Category Archives: Uncategorized

Limited Retargeting on GDN expedites Mobile Apps

According to Jeff Ward-Bailey’s article on The Christian Science Monitor

Google spent much of last week dodging criticism from Apple users about its online privacy practices. But when Microsoft got involved this week, that’s when things got really interesting.

Users of Apple’s Safari browser recently claimed that Google was violating their privacy by circumventing a mechanism the browser uses to disable tracking.

Here’s what’s (apparently) going on under the hood: by default, Safari disables third-party cookies, nuggets of code that companies can use to identify users returning to a site they’ve visited before, or to track what other sites they visit. Safari can accept cookies if a user explicitly gives permission, but Google’s ad platform reportedly used a workaround to mimic approval of its cookies.

 

We all know the Do Not Call law had dramatic impact on the telemarketing industry, the browser cookie privacy laws is expected to put a huge dent in the ability to build retargeting audiences. We are not sure how fast and how big this dent is going to be due to the privacy filters.

With this recent uproar dealers would need to expedite the roll-out of branded mobile apps and Automotive mobile websites. The apps provide a direct communication channel with customers.

With email delivery rates low and privacy concerns on the rise, mobile apps are a strong way to have two-way communications with your customers.

As part of the delivery process or service process dealers can encourage smartphone owners to download the dealership’s custom app right in the store.

Automotive Advertising Network will start offering Mobile Apps and Mobile Sites exclusive to AAN members during 2nd Quarter 2012.

AAN is a one of a kind Off-Site Automotive SEO platform with built in in-store review platform helping dealers to gain higher visibility for their online internet marketing campaigns.

Mobile Inspector Will Shake Up The Auto Industry

Brian Pasch loves to discuss digital marketing strategies with industry peers and when he sees an opportunity that can benefit the larger automotive community he is compelled to write and share.

Today, to the potential surprise of his readers, he is not writing about search marketing. He is writing about technology because he is very very excited about a new product that creates an innovative process for vehicle inventory inspection and merchandizing.

A dealer’s inventory is the primary eCommerce connection with consumers. Dealers make an significant investment to locate, appraise, purchase, recondition, and market used cars.

The physical infrastructure, human resources, insurance, financing, and marketing costs represent a large risk that dealers willingly take.

However, the attention to detail given to inspect, photograph, and merchandize their used cars on their website often does not reflect the massive investment dealers undertake to be in business. I see a costly disconnect in the auto industry on attention given to vehicle merchandizing.

You can read the rest of the article on Dealer Seo site here.

Automotive Dealer SEO and Google Related

As of August 16th 2011 evening, Google started showing Google Related for websites (I could only see a few as of now). Automotive Dealers will have a great impact on their web assets due to this.

imageGoogle Related for Automotive dealers seem to have 4 elements to it. A map, Google Reviews, Related Places and Related Searches. Although I am all for showing a map, I am not sure the other aspects of Google Related will have a positive impact on a dealership. For instance if a dealer website has a low star count, as a potential buyer I would in a second go to another place to shop for a car.

Dealers Need IRM Strategy even more now with Google Related.

imageDealer who do not invest in their IRM strategy are the ones that will get hurt most. A low star count means you lost the customer even before they read through the content on your website.

Being proactive and getting your customers post positive reviews in Google Places is the best way to get past this hurdle.

A dealer with low start count or recent low star counts need to investigate each incident and make sure have a good process in place to make sure unhappy customer reviews are limited or eliminated, especially since its easier to get bad reviews rather than good ones.

The related places tab at the bottom also shows star count for your competitors, If they have better start count, I would go shop in their dealership.

So its important not only to watch your counts but also your competitor counts, and provide best service you can to limit bad reviews and low star counts.

 

Automotive SEO and Google Related

It also seems from the Google Related bar, the related searches (last tab) shows various search results, in the searches I performed, I was looking for Toyota service in Sanford NC and I got related searches to show up for buying a new Toyota and/or a listing of Toyota dealers in the area. I believe Google will be refining the related searches even more to show more relevant results to the users. Evidently it very important to have more assets on page one for the keywords you wish to appear. This way Google Related Searches will always show more of the dealers listing and competitors.

 

So in summary it appears the strategy is 2 fold. One, to have good reviews and the other being strong Automotive Advertising in regards to Automotive SEO.

AAN can help car dealers achieve the objective of strong Automotive SEO that should include building geo targeted Automotive Microsites. PCG Digital Marketing Strategies can help in improving and retaining strong reviews. End of the day the dealer need to invest in Automotive SEO and Automotive IRM and keep up to date with changes Google is making and AAN can help.

Call us at 732 4508222 to talk to us and a quick demo of our services and tools and let us show you how you can benefit from these new changes.

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Google Reviews Changed

Google has once again changed its position regarding reviews in Google place. It started dropping third party star count. This change is a welcome change for some dealers who have bad third party reviews but for those dealers whose reviews were better off with third party counts have to step up their game in getting reviews posted in Google Places from their Customers.

What can Dealers do to improve their review counts?

Automotive dealers need to have an in-store reputation management policy to manage Google Places. With a whole lot of smart phones on the market selling at considerably lower prices, dealers need to start using Android phones, iPhones, iPads etc. The Google Places app can be installed right on them.

Dealers can use Google Boost to spice up their PPC strategy. Boost is an up and coming strategic advantage which we have been discussing with clients.

Third party reviews are still important and will still be indexed and viewed by your prospective customers.

In-Store IRM Processes and Training

Dealers looking for direction on how to best adapt to these changes should start an in store reputation management process that include using 3G smart devices.

Dealers must set processes to identify consumers with Google accounts while they are in the dealership. 550,000 Android devices are activated a DAY and all have Google Accounts. Google empowered consumers can post reviews directly on Google Places, with their account, from a mobile device.

If you need help with in store training, processes, and strategy on reputation management, give IntelliFusion a call.

IntelliFusion Technologies is an Automotive SEO and IT company and AAN Reseller. For your automotive advertising needs send us a note or call us at 732 450 8222 and see how the Automotive Advertising Strategies are built for your specific needs.

http://automotiveseoguru.com/2011/07/21/google-reviews-changed/

Automotive Dealers Should Focus on Education in 2011

We are almost ready to start 2011 and in the new year dealers should be setting aside budget for staff education on Digital Marketing and Automotive SEO. This will ensure continued growth and prosperity in 2011.

As more dollars are allocated to digital marketing, social media, pay-per-click advertising, mobile websites, and location based media dealer principals have been slow to increase spending for staff education.

Digital Marketing education is partly static in nature and party dynamic. As Google and other search engines refine their algorithms, its imperative that automotive dealers either themselves or with the help of a strategic digital marketing partner should be on top of the changes and improvements. This will ensure continuous placement of Dealer’s web assets for their most common Geo targeted search phrases for their brands.

As the economy is still recovering consumers tend to buy more used cars than new cars and this is one area that dealers should focus on at least in the first half of 2011.

Dealers who spend marketing dollars on Adwords should educate and train themselves on how to benchmark and measure the results of these campaigns. Only then, wise decisions on investments can be made.

Having said that, dealers in 2011 should look into marketing spend on Advertising Tools like Automotive Advertising Network that help dealers increase their web visibility, there by increasing sales.

Automotive Advertising Network is an innovative digital marketing platform that produces tremendous results based on Automotive SEO Principles. AAN is a ever growing network on web assets and the networks grows, dealers find more dealer centric web assets that help them succeed in 2011.

Contact us and let us show you how we can help Automotive Dealers get the most in the new year.