DealerRefresh creates new forum for car dealers

DealerRefresh creates new forum for car dealers and vendors to provide reciprocal marketing, business and networking support. DealerRefresh is the main source for automotive internet sales professionals looking for a higher level of online information. Baltimore, MD – April 15th, 2009

As the automotive industry struggles to stay afloat amid the country’s troublesome economy, a new web platform by DealerRefresh.com joins car dealers and vendors together in a unique forum that benefits both parties.

The forum is a virtual 24/7 flow of information, questions and answers from both car dealers and auto industry vendors. The unique platform allows users on all ends to post questions and answers on various topics ranging from how car dealers can use new technologies to attract sales leads to how dealer vendors can best approach an auto dealership for new business.

For car dealers, the DealerRefresh.com website presents an opportunity to gain new insight into industry best practices, tips and trends for driving sales. For automotive vendors, the availability to provide answers, advice and support presents a gateway to new business connections.

Since 2004, DealerRefresh.com has been committed to the betterment of the automotive industry. That mission is carried out on the Internet through their elaborate website which serves as a ‘go to’ tool for car dealers across the country.

According to founder, Jeff Kershner, “ We decided to create a forum for people to discuss best practices and garner support through the use of the sophisticated technologies we have all found ourselves confronted with. It also allows a dealer to find friends in a likewise pursuit of engaging a vendor to change or expand on a particular item.”

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The dealer-vendor platform, in summary, helps to-

1. Seek understanding and best practices in the automotive technologies (ie. CRM, ILM, Google, Inventory, and even Blackberries)
   
2. Gain a larger voice to aid in problem solving
   
3. Find a solution or software that better fits your dealerships process

Visit the DealerRefresh Technology Forum for more information.

What is the direction of the forum and why was it started?

DealerRefresh already attracts many of the best minds in the automotive eCommerce business, but not everyone has a voice. With the forum environment those 2:00 AM sparks of brilliance can now be posted by anyone. Questions can be answered practically in real-time; meaning a Friday evening problem might not have to wait for a Monday morning solution.

“Let’s face it, the technology is moving faster everyday and it is overwhelming. If we all work together, we can cut out a lot of frustration,” says Alex Snyder .

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What makes the DealerRefresh forums different?

Nowhere is there a place that focuses on the retailing automotive technologies. And nowhere is there a place that focuses on all of them! By focusing on best practices and support it provides new ground on an area that every dealership is having some sort of struggle, or has been considering exploring.

Why would a vendor join the DealerRefresh Software forum?

Many times dealers and vendors don’t see eye to eye. Unfortunately this is caused because a dealer is working with someone in a lower-level support position who doesn’t convey the need to the people who will understand it. By watching the DealerRefresh forums a vendor can get a clearer picture of where opportunities are. By participating on the forums, a vendor can deliver a level of transparency that would make dealers want to flock to them. At the end of the day, vendors and dealers are more a partnership than a client/vendor relationship and need to work together to get the job done!

Eventually, a vendor might have enough great information circulating through the forums that it could be used as a FAQ source for support staffs to point dealers to. Eventually, it could serve as the place for all a vendor’s support!

About DealerRefresh
DealerRefresh is for the car dealer Internet sales professional thriving for more information looking to elevate their game. It’s also for industry professionals looking to keep up with some of the latest dealer industry news and trends. DealerRefresh was the first site to bring automotive Internet sales professionals together in one virtual spot.

The website covers everything from internet marketing best practices for dealers, what works with SEO and search engine marketing, how online video fits into a dealer’s landscape to online reputation management for any dealership.

Dave Hanson has been named vice president of Interactive and Creative Services at eCarList, a leading software provider to the automotive industry.

Prior to joining eCarList, Hanson was director of Brand Marketing at Yahoo! Inc., where he led partnership development and interactive engineering to produce marketing programs for the company and its top advertisers.

Hanson will be responsible for eCarList’s full-service interactive and creative division, according to eCarList CEO Len Critcher.

“Dave combines strong creative and interactive leadership with great expertise in online consumer experience,” said Critcher. “I am thrilled to add him to our executive team. With Dave leading our interactive group, eCarList will be positioned to grow its online product offerings and provide unparalleled creative services to our increasing dealership base.”

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Hanson noted that eCarList is considered to be one of the most innovative companies in the industry.

“I am very excited to join a team that is already producing such dynamic and visually stunning websites,” Hanson added. “I look forward to bringing an even higher level of functionality and usability, while streamlining operations to support the company’s rapid growth.”

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The Interactive and Creative Services division will serve as an in-house agency offering custom website design, video production, online-media-campaign creative services, search engine optimization, automated specials integration, interactive lead capture and a full suite of online website capabilities tied to eCarList’s inventory management software.

“Consumers today turn to the web as their primary source for research,” explained Hanson. “As a part of that process, their impression of your company is determined almost immediately. We will produce websites that are effective in converting web traffic to qualified leads, while building trust in the dealership’s brand, which in turn drives revenue for the dealership.”

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Critcher noted that “as the automotive industry continues to experience tough times, dealerships are looking for the cost-effective and integrated solutions offered by eCarList. With more than 70,000 franchised and independent car dealerships vying for business, it becomes critically important for dealers to understand the dynamics of today’s Internet-based marketplace and adjust their focus accordingly.”

About eCarList - www.ecarlist.com
Based in Dallas, Texas, eCarList is one of the fastest growing automotive software companies in the country. Designed in tandem with many of the industry’s largest Internet dealers and franchise Internet departments, the entirely web-based eCarList software platform provides Internet listing, inventory and lead management, SEO/SEM, and market data analytics to dealers looking to exploit the entire range of efficiencies possible from selling and marketing vehicles online. The company’s Interactive and Creative Services division provides fully integrated and optimized website design services to both franchise and independent dealerships seeking fluid and intuitive integration with eCarList software. The company also is an eBay Motors Preferred Provider. Visit www.ecarlist.com for more information.

ContactAtOnce! Sponsors Blog for Sales People Serious about Using Chat to Sell More Cars

ATLANTA, GA – April 1, 2009 – ContactAtOnce!, a leading provider of internet marketing tools that move online shoppers into live conversations with car dealers, today announced their sponsorship of a new blog featuring user-generated tips and techniques for auto sales people seeking to more effectively utilize live chat software to sell more cars.

“Instant messaging (IM) and live chat solutions have been used on e-retailer and bank websites for years, but they didn’t address the specific needs of auto dealers, so the industry has been slow to embrace chat,” said John Hanger, CEO of ContactAtOnce!.

“Now, popular automotive website providers including Cars.com and AutoMart.com are enabling specialized auto dealer versions of chat, driving dealer usage to all-time highs. Providing this blog is a way to help automotive sales people share information and ideas about integrating chat into their sales process and utilizing it as a communications and marketing tool to convert more website visitors into bona fide sales leads,” Hanger said.

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The Auto Dealer Live Chat Blog is available and accessible immediately for users of chat and instant messaging software, regardless of vendor.

About ContactAtOnce! www.contactatonce.comContact At Once!, LLC is a leading provider of internet marketing tools for automotive sales, apartment leasing, and other industries where consumers conduct research online before visiting a dealership or office. The ContactAtOnce! service typically moves at least 25% more website visitors into live conversations with sales people by utilizing a suite of technologies such as presence, IM/chat, VoIP telephony, video chat and text messaging, resulting in increased revenue and a better return on marketing expenditures. ContactAtOnce! is the only solution with features specifically for vertical search websites and over 35 such sites, along with thousands of merchant businesses, are using it today.