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With over 150 million active users on Facebook in the United States, car dealers can not afford to miss out on the opportunity to be a part of the 9 billion pieces of content, stories, blogs and photos shared.  At the 2011 Automotive Marketing Boot Camp in Orlando, Facebook marketing expert Tim Martell will share game changing strategies for dealers to develop a compelling and financially advantageous Facebook presence.

Tim is the founder of WikiMotive and Digital Marketing Director for the Albrecht Auto Group and has over 19 years of automotive retail experience.  Tim is currently “in the trenches” working at Marlboro Nissan in Massachusetts. In 2010 Marlboro Nissan’s Facebook Marketing strategy resulted in a $6 Million increase in gross sales and a 47% increase in Net Profit. To date, the Marlboro Nissan Facebook fan page has over 20,000 fans and growing!

At the 2011 Automotive Marketing Boot Camp in Orlando, Tim’s class will give dealers step-by-step HANDS ON training on how to develop an unfair Social advantage over their competition!

• Boot Camp attendees will learn:
• Why you want to be “On Facebook”!
• Why it is important for your fans to comment!
• Why your employee’s should engage with your company page DAILY!
• To design a fan page that trains your fans to convert when they become “in market”!
• To design a fan page that motivates fans to “Like” it!
• To manage a fan page that keeps fans “tuned in daily”!
• To manage a fan page that MAXIMIZES the exposure of YOUR posts!
• To construct posts that your fans will WANT to comment on!
• How to reward fans for loyalty without simply attracting people who want to win a prize!
• How to integrate your fan page and twitter page
• How to track your Facebook Marketing efforts
• How to your social strategy ties in to your SEO strategy
• How all of the most important components of a Social strategy fit together for Social Domination!

Tim will also inspect dealer fan pages and give specific actionable recommendations for immediate improvement!

Digital Marketing Boot Camp in Orlando Attracts Keynote Speakers

PCG Digital Marketing organizes the annual Automotive Marketing Boot Camp, which attracts dealers

Register for this year's boot camp April 16-18 in Orlando.

who seek to increase their competitive edge through education of automotive industry best practices, strategies, and technology.

Attendees of the Boot Camp will benefit from a diverse roster of automotive marketing experts and automotive leaders that include Gary May, Tracy Myers, Jerry Thibeau, Sean Wolfington, Brian Pasch, Jeff Kershner, Andrew DiFeo, Darren Haygood and JD Rucker.

Topic to be covered during the 2011 Automotive Marketing Boot Camp include digital marketing, social media engagement, lead management processes, BDC structure and workflows, video publishing, reputation management, Google Places marketing, Google Adwords strategies, automotive blogging, content syndication, website analytics, as well as Automotive SEO.

The Automotive Marketing Boot Camp is very unique and effective because participants receive conference materials in advance of the class and come fully prepared to engage in actual demonstrations.  Participants use their own accounts during the classes so that they can then continue to work with them on their own long after the boot camp.

This year the Automotive Marketing Boot Camp has introduced longer workshop sessions and labs (2.5 hrs) to allow important topics to be covered in greater detail.  The 2011 Automotive Marketing Boot Camp will also feature Technology Showcases, which will offer attendees a glance at the latest vendor innovations for the automotive industry.

I have been blessed with many opportunities to speak at 20 Groups organized by NCM and NADA.  Typically, the meetings are attended by dealer principals of the same OEM franchise in non-competing markets. General Managers are present when the dealer can not attend.  These meetings, scheduled 3 to 4 times a year, develop a support network that dealers can tap throughout the year.

At these meetings, dealers can compare their performance to their peers in non-competing markets.  The dealers share best practices and encourage those who have “weak” numbers to improve by next meeting.  The concept, when passionate dealers make up these networks, results in powerful support systems and clear communication channels for best practices.

The One Groups

For Internet Sales Managers, eCommerce Directors, and BDC Managers many must participate in a 1 Group.  In most cases they have to rely on themselves to stay current with the latest strategies in dealership sales and marketing practices.  They are not given the budget to attend Digital 20 Groups or educational events that are specifically designed for their area of responsibility.

The employees that are on the front lines of the greatest changes in consumer communications are without a budget and without peer advice on best practices.  They do not have composite data to compare metrics that apply to their area of responsibility.  How many leads should each employee handle?  What is a good closing ratio? How many leads a month should I expect from Autotrader.com?  These questions, and many others, go without being answered.

In many cases, these same key employees have to beg to attend an automotive education conference.  Finding that $1,500 in a budget is just too much for some dealers.  Some employees find solace on website communities like www.DealerRefresh.com, www.DrivingSales.com, www.AutomotiveDigitalMarketing.com, or www.InternetSalesManager.org but the majority are left to navigate the tsunami of change on their own.

A Change On The Horizon

I have been working with 20 Group organizers to create a new Hybrid 20 Group Meeting Format where dealer principals and eCommerce directors attend a two day meeting together.  The format engages both the dealer and the eCommerce director with workshops on digital marketing, internet process, social media, and marketing strategies to compete online.  The results have been just outstanding.

Many dealers have stated that this new Hybrid 20 Group Meeting Format is “The best 20 Group Meeting” that they ever attended.

My take-away from the initial tests is that Dealer Principals and eCommerce Directors need to attend educational conferences TOGETHER. Currently, dealer princpals are finding it difficult to bring back accurate data about ideas and strategies shared at their 20 group meeting.  When they attend together there is no degradation in the message and opportunity.

Get To Orlando As a Team

Until your 20 Group can implement the new Hybrid Format, I suggest that dealers and their eCommerce Director get down to Orlando for the 2nd Annual Automotive Marketing Boot Camp. The Boot Camp is being held at the Hilton Orlando from April 16-18th.

Attending together will yield unprecedented skills transfer and winning business strategies that you can take home an implement.  Let’s end the “1 Group” mentality and work as a team on your future marketing success.

Registration information can be found at:  http://www.automotivemarketingbootcamp.com.

PCG Digital Marketing is pleased to announce the location of the 2011 Automotive Marketing Boot Camp. The popular venue will be held at the beautiful Hilton Orlando from April 16-18th.  The Boot Camp will attract car dealers from across the United States and Canada.

Attendees of the Automotive Marketing Boot Camp will have discounted rates at the Hilton Orlando which is located on 6001 Destination Parkway, Orlando, FL 32819. PCG Digital Marketing has  secured a block of rooms for the Boot Camp at discounted rates. Once attendees register on the official Boot Camp  website, organizers will send the discount hotel booking code. The local phone number for the Hilton Orlando is: 407-313-4300

Boot Camp Speakers Include

• Rob Fontano – eCommerce Director at Marazzi Motors
• Erin Touponse – Director of Communications for the Harte Auto Group
• Tracy Myers – Owner of Frank Myers AutoMaxx
• JD Rucker, Director of New Media at TK Carsites
• Andrew DiFeo – GM at Hyundai of St. Augustine
• Timothy Martell – Internet Director Albrecht Auto Group
• Hagen Durant – Dealer Principal Classic Chevy of Grapevine
• Eric Miltsch – eCommerce and Social Media Director Auction USA
• Jerry Thibeau – CEO of Phoneup Ninjas
• Alex Snyder – Product Development at Dealer.com
• Brian Pasch, CEO of PCG Digital Marketing
• Jeff Kershner- Director of Marketing Younger Motor Cars
• Glenn Pasch, COO of PCG Digital Marketing
• Pail Potratz, COO Potratz Advertising
• Gary May, CEO of IM@CS
• Christy Roman, CEO of Now Marketplace
• Keith Shetterly – Automotive Industry Consultant
• Matt Murray, Director of Digital Marketing at Dealer.com
• Sean Wolfington, Partner Tier 10 Marketing
• AJ LeBlanc – Co-Founder of CAR-MERCIAL

Register Today

You can register for the 2011 Automotive Marketing Boot Camp by visiting this link: Conference Registration.  The registration fee is $895 per person which includes all 8 meals during the Boot Camp.  The registration fee also includes all materials, event access, and online marketing resources posted after the Boot Camp is completed.  Attendees are advised to fly into Orlando by 1:00 pm so that they can enjoy the kick-off round table discussions with industry experts which start at 4:00 pm.