Awesome, hope to learn something.

interesting...an seo webinar from some company that has site wide footer links for "seonj.com" and "seony.com" -- a hot strategy that absolutely works wonders, and one of the links is a 404 not found. he's also got w3 validator links that reveal his site doesn't validate. i'm not big on validation, but i don't see the point in having the link on a page that doesn't validate. hopefully brian will stick to the basics until his own web properties can satisfy even the basic guidelines google provides like, "Check for broken links and correct HTML."

i know i should just bite my tongue on this kind of stuff, but holy crap.

Gerald, why work there, the perks are better on the other side of the desk, when you are buying the car and getting closed.

That guy has it going on! Are they hiring?!

I watched Eastbound & Down for the first time last night through Comcast's OnDemand. The show gives me a reason other than Flight of the Concords to hold onto my HBO subscription. It's roll on the ground funny!!

We need more role models like superstar athlete Kenny Powers!

That last episode when Kenny was at the school dance on XTC was simply HYSTERICAL!

Have any of you guys watched this show yet? Pretty hilarious, and can be well related to by a guy from Louisiana.

You guys are going to cost me another $14.95 a month to add HBO. That looks so funny, and I'm not sure I can do the long hair again Jeff.

Shaved head - no need for a comb and you don't even need a towel to dry your head! Only downside is you can't use car-dealer-gel anymore.

Hey if you are going to go all Schaeffer Motors on me lets not forget the power of selling CPO vehicles as well Login to view embedded media View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDhlNvh6Es4&feature=related

Can you tell me what dealers or groups are using your system ?
Thanks

Great concept! Could this product be introduced to the members of the Pennsylvania Independant Automobile Dealer Association on our website or in our monthly magazine?

Scotty Bisciotti
Secretary, PIADA

Llama and Roland, we felt a literal business implementation of Twitter (Yammer) would be too disruptive for dealerships. We don’t have a “following” aspect. Dealerflow asks, “where are you?” You set yourself to IN, AWAY, or OUT, and optionally enter details on your whereabouts or what you’re working on. Then anyone in the company can check your status from a computer or cell phone when they need to find you. Every day at midnight all statuses are reset.

We integrated statuses tightly with lots of other features in Dealerflow to give you tons of functionality in one system. If you use something like Twitter or Yammer, that’s one more app that just does one thing and that’s how dealers end up with lots of systems.

I have been more of a supply chain practitioner, though I spent 18 months learning sales and business development at the start of my career on a dealer showroom floor. Leading supply chain notions of interactivity such as this have attracted real attention. Working with vendors, getting inventory, A/P, A/R, BHPH, parts, service maintenance, customer service, F&I, sales, (new & used) and even detailing (the wash rack) into collaboration in real time, could even be done on the demo drive with a tool like this.
This looks like a great value for the application, where it seems to be especially practical in multi-store operations.
While this does not appear to be quite XBOX Live for dealership management, it does appear to deliver fantastic improved professionalism for dealers, so often maligned by buyers, and brings commercial efficiencies. Keeping up productivity of employees, it could be a step toward active business interaction. Including VOIP and text is a long way forward from Nextel and calling for another staff member (sales reps over loudspeakers) could save any industry in a physical environment with tens of thousands of sq. ft.
The current challenge to the industry is dire. Those who invest today in such improvements will be well positioned when pent up demand and consumer confidence brings a rebound.

I was wondering the same thing (about Twitter). There's also another service called Yammer (I have no association with them.) that does this on an enterprise level.

I really like the innovation Dealerflow has demonstrated with this product, but I wonder how many dealers like the idea of another software system.

Dealerflow clearly has some very sharp guys on board and have probably already those of these issues prior to launch though.

I wonder if Twitter itself ( instead of dealerflow ) could be used effectively for communication within a dealership. It seems to be a pretty useful tool for keep groups informed and communication flowing. Might have to give that a shot one of these days.

Jeff, thanks so much for covering Dealerflow on DealerRefresh. Good point about synergy... we'll put the quote to good use.

Umer, we'd like to do a website API later this year. Would be glad to collaborate with you on it.

Even with the reduced exposure you had this year at NADA, could you write a smaller review than normal? You have a good take on things and I'm sure others would like to hear your musings on the subject.

I really love this idea and hope the dealers embrace it sooner than later. All of our websites currently have the ability to do things similar to some of the dealerflow features. We create a meet the staff page and each staff member has full control of their page. It's specific to their contact info, hours of operation, personal biography, etc. Dealers love using it because it helps build that relationship with the customers before they enter the showroom. Or if they have already visited the dealer but forgot their salesperson's name they could use this directory to find them. Check it out:

Wow from the Dealer Flow picture, above, it looks like there is nobody at the convention... was this taken before the doors opened.

Looks like an excellent product... from reading, the status feature looks very handy. Like the 37 signal skin on the admin too... nice interface. Wondering if there be an API so I can build an online staff directory for dealers... something like... http://www.avondaletoyota.com/team/chuck_faciano?showBio=1

Sounds like an interesting solution I haven't seen before for car dealers. This software could probably be applied to any industry.

What about possible backlash when an employee/dealer relationship goes sour? These incidents occur frequently in the business and should not be ignored when blending your brand into your employees personal social media profiles. Your employees automatically become your brand ambassador which can generate great things but what about the flip side. How does a dealer monitor and prevent an ex-employee from engaging in negative branding? Obviously this is a gray area but it certainly needs to be discussed before incorporating into something as definite as an employee handbook. Feedback?

Audrey,

That is a great article. I have started using my Twitter, Facebook and yes even My Space accounts to get the message out about Jim Glover Chevrolet. The problem is there isn't enough hours in a day to keep those social places up-to-date - lol. One of the things I have just started doing is an Internet Based Radio program on Blog Talk Radio and IT'S FREE. I do a weekly show that started out being about 45 minutes but will be expanding to a one hour show. This week's show is a 2 hour special in honor of the return of the Camaro. I had been doing a podcast and happened to be introduced to BTR by Philip Zelinger. Thanks Phil. Now while it hasn't stirred up any business, I do enjoy doing the shows, reviewing Chevrolet products as well as other Car related subjects. We even try to have some fun with Trivia and some audio from past Chevrolet TV commercials. But I guess my point is that anything new should be explored. But who knows, maybe one day, someone will call and say I was listening to your show and I want to know more about.... One can only hope. So your article was great. Relationship building is one of the best tools one can use, especially in these tough economic times.

I think this article really gets people thinking about how social marketing is changing and impacting how dealerships use there staff for extended marketing outside the usual channels. One thought that comes to mind is creating a standard format "Template" for employees of the dealerships to use that would be in line with the dealerships handbook for each of the social media platforms. This might take a little of the personalization away from the individual but it could help to corral bad content that could harm the dealership yet still give the employee a platform to build a prospect and customer network.

I am sure every dealer would agree that leveraging your staff to become advocates is one of the best ideas but it takes time and patience, which a lot of dealerships just don't have the dedication needed to see it to fruition.

For the dealerships that do embrace social media I think they will be able to gain local market share by being seen repeatedly where the customers are looking and browsing socially. The average Myspace user checks there page something like 35 times per day and I am sure Facebook is similar. So marketing impressions from a dealership on Myspace or Facebook page could help solidify the brand in the browsers mind. Remember brand impressions count and studies have shown it takes from 7-27 positive brand impressions for a shoppers to take action.

This article has been a great idea starter for me thanks for posting it.

Great!! We have a Facebook page for the dealership. The sales personnel have attached to it as well. This is about 3 weeks old for us but it is rapidly gaining strength. Customers love it and love the participation. Stay tuned as we experiment.

Getting this into the handbook is certainly a first step and to do this there has to a lasting perspective of the idea at the dealer principal level and all his or her managers. But I don't think it is practical to account for all scenarios and situations that social networking actually presents. These concepts must ultimately become part of the culture.

This will come in time, I believe. It's already happening. Look what has evolved in the auto industry just through the last year.

But there is an element to social networking that I see imposing change in the employee-dealership relationship. It's the branding element. I see sales in the auto industry evolving to a state comparable to the Real Estate industry where automotive sales professionals are building their own brand equity under the roof of a dealership rather than just trying to use social media to sell cars.

Good topic Audrey.