AdAgencyOnline.Net

AdAgenyOnline.Net, a nationally recognized  automotive advertising resource / networking portal, reviews cutting edge automotive advertising technologies and vendor solutions on their hosted blog talk radio station — WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time.  This week’s Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising show, moderated by Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C., will feature a review of InstaQuote in an interview with Carlos Diaz, the founder of InstaQuote and the C.E.O. of Caryote.  The show is scheduled to air live on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2011 between 12 Noon and 12:30 PM EST.

Philip shared his reasons for reviewing InstaQuote as a possible conversion tool for his affiliated automotive advertising agencies and his online audience of automotive advertising decision makers. “To price or not to price on an auto dealer’s website is a question that automotive advertising agencies have already answered with a resounding yes.  Customers demand transparency in their online shopping experience and price is a question that must be answered almost before it is asked.  Some auto dealers stick to the old school philosophy of posting MSRP with an offer to contact them for their best Internet price.  Their intention is to preserve gross profit and incentivize the online shopper to contact them so the dealer can explain why price isn’t as important as their product and excellent service.  Unfortunately, today’s educated consumer knows that the best price is only a click away and they can service their vehicle anywhere after their purchase.  Although, why would they go to the dealer that wanted to overcharge them for the vehicle in the first place?”

“I am reviewing InstaQuote for an Internet Sales Manager who contacted me to ask if they could provide an efficient way to instantly quote a competitive price to his online shoppers as well as in response to his leads sourced from various third party providers.  Frankly, I am not a believer in auto response based systems, however sometimes limited staff and resources force a dealer to choose between an automated response or no response at all.  The solution lies in a hybrid of a timely response with a competitive price followed by a personal reply to fill in the holes and establish a relationship with the customer.  Customers soon discover that most dealers will “meet or beat” any legitimate price so their objective  quickly converts to finding a dealership that they are comfortable with.  Price still matters but people and process are more of a consideration for online shoppers who are compiling their short list of dealers to visit.”   

“InstaQuote is able to quote 100% of a dealers’ new vehicle Internet leads from their own site, the manufacturers’ site and third party marketing platforms in seconds.  They use proprietary multi-point information matching to ensure quotes are generated accurately in a very comprehensive conversion tool on the dealers website using a manufacture-grade configurator that follows business rules defined by the dealer to respond to all inbound inquiries.”

“Perhaps the most unique value offered by InstaQuote is the customer friendly format that the price is delivered in.  In addition to providing the price on the vehicle selected by the customer, they also quote several comparable vehicles as well as providing information on the dealer including a convenient Google based map and directions to facilitate a visit.  When combined with a comprehensive follow up system integrated into a process powered by a motivated staff and efficient CRM I can see InstaQuote as a key ingredient in the sales process.”

About Carlos Diaz

In early 2001, after the “dot-crash”, Carlos Diaz, the founder of InstaQuote was forced to enter the car business as a means to support his family and like most others who first enter the “business”, the transition was not easy. Mr. Diaz had over 7 years of web development experience having worked for such companies as General Electric and UGO.  Carlos was ahead of the curve with in-depth knowledge of the internet and programming. Now armed with car sales experience, he was a perfect fit for the internet department which, at the time, no other salesperson wanted to be part of.

Carlos quickly excelled in achieving his sales goals. However, he still felt the process was too complicated, which was due to his dealership’s refusal to let him answer the number one question presented by all online customers, “What is your best price?”. This was when the idea of a system that could provide price quotes to customers without dealer interaction came to his mind. This was the birth of InstaQuote.

For the next few years Carlos worked for various dealerships. He also continued to evolve InstaQuote from a simple access database to a full featured website designed to help him increase his personal sales goals.

In 2003, while working for a Honda dealership in New Jersey and after achieving numerous awards from both the dealership and Honda, he was taken aside by the VP of Operations and asked what his secret to success was.  Nervously he told the VP about InstaQuote, who proceeded to immediately promote Carlos to Internet Sales Manager on one condition, that he allow the dealership to use InstaQuote. A few months later, and after helping increase the dealerships status to number one in the nation, Carlos was promoted to Director of eBusiness Development.  Carlos managed six Business Development Centers for 7 franchises,  all powered by his InstaQuote system.

About InstaQuote

• Caryote Technologies, Inc. is a privately held, Phoenix, Arizona based corporation.

• The name Caryote (pronounced car-yote) is derived from the words “Car” and “Coyote” which was inspired by an encounter with a pack of 3 Coyotes on the day the company was formed.

Products/Services

InstaQuote was originally designed and developed in late 2001 as a way to enhance the overall car buying experience. It offers the user the opportunity to use the internet as a means to avoid in-dealer negotiation of a vehicle.

The InstaQuote Philosophy

1. Provide a high-quality, intuitive, and engaging email based quote that offers the perfect balance of information and interactivity to satisfy the customers immediate needs and promote dealer communication.

2. Incorporate the latest web based technologies that enhance the overall customer experience.

3. Introduce industry leading features that promote dealer transparency, such as finance and lease payment options.

4. Provide easy-to-use dealer controls that feature simple instructions and familiar layouts that mimic their existing processes for price setting.

5. Allow for simple integration and implementation into any dealer environment, which complements and enhances existing sales processes.

About Philip Zelinger

Philip Zelinger is the President of Ad Agency Online and founder of AdAgencyOnline.Net.  He invested 25 years as a General Manager and Dealer Principal followed by his last ten years in the automotive advertising industry learning from the teams that he built so he can now presume to teach.  His role as a “Dealer Coach” is enhanced by his hosting a nationally recognized auto industry social networking portal and blog talk radio station – WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time.  As the author of two books on the auto industry, including “How To Sell A Car – a Career Guide to The Automobile Industry,” he is a recognized authority on market trends and developing technologies with the responsibility of selecting key vendors and applications for his dealer clients as well as forming strategic partnerships for his vendor clients to leverage their shared resources to bring their products and services to market.

About AdAgencyOnline.Net and Ad Agency Online, L.L.C.

AdAgencyOnline.Net reviews automotive advertising vendors and new technologies on several blog talk radio shows in addition to the Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising.  Other shows include “Auto Industry Insiders”  and “Automotive Advertising Experts.”  The shows attract automotive advertising agencies, auto dealers, auto industry vendors and O.E.M. representatives that listen to WAAOL to find vendors, applications and technologies to maximize the R.O.I. for their automotive advertising dollars.

AAOL is a national network of independent affiliated automotive advertising agencies linked by an online communication / distribution system developed by Philip Zelinger.  The proprietary operating system that powers AAOL was designed to reduce fixed and semi-variable expenses for full service automotive advertising agencies.  The developing technologies that enhanced the performance of the independent automotive advertising agencies linked by AAOL has served as the role model for the solutions suggested on AdAgencyOnline.Net and represented by AAOL to their affiliated automotive advertising agencies when serving their auto dealer clients.

Ad Agency Online L.L.C is focused on discovering and representing new automotive advertising vendors not yet recognized by the mainstream automotive advertising industry. Recent automotive advertising vendors represented by AAOL include; Argistics – AutoTransaXion, SiSTeR Technologies Video CarLot, DealMaker.Com, CityTwist.Com, Bulldog Marketing Technologies,  Gumiyo, Kihon Media, CarFolks.Com, Ai Dealer, Laser Stream Video, ronsmap and IntellaCar; to name a few.

Previous guests interviewed on WAAOL include a growing number of automotive advertising experts.  Past guests included, Clayton Stanfield from EBay Motors, Mark Dubis from CarFolks.Com, Jared Hamilton from DrivingSales.Com, Dale Pollak from vAuto, Jerry Daniels from Automotive Broadcasting Network, (ABN), Terry Alling from Kihon Media, Brian Ferris and Spencer Sterling from DealMaker.Com, Mike Parsons from Laser Stream Video, Brian Hoecht from Ai Dealer, Ralph Paglia from ADP and host to the auto industry social networking community ADM, Len Critcher from ecarlist.com, Tim Zierden from AAX, Jim Ziegler, consultant to the auto industry, Jeff Kershner, host of DealerRefresh.Com, Jeff Raab from the Detroit Trading Company, (DTX), Mike DeCecco from Dealer.Com, Ken Schwartz from CityTwist, Michael R. Spadafore from R. L. Polk & Co., Kevin Schwartz and Rick Rochon from AdSymetrix, Bruce Cerbone from Argistics, Scott Davis from Bull Dog Marketing Technologies, Matt Watson from VinSolutions,  Michael T. Fay from Colliers International Of South Florida and their C.A.R.S. division, Matt Brown and Zack Powell from TheDealerDashBoard.Com, Mark Burack from Liquid Motors, Pat Ryan, Jr. from FirstLook, Al Cantarella from AutoWebsitePlus.com, Michael Roscoe and Cliff banks from Dealer Communications, Steven Munyan from HireTheWinners.Com, Todd Mathews from WideStorm, James Crouse from CloudOne, Brian Story from VehSmart, Mike Martinez from izmocars and most recently Jim Hughes from IntellaCar.

For more information on Philip Zelinger, Ad Agency Online, L.L.C., InstaQuote or any of the preferred automotive advertising vendors previously reviewed on WAAOL contact Philip through AdAgencyOnline.Net.  Automotive advertising vendors, automotive advertising agencies and auto dealers that would like to be considered as a “preferred automotive advertising vendor” on AdAgencyOnline.Net and/or to hire/join Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. to represent them can contact Philip Zelinger at pzads@bellsouth.net, call him at 888-796-2228 or visit AdAgencyOnline.Net at http://adagencyonline.net.  To quote Philip Zelinger, “Help is only a click away!”  ###

Automotive advertising agencies are expected to improve vehicle sales for their auto dealer clients, however, their ultimate self serving goal is to provide added value and profits to support their fees.  Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and the host of an automotive advertising resource / networking portal — http://AdAgencyOnline.Net — has accepted that responsibility for his affiliated automotive advertising agencies as he reviews new automotive advertising applications that promise to improve profitability for his auto dealer clients across multiple departments. 

Philip is scheduled to review izmocars in an interview with their  Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Mike Martinez, on the blog talk radio station featured on AdAgencyOnline.Net — WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time.  The pair of automotive advertising experts will be discussing izmocars on the blog talk radio show appropriately named Automotive Advertising Experts scheduled to air live on Friday, January 28th, 2011 at 12 Noon EST.

Philip was asked to review izmocars by a client that had learned about them in an article in Automotive News written by David Barkholz and published on May 31st, 2010 that sited a testimonial reflective of many opinions that are shared by their satisfied customers. “Thanks to an in-store Web tool and some extra sales training, accessory sales at Bob Moran’s Acton Toyota in Littleton, Mass., have doubled to about $110,000 a month since September, said Shawnee Wandless, the store’s sales manager.”

“He said the tool, AddOnAuto by izmocar, allows the store to market accessories to car buyers in an easy-to-use, visual way. “We’ve put accessories in the forefront of vehicle sales, not as an afterthought,” Wandless said.”

“With a couple of mouse clicks, customers can see online how specific wheels, electronics, leather, chrome trim and other accessories will look on the exact vehicles that they intend to purchase.”

“The program also lists prices and calculates how much the monthly payment will rise if the accessories are wrapped into the vehicle financing.  It’s a big leap forward from print or online catalogs that simply show the products alone without showing the parts on a specific vehicle, Wandless said.”

After an online presentation of izmocars by Mike, Philip agreed to continue his due diligence based on his shared confidence in the value and importance of selling accessories to boost the diminishing profits realized by vehicle sales.   Philip explained that, “Fixed operations and F&I sales are more important than ever for auto dealers who are struggling to survive in a challenging economy.  I see izmocars as a perfect platform to introduce accessory sales into the sales process at the formative stages of the presentation vs. during the negotiations after the vehicle has been selected by the customer.  I look forward to sharing my discovery of izmocars with my affiliated automotive advertising agencies to solicit their feedback on their solution for consideration as a preferred automotive advertising vendor on AdAgencyOnline.Net.”

About Mike Martinez

As Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Mike Martinez is responsible for all marketing functions at izmocars as well as overall sales responsibility including business development, OEM relationships, field sales, and inside sales.  Prior to izmocars, Martinez was executive vice president of products and strategy at OneCommand, responsible for OneCommand’s corporate and product strategy, technology, and product development. Prior to his time at OneCommand, Martinez was president and CEO of Four Creeks, a company he co-founded, which was acquired by OneCommand in 2006.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Martinez served as the vice president of sales, marketing, and products for The Cobalt Group for four years. He also served for five years at Lucent Technologies as General Manager of Marketing, and for seven years in a variety of roles at Microsoft.

About Izmocars

Izmocars is the world’s leader in Interactive Media Content for the automotive industry. Founded in 2002, its flagship product, AddOnAuto, helps dealers add hundreds of dollars in additional gross revenue per vehicle sold by providing a visual accessories sales system that integrates the accessories shopping and financing function with the car purchase, making it very easy for dealers to easily and immediately launch an accessories sales business that creates new net profits for dealers.

AddOnAuto (AOA) is an In-Store Accessories Sales Solution that helps auto dealers sell accessories effortlessly from within their dealership and includes a Visual Configurator as well as a Virtual Inventory System.

Buying a car has always been a visual and emotional experience, which means customers need to be provided with instant visual confirmation while selecting accessories. AOA’s Visual Configurator enables customers to virtually add or remove accessories and instantly view them on their vehicle of choice. It is, psychologically, a powerful visual tool that not only enables customers to see their chosen accessories on the vehicle before purchasing them but also motivates them to make their decision in minutes!

AOA gives auto dealers access to their own Virtual Inventory system of accessories, enabling them to sell them without the need to hold a physical inventory. It also connects dealers directly to a vast, constantly updated vendor database of accessories, giving them the sales power without the expense. Auto dealers can now focus on selling accessories without the cost and strain of holding a physical inventory.

About Philip Zelinger

Philip Zelinger is the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and host of a nationally respected automotive advertising social networking portal, AdAgencyOnline.Net.  Philip invested 25 years as a General Manager and Dealer Principal followed by his last ten years in the automotive advertising industry representing auto dealers and technology vendors focused on the automotive advertising industry.

His role as a “Dealer Coach” is enhanced by his hosting a nationally recognized blog talk radio station – WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time.  As the author of two books on the auto industry, including “How To Sell A Car – a Career Guide to The Automobile Industry,” he is a recognized authority on market trends and developing technologies with the responsibility of selecting key vendors and applications for his dealer clients as well as forming strategic partnerships for his vendor clients to leverage their shared resources to help them bring their products and services to market.

About AdAgencyOnline.Net and Ad Agency Online, L.L.C.

AdAgencyOnline.Net reviews automotive advertising vendors and new technologies on several blog talk radio shows including Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising, Auto Industry Insiders and  their most listened to program Automotive Advertising Experts.  The shows attract automotive advertising agencies, auto dealers, auto industry vendors and O.E.M. representatives that listen to the blog talk radio station WAAOL to find vendors, applications and technologies to maximize the R.O.I. for their automotive advertising dollars.

AAOL is a national network of independent affiliated automotive advertising agencies linked by an online communication / distribution system developed by Philip Zelinger.  The proprietary operating system that powers AAOL was designed to reduce fixed and semi-variable expenses for full service automotive advertising agencies.  The developing technologies that enhanced the performance of the independent automotive advertising agencies linked by AAOL has served as the role model for the solutions suggested on AdAgencyOnline.Net and represented by AAOL to their affiliated automotive advertising agencies when serving their auto dealer clients.

Ad Agency Online L.L.C is focused on discovering and representing new automotive advertising vendors and technologies not yet recognized by the mainstream automotive advertising industry. Automotive advertising vendors represented by AAOL include; ronsmap.com, DealerMouth, TeleTextSolutions, GetAutoAppraise, Argistics – AutoTransaXion, DealMaker.Com, CityTwist.Com, Bulldog Marketing Technologies, Kihon Media, CarFolks.Com, Ai Dealer, Laser Stream Video, SiSTeR Technologies – Video CarLot and IntellaCar; to name a few.

For more information on Philip Zelinger, Ad Agency Online, L.L.C., izmocars or any of the vendor clients represented by Ad Agency Online contact Philip at 888-796-2228 or email him at pzads@bellsouth.net.  Automotive advertising vendors, automotive advertising agencies and auto dealers that would like to be considered as a “preferred automotive advertising vendor” on AdAgencyOnline.Net and/or to hire/join Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. to represent them can contact Philip Zelinger at http://adagencyonline.net.  To quote Philip Zelinger, “Help is only a click away!  After all, what are friends for!” ###

Automotive advertising agencies are overwhelmed by demands from their auto dealer clients to provide more with less.  Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and the host of their automotive advertising resource / networking portal http://AdAgencyOnline.Net, recently interviewed James Crouse, the CEO of CloudOne, on his blog talk radio show Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising.  The pair of automotive advertising experts reviewed the services offered by CloudOne designed to supplement the limited resources of auto dealers who have reduced their staff and budgets to accommodate a consolidating auto industry.

Philip explained his decision to invite Jim onto his show to share his outsourced solution and to discuss the market conditions that have forced auto dealers to seek alternatives to processing inbound and outbound calls from their own facilities using their own staff.  “The automotive industry is recovering from the most massive business contraction in its history.  Dealers face many challenges to growing their business and competing effectively in this new marketplace.  The question is, how do auto dealers allocate resources and increase efficiencies after implementing significant reductions in personnel and expense?”

“With this challenge in mind, CloudOne has developed a cloud based platform of products and services that enable dealers and automotive advertising agencies to grow business incrementally with controlled variable expense.  The CloudOne platform offers access to Best of Breed marketing components that a dealer can use on an ala carte, monthly basis to help grow their business on a scalable level.” 

About James Crouse, Chief Executive Officer – CloudOne

Jim was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of BarNone, Inc., a consumer-facing auto finance and lead generation company.   Jim’s vision and execution at BarNone built a dealer-centric business model into a top consumer brand aimed at customers seeking a hassle-free experience to obtain financing for their auto purchases.

In 2005, Jim sold to First American Title Company (FAF) and he remained in his role at BarNone until 2007. During his tenure, Jim built the company to over $35 million in annual revenue and processed over 8-million customer applications.  CloudOne is the extension of his previous vision and applications at BarNone.

About CloudOne

The CloudOne platform flexibility enables measured growth with reduced total marketing costs and increased return on investment. The platform is a cohesive marketplace  of lead generation and fulfillment components that represent the best practice capabilities that BarNone achieved  while servicing thousands of dealers across the country.

The CloudOne platform also includes strategic partnerships with best practice companies that have emerged over the past several years.  From this substantial offering, auto dealers can pick and choose individual products or services, add to what’s working, scale back when needed, all from one central online location.

The CloudOne platform is anchored by the capabilities and efficiencies represented through the CloudOne Call Center.  These Call Center services represent fulfillment best practices that have been developed through the answering of more than 8 million phone calls.  The proprietary scripting engines reflect data assimilated over a decade of answering telephone calls for dealerships.  This data allows our call center to be the most effective, efficient and consistent means of facilitating customer inquiries and appointments. Read the rest of this entry »

Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and the host of the automotive advertising resource / networking portal http://AdAgencyOnline.Net, will be interviewing three principals from eVBDS, (Electric Vehicle Business Development Strategies), — George Stellweg, Forest Williams and Carlos De La Guardia — on his blog talk radio show Automotive Advertising Experts.  The group of auto industry insiders will be discussing the many challenges and opportunities that electric vehicles will represent to auto dealers.  The show is scheduled to air live on Friday, January 21st, 2011 from 12:00 Noon EST to 12:30 PM EST. 

Philip introduced the show with his overview of the plans that eVBDS has for auto dealers that differs from those outlined by the OEMs. ” eVBDS has partnered with Eaton Corporation – a leader in electric power management for over a century with $13B in total revenues – to introduce a line of electric vehicle chargers that permits consumers to charge their EVs at home safely and significantly faster than conventional “trickle” charging. Eaton’s Pow-R-Station will also serve as the controller for the emerging home energy generation and storage systems of the future. eVBDS is creating a channel to allow dealers to enjoy the profits of selling a charger at the dealer level vs. deferring it to the OEM sponsored channels…and later to participate in their customers’ future in-home energy management  needs.”

“The factories have functionally bypassed the auto dealers with direct relationships with vendors such as Aerovironment for the Nissan Leaf and SPX for the Chevy Volt.  They are even encouraging customers to contact these vendors directly to purchase their chargers and arrange for installation. The goal of eVBDS is to provide a world class EV charging product that will be sold exclusively thru dealerships’ F&I department. The initial EV buyer is likely to be affluent and will want to leave the dealership with a complete solution.  They will be equally attracted to the ability to add the charger and installation to the vehicle loan package with much more attractive interest rates.”

“Over the next several years more consumers will want to add home storage batteries to take advantage of the low energy costs that will be offered at off peak hours. In addition, many will also decide to add their own electricity generation capability via solar, wind or even the Bloom Box that can generate electricity fueled by natural gas or propane. Their line of EV chargers are designed to manage these generation and storage processes for the homeowner. In fact, as dealers see service revenues dip due to the lower maintenance requirements of EVs they will be motivated to take advantage of these natural “add on” sales, perhaps leading to new business opportunities. ”

“I envision that the EV is going to have the same impact on the power grid that the personal computer had on computing. It will accelerate the move towards decentralized power generation and storage the same way that the PC ended the dominance of the mainframe computer.”

“The bottom line is that EV vehicles will impact the dealers bottom line before, during and after the sale and eVBDS is focused on keeping the auto dealer in the mix!  Anything that makes auto dealers money is part of the newly assigned areas of responsibility for today’s full service automotive advertising agency.  Based on my past dealings with one of the principals at eVBDS and my ongoing due diligence regarding their business model I see them as a valuable potential partner.  After all, what are friends for!”

About George Stellweg

A successful military career served and inspired George well, of Dutch descent; George’s education globally has resulted in extensive multi-cultural business knowledge. With over 20 years of solid experience as a business leader, entrepreneur and senior executive, George has held leadership positions managing North American and international companies. He has successfully established new businesses in 8 countries managed and implemented executive, sales and business development teams in 15 countries.

He is currently the Founder and Managing Partner of  Latin American Consulting, Inc, KSD & Co, LLC, and Electric Vehicle Business Development Strategies, LLC.

About Forest Williams

Forest Williams has been in technology sales and new business development for almost 30 years. A graduate of West Point, he served as a KC-135 pilot in the Air Force refueling the SR-71 spy plane, still the fastest aircraft in the world.

After leaving the service in the early eighties Forest went to work for National Semiconductor as a Strategic Account Manager in Southern California. He left National in 2001 to found CarLocate, a GPS vehicle tracking company that was the launch partner for Trimble Navigation’s TrimTrac, the industry’s first portable GPS tracking device.

Over the past several years Forest has become increasingly involved in the development of electric vehicles and the charging station infrastructure that is an important component for the success of EVs in the marketplace. He is currently a Founder & Managing Partner and VP of Sales and Marketing for Electric Vehicle Business Development Strategies, LLC, or eVBDS, which is introducing a line of home EV chargers that will also manage the energy generation and storage products many consumers are adding to their homes.

About Carlos R. De La Guardia

Carlos R. De La Guardia is Founder and Managing Partner in Electric Vehicle Development Strategies, LLC (eVBDS), Latin American Consulting, Inc, KSD & Co, LLC and the President of The De La Guardia Group; an international marketing and business consulting firm that advises the government in the development and implementation of new technology strategies in the public sector. He has developed a close relationship based on credibility and positive results with high ranking members of the government administration.

In April 2004 Mr. De La Guardia was appointed Chargé d’ Affaires until the new ambassador arrived after the administrations changed in Panama. In October of the same year he coordinated the transition team at the embassy and went back to his private consulting business; this time creating The De La Guardia Group, an international business and political strategy consulting firm based in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, where he resides with his wife Laura.

He became a diplomat when he was appointed Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Panama in Washington, DC, the United States of America in November 2002. He was also Minister Counselor to the President in US-Panama affairs. Mr. De La Guardia’s role in Washington, DC was instrumental in the initial conversations between the two nations to have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He also played a key role in all the arrangements for the official presidential visit of President Mireya Moscoso to the White House in June 2003.

About Philip Zelinger

Philip Zelinger is the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and host of a nationally respected automotive advertising social networking portal, AdAgencyOnline.Net.  Philip invested 25 years as a General Manager and Dealer Principal followed by his last ten years in the automotive advertising industry representing auto dealers and technology vendors focused on the automotive advertising industry.

His role as a “Dealer Coach” is enhanced by his hosting a nationally recognized blog talk radio station – WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time.  As the author of two books on the auto industry, including “How To Sell A Car – a Career Guide to The Automobile Industry,” he is a recognized authority on market trends and developing technologies with the responsibility of selecting key vendors and applications for his dealer clients as well as forming strategic partnerships for his vendor clients to leverage their shared resources to help them bring their products and services to market.

About AdAgencyOnline.Net and Ad Agency Online, L.L.C.

AdAgencyOnline.Net reviews automotive advertising vendors and new technologies on several blog talk radio shows including Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising, Auto Industry Insiders and  their most listened to program Automotive Advertising Experts.  The shows attract automotive advertising agencies, auto dealers, auto industry vendors and O.E.M. representatives that listen to the blog talk radio station WAAOL to find vendors, applications and technologies to maximize the R.O.I. for their automotive advertising dollars.

AAOL is a national network of independent affiliated automotive advertising agencies linked by an online communication / distribution system developed by Philip Zelinger.  The proprietary operating system that powers AAOL was designed to reduce fixed and semi-variable expenses for full service automotive advertising agencies.  The developing technologies that enhanced the performance of the independent automotive advertising agencies linked by AAOL has served as the role model for the solutions suggested on AdAgencyOnline.Net and represented by AAOL to their affiliated automotive advertising agencies when serving their auto dealer clients.

Ad Agency Online L.L.C is focused on discovering and representing new automotive advertising vendors and technologies not yet recognized by the mainstream automotive advertising industry. Automotive advertising vendors represented by AAOL include; ronsmap.com, DealerMouth, TeleTextSolutions, GetAutoAppraise, Argistics – AutoTransaXion, DealMaker.Com, CityTwist.Com, Bulldog Marketing Technologies, Kihon Media, CarFolks.Com, Ai Dealer, Laser Stream Video, SiSTeR Technologies – Video CarLot and IntellaCar; to name a few.

For more information on Philip Zelinger, Ad Agency Online, L.L.C., eVBDS or any of the vendor clients represented by Ad Agency Online contact Philip at 888-796-2228 or email him at pzads@bellsouth.net.  Automotive advertising vendors, automotive advertising agencies and auto dealers that would like to be considered as a “preferred automotive advertising vendor” on AdAgencyOnline.Net and/or to hire/join Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. to represent them can contact Philip Zelinger at http://adagencyonline.net.  To quote Philip Zelinger, “Help is only a click away!  After all, what are friends for!” ###

AdAgencyOnline.Net, a nationally recognized automotive advertising resource / networking portal, will be reviewing a new cutting edge technology vendor — VehSmart — on the portal’s blog talk radio station WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time.  VehSmart is introducing a fully integrated asset management and profit enhancement program for the automotive finance and dealership community.  Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and the host of AdAgencyOnline.Net, will be interviewing Brian W. Story, the Chairman and CEO of VehSmart, and Rich Zellner, the President of VehSmart, on his blog talk radio show Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising.  The show is scheduled to air live on Wednesday, January 05th, 2011 from 12:00 Noon to 12:30 PM EST.

Philip shares best practices and new technologies on his blog talk radio shows with automotive advertising agencies who recognize the increasing role that technology and improved processes in sales and service play in today’s consolidating auto industry.  According to Philip, “Most automotive advertising agencies have learned to use today’s technology to coordinate their marketing messages on the Internet with their conventional automotive advertising.  Some have even learned the importance of  integrating sales and service processes on their Internet based virtual showrooms with their auto dealer client’s brick and mortar facilities.  Unfortunately, few automotive advertising agencies focus on other areas of day to day operations that require similar efficiencies to provide more profit from sales and service with less staff, inventory and working capital.”

“Today’s show reviewing VehSmart will take the value of technology to another level by applying efficiencies to commercial floor plan management, dealership inventory management, enhanced dealer to consumer aftermarket sales, retail automobile lender advance and service drive data programs.  I have interviewed the principals from most of the major inventory management / appraisal / marketing vendors including Dale Pollak from vAuto, Len Critcher from eCarList, Pat Ryan from FirstLook and Tim Zierden from AAX.  Each of these platforms effectively cover similar aspects of the sales and service process based on technology driven inventory management data, however, VehSmart offers a number of unique complimentary features and benefits that attracted my attention.  I am anxious to listen and learn from Brian and Rich about their platform during my review of VehSmart so I can continue to teach my affiliated automotive advertising agencies and online audience of auto industry decision makers about the latest and greatest advancements in technology to maximize their R.O.I. on many levels. After all, what are friends, AdAgencyOnline.net and WAAOL for!”

About VehSmart

With applications that reach across multiple business sectors in the burgeoning billion dollar telematics sector, VehSmart™ is focusing its initial product rollout in the automotive and personal safety sector. VehSmart is forging its way into the marketplace with a telematics device which can be installed in any 1997 or newer vehicle sold in North America in just seconds. The VehSmart platform (patent pending) is the only fully integrated solution that ties commercial lenders, dealers, automotive retail lenders and consumers together creating a long term sustainable relationship and dramatically increasing customer retention.

VehSmart’s sophisticated telematics device plugs into a vehicle’s diagnostic computer port and provides two-way information between the vehicle and user.  The VehSmart “plug & play” device, installed on the vehicle while on the dealer’s lot creates an enhanced relationship between the dealer and the floorplan lender.  It provides a valuable risk mitigation tool for the lenders who are financing the dealer’s inventory while providing the dealer a complete inventory asset management tool, the ability to preload an aftermarket product without the out of pocket expense of a typical pre-loaded product.  In addition the dealer receives tremendous benefits from the VehSmart inventory asset management tools which allow them to better manage inventory, improve sales and increase profitability at the dealership. 

The VehSmart Inventory Asset program allows dealership management to know every time a vehicle is on a test drive reducing the ability of salespeople to fail to record a test drive and impact their closing ratio.  Unauthorized use of vehicles is eliminated by notifying the dealership management if a vehicle is off the property when the dealership is closed.  If a vehicle is started, moved, towed or removed from the property after hours an alert is immediately transmitted to the designated manager.  VehSmart reduces or eliminates the cost of dead batteries and the potential loss of a retail sale when a vehicle won’t start.  When a vehicles battery drops below 11.8 volts an alert is sent to the designated person allowing them to start the vehicle before the battery dies.

The same device, sold on to the car buyer, features a full suite of features and benefits such as accident notification, stolen vehicle recovery, emergency roadside assistance, real time traffic updates, low battery warning, low fuel level alert.  In addition VehSmart offers Concierge service, assisting drivers in locating restaurants, hotels and gas stations with turn-by-turn directions and even making reservations and stolen vehicle tracking.   VehSmart also offers young driver alerts and geo-fence capability, sending alerts via text messages or email when young drivers are speeding, or out of a pre-determined geographic boundary.  Additionally, consumers have the ability to register up to 10 family or friends that would receive immediate notification in the event of an impact.

About Brian W. Story, Chairman& CEO

Mr. Story has over 24 years in the automotive industry, combining both his retail and aftermarket experience to bring highly successful and profitable opportunities to auto dealers. Mr. Story began his auto sales career in Southern California in 1984. Ten years later, he surveyed the automotive landscape, resigned as General Manager at a successful Ford dealership in the Los Angeles market and formed his own automotive aftermarket company, Safelite of America, incorporated in 1996.  Through Safelite of America, Inc., he provided highly profitable promotions, products, and services to auto dealers. He created the Slasher Sale, trademarked in 1997, to move used car inventory at a time when lease returns were flooding the used car market and bringing wholesale prices down. Mr. Story eventually licensed the concept to other marketing companies.    Mr. Story is well known throughout the retail automotive industry and has an extremely impressive track record in the aftermarket business.

About Rich Zellner, President

Mr. Zellner has been in the automobile industry for almost 30 years, with over 17 years in automobile finance management.  After twelve years in dealership management roles, he joined AutoFinance Group and quickly climbed the ladder becoming a key member of a company that was ultimately sold to Key Bank for 10 times book value.  As a member of the Key AutoFinance management team, Mr. Zellner was considered one of the company’s sub-prime experts and traveled throughout the country lecturing bank management and dealer groups on auto finance. 

From 1999 through 2006 Mr. Zellner was a Senior Vice President at WFS Financial and ultimately Wachovia after a merger.  During his tenure Mr. Zellner was responsible for policies, procedures and management of a sales and marketing group of over 170 associates, travel and incentive group, and dealer services group.   In recent years Mr. Zellner served as President of Cogent Financial Group, an auto finance and elective surgery medical finance company, offering consumer loans through auto dealers and medical practices.  As President, he was responsible for all facets of the business including credit, operations, funding, collections, accounting, and legal.  Additionally he formed a consulting company, Automotive Resource Group, with a client list that includes companies such as J.D. Power, Blue Chip Financial, and Universal Auction Group.

About Philip Zelinger

Philip Zelinger is the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and host of a nationally respected automotive advertising social networking portal, AdAgencyOnline.Net.  Philip invested 25 years as a General Manager and Dealer Principal followed by his last ten years in the automotive advertising industry representing auto dealers and technology vendors focused on the automotive advertising industry.

His role as a “Dealer Coach” is enhanced by his hosting a nationally recognized blog talk radio station – WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time.  As the author of two books on the auto industry, including “How To Sell A Car – a Career Guide to The Automobile Industry,” he is a recognized authority on market trends and developing technologies with the responsibility of selecting key vendors and applications for his dealer clients as well as forming strategic partnerships for his vendor clients to leverage their shared resources to help them bring their products and services to market.

About AdAgencyOnline.Net and Ad Agency Online, L.L.C.

AdAgencyOnline.Net reviews automotive advertising vendors and new technologies on several blog talk radio shows including Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising, Auto Industry Insiders and  their most listened to program Automotive Advertising Experts.  The shows attract automotive advertising agencies, auto dealers, auto industry vendors and O.E.M. representatives that listen to the blog talk radio station WAAOL to find vendors, applications and technologies to maximize the R.O.I. for their automotive advertising dollars.

AAOL is a national network of independent affiliated automotive advertising agencies linked by an online communication / distribution system developed by Philip Zelinger.  The proprietary operating system that powers AAOL was designed to reduce fixed and semi-variable expenses for full service automotive advertising agencies.  The developing technologies that enhanced the performance of the independent automotive advertising agencies linked by AAOL has served as the role model for the solutions suggested on AdAgencyOnline.Net and represented by AAOL to their affiliated automotive advertising agencies when serving their auto dealer clients.

Ad Agency Online L.L.C is focused on discovering and representing new automotive advertising vendors not yet recognized by the mainstream automotive advertising industry. Automotive advertising vendors represented by AAOL include; ronsmap.com, DealerMouth, TeleTextSolutions, GetAutoAppraise, Argistics – AutoTransaXion, DealMaker.Com, CityTwist.Com, Bulldog Marketing Technologies, Kihon Media, CarFolks.Com, Ai Dealer, Laser Stream Video, SiSTeR Technologies – Video CarLot and IntellaCar; to name a few.

For more information on Philip Zelinger, Ad Agency Online, L.L.C., VehSmart or any of the vendor clients represented by Ad Agency Online contact Philip at 888-796-2228 or email him at pzads@bellsouth.net.  Automotive advertising vendors, automotive advertising agencies and auto dealers that would like to be considered as a “preferred automotive advertising vendor” on AdAgencyOnline.Net and/or to hire/join Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. to represent them can contact Philip Zelinger at http://adagencyonline.net.  To quote Philip Zelinger, “Help is only a click away!  After all, what are friends for!” ###