Comments on: Social media and the automotive industry – the genie’s out of the bottle http://www.motor-trade-insider.com/index.php/2010/07/social-media-and-the-automotive-industry-the-genies-out-of-the-bottle/ Car Buying Guide Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:09:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Alex Wright http://www.motor-trade-insider.com/index.php/2010/07/social-media-and-the-automotive-industry-the-genies-out-of-the-bottle/comment-page-1/#comment-6388 Alex Wright Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:42:25 +0000 http://www.motor-trade-insider.com/?p=8514#comment-6388 I have been in the automotive industry for 21 years, the last 2 to 3 years I have seen social media creeping into the business and taking over marketing meetings. Most social media marketing within the motor trade is for brand awareness, not for actually selling vehicles – If you push the selling aspect on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc then there is a good chance your friends will switch off (or switch you off). Social media, I believe will change the way in which people in the future will acquire vehicles (when the younger generation grow up!!), not only how contact is made but how vehicles will be funded and replaced (the buying process will speed up, face to face appointments will drop, rental / lease will be the preferred option replacing traditional HP and when a new model is out the user will want to swap in their current model - today). Motor trade businesses need to be prepared! I specifically built a website called Motor TradeBook to ‘mix’ the social media element with business, to help the ‘trade’ connect and interact and the retail customer to find, connect and communicate with the seller – Motor TradeBook also adds value as it is the best CRM system out there, helps up sell downstream revenues, and allows you you drip feed information on products and services offered (MTB also links into all social media sites Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc). I have huge expansion plans for Motor TradeBook when I introduce phase 2 & 3, what will the site look like in 12 months? If there is anyone out there that would like to benefit from Motor TradeBook, you can sign up for free @ <a href="http://www.motortradebook.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.motortradebook.com</a> I look forward to connecting shortly................... I have been in the automotive industry for 21 years, the last 2 to 3 years I have seen social media creeping into the business and taking over marketing meetings. Most social media marketing within the motor trade is for brand awareness, not for actually selling vehicles – If you push the selling aspect on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc then there is a good chance your friends will switch off (or switch you off).

Social media, I believe will change the way in which people in the future will acquire vehicles (when the younger generation grow up!!), not only how contact is made but how vehicles will be funded and replaced (the buying process will speed up, face to face appointments will drop, rental / lease will be the preferred option replacing traditional HP and when a new model is out the user will want to swap in their current model – today). Motor trade businesses need to be prepared!

I specifically built a website called Motor TradeBook to ‘mix’ the social media element with business, to help the ‘trade’ connect and interact and the retail customer to find, connect and communicate with the seller – Motor TradeBook also adds value as it is the best CRM system out there, helps up sell downstream revenues, and allows you you drip feed information on products and services offered (MTB also links into all social media sites Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc).

I have huge expansion plans for Motor TradeBook when I introduce phase 2 & 3, what will the site look like in 12 months?

If there is anyone out there that would like to benefit from Motor TradeBook, you can sign up for free @ http://www.motortradebook.com

I look forward to connecting shortly……………….

]]> By: JCT600 http://www.motor-trade-insider.com/index.php/2010/07/social-media-and-the-automotive-industry-the-genies-out-of-the-bottle/comment-page-1/#comment-3836 JCT600 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:27:43 +0000 http://www.motor-trade-insider.com/?p=8514#comment-3836 Great article about the potential of social media for car retailers, but actually some of us have been developing this for some time. At JCT600 we’ve found both Twitter and Facebook really useful as another route to conversation with our customers and have received sales enquiries as a result. We use the sites to keep our followers aware not only of our latest offers but also our job vacancies and group news, as well as other ‘auto’ related information that may be of interest. Our online services are managed in house by a real person so customers build up a real relationship with us. Over 60% of our enquiries now arrive via the internet and we recognise the value of the online environment as a whole, investing heavily in our website <a href="http://www.jct600.co.uk" rel="nofollow">www.jct600.co.uk</a> with live chat and call back facilities too. Social media is a vital part of our digital marketing mix and whilst there may be a sense of apprehension regarding dealing with possible customer dissatisfaction in such a public arena, the advantage of being there is that you have the option to react and respond to any issues that may arise. If you’re not there to pick up on these things they could quickly spiral out of control – in the past, an unhappy customer might tell a few people, but in 2010 an unhappy customer can tell hundreds of people with a few key strokes and a sharp punch on the enter key! Luckily for JCT600 we have seen a very positive response to our arrival into the social environment - we have over 500 followers across our two profiles and of course are always looking for more… Twitter @jct600 and Facebook www.facebook.com/jct600 Social media offers a fantastic opportunity for brands to communicate effectively with consumers – let’s make the most of it! Great article about the potential of social media for car retailers, but actually some of us have been developing this for some time. At JCT600 we’ve found both Twitter and Facebook really useful as another route to conversation with our customers and have received sales enquiries as a result. We use the sites to keep our followers aware not only of our latest offers but also our job vacancies and group news, as well as other ‘auto’ related information that may be of interest. Our online services are managed in house by a real person so customers build up a real relationship with us. Over 60% of our enquiries now arrive via the internet and we recognise the value of the online environment as a whole, investing heavily in our website http://www.jct600.co.uk with live chat and call back facilities too.

Social media is a vital part of our digital marketing mix and whilst there may be a sense of apprehension regarding dealing with possible customer dissatisfaction in such a public arena, the advantage of being there is that you have the option to react and respond to any issues that may arise. If you’re not there to pick up on these things they could quickly spiral out of control – in the past, an unhappy customer might tell a few people, but in 2010 an unhappy customer can tell hundreds of people with a few key strokes and a sharp punch on the enter key! Luckily for JCT600 we have seen a very positive response to our arrival into the social environment – we have over 500 followers across our two profiles and of course are always looking for more… Twitter @jct600 and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jct600

Social media offers a fantastic opportunity for brands to communicate effectively with consumers – let’s make the most of it!

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