Social Media for Dealers

A resource from HuebnerPetersen's Dealer Marketing Services

January 12, 2012 • 9:00 am 0

What Is a Hashtag? And Why Should I Use It?

 

Often, when dealers begin using social media, they become overwhelmed at the new vocabulary that is used on Facebook or Twitter. It’s confusing at first, for everyone!

One of the most common trip-ups is Twitter’s hashtag. Most dealers new to Twitter have no idea what a hashtag is, so they end up using it incorrectly or not using it at all. We are here to help you. Let’s begin with: hashtag = #. A hashtag is simply the number sign.

Hashtags are used in Twitter to categorize topics. Since Twitter’s setup is pretty simple, they developed the hashtag so people file their “tweets” under particular topics.

Example: You post a comment telling everyone to pop into your dealership this weekend. “Hey guys, check out our new inventory this weekend before you head out on your adventure! #camping”

What the #camping does:

  1. Since you placed a “#” before “camping” it will automatically make it a link.
  2. You (or anyone) can click on that link and it will take you to a page of every other Tweets that used “#camping”.
  3. Your tweet will be held in this archive of all other tweets mentioning #camping.

The hashtag is a powerful tool because it allows people who are not following you to see your tweet. A person who has never heard of you but is interested in camping will search #camping and see your tweet. This helps expose your dealership to a wider audience, and it helps establish you as a key leader on topics.

Want to know more? There are tons of websites promoted to helping you understand social media vocabulary. If you are still a little fuzzy see how Twitter describes hashtags. Also check out this blog post that describes more Twitter vocabulary. Happy #Tweeting!

photo by ccsdteacher

Filed under: Twitter, , , , , , , ,

September 15, 2010 • 8:00 am 3

Add a photo to your blog!

It adds a new dimension and another way to engage!

You’ve probably noticed that almost every post we have on the rvsocialmedia.com blog has a photo (an attractive and relevant photo at that!). The reason behind the photos is that they add another dimension to your blog post, they add a focal point. With an intriguing picture your readers will want to keep going, read more and take the time to see what you’re all about. It’s another way to connect, engage and bring readers to your site.

With that said, there are a few resources you can use for images:

1.  Your own photo library.
You have images of units, camp-outs, tailgating etc. Use those when you can. You’ll seem relatable and it will give your readers a glimpse into your life.

2.  Flickr – Creative Commons
Flickr has their photos categorized under “Creative Commons” and “All Rights Reserved”. If a photo is listed as “All Rights Reserved” you cannot use it without the express consent of the artist.

3.  Zemanta
If you use WordPress.com to host your blog, there is a new feature called Zemanta, you can click here to access the WordPress info page. Zemanta helps you find relevant photos, links etc. for your post and insert them directly from the page your writing on. Super convenient and easy to use.

4.  Free Stock Photo Sites

Every Stock Photo
Stock.Xchng

There are many more free stock photo sites out there, those are just a few! They can be great resources and provide colorful, usually professional photos for free!

Remember: When using photos that you didn’t take, make sure that you are giving the photographer credit for their work, it’s the nice thing to do. We like the format of (or see the actual photo credit at the bottom of the post):

*Photo Credit: Jane Doe (You then link back to where you originally found the photo).

*Photo Credit: def110

Filed under: Blogging, Unique Tools, , , , , , , , , ,

June 2, 2010 • 3:25 pm 2

Step #6: Tracking.

Follow your tracks to find the right direction

It’s not enough to just participate in social media; you have to do a bit of legwork on the tracking side.  Without setting goals and having a plan for tracking success it’ll be hard to measure what aspects of social media have been successful for your RV dealership, what areas need work, and in which direction your efforts should be pointed.

When your RV dealership has a handle on social media and is ready to kick your efforts into high gear, it’s time to throw in some monitoring and tracking.  Tracking in social media can be a little more abstract than traditional media measurements, so here are a few of the most beneficial ways to start tracking your progress across your favorite channels:

Twitter

Track your “re-tweets” and “mentions”.  This will help you understand which bits of content that you tweet resonate with your followers.  Checking to see who and how many times you original tweet was re-posted or how often you are mentioned in others tweets can be a great gauge to your social media reach.  Also track for links to your website or landing pages that may be floating around Twitter.  See who is linking to your website and who might be seeing that link.  Tools to use:

  • Twitter Search: Allows you to search for your Twitter name and see all mentions and retweets in real-time
  • BackTweets: Allows you to input any URL (your dealership’s website address) and see what tweets that URL has appeared in.  This accounts for both the URL itself and shortened versions of the URL
  • Twitter Clients: you can automate much of this tracking with a tool like Tweetdeck (more Tweetdeck info here), HootSuite or Seesmic Desktop.  These tools will keep you up to date on all Twitter mentions.

Blogs

No matter what blogging platform you use you’re able to track the amount of traffic and visits to your blog. Checking in to see how traffic is changing (whether it be increasing or decreasing) can be a huge indicator as to the posts your customers and readers want to see. Stay updated on your blog traffic, links to your blog, locations of visitors, and timing of visits.  Take note of trends (high peaks and low dips) in traffic, and take the time to understand what type of content and links impact your traffic levels.  Tools to use:

  • Your blogging platforms “Stats” or “Dashboard” information area

Facebook

Measuring the amount of fans you have as well as your interaction with them can be a great gauge as to how you’re progressing on Facebook. The key to success in social media is building and engaging with your customers through the information you provide and the conversations you have. If you’re steadily increasing the number of conversations as well as making them valuable, then you’re on the right track.  Tools to use:

  • Facebook Insights: Built right into your business page.  Click on this box and check on your fan demographics, graphs of interactions, mentions, and post; and check news feed mentions of your dealership.

In addition to tracking on each platform there are some blanket tools available that can make tracking your social media progress a little easier. Here are a couple or our favorites:

Social Mention

Social Mention is a great site and tool for measuring and tracking your dealership and what people are saying about you online. It’s one place you can go to see what is happening in your social media space.

Backtype

Backtype is a great social media analytics company. They can provide you with statistics regarding your monthly engagement, your audience and the conversation you as well as your followers (readers, fans customers) are having about you online.

Track your dealership’s presence in social media and you’ll have a better understanding as to how to formulate a social media strategy going forward.

We’ll have more on interpreting and making use of what you track in future posts, so stay tuned!

*image via Stella Blu’s photostream

Filed under: Step-by-Step, Strategy, , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 14, 2010 • 8:05 am 1

A home for your blog

You’ve finally decided to start blogging, but aren’t sure where to go or what blogging site to call home. There are so many sites out there that it can be hard to figure out a good place to start.  The platform that you choose should be based on your dealership’s needs and where you are in your social media journey!  We can help you find the best blogging platform for your dealership.  Here’s the lowdown on some of the blogging choices and their pros & cons and unique features.

WordPress.com

http://wordpress.com

Highlights:

  • All you need is an email address to get started
  • You get your own WordPress.com web address or you can buy a URL (web address) for a low annual fee
  • 86 free and customizable designs
  • Up-to-the-minute stats on how many people are visiting your blog, where they’re coming from, which posts are most popular, and which search engine terms are sending people your way
  • As you’re creating your blog, WordPress continuously saves your post and keeps you from losing your work.
  • Easily add “widgets” to your site. This is a great way to add each of your other social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube to your blog

Is WordPress for you?

WordPress is for the dealer who has experience with social media and online programs. The site can get a bit confusing to navigate through and the functions can be are a bit complicated without any prior experience. There are probably more options available than you’ll really need starting out.

Typepad.com

http://typepad.com

Highlights:

  • Very user friendly. Easy step-by-step process that leads you through creating and customizing your blog
  • Typepad has a “following” option like Twitter; this is great for customers to be able to follow your blog and stay updated
  • A variety of customizable themes to choose from

Is Typepad for you?

Typepad is for the RV dealer who may have some experience with both Facebook and Twitter but is just starting out in the blogging world. The interface is similar to other social media outlets and there is an option to connect your to both Facebook and Twitter at the same time!

Blogger.com

http://blogger.com

Highlights:

  • Very simple to set up. Helps create a professional looking blog in seconds
  • Your blog’s interface will be similar to Microsoft Word (read familiar and easy to use)
  • Extensive customizable themes to choose from both from Blogger and 3rd party sites
  • Includes a “follower” option like Twitter
  • Logging into Blogger is easy, you simply use your Google (or OpenID) login information

Is Blogger for you?

Blogger is for the RV dealer who might not have much experience with social media. The site allows you to navigate through its functions very easily, and guides you through the creation process.  This platform is the best for creating a professional looking blog with little effort, in a small amount of time!

Posterous.com

http://posterous.com

Highlights:

  • Ability to add posts to your blog by simply sending an email
  • Helps you find readers and connect with others using Twitter, Facebook, Google, etc.
  • Allows you to auto-post to other websites like Facebook and Twitter automatically
  • Easy to add creators so multiple people at your dealership could contribute to the blog under their own names

Is Posterous for you?

Posterous is for the dealer who needs a very simple and quick way to create and post on their blog. This site lacks simple customization options, but makes up for it with a convenient and user-friendly platform.

Filed under: Blogging, , , , , , ,

May 12, 2010 • 3:54 pm 1

Step #4: Be “Findable”.

Do what it takes to make sure your dealership's social media efforts can be found!

With all the time and hard work you put into your dealership’s social media efforts it’s definitely worth doing everything you can to get social media exposure.  There are some easy ways to make your RV dealership’s social media efforts more “findable”.  Here are some quick things you can do to make sure you’re accessible to your desired audience:

1.  Add yourself to Twitter directories
There are Twitter directories setup to help customers find businesses and people who match their interests. Taking the time to make sure your dealership is listed is important.  Once you setup a Twitter account and start tweeting, make sure your dealership’s Twitter is listed on Twellow.  Twellow  searches through Twitter profiles for keywords that are in profiles (like camping, RV, outdoors, travel, etc.).  To get listed under the correct categories, make sure your profile is complete and has keywords that work for you (AND, if you can’t find yourself on Twellow, submit yourself here).

In addition to Twellow, get your dealership listed on wefollow.  At wefollow users can browse categories, do a search, and find people to follow.  With wefollow, you have to manually add you Twitter account to the directory.  Add your RV dealership under categories like (like camping, RVing, travel).

2.  Integrate social into everything
Let people know that your RV dealership has gone social!  Add your Facebook page and Twitter username to your business cards.  Put a “Follow us on Facebook” call out on your website.  Make sure there is an RSS feed button on your blog.  Make a social email signature that links to your Facebook/Twitter/blog.  List your Twitter and Facebook addresses on direct mail pieces and giveaway items.  Let your customers know that they can find you where they do their social networking!

3.  Submit your blogs
If you start a blog at your dealership (which we highly recommend, here and here), make sure you get it listed in blog directories.  Setup a profile on Technorati, a blog directory, and claim your dealership’s blog.  Visit Google Blogs and submit your blog.  Make your blog as searchable as possible!

4.  Claim your Facebook name
Once you have 20 fans (or “likes) on Facebook, you can claim a vanity URL for your Facebook page.  Rather than the long URL Facebook assigns your dealership, you can specify what you want the URL to be.  Make it http:///www.facebook.com/anynamerv Simply visit here to get this done.  This will make it easier to share your Facebook page, and easier for fans to remember.

5.  Participate often
More than anything else, being active and consistent on your social media sites will get you the most exposure.  Participate in conversations and provide insightful comments/writing/ideas/tips.  Don’t be sporadic, be disciplined and driven.  The more you participate, the bigger your following will be and the more presence you will have!

Filed under: Step-by-Step, Strategy, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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This information is brought to you by HuebnerPetersen's Dealer Marketing Services and Front Lines Marketing Programs. Please visit http://HuebnerPetersen.com for further information.

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