"He Gets It"

[ddavis]

I hear "he/she gets it" referring to Internet / eCommerce Directors and usually from vendors. This is something fairly new and I have never heard it used toward any other type of manager.

I have always viewed a department in units and dollars. I consider ROI, so we aren't just buying business. Obviously, being a good Sales Manager is important. The Internet is a marketing tool. Marketing is important. A good Internet department should sell the majority of the dealerships new and used vehicles. Is 50% enough to prove he gets it?

There are so many variables in building a successful Internet department. How do you define "gets it"?

 

[malinda.terreri]

I think I've mainly used that phrase to describe managers that implement tools to their fullest.

To use ppc as an example, it would be the difference between someone who puts together a few ads on Google, and someone who uses conversion tracking to actually make changes and improvements to their campaigns.

It's probably applied more to managers that deal with online marketing / internet departments because there are so many more tools and challenges to "get."

 

[john.quinn]

I hear "he/she gets it" referring to Internet / eCommerce Directors and usually from vendors. This is something fairly new and I have never heard it used toward any other type of manager.

I have always viewed a department in units and dollars. I consider ROI, so we aren't just buying business. Obviously, being a good Sales Manager is important. The Internet is a marketing tool. Marketing is important. A good Internet department should sell the majority of the dealerships new and used vehicles. Is 50% enough to prove he gets it?

There are so many variables in building a successful Internet department. How do you define "gets it"?

Doug, I'm going to challenge you with this statement:

The mark of a TRULY successful "Internet Manager" is his/her ability to not only overcome the inherent road-blocks at every desk, but to transform those roadblocks into super-highways for success.

Doug, there is no "Internet Department" in tomorrow's dealership. Those who have come to this conclusion "get it."

And I'm not picking on you: I realize that very, very few of "us" have risen to the GSM/GM level. That's why I'm so hopeful when I see young people like Blake and Mitch that can make such an eloquent case for themselves. It's their efforts that will transform the floor and the business.

 

[ddavis]

Doug, I'm going to challenge you with this statement:

The mark of a TRULY successful "Internet Manager" is his/her ability to not only overcome the inherent road-blocks at every desk, but to transform those roadblocks into super-highways for success.

Doug, there is no "Internet Department" in tomorrow's dealership. Those who have come to this conclusion "get it."

I've always been brought into an Old School environment where I had to scramble for desks, phones, computers, drops and people. Internet sales were 70% of the sales but influencing far more. We were only one third of the sales force. A customer had to ask for an ISM or be a confirmed appointment before it was an Internet sale. I would love the opportunity to have an "Internet store". I believe it would be more effective and cost efficient. My GM was old school but convinced of the power of the Internet. Nothing clears the mind like a lack of alternatives.

 

[Jeff Kershner]

I've found that many of the ones that "Get It" move on. They have somewhat of a short lived career on the dealer level. Mostly to do frustration about no one else "Getting it".

They're usually the big thinker. They see the whole puzzle and how the pieces come together not just one piece. They are the self educator constantly wanting to move forward.

The one that knows more than the vendor. LOL.

 

[ddavis]

I've found that many of the ones that "Get It" move on. They have somewhat of a short lived career on the dealer level. Mostly to do frustration about no one else "Getting it".

They're usually the big thinker. They see the whole puzzle and how the pieces come together not just one piece. They are the self educator constantly wanting to move forward.

The one that knows more than the vendor. LOL.

I had great relationships with most of my vendors. They would love to see me back in a store.
Skills and talents that made managers valuable and seemingly indispensable, a decade ago, are becoming less relevant. These “old school” types are going to fight change to their last breath. They don't share the vision and refuse to see the whole picture.

 

[eag818]

I've found that many of the ones that "Get It" move on. They have somewhat of a short lived career on the dealer level. Mostly to do frustration about no one else "Getting it".

They're usually the big thinker. They see the whole puzzle and how the pieces come together not just one piece. They are the self educator constantly wanting to move forward.

The one that knows more than the vendor. LOL.

Jeff, unfortunately I am on this ship. Set to sail, after four years, there really isn't much else I can do. Really.

November was really slow. The irony was that our lead count was slightly up from October's. Nobody requests reports for the internet department so I am insistent on creating them. I gather up my analytics, lead count, Spanish PR and SEO content ive done, wordpress analytics, etc. I'm ready to present today. My problem?

"Where is the appointment log?"
*stored somewhere in managers desk*
"What the.. wheres the list of appointments for the month!?"
'uhh uh uh idk john put it away and uhuh durr they made appointments though'
*go to boss*
"Uhh theres no appointments logged for November"
'what chu mean no appointments did you see the log i bought in the showroom'
"Yeah, it's tucked neatly away in the GM's desk. There's 2 appointments from the beg. of the month and the salespeople decided to write their test drive ups there. So there's no way to see how many appointments we received from the leads I generated."
'DONT WORRY YOU DONT THINK THEY MAKE APPOINTMENTS SERIOUSLY YOU THINK EVERYONE JUST SITS HERE AND DOESNT MAKE APPOINTMENTS' --- implying the sales staff know what theyre doing, ignore any factual proof, rely on managers to kiss the boss' ass, hush hush move along nothing to see here.

I'm sick of having crappy sales months with my strong lead count. I'm sick of having to be in managers meetings with everyone talking about 'Okay it was slow this month what should we do' "HURR LETZ SPEND $3000 ON TV" "JOSES AUTO SALES IS DOING THIS RADIO STATION LETS DO IT TOO" and being heard with much less priority because i'm 23 and i 'didnt work at so and so nissan for 30 years gsm of the month 1994'.

I'm just sick of my job dude. I'm at the point where I stop giving a f^$&.

 

[ArtMorris]

"Where is the appointment log?"
*stored somewhere in managers desk*

Really? The "Appointment Log" at your dealership is a tangible, cellulose-based object?

Wow.

 

[ddavis]

Really? The "Appointment Log" at your dealership is a tangible, cellulose-based object?

Wow.

My old store had an old style log on the desk. They used both. Such a waste of time.

I had a heated discussion with one of the desk managers. He wanted my guys to give him a top 10 list each day. I told him to learn how to use the CRM and pull it himself.

 

[Alex Snyder]

I don't get it