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I love PORN!

Great discussion.

It's always interesting to take a look at how other industries are utilizing the internet. The adult entertainment business has gone through a similar transition just as the automotive business has. The customers of both of these groups are no longer utilizing traditional media sources (TV, radio, print) to obtain the product.

Given the statistics out there on who surfs the net for porn, I would argue many of these of people are our customers. Our personal beliefs on what the porn industry was, is and will become are frankly irrelevant. Unless of course you plan on not selling cars to customers who visit porn sites. If not, the questions become: How does a porn site attract a customer? What does the site do to retain them? And most importantly, what are they doing to get the customer to whip out his (or her) AMEX?

The adult industry has the benefit of 'seeing' the customer with higher frequency. Joe the Plumber may hit his favorite porn sites once a week when he is frustrated with his wife. But he only visits his a car dealership every 3-5 years when he is frustrated with his current vehicle. Why? Can we as internet internet marketing professions employ some of the same 'tactics' to get Joe to increase his visits to our website from every 3-5 years to every 3-4 months?
 
Great message Matt, and good grasp of the original post.

One of the things I'm noticing both in dealer sites, and discussion groups is the lack of service promotion. Sure, there are some who utilize it, but everyone has on their mind car sales, car sales, car sales. Outside of the site itself, social media is a great way to get in front of your customers EVERY day, with oil changes, check ups, tire rotation specials etc. Heck, if your dealership has a body shop, scratch, dent and touch up specials are another way. Keep your name in their mind, legitamitely, without spam, then you have them on the lot for a new car.

Oh, and guess who pioneered these social networking sites. Adult sites like Adult Friend Finder. Go figure. Start searching for sex, and end up with a lube job.