With auto base you are able to make great templates to use. It only takes a moment to hit e-mail then select which template fits the customer and where in the follow up process you are. Then off to the next one. It works great and every customer receives the same high standard you wish to portray no mater how busy you may be. Plus it marks it in the history so you can keep track of what you have sent out.
Email Marketing - Fundamental For Success
- Thread starter Mitch Gallant
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- Apr 7, 2009
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- Joe
Yet Another Reason Why ReyRey Drives Me Nuts.(YARWRRDMN)
example: We sent an email campaign and Time Warner's email system SHUT US DOWN... To defend their customers mailboxes, they black listed us!
ReyRey Mailing is NOT throttled. Time Warner considered it a SPAM flood and shut us down. arrrgggg...
example: We sent an email campaign and Time Warner's email system SHUT US DOWN... To defend their customers mailboxes, they black listed us!
ReyRey Mailing is NOT throttled. Time Warner considered it a SPAM flood and shut us down. arrrgggg...
- Apr 7, 2009
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- Joe
Yet Another Reason Why ReyRey Drives Me Nuts.(YARWRRDMN)
If I use reyrey crm to manage my email, I must forget...
...Forget that the idea if my customers ever looked at the email (did they like or hate that email??)
...Forget that bad emails (bounces) are not removed from the system.
...Forget that I can't create one big email campaign that is sent from each reps desk. In ReyRey, a Mass Email has to originate from ONE user. All bounces and replies go back to that one user. Replies need to be hunted down, lost in a sea of bounce messages. If I get lucky and find the reply, I fwd it the rep, who usually reads the email, hits reply and sends it back to me.
arrgg... someone shoot me.
If I use reyrey crm to manage my email, I must forget...
...Forget that the idea if my customers ever looked at the email (did they like or hate that email??)
...Forget that bad emails (bounces) are not removed from the system.
...Forget that I can't create one big email campaign that is sent from each reps desk. In ReyRey, a Mass Email has to originate from ONE user. All bounces and replies go back to that one user. Replies need to be hunted down, lost in a sea of bounce messages. If I get lucky and find the reply, I fwd it the rep, who usually reads the email, hits reply and sends it back to me.
arrgg... someone shoot me.
There are dollars in the database! I think it is crucial that dealerships manage their database more efficiently in the future - and that means not having multiple vendors marketing with pieces of your database that are not only fragmented, but also contain old, inaccurate data. Find a good CRM tool where you can consolidate all of your data (service, sales, prospects - and yes, text addresses), setup to append that data on a continuing regular basis, and then centralize your marketing to use that CRM tool and database. Setup your marketing campaigns in advance, using the power of your own database, create more sales and service while cutting costs. And when you get responses from these campaigns, you can centrally manage them with your CRM tool. Fewer moving parts, much lower costs, and better results...
- Apr 6, 2009
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- Mitch
@kevinfrye I think your bang on with "fewer moving parts", the simpler the better. You also touched on an interesting point in text addresses, I'd love to see a strong dealer in action that utilizes text msg marketing. Most dealer providers can't get into Canada yet but once they are it's just process and I've never seen it in action.
There are most definitely dollars in the database!
There are most definitely dollars in the database!
- Apr 6, 2009
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- Mitch
I hate that I keep bringing it up and saying it can't work in Canada, it feels like a broken record.
AutoBase did ask if we wanted to give it a go and become the first Canadian dealer. I'm all for being an early adopter, it just seems you pay a huge price for being first in and when it comes to something so important I think i'd like to play this a little safer.
- Apr 7, 2009
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Kevin,
I'm with ya on leveraging and maintaining the database. From my seat, that's but one of the many problems facing CRM power users.
I miss-understood the complexity of CRM design because everyone in the organization touches the platform, So there are many priorities that need to be built into CRM that EVERYONE gets lost in the sauce (CRM buyers and CRM builders)
Here's my dim view of CRM today (listed in MY order of importance)
Lastly... we need it all to reach CRM nirvana,
What's CRM nirvana to me?
The CRM infrastructure would be built with a genuine "app store" attitude allowing specialty vendors to provide sick cutting edge technology and services that NO BUREAUCRACY can ever hope to create.... ever.
There is NO WAY any automotive CRM company could ever compete with MailChimp (or similar specialist). Take for instance, in another "CRM app store" example, you'd have progressive ad agencies like Moore and Scarry offering complete turnkey app systems. They could pull the whole message together and also execute it. In another instance, CRM company could create a XML entrance where the dealers website inventory can be easily "worked" from within CRM. CRM exec's don't like this, they prefer to strong arm buyers into the big package to get all the bells and whistles.
But... CRM as I know it is a diamond covered up by bubblegum and duct tape.
CRM needs to be Simple yet Custom.
Simple: Elegant Simplicity up front for the reps,
Custom: Flexibility built into the architecture to work with each dealers custom needs. A CRM company should do everything in its power to empower lots of small specialists to hop on to its platform and support the shit out of it. This would allow the company to create a very custom royalty generating system, with none of the custom headaches, allowing the company to focus on its CORE product, system that listens to and talks to the DMS.
I'm with ya on leveraging and maintaining the database. From my seat, that's but one of the many problems facing CRM power users.
I miss-understood the complexity of CRM design because everyone in the organization touches the platform, So there are many priorities that need to be built into CRM that EVERYONE gets lost in the sauce (CRM buyers and CRM builders)
Here's my dim view of CRM today (listed in MY order of importance)
- I don't believe a CRM platform exists that the reps easily understands (the ultimate CRM litmus test)
- I don't believe a CRM platform exists that becomes the managers sales assistant.
- I don't believe a CRM platform exists with all the email tools needed.
- I don't believe a CRM platform exists with all the snail mail tools needed.
Lastly... we need it all to reach CRM nirvana,
What's CRM nirvana to me?
The CRM infrastructure would be built with a genuine "app store" attitude allowing specialty vendors to provide sick cutting edge technology and services that NO BUREAUCRACY can ever hope to create.... ever.
There is NO WAY any automotive CRM company could ever compete with MailChimp (or similar specialist). Take for instance, in another "CRM app store" example, you'd have progressive ad agencies like Moore and Scarry offering complete turnkey app systems. They could pull the whole message together and also execute it. In another instance, CRM company could create a XML entrance where the dealers website inventory can be easily "worked" from within CRM. CRM exec's don't like this, they prefer to strong arm buyers into the big package to get all the bells and whistles.
But... CRM as I know it is a diamond covered up by bubblegum and duct tape.
CRM needs to be Simple yet Custom.
Simple: Elegant Simplicity up front for the reps,
Custom: Flexibility built into the architecture to work with each dealers custom needs. A CRM company should do everything in its power to empower lots of small specialists to hop on to its platform and support the shit out of it. This would allow the company to create a very custom royalty generating system, with none of the custom headaches, allowing the company to focus on its CORE product, system that listens to and talks to the DMS.
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@Mitch - text is still the wild frontier for Fortune 500s as well as Automotive. Don't buy the hype that many are sharing. Most of the big companies are focusing on collecting text addresses at this time but are not actively marketing to them as they figure out the legalities of marketing with this medium, as well as figure out how to do it best. The "edgy" CRM tools are already working to integrate this next part of your database for the future. I shared (I am sure to everyone's amusement) at DD9 how our efforts in the text arena have only brought in meager results, but we are still early in the market in this area...
@Joe - You could make a fortune if you were able to create the CRM tool you are describing, lol! There is lots of room to go in this area, but finally (FINALLY) we are starting to see some vendors execute the vision of one encompassing CRM tool that is efficient, reliable, and cuts our costs while increasing our revenues. The ala-carte approach is a good solution, as you cannot satisfy every dealer's individual desires with one tool, BUT if you have ala-carte apps, widgets, etc, they can pick and choose what helps them best. Sounds kind of like iGoogle with desktops, Android and iPhone with apps, you get the picture...
@Joe - You could make a fortune if you were able to create the CRM tool you are describing, lol! There is lots of room to go in this area, but finally (FINALLY) we are starting to see some vendors execute the vision of one encompassing CRM tool that is efficient, reliable, and cuts our costs while increasing our revenues. The ala-carte approach is a good solution, as you cannot satisfy every dealer's individual desires with one tool, BUT if you have ala-carte apps, widgets, etc, they can pick and choose what helps them best. Sounds kind of like iGoogle with desktops, Android and iPhone with apps, you get the picture...
- Apr 7, 2009
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base <CRM rant>
And while I'm on the subject, why do we base our marketing decisions taken from lead source data from sales reps that are PAID to SKATE (read: twist and hide facts).
CRM should include a post-sale survey that a customer takes at delivery AND that data should connect back to the client. Tell me what Customer shops at only one place (like Cars.com)? NONE. They're all over the map!. A multi-choice survey will help paint a picture of whats working.
</CRM rant>
And while I'm on the subject, why do we base our marketing decisions taken from lead source data from sales reps that are PAID to SKATE (read: twist and hide facts).
CRM should include a post-sale survey that a customer takes at delivery AND that data should connect back to the client. Tell me what Customer shops at only one place (like Cars.com)? NONE. They're all over the map!. A multi-choice survey will help paint a picture of whats working.
- Have you bought from us before?
- If yes, How many vehicles?
- As best as you can recall, how long have you been looking for a new vehicle?
- While you were car shopping, where did you get most of your ideas? (check all that apply)
- How did you hear about us? (check all that apply)
- Do you consider yourself a frequent internet user?
- Did you visit internet automobile shopping sites? (please check all that apply)
- Did you visit our website, ________.com?
- How did you locate our website, ________.com?
- Did you find ________.com helpful?
- How can we make ________.com better?
</CRM rant>
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- Apr 22, 2009
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- Ryan
I've been looking for an alternative for some of my Canadian dealers that don't think they're getting enough bang for their buck with IMN.
Dealers I"m working with are looking for a monthly newsletters that will have a nice coupon engine. They only have to provide content if they choose to (majority of dealers will not/cannot write articles).
I'm doing some tests with a few dealers with Sensible Driver. I especially like their coupon system. Example Here: Home | John L Sullivan Chevrolet
- Looks Great on my Torch
- Add videos because technically its a website
Cheers
Dealers I"m working with are looking for a monthly newsletters that will have a nice coupon engine. They only have to provide content if they choose to (majority of dealers will not/cannot write articles).
I'm doing some tests with a few dealers with Sensible Driver. I especially like their coupon system. Example Here: Home | John L Sullivan Chevrolet
- Looks Great on my Torch
- Add videos because technically its a website
Cheers
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