Websites, SEO, SEM, Display, Social, Marketing

Multiple dealers report that Google suddenly removed large numbers of their positive reviews (in some cases deleting 100+ reviews while preserving negative ones), with speculation that Google flagged dealership reviews as spam due to industry-wide concerns about review manipulation. Industry experts identify several risk factors including reviews from new Google accounts, same IP addresses, and sentiment mismatches with other review platforms, while recommending a diversified review strategy prioritizing reviews from established Google accounts and Android users rather than concentrated in-store collection efforts.

Ryan Leslie shares Mike Blumenthal's expert analysis on review management stress in automotive retail, sparking a debate about whether internet transparency can improve the historically low trust ratings of car salespeople and dealers. The thread explores which review sites matter most (advocating for a customer-perspective approach rather than blanket recommendations) and whether the industry's negotiation-based business model is inherently limiting to trust-building efforts. The key insight is that transparency and individual salesperson integrity will ultimately differentiate successful dealers from those losing business unknowingly—with Ed Brooks arguing that embracing internet transparency, rather than information gatekeeping, is essential for building professional credibility similar to what real estate agents have achieved.

A dealer seeking a new website provider asks about Auto Revo's capabilities for SEO improvement and customization, prompting mixed feedback from forum members. While one user criticizes Auto Revo's inventory SEO structure and outdated platform, an Auto Revo representative disputes these claims and emphasizes their SEO optimization, and a satisfied long-term customer endorses the company for its responsiveness and user-friendly service. The key insight is that website choice alone won't fix SEO problems—dealers need to evaluate vendors based on their actual SEO infrastructure, customization capabilities, and customer support quality.

The thread debates a common but counterproductive marketing mistake: driving dealership website visitors away to social platforms like Facebook via promotions and campaigns. The key insight is that dealers should keep shoppers on their own site through the conversion funnel, and instead of linking out to social pages, they should embed social widgets or plugins directly on their site so engagement happens without losing the visitor.

The thread is a vendor review profile for DealerImpact (Web Impressions, LLC), an Iowa-based automotive website and digital marketing company active since 1999. Reviews are mixed: several dealers praise the customer service, SEO/SEM tools, CRM (DMM), and reported sales growth, while one critic dismisses the company as a low-support reseller of third-party products. A notable concern raised is manufacturer-mandated vendor programs like Cobalt squeezing out independent providers like DealerImpact.

A dealer struggling to track digital lead conversions across an 8-rooftop group asks for solutions to connect online clicks with actual sales without manual data matching. Responses suggest using CRM reporting features (if lead sources are properly recorded) and Google Analytics goals for website-origin tracking, while also highlighting a gap in the market where dealer website vendors don't typically provide behavioral session data tied to leads—a capability that real estate platforms already offer.

Dave Erickson seeks advice on whether to hire an SEO company for link-building and content oversight, despite concerns about the owner's involvement in unrelated businesses that might threaten the company's stability and focus. The thread's key insight is that the month-to-month contract structure makes it a low-risk trial, and that Dave should ensure the SEO vendor complements rather than duplicates work already being done by his current website provider (Cobalt). Community members generally agree it's worth trying given the flexible terms and the vendor's proven results at other dealerships.

Dealers discuss frustration with Chevrolet and Cobalt's required address field on vehicle detail pages, which they argue discourages customer inquiries and generates fewer leads despite GM's tracking intentions. One user provides a technical workaround using jQuery and CSS to remove the requirement, though another warns this will upset GM when leads lack address data. The conversation broadens into criticism of other problematic form design choices like the "Make An Offer" button, which participants argue increases conversion metrics without actually driving sales.

Chris Cachor shares a Seth Godin blog excerpt arguing that effective marketing—whether billboards or websites—succeeds by clearly communicating what a solution *accomplishes* rather than cramming in every feature and detail about how it works. The key insight is that marketers often fill available space with information out of fear, when restraint and focus on customer benefit actually drive better conversion and lead generation results.

A dealer frustrated with an 8-day service lead outage received only a "you're in queue" response from his vendor, prompting community advice on escalation tactics. The consensus strategy is to quickly escalate to supervisors and executives while remaining professional, with the threat of cancellation often prompting faster resolution. The original poster's positive resolution came only when he reached a higher-level contact who acknowledged the problem directly rather than offering standard deflections—highlighting that persistence in climbing the corporate ladder, not acceptance of queue answers, gets results.

Jeff Kershner and Malinda share their DSES conference presentation 'Secrets of the Inbox - The New Evolution of Email,' making it available via SlideShare after high demand. A standout reply from Kelly Wilson reports dramatic real-world results after implementing the presentation's tactics, with email open rates jumping from 11.8% to 32.5% in under two weeks — a compelling validation of the strategies covered.

Kevin Frye shares a video presentation originally created for Digital Dealer 13 that explores how modern car shoppers search on Google, arguing dealers can gain insight into buyer intent by studying search behavior. A key debate emerges in the replies around whether dealers can realistically rank for broad informational queries like 'how do I buy a car online,' with skeptics pointing out that third-party sites like Edmunds and KBB dominate those terms and that targeting them may not be worth the effort.

A dealer inquires about Dealer Imaging, a photo editing service for automotive inventory, and receives critical feedback about their billing practices and inconsistent photo quality. The thread reveals that Dealer Imaging struggled with honoring contract terms (promised photo counts, selective editing, invoicing discrepancies) before the dealer switched back to their previous vendor. A key insight is that photo editing quality depends heavily on hiring skilled professionals and investing in proper software/hardware—not something dealers can replicate cheaply themselves—though the thread's tone shifts significantly when personal hardship is shared, emphasizing community support over business critique.

The thread serves as a profile and review page for Dealer e-Process, an automotive website and digital marketing vendor based in Downers Grove, IL. Dealer customers, including a BMW dealership, praise the company's lead generation, uptime reliability, pricing, and customer service. One off-topic spam reply about a hosted PBX service is also present, diluting the otherwise positive testimonials.

A dealership discovers that Google's mobile interface (iPhone and Android) lacks a visible link to submit new reviews, though reviews can still be read. Responses clarify that users need to access the Google Local app on smartphones rather than the Google+ page, and suggest this limitation is due to Google not updating their mobile review interface. One dealer shares an alternative strategy using QR codes on branded index cards to direct customers to review sites, which proved effective for collecting honest feedback while promoting coupons and service appointments.

An independent dealer in Oklahoma with 4 locations and 200 vehicles seeks advice on improving their online marketing strategy, currently relying on basic platforms (Cars.com, Autotrader, Craigslist) and lacking a CRM system. Responders identify the dealer's key weaknesses as poor lead follow-up accountability, outdated processes, and inadequate phone/video engagement tactics, while recommending he prioritize implementing a CRM, improving their digital presence fundamentals, and attending industry webinars to modernize his approach.

A Mercedes-Benz dealer frustrated with declining ROI from third-party lead providers (AutoByTel, AutoUSA) seeks recommendations on alternatives and receives strong advocacy for Hook Logic's appointment-setting tool over additional third-party vendors. Multiple dealers report positive ROI from Hook Logic, particularly when combined with PPC traffic, and note it can be customized with appropriate messaging for high-end dealerships without appearing unprofessional.

Cobalt's car-buyer intelligence study finds that shoppers visit a minimum of eight dealer websites during their search, with some hitting twenty in a single day, raising the stakes for dealers to deliver a compelling online experience. Jeff Kershner highlights key stats from the accompanying eBook, including that remarketed customers are 3x more likely to click ads and 4x more likely to convert, arguing that dealers who assume repeat customers are guaranteed are putting themselves at serious risk. Cobalt representatives engage in the thread to note that OEM and dealer website visits represent one unified shopping experience for consumers, with more granular data on that connection forthcoming.

A DealerRefresh user alleged that TK Carsites was purchasing fake Facebook likes through Microworkers (a crowdsourcing platform for low-cost tasks) and questioned whether they were also buying fake leads, citing discrepancies between the company's task volume and social media engagement numbers. Multiple community members challenged the poster's evidence as inconclusive, noting that a screenshot alone isn't definitive proof and that TK's actual Facebook page showed relatively modest engagement, ultimately leaving the accusation unresolved before the original poster requested thread deletion.

A Toyota dealer contemplates leaving Dealer.com due to frustration with excessive fees for basic customizations (like a $299 blog setup and $99/month for social media icons) and lack of control over their own website. Responses are mixed—some suggest exploring alternative vendors like eBizAutos or hybrid solutions that offer more flexibility, while others caution that switching platforms is a massive undertaking and recommend maximizing current tools first. The core tension is between Dealer.com's ease-of-use appeal and its nickel-and-diming approach versus the dealer's desire for full technical control and customization at no additional cost.

Andrew Carr announced he's joining BluSolutions as a vendor, transitioning from his previous role as dealership personnel, effective November 1st. He endorsed the company's dealer website and automotive SEO services based on three years of personal experience using their product. The brief replies from peers were congratulatory, with one offering potential collaboration on referrals.

A dealer highlights an unexpected benefit of managed/hosted chat services: maintaining customer contact during physical business closures caused by disasters like Superstorm Sandy. The post argues that even when dealership staff are unavailable and phones are down, a managed chat service with well-trained operators can still engage potential customers—particularly those seeking to replace storm-damaged vehicles—keeping the business accessible during crisis situations.