Automotive Marketing

Used Car Marketing Catapults Franchise Dealers Ahead of Pre-Owned Lots

February 11, 2014

The used car marketing sales numbers were getting closer for a few years, and finally in 2011 a shift took place. Franchise dealers actually outsold their used-car counterparts with just over 13.8 deliveries, while independent used car lots sold just under 13.8.

Since then, the numbers have continued trending in favor of the franchise dealers. In 2012, new car dealers sold 14.9 million and used car companies delivered 14 million. Last year, the franchise dealers sold 15.7 million, while the used car lots checked in at 14.3 million.

Automotive Marketing Improvement Makes The Difference

JKRAdvertising / Automotive Marketing /

January 22, 2014

Automotive Marketing Improvement Some car dealers struggle to make automotive marketing improvements. Recent reports indicate that 2013 was the automotive industry’s best year since 2007, yet many dealerships still lack foot traffic. They know it only too well … and it gets reinforced each day by their sales staffs, who lack morale because there are a only a scant few customers.

The dealer may be convinced he’s doing all the right things; still, he’s not getting the results he wants. There can be several reasons for this, usually involving automotive marketing improvements. A car dealer needs to ask some pertinent questions to improve his automotive marketing campaigns.

Subprime Car Loan Rates Higher than Pre-Recession Levels

JKRAdvertising / Automotive Advertising, Automotive Marketing /

January 13, 2014

It may be hard to believe, but subprime car loan interest rates are higher today than before the recession. Prior to the economic downturn, approximately 25% of all new car loans were subprime, and today, according to Lacey Plache, Chief Economist for Edmunds.com it’s slightly higher.

Many are asking if the increase in subprime car loans is a sign of unpleasant things to come, but Ms. Plache doesn’t think so. “At first glance, it looks like we didn’t really learn our lessons from the subprime housing bubble,” she says. “But I think it’s too soon to have that fear.”

Radio’s Impact on Automotive Advertising

JKRAdvertising / Automotive Marketing, Radio Advertising /

December 6, 2013

The efficiency of radio advertising is well-established. If you want to win the frequency game without breaking the bank, radio advertising should be in your media mix. If you are selling automobiles, it is the only medium reaching people while they are actually behind the wheel of the car you want them to replace.

The elements of an effective radio spot must grab the targeted listener’s attention. When you address the specific needs of your listener and repeat the message often enough, it will cause the desired action.

Radio production is simpler, cheaper and just as versatile as video.

How Automotive Advertising Has Changed Over the Years – part 2

JKRAdvertising / Automotive Advertising Advice, Automotive Marketing, Automotive Retail and Electronic Media /

June 14, 2013

When we last left it, the World Wide Web was happening, but automotive advertising really didn’t jump on the bandwidth wagon until the first years of the twenty first century. It was all brand new. There were fits and starts everywhere, the big experiment had begun in earnest. Few knew what they were doing, and many of the misapplications, bad habits and false expectations spawned in the early years, remain yet, even today, all of which will be discussed in part three.

Manufacturers, media, ad agencies and retailers became their own worst enemy; and it is here where the narrative gets tricky; because it can easily turn into the which came first, the chicken or the egg kind of argument.