AdAgencyOnline.Net

Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and the host of the automotive advertising resource / networking portal http://AdAgencyOnline.Net, has scheduled a follow up interview on his blog talk radio show with three principals from eVBDS, (Electric Vehicle Business Development Strategies), — George Stellweg, Forest Williams and Carlos De La Guardia.  The trio of auto industry, government and technology insiders will be discussing the introduction of their game changing electric vehicle charging solution in advance of the upcoming 10th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition at The Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando Florida April 19th – 21st., 2011.  The show hosted by Philip — Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising —  will air Monday, April 11th., 2011 from 12 Noon EST to 12:30 PM EST on  WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time hosted by Ad Agency Online.

Electric vehicles will surface many challenges and opportunities for auto dealers, some are known but many more are yet to be discovered.  Philip recognized the unique opportunities being presented by eVBDS that would benefit his affiliated automotive advertising agencies and auto dealer/vendor clients. “I have always valued people over even product and price.  Before I decided to invest my reputation and valued relationships earned over my 35 year career in the auto industry as both a dealer and now as a consultant by recommending eVBDS, I included their partnered relationships as part of my due diligence.”

eVBDS together with Eaton Corporation – a leader in electric power management for over a century with $13B in total revenues – will 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.

Many auto industry analysts believe 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.” 

Philip Zelinger shares the vision of eVBDS  and their ability to help shape a developing opportunity in the retail auto industry.  “The bottom line is that EV vehicles will impact the dealers bottom line before, during and after the sale.  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.”

“One of the founding partners, Carlos De La Guardia, brings a wealth of knowledge regarding the politics that both help and hurt any new industry.  Couple his knowledge of the beltway with the retail auto experience of another principal, George Stellweg supported by the tech savvy business development experience of their other partner, Forest William and my decision to promote them and theirs to me and mine became self evident.”

“My updated live review of eVBDS on my show scheduled for April 11th. will also be sent out as a podcast to a targeted audience of automotive advertising agencies and service providers allowing me to listen and learn from literally thousands of auto dealers and auto industry decision makers before I presume to teach.  My plan is to get their feedback and support to help us launch this new revenue stream for auto dealers who are struggling to make more with less in our consolidating industry.  After all, what are friends for!”

About George Stellweg

George Stellweg has over 20 years of experience as a business leader, entrepreneur and senior executive in leadership positions successfully establishing new businesses, managing and implementing executive, sales, and business development teams in enterprises worldwide.

George was born in Mexico City of Dutch heritage and educated in North America and Europe. This background along with his exemplary service and business experiences internationally contributes to his extensive multi-cultural global knowledge in business and life.

He is currently the Founder and Managing Partner of Green Automotive Inc, 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 auto 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!” ###

The consolidation of the auto industry was in response to free market conditions reacting to a weakening economy accelerated by government intervention that many believe went beyond the rules of law.  The impact on auto dealers and the businesses that served them in their surrounding communities was immediate as they were shuttered by the thousands.  Automotive advertising agencies and technology vendors serving the retail automobile industry were similarly affected, however, the resulting changes are only now coming to light.

Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. — a national network of independent affiliated automotive advertising agencies linked by their online communication / distribution system — recently commented on the changing landscape of the automotive advertising industry and the technology vendors that serve it during an interview on the blog talk radio station WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time.  WAAOL is hosted on the automotive advertising resource / networking portal AdAgencyOnline.Net. 

“The consolidation of the auto industry has forced automotive advertising agencies to take on new areas of responsibility that include integrating sales processes that begin on the virtual showrooms being built on the Internet Super Highway with real world brick and mortar facilities.  The internet has sparked new vendor applications and technologies that have forever changed the role of automotive advertising agencies who are now challenged to insure that the message on the street matches the message on the real and virtual showroom floor.  Technology has always determined the media used to deliver a targeted marketing message with human nature shaping the messages and methods applied by automotive advertising agencies tasked with maximizing the R.O.I. for every automotive advertising dollar.  The Internet and the impact that social media is having on the shopping and buying habits of consumers is being reflected in the emerging technologies and applications focused on providing efficiencies and short term R.O.I. analytics.”

“It is no longer enough for automotive advertising agencies to simply drive customers to their auto dealer client’s websites and/or showrooms.  Until and unless their efforts can be sourced to specific vehicle sales and/or repair orders they have not earned their agency fees.  Fortunately, new vendor applications have been developed to handle the warp speeds that customers are travelling on the Internet Super Highway.  These integrated solutions are being consolidated into comprehensive platforms built on best in class applications that  follow customers all the way to the showroom floor and/or the service drive — and beyond with after sales follow up to improve customer satisfaction and retention. Technology vendors that provide specialized applications for the auto industry have been consolidating their products and services to improve selling processes by linking new and pre-owned vehicle sales with fixed operations.  Efficiencies in processing customer contacts through integrated ILM and CRM systems tied to in store desking applications and DMS platforms allow automotive advertising agencies to manage and monitor customer contacts with a verifiable R.O.I..  This kind of R.O.I. analysis was not possible when these sales and service functions were handled by individual vendor solutions that did not communicate efficiently with each other.”

The consolidation in the automotive advertising technology sector has been evidenced by the increased market penetration by extensive product suites such as those offered by a group of individual vendors that comprise Dominion.  Similar platform solutions have been developed by individual vendors who have extended their products and services to include applications that compliment their initial offerings. 

Philip Zelinger recently interviewed Len Critcher from eCarList on The Automotive Advertising Experts blog talk radio show. The eCarList inventory management / marketing application has been complimented by new offerings that were discussed in detail

About eCarList

eCarList provides web-based inventory management, distribution, and marketing services to over 1,000 leading franchise and independent automotive dealerships nationwide.  The company’s comprehensive product lineup includes Inventory Management, Vehicle Pricing Analytics, Award-Winning Custom Websites, and a full-suite of Online Marketing Services including Search & Behavioral Marketing, Managed Chat, Video Mobile Websites and more. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, eCarList is an eBay Motors Preferred Provider.   For more information, visit www.ecarlist.com.

About TrueMarket Mobile

TrueMarket Mobile is the first and only mobile appraisal and inventory management application on the market to deliver both wholesale and retail data including Cars.com, AutoTrader, eBay, BlackBook, NADA, AuctionNet, Carfax, AutoCheck and more.  All data is complimented with intelligent market data including Market Days Supply, Price Variance, Option Filtering and Real-time competitive views.

Features of the app include an intuitive VIN scanner, VIN paste and quick-adds if you’re away from the vehicle, and direct integration with the eCarList desktop software.  Our dealers have the ability to photograph, price, edit and upload vehicles directly from the App to our inventory management software which instantly updates the website and retail sites.

Another respected vendor that recently expanded their core application into more of a platform solution is Higher Gear.  Philip Zelinger interviewed Robert Gruen, the founder of The Higher Gear Group, on WAAOL to discuss their CRM application and the newly expanded products and services being introduced to compliment their initial application.

The Higher Gear Group Team enhanced their platform under their new Overdrive banner which includes showroom, customer relationship and lead management systems.  The new products and services that have been added to their simple to use CRM — Done Right application include their integrated eZDesk system defined by their slogan — Multipayment Desking Made Easy, their eZBDC — Follow Up Made Easy and other products with descriptive names including their MyGarage — Be-back system, Super form — All-in-one lead generation, Bargain Button — Interactive Offer System and feature functions like their One-click Navigation, Mobile Site solution, Social Media Integration, High-indexing Search Technology, Affiliate Tracking, Dealer Care Proactive Site Maintenance and their Automated Credit Application Integration. 

About The Higher Gear Group

The Higher Gear Group, an industry-leading provider of software and services to the automotive industry, today announced the completion of an investment in the company by an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, a global private investment firm with more than $7.5 billion of equity under management. Founded in 1998 by industry veteran Robert C. Gruen, The Higher Gear Group provides customer relationship management (CRM) software and related services to automotive dealers throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Company’s software tracks the entire lifecycle of retail automotive customers, facilitating the management, retention and conversion of customer leads at dealerships.

Based in Schaumburg, Illinois, The Higher Gear Group was a pioneer in the automotive CRM sector, developing custom software solutions specifically tailored to address the unique process of selling cars, trucks and other motor vehicles at retail dealerships. The Company’s leading software was rapidly adopted throughout North America by dealerships seeking to realize a higher return on their significant investments in sales and marketing. In the decade between 1999 and 2009, the Company grew its customer base at an average annual rate of 60%, outpacing its competition and establishing itself as the leading independent player in the industry. The Higher Gear Group currently serves customers in 47 of 50 states.

These examples of best in class products and services offered by auto industry focused vendors integrated into platform solutions link vehicles sales and fixed operations to improve efficiencies and provide more comprehensive R.O.I. analytics.  Auto dealers and automotive advertising agencies that have survived the consolidation in the retail auto industry have turned to technology to leverage their limited resources.  The future for auto dealers and automotive advertising agencies clinging to old school business practices without embracing the internet, social media and technologies to maximize the efficiencies that they represent is bleak.  Similarly, vendors serving the auto industry must expand their products and services beyond their initial core products to provide complimentary and integrated solutions or they will be swept aside by platform solutions that address their auto dealer clients needs in a more comprehensive manner. Read the rest of this entry »

Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and host of the blog talk radio station WAAOL — All Automotive Advertising News All The Time,  will be reviewing new automotive advertising technologies and applications during live interviews with principals from selected vendors conducted during The 9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition.  WAAOL is featured on the highly regarded automotive advertising  resource / networking portal AdAgencyOnline.net and the blog talk radio shows will be broadcast live during the conference at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas October 12th – 14th 2010.

Philip explained his support for the Digital Dealer Conferences and the criteria that he will be using to select his guests for the blog talk radio shows during the event. “My self delegated role at my company, Ad Agency Online, and our automotive advertising resource / networking portal AdAgencyOnline.Net has been to research and review new automotive advertising technologies and applications for our affiliated automotive advertising agencies.  Today’s automotive advertising industry is traveling at warp speed on the Internet Super Highway and frankly most independent automotive advertising agencies and auto dealers simply don’t have the time keep their eyes on the road.”

“I follow and contribute to a diverse mix of complimentary automotive advertising social networking sites linked through our online network of networkers in a special section on AdAgencyOnline.Net headed — Auto Industry Insiders.  Frankly,  my relationship with most of those automotive advertising experts started on the WWW but they matured in real world venues like the Digital Dealer Conferences when we shared best practices in our sessions and/or at the parties where we gathered after hours to network and make new friends.”

“This year I will be focusing on finding new ways to monetize social media and to verify a quantifiable R.O.I. for the time and effort that our automotive advertising agencies are putting into it vs. conventional media such as radio, T.V. and print which no longer fits into our reduced budgets.  I have a number of appointments scheduled to review new vendors exhibiting at the conference and/or hosting sessions as well some updates promised by vendors we are already using.”

“I will be finalizing my blog talk radio show schedule and guest list during our pre-conference networking party co-hosted by my newest vendor client Hughes Hunter to start building the buzz around their new mobile sales presentation / training platform — IntellaCar.  The party is being held at The Japonais Lounge in the lobby of The Mirage Hotel on Monday, October 11th, 2010 from 6PM to 8PM and we will be using it to coordinate our agendas throughout the conference.  I will be co-hosting another party with my vendor client, SiSTeR Technologies  Video CarLot, on Tuesday Evening from 9PM to 11 PM at our suite appropriately titled The Johnnie Walker Blue Thank You Party with a similar agenda to discuss new opportunities. After all, what are friends for!” 

Philip has been invited to host sessions for the first eight Digital Dealer Conferences and his planned session for The 9th Digital Dealer Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13th at 2:30 PM in Room #217.  His session is on the site http://DigitalDealerConference.Com and it is described as follows: 

C2C + B2B = B2C Squared: A Social Media Formula that Provides New Revenues, New Efficiencies and Greater Profits!

Social media is powered by people and this formula combines S.E.O. with W.O.M.O. (word of mouth optimization) to leverage relationships using technologies fueled by human nature 

The market is a conversation that auto dealers must be invited to join. Customer to customer, (C2C), comments combined with business to business, (B2B), cross promotions equals business to customer, (B2C), marketing messages distributed virally to sell more vehicles and service.  The applications introduced in this session integrate best practices powered by human nature to leverage relationships using social media in a cost effective manner with efficiencies in processes and the use of staff to maximize profits and sales. Monetizing social media at an auto dealership can be as simple or as complicated as you make it.  This session will provide a simple formula with proven success that blends old school best practices with new world technology.  After all, what are friends for! 

About the 9^th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition:

The 9^th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition, October 12 – 14 at the Mirage in Las Vegas: New Ideas, New Revenues, New Efficiencies, Greater Profits. More than 600 dealership attendees are expected. www.DigitalDealerConference.com

The sessions for the 9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition  will feature speaking sessions, roundtables and a vendor exposition for dealership managers and directors who are interested in learning more about successfully doing business on the Internet.  The speaking roster include leading industry trainers, consultants and thought leaders covering topics that are of crucial interest to today’s successful automobile dealership managers.  

The 9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition is the ideal learning and networking venue for general managers, dealer principals, internet sales managers, e-commerce directors, BDC managers, CRM managers, pre-owned managers, F&I managers and fixed operations managers. More than 550 dealership attendees are expected at the fall event along with as many as 90 exhibitors and sponsors. 

For more information about the 9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition, go to www.digitaldealerconference.com or contact Susan Tyson at styson@dealer-communications.com, 312 558-1799.

The conference is owned and operated by Dealer Communications, the leading multi-media information source for the automotive retail industry. Connecting with franchised automotive dealers and managers over ten million times per year, Dealer Communications publishes the monthly print Dealer magazine, and online editions of Dealer, Digital Dealer and Dealer Fixed Operations magazines. Online weekly newsletters include Dealer; Digital Dealer; Dealer Fixed Operations, Dealer Pre-Owned; Dealer F&I, and Dealer Sales and Marketing. To see all that Dealer Communications offers, visit www.dealer-communications.com. Read the rest of this entry »

Shrinking auto sales, profit margins and automotive advertising budgets have forced automotive advertising agencies to shift their investments from conventional radio, T.V. and print media to the internet and social media such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and too many more to list.  Unfortunately, conventional automotive advertising wisdoms don’t always apply on the Internet Super Highway.  As a result, automotive advertising agencies are struggling to find out not only what works, but how they can prove it to their auto dealer clients who are demanding a verifiable short term R.O.I. for every dollar in today’s struggling economy.  Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and the host of the automotive advertising resource / networking portal AdAgencyOnline.Net, is directing automotive advertising agencies to promote people over product or price using social media to produce quantifiable and qualified results.

Relationship based selling systems and marketing messages have always been part of the plan for auto dealers in their brick and mortar facilities and it has been carried over to their new online virtual showrooms. However, the assumption that people and personality serve only to build brand awareness or to enhance the retail message vs. replacing it is a dated concept that must be adjusted to fit the demands of today’s empowered customers.  Auto dealer’s self serving retail messages delivered by their automotive advertising agencies — regardless of the media — is no longer perceived as relevant or transparent to online shoppers who prefer to ask their friends and/or trusted third party resources for information they need to make a buying decision.

Digital marketing techniques and priorities established by automotive advertising agencies — such as focusing on Search Engine Optimization, (S.E.O.), Search Engine Marketing, (S.E.M.) and various other manipulations of the algorithms that determine page positions for the online search engines — are no longer the best and/or the only way to deliver a call to action to potential customers.  The newest opportunity for automotive advertising agencies to deliver a message that will sell new and/or pre-owned vehicles as well as service and/or parts is to have their past, present and pending customers do it for them.

Initial attempts to transfer hard retail advertising using conventional media and even digital marketing on the WWW using auto dealer websites or dealer centric third party automotive advertising platforms were not received well by the typical online shopper who traveled onto the Internet Super Highway to avoid car dealers and fast talking car salespeople.  Today’s empowered customers prefer customer centric messages sourced from likeminded consumers sharing their shopping/buying experiences before, during and after their purchases. 

Auto dealers who marketed directly to these social networking communities were seen as wolves in sheep’s clothing as they attempted to sell their products and services from the outside in vs. from the inside out.  Automotive advertising agencies were also challenged by their inability to quantify the short term R.O.I. from their efforts to justify their fees. 

Philip Zelinger discussed some of the new technologies and applications being applied to social media that allow automotive advertising agencies to prove the R.O.I. for social media on his blog talk radio show Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising.  The show is an open business meeting featured on the blog talk radio station WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The time that is hosted on AdAgencyOnline.net. 

Philip commented on the subject with some suggested resources that automotive advertising agencies can turn to for best practices in social media and accumulating R.O.I. analytics. “Automotive advertising agencies first and best resource is to listen, learn and apply the best practices associated with social media and social networking offered on automotive advertising resource portals including AutomotiveDigitalMarketing.Com, InternetSalesManager.Org, DrivingSales.Com, DealerElite.Net, Autr.Com, AskPatty.Com , ScottMonty.Com and networks of networkers such as Auto Industry Insiders featured on my own AdAgencyOnline,.net.   I also suggest that automotive advertising agencies continue their education in real world venues like The 9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition scheduled Oct. 12-14th, 2010 at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. Many of my affiliated automotive advertising agencies and auto dealer/vendor clients will be hosting sessions there on leveraging social media including mine: C2C + B2B – B2C SQUARED; Learn How This New Social Media Formula Provides New Revenues, New Efficiencies And Greater Profits.”

“As far as leveraging limited resources to promote people over product and price one solution that comes to mind is a vendor client of mine — DealerMouth.  They offer auto dealers a master website that allows them to manage and monitor individual sites for each of their sales people and service writers. The sales people can promote themselves to their own spheres of influence in both the virtual world of Facebook and Twitter and the real world at the dealership by directing them to their personal website as a form of online “Why Buy Here Book” or as a personal blog like forum to talk about life.  More uniquely, the dealer can make sure that their staff is using their online time in a productive manner vs. planning their vacations on company time by using the built in moderator functions to monitor content and online activities during business hours.  The individual sites hosted on DealerMouth are internally linked to the dealer’s online resources so it provides salespeople and service writers with a seamless transition to information they need during or after hours to sell a vehicle or service to a friend when the conversation warrants it.” Read the rest of this entry »

Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. and host of the automotive advertising resource / networking portal AdAgencyOnline.Net, will be sharing best practices in monetizing social media with automotive advertising agencies attending The 9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition.  The respected auto industry focused conference is being held at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas October 12th – 14th, 2010. 

According to Mr. Zelinger, “Automotive advertising agencies don’t know what they don’t know. To survive in today’s consolidating auto industry they need to find out, and The 9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition is the best place in the real world for them to do it!  I host AdAgencyOnline.Net to share best practices with automotive advertising agencies and automotive advertising decision makers on the internet because I believe in the concept that a rising tide floats all boats.  My participation and support of The 9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition is my way to pay forward for all of the success that I have enjoyed in the retail auto industry built on some my best ideas borrowed from conferences like it over my 35 year career in the auto industry and the automotive advertising industry that serves it.”

Philip Zelinger will be hosting a session titled C2C + B2B = B2C SQUARED; A Social Media Formula That Provides New Revenues, New Efficiencies And Greater Profits.  The session is described on the site promoting the event — http://digitaldealerconference.com– on a section that features all of the speakers including a video of Philip Zelinger offering a personal invitation to automotive advertising agencies to attend his session and the conference.  

The session is described on the site as — The market is a conversation that auto dealers must be invited to join. Customer to customer, (C2C), comments combined with business to business, (B2B), cross promotions equals business to customer, (B2C), marketing messages distributed virally to sell more vehicles and service.  The applications introduced in this session integrate best practices powered by human nature to leverage relationships using social media in a cost effective manner with efficiencies in processes and the use of staff to maximize profits and sales. Monetizing social media at an auto dealership can be as simple or as complicated as you make it.  This session will provide a simple formula with proven success that blends old school best practices with new world technology.  After all, what are friends for!

About Philip Zelinger

Philip Zelinger is the president of Ad Agency Online and founder of a respected auto industry social networking portal – AdAgencyOnline.Net.  His 25-plus years of experience as a general manager and dealer principal are enhanced by his hosting a blog talk radio station – WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time – which provides him access to cutting edge advertising technologies before the competition. As the author of two books on the auto industry, including “How to Sell a Car,” he is a recognized authority on market trends with the responsibility of selecting key vendors for his dealer clients.

A complete list of the speakers hosting sessions at the conference, and the vendors representing various products and services to the auto industry exhibiting at the event, can be viewed at http://digitaldealerconference.com/speakers.shtml and at http://digitaldealerconference.com/exhibitors.shtml .

About the 9^th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition

The 9^th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition, October 12 – 14 at the Mirage in Las Vegas: New Ideas, New Revenues, New Efficiencies, Greater Profits. More than 600 dealership attendees are expected.  www.DigitalDealerConference.com 

• A full schedule of sessions:
  • Over 70 workshops in 7 concurrent sessions headed up by top practitioners, trainers, consultants and thought leaders in the industry delivering the newest and best ways to incorporate SEO & SEM, chat, mobile and dealership best practices into your Internet business strategy
    • More than 15 dealership practitioners will share their experiences and deliver hands-on advice and tips
  • Savvy dealerships bring as many as 7 people so they can cover ALL the sessions Read the rest of this entry »