WIN a free trip to the 2008 Synergy Sessions in New Orleans!

[Jeff Kershner]

Sean V. Bradley at Dealer Synergy has put together an impressive deal for ALL DealerRefresh readers! Please take advantage of this very generous offer. THANKS SEAN!!

I (Sean V. Bradley) want to invite EVERYONE to this year's absolute best conference...2008 Synergy Sessions in New Orleans!

It is brought to you by Dealer Synergy, AutoSuccess Magazine and Mark Dubis. This is the 3rd annual event. It is going to be off the hook!! We have worked incredibly hard to make this better than anything you have ever seen before. We got the best of the best in the industry... experts and dealers. We cut the prices completely to the bottom. ONLY $295 with a DealerRefresh discount code DR0508. We have included breakfast, lunch for two days PLUS a VIP PARTY at the famous House of Blues...food, drinks and AWESOME live entertainment.

We are NOT trying to make a big profit into this event. We are looking to create the most powerful brand out there for workshops / conferences. There are a lot of companies working very hard to give you all the absolute best in class event and not charge you very much for it.

Here is the hook...I want your help...WE NEED your help. To make this the absolute best, we are going to need your feedback as to what your wants, wishes and expectations are.

• What would make the ultimate workshop?
  
• Where would be the best location?
  
• What types of subjects?
  
• What other speakers or experts would you like to heard from?
  
• What kind of give a ways?
  
• What kind of materials?
  
• Networking?
  
• Entertainment?
  
• Breakout sessions?
  
• Exercises?
  
• What is fair pricing?

We want to hear from you.

*RESPOND TO THE POSTING WITH YOUR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS AND YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENTERED INTO THE "DEALERREFRESH" DRAWING and we will pick the winner on April 15th. Dealer Synergy and AutoSuccess Magazine will give an ALL INCLUSIVE VIP TRIP to the 2008 Synergy Sessions in New Orleans.

Package includes:

1. Flight
   
2. Hotel
   
3. Registration
   
4. Meals
   
5. Limo (for VIP Party)
   
6. Free Digital Video Flip Camera
   
7. Rockstart Status!

Approximate value is $2,000... not bad for sharing some feedback!

Thanks a lot, Sean V. Bradley-

Click here for more information and to register for the event.

 

[Eric Miltsch (blog)]

Sean,

IMO, A workshop format I would be interested in participating in, is one that simply takes an inventory of the dealership current initiatives, works to fill in the gaps and identifies any new opportunities and/or processes based on the type of store, region and market.

As for speakers, I think everyone would appreciate a fresh face - someone who isn't going to simply preach "Get more pictures online, add your prices and respond quickly to online leads."

If I'm going to a workshop, I'd like to hear & share some new cutting edge ideas, unlike the 'advice' floating around the 'Net on every other car dealer blog. (except Jeff's, of course)

Someone like Guy Kawasaki, Jeff Gitomer, or Dale Pollack could share some much needed new perspectives. A giveaway that included their books and/or a private lunch meeting with any of these people would be a welcome change. I have more than enough purple Cars.com pens. (thx DR.)

Cutting edge IT solutions, creative customer service, advanced online/SN strategies & BDC operations management are a few of the discussions I'd like to participate in as well.

Networking/Brainstorming sessions would be helpful; I'd like to hear what isn't working & build on those that are...if the event is in N.O. I'm sure entertainment won't be an issue.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

[As luck would have it, my 'Rock Star' schedule is open for any events located in New Orleans this year.]

 

[Alex Snyder (blog)]

Sean,

Thanks for putting this together!

I'd like to see brainstorming sessions like Eric mentioned. If you could get people from the dealer-side and the vendor-side grouped together discussing a certain genre of product: CRM, Inventory control, Site Hosting, etc, I think you could have some very strong spin-off for both dealers and vendors. I'd also like to see more dealers speaking. Is there anyway you can get Seth Godin on the speakers list?

Other than that, I think Eric did an excellent job in covering everything.

 

[Mark Dubis (blog)]

Wow, great ideas to enhance the event. Maybe we could explore an "ad-hoc" brainstorming session for early arrival folks on Monday evening. It could be moderated but casual enough that we can get real creative and talk about where things are moving to next and how we can get a jump on things.

Getting a speaker like Guy Kawaski, Seth Godin or Jeff Gitomer are very expensive. Also we looked into getting Seth Godin but with a speaking fee of $50,000 he is a bit over the budget we have for this event.

If you want to see a great Guy Kawasaki presentation here is a link. He is very impressive. http://zentation.com/viewer/index.php?passcode=epbcSNExIQr

All the best.

 

[Eric Miltsch (blog)]

I've got the guy for you then...Jay Sherman is the perfect spokesperson.

Jay is a solid industry speaker - w/a ton of experience in every facet of dealership operations. AutoTrader, Sonic, Cobalt and even NADA have all brought Jay in for their speaking engagements.

[email protected] if you're interested...

Eric

 

[Jeff Kershner]

FREE TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS!
Anyone else going to participate in this opportunity?

Hello ISM's ???

"Also we looked into getting Seth Godin but with a speaking fee of $50,000 he is a bit over the budget we have for this event."

Having Seth Godin speak would be tremendous. I had thought about this as well. Maybe NADA could afford the 50K.

 

[Joe Pistell]

Let's see if this is what ya'll are fishing for...

workshop themes.

workshop #1). Give yourself a raise...
...and help your GM move some old iron. Become an in-house google adwords guru and execute ad campaigns in a NY minute! Save the commissions paid to an outside AdWords vendor and use the savings as the basis for a raise! (sorry about that Mark B.)

#2). What's all this blogging about and WIFM*?
Learn to set up your 1st blog in 10 minutes. Bring your digital camera and in 30 minutes you'll have your very first entry with photos! (bring your laptop and you wont have to wit your turn

What goes in YOUR blog?
--Pics and comments from your happy customers.
--A special tradein that has a good story.
--A day trip that you and your family took.
--COUPONS that from your customers that own a biz (and want free promotion).
--Pics of your dog (or anything you got that's warm and fuzzy .
--Any Demos that the store has avail for sale

You ask, "WIFM"*?
As you add and add layers of honest info, then GOOGLE visits your site, puts the puzzle together that sees that you're a legit auto based site and your blog will RANK very well for search terms in YOUR MARKET.

Car shoppers use gooooogle and enter in product, location. Very common phrases are "used ford SUV near denver co" or "low price gm certified dealer in NY" or "used cadillac CTS dealer in dallas tx".

Everything helps.
Testimonials, demos, walk arounds on a trade in, info on a day trip all hit that magical "product, location" string that goooogle so dearly likes.

Hope this helps,
Joe

*WIFM = Whats In it For Me?

 

[Eric Miltsch (blog)]

How about someone like Avinash Kaushik or Dale Pollak?

 

[Richard Klepach (blog)]

All the ideas that I have read seem to be great ideas for an Ultimate Workshop. I know vendors need to be there to talk about new ideas and new things that they say are working for some particular dealerships. How about gatering a handfull of dealers from different areas of the country and have some sort of "20 Group" where they can share some of their ideas and knowledge with the venders as to what is working and what is not working. Let's hear and learn from the actual people on the front lines that sell the cars, parts and service. Instead of hearing a lot from different vendors that sell the products and services they have to offer to help us sell more cars, how about some actual testimony from dealers that use their products and service and share their success stories, etc.

I'm not sure but I think this is what Alex is talking about in his posting.

 

[Link]

As I have been keeping up with Sean and Dealer Synergy through the various articles and advertisements seen in different magazines, I would love to know more about VSEO. It is a very progressive concept.

Website development to increase organic leads would be a must-have discussion topic.

It would be nice to experience an objection handeling session on the main things an ISM hears: "I'll drive to the next state to save $50 bucks, etc.

As I probably won't be able to attend (unless I win...hint), is there any plans to podcast or televise the workshops in any way? It would also be a good way to review the material at a future date.

Thanks,

AFI