For decades, automotive marketing and car dealership marketing often happened via broadcast television. But in an age of decreasing reliance on traditional media, depending on TV ads for dealership messaging is a losing strategy. This is especially so over the long term, as the younger generation often watches no broadcast

Economy cars have a mixed reputation. In the past, they were widely stigmatized as small, boring, and slow vehicles. That perception still persists somewhat, but fluctuating gas prices, environmental worries, and—most importantly—improvements to economy cars have come together to significantly increase the appeal of these vehicles. Today, economy cars are

One of the perennial favorites of both automotive industry insiders and consumers is the acclaimed ‘best-of list. These lists are a valuable way to catch the eye of car shoppers early in the consideration phase and direct their attention to stand-out vehicles. Indeed, many car shoppers rely heavily on best-of

In 2013, the Chevrolet SS sedan was released in what Chevy enthusiasts widely regarded as the best color that General Motors ever offered: Perfect Blue. To some, it was an understated hue that managed to stand out while still being tasteful. It was, well, perfect. Unfortunately, the general public disagreed,

Dealers have used video effectively for decades. Commercials from local dealerships were mainstays of local television stations well into the twenty-first century. With the advent of streaming media, however, online car dealerships have struggled to turn an unprecedented audience of potential buyers into customers.  Today’s car buyers overwhelmingly start the

For many car shoppers, car reviews and image galleries spark a deep interest in a particular vehicle. Sometimes, they even become convinced that they have found The One based on articles and images alone. Once they get a chance to drive the car, however, these same shoppers may find that

Quirky, offbeat advertisements for car insurance have been a TV staple for over twenty years. Reticent lizards and an unreservedly cheerful woman in white are now a natural part of our cultural landscape. However, while these adverts succeed in entertaining their audience, the adverts themselves have little to do with

Last year was hard for automakers and dealerships. Although sales topped 17 million vehicles in 2019, this number still represented a decline compared to 2018. With this lead-up, the year 2020 was already shaping up to be challenging for the auto industry. Then came coronavirus,  transforming daily life and significantly

If virtual reality is the future of car shopping, it is safe to say that this shopping will eventually take place at a virtual car dealership. Already, nearly every dealership has at least some sort of online presence, even if just posting sales listings on third-party sites. But some dealerships

Even before 2020 began, experts knew it was going to be a tough year for the automotive industry. New car sales trended downward in 2019, and a glut of vehicles coming off leases were primed to flood the market with appealing alternatives to new car purchases. But no one could

The story of the Subaru Baja is a story of resurrection. Essentially an Outback station wagon turned into a quirky short bed vehicle, the Baja was a flop when it was first released in 2003 and spent only three years on the market. Today, however, a Baja in good condition

Product photography is a part of daily life. But while most product photography is fairly simple, car photography for dealerships isn’t the same as product photography for items such as a phone, furniture piece, or laptop.  Cars are a collection of multiple complex systems, working together to not only get

The latest analysis of the car rental industry predicts a compound annual growth rate of 6.1 percent from 2020 to 2025. Technology in the form of online booking has enhanced rental firms ability to reach their customers. However, it has also enabled peer-to-peer ride and car sharing. This “sharing” industry

Technological advances have spurred a fundamental shift in the way people live their lives for the past twenty years. But through most of that period, the automotive industry was largely unaffected, and there is relatively little difference between a base model vehicle released in 2000 and one released in 2014.

The average person may still think of VR primarily as the framing device for sci-fi movies. More often, they may recognize VR as a new and developing medium for video gaming. But VR can be—and already is—much more. How VR technologies are changing manufacturing, staff training, and retail practices is

Car video marketing has the best of advertising—and the worst of advertising. Commercials from car manufacturers tend to have big budgets, clever writing, and high-quality production. Car dealer video marketing, however, has been known for the opposite. In fact, some dealerships are locally famous for the poor production value and

The average car has around 30,000 parts. Every one of those parts needs to be designed and engineered to hold up to different forces and loads, forged from different base materials, carefully machined to the needed dimensions, and assembled into components. These components are then shipped to a car manufacturer’s

In automotive marketing, a great deal of focus is placed on a vehicle’s performance, handling, and exterior styling, while the interior is all too often an afterthought. A good example is the new mid-engine 2020 Corvette. While there was a great deal of interest in the car’s performance, not much

Today, there is a dizzying array of vehicle types, models, and trim levels available. Technology advances at a relentless pace, and every manufacturer incorporates these changes in their own unique way. It is easy for someone who hasn’t explored the auto market for a few years to be lost as

In 2019, online commerce finally eclipsed traditional purchases at a retailer’s physical location. Clicks, it appears, have prevailed over bricks. The automotive industry, however, is an exception. Even now, the majority of vehicle purchases still happen at automotive dealerships. But while fully digital transactions are rare, the internet is strongly

Imagine that you’re a car buyer searching for a car. You find one you like and step into your garage, project the car into it, and spend a few minutes walking around. You open up the doors, pop the trunk and the hood, and decide you like what you see.

When Facebook purchased Oculus in 2014, some regarded it as a mistake. In fact, virtual reality (VR) was likened to the 3D televisions that famously had flopped out of the electronics market in 2010. Six short years later, however, VR headsets are available from the world’s leading electronics brands and

When people find a vehicle make or model that they like, they typically want to learn as much as possible about it. In practice, that often means seeing as much of it as possible. While written descriptions of exterior design details and interior features can be interesting, viewing them can

First impressions matter. Today, the first impression that car shoppers have about a dealership is likely going to come from pictures. Not pictures of the dealership, but the images that the dealership provides of its inventory, whether on the dealer’s own website or via a third-party listing. These digital spaces

If you’re in the market for a luxury SUV, look no further than the spacious Cadillac Escalade. It can seat up to 7 passengers at once, and, in spite of its large size, gets a reasonable 14 MPG city and 24 MPG highway. Plus, there’s a whole lot more to

Want to learn more about the BMW 7-Series and whether or not it’s right for you?  Fortunately, knowing all the specifics is easier than ever before! We’ve got the specs readily accessible. All you have to do is read them, compare them to what you’re looking for in a vehicle, and

Is the Audi A8 on your radar? If it’s not, there’s a good chance it should be! This stylish little luxury vehicle, which features a compact, four-door design, is also incredibly reliable, as its specs demonstrate. Plus, don’t let the small size or sleek exterior fool you. The Audi A8

The BMW XI is a large and in-charge vehicle with a beautiful exterior. It can seat up to 5 passengers thanks to its roomy sport utility body. Plus, for a vehicle of its size, it gets surprisingly good gas mileage. Drivers can expect around 24 MPG city and 33 MPG

If you’ve been considering the Audi A7 for your next vehicle purchase, make sure you familiarize yourself with its specs. They are quite impressive, though wants and needs vary from one buyer to the next. Thus, the only way to ensure this vehicle is right for you is to read