Improved Responsive Confirmation and Reminder Emails

responsive email on iphone

We’ve been on a mobile kick lately here at HookLogic. Last week I wrote about our new Web2Show feature - Mobile2Show  and  Why did that customer LEAVE YOUR DEALERSHIP right after looking at their iPhone?

Many of you already know or can easily guess that current studies are showing consumers are now reading a larger portion of their emails by mobile device, mostly on their smartphone. Therefore it’s imperative that emails sent to your customers are easy to read on a smaller screen.

Today, we are officially announcing our new and improved Responsive Designed confirmation and reminder emails that are sent to your potential customers that have engaged with Web2Show and Lead2Show.

Prior to this improvement, we had a few tiny display issues with our previous emails when it came to formatting for mobile across the different devices and screen sizes. While none of these issues had any real negative impact on the customers experience, we knew we could do better. Anytime we can improve the experience for our dealer clients and their potential customers, we make it a priority.

To address this, we took the existing email(s) (which are already optimized for deliverability and engagement), and built upon them. The result is an email “template” that contains the same effective message within a much more responsive design.  Whether on a full-size monitor or mobile device (tablet, iPhone, etc), your customers are now presented with an email that scales and displays appropriately.

responsive email design

Added Bonus: While we were making these enhancements, we also made the addition of including your dealer logo at the top of the message (previously only at the bottom of the signature), which we believe gives the email a bit more validity as a communication on behalf your dealership.

Mobile2Show gets a Mobile Makeover for MORE Conversion

Web2Show Mobile2Show adaptive

With 25% of car shoppers using only a smartphone to shop, compare and research their next vehicle prior to visiting a dealership, it’s imperative that dealers have a strong game plan around their marketing and consumer experience on mobile devices. We (HookLogic) have always offered Mobile2Show to our dealer clients. Though often an overlooked feature that’s included with our Web2Show product. Why overlooked? The fact is, most mobile website solutions didn’t offer the flexibility to allow features like our Mobile2Show to reside on the dealers mobile website.

This is changing. And thankfully it’s seems to be changing quickly. One of my takeaways from NADA 2014, was seeing how quickly many of the top dealership website platforms were able to offer Adaptive Design / Mobile Responsiveness as a standard feature into their existing platform.

With consumers shopping habits changing, industry dealer website providers quickly adapting to change, we knew it was time to change (adapt) as well. Not as much of a change as it is more of a redesign of our existing Mobile2Show feature.

Our redesign of Mobile2Show includes several impressive enhancements. Like…

mobile2show vdpbanner

Mobile2Show is now able to determine which type of device your shopper is using when viewing your dealership website. If they are on a mobile device, we automatically serve up Mobile2Show. If they are using a laptop/desktop, or larger device, we automatically serve up our traditional Web2Show.

mobile2show select delivery

mobile2show_3

With our updated Mobile2Show solution, a banner floats at the bottom of the browser. Upon clicking the banner, a form will appear to slide up the screen. The shopper is then able to select the method by which they would like to receive their test drive incentive. They can opt for delivery by email or have it sent by text to their phone number.

After submitting the form, the incentive code is displayed on the overlay and delivered to the customer via their selected method.

mobile2show delivery option

Additionally, we have added call-to-action buttons that allow the shopper to Instantly Call your dealership. If the shopper needs directions to your dealership, they have quick access by using the Get Direction button. And for those iOS users, they have the option to add the incentive code directly to their Passbook app.

For tracking and reporting purposes, the incentive code is now marked either as being related to Web2Show or Mobile2Show. Within the AutoHook reporting interface, you will now be able to break the performance out separately for each.

As you can see, the enhancements we have made to Mobile2Show will allow for a smoother and much more engaging experience for your mobile shoppers. Of course the end goal with these enhancements is to drive more of your mobile shoppers to visit your showroom in person for a test drive. More shows equated to more opportunities to make a sale.

If you’re not already taking advantage of our Mobile2Show feature, please contact us so we can review your account and have it added to your current mobile website. Get more of your mobile shoppers showing up at your dealership with our latest enhanced Mobile2Show feature.

If you're looking to increase the engagement and show rate of potential customer visiting your dealers mobile website – contact us for a complete demo of our AutoHook Suite of Products and receive a $25 Gift Card .

Mobile2Show - Our New "Showrooming" Solution

Our New "Showrooming" Solution

Mobile usage is becoming an important part of the car buying process, especially when visiting a dealership.  Your customers are shopping your competitors right from your lot.  Over 60% of your customers are using their smartphone while in your showroom.  When you see this, know that 2/3 of these customers will leave your dealership and visit another store within a day.  This is called showrooming.  More than ever, dealers need a mobile strategy.

In a recent study with Cars.com and Placed it was revealed that when a consumer used their mobile device at a dealership, 62% of these customers visited ANOTHER dealership within a day.

How will you compete with this?  You have to have a way to get a customer away from your competitor’s dealership and into your dealership. The first hurdle is to display on mobile.  Because of HookLogic’s responsive design, our call to action changes on your mobile site, to the form of a mobile banner. Once clicked, HookLogic delivers the incentive either by email or text message and promptly connect the customer to the dealership with either driving directions or a phone call.

Within HookLogic’s user interface, we have 19,000 franchised dealerships mapped out down to their latitude and longitude coordinates.  This allows our dealer and OEM clients to target specific competitors.  When a customer searches your site while at a targeted competitor, a dynamic offer pushes customer out of your competitor’s dealership for a test drive in your dealership.  Once at your dealership, the customer redeems their offer via a 30 second redemption process that allows you to accurately attribute the showroom visit and sale back to your mobile offer.  HookLogic’s Mobile2Show is the first true automotive showrooming solution tied to its award-winning attribution engine.

But what if the customer doesn’t visit your dealership website.  HookLogic’s dynamic incentives can target customers browsing on thousands of different mobile websites and apps, powered by Verve Mobile.  Our dealers and OEM partners can protect their own backyard, conquest around competitor’s dealerships, and even retarget users that previously engaged with their ad.

Simply pick your competitive dealership dealerships and locations to target.  When a consumer visits one of the mobile sites or apps within the Verve Mobile Network, a dynamic offer from your dealership will push the consumer into your showroom. Once at your dealership, the customer redeems their offer via a 30 second redemption process that allows you to accurately attribute the showroom visit and sale back to your mobile offer.  HookLogic’s Mobile2Show is the first true automotive showrooming solution tied to its award-winning attribution engine.

Top three results that have come from Mobile2Show:

• Offer a first of its kind "showrooming" solution to dealers

• Build conquest campaigns for OEMs that boost marketshare

• Increase a dealer's mobile conversion rate and showroom visit rate

Carfax revolutionizes online car shopping with vehicle history search

carfax_used_car_search

Carfax announced on Monday, they are set to “revolutionize online car shopping with vehicle history search”.

Carfax has unveiled an innovation in online car shopping that helps consumers find the right car with the right history. At carfax.com, online shoppers now can search for used cars with specific vehicle history details – things like no accidents reported to Carfax, service records, Carfax 1-Owner and more. Used cars for sale from thousands of dealers on the new listings site all come with free Carfax® Vehicle History Reports™. Plus, vehicles are shown based on the history attributes shoppers want, making the shopping process for carfax.com visitors easier and faster.

Carfax revolutionizes online car shopping with vehicle history search

Unique Vehicle Listings Site Helps Consumers Find the Right Car with the Right History from Dealers

CENTREVILLE, Va. (March 10, 2014) – Carfax has unveiled an innovation in online car shopping that helps consumers find the right car with the right history. At carfax.com, online shoppers now can search for used cars with specific vehicle history details – things like no accidents reported to Carfax, service records, Carfax 1-Owner and more. Used cars for sale from thousands of dealers on the new listings site all come with free Carfax® Vehicle History Reports™. Plus, vehicles are shown based on the history attributes shoppers want, making the shopping process for carfax.com visitors easier and faster.

“I found a great car on Carfax,” said used car shopper Nathan Walker from Washington state. “I called the dealer immediately and he said the car was not listed in their inventory yet because it was still in detail and undergoing inspection. I already knew from the information in the Carfax listing that I wanted to see it. I drove forty miles to the dealership and bought the car.”

Key vehicle history details seen in every vehicle listing help save time while sifting through search results. At carfax.com, visitors begin their search of more than one million used cars by selecting the vehicle history attributes they want. Listings from Carfax Advantage Dealers also include price, photos and a detailed description of the vehicle.

Once potential buyers find they car they want, they easily connect with the dealer directly from the vehicle listing on carfax.com.

“We’ve made sure our inventory is included on carfax.com for years,” said Jeff Best, vice president of used cars for Brown’s Car Stores. “It’s an easy way for us to get in front of ready-to-buy shoppers. Consumers trust Carfax, which helps build their trust in the cars we list on Carfax.”

“Millions of online shoppers today click on readily available Carfax Reports to see if the cars they want have a history that meets their needs,” said Dick Raines, president of Carfax. “Now, consumers can know right away by choosing which history details are most important to them at the beginning of their search. Carfax puts the right cars with the right history right in front of you.”

Carfax also recommends a mechanic’s inspection and thorough test drive before buying, in addition to a Carfax Report, to help purchase the right used car with the right Carfax history.

About Carfax Carfax is the vehicle history expert for used car buyers, sellers and the automotive industry. Carfax created the Vehicle History Report in 1986 and maintains the largest vehicle history database ever assembled, comprising over 12 billion vehicle records from more than 81,000 sources across North America. A Carfax® Vehicle History Report™, the most trusted resource for vehicle history information, is an essential step in the used car buying process. Get free Carfax® Reports from dealers wherever used cars are sold online or look for Carfax Advantage™ dealers in your area and say ‘Show Me the Carfax’. For used car buying tips or to purchase a Carfax® Report, visit www.carfax.com. Carfax was recently acquired by IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS).

Honda Dealer Results Utilizing HookLogic

Prior to NADA 2014 we posted the Performance and Purchase Analysis info-graphic for several partners and OEM dealerships utilizing HookLogic’s AutoHook. 1. Dealer.com Dealer Results Using HookLogic

2. AutoUSA Dealers Performance using ShowPro

3. Chrysler Dealer Results Utilizing HookLogic

4. Toyota Dealership Results Utilizing HookLogic

As mentioned in the previous posts, we have partnered with Polk to acquire and validate the lead close rates for our customers.  This is provided by matching all leads to Polk’s census of vehicle registrations for actual close rates of all new and used vehicles purchased by the consumer submitting the lead.

Here’s the Performance and Purchase Analysis info-graphic for…

honda_hooklogic_infographic

Starting from the top, we have “Leads Generated“. During the months of  January 2013 – June 2013 HookLogic’s AutoHook generated 18,488 for 73 Honda dealerships.

Of the 18,488incentivized vehicle shoppers, 6,576 customers walked into a Honda dealership that utilized HookLogic’s suite of products, during this time frame to test drive a vehicle after engaging with either Web2Show or Lead2Show.

Of the total amount of leads submitted or engaged with, 1 in 3 showed up at the dealership for a 35% Lead to Show Rate. Considering the average national lead to show rate is around 17%, this is GREAT NEWS for Honda dealers.

Moving onto the SALES Data.

Of the 6,576 customers that were incentivized and walked into one of these 73 Honda dealers for a test drive, 52% purchased a Vehicle.  

This group of Honda dealers are closing incentivized showroom ups at 52%, with an overall lead closing ratio of 19%.

Whether it’s a lead originating from your dealer’s website, 3rd Party Lead, Online Chat lead or HookLogic Web2Show – By getting more in-market shoppers to Show Up at your dealership, you get more opportunities to make a sale.

*If you’re a Honda Dealership, or any dealership for that matter and would like to increase your show rate –  contact us for a complete demo of our AutoHook Suite of Products and receive a $25 Gift Card .

HookLogic, CARFAX Team Up on Used Cars

Lead2Show, Web2Show now includes valuable Carfax information

carfax_logo

HookLogic today announced that Carfax-subscribing dealers can give their prospective buyers access to Carfax Vehicle History Reports within HookLogic products Web2Show and Lead2Show.

Dealers now can send links to Carfax Reports within the customer confirmation page and emails. This enhancement helps engage more potential buyers and provide the information they need to buy their next used car with more confidence.

“Carfax and HookLogic are committed to helping dealers turn online shoppers into on-the-lot buyers,” said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. “With HookLogic’s AutoHook, our mutual customers can make sure the vehicle history information used car buyers want to see is readily available to them.”

Research shows that used vehicles turn 15 days faster on average when a Carfax Report is available to prospective buyers.

“AutoHook already drives 30% of prospective leads into the showroom — twice the national average,” said HookLogic Automotive President David Metter. “Giving those leads access to Carfax will make the leads even more qualified. By saving everyone’s time, this partnership will lead to the happiest outcomes.”

Confirmation Page CARFAX 1-Owner

If you would like to increase your show rate –  contact us for a complete demo of our AutoHook Suite of Products and receive a $25 Gift Card .

About Carfax (www.carfax.com) Carfax is the vehicle history expert for used car buyers, sellers and the automotive industry. Carfax created the Vehicle History Report in 1986 and is trusted by dealerships across North America to help acquire, advertise and retail used cars. Carfax is the vehicle history provider of choice for 37 manufacturer Certified programs and is integrated into hundreds of acquisition and inventory management tools, available on popular online automalls and featured on thousands of automotive websites. Carfax® Vehicle History Reports™ are viewed more than 170 million times a year to help people buy with more confidence. Become a Carfax Advantage™ dealer or learn how Carfax can help your dealership win by visiting www.carfaxonline.com. Carfax was recently acquired by IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS).

HookLogic Wins Major Automotive Website Award

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the entire HookLogic Auto Team on another AWA Marketing Innovation Award. We are humbled to be a two-time winner. Great job, team, in continuing to innovate and lead the industry with great solutions and best-in-class partnerships.

AWA Award 2014

Below is the full press release that we put together!

Marketing Innovation prize recognizes attribution expertise

NEW YORK — February 20th, 2014 — PCG Consulting bestowed an Automotive Website Award on HookLogic for Marketing Innovation, the companies announced today. The prize, recognizing HookLogic’s work, was awarded just before the National Automobile Dealers Association convention at the end of January.

The annual Automotive Website Awards honor those who best serve automobile dealers. PCG Consulting presents awards to the best automotive website and technology providers in a variety of categories.

“Dealers that are looking to create more opportunities from their existing website traffic and leads should be adding merchandising tools to increase conversion.” said Brian Pasch, CEO of PCG Consulting Inc. “HookLogic delivers multiple solutions to increase sales and customer satisfaction; a core ingredient to any digital marketing strategy.”

“We were trying excited to win our second AWA in as many years,” said HookLogic Automotive President David Metter. “It shows that our team continues to innovate and stay ahead of the curve with leading technology.”

About HookLogic HookLogic, the global leader in commerce search advertising, enables marketers to influence in-market shoppers and Win the Moment of Truth™ on the world’s leading retail, travel, and automotive sites. Network partners and advertisers including Expedia, Target, AutoTrader.com, Chrysler, Intel, Newegg and Rakuten Shopping use HookLogic to increase sales and monetize site traffic with industry-leading solutions such as Retail Search Exchange, TravelAds, and AutoHook. Backed by Bain Capital Ventures and Intel Capital, HookLogic is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, and London, UK.

1524086_521312591314820_246960908_o

HookLogic Partners with Team Velocity Marketing

HookLogic and Team Velocity offer a comprehensive solution for OEMs and dealerships.

logo team velocity marketing

Auto dealers & OEMs will soon be able to gain full attribution on their marketing spend thanks to a new partnership between Team Velocity and HookLogic.  The two leading technology providers announced a strategic partnership combining the companies’ direct communications and targeted incentive technologies into a comprehensive solution for OEMs and automotive dealers. Customers of Team Velocity will be able to integrate test drive incentives into their direct communications and have showroom visits and sales attributed to their campaigns.

Team Velocity Marketing provides automotive companies across the U.S. with a 360° Sales and Service Marketing Program, which entails a full suite of direct, targeted, and digital marketing services.  HookLogic’s AutoHook solutions provide dealers with an advanced platform for managing the delivery of time-sensitive, high-value incentives that can only be redeemed in-store, turning qualified leads into showroom visits and test drives, as well as attributing sales to specific campaigns.  The partnership between the two companies brings a fully integrated solution that combines the best of both technologies for automotive dealers and marketers.

“HookLogic has as a credible platform that is more likely to turn shoppers into buyers. It makes sense for us and for our clients,” said David Boice, Owner of Team Velocity Marketing

“We’re pleased that our relationship with Team Velocity enables OEMs, regional associations and dealers to measure precisely the effect that direct communication via email and mail is having.  Having the ability to attribute a showroom visit and a sale back to Team Velocity’s suite of products gives their customers great power,” said HookLogic President, Automotive David Metter.

About Team VelocityTeam Velocity Marketing provides automotive companies across the U.S. with a 360° Sales and Service Marketing Program, which entails a full suite of direct, targeted, and digital marketing services. They exclusively developed the Perfect Prospect Technology™ that targets a dealership’s in-market customers and prospects solely based on their statistical probability of either purchasing or servicing their vehicles now and in the future.  Team Velocity has worked with 75% of the top 100 dealers and 18 manufacturers and is headquartered in Herndon, VA.

About HookLogic HookLogic, the global leader in commerce search advertising and driving attribution, enables marketers to influence in-market shoppers and Win the Moment of Truth™ on the world’s leading retail, travel, and automotive sites. Network partners and advertisers including Expedia, Target, Dealer.com, Chrysler, Intel, Kia, Newegg and Rakuten Shopping use HookLogic to increase sales and monetize site traffic with industry-leading solutions such as Retail Search Exchange, TravelAds, and AutoHook. Backed by Bain Capital Ventures and Intel Capital, HookLogic is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, and London, UK.

Dataium Wins Automotive Website Award for Marketing Innovation

dataium_logo

Congratulations to our partner Dataium for being Honored with the Automotive Website Award for Marketing Innovation held by PCG Consulting.

PCG Consulting honors the best of the best for automotive dealers. Awards are presented to the best automotive website and technology providers in a variety of categories, including Automotive Website Platforms, Mobile Websites, Marketing Software,

CRM, Social Media Tools and more.

"If we had to pick one product in 2013 that has dramatically shifted the automotive marketing strategies of every major player in the automotive industry, it would be Dataium." - PCG Consulting

For more information, read the full Press Release after the jump.

Nashville, TN — 1/28/2014 — Dataium, the largest aggregator of in-market automotive shopper behavior, was awarded with the Automotive Website Award for Marketing Innovation. The company was presented with this award for the impact of their intelligence solutions on the strategies, operations and products of major automotive service providers and auto manufacturer processes supporting dealers nationwide. 

The Automotive Website Awards is an annual ceremony held by PCG Consulting that honors the best of the best for automotive dealers. Awards are presented to the best automotive website and technology providers in a variety of categories, including Automotive Website Platforms, Mobile Websites, Marketing Software, CRM, Social Media Tools and more.

"If we had to pick one product in 2013 that has dramatically shifted the automotive marketing strategies of every major player in the automotive industry, it would be Dataium. Dataium's visions are revolutionizing automotive marketing, supply chain economics, and creating a more relevant shopping experience for consumers. In 2014 we will start to see how marketing solutions will become more relevant and customized, using the information that Dataium provides," a spokesperson from PCG Consulting said.

"We're proud to accept the Automotive Website Award for Marketing Innovation, and we feel that it marks another step forward for our company as well as the automotive industry as a whole," said Angie Sherrell, Managing Director at Dataium. "Marketing is increasingly becoming a personalized experience for consumers, and online auto shoppers expect a higher level of support and service than ever before, without sacrificing their privacy to get it. Our mission is to make the future of auto shopping more satisfying and more convenient for consumers, and we look forward to doing that by making the entire automotive industry smarter, more efficient, and better prepared for tomorrow's auto shopper."

About Dataium, LLC Dataium is the largest aggregator of online in-market automotive shopping activity. The company collects, analyzes, and indexes billions of online automotive shopping events from millions of active auto shoppers monthly, and supports cutting-edge data collection, analysis, proprietary research and reporting technology. For more information, visit www.dataium.com, email: info@dataium.com, or call 877-896-DATA (3282).

AutoHook Now includes OEM Real-time Rebates and Incentive Offers

W2S Incentive confirmation display

We keep on moving! We don't stop!

Yet another feature has been added to our AutoHook suite of products. This time, we have coordinated with AIS Rebates to bring our Dealers and Partners realtime OEM Rebates and Incentive offers within our Web2Show and Lead2Show products.

The inclusion of incentive and rebate information will help our dealers build transparency, while presenting decision-influencing information in front of the new car buyer at critical moments of decision making.

AIS Rebates in Confirmation Email

For more information on this new feature - contact us for a complete demo and receive a $25 Gift Card .

Read the full Press Release, see below...

ANN ARBOR, MI- January 30, 2014- HookLogic, a leader in automotive incentives for dealers nationwide, announced today that it has partnered with AIS Rebates, a product of vAuto, to integrate rebates and incentives directly into HookLogic’s AutoHook suite of products .

This new feature combines the latest national and regional Manufacture incentives and rebates into the confirmation form and email - integral parts of the AutoHook Web2Show and Lead2Show - and is an industry exclusive. This solution takes into account all consumer-facing programs offered by the Manufacturers and automatically includes bonus cash and other special programs at the zip code level.

According to Greg Kelly, Business Development Director for AIS Rebates, “incentives and rebates have come to be “expected” by consumers. Manufacturers spend billions annually in rebates and other special offers to attract consumers to purchase their brands. Dealers should consider the various creative channels to communicate these offers to prospects who are considering their products.” Consumers benefit by knowing in real time which rebates and/or incentives are available for their specific vehicles of interest.

HookLogic dealers can now provide a feature that not only continues to build transparency with the customer but, more importantly, keeps valuable, decision-influencing information in front of the new car buyer at critical moments of decision making.

“Throughout the testing period of including incentives and rebates into our suite of products, HookLogic recorded a 17% increase in showroom activity,” noted David Metter, president of HookLogic Automotive.

Smart integration of current incentive and rebate information into Web2Show and Lead2Show showed to be an essential feature. The inclusion of AIS Rebates allows HookLogic’s AutoHook the ability to present incentive and rebate information to consumers at a very influential time of the vehicle shopping process.

About HookLogic:

HookLogic, the global leader in commerce search advertising, enables marketers to influence in-market shoppers and Win the Moment of Truth™ on the world’s leading retail, travel, and automotive sites. Network partners and advertisers including Expedia, Target, Dealer.com, Chrysler, Intel, Kia, Newegg and Rakuten Shopping use HookLogic to increase sales and monetize site traffic with industry-leading solutions such as Retail Search Exchange, TravelAds, and AutoHook. Backed by Bain Capital Ventures and Intel Capital, HookLogic is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, and London, UK.

About AIS Rebates:

AIS Rebates is a product of vAuto, Inc. which is a subsidiary of AutoTrader Group, which includes AutoTrader.com®, Kelley Blue Book®, vAuto®, HomeNet Automotive®, AIS RebatesTM ,Genius Labs® and HaystakTM. AutoTrader Group is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit www.autotradergroup.com. For more information about AIS Rebates please visit www.aisrebates.com