As the beta stage of TK Connect nears its end, it’s time for us to hit the lab again to put together the next important development project. We have some ideas of what will make 2012 the best digital marketing year for our dealers, but before we get started we thought it would make the most sense to reach out to YOU, the dealers of the world who know best what you really need to make things great.

Do you have ideas of the ideal inventory interface? Have you dreamed up a killer mobile app? Perhaps you think that none of the social media strategies out there are effective and you have a concept for the right tool that will help dealers succeed.

Whatever your thoughts, we want to hear them. Comment below or simply email me your ideas – jrucker@tkcarsites.com

2011 has been an amazing year with so many new developments, but TK Connect was the real game-changer for our clients. Now, it’s time to keep ahead of the pack. What do you think that next great idea should be?

I’ve found over the last few months that most car dealers are not familiar with infographics. It’s a niche in the social media and search engine marketing world that hasn’t really impacted the automotive industry until very recently.

An infographic is a visualization that presents data in a visually stunning fashion and makes understanding large amounts of data easier. For dealers, it is an avenue through which to create sharable and engaging content on their websites and blogs that will benefit visitors. They will share it, discuss it, and in many cases link to it from their own sites, causing an influx of inbound links that helps with search engine rankings.

Our partners at Column Five Media put this video together explaining what it is and how it works:

For an example of an infographic that a dealer used, here’s one from Pohanka Acura. It has increased traffic and inbound links and is being shared by many. Click to enlarge.

KPA adds Automotive Internet Marketing to KPA’s industry specific product lines for Human Resource Management, Environmental Health and Safety.

Lafayette, CO (October 5, 2011) – KPA announces today that it has acquired TK Carsites Inc. TK Carsites has over 650 automobile dealership clients throughout the country. The combination of the TK Carsites product line and current KPA product lines establishes KPA as a leading dealer services and Internet marketing provider for over 4,000 automotive, truck, and equipment dealerships and service companies. KPA will provide consulting services and software for three industry specific product lines: (1) Environmental Health and Safety; (2) HotlinkHR, Human Resource Management; and (3) TK Carsites, Internet Marketing.

“KPA’s acquisition of TK Carsites will greatly benefit TK Carsites clients because we are committed to extending our focus on client service to the TK Carsites product line of industry leading Internet marketing solutions,” says Vane Clayton, CEO of KPA. “We will do that by leveraging our presence in 44 states with over 10,000 dealership visits annually, and the commitment of our investors to the automotive industry.”

TK Carsites Internet marketing products use the Internet to drive more sales to auto dealerships. TK Carsites solutions provide dealerships with the most advanced TK Connect Website Platform, TK Mobile, and Automotive SEO, along with powerful social media and conversion tools.

“I am impressed by KPA’s 95% year-over-year client retention. There is no automotive Internet marketing company that comes close,” says Richard Valenta, CEO and co-founder of TK Carsites. “For our clients, this means that they can continue to expect high levels of support, as well as a renewed commitment to the evolution of their products.”

Jim Bradford, co-founder and president of TK Carsites comments that “We have had remarkable successes in a highly competitive market since we founded TK Carsites in 2001. The TK Carsites management team has decided that the timing is perfect to align with KPA because of its reputation, leadership, and financial strength.”

About KPA

KPA is a dealer services and Internet marketing provider for over 4,000 automotive, truck and equipment dealerships and service companies. KPA provides consulting services and software for three industry specific product lines: (1) Environmental Health and Safety; (2) HotlinkHR, Human Resource Management; and (3) TK Carsites, Internet Marketing. For more information, visit www.kpaonline.com.

Google Places just stepped up its game. It’s no longer just showing you places you want to go to. No, that would be too simple for Google Places. Reviews and results now show up for Places you’ve never even heard of, but will want to go to all the same.

Yes, that’s right—you want to go to them but you’ve never heard of them.

Now Google Places won’t be restricted to places you like. Google Places will highlight businesses that Google expects you’ll like.

For a business reliant on Web marketing—read, almost every business, especially yours—this means that Google Places and Google Reviews are far more important than ever.

How does Google do it?

Simple—Google quietly learns what you “like” by observing and analyzing your Web activity. And by “Web,” I mean Mobile too. Boy, do I ever mean Mobile.

Image courtesy of Pingdom

Bear in mind when reading this that Google’s share of Mobile is enormous, given that the Android phone’s Operating System pretty much is Google. Understanding that 500,000 new users go Mobile for their Web use every day, you come to grasp the scope of this.

So, Google takes this data and it goes the extra step. It creates a profile of what you’re like—your interests, your location, your reviews. Then it shows you Google Places liked by users like you.

Google no longer buys from your Christmas List. It’s like that best pal—the one who gets you the perfect surprise gifts because it knows you, as a person, so well.

Picture it: Google now weaving a massive data net from user behaviors, linking those behaviors by their similarities, and recommending businesses—Google Places—based on those similarities.

What does it mean to you as a business? It means that your Google Places—and the reviews on it—will be more important and, so, more competitive than ever.

TK Carsites has the value when it comes to Google: We win you Google Search Result Pages. We’re at the forefront of commanding Google+ social media. We are one step ahead when it comes to marketing on Google.

Google’s now one step ahead when it comes to marketing, and TK Carsites is right there in lockstep beside them.

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Read more Automotive articles on the TK Carsites blog.

Bad reviews can cost you. Bad Reputation Management can cost you even more.

With the rise of social and review sites, Reputation Management has become a hot commodity in digital marketing. Firms across the net marketing world have rushed to snatch money from businesses looking to counter bad reviews. Businesses are eager – sometimes desperate – to do all they can to do away with negative sentiment.

The question shouldn’t be what these Reputation Management products can do.

The question must be, “What can’t they do?”

Here’s the answer:

They cannot make bad reviews vanish.

Don’t let anyone tell you different. Look at the evidence. If such a product was actually available, then why would major corporations get bad reviews or negative sentiment at all?

Bad reviews are not something that can be erased by money.

So, if a company tries to sell you on their Reputation Management ability to simply delete bad reviews, spit out that snake oil.

Instead, make your first step due diligence: Search the name of the Reputation Management firm along with the keyword “review.” See what comes up.

Here’s a tip – if there are a ton of bad reviews on the first page of Search Results, they’re probably not so hot at Reputation Management. “Network Solutions Review,” for instance, has atrocious reviews for its top-3 results. Some are quite…inspired.

By contrast, “TK Carsites review” has a single bad review. It’s buried down at #9 out of 10, under a heap of positive reviews, including video testimonials, and marketing copy.

There you have it. The proof of the review management is in the reviewing.

So when – if, considering the soaring significance of online reviews to marketing – you’re looking for Reputation Management, remember these 3 Tips on Reviewing Your Review Management:

1. Check out the reviews on them.

2. Make sure they emphasize getting positive reviews – the best means of Reputation Management

3. Never trust any who say they can just “remove” bad reviews

It’s just common sense. But it’s common sense that can save your business thousands.

Of all the digital marketers in social media, TK Carsites was selected as the premiere example by USA Today’s article on Automotive Social Media. In print and online, this piece has been gathering heat and drawing attention to TK’s excellence in digital marketing.

You can read it here if you missed it on the newsstands. USA Today took a close look at TK Carsites and automotive social media, and what they saw yielded excerpts like this:

“[Chuck Capps of Advantage Nissan] used to spend $25,000 monthly on weekly newspaper, radio and TV advertising. Now he’s only spending money online, with $8,000 monthly to TK Carsites.

At Holmes Honda, in Shreveport, La., e-commerce director Bear Goodman says his Internet sales department has helped generate 30% of the company’s total income.”

USA Today video even provided a podcast:

TK Carsites was honored, excited and delighted to take part in this article. We are proud to be the example of Automotive Social Media in today’s online market.

Check out our Five Social Media Marketing Tips here. If you like what you read, contact us about social media consultation, platforms and promotions.

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Read more Automotive articles on the TK Carsites blog.

You’ve got Google+ just about figured out.

You’ve learned the reasons why Google+ is going to be a major force in digital marketing. You’ve learned how to establish the foundation your dealership needs to be ahead of the game when the Google+ business component launches.

Now comes the fun part. Now you learn how to use it.

It’s a five-minute process that could net you hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars.

Here’s how:

1. Go to Google+ and create two Circles. Name them “Customers” and “VIP Customers”.

2. Every time a customer comes in for service or makes a sale, be sure to get their Google account e-mail address or their primary e-mail address.

3. Go to your Google+ Home page.

4. Click on the link under Send Invites. Input the customer’s e-mail address.

5. Once they’re invited and have a Google+ account, add the customer to the “Customers” Circle.

6. Go to your Google Calendar. The link is in the upper right of your Google+ page.

7. In Google Calendar, set Calendar events for the next service appointment for the customer. If they just bought, set it for three months ahead, when they’re likely to need their first service.

8. For a personal touch, include notes about anything you learned about the customer’s interests or family, so that you can remember to take an interest in them yourself and make a social connection. If you’re able, communicate with them during this time via Google+, sharing and promoting their content.

9. When the Calendar event comes due, use Google+ to send a personal message to all those customers who are set to be contacted. This activity will keep your business’ Google+ activity high and will keep your customers in the loop through social media.

10. The best part is when a customer begins interacting back with you. When they do, move them into your more exclusive “VIP Customers” Circle. And when they come in to do business with you, treat them in a way that title deserves.

Seem simple? It is. Yet using social media rather than conventional e-mail can help your whole business’ Google+ relevance, can develop a personal relationship with a customer and can keep you in the lead of digital marketing’s trends.

It may not seem big, but it’s a small part of building massive influence online. It’s timely, it’s personal and it’s tech-savvy.

 Google+ is the best new way to add to your business.

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Read more Automotive articles on the TK Carsites blog.

Is it clear now how Google+ is bound to shake up automotive marketing?

If not, let this article open your eyes and convince your executives.

Once that’s done, now comes the simple part: Getting your dealership ready for Google+

Business pages aren’t allowed yet. A business presence is a different matter. Even when Google+ launches its Business component, you’ll need to have your people primed to use Google+. Can’t sail a ship without a crew, after all.

On Wednesday, we’ll outline a simple way to make Google+ your staff’s best pal in social media. Today, we’ll focus on making the introductions.

Here’s how:

1. Go to Google+. You’ll set up an account if you haven’t already done so. Click the Sign In button.

2. You’ll be prompted to register for a Google account if you don’t have one. If you do, go to Step #4.

3. Setting up a Google+ account is quick and simple. Any e-mail address—dealership domains, Yahoo, Hotmail—can be used as the sign-in. Just follow the directions provided after you clicked Sign In on the Google+ link above.

4.  Once you’re done logging into your Google account, go to the Google+ home site. It should look like this:

5. Go through your Google+ profile tabs, labeled About and Photos, and input all the information you can. Be sure to list your location and your business. The more information fields filled out on the profile, the better it works.

6. We’re done with Google+ for now: Send out a priority e-mail to your dealer staff—Sales, Service and other departments. Request their Google account e-mail if they have one and ask for the e-mail they use most during the day if they don’t.

7. Compile all the addresses you get. Set a task to follow up with any you don’t get within 24 hours.

8. Follow up, in person if necessary, with the staff you didn’t get e-mail addresses from.

9. Sign in to your Google+ account. On your Home page, in the right-hand column, is a section titled Send Invites. Click on the link below it that reads “Invite people to join Google+”. Here’s what it looks like:

10. Input all the e-mail addresses you compiled. You can separate them with commas or semi-colons. When you’re done, click the blue button marked Invite.

You’re done! All they need to do is follow the instructions from there. Be sure to follow up within a week to see if anyone didn’t sign up!

I also recommend forwarding them this article. It’ll help explain the process on how they can invite people to Google+ too. Encourage them to do so.

Now you’ve laid your first footprint on the future of social media Search Engine Optimization.

Wednesday, we’ll explain how to learn how to run.

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Read more Automotive articles on the TK Carsites blog.

What is your dealerships’ story? If you were asked on an elevator to describe your dealerships’ brand what would you say? You sell XYZ products? If that’s your answer, great, but more than likely if found in the same situation your competition would say the exact same thing. If that’s the case well then what separates you from them?

As a business in today’s social climate being able to tell a compelling story in 140 characters or on a 15 second elevator ride is critical. It’s what separates us from our competition and leaves a consistent branded impression on a consumers mind. This week’s webinar How Elevators Make You A Better Marketer will detail tools and guidance necessary to begin crafting and sharing your unique story in order to firmly establish your dealerships brand and make it more social.

In this webinar, Jeff Cryder, Digital Communications Director at Lebanon Ford, will be sharing and discussing with you some of the challenges and obstacles that he faced and how they were able to overcome them to become one of the most social dealers in the country!

How Elevators Force Us to be Better Marketers from TK Carsites on Vimeo.

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Expert Panelist:
Jeff Cryder, the Digital Communications and Marketing Director at Lebanon Ford, is also the subject of a Free Whitepaper, “Successful Social Media for Auto Dealers: Lebanon Ford Provides a Roadmap For Best Practices” available at DealerSocial. He’s a recent graduate of Miami University (OH) with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications with a minor in Political Science. He’s @cryderja on Twitter and you can also find him on Facebook, Linkedin and Foursquare. His many interests include but are not limited to: politics, sports, gaming, traveling and of course the ever changing automotive industry. You can get to know Jeff on a personal level on his blog (jeffcrydersmultiplepersonalities) or simply shoot him an email cryderja@gmail.com. Jeff has been showcased and quoted in: Automotive News, Auto Dealer Monthly, Ward’s Dealer Business and is currently a Community Editor for DrivingSales.

Watch Live TK Carsites Webinars every Wed.

Read more automotive news on the TK Carsites Blog.

Google screwed up. Don’t be like Google.

Now, we’re not saying there’s anything wrong with making billions. By all means, go ahead. But don’t stand by when the future of marketing speeds up around you, like they did.

If the top Web technology provider on the planet says, like former CEO Eric Schmidt just did, that the key to future success is social media, you best listen. Learn from their mistakes. Get on social media, get with the latest technologies, and get active.

But how? I’ll tell you how.

The first step to recovery, experts say, is admitting a problem. Take a look at your social media to see if it hits these six criteria:

Are you sure you know why you’re on social media?

Think it over. If you can’t come up with a quick answer all on your own, here’s one: You’re on social media to get social. Talk to people. Talk to them like you would talk to them when you’re meeting at a wedding. Talk to them like real people and address their real concerns.

Are you aware of the latest tools on the market?

There are tons. TONS. And many of them are redundant, overvalued or just plain broken. But here’s the good news—many of them are unique, inexpensive and brilliant. Know which is which. If you don’t know, ask someone—someone like, oh, say, TK Carsites Facebook.

Are you putting your personality out there?

Don’t just decide how you want your dealership to be seen on social media. Decide how your business’ personality should be seen. If you deal with your customers like you’re just a business, they’ll consider you just a business. If you deal with them like a friend, they’ll treat you like a friend. So get friendly and put some personality out there. Talk music, talk films, talk sports. Just talk something—don’t just sell.

Are you growing a Fan base that’s local?

Try to extend yourself to the local community. A lot of dealerships fail to find their Fans locally and then wonder why their social media followers aren’t coming in to do business. If you grow locally, you’ll attract locals. So, make contact through social media with people, charities and businesses in your local area.

Are you engaging your Fans and Followers?

It’s this simple: If you don’t talk to them, they won’t talk to you. If they don’t talk to you, they won’t talk about you. To talk to them, talk about what they want to talk about. Don’t try to talk to Indianapolis Colts fans about Japanese automobiles day in and day out. Talk about what’s going on, about what’s on everybody’s mind and, most of all, about your Fans and Followers themselves. By coming to know them, they come to know you.

Are you linking all your digital marketing together?

You’ve got to be linked with the latest tools. There are just too many moving parts in modern digital marketing to not link them. It would be like trying to drive a car if you had to manually operate each wheel and every part of the engine. Get a tool like the TK Connect social and search dashboard that combines all of your social media in a single place, monitoring it and operating it together. You get ahead by staying with the leading technology. It’s as simple as that.

If you can answer “yes” to all these questions, then congratulations! Pat yourself on the back and give yourself a treat. You’re not going to be like Google.

You’re going to be the future.