Car dealerships face a common challenge: potential customers often engage with dealerships outside of normal business hours—late at night, on weekends, or even on holidays. In many cases, these valuable leads go cold simply because dealerships aren't able to respond quickly enough. But what if there was a way to convert those after-hours leads into sales without having a 24/7 sales team?

The ongoing chip shortage is causing severe auto inventory constraints. This extremely limited supply is costing the industry millions in lost unit sales and billions in lost profits. However, automotive dealers are adept at managing adversity. Dealerships have done it in the past: remember the 2009 crash followed by cash for clunkers? 

After nearly a decade of attending the NADA Show, this year’s event in Las Vegas has reaffirmed its status not just as an annual gathering but as a crucial gauge of innovation within the automotive industry. As an exhibitor, each show serves as a reminder of the industry’s dynamic and challenging nature.

Are you revved up and ready for this year's NADA Show? Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a first-timer eager to absorb all the automotive industry has to offer, preparation is key. From networking with industry leaders to exploring the latest innovations in auto technology, the NADA Conference promises a high-octane experience that can redefine your dealership's roadmap to success. But let's pump the brakes for a second; a conference this comprehensive requires a strategy. That's where this blog comes in.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated almost every B2C industry's use of digital solutions. The automotive industry was no exception. Online car shopping is now a prominent and accepted way to buy a car. The value, convenience, and safety offered by online platforms have forever changed the car-buying experience. 

Recently, CarEdge reported a mind-blowing fact about the automobile industry that has big implications for auto dealer marketing. For complete clarity, I'll quote the entire statement here:

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.

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.

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. 

To accelerate your sales and achieve remarkable success, you need two crucial elements: speed and information. A faster response time, coupled with the right information and the best responses, improves your chances of converting leads into loyal customers.