Sunday, October 28, 2012

Toyota's Interesting Campaign For The Prius

There are many different ways one could launch a marketing campaign for a popular car as the Toyota Prius such as focusing on its incredible fuel efficiency for one. 
Instead of focusing on the practical, Toyota has decided to focus on the quirky by asking Facebook followers what the plural of Prius should be. Priuses? Pri or maybe even Prien? Toyota has set up a website that will allow consumers to vote on the final verdict.

Sell The Sizzle

Toyota's campaign show the importance of selling the sizzle instead of the steak. Anyone can use the internet in order to find out detailed specs on the Prius such as the options available, mileage, engine type and standard features; that's boring. A campaign focusing on the mundane is less likely to capture attention.

However, a campaign that is quirky and fun is more likely to inspire consumer interaction. I'm pretty sure everyone has an opinion about what the plural of Prius should be. This is a marketing campaign that has a good chance of going viral because it sparks dialogue and conversation. It's one thing to keep in mind when planning your next campaign, no matter what product you're selling!

Consumer Interaction

The best marketing campaigns encourage participation. Contests, such as the one held by Toyota, are a great way in order to get people to start discussing your brand. People are much more likely to participate if there is a prize. 

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Use Social Media To Sell Your Used Car


Many big businesses are using social media in order to promote their products and establish a brand following. Why not use social media the next time you're ready to get sell a used car? There are so many used cars available on the market; why not make you ad stand out from the rest by using social media in order to spruce up your marketing efforts?

Post On Facebook

If you have a large social network, you may want to announce that you are selling your vehicle on Facebook. Even if your friends aren't interested in the car, they may know someone who is.

Create A Youtube Video

One great way of making your used car ad stand out from the rest is by creating a video and uploading to Youtube. This will allow you to present your car from 360 degree angles and show off the interior as well as exterior in detail. If you're posting an ad on Craigslist you can also link to your video from your ad.

Tweet It

The beauty of Twitter is that others can retweet anything you Tweet. So go ahead and send a message into the Twitterspere about your vehicle sale. You can even post links to your online classified ad or Youtube video.




Friday, September 14, 2012

How Used Car Dealers Can Benefit From Social Media


 It's generally harder for used car dealerships to gain the trust of consumers versus other businesses. Luckily there are a few ways to change that perception.

Put A Face To Your Business

Social media can be used to put a "face" to your business and to give customers the opportunity to get your staff up-close and personal. You may want to post photos of office events or even employee birthdays. It's a great way to make your business seem more "personal" and "friendly".

Charity And Community Involvement

Do you sponsor any charities? Do you sponsor any local sports teams or athletics? Organize a monthly clinic for car owners? Getting involved with your community and posting about it on your site and various social media outlets makes you seem more approachable and trustworthy.

Testimonials

Another good idea is to record video testimonials of new car owners next to their purchases and post it on your Facebook, blog or site (with their permission of course). So why not give it a try next time and add a personal touch to your next Facebook or blog update?

Take a look at Used Cars Anaheim dealer for great prices on Ford cars in Orange County.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Do Car Dealers Need A Facebook Page?



Facebook pages are an integral marketing tool and businesses, including car dealers, would benefit greatly from having a social presence. Studies show that younger buyers are more likely to be influenced by social media before making a purchase.

The photo album section is a great place to show off your inventory. For example, if you own a Honda Atlanta dealership, why not post photos of the new Accord or Civic? You can also post photos of your staff and perhaps even company holiday parties. Sponsor any local events and charities? Take a few pictures and write about it on your Facebook.

Update your Facebook page regularly with specials and deals. You can also post links to automotive news and articles that you think may be interesting. Why not offer a special deal made only available to your Facebook followers? This is a great way to get new followers and to keep your current friends from checking your page from time to time. Don't forget to post a link to your dealer website from your Facebook.

Social media is definitely here to stay. A Facebook page is one of the easiest ways to establish a presence on social media sites. It doesn't require a ton of maintenance; you could easily have an intern update it a few times a week.  

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Ford Takes A Proactive Socia Media Approach



Most businesses are eager to address consumer concerns via toll free phone number or if they are criticized in a Yelp business review. What about taking a more proactive stance? Ford Motors is doing just that. The automotive giant has a dedicated team of employees whose sole task is to seek out concerns or questions about the brand posted on internet forums and social media accounts. It's a very innovative and direct approach that seeks to fix minor issues before they become a big issue.

You don't have to be a corporate giant in order to take such a proactive stance. Sign up for Google Alerts; this free service will notify you every time your brand is mentioned online. You can also use the search bar on Twitter in order to search for your company name. Reaching out to customers shows shows initiative and may earn you future business.

Visit St Louis Ford for great deals on Ford cars in MO.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

How car Dealers Can Market On Twitter



Does your car dealership have an account on Twitter? If you don't you may be missing out on major traffic and possible sales. For starters, Twitter allows you to post a link to your dealer website which means an increase in unique visitors. Second, Twitter is a great platform that can be used to showcase your best-selling models or even any special sales events you may be having. Why not also tweet about any community charity or community events you may be sponsoring?

It's important to tweet with care. Twitter is a tight-knit community and you may lose followers if you only tweet about your latest deals on the Kia Optima in Irvine. Mix it up by posting links to articles or posts that you may think might be beneficial and interesting to your demographic.

Social media is a great way to interact with your existing customer base and even earn potential new ones. Another idea is to post photos of company events, birthday parties and interesting behind the scenes tidbits from the dealership.

Some experts even believe that a strong social media presence may even influence organic SEO rankings. So go ahead, Tweet away! 

Saturday, July 7, 2012

A Revolutionary Online Campaign For The Ford Focus

Advertising through social media isn't anything new. Many companies are using tactics such as buying advertising on Facebook or media buys in order to drive awareness and potential shoppers to their websites. However, Ford is a true pioneer when it comes to online advertising and is stepping outside the box by launching the new Ford Focus EV through an internet reality show.Dealers across the nation such as Ford Fusion Corpus Christi will carry the new Focus.


The show will be launched exclusively on Yahoo and feature a series of contests where participants will have to overcome various obstacles in order to win a Ford Fusion. Ford has tapped into one of the most popular niches when it comes to reality tv shows; competitive reality shows. These shows offer more substance than the regular reality variety and are suitable for family viewing. Ford will also have celebrity presenters host the shows. It also looks like Ford is aiming to target younger buyers who are more likely to favor online entertainment instead of traditional tv shows.

It looks like social media will continue to play an important role when it comes to building brand awareness. Social media can be used to sell anything from used cars to launching a brand new auto to raising awareness.

Friday, July 6, 2012

How Car Dealers Can Use Social Media

Most brick and mortar businesses are realizing the importance of having an online presence and car dealers are no different. Many have found creative ways to make announcements, offer deals and interact with new and existing customers through social media. Let's take a look at a few ways dealers can use social media to their advantage.  

Claim A Yelp Account 

  Yelp is one of the most popular review sites online. Users are able to post detailed reviews about any business. The difference between Yelp and other review sites is that Yelp allows users to "add friends" and send messages to one another. In addition, the site also offers a very active message board. Negative reviews on a site like Yelp can be very detrimental to auto dealers. Luckily, Yelp allows business owners to "claim" their business listing, upload photos and even respond to negative reviews.  

Open A Twitter Account

Twitter is becoming one of the more popular social networking sites. Messages or "tweets" are limited to a set number of characters. Users have the ability to "follow" others and have followers themselves. Twitter would be a great way for a car dealer to announce any specials or current sales. Many dealers, such as Galpin Honda, Honda of Los Angeles are using Twitter in order to communicate with potential customers.


Sign Up For Google Alerts

With the abundance of social media sites available in cyber space, it can be difficult to keep track of what is being said about your business. Google Alerts is a free service that allows you to monitor the online repuation of your business.