Motors has hosted "eSummits" for their Internet and Service personnel for the past 3 years and they kicked off this year's group of meetings a few weeks ago in Orlando. Our Sales and Strategic Relations team at Autobase has been invited to partici...

"Don't ever give up!"...and automotive CRM software can help!

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Jim Valvano, the basketball coach at North Carolina State University, with his body racked by cancer that would ultimately take him from us at far too young an age, once stood before an assembly, and said ... Cancer may take my life, but it can never tak...

Do the Math: Automotive CRM by the Numbers

Dominion Dealer Solutions

As with some auto dealers, you may not be all that crazy about math. We like to add up all our profits, and dont mind subtracting costs of doing business. We multiply successful locations and franchises; but as dealers, we are divided when it comes to ...

Internet lead vs. Phone lead in Auto Dealer CRM

Dominion Dealer Solutions

If you analyze the data in your CRM system are 90% of your leads from the internet and not the phone? In the Autobase CRM, Internet Leads and Phone Leads are treated equally and the goal for each CRM entry type is the same ... GET THEM IN THE STORE!Have ...

Automotive CRM at the core of Auto Dealership Marketing

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Recently I was asked, "How can dealers best integrate their CRM system with their marketing efforts?" Because a solid Auto Dealer CRM is the central nervous system of the dealership's customer interactions, the software should also be at the very core of...

Recession-proofing your business with Automotive CRM Software

Dominion Dealer Solutions

CRM isn't the cure-all for every ill in today's automotive market, but auto dealers can certainly use their auto dealer CRM systems to help weather the current recession. There are a number of ways this can happen, but here are just a few...Every deal co...

Hot Selling with Automotive CRM Software

Dominion Dealer Solutions

OK, so it is REALLY hot! The summer is in full swing with no reprieve in sight. As someone who enjoys the wonderful invention that is air conditioning, I dont particularly enjoy spending a lot of time on hot asphalt. I doubt you or your customers do a...

Taking Full Advantage of your Automotive CRM Software

Dominion Dealer Solutions

CRM is a real investment, but significant, positive results await the store that takes full advantage of this software.So, how can auto dealerships best take advantage of their automotive CRM system? A couple thoughts. Assuming the CRM software is easy-...

Every car you see was sold!

Dominion Dealer Solutions

As every oak came from an acorn, every car, truck, and SUV on the road traces back to a sale ... somewhere. That point is especially driven home as I look out of my sixth story office window and down over the I-465 beltway surrounding Indianapolis. That...

Has Auto Dealer CRM technology reached maturity?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Posted Monday, August 2, 2010 by Steve Lausch In preparation for an upcoming article in a leading trade publication for the automotive industry, I was asked the following question by the Editor-in-Chief: "Has Auto Dealer CRM technology reached maturity?"...

More Auto CRM "best practices" for emailing dealership customers

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by Steve Lausch The benefits of your dealership using permission-based email marketing that is fully integrated with your Auto Dealer CRM software are numerous. A strong permission-based solution will help to:Ensure a highe...

True Auto CRM provides strong desking for Auto Dealers

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Steve Lausch When it comes to desking deals, many auto dealerships are finding that the 4-Square process, introduced in the 60s, is no longer working. In the same way that menu selling has had a dramatic impact on F&I r...

Unable to Finance? Don't mark that deal 'DEAD' just yet!

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Posted Wednesday, July 14, 2010 by Steve Lausch There are a lot of reasons why sales people using Automotive CRM mark a deal 'DEAD.' Unfortunately, in the current economy, many potential buyers dealing with a job loss or low credit score are marked 'DEA...

Automotive CRM Best Practice: When to engage renewal customers

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Posted Tuesday, July 13, 2010 by Steve Lausch Everyone's looking for best practices when it comes to Auto CRM in the dealership. Here's a great tip for taking that first step with your renewal opportunities.The best way to get off on the right foot with ...

Don't work Internet leads at the expense of renewal business

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Posted Thursday, July 8, 2010 by Steve Lausch Anymore these days, nearly EVERY prospect is an Internet customer -- that is, they begin their search for their next car or truck on the Web. And so, the focus (perhaps even the rage) of auto dealerships is a...

90-67-33: Three numbers Automotive CRM users love

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Posted Wednesday, July 7, 2010 by Steve Lausch 90Ninety percent of people who leave a dealership without buying are never contacted again. Think about that. Only 1 of out 10 people receive some sort of follow-up from the sales person or store? No matte...

Accept a narrow definition of a "dead deal"

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Posted Tuesday, July 6, 2010 by Steve Lausch In the average auto dealership, you'll hear the term "dead deal" thrown around quite a bit. Frankly, it's as old as the business, but often times it is used to describe too many types of closed opportunities....

The unquestionable benefits of True Auto CRM

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Posted Wednesday, June 30, 2010 by Steve Lausch True CRM providers have built their overall services around CRM. This means that the showroom control, the Internet Lead Management (ILM), the permission-based marketing solutions, the inventory components,...

No such thing as a Sold Custom in Automotive CRM Software

Dominion Dealer Solutions

One of the key points separating the average dealership software (in terms of a CRM system) from the best-of-breed, auto dealer CRM is the grouping of customers. And one of the hurdles we in the auto retail industry need to clear (whether our auto CRM he...

How to turn down floor traffic and make a good living at it!

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Monday, June 28, 2010 by Steve Lausch In my last posting, we saw that 1,000 customers (or 500 households) will produce an average of 27 opportunities for renewal business each month -- month after month after month. Sales people don't have to rely on dea...

Would you hire this person for your automotive dealership?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Thursday, June 24, 2010 by Steve Lausch Turnover in the average auto dealership is nothing new, but with so many out of work, you might get the chance to interview some good people these days. Here's a scenario for you...Imagine interviewing your next pr...

Why Salespeople actually WANT Automotive CRM - Accountability

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 by Steve Lausch Wait a minute! The last thing sales people in automotive retail want is "Big Brother" watching over their shoulder, so why in the world would they want a CRM solution at their desk? It's for one, BIG (green) reason...

Why Salespeople actually WANT Automotive CRM - Retention

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Friday, June 18, 2010 by Steve Lausch In the absence of true automotive CRM, the average dealership sales person is lucky to contact more than five previous customers per month who may be in the market for their next vehicle. In its presence, the average...

Why Salespeople actually WANT Automotive CRM - Communication

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Thursday, June 17, 20010 by Steve Lausch Whenever we begin working with auto dealers who have yet to step into the ring with customer relationship management for their dealership, we are almost always faced with the same concern: "Are my guys really going...

Auto Dealers Looking for CRM Greatness

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Tuesday, June 15, 2010 by Steve Lausch While there is still a good bit of confusion around automotive CRM in the marketplace today, there are far more auto dealers who have bought into the concept of technology-based customer relationship management than ...

How can I get my CRM up quickly and begin making money ASAP!

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Monday, June 14, 2010 by Steve Lausch Good question. A little background to our take on the answer...In 2004, Autobase had noticed a growing interest (and confusion) by auto dealers in customer relationship management, or CRM. Having been the first to c...

Automotive CRM as an add-on doesn't add up

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 by Steve Lausch Back on March 9th, I posted a blog entry titled, "Will the TRUE CRM please stand up?" Inherent in the question is the simple fact that a host of companies in the marketplace are claiming to offer customer relations...

Will the TRUE CRM please stand up?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 by Steve Lausch In my last post, I asked the question, "How many CRMs does an Auto Dealer need?" We determined that one, capable customer database only makes the most sense logically. But pragmatically, using six different products...

How Many CRMs does a dealer need?

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Monday, June 7, 2010 by Steve Lausch "How many engines does a car need?" Obviously, one. It drives everything the vehicle does. Two engines (or six) would complicate a process that can (and should) be handled by one, capable engine.It's the same with A...