808 Stocklisting System & Database.

At the heart of any product or service provided by motortradesolutions.net is the desire for it not to increase the daily workload of our clients or necessitate the need for extra manpower. The 808 Stocklisting System and Database is the epitome of this, and is borne out of our knowledge not only of web services, but of our motor industry experience in recognising the pressures faced day-to-day in dealership management.

The stocklisting system is a key benefit of all our websites and (unusually) it can also be provided to you as a stand-alone back-end system so it can be integrated with your own provider.

Our system is not just for new and used cars. The 808 database is only limited by your imagination but for example could be be used for the online sale of Vans, Trucks, Tractors, Motorhomes or Motorcycles.

See the foot of this article for examples.

• Search Engine Optimised Web Listings. Once entered into the 808 Stocklisting System and Database each vehicle creates its own web page and URL. This means that your opportunities are increased in the search engines as someone searching for a vehicle of that type can be linked straight to the vehicle details page.This is particularly powerful for automotive dealerships wishing to sell non-franchise vehicles and gains their inventory maximum exposure.
  
• Data Entry. New or used vehicle stock can be entered using a simple online form or can take a feed direct from your own Dealer Management System - so multiple keying of the same information is avoided. The 808 Stocklisting and Database is compatible with all the major DMS system feeds including Portfolio, 2nd Byte, Dragon 2000, BMW, ADP Kerridge etc.
• Feeds from Manufacturers. To avoid double-keying of the same information many of our clients use the data feed from their manufacturer partners and their dedicated manufacturer websites straight into the 808 Stocklisting Database. Once set up and activated the process is managed by motortradesolutions.net and requires no further involvement from the client. Text, photographs, vehicle details, prices and mileage are all fed into the 808 system and reproduced on your dedicated website stocklisting. Not only is the workload reduced, but each vehicle gains a greater opportunity of being found on a web search. 
• Multiple Photographs. Give more to entice your buyers. The 808 Stocklist can handle 3, 6 or 9 photographs either uploaded by you or from an external feed. 
• Video Integration. Take your online marketing to the next level and add real texture to your marketing. The 808 Stocklist can fully integrate video display films seamlessly for new and used vehicles. Motortradesolutions.net can even produce video presentations and featurettes on your behalf.
• Feeds to Online Advertisers. Some of our clients choose to advertise on external websites such as AutoTrader.co.uk, Fish4Cars.co.uk, ExchangeandMart.co.uk, Parkers.co.uk etc. With your instructions the 808 Stocklisting System can seamlessly feed your stock to the advertiser of your choice and will keep it continuously updated with any changes you make. 
• Targeted landing pages. The 808 Database allows for the information to be manipulated and so can be used to create targeted pages for specific models and variants or even to create a dedicated listing for a specific sale or event. The team at motortradesolutions.net will ‘tag’ the pages so that your products can be easily found in the search engines. This service has proven to be a highly innovative and effective marketing tool for our clients. 
• Call To Action. To increase enquiry ratios each vehicle has a clear Email Enquiry button, Print button, Add to list of favourites facility and ‘call me back’ quick enquiry form. 
• Statistics and Analytics. Part of the package is the ability to measure the success of your advertising. A password protected client login allows you to see a multitude of live data, including the ability to see which vehicles are getting most searches and enquiries therefore allowing you to manage your stock effectively. 
• Constant Development. Always up to date. Any new technology or updates which we bring in are automatically updated into your stock listing system and website. This ends the need to continuously replace software as it becomes out of date.

For more information or a demonstration please call the motortradesolutions.net team on 0845 658 6880 or use the contact us form for a prompt response.

Examples: Click to view

Independent Dealer - self managed system

Prestige Independent with 2 locations

Motorhome Dealership - self managed

Franchised site with manufacturer feed

Prestige Franchised Dealership with 2 locations

Franchised Dealership with 3 locations

Multi-Franchise Group with 9 locations and 7 franchise manufacturer feeds in to one stocklist

Winning with Social Networking websites.

Motor dealers are now moving into the unknown territory of putting their business or brand on social networking websites such as Facebook or Twitter.

At motortradesolutions.net we believe that this is going to be the biggest change to dealer marketing since the motor trade was given the internet to play with...

And like those early days of motor dealer websites there's a way of doing it well, and many more ways to do it badly that could damage your business or manufacturer's brand.


Our research and experience with current clients reveals that you have got to keep your social networking page up to date with relevant and interesting information. In other words you can't take your eye off it. This unfortunately is not something that generally motor dealers are very good at - how many websites have you seen that show out of date offers, or cars that were sold ages ago?

Like most things there's huge enthusiasm at first, which then wanes and then it gets left or forgotten about. With motor dealers running leaner than ever there's always something far more more important and urgent to do. In other words far less people to pick up the pieces.

Another common error we have seen (luckily not with our clients) is not restricting the access of staff who can post messages or photographs. Be careful with your public image. Your customers do not need to see photographs of the antics of your sales team last Saturday night, or to see the comments of a disgruntled member of staff!

So if you're a motor dealer or group thinking of delving into the world of social networking websites then please give us a call or make contact using our email form.

Done properly the social networking revolution can not only bring a new edge to your communication with your customers, but also build your brand and customer loyalty.

The design team motortradesolutions.net can even produce customised backgrounds or an Avatar for your logo at a low cost. This gives your page real brand identity that is consistent with your business.

The team at motortradesolutions.net are available on 0845 658 6880 or follow this link to make an email enquiry.

And you can follow us on Twitter too: MTS808

Ideas to help increase your internet sales by motortradesolutions.net

A new phenomenon has swept across the motor trade in the past few years - the ability to sell used cars over the phone or by email by using the dealer website.

Dealer Principals, Sales Managers and Sales Executives will proudly tell us stories and share anecdotes about customers who have travelled hundreds of miles to buy one of their used cars.

This might only be a small percentage of the cars they sell per month, but they are the ones they remember and often the cars sold are ones that are perhaps not suited to the local market or a car they needed to move. So they're really pleased.

It's rare for them to think "I get all these visitors to my website from all over the country, so could I be selling even more?"

As we all know the basis of any transaction for something that is a used or secondhand item is TRUST. Essentially a new car is pretty much the same wherever you buy it from. For someone to travel a long distance or even place a deposit for a used car is a huge leap of faith. They need to know as much as possible about the product, but most importantly feel confident that the vendor is going to keep his/her word.

As an industry we expect buyers to base a decision upon what is often just a front view, rear view and a shot through the passenger door which then shows a bit of the dashboard and one-and-a-half seats? Some will, but most people won't, so these are the ones that don't even enquire and you'll never know about - these are your opportunity. However what we all remember are the ones who did.

The key is to gain an enquiry and through your sales teams undoubted professionalism they can do the rest from there...

So you need to give more reasons for your website visitor to make that next step.

There is money to be made from increasing your visitor:enquiry ratio. In other words making more of those wary visitors pick up the phone or send an email enquiry.

motortradesolutions.net have tools and services to help you be more successful at internet retailing and increasing your enquiry ratio.

It starts with the product presentation. We have a video presentation service for new or used cars. We take the car and produce a mini-movie about it. This highlights the condition, any special features or options, the interior fitments, close up shot of the wheels, the sound of the engine, the list goes on. The service includes full video editing, music and loading up to your website. Best of all it does not tie-up your sales staff by taking them out of the showroom, this allows them to get on with dealing with showroom and telephone enquiries.

The cost of this is not as high as you would think. Most use this service to highlight high-end or unique models for which the small extra investment is covered by the increased profit.

Showroom video presentations giving a guided tour of the showroom or workshop adds to building the confidence for the internet visitor who is deciding if yours is a dealer he/she wants to do business with. This is also something that the team at motortradesolutions.net can provide.

And finally after spending all this money on your website or online marketing are you certain that every member of your sales team is painting a picture with his/her voice when that all important enquiry is received. The nervous buyer will run a mile if the enquiry is not handled properly or confidently.

In fact if you run or have run a sales department you will no doubt have sales executives that do very well with internet enquiries and those that struggle. There's a reason for that. Those that struggle are botching the enquiry and you need to do something about it.

You can spot the ones who are struggling with internet enquiries because they tell you that the customer was "too demanding" or "made a ridiculous offer" or the most common one "they're not returning my calls" which means that the enquirer did not like what they heard and has backed-off.

Members of the team at motortradesolutions.net have run and operated internet sales operations and know that there is a big difference in how you handle an online enquiry - if you want to be successful.

There's a link below to show some examples of used car video presentations that we currently provide, but as always with us this is not a one-size-fits-all approach, so talk to us. We work with you as an outsourced marketing partners and are dedicated to helping you succeed.

VINES APPROVED USED BMW PRESENTATIONS.

Call us today on 0845 658 6880 or follow this link to complete an enquiry form and let us help you make an impact on your business.

Got a new model coming out? How are you going to sell it??

Got a new model coming out?

In this exciting automotive world gone are the days of a new model being kept a secret right up until the day you peel back the covers on the showroom launch evening.

It wasn't too long ago that a new model launch would fill a showroom and would attract local celebrities or dignitaries such as the mayor or a local politician.

Today the multitude of car magazines and websites show spyshots when the motor manufacturers have (accidentally?) been caught testing their next model out on the open roads or on public test tracks. This can be 12-18 months ahead of the vehicles launch, but even now we are used to seeing 'official photographs' as much as 6 months in advance.

But still the manufacturers want their dealers to put on some sort of launch event. Today time is precious and you've really got to give someone a really good reason to leave the comfort of their home, their Sky+, or their Facebook or their xBox360 to venture into a car showroom for the evening.

So the temptation is to either do it half-heartedly (which is worse than doing nothing at all) or you go bonkers and spend a fortune on an off-site location, the best wine or food or maybe even pay for a celebrity. But does this sell cars?

The other problem motor dealers face is the move by car producers to enter niche markets. This causes two issues: Firstly the volumes are usually so low that it does not warrant the expense of a large scale launch event, and secondly if you are entering a totally new market with your product (rather than replacing an old model) then who are you going to invite? Because your conquest customers won't be in your database.

Working with our clients here at motortradesolutions.net we have begun to work with them to plan ahead for new model launches, sometimes over a year in advance. We have several approaches from simple 'register of interest' systems through to the use of Twitter or even a microsite dedicated to the vehicle in question which builds up the information as the launch date approaches (see Honda Insight example below).

Whatever you choose to do, you will have the details of interested parties ready for the arrival of your new product. Do the job well and you will have been warming your prospects up nicely in the run-up to launch.

This way you can provide your sales team with relevant prospects to contact which they will greet with greater enthusiasm.

And because you have been pro-active the need for expensive launch events is negated.

Everyone's needs are different so to find out more please give us a call and find out together the best way that motortradesolutions.net can help you.

motortradesolutions.net
0845 658 6880
info@motortradesolutions.net
or follow us on Twitter: MTS808

BMW X1 & 5-series Gran Turismo campaign for Vines BMW.

motortradesolutions.net have created an email campaign for the launch of the new BMW X1 and new BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo on the weekend of 24th October 2009.

It's not just an emailer because motortradesolutions.net have also developed dedicated pages for each of these models on the Vines BMW Group website.

Launch Emailer.
Vines BMW Group BMW X1 Information Page
Vines BMW Group BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo Information Page

Visit or call motortradesolutions.net to see how we can help with your online marketing campaign on 0845 658 6880.

Or follow us on Twitter: MTS808

Are you making the most of add-on sales?

At this time of year dealer senior management are writing (or are about to write) next year's budget.

As always it is a juggling act between generating extra profit opportunities, reducing costs or screwing suppliers on price.

Well how about increasing profit without adding to overhead and by selling the same amount of cars or hours?

One way is to produce better results from your F&I department by improving the process, having a focused approach to finance and insurance sales through the technology of a dedicated reporting system and top it off by adding to your portfolio of products offered.


The unique approach of motortradesolutions.net is fully supportive. It does not require your staff to go off-site for training. With your approval we make regular visits to keep your team topped-up and motivated through product knowledge coaching and process training.

We can even assist with the processes, regulation and training required for Financial Services Authority (FSA) Compliance.

If you would like to know more about how our highly experienced industry leading specialists can help your business please complete this form or call 0845 658 6880 for an initial informal discussion.

For more like this, follow us on Twitter: MTS808

Barretts Honda Secret Event.

In May 2009 motortradesolutions.net helped Barretts Honda of Canterbury, Kent devise a campaign to increase new car order take and sales.

The campaign was targeted at existing owners and to a database list of potential new Honda buyers which the company had recently bought-in.

Working with MotorTradeSolutions.net the Honda New Car Secret Event was devised, which began with an emailer (see right) with a call to action to click-through and register for the event on a landing page within the BarrettsHonda.com website.

The emailer was kept simple and clear to keep a strong message and prompt the recipients to register.

A click through from this emailer took the recipient to a secret webpage on the Barretts Honda website (see below).

This page answered any questions that potential customers might have and then invited the reader to register their interest. By registering their details a unique event password was sent back by auto responder. Simultaneously Barretts Honda received notification by email and were then able to give the enquiry to their sales team who could make contact and fix an appointment.

The response was amazing, the showroom was busy and the sales team converted over 20 of the enquiries from that campaign into sales.

Motortradesolutions.net don't just do motor trade websites, emailers and e-Commerce shops - they are merely the tools that we use. We provide a personal service as outsourced marketing support and are the creative influence behind your campaigns. In other words tell us your need or problem and we bring fresh ideas and solutions.

For more information about the services we provide as an outsourced marketing team then call us today on 0845 658 6880 or visit the website and let us help you make an impact in your business.

Follow motortradesolutions.net on Twitter: MTS808