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Marketing Automation Platforms for Auto Dealerships

Posted by Joe Gargiulo | Fri, Dec 02, 2016 @ 07:00 AM

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If one conducts an online research using the title of this article, he/she will encounter nearly one million sites mentioning the search terms. No wonder, with more makes and models on the market than ever, auto dealerships are using smart technology to reach potential customers.

Most software packages for dealerships that are content relationship managers (CRM) versus comprehensive automated marketing platforms. CRM can organize, segment and contact sales leads, but they may not offer all marketing tasks.

On the other hand, automated marketing platforms are comprehensive tools for building brand images while managing lead management and subscriber lists, web sites and inbound marketing, blogs, email campaigns, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and the essential social channels.

Tracking and metrics are also critical since auto dealerships will want to determine return on investment of the various channels before strategizing future campaigns.

The below platforms are a sampling of what is available today. The recommended approach is to identify current needs, project future needs, compare products and value, and look for reviews from dealerships currently using the programs. If this methodology sounds familiar, it’s because auto consumers are using nearly the same approach to sizing up prospective dealerships.

9 Clouds

The Inbound Marketing bundle of 9 Clouds manages blogs, landing pages, search engine optimization (SEO), social media, email marketing and automation, analytics and ROI, lead tracking, text message marketing and more.

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Dominion Dealer Solutions offers a robust package of website solutions, social media management, search engine optimization and marketing, data base management, email marketing, newsletter production, text messaging campaigns, direct mail programs, and pre-recorded voice messaging services.

VinSolutions

VinSolutions specializes in a variety of software packages for auto dealerships. Its marketing platform includes automated marketing for direct mail, email, customer segmentation and ROI. The marketing platform can be purchased alone or in conjunction with other VinSolutions services such as Connect ILM (internet lead management), Connect CRM (email and texting campaigns, ROI), and Data Appends (database management and compliance).

HubSpot

While it is not auto-industry specific, HubSpot is the benchmark all-in-one software package for inbound marketing, SEO, keywords lists, CRM, email marketing, blogging, automated social media publishing and monitoring, metrics and reporting, contact management, automated email campaigns and more.

Competition is fierce in today’s economy on all fronts, so much so that the market at large calls for auto dealerships to either get on board with automated marketing platforms or get left behind. The good news is that (1) these packages are affordable to auto dealerships; and (2) there are plenty of experienced marketers who can use them to attract more customers.

Automated Payment Solutions

Once those customers decide to buy, they will need an accommodating payment solution such as C.A.R.S. — CrossCheck’s Auto Industry RDC Solution.

C.A.R.S. provides dealerships with a fast-and-easy way to streamline processing and guarantee check transactions. It includes around-the-clock online reporting, Check on Delivery (COD) for parts and service departments, loaner equipment, and desktop conversion that eliminates trips to the bank. But why let dealerships hoard all the fun?

C.A.R.S. includes Multiple Check — the most favorable way for customers to place a downpayment that is available on the market. Customers write 2 – 4 checks for the downpayment that are deposited over 30 days according to a schedule agreed upon by them and the dealer. Checks are guaranteed up to amounts stated in the dealer service agreement, and the customer leaves with their new purchase. Learn how C.A.R.S. can provide payment solutions by downloading our free guide.

C.A.R.S Insider's Guide

Written by Joe Gargiulo

Marketing Specialist Joe Gargiulo has 25-plus years in marketing, communications and copy writing. As a writer, he enjoys connecting story leads to all aspects of the human experience.