WEST CHESTER, PA, October 12, 2011 – HomeNet Automotive, a leading provider of automotive inventory merchandising, management, and marketing services, today announced that it has collaborated with OPENLANE, Inc., a leading online auction company in North America for automotive dealers to buy and sell wholesale vehicles, to offer HomeNet dealers an easy and efficient way to list and wholesale their aged
inventory.

Dealers using HomeNet’s flagship product, the Inventory Online (IOL) Vehicle Marketing Suite, can now publish selected used vehicle inventory on OPENLANE’s Open Auction to sell their vehicles wholesale to a nationwide audience of more than 25,000 franchise and independent dealers on a 24–hour basis, 7 days a week.

Through this partnership, HomeNet users now have a quick and seamless way to control the distribution of both retail and wholesale units from one convenient platform, saving time and money and providing maximum exposure for vehicles for sale. From within IOL, dealers are able to publish their wholesale used vehicle units to OPENLANE’s Open Auction with one simple click and manage their entire online inventory from one centralized location.

“Partnering with OPENLANE provides HomeNet’s dealers with an efficient way to list their wholesale vehicles, any time, any day, while they’re still on the lot,” said Andy McBride, VP of Operations at HomeNet Automotive. “By allowing dealers to simultaneously market their vehicles to both retail and wholesale markets, dealers can maximize their alternatives—and their chances of a quick sale while reducing depreciation and transport costs to and from physical auctions.”

In addition, OPENLANE handles the sales from end-to-end, including all payments, title transfers, and arbitration, making the process for dealers effortless. HomeNet users can also utilize a single sign-on so they may transfer any vehicles from IOL directly to OPENLANE’s listing with one simple click of a button.

“Integrating HomeNet’s IOL with OPENLANE helps unite the retail and wholesale sides within auto dealerships, reducing turn-time which has become more and more critical to efficient operations,” said Ed Berkowitz, Vice President, Open Auction at OPENLANE. “We’re continually looking to partner with complementary service companies like HomeNet to help us bring an even fuller set of value-added services to the dealers who rely on OPENLANE on a daily basis to source their inventory.”

About HomeNet Automotive
HomeNet Automotive helps the automobile industry save time and sell more vehicles. It is the leading provider of inventory merchandising, management, and marketing services, led by its flagship product, Inventory Online (IOL) Internet Marketing Suite. IOL streamlines the process of converting raw vehicle data into consumer- friendly and emotional online ads for 2.5 million cars each day and distributes those ads to thousands of online destinations like AutoTrader.com, Cars.com, YouTube, Facebook, and dealer websites. With 130 employees, HomeNet is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com and is based in West Chester, PA, with offices across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.homenetauto.com or call (877) 738-3313.

About OPENLANE
OPENLANE, Inc. is a leading online auction company in North America for automotive dealers to buy and sell wholesale vehicles. The company offers end-to-end auto remarketing solutions to auto manufacturers, captive finance companies, lease, and daily rental companies, financial institutions, and wholesale auto auctions throughout the United States and Canada. OPENLANE powers online remarketing programs for American Honda Finance, Audi Financial Services, Avis Budget Group, Chase Auto Finance, Chrysler Financial, Porsche Financial Services, and Volkswagen Credit, among others. For more information, please visit OPENLANE or call +1 (866) 969-0321.

It is nothing new to say that Google Places can be a pain in the neck especially if you have multiple franchises located at the same physical address.


PCG has been working with the industry to educate, assist, and correct Google Places pages so that they can be leveraged during the Zero Moment of Truth. Once a dealer's Google Places page is setup properly, they can start to use Google Adwords Express.

Adwords Express could be the BEST PPC strategy a dealer could leverage, if the dealership has strong reviews.

Google Places Notices Raise Concerns

Google Places Team have recently been sending out letters about updating information on Google Maps and Places. This is causing a stir, so let me advise you to be calm.

The notices are part of a transition that Google has in mind that will eventually transform what we know as Google Places to something better. Google now has a documented escalation process and trouble ticket system that is fixing Google Places issues in a timely manner.

In fact, Google has been listening to dealers and in the coming months you will see that Google does want businesses to control and leverage their business pages. The visibility, traffic, and advertising opportunities with Google Places FAR outweighs some of the pain that dealers experience as Google Places is transformed.

Dealers who ignore using Google Places to post reviews will lose significant free traffic, sales, and local relevance. The referral traffic generated by Google Places is often then #2 or #3 organic source, far above any third party review site.

Getting Your Places Page Fixed

The two links for Google Places problem resolution are listed below. By filling out these forms you will be sending request directly to the Google Places team. Typical turnaround time is 7 business days.

If it takes longer, Be Patient

For incorrect information (or other issues) on any external listing, please visit this troubleshooter: Find your business on Google - Google Business Profile Help

For difficulties verifying a listing (either via PIN or bulk verification), please visit this troubleshooter: Add or claim your Business Profile - Google Business Profile Help

So, calm down and wait till you see the ultimate plan by Google, is will satisfy the critics. Please do not stop getting your customers to post reviews on Google Places. Accelerate your in-store reputation management processes! When you invest in Google Places, you can advertise your excellent service in ads like the one shown below:



Which of the three ads listed above do you think would have the highest Click Through Rate (CTR)?

Keep in mind that these ads can also be "+1" 'd to show thumbnails of local customers.

If you need assistance, with in-store reputation management or insights into Google Places, drop me an email.

3 Birds Marketing Granted Patent-Pending Status for Proprietary SEO Marketing Solution

October 3, 2011– CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – 3 Birds Marketing, LLC, a Chapel Hill-based interactive marketing agency, is proud to announce that on September 2, 2011, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) received and acknowledged the company's patent application for its unique and innovative integrated marketing platform.

3 Birds’ marketing platform includes unique computerized systems and methods for marketing companies on the Internet and, more particularly, for optimizing and enhancing a company’s visibility on the search results pages of conventional Internet search engines, such as Google®, Yahoo®, and Bing®.

“I’ve been in the automotive industry, developing technology to help dealers be more profitable, ever since e-commerce first began to change the way consumers research and purchase vehicles and services,” says Layton Judd, co-founder of 3 Birds. “I’ve seen a lot of software tools come and go over the years, and I can say, without reservation, that what we have developed at 3 Birds is by far the most game-changing technological solution to be offered to automobile dealers. Filing for a patent was a natural step for us, and we’re pumped about how we will be transforming the internet marketing world.”

The marketing platform invented by 3 Birds improves the computer-implemented processes, techniques, and technologies that take advantage of the searching and ranking algorithms used by conventional Internet search engines. In this way, 3 Birds solutions improve the marketing results for businesses by enhancing and increasing the visibility of such businesses on organic search results pages. In doing so, 3 Birds delivers a two-pronged benefit to businesses by (1) fostering customer acquisition and retention while (2) augmenting business’ online presence and search engine visibility.

3 Birds’ services, which are primarily offered to automobile dealerships, include email marketing, engagement websites, direct mail marketing, social media marketing, reputation monitoring and management, text solutions, data mining, data visualization, multi-channel targeted campaigns, and comprehensive analytics, all housed on a technologically advanced, yet easy-to-use, interface for clients to track all of their marketing activities in one place. As a Microsoft BizSpark company, 3 Birds has already established itself as a leader in the automotive marketing world through its advanced technology and excellent client services.

ABOUT 3 BIRDS MARKETING
3 Birds Marketing is an interactive marketing company based out of Chapel Hill, N.C., specializing in email, web, and social media marketing. 3 Birds offers an integrated marketing and communications platform that creates a comprehensive marketing loop for clients that promotes customer engagement, delivers better qualified leads, increases conversions, and provides marketing analytics and data. To find out more, visit www.3birdsmarketing.com or call us at (877) 285-1094.

DealerRater® Reports Strong Growth in Web Site Traffic with New Visitor Counts Jumping 66% Every Three Months

As consumers continue to embrace the critical importance of dealer reviews in the car shopping process, DealerRater reports impressive web site statistics in Q3 2011, with strong growth demonstrated in total visitor traffic and page views as well as new visitor counts consistently climbing by 66% every three months in 2011.

Waltham, Mass. – October 3, 2011 – DealerRater®, the nation's premier car dealer review website, today announced sustained and impressive growth in web site traffic at the close of third quarter 2011.  Total visits to DealerRater.com have increased 39% since January, while page views have climbed 27% to over seven million.  While all web analytics are indicative of DealerRater’s top position as an online resource on car dealerships, the statistic most telling of DealerRater’s growing popularity among auto consumers is the number of new site visits, which has jumped an average of 66% every three months in 2011.

“We are extremely pleased with our record site traffic this past quarter,” said Chip Grueter, president of DealerRater.  “We look forward to continued growth as we kick off a multi-channel, national advertising campaign targeting consumers over the next twelve months.”

DealerRater’s registered user base has more than doubled for two consecutive years, increasing to over 330,000 registered users.  With a growing network of registered users, DealerRater has built an ever expanding database of more than 450,000 car dealer reviews and 41,000 U.S. and Canadian car dealerships.    Through its Certification Program, DealerRater provides car dealers with access to an ever expanding market of potential auto customers who place importance on quality sales and service.

About DealerRater

DealerRater was founded in 2002 as the first car dealer review website worldwide.  DealerRater is the world’s #1 online resource for anyone seeking third-party information on automobile dealerships.   DealerRater features more than 41,000 U.S. and International car dealers, 450,000 user reviews and over 1,000,000 cars for sale.  DealerRater attracts more than 5 million consumers every year who visit the site to search for car dealerships, read current reviews, write their own descriptive reviews, and find car deals – all for free.  Car dealers are rated on the criteria of customer service, quality of work, friendliness, price and overall experience.  In addition, DealerRater offers qualified car dealers a Certified Dealer Program as a reputation management tool to help them grow their online presence and achieve higher SEO rankings across the Web.  Today, more than 4,100 dealers are members of DealerRater’s Certification Program.  For more information, visit www.DealerRater.com or call 800-266-9455.

DrivingSales (http://www.drivingsales.com) presented Dominion Dealer Solutions’ CarBinder with the DrivingSales Innovation Cup Award for the most innovative dealership solution of 2011 at this week’s DrivingSales Executive Summit in Las Vegas.

The Second Annual DrivingSales Innovation Cup Awards were created to recognize solutions introduced or enhanced in 2011 whose innovative approaches have produced significant results for dealership customers. Dealership solution-providers submitted applications online, vendor names were blanked out, and a panel of dealers assessed each application. Six were selected from dozens of online applicants to present onstage at the Third Annual DrivingSales Executive Summit, where a panel of dealers scored each solution.

Dominion Dealer Solutions’ CarBinder received the highest score. AdVantageTec AV11, Cars.com Dealer Reviews, cDemo Mobile Solutions Mobile Inspector (Mi), DealerTrend CarDealerPress.com, and MotorLot eSignature were named as finalists.

“The Innovation Cup Award raises awareness of the solutions that are moving the needle forward in the auto industry,” said DrivingSales Founder and CEO Jared Hamilton. “CarBinder stood out in an amazing field of competitors. Congratulations to Dominion Dealer Solutions and each of our finalists who are providing winning solutions for dealerships across the country.”

The winner and finalist will be profiled at DrivingSales.com and in the DrivingSales newsletter, and will also be featured in a video interview at DrivingSalesTV. For more information about the DrivingSales Innovation Cup Awards, go to: http://www.drivingsalesinnovationcup.com/.

About DrivingSales.com
DrivingSales is the auto industry’s fastest-growing, most influential trade media property focused on delivering actionable profit-building information to auto retailers and industry professionals. DrivingSales’ media network includes flagship property DrivingSales.com (http://www.drivingsales.com), the world’s largest car dealer social network where thousands of dealership professionals collaborate and share best practices in a 20-group style setting; DrivingSalesTV (http://www.drivingsalestv.com), an interactive web channel which helps car dealers and auto professionals keep tabs on their industry and emerging technologies 24/7; DrivingSales University, an on-demand training platform where dealerships learn the latest web strategies from top e-commerce experts; DrivingSales Executive Summit (DSES) the industry’s leading conference where progressive dealers collaborate and learn from world renowned experts, and DrivingSales Dealership Innovation Guide, a quarterly free publication featuring case studies of the industry’s most innovative dealerships, solutions and best practices.

DrivingSales (http://www.drivingsales.com) today announced that Mary Catherine Curry, Marketing Manager of Rice Toyota Scion, has won the 2011 DrivingSales Dealer ‘Best Idea’ Award, sponsored by ADP | Cobalt. John Holt, SVP ADP Digital Marketing Group, and Jared Hamilton CEO of DrivingSales presented the award at this week’s Third Annual DrivingSales Executive Summit in Las Vegas.

Mary Catherine Curry received the highest score for her strategy of a sales and service alliance with a local hospital group. Finalists were: Dan Boismier, Internet Director, Suburban Collection; Bryan Armstrong, e-Commerce Director, VW SouthTowne; Eric Miltsch, Internet Director, Auction Direct USA; and Gary Sanders, Internet Director, Stevinson Lexus of Lakewood.

“Our mission was to find the year’s smartest, best and most innovative dealership strategies for 2011 -- and we were inspired by each and every dealer entry,” said DrivingSales Founder and CEO Jared Hamilton. “Mary Catherine Curry, along with the four finalists, epitomizes the kind of visionary thinking that continues to drive our industry forward. These dealers continue to pave the way for innovation and creativity in the auto industry with strategies that translate into real results. Congratulations to our winner and finalists!”

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The 2011 DrivingSales Dealer Best Idea Award, sponsored by ADP | Cobalt, recognizes the most innovative dealership strategies of 2011 whose original approaches have produced significant results in the dealership. Dealership personnel submitted applications online, and a panel of dealers assessed each one. Five finalists were selected to present onstage at the Third Annual DrivingSales Executive Summit, where a panel of dealers scored each strategy. A total of over $10,000 in cash and prizes were awarded to the winner and finalists.

Each dealer strategy will be profiled at DrivingSales.com, in the DrivingSales newsletter, and will be featured in a video interview at DrivingSalesTV. For more information about the awards, go to: http://drivingsalesexecutivesummit.com/awards/

About DrivingSales.com

DrivingSales is the auto industry’s fastest-growing, most influential trade media property focused on delivering actionable profit-building information to auto retailers and industry professionals. DrivingSales’ media network includes flagship property DrivingSales.com (http://www.drivingsales.com), the world’s largest car dealer social network where thousands of dealership professionals collaborate and share best practices in a 20-group style setting; DrivingSalesTV (http://www.drivingsalestv.com), an interactive web channel which helps car dealers and auto professionals keep tabs on their industry and emerging technologies 24/7; DrivingSales University, an on-demand training platform where dealerships learn the latest web strategies from top e-commerce experts; DrivingSales Executive Summit (DSES) the industry’s leading conference where progressive dealers collaborate and learn from world renowned experts, and DrivingSales Dealership Innovation Guide, a quarterly free publication featuring case studies of the industry’s most innovative dealerships, solutions and best practices.

DrivingSales encourages innovation and excellence in the industry with its annual Dealer Satisfaction and Innovation Cup Awards, whose winners are determined solely by the dealer community. Founded by Jared Hamilton, a third generation car dealer, DrivingSales won a “Top 25 Under Five” award from the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (UVEF), which spotlights outstanding entrepreneurs and start-up companies in Utah; was named a 2011 Fast 50 “Emerging Eight” company by Utah Business magazine, which recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit, innovative business tactics and revenue growth of Utah’s fastest-growing companies, and received an Interactive Media Award (IMA) in 2011 for Outstanding Achievement in the ‘Automobile’ website category. Additionally, DrivingSales was named one of ten social media gambits for 2009 by Automotive News and one of the Top 10 Companies to Watch in 2010 by Auto Success Magazine.

About Cobalt / ADP Digital Marketing

Cobalt / ADP Digital Marketing is North America's leading provider of digital marketing solutions to the automotive industry. Cobalt currently provides marketing services to nearly half of the automotive dealerships in the United States as well as automotive dealers in Canada and Mexico. Cobalt's digital marketing services are endorsed by two-thirds of North America’s major automotive manufacturers. Cobalt / ADP Digital Marketing is a business unit of ADP Dealer Services. For more information about Cobalt / ADP Digital Marketing visit http://www.cobalt.com.

About ADP

Automatic Data Processing, Inc., with about $10 billion in revenues and about 570,000 clients, is one of the world's largest providers of business outsourcing solutions. Leveraging over 60 years of experience, ADP offers a wide range of human resource, payroll, tax and benefits administration solutions from a single source. ADP's easy-to-use solutions for employers provide superior value to companies of all types and sizes. ADP is also a leading provider of integrated computing solutions to auto, truck, motorcycle, marine, recreational vehicle, heavy equipment vehicle dealers throughout the world. For more information about ADP or to contact a local ADP sales office, reach us at 1.800.225.5237 or visit the company's Web site at http://www.ADP.com.

PLANO, TEXAS, October 11, 2011 – For Immediate Release - ClickMotive received multiple awards for its FUSION Website Platform at the recent Automotive Website Awards (AWA) hosted by PCG Marketing at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. The company received AWA’s Top Award for its powerful Automotive Mobile Website Platform and the coveted Peak Performance Award for its outstanding Search Platform.

Brian Pasch, PCG President, commented that ClickMotive continues to deliver cutting edge technology to the Automotive Industry especially in areas such as Mobile and Search.

Stuart Lloyd, CEO ClickMotive, was on hand to receive the awards, and he stated, “Our Company is honored to receive AWA Awards in both the Mobile Platform & Search Platform categories. We are focused on developing innovative software products for our Dealers and OEM clients, and these AWA Awards validate our philosophy of creating software that helps our clients to achieve higher conversion, control and customization.”

About ClickMotive:
ClickMotive, headquartered in Plano, Texas, is an automotive-industry software company with 100 employees and over 2000 dealers on its FUSION Platform. ClickMotive’s FUSION Platform provides many Dealers, Auto Groups and OEM’s with the automotive industry’s most innovative suite of Internet Marketing Products including Web, Mobile, SEO, SEM, Social, Video, Tagging, Inventory & Dashboard Tools. For more information, please visit www.clickmotive.com.