It’s Time To Drive Traffic With Cross-Promotions!

Cross promotions are becoming very popular for two very good reasons.

Advertising dollars are tight  for dealers and everyone is looking for added value items to offer their customers.  Cross promotions allow you to do both.  Share the cost of marketing and offer a unique value to your  customer.   How do you get started?  I find the best way to create a winning cross promotion is to brain storm. 

Here are 6 good cross-promotional idea’s to kick-start your next brain storming session.

1. Develop a co-branded advertisement.  Try a lunch and service newspaper ad. Offer several service discounts and along with a lunch coupon from a local restaurant.  The offer is simple; take advantage of any of the service coupons today and get a free lunch.
   
2. Here’s one doesn’t cost any money.  Social Media is going to a very effective strategy to create cross promotions.  Have your automotive advertising agency develop a local social media business group where you comment and promote each other on facebook and twitter. 
   
3. Co-promote a give away using social media.  Once your social media group is up and running  create a promotion where you offer a give away of their products for a test drive, trade-in or referral.
   
4. Create frequent buyer card. When the consumer buys a product of  certain value from each partner  and in return  receive a great prize or cash rebate. 
   
5. Set up a display of their product in your showroom.  Try a College day where you have local Universities at the dealership to answer questions about admissions and scholarships.  Or try the old stomach approach.  Have a donut shop set up a small donut display on the weekends in the showroom.  Activity is key.  Plus, this is a great topic to promote socially.
6. With every service customer staple a special offer or discount on the receipt from one of your local marketing partners.  Be sure it’s an offer they only get from you.   In return have them can staple a low, low oil change price on their receipts or into their sacks.

With the power of social media cross promotions will create a life of their own.  Every business in your market is looking for ways to capitalize on cross-promotions.

What great ideas have you seen work this year?

3 Social Blog Platforms For Driving DealershipTraffic

  The car dealership  world of social media must look like a maze.  

One GIANT maze with dealers bumping into each other as they search for the  social cheese.  The social media mother load.  The one all mighty answer to the blog sweet spot.   Is there just one blog strategy for a dealership to find?  I don’t think so.  

I think there are three.  

I have outlined the basic strategies available to each dealership.  You need to choose the one that best fit’s your individual needs.

1) The individual stand alone dealer will want to create their own blog.  The face of the blog should be the owner or the GM.  However, don’t make the GM the face of the blog if  you change GM’s frequently.  The best bet is for the owner or someone in the owners family to take the lead.  Remember, the blog is used to build a relationship and should come from someone at the store.

2) The Dealer with multi franchises in one market  can do a brand blog.  One that represents the entire organization.  This blog can come from either the dealer, family person, or the brand.  The brand can be the relationship.  It’s not as personal but it may be the best strategy for your group.  Your auto ad agency should be able to help drive the content.  It will also be cheaper to do one blog than to tackle multiple executions.

3) The third execution available to you is the group or association.  You may have a small association of like franchises where a group blog would make sense.  This type of blog can be created by your automotive ad agency.  You might be part of an auto mall or a street association.  Your goal for both groups is to increase your credibility and marketing presence within the community.  Your goal should be for the  group or association to build a relationship with your market.  There’s no need to compete with the other dealers here.  Join together!   It will be easier and cost all of you less money.   Two great things!

Take your pick and get started.  You don’t want to miss this opportunity.

Let me know which way works best for you.  I would love to hear about how you made your choice.