- May 1, 2005
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Social Networking is more popular than emailing! What does that mean?
- Thread starter Alex Snyder
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- Apr 16, 2009
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- Eric
Jeff,
As much as I love your blog man, when I'm retired, I won't be posting blog responses...
As much as I love your blog man, when I'm retired, I won't be posting blog responses...
I think I've changed my opinion.
I used to think social networking was a good idea for dealers. Funny part is, it was in the best interest of my job to think that.
I don't think that anymore.
I've revisited this post several times to see new responses (good lookin' out for the Luddites, Joe) - and I have a question for the car guys out there - the current, dyed-in-the-wool, working ISM's.
Do you think social networkers (i.e. everybody but other retailers) would rather have you involved in social networking to have "conversations" with you or would they rather have you there to easily find your cars?
I'm really beginning to think it's the latter and here's what I mean.
I was talking to an ISM in Georgia yesterday and that conversation echoed the same story I've heard again and again.
He said, "I have a Facebook page, and here and there somebody joins - but I have yet to sell a car from that."
Not only that, but he told me how much time he spent (initially) trying to crack that nut and to no avail at all.
So maybe it's not social "networking" that auto retailers will benefit most from, but social "marketing".
Just using the networks for the SERP help and so when members do a search, your pre-owned 2007 Saturn Ion might catch their eye.
What do you ISM's think about that? Are you tired of social networking or is it paying off for you?
I used to think social networking was a good idea for dealers. Funny part is, it was in the best interest of my job to think that.
I don't think that anymore.
I've revisited this post several times to see new responses (good lookin' out for the Luddites, Joe) - and I have a question for the car guys out there - the current, dyed-in-the-wool, working ISM's.
Do you think social networkers (i.e. everybody but other retailers) would rather have you involved in social networking to have "conversations" with you or would they rather have you there to easily find your cars?
I'm really beginning to think it's the latter and here's what I mean.
I was talking to an ISM in Georgia yesterday and that conversation echoed the same story I've heard again and again.
He said, "I have a Facebook page, and here and there somebody joins - but I have yet to sell a car from that."
Not only that, but he told me how much time he spent (initially) trying to crack that nut and to no avail at all.
So maybe it's not social "networking" that auto retailers will benefit most from, but social "marketing".
Just using the networks for the SERP help and so when members do a search, your pre-owned 2007 Saturn Ion might catch their eye.
What do you ISM's think about that? Are you tired of social networking or is it paying off for you?
- May 1, 2005
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- Jeff
Roland, we are all trying to figure this out and at this point there is no [one] answer.
I also think we get caught up on the term "social networking" and forget there are many avenues that fall under this umbrella, not just facebook and myspace.
I believe that social "networking" and social "marketing" for businesses need to coincide (though one could outweigh the other). For myself, the branding element of this social media is what I find most beneficial.
There is a webinar happening over at TheCustomerCollective.com. It's not automotive related but maybe there might be some good tips on how to leverage social media.
Social Selling: Live Q&A on Selling with Web 2.0
11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST March 31, 2009
"How do you take the proven fundamentals of good selling and apply them to social networking? What Web 2.0 tools should you as a sales professional be utilizing to find new prospects and keep the customers you have loyal?..."
I also think we get caught up on the term "social networking" and forget there are many avenues that fall under this umbrella, not just facebook and myspace.
I believe that social "networking" and social "marketing" for businesses need to coincide (though one could outweigh the other). For myself, the branding element of this social media is what I find most beneficial.
There is a webinar happening over at TheCustomerCollective.com. It's not automotive related but maybe there might be some good tips on how to leverage social media.
Social Selling: Live Q&A on Selling with Web 2.0
11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST March 31, 2009
"How do you take the proven fundamentals of good selling and apply them to social networking? What Web 2.0 tools should you as a sales professional be utilizing to find new prospects and keep the customers you have loyal?..."
Jeff: I agree with you it should be Social Networking and Social Marketing- reaching the Social Media. To a degree that is exactly what we have imported into our website. Mat: you have some very interesting points expressed. What would be the percentage of advertisers that would offer discounts through their ads from the different social network sites? With the economy crunch this would be a benefit to advertisers if they were to get more customers through these ads.
- Apr 17, 2009
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- MyGoalTracking
Fun discussion.
Indeed we are over-complicating this, not surprising since we don't fully understand the implications of our "new world" and how our once solid communication methods are no longer efficient enough (think about calling 100 people) when you could do otherwise.
Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, all of it, it's simply a matter of communication. We have always had a few different ways to try to get our message across (grunts, smoke-signals, pony express, telephone, dial-up, broadband, mobile-web) and that's all we are trying to do now.
Advertising, marketing, and selling is communicating - nothing more, nothing less. Learn to communicate like your customers want, expect and appreciate or find a new gig.
Indeed we are over-complicating this, not surprising since we don't fully understand the implications of our "new world" and how our once solid communication methods are no longer efficient enough (think about calling 100 people) when you could do otherwise.
Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, all of it, it's simply a matter of communication. We have always had a few different ways to try to get our message across (grunts, smoke-signals, pony express, telephone, dial-up, broadband, mobile-web) and that's all we are trying to do now.
Advertising, marketing, and selling is communicating - nothing more, nothing less. Learn to communicate like your customers want, expect and appreciate or find a new gig.
To: Brian in Etown
"just curious Joe…..what compelled you to post on this blog?"
I came upon this site many months ago by accident, browsing the 'net. Social networking, sales and technology interest me but human behavior interests me most. Apparently there're way too many dealers chasing way too few customers, resulting in a frantic search for anything to grab, to prevent drowning. A large number of dealers need to close; an uncomfortable but realistic outlook. Did anyone on this blog ACTUALLY believe, several months ago, that GM or Chrysler would solve their problems by end of March 2009?
"just curious Joe…..what compelled you to post on this blog?"
I came upon this site many months ago by accident, browsing the 'net. Social networking, sales and technology interest me but human behavior interests me most. Apparently there're way too many dealers chasing way too few customers, resulting in a frantic search for anything to grab, to prevent drowning. A large number of dealers need to close; an uncomfortable but realistic outlook. Did anyone on this blog ACTUALLY believe, several months ago, that GM or Chrysler would solve their problems by end of March 2009?
Jeff, you make some great points. My company iBidMotors.com has been advertising on Facebook for the past year (pay per click) and have seen some pretty good results from it.
- May 1, 2005
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- Jeff
Our company has started experimenting with its own Facebook page, including offering a couple of vehicles before they go on our actual webpage. Our company also has a couple blogs, including one of our salespeople hosting the "Subie Divas" blog.
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