Ohad Tzur

Ohad Tzur, Strategic Partner Manager on Google’s Channel Sales Automotive Team, will lead attendees through an in-depth YouTube workshop.  Attendees of the 2013 Automotive Boot Camp will gain a better understanding of using YouTube videos to connect with shoppers at the Automotive Boot Camp.  The Automotive Boot Camp takes place May 14-16 in Philadelphia and features over a dozen industry thought leaders presenting the latest and most successful trends in automotive digital marketing.

YouTube Advertising for Car Dealers

The title of Ohad Tzur’s workshop is “YouTube: Connecting With Auto Shoppers Through Video.”  With YouTube receiving more than one billion unique users each month, Mr. Tzur says it’s an essential advertising method for dealers to generate leads, increase foot traffic and ultimately sell vehicles.  Online video is also the most engaging ad format for auto shoppers especially in light of the proliferation of mobile phones and tablets and the trends of video consumption.

Dealers can find Mr. Tzur’s workshop under the ‘Video’ learning track.

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

This year’s tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

By attending events that promote automotive education, team members are constantly learning new skills, improving their existing skills, networking with peers and building relationships with industry professionals. No matter how much time an employee has worked at a business, whether it be one month or ten years, there are always new things that can be learned. When employees attend educational events, they are exposed to new ideas, concepts, theories, strategies and more that they can take back to their business and implement the next day.

Another great reason to send team members to events that promote automotive education is to expose them to new vendors and retailers. Perhaps a vendor is offering a product or service that will solve a current problem in the dealership. Attendees at the event can receive a hands on, one on one demonstration of the product and are able to chat with a representative, which may be hard to do outside of an event.

First Class Educators Promotes Automotive Education Events

Pavel L Photo and Video / Shutterstock.com

In terms of networking, employees will be hard pressed to find a better situation to converse with people in their field. The automotive events put on by First Class Educators have attendees from across the country that join together to learn. A dealership’s team members can converse with multiple dealership employees to learn about their strategies, processes and tactics.

By attending First Class Educator’s events, dealership employees can strengthen their existing skills as well as learn many new ones. Since these events promote all sorts of automotive education, they offer workshops and courses in a number of topics such as advertising, SEO, social media, video and more. Attendees can build on their existing skills or learn new ones by being able to choose the workshop they attend.

Some of the educational events from First Class Educators include the Digital Marketing Strategies Conference, Automotive Boot Camp and AutoCon. Learn about how dealership employees can grow their automotive education with FCE!

Edward Albert will lead two morning fitness routines at the 2013 Automotive Boot Camp

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp in Philadelphia will kick start both days with a high-energy morning workout led by NJ fitness expert Edward Albert.  He has more than 25 years experience in the fitness industry and is the co-founder of Ultimate Fit Zone, a 24-hour boot camp style training facility.

The Automotive Boot Camp, organized by First Class Educators, encourages attendees to start each day of the conference with a burst of energy.  For that reason, the morning fitness component of the boot camp is a popular staple at the popular automotive event. Higher Gear is the sponsor of this year’s fitness component at the conference.  They will also have an exhibit booth in the Exhibit Hall that will provide details on the Fitness Program..

Carrie Hemphill, Managing Director, First Class Educators is quoted, “In order to take full advantage of the abundance of information being shared at the boot camp, dealer professionals will need to come energized and in their best state of mind.  The morning fitness component of our conference is designed to do just that.”

Automotive Event Kicks Off With Movement To Create Energy

The morning workout sessions with Edward Albert will start at 6:30 am and are designed for people of all fitness levels.  He encourages all who are registered for the Boot Camp to start the day with movement. “Movement encourages circulation of the blood which in turn creates energy,” he says.  “After our morning fitness routine, you will feel invigorated, energized and motivated.”

After the morning fitness routine, boot camp attendees can mix and match workshop sessions that are priority to their roles in the dealership.  All of the workshop sessions at the boot camp are categorized into eight different learning tracks. This is especially useful for senior managers that want to selectively inspect new areas of opportunity for their dealership.

This year’s eight learning tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The Automotive Boot Camp event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

About HigherGear

The Higher Gear Group is a leading provider of Customer Relationship solutions to the automotive industry. Known for the highest in-dealership CRM usage through the use of intuitive and user friendly interfaces, The Higher Gear Group provides Internet lead management, showroom control, service marketing, integrated accountability and tracking designed to maximize every sales opportunity.

http://www.highergear.com

Darrah’s workshop will review how dealers can reconnect with current fans and gain new fans to make their page more interactive, exciting and engaging.  The workshop will expand to show dealers how to use their CRM database to target offers and ads to previous customers by designating custom audiences.

Dealers can find this workshop under the ‘Social/SEO’ learning track.

Automotive Education Features Exclusive Learning Tracks

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

This year’s tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the automotive education learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

Christine Rochelle

Christine Rochelle, VP of Operations at PCG Digital Marketing and Gary May, Founder and President of Interactive Marketing and Consulting Services (IM@CS), will lead an open discussion about customer service in a digital age at the 2013 Automotive Boot Camp taking place May 14-16 in Philadelphia.  The conference features over a dozen industry thought leaders presenting the latest and most successful trends in automotive digital marketing.

The open discussion about dealership customer service in a digital age will review new channels of customer service, why social media is so important to customer service, managing a dealership’s online reputation and how to discover disconnects from a dealership floor to their social presence.

Dealers can find this workshop under the ‘Social/SEO’ learning track.

Exclusive Learning Tracks for Automotive Education

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

This year’s tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

According to our Managing Director Carrie Hemphill, “The two most common reasons I hear are that the dealership doesn’t have the budget or that it will be too difficult to be away from the dealership for a longer period of time.” We can all agree that these to reasons are anything but acceptable!

If your boss responds and says they don’t have the budget to send you to an automotive event, explain why attending would be a long-term investment. The education learned at these events will help increase overall profit at the dealership by learning new strategies and efficient processes in order to sell more cars.  As a result, an increase in net profit will also lead to an increase in the budget pool. Aside from the actual cost of attending a conference, the investment being put into employees is priceless. By giving the “okay” to go to a conference, dealerships are letting their employees know they have faith in them and want them to succeed.

Get The Okay To Attend Any Automotive Event

Before approaching your boss to ask to attend an event, do your research. Learn as much as you can about the speakers, presentations and overall outline of the conference. It’s crucial to know as much as possible about the event you wish to attend so you are ready to answer any and all questions from your boss.

To prepare yourself even further, create a list of reasons as to how you’ll specifically benefit from attending. Are there workshops that correlate directly to your position? Are they unveiling a product that will help with your dealership’s problem? By giving concrete reasons as to why the conference will benefit you, your boss may be more inclined to say yes.

One you have received the “okay” to attend, show you are making the most of it. Take advantage of the conference’s social connectivity, such as using the appropriate hashtag when tweeting and properly tagging speakers and companies in Facebook posts. Take the time to network with fellow dealership employees, vendors and the people who run the conference.

In order to stay ahead of the local competition, it’s essential for dealership employees to educate themselves so they can be the best at what they do. There’s only one you so make yourself the #1 asset at your dealership by attending an automotive conference, getting educated and seeing the results in your dealership’s sales.

Bruce Thompson is called “the creator of modern day automotive inventory management in the United States”. In 2001, Bruce founded the American Auto Exchange (AAX). In 2010, Bruce founded RedBumper, a new breed and DMS agnostic inventory management solution that not only uses historical sales performance data to make stocking recommendations, but also market transactional data.

Thompson’s workshop, entitled, “4 Simple Strategies to Increase Used Car Volume by 30-35%,” will show dealers a different approach to inventory management.  Their workshop will provide key insights and directives to dealers looking to improve output from their pre-owned sector of their stores. With a tightening used-car market and a more reluctant and evolving consumer, dealers need to be equipped with forward thinking methods of procuring and selling prime used car inventory.

Dealers can find this workshop under the ‘Sales’ learning track.

Automotive Learning Tracks

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

This year’s tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

Wittenmyer is a national speaker for several prominent automotive forums.  His workshop at the Boot Camp, “CRM Strategies Guaranteed to Increase Sales and Customer Retention,” will highlight valuable marketing initiatives, best practice lead generation, follow-up techniques and key fundamentals to successfully manage customers for life. He will go over the type of lead handling that drives maximum sales and profits for dealers.

Bill’s workshop is under the ‘CRM learning track.

Automotive Learning Tracks

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

This year’s tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

Ben Anderson is a national speaker on mobile and emerging technology.  His workshop at the Boot Camp, “Mobile is Massive. The New Customer Communication Channel,” will explore the changing face of mobile marketing and how it is changing the auto shopping process.  Attendees will be able to discover how much of their customer base is using mobile in the shopping process, how to raise their mobile marketing presence and how to capture and convert mobile shoppers in 2013.

Ben’s workshop is under the ‘Analytics/Website’ learning track.

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

Automotive Learning Tracks

This year’s tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

Barter consults with New and Independent car dealers on customer retention and business development. He recently completed a long-term assignment as a full time paid consultant for Kia Motors America, assisting them with customer satisfaction and certification training.

Every year, billions of dollars are lost to the aftermarket.  In his Boot Camp workshop titled, “Real Deal Customer Retention”, Barter will explore this lost revenue and the various factory and dealer retention programs that are currently being used to drive brand loyalty.  Barter will show dealers how to build loyal customers for the dealership first, and the factory second.  The workshop will include a hands-on work group for dealers to create a retention plan for their store that increases profits for sales, finance, service and parts while at the same cementing a long-term relationship with each customer. Barter’s workshop can be found under the ‘Social/SEO’ learning track.

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

Exclusive Automotive Learning Tracks

This year’s tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

Ali Mendiola manages business development for Dealertrack’s Digital Retailing Solutions. The Digital Retailing Solutions team provides consumer-facing solutions to dealers, portals and manufacturers, with the goal of improving the online sales process and delivering finance-ready leads to dealers. Mendiola is responsible for educating Dealertrack’s dealer partners on current and projected automotive shopping habits, as well as technological advancements that will allow dealers to cater to their online consumers.

Digital Marketing ROI

Mendiola’s workshop is entitled, “From Digital Marketing to Digital Retailing – Digital Retailing Best Practices Proven to Increase Digital Marketing ROI” and can be found under the Management Learning Track.  Ali will demonstrate how dealers can move consumers further down the purchase funnel via workflows aimed at streaming the online shopping process. Specifically, she will cover ways to link online shoppers to monthly payments through dealer controlled pricing, and will discuss ways to generate high quality leads by integrating the in-store financing process directly into a dealer’s website.  Her workshop will be under the ‘Management Learning Track’.

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

This year’s tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

More than a dozen industry thought leaders will be in Philadelphia for the Automotive Boot Camp offering upwards of 50 different workshops for attendees to choose from. This year’s conference features an exclusive Learning Tracks System developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

First Class Educators believes all automotive professionals should have the opportunity to further their education.  To that end, FCE has developed a scholarship program that grants two members of the ADM community complimentary registration and hotel stay at some of their most in-demand events.

ADM Scholarship Requirements

To be considered for the 2013 Automotive Boot Camp scholarship, ADM community members must:

• Submit a 30 second video on ADM explaining why they should be selected as a scholarship winner. Videos posted must have the tag “BOOTCAMP” added at time of posting
• FCE will be selecting 2 winners from the ADM. Want to win? Think outside of the box, make us remember you and tells us why you deserve to win!

This scholarship program includes:

• Two nights stay at the beautiful Philadelphia Sheraton Downtown (where the Automotive Boot Camp will be held, incidental costs not included)
• All breakfast and lunch meals
• Cocktail receptions
• Workshops
• Keynote speaker presentations
• Pass to the exhibit hall

For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

Click to register for the Innovative Dealer Summit

The Innovative Dealer Summit (IDS), a leading management education forum for dealer principals and senior dealer managers, has released their schedule of presenters and workshop topics for the 2013 event that takes place March 20 through March 21 at the Colorado Convention Center.

The impressive list of speakers features some of the biggest and most sought after speakers in the automotive industry.  Together, they will provide over 40 different workshop options for IDS attendees.

The list of scheduled speakers includes Sean Stapleton of VinSolutions, Paul Potratz of Potratz Partners Advertising Inc, Gary May of IMAC, J.D. Rucker of KPA, Tonya Burton of DealerOn, Justin Seibert of Direct Online Marketing, Brian Pasch of PCG Digital Marketing, Steve Dozier of DME, Jason Ezell of Dataium and many others.

Automotive Marketing Workshops

The range of topics attendees can choose from include Internet Sales, Compliance, Digital Marketing Strategies, Maximizing Websites, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Avoiding Employment Lawsuits, Return on Employee Investment, Phone Leads, Social Media, Reputation Management and more.

A full list of topics to be presented at the Summit can be found by visiting the Innovative Dealer Summit website at http://www.innovativedealersummit.com/topics.htm.

The Innovative Dealer Summit is considered one of the premier leadership functions for dealer advancement. Summit attendees included dealer principals/owners, general managers, senior dealership managers and directors, Internet sales managers, business development managers, F&I managers, key dealership leaders, sales leadership, advertising and marketing consultants, controllers and other key decision makers.

Attendees learn the latest in innovative technologies from seminars devoted to more than 40 emerging, compelling topics during the two-day conference.  Topics included Internet strategies regarding search engine optimization, dealer reputation management, social media marketing, lead generation and follow-up, and more.

To learn more about the Innovative Dealer Summit or to register to attend, visit the website at http://www.innovativedealersummit.com.

Ben Koller

Koller and Brunn are with Acton Toyota of Littleton in MA.  The two are responsible for creating separate avenues of digital revenue that have helped Acton Toyota secure the #3 national ranking position as a Toyota VSA retailer.

The title of their workshop is, “Improving and Increasing your Website’s Conversion | Actionable ways to generate more sales and service leads from your store.”  This workshop will help attendees discover new tools to track in-page web analytics, learn how to create better VDPs that increase conversion rates and will offer actionable tips, strategies and effective tools to generate more leads.

Koller and Brunn’s workshop will be under the “Service & Retention” Learning Track.

Koller has held the positions of Internet sales consultant, financial services manager, Internet sales manager, and CRM manager.  He is now responsible for the creation of all of Acton’s e-mail correspondence within its CRM, e-newsletters, and e-mail marketing campaigns Acton Toyota uses for its e-mail marketing campaigns.

Justin Brunn

Brunn is the e-Commerce Manager for Acton Toyota of Littleton. He has been able to grow the dealership’s digital footprint to include two entirely separate themed sites. The first of which is a subdomain dedicated entirely to Acton’s service business. The second is a website built to offer customers aggressive pricing on Genuine Toyota ExtraCare Vehicle Service Agreements (VSAs).

Exclusive Learning Track System

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

This year’s tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

Amirrezvani is the President, CEO, and co-founder of DealerOn, Inc.   He has spent the last 10 years helping DealerOn’s customers dramatically increase their sales and profitability from their websites and online marketing efforts.  Ali is a noted automotive online marketing guru, writing a monthly column for Auto Dealer Monthly, highlighting best practices and trends in automotive digital marketing.

How to Win on Google

Amirrezvani’s workshop is entitled “Hardcore SEO Strategies: How to Win on Google in 2013.”  Dealers will learn how to adjust their online marketing strategies to comply with Google’s latest release of changes. This advanced SEO session is for dealers who already know how to optimize their website content, but want the learn one thing – “How do I dominate my competition online?” Amirrezvani’s workshop will show dealers how to leverage Google’s recent updates for more and better qualified website traffic and leads. He will discuss strategies for Google+, Facebook, and other social media.

His workshop will be under the “Social/SEO” Learning Track.

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

This year’s tracks include:

1. Advertising
2. Analytics/Websites
3. CRM
4. Management
5. Sales
6. Service/Retention
7. Social/SEO
8. Video

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

The list of scheduled speakers includes Randy Henrick, Paul Potratz, Kathryn Carlson, J.D. Rucker, Jason Ezell, Justin Seibert, Jack Simmons, Brian Pasch, Christine Rochelle, Mike Marshall and many others.

The range of topics attendees can choose from include Internet Sales, Compliance, Digital Marketing Strategies, Maximizing Websites, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Avoiding Employment Lawsuits, Return on Employee Investment, Phone Leads, Social Media, Reputation Management and more.

A full list of topics to be presented at the Summit can be found by visiting the Innovative Dealer Summit website at http://www.innovativedealersummit.com/topics.htm.

The Innovative Dealer Summit recognizes the following event sponsors:

• ActiveEngage, Inc
• HookLogic
• KPA
• Dominion Dealer Solutions
• Interactive 360
• Cars.com
• ColoradoDrives.com
• Haystak Digital Marketing
• VinSolutions
• DealerTrack
• TrueCar
• Call Source
• DealerOn
• DealerTrack

Attendees will have the opportunity to network with the event sponsors and learn more about the latest technology and advancements in digital marketing strategies each has to offer.

About the Innovative Dealer Summit

The Innovative Dealer Summit is considered one of the premier leadership functions for dealer advancement. Summit attendees included dealer principals/owners, general managers, senior dealership managers and directors, Internet sales managers, business development managers, F&I managers, key dealership leaders, sales leadership, advertising and marketing consultants, controllers and other key decision makers.

Attendees learn the latest in innovative technologies from seminars devoted to more than 40 emerging, compelling topics during the two-day conference.  Topics included Internet strategies regarding search engine optimization, dealer reputation management, social media marketing, lead generation and follow-up, and more.

To learn more about the Innovative Dealer Summit or to register to attend, visit the website at http://www.innovativedealersummit.com.

Ohad Tzur

First Class Educators is pleased to announce that Peter Leto and Ohad Tzur from Google will deliver a keynote address at the 2013 Automotive Boot Camp. The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.

Leto and Tzur will reveal new strategies dealers can implement to leverage their online video advertising.  Their session will compliment additional online video marketing strategies workshops that include video production, optimization and best scripting strategies.

Peter Leto co-leads the Dealer Jumpstart Team at Google. He is responsible for providing automotive partners with scalable business solutions to further develop their Tier 2 & Tier 3 advertising strategies. Ohad Tzur combines analytical thinking and creativity as a Strategic Partner Manager on Google’s Channel Sales Automotive Team. He supports top-management with identifying growth opportunities and evaluating new strategies.

Peter Leto

Leto and Tzur are among 20+ industry thought leaders and digital experts that are presenting workshops at the 2013 Automotive Boot Camp. This year’s event features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by seven different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

Boot Camp Marketing Learning Tracks

This year’s seven tracks include:

1. Analytics
2. Advertising
3. Social
4. Video
5. CRM
6. Sales
7. Service

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

LeBlanc is presenting a workshop entitled, “How Rick Case Honda Uses Integrated Video SEO & Video Pre-Roll Marketing to Increase Online Market Share.”  The workshop will demonstrate how to use integrated online Video SEO & Video Pre-Roll strategies to find, sell and keep more customers while maintaining omnipresence in the market.

AJ is the Managing Partner of CAR-MERCIAL.com, a multi-award winning automotive marketing firm specializing in video search engine optimization. LeBlanc’s presentation about Video SEO will give car dealers the knowledge they need to create powerful videos that index quickly on all major search engines. The videos can be leveraged for new car sales, used car sales and fixed operations. CAR-MERCIAL.com has been a long-standing leader in dealer education on Video SEO strategies.  They are also a 2012 Automotive Website Award winner in the ‘Most Promising Technology’ category.

2013 Automotive Boot Camp

The 2013 Automotive Boot Camp features the exclusive “Learning Track System” developed by First Class Educators.  The system presents classes broken out by seven different categories, or “tracks” that allow attendees to laser focus on topics that are priority and pertain most to them and their dealership.

This year’s seven tracks include:

1. Analytics
2. Advertising
3. Social
4. Video
5. CRM
6. Sales
7. Service

More information about the learning tracks and available classes can be found online at http://www.automotivebootcamp.com/schedule/learning-tracks/

The 4th Annual Automotive Boot Camp is organized by First Class Educators.  The event will be held on May 14th, 15th and 16th at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  For more information, visit http://www.automotivebootcamp.com or contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475.

On February 8th at 9am, all DMSC attendees will be invited to receive an exclusive  ’sneak peek’ of the new innovative products from Dealer.com before launching at NADA

This sneak-peek will include:

• Complimentary breakfast with Dealer.com team and industry leaders
• Unveiling of never-before-seen innovative products
• Q & A Session with presenters Alex Snyder, Senior Director of Design and Jai Macker, VP of Products

The official launch of these products will be displayed to thousands of dealers at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Exposition in Orlando, FL on February 8th-11th. DMSC attendees will be the first to view these products in an intimate and educational setting, along with delicious, complimentary gourmet breakfast.

This Dealer.com ‘first look’ will be Friday, February 8th, at 9:00am in the Lobby East at the Orlando Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Don’t miss out on this special opportunity with Dealer.com and other industry professionals.

RSVP now by calling Carrie Hemphill at 908.601.6475 or clicking here

Since the number one motivation and reason behind the production of the DMSC is continuing dealer education, First Class Educators designed a scholarship program for two members of the Automotive Digital Marketing (ADM) Community to attend the conference with complimentary admission.

First Class Educators (FCE) is proud to announce the first winner, Eric Nichols of Apple Honda, as a recipient of the ADM Scholarship Program. Eric Nichols is a more than deserving applicant for his determination and passion invested in continuous education. In his submission video, Eric stated, “Not only do I want to better myself, but I want to better the Internet sales community of the automotive industry”. FCE admires Eric’s dedication and yearning desire to learn.

FCE Announces Scholarship Winners From the ADM Professional Community for Complimentary Passes to DMSC

The second ADM Scholarship winner goes to Neil F. Amaral, of Amaral Cars. Neil was chosen based on his excitement and eagerness to join and learn from industry professionals such as Ralph Paglia and JD Rucker. Neil stated in his video, due to unfortunate events of 2012 such as Hurricane Sandy, his dealership had to undergo budget cuts in order to get back on track. Neil said he would “love the opportunity to win this scholarship and be in Orlando with some of the top automotive leaders”.

Both Eric and Neil were chosen based on one common factor, their desire to learn and stay updated with the latest digital marketing strategies in a very competitive automotive market. First Class Educators believes all automotive and digital marketing professionals should have the opportunity to attend a conference like the DMSC.

This scholarship program includes:

• Two nights stay at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport (where the DMSC will be held)
• All breakfast and lunch meals
• Cocktail receptions
• Workshops
• Keynote speaker presentations
• Pass to the exhibit hall

And more..

The Digital Marketing Strategies Conference will take place February 5-7, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Florida, just a day prior to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Exposition.

To learn more about the DMSC, Email Carrie Hemphill

Register Now!

The DMSC, that takes place just prior to the NADA, on February 5-7, 2013 is the perfect opportunity to gather with

industry professionals and learn the latest digital marketing strategies to get ahead in 2013.

First Class Educators (FCE) believes in the education and innovative ideas that can be taken from the DMSC and implemented back home at the dealership. That is why FCE will now be sponsoring two scholarship awards for Automotive Digital Marketing (ADM) Professional Community members.

First Class Educators DMSC Scholarship Program Now Offering Tickets to DMSC

Want to win this scholarship? Terms and conditions apply:

• Contestants must submit a 30 second video on ADM explaining why they should be selected a winner. Videos posted must have the tag “DMSC” added at time of posting,
• FCE will be selecting 2 winners from the ADM. Want to win? Think outside of the box, make us remember you and tells us why you deserve to win!

The winners of this sponsorship will receive a complimentary pass to the entire Digital Marketing Strategies Conference and 2 nights hotel stay at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport.

Passes include:

• Breakfast and lunch on the 6th and 7th
• Access to all workshops
• Access to keynote speaker presentations
• Exhibit hall entry
• Hotel room for the evening of the 5th and 6th

All hotel charges beside the room rate are to be covered by the recipient. They must present a valid credit card to the hotel staff at check-in.

Have any questions on the terms and conditions or how to apply? Contact Carrie Hemphill 908.601.6475 or Email Carrie

Visit the DMSC Website

Dealer Marketing Magazine is one of the most informative and up to date resources for tips and advice for the automotive world. Dealer Marketing Magazine covers everything from Internet, marketing and business, to national events like DMSC.

Dealer Principals, General Managers, Internet Marketing teams and more all turn to one of the top industry news sources they know they can trust for the latest information, Dealer Marketing Magazine.

The 2013 Digital Marketing Strategies Conference will definitely have newsworthy material.  The top-notch speakers, dealer panel discussions, workshops and sponsors will be monumental.

Each year, First Class Educators strives to make the DMSC the most educational and rewarding experience. The 3-day conference will be time well spent out of the dealership and learning from the industry’s credible leaders.

The DMSC will focus on the current digital strategies to practice, and processes to implement back at the dealership for a more successful 2013.

Learn more about the Digital Marketing Strategies Conference!

Contact Carrie Hemphill for more information 908.601.6475.

Not only is this excitement geared for the educational workshops hosted by top industry speakers, but for the remarkable dealer panels. The DMSC will host 3 series of panel discussions, on each day of the conference, February 5^th, 6^th and 7^th.

The panel topics will include:

“My Marketing Strategy is 90+% Digital, Should Yours Be Too”  and  “Strategies for Handling OEM Mandated Websites For Your Store.

Last but not least, the DMSC of 2013 has brought a desired and innovate focus into the mix.

The 3rd panel will be “Canadian Marketing Strategies Can’t Be Copied By the US”.

Canadian Dealer Panel to be Present at the DMSC

First Class Educators (FCE) has hosted several events in the Canadian market place, including Toronto and Vancouver. FCE has found that dealers who have attended past events have been highly engaged and eager to learn and share their ideas.

This year, FCE wants to feature the knowledge and expertise of the Canadian market place.

Some of the questions FCE plans to tackle include:

• What digital strategies do they focus on that is different from dealers in the US?
• What issues do they face on a daily basis?
• What can US and Canadian dealers learn from each other?

The dealer panels will unite General Managers and Dealer Principals from all across the nation. They will discuss goals and strategies for the New Year, and teach new and existing employers what it takes to sell cars and ‘up’ their game.

The panels will openly discuss issues dealerships face on a daily basis. They will accelerate digital marketing to a whole new level by sharing positive techniques that work.

FCE is excited to invite Canadian dealers to this highly educational event, the Digital Marketing Strategies Conference.

Attendees of the 2013 DMSC will walk out with more knowledge, strategies and actionable processes to implement in the year to come to make it the best yet.

FCE is eager to have more participants from Canada attend the 2013 DMSC, so for more inquires about attending the conference please contact Carrie at 908.601.6475.

Email Carrie Hemphill for more information!

Throughout the past few weeks, students have been introduced to SEO basics new SEO strategies and the steps to create and set up a WordPress blog. Each week’s lesson is designed so that the materials serve as a prerequisite for the following week, leading up to the final presentation in Week 10.

The student-teacher engagement has been phenomenal. During live webinars, students are actively participating and asking questions to the instructors.

It is imperative that students understand the materials in order to advance into the following lessons, and all instructors have been impressed with their outside-the-box questions and ideas during and after the presentations. The high quality of engagement shows that the students are eager to learn.

Live webinars allow the instructors to show the audience examples of how the lessons apply to day to day tasks at their dealerships. In our ever-changing digital circuit, dealerships must stay up to date with the latest strategies to beat the competition.

After each webinar, the instructors provide their contact information so students can easily ask questions when they’re putting their new knowledge to work. Students have been taking advantage of this benefit to the AIP and the instructors have been more than happy to help and make each lesson even more personalized for each dealership.

Lisa Salabritas, Director of the AIP states: “The quick and responsive feedback from our instructors is a highly valued aspect of the program. Each dealership is a little different and we always want students to ask questions and get the most out of the material as possible.”

Now that students have learned to create their own unique WordPress website, they will learn how to write exciting and informative content on the site this week.

Stay up-to-date with the latest AIP news !

Each night of the conference will close with a cocktail reception. On the night of the 6^th, day 2 of DMSC, DealerFire will sponsor the closing cocktail hour.

The evening receptions will be the perfect ending to a day packed with educational workshops, so attendees can relax, unwind, and network with the industry.

DealerFire Signs On as a Sponsor for the DMSC

DealerFire is a premier leader in the automotive industry and is known for providing custom automotive web designs. They are also renowned for their Internet marketing firm that caters specifically to the automotive community.

Since 1999, DealerFire has transformed the automotive industry by providing custom website solutions. On top of being one of the industry’s leading website providers, DealerFire offers a different approach to every auto dealer website, landing page, micro site, mobile site and marketing campaigns.

The DMSC of 2013 will focus on where strategy and process meet, which will introduce strategies for the upcoming year, followed by process-oriented workshops.

Join industry professionals like DealerFire and other established leaders at the DMSC. This conference will take place February 5-7^th at the Hyatt Regency in the Orlando International Airport, just prior to the NADA.

Learn about DealerFire and their services!

Register for the DMSC !

For more information about the DMSC, contact Carrie Hemphill at 908.601.6475.

DMB, a Texas based conference that will be taking place for the first time in 2013, have left many awaiting the impressionable speaker panel, workshops and quality education.

Industry groundbreakers from all over the country are traveling to speak at Digital Marketing Blitz. These speakers include Ralph Paglia, Jim Flint, Brian Pasch, Dale Pollak, Alex Venneri, and more.

Workshop Agenda for the DMB Released

The workshops will cover material ranging from vehicle merchandising, to SEO strategies, how to deliver website traffic and more. The morning of the conference will begin with Sean Stapleton, Vice President of VinSolutions, who will present in a general information session to kick-start the event.

VinSolutions is the premier sponsor of Digital Marketing Blitz. VinSolutions provides a range of services to the automotive industry with on demand Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Internet Lead Management (ILM) and more.

Workshops at DMB will consist of..

•  Provisioning: The New Science of Used Vehicle Management and Merchandising with Dale Pollak
• Internet Department or BDC: Which is Right For You? With Marc McGurren
• Strategies Behind Video SEO and Pre-Roll Marketing with AJ LeBlanc 
•  People: Organizational Development for Business Growth and Increased Profits in the Digital Age with Ralph Paglia

..And More!

The event will close with a cocktail reception, which is great for networking with others from the industry. Attendees will also be given a pass to the Houston Auto Show, which will be taking place at the close of DMB.

To see the full agenda, visit our website !

DMB is going to be a fantastic event, don’t miss out! For more information about DMB, Email Patricia.

“Texas native Jim Flint, an industry mentor and frequent attendee of the HAS, thought of a way to allow participants to benefit twice as much from this reputable show, and with that the Digital Marketing Blitz was born.”

Digital Marketing Blitz is a 1-day conference scheduled to take place on January 23^rd 2013 on opening day of the HAS.

This conference will have the automotive industry’s most knowledgeable and successful thought leaders teach strategies to improve dealerships sales, services, and more.

Jim was the first ever-corporate director of interactive sales and marketing for the John Eagle Family of Dealerships.

Jim Flint to Host Workshop at the DMB

With over 10,000 Internet sales from the Eagle Group, he became the President and Founder of Local Search Group (LSG).

LSG is an automotive agency that provides unique sales and marketing operations.

Jim will host his own workshop at Digital Marketing Blitz, titled “Moneyball Extra-Innings” where he will instruct others through his personal experience and expertise.

In his workshop he will reveal:

• Ways for your dealership to beat competition and stay ahead with less money, leaving fewer cars in the shop
• What steps to take towards the evolution of the automotive retail business
• Billy Beane’s post- Moneyball steps and strategies to determine what should be embraced in today’s dealerships
• Actual data from dealerships to support concepts and items discussed in his presentation

…And more!

Jim has years of experience and personal growth through risk taking and determination that he is determined to share with others.

Local Search Group is partnering with First Class Educators to produce Digital Marketing Blitz.

Register now and save! 

Marc McGurren, who will be speaking at the Digital Marketing Blitz, has years of experience and knowledge to share. Marc, a Texas native, was excited to jump on board with the A-List speaker panel for this power-packed, educational conference.

Marc McGurren to Implement Effective Internet Strategies at DMB

Marc is a Partner and Consultant for PCG Consulting. Prior to working for the PCG team, he was formerly the Internet Director for the Jerry Durant Auto Group, located in Weatherford, TX.

Recently, Marc was featured on the cover of WardsAuto Dealer Business Magazine for his strategies on being one of the top General Motors Internet Dealerships in the country.

In Marc’s workshop, titled “Internet Department or BDC: Which One is Right For You” he will:

• Express the value of your dealerships Internet department and what it takes to market your business effectively

• Dive into the million dollar question of which setup is correct for you and your dealership

• Help you implement the best strategies for your business

…And more!

Marc uses his experience from being inside dealerships all across the country to compare strengths and weaknesses of each. We works to make sure you will be able to walk away knowing which setup that is best for you and your dealership and ultimately a high level look on how to implement each type of department in your store.

Digital Marketing Blitz will take place on January 23rd, 2013 at the Reliant Center in Houston, Texas. DMB, an event produced by First Class Educators, will be an event you don’t want to miss.

For more information on Digital Marketing Blitz, Email Patricia !

Take advantage of our Early Bird Special and register now for DMB !

This year, Dominion Dealer Solutions will sponsor the cocktail reception on the night of February 5^th , the first day of the conference.

The 2013 DMSC will be held February 5-7 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport.

First Class Educators (FCE) works to organize event cocktail receptions so that industry professionals from the automotive community can network with one another. This is the ample opportunity to meet people in the industry while also mixing business with pleasure.

Dominion to Sponsor Opening Night Cocktail Reception at the DMSC

Dominion Dealer Solutions is a part of Dominion Enterprises, which is a leading marketing services and publishing company that serves the automotive, recreational and commercial vehicle and other industries.

With the help of Dominion, auto dealers can manage their inventory, utilize their digital marketing and customer database through a single, easy to use solution.

Over 150,000 automotive professionals from over 11,000 auto dealerships use Dominion technology to find and service more customers. Since Dominion Dealer Solutions provides marketing services to such a broad clientele, they jumped on the opportunity to sponsor one of the biggest marketing and educational events of the year, the 2013 DMSC.

FCE is honored to have such a high-impact company like Dominion Dealer Solutions on the DMSC sponsorship panel. Attendees can expect nothing less than a first class experience at the Digital Marketing Strategies Conference, just prior to the 2013 NADA.

To find out more about the 2013 Digital Marketing Strategies Conference,
Email Carrie Hemphill

Visit our website for the 2013 DMSC !

It is the perfect time to discover the importance of video in digital marketing and get caught up with the 21^st century.

Now that we have been introduced to paid search in week 6 of the AIP, students will learn why online video is not only important, but also vital for your business. Our media experts Christine Rochelle and Ben Jones of PCG Digital Marketing are perfect for the job!

Learn hands on with our team about video optimization, the best types of online videos, the best sites to post, the tools needed to create a video, how to edit a video and more.

Automotive Internet Program offers 21^st Century Video Integration in Week 7

Christine is the Vice President of Operations at PCG Digital Marketing. Christine works with all teams to ensure that the internal operations are running smoothly. She dedicates herself to clients to make sure that they are getting what they need. Christine has all the right tools to coach others on how to market SEO Content, social media and other digital marketing strategies.

Ben Jones is a Content Specialist as well as a digital media and video expert. He specializes in optimizing videos at PCG Digital Marketing and knows all about creating, editing and filming videos. He often films videos that are submitted for elite industry events that are held across the nation. Ben will teach you all you need to know on why video is crucial!

In Week 7 “Video Basics and Optimization” Ben and Christine will cover:

• The fundamentals of YouTube
• Best types of video (viral, conversion, educational)
• Sites to post online ( YouTube vs. Vimeo)
• Tools needed to create a video (pictures, ect.)
• Editing on YouTube and iMovie
• Key Elements of VSEO

Don’t miss out on this fantastic course with the opportunity to work hands on with industry professionals Ben and Christine. Get ahead of your competitors now with the second largest search engine tool on the market.

To register or learn more, contact Patricia at 908.433.8078

Visit our website! www.automotiveinternetprogram.com

Now that we have learned a little about social media and sharing in Week 5 of the AIP, it’s time to delve into paid search and digital advertising with SEM expert Dmitriy Gamarnik.

Dmitriy is a Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Manager at PCG Digital Marketing. He works hands-on with clients to develop advertising campaigns that will market their business effectively to the targeted audience. Dmitry is always testing new methods in order to provide the best marketing strategies in our competitive market.

Dmitiry says, “In our generation, businesses depend on online marketing. It is crucial to understand the logistics of paid search, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and SEM when promoting company expansion, so it is important to take advantage of that medium”.

Along with an introduction into the world of paid search in Week 6, students will also have a midterm exam that will test their knowledge on the content learned throughout the course.

This midterm is crucial to see where students stand in the AIP. It is imperative that our instructors track the progress of each student individually, whether they are advancing quickly or are in need of a review.

In “Introduction to Paid Search” Dmitriy will cover:

• Different online advertising channels
• Tracking advertising campaigns
• Remarketing techniques
• Video Pre-Roll

….And more!

Paid search allows you to gain the flexibility to track and control who you are targeting, which is one of the greatest benefits of online marketing. Learn the ropes of SEM with Dmitriy, our digital marketing guru!

Don’t miss out on the AIP set to begin November 7^th, 2o12!

Register Now!

Contact Patricia at 908.433.8078 for more information!

Now that we introduced the basics of content marketing in Week 4 of the AIP, its time to learn the best methods of sharing through social media!

Let our specialists Brittany Richter and Danielle DeCarlo take you on a journey through the ever-changing social media landscape and learn the most effective practices for sharing content with prospects and fans.

Brittany Richter is an account manager and Social Media Specialist for PCG Digital Marketing and occasionally joins PCG’s Consulting team on the road training dealers in SMO and SMM. Brittany loves sharing her insight on the latest trends in social media to help clients market themselves successfully.

Danielle DeCarlo is a Content and Social Media Specialist who also contributes to PCG Consulting. Danielle also handles all social media accounts for PCG Consulting to make sure that the material being shared is informative and trendy.

In this weeks course of the AIP, Danielle and Brittany will discuss:

• Automotive Social Media and ZMOT
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Google+

Industry specialists Brittany and Danielle believe social media serves as a powerful supplement to a larger digital strategy and can help:

• Build and brand awareness
•  Monitor competitors
•  Share content on social media to get more use of content and help drive qualified website traffic
•  Learn how SEO benefits to social profiles (custom URLS)

In this weeks AIP students will learn how to effectively utilize social media, share informative materials, grow their fan base and more!
Don’t miss out on this informative course!

For more information, Email Patricia !

The DMSC of 2013 will host 12 elite sponsors who are the most renowned and proclaimed of the automotive industry. Dealer E Process, Car-Mercial and Haystak Digital Marketing will have exclusive platinum sponsor booths located in the Exhibit Hall of the DMSC.

AJ LeBlanc, industry thought leader and Managing Partner of Car-Mercial.com will speak at the DMSC. Car-Mercial.com delivers proven strategies to increase traffic, sales and service business through search engine optimization, video search optimization and online reputation management.

Car-Mercial is known to help automotive manufacturers; associations, ad agencies and dealerships implement digital marketing campaigns to provide customers with higher profit success.
Dave Page, owner of Dealer E Process will present a speech at the DMSC. Dealer E Process provides dealerships with strategies to improve their car dealer websites, search marketing and Auto Dealership marketing solutions.

Dealer E Process also provides effective tools for converting traffic into sales, SEO, auto lead service strategies and more.

Julio Gonzalez, Vice President of Operations for Haystak Digital Marketing will provide a presentation at the DMSC. Haystak offers proficient digital marketing services to the automotive industry.

Haystak’s products and services are used by hundreds of automobile dealerships in North America and Europe and have been announced in the Automotive News Top 125 Dealer Groups.

First Class Educators is pleased and excited to host AJ LeBlanc , Dave Page and Julio Gonzalez for this first class event. Dealer E Process, Haystak Digital Marketing and Car-Mercial.com are constantly providing the automotive community with the knowledge and tools to prosper in our ever changing industry. First Class Educators is honored to have these three elite sponsors for the 2013 DMSC.

The Digital Marketing Strategies Conference of 2013 will be held February 5-7^th at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport.

To find out more information about DMSC or sponsorship opportunities, contact Carrie Hemphill at Carrie@firstclasseducators.com

Learn more about the 2013 Digital Marketing Strategies Conference !

Local Search Group is proud to have team member, Gavin Marks, speak at Digital Marketing Blitz. Gavin is Vice President of Interactive Marketing, and oversees the development of all Local Search Group’s search engine marketing campaigns. Gavin closely focuses on pay-per-click (PPC) and search engine optimization (SEO).

As an expert in his field, Gavin always stays up-to-date with the latest search engine algorithm trends. This is not just his job, but also his passion. Not only does he keep up with the latest in PPC, but he also attentively monitors campaign cost-per-click (CPC) and click-through-rates (CTR).

Local Search Group provides custom solutions for marketing in the 21^st century. They create comprehensive digital marketing campaigns, which Gavin plays a big role in.

Gavin is thrilled to be apart of Digital Marketing Blitz, an event produced by Local Search Group and hosted by First Class Educators. Digital Marketing Blitz will unite managers from dealerships across Texas!

In Gavin’s workshop he will speak about what he does best, search engine marketing campaigns!

In his workshop titled “ Is Your Search Engine Marketing Campaign in Need of a Tune-up? Gavin will cover:

• What’s new in the world of pay-per-click marketing: A recap of the many new features now available to PPC advertisers
• Insight into the structure and components of a high-performing pay-per-click account
• How to capitalize on the internet video boom with a cost-efficient pre-roll video campaign
• The benefits of smart phone usage, and how to reach your target audience through mobile pay-per-click

In our automotive industry that is constantly changing, it is important to market your search engine campaign effectively. Gavin is excited to teach everyone the rules of thumb when marketing in our digital age!

Don’t miss Gavin speak, register for Digital Marketing Blitz today!

For more information about this event, Email Patricia !

The instructors from PCG Digital Marketing are there to work with those who are beginners, and those who are more advanced to teach them the latest digital marketing strategies to make your dealership stand out from the rest.

Now that you know the basics to your WordPress website from Week 3, its time to add some content. You see it all over the Internet: content is king. Lisa Salabritas and Mandy Saffer are here to teach you how to add engaging and SEO-friendly content to your website!

As Content Manager at PCG Digital Marketing, Lisa is up-to-date on the most effective SEO content strategies. From writing engaging content to adding SEO elements while publishing your post, Lisa is excited to help you write content that will show up in search.

Mandy is a Content Specialist at PCG and enjoys writing fun, engaging content that people want to read. “There’s no point in taking time to write content for your dealership if people aren’t going to read it. The point is to write things that people will want to read and even share with their friends through their social media networks.”

In this week’s AIP, attendees will learn:

•  Best practices for online writing
•  Elements to enhance your writing
•  Where to publish your content
•  How to develop your dealership on your blog

….And more!

Lisa and Mandy are there to make your dealership employees learn the ins and outs of content marketing to help you create and publish material consumers actually want to know.

Visit our website !

Learn hands-on with these content specialists and register today!

Email Patricia Ricco for more information!

Laura has been in the retail automobile business holding such positions as Finance Manager, General Sales Manager, Controller and General Manager. Laura states: “After sitting in the most management chairs in a dealership, I am enjoying helping others learn more about the ever-changing digital marketing world that Auto Executives are diving into”.

Laura deeply values her client relationships. She believes by growing and learning together, having the ability to partner and bring fresh ideas that have a positive affect on both retail sales and dealerships net profits.

Laura’s expertise in the automotive industry provides her with unique insight and understanding into the industry and its growth potential with online marketing.

In Laura’s workshop, “Texas 2 Step- Make sure you know who you’re dancing with”, she will tackle the question we all ask ourselves “ Should I have just one digital vendor handle everything for me?”

In her workshop she will cover:

-  Find out what happens AFTER you sign up with a digital vendor – do they leave you standing alone on the dance floor?

-  How does your digital vendor measure success? Wait, do they even “measure”?

-  Which vendor’s have overlapping services, and are you paying two (or more) vendors to do the same thing?

-  Should I have just ONE digital vendor handle everything for me? And what about my Traditional agency- can’t they just do it?

In our ever-changing digital market, these are the questions we are constantly asking ourselves. This is the perfect opportunity to have an industry professional answer them, first hand!

Digital Marketing Blitz (DMB) is a first-of-its-kind conference that will impact the automotive community in drastic ways.

DMB will take place on January 23^rd 2013 at the Reliant Center, in Houston Texas.

Learn more about Digital Marketing Blitz!

For more information Email Patricia !

First Class Educators and Local Search Group are pleased to announce that VinSolutions will be the keynote sponsor for this highly anticipated event. VinSolutions is the automotive industry’s premier developer of internet-based customer relations management and Internet lead management.

VinSolutions offers a range of effective products such as Automotive CRM, Automotive ILM, and Automotive BDC to car dealer websites and more. VinSolutions also offers services such as personalized training and consulting with extensive knowledge of automotive sales processes.

VinSolutions was ranked by Inc. 500 in 2010 as the 33rd fastest growing software company and 447th fastest growing company overall, and was listed again in 2011.

VinSolutions to be Key Note Sponsor at Digital Marketing Blitz

Executive Vice President of Sales for VinSolutions, Sean Stapleton, will kick off the event on the morning of the 23rd and address the entire audience at the Digital Marketing Blitz. Sean is well known in the industry, not only for being a top sales leader and ranking author, but also as a well-respected event speaker.

Sean is a member of many major automotive networking groups. His expertise, leadership skills, and successful track record are sought out by many. Sean has been highly renowned as an inspirational mentor and continues to hold this title.

First Class Educators is very excited for VinSolutions to be a part of this first time event. Digital Marketing Blitz will unite General Managers and General Sales Managers from all over Texas. This will be an event you do not want to miss!

Learn more about VinSolutions!

To find out more about this event Email Patricia Ricco or Visit the Digital Marketing Blitz website!

During the third week of the Automotive Internet Program, students will learn how to create a WordPress blog. Learning how to set up and navigate a WordPress site is essential when aiming to attract potential customers as well as keeping current clients informed.

Andrew Schmitt and Nicole Chasan to Teach WordPress in AIP

Content Specialist Nicole Chasan and Web Developer Andrew Schmitt will instruct this course and will provide students with the necessary tools to build a WordPress site. Students will also learn how to maintain an already loyal fan base and keep them coming back for more.

Nicole is a digital media expert and updates her client’s WordPress sites daily. “WordPress is a vital tool that helps share what’s going on with a dealership so customers stay informed and build a relationship,” says Nicole.

Andrew is proficient in computer science and has been a web developer at PCG Digital Marketing for years. Andrew is no stranger to the WordPress platform; he has developed custom user submission and user voting platforms for Sam Swope’s Armed Forces Appreciation contest and the Morries Group’s billboard contest.

In “Creating and Setting Up Your WordPress Blog” students will learn:

- The overall importance of the platform

- How to navigate the site

- How it serves as a content management system

- Adding text (i.e. tagging)

- Applying different themes (no designing or developing necessary)

Andrew and Nicole are very excited to teach the course material for Week 3 of the AIP. WordPress is the perfect way to keep current costumers happy and welcome new ones.

For more information and to register, visit our website!

Meet our instructors!

John Fraze and Don Lampert to Teach SEO

SEO is ever-changing and Don and John are ready to present the latest Google updates and how they may affect your website.

Don is a part of PCG Digital Marketing’s SEO team and has been in web development and design for over six years. Don is a Google AdWords certified manager and has supervised over 40 accounts at PCG. Don also manages PCG’s international clients, mainly in Canada.

John is a Pay Per Click (PPC) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) specialist. John is also a certified manager in Google AdWords. He manages multiple accounts for PCG Digital Marketing, including supervising the chat system for clients, and has extensive SEO knowledge.

In “Search Engine Optimization” Don and John will instruct:

-Techniques

-Ranking

-Organic Search techniques

-Discussing Google Penguin (offsite) and Panda updates (onsite)

-Proper linking strategies

-Things to avoid

SEO is essential for any business that utilizes the online digital market. If your customers are searching for cars online, it’s important to be found. This week’s lesson will teach you the tips to help you get to – and stay one – Google Page One. Learn how to optimize your campaign and web performance from the industry’s top experts!

Register today!

Meet our Instructors!

The redesigned AIP was created to tailor to dealership employees of any skill level. This course is the perfect program for new employees as well as those who are looking to advance in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), social media, WordPress, content writing, paid search and more.

Wes Germain and Jamie Paton to Instruct Week 1 of AIP

During Week 1 of the AIP, PCG Digital Marketing Project Managers Wes Germain and Jamie Paton will instruct “Introduction and SEO Basics.” This class will introduce the program, help identify keywords and discuss the fundamental terminology that will be used throughout the 10-week AIP.

Wes is a graduate of Moravian College and holds a degree in Marketing. Wes finds joy in teaching members of the automotive industry the newest and latest SEO trends. Wes says, “digital marketing is bridging the gap between generations, and in our day, one must take advantage of the Internet and its ability to track the return of your investments.”

Jamie, who graduated with a degree in Media Studies from Penn State, has been with PCG Digital Marketing for over 2 years. “In this ever-changing industry, it is vital to stay on top of the latest trends to reach every consumer,” Jamie states.

In Week 1, “Introduction and SEO Basics,” Wes and Jamie will address:

- Keywords (location, brand)

- Headings of webpages

- Anchor texts (i.e. links in articles)

- Hyperlinks vs. plain texts (i.e. distinguishing content)

…and more!

Wes and Jamie are very excited to teach this course and engage with all of this semester’s students.

Register today for the AIP!  www.automotiveinternetprogram.com

Digital Marketing Blitz is a one-day conference set to take place on January 23^rd, 2013 at the Reliant Center in Houston, Texas.

AJ LeBlanc of Car-mercial.com to Speak at DMB

Car-Mercial.com is an award winning automotive digital marketing company that works with hundreds of automotive dealers in the U.S. and Canada. Their clientele has success stories of making the Ward’s Mega top 100 dealer groups and many of the number one new car franchise dealerships in numerous different brands.

AJ is a popular conference speaker, leading workshop presentations on online video marketing strategies and optimization. In his workshop, he will speak about “ Video SEO and Pre-Roll Marketing.”

In his workshop, LeBlanc will cover:

- Why Video SEO & Pre-Roll Marketing are vital marketing tools

- How Video can be quicker and easier to rank than your website

- How to optimize Videos as quick and relevant information

- Video advertising through Pre-roll Marketing platforms

…and more!

AJ is a frequent contributing monthly writer to industry publications that include Auto Success Magazine, Dealer Marketing Magazine, and Canadian Auto Dealer Magazine. He is also a co-author in the new automotive digital marketing book released fall 2012 called “Unfair Advantage.”

Digital Marketing Blitz will bring you the latest digital marketing strategies to date.

See LeBlanc speak at Digital Marketing Blitz by registering now!

For more information, contact Patricia at patricia@firstclasseducators.com.

AIP Instructors Excited for New Curriculum

The AIP is all set to begin November 7^th, 2012 and will take place via weekly webinars every Wednesday at 1pm EST. The course curriculum will be as follows:

Week 1  Nov 7   Introduction and SEO Basics

Presented by Jamie Paton and Wes Germain

• Introduction to program, schedule, and discussion of fundamental terminology to start the course.

Week 2  Nov 14  SEO Strategies           

Presented by Matt O’Such and John Fraze

• A crash course in SEO for beginners and those looking to get the latest best practices from Google.

Week 3 Nov 28 Creating and Setting Up Your WordPress blog

Presented by Nicole Chasan and Andrew Schmitt

• Discover how to set up your own WordPress website so that you can begin attracting visitors with blogging.

Week 4  Dec 5  Writing Your Blog

Presented by Lisa Salabritas and Mandy Saffer

• Learn Content marketing basics, as well as the technical steps required to publish blogs on WordPress.

Week 5 Dec 12  Social & Sharing

Presented by Brittany Richter and Danielle Carbone

• Take a journey through the ever-changing social media landscape and learn best practices for sharing content with prospects and fans.

Week 6 Dec 19 Midterm & Introduction to Paid Search    

Presented by Dmitriy Gamaranik

• Test your knowledge from the first half of the program and jump headfirst into the world of paid search and digital advertising.

Week 7 Jan  2  Video Basics & Optimization

Presented by Ben Jones and Christine Rochelle

• Understand the growing importance of video in digital marketing, while learning how to film, edit and optimize your video.

Week  8  Jan 9   Mobile Website      

Presented by Brian Pasch

• Learn how to identify if your site is mobile and why you should consider creating mobile friendly content for smart phones and tablets.

Week 9  Jan 16  Branding & IRM

Presented by Steve Murphy and Glenn Pasch

• See how building and maintaining a positive reputation can help you establish your brand and differentiate from your competitors.

Week 10 Jan 23 Measuring Your Results  

Presented by Matt O’Such and Sean Feiring

• In this final session, learn some of the most valuable online marketing metrics and take a look at some free tools that can help you measure your success.

The instructors for the Fall 2012 AIP are specialists in their course topics and were specifically chosen so each student will get the best out of each class.

For more information on this course curriculum, contact Patricia at patricia@firstclasseducators.com

Check out our newly designed website !

Meet our new instructors !

For over 37 years, Ziegler has been recognized as an industry writer, professional speaker, super performer and magazine columnist. Ziegler has wowed the automotive industry with his impressive and diverse skills-set and ever growing clientele. As a record-setting manager with several (over 15,000) of the top performing dealerships in the country, Ziegler is constantly looking to better himself and the industry.

Jim “Alpha Dawg” Ziegler to Tackle Social Media At DMB

At Digital Marketing Blitz, he plans to tackle social media, which is the most trending platform in attracting consumers everywhere. In his workshop titled “ Alpha Dawg Social Media Magic”, Ziegler plans to go live online to show examples of what works and the precision it takes to sell cars through social.

Ziegler created this workshop to build a community with not just your average customer, but to various groups with diverse needs. In “Alpha Dawg Social Media Magic” Ziegler plans to tackle:

- Adventures with Pinterest, the hottest new tool for connecting with buyers and building relationships

- YouTube and EyeJot, to build rapport in the customer-company relationship with tips targeting hands-on interaction

- Facebook and Twitter, the anchors at the center of the social media universe

Jim says “If you don’t believe there is an immediate return on investment with social media, you are flat out wrong”! Ziegler is the total package to make a believer out of anyone. Digital Marketing Blitz, an event held to introduce and implement the latest digital marketing strategies, is eager to host Jim Ziegler, the one and only “Alpha Dawg.”

For more information, contact Patricia at patricia@firstclasseducators.com.

Register for Digital Marketing Blitz!

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Patricia Ricco’s core responsibilities will be to

• Plan and execute events
• Promote events
• Work hands on with clients
• Produce content for FCE events
• Oversee FCE social accounts

Ricco previously studied and held a marketing position in Australia.

Ricco is quoted, “First Class Educators have grown immensely over the past year and continues to expand rapidly. I am so thrilled to be working with such a great team and to be apart of this expansion”.

First Class Educators has an ever expanding lists marketing, education, private and in-house training events.  FCE just wrapped up production of AutoCon 2012 in Las Vegas and now the FCE team has their sites set on Houston, Texas for the 2013 Digital Marketing Blitz.  In addition to these events, FCE also produces Automotive Marketing Boot Camp, Digital Marketing Strategies Conference, Dealer Pit Stop, private company speaking engagements and more.

For more information on First Class Educators and their services, please visit http://www.firstclasseducators.com

Learn more about the upcoming Digital Marketing Blitz in January of 2013.

The 2012 AIP is designed for those who are beginners in the automotive field as well as those who want to advance their skills and learn the industry’s latest strategies. This important educational program will begin on November 7th, 2012 and will take place via webinar on Wednesdays at 1 PM EST.

New and Improved AIP Curriculum

By participating in this 10-week program, you will learn the latest in SEO, social media, content marketing and SEM strategies! After each class, students will receive weekly homework assignments to apply what they’ve learned in class to their dealerships. This newly designed AIP is the perfect opportunity to work hands-on with the automotive industry’s top-notch leaders.

All-New Features Include:

• Lower price
• Shorter course (10 weeks)
• New speakers with fun and engaging course material
• More hands-on learning
• Updated strategies
• New Social Media platforms, such as Instagram
• New topics such as video and mobile

Over the course of the 10-week AIP, students will be able to learn hands on with our talented team to advance their education and bring a new set of skills to their dealership.

For more information, check out our redesigned AIP website or email Patricia at patricia@firstclasseducators.com.

Register Now!

Students of the Fall 2012 AIP will be given the tools and knowledge to better their dealership’s online presence and stay ahead of their competition. This program is fit for any dealership employee, ranging from salesmen to managers, and all are sure to benefit from the material.

Automotive Internet Program Set For Fall Semester

Best of all, the Fall 2012 Automotive Internet Program is half the price of previous AIPs. We want to make this opportunity available to as many people as possible; even though the price has been lowered, the quality of the material is as high as ever.

The ten-week program is set to begin in November of 2012. Click here to request more information about the Fall 2012 AIP and keep your eye out for the exciting curriculum! Contact Carrie Hemphill at 908-601-6475 or email carrie@firstclasseducators.com for more information.

Digital Marketing Blitz 

Digital Marketing Blitz will consist of 12 workshops. Speakers at this event include Jim Flint, Ralph Paglia, Brian Pasch, Dale Pollak and more. Jim Flint, one of the creators of DMB, is the president and founder of Local Search Group, an automotive digital marketing agency that provides custom digital marketing solutions. Ralph Paglia is Editor-In-Chief of Automotive Digital Marketing (ADM) and runs one of the largest online professional communities in the automotive industry. Brian Pasch, CEO of PCG Digital Marketing, built his business from the ground up through insight, strategy, and constant education over years of accumulating diverse skills. Dale Pollak, founder of vAuto and best-selling author, is one of the leading authorities on automotive dealership management strategies.

Digital Marketing Blitz is designed to ring in 2013 with the automotive industry’s top-notch leaders providing the best strategies to help your business excel both financially and educationally. Towards the closing of DMB, small groups known as “huddles breakouts” will commence so dealers can get advice about their digital marketing questions answered by industry professionals. DMB will be a great conference to start the year off right. If you are interested in this event, take action! Sign up for our early bird special, which includes a registration discount and a free VIP pass to the Houston Auto Show.

Sign up for the Early Bird Special!

Check out Digital Marketing Blitz’s Website!

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For More Information, Contact Carrie Hemphill at 9086016475.

Whether you’re looking to educate current employees or you’re adding a new member to your in-house marketing team, the Automotive Internet Program – AIP – is your program for internet marketing success at your dealership.

The Automotive Internet Program’s Digital Marketing & Social Media Certificate Program offers dealers an intensive 10 week program that covers a variety of topics leading up to one goal: creating a plan that can be implemented at your dealership.

Topics covered include:

• SEO Basics
• Google Webmaster Tools
• Content Writing
• Microsite blogs
• Social Media
• Mobile Websites
• Video

AutoCon 2012 Recap

Many found the workshop speakers and topics so engaging and informative, that they would attend multiple sessions within each given time slot. These workshops included diverse topics to address the needs of every automotive employee such as the Top 10 Ways to Woo Your Online Buyers by CarWoo, the Evolution of Digital Marketing by Ralph Paglia, Paid Search Strategies by Brian Pasch and Google’s Anita Avram, and Mobile Technology: Coustomer Retention and Loyalty Stratagies by Glen Garvin.

With over 25 varied workshops, this gave each

individual the opportunity to foster their business and personal knowledge. Certificates will be awarded to those who attended selected workshop course tracks, which will serve as a token to represent the expertise gained in the session. The workshops that award these certificates include Brian Pasch and Anita Avram’s “Paid Search Strategies” and Elizabeth Archuletta and Jody DeVere’s “Diversity Marketing”. These will be given to those attendees who participated in all sessions of each workshop. The general sessions included speakers such as James Ziegler, Patrick Kelly, Lon Safko, Sean Stapleton and best-selling author Grant Cardone.

The feedback regarding the event so far has been exceptional:

Stan S. from Maple Shade, NJ stated: “ This was by far the best conference I have ever attended. I enjoyed all of the sessions that I went to and I learned a lot. I have never seen another conference with this level of speakers, content and family style atmosphere. FCE has done a wonderful job to make this a huge success. I look forward to be a part of this for years to come”.

Jackie C from Vernon, CT stated: “ I really enjoyed AutoCon 2012. The event had many insightful speakers, the workshops were informative, and it was a great way to connect with others in the industry to see what strategies they are using”.

M.D. from Tampa FL stated: “Very well put together event. Loved the facility, the best of any conference I have ever been to”.

The event closed with attendees already asking for details about the upcoming Autocon2013. The dates for AutoCon2013 have not yet been released, but stay tuned for any updates by checking http://www.firstclasseducators.com/news/ regularly. The event has left many in awe, and will only continue to advance each year.

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Dealer professionals should save the date of the future conference and plan on arriving one day early to attend a welcoming Cocktail Reception with conference attendees, speakers and hosts.

FCE will soon be releasing hotel reservation information including their special group code to receive the discounted rate.

2013 Digital Marketing Strategies Conference Raises The Bar for Excellence

Year after year, the DMSC attracts the industry’s most sought after speakers and leaders that guide attendees through comprehensive workshops and hands-on demonstrations of the most effective and efficient digital marketing strategies.

Attendees of the 2013 Digital Marketing Strategies Conference will fine-tune their social media, advertising, customer service, and Internet marketing strategies for the year ahead.  The workshops and keynote speakers will demonstrate how dealerships can create a powerful digital marketing roadmap and refine their automotive marketing and operations plans for 2013.

The DMSC is an intimate educational event that is limited to 150 dealership employees.  This allows the instructors and speakers to work hands-on with dealers in attendance. The conference has a variety of educational formats from workshops, roundtables, and general sessions.

Sponsorships are also available on a first come first serve basis.  For more information, Carrie Hemphill of First Class Educators at 908.601.6475 or visit http://www.digitalmarketingstrategies.org