In my previous two columns, I detailed the many problems dealers face when buying leads from HomeAdivsor, Angie’s List and other lead generation companies, and why you are better off generating your own leads. I also discussed how any time you generate leads you should begin with the leads you already have: your past customers. They [...]
“I remember this guy,” the dealer from Minnesota told me. I had just pointed out to him that he had a negative review on Google. “He was rude to my staff and made unreasonable demands. When we told him we couldn’t give him what he wanted he left this lousy review!” Many dealers can relate to [...]
"I don’t know where to start with my online marketing.” I was on the phone with Brad, a dealer from Texas, and he was explaining that running his business took so much of his time that he felt totally overwhelmed trying to figure out internet marketing. I’ve heard versions of this lament from many dealers, [...]
“You’ve got to remember that every prospect searching online for a flooring store has an unspoken question on her mind: Why should I choose you instead of your competitors?” I told Brad, a dealer from Connecticut for whom I was doing an online marketing assessment. “Wow, I’d never thought of it that way,” he replied. [...]
“Jim, I can’t believe this dealer has a higher star rating than us! He operates out of a storage container, and he once pulled a gun on a customer!” I was doing an online marketing assessment for Susan, a dealer from California. At the beginning of our meeting I said, “Susan, let’s walk a mile [...]
I was planning a recent business trip and, like I always do, I checked the reviews of the hotels where I was considering staying. It was second nature, as much a part of making my decision as checking a hotel’s availability, pricing, amenities, etc. I do this for virtually any new service or product I’m [...]
I was on Amazon recently to purchase individually-wrapped computer screen cleaners. Trying to decide between over a dozen options, I read several online reviews to help me decide on what turned out to be a $19 purchase. How many times have you done the same thing for minor purchases? For that matter, how many times [...]