This post is brought to you by a guest contributor Susan Gaytan, Director of Dealer Engagement and Training  with Alan Ram's Proactive Training Solutions. Susan brings over twenty years of automotive experience and dealership management expertise.  She is responsible for integrating training solutions and helping dealerships maximize the effectiveness of training.  You can learn more about Alan Ram's Proactive Training Solutions here.

Did you know that your online reputation can affect your bottom line? It’s true.  Online reviews are essential to every modern sales process. According to recent survey statistics, 95% of consumers read reviews before they buy a product. This is true for all kinds of products.92.4% of survey respondents say reading a trusted review makes them more likely to buy a B2B product. In this article, we’ll offer six best practices for improving your online reviews.

If you have followed my articles, you know that I am a huge fan of technology, when used correctly. I try to avoid pushing Calldrip in my articles as much as possible. However, sometimes there is no way around sharing the features that the incredible team at Calldrip has created.

Would you believe me if I told you that one of themost powerful ways to market your dealership is through automotive text messaging? It’s true! If you want your valuable information to not only be seen, but be seen in a timely manner, then start texting leads.

An astounding 98% of text messages are opened, where only a mere 20% of emails are read. On average it only takes 90 seconds for a mobile phone user to respond to a text message, creating a higher probability that customers can be reached in real-time.

While sales may not be the occupation we all dream about as kids, it can be a very fulfilling occupation for those who master sales fundamentals. In sales, understanding the core principles opens doors to endless possibilities and remarkable achievements. As a salesperson, you get the opportunity to impact what you earn directly through commission, build quality relationships with others in your industry, and experience thrills as you convert big deals.  If you are a sales leader, you can ensure your team is set up for success through teaching sales fundamentals through the practice of sales enablement. 

In the quickly moving world of sales, technology can supercharge your sales and set you apart from your competitors. The adage, "If you're not first, you're last," resonates, especially when responding to digital leads and closing sales. Today, you’ll learn how cutting-edge technologies are assisting in the sales process, emphasizing rapid lead response, AI-driven insights, and SMS for consistent engagement.

The sales landscape has never changed more rapidly than it is right now, fueled by the adoption of AI, remote and hybrid work, and buyer empowerment.

In the automotive industry, there's a giant ticking clock that OEMs use to rate every  dealership. This clock starts the moment a customer indicates interest or asks for assistance. OEMs are looking for their dealerships to act on that interest as quickly as possible The phrase "time is of the essence" rings true here. 

Sales technology can transform your business. Today, we’ll be looking at one that may be new to you: lead to call automation. Lead to call automation is a unique lead response strategy that automatically converts inbound leads into a phone call, almost instantaneously. This technology can unlock speed-to-lead. Plus, sparking a real conversation at the peak moment of interest can build strong relationships and dramatically improve sales.

To be successful in inside sales, you need strong communication skills, solid industry knowledge, confidence in your abilities, and persistence. All of these elements are in play when a salesperson picks up the phone. Even today, the phone call is a powerful tool for building connections and generating sales opportunities. So what call tools are you using to make your sales calls as effective as possible?