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Humbled at NADA 2014

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Screen Shot 2014-01-28 at 11.06.23 AMI’m not a social media guru, expert or anything resembling that. I would hate to have those adjectives attached to my name. Social media is all about engaging your audience and the reason that I believe I am successful at it is that, regardless of whether I am “doing” social media for myself or a client, I always… always… recognize and respond with any interaction. Whether it’s something as small as favoriting a tweet, or as big as writing an article… social media boiled down to it’s very basic is about interaction. If people are interacting with you, or your company, interact back. It’s that simple.

In my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with many prestigious companies with high visibility in our industry. I’ve just returned from New Orleans and the National Automobile Dealer’s Association Convention in which I handled pre-show and live social media for 12 companies. NADA marks the 15th automotive industry event I’ve conducted social media marketing for whether it was for the conference itself or for exhibiting or sponsoring companies.

Other than the fact that I get money for doing it (which is a great thing), the most rewarding aspect of any position is to get recognized by peers and industry influencers for a job well done. I don’t normally write self-promoting type stuff but I’ve simply been overwhelmed by the feedback I received from my work at the NADA Convention.

The funny part is that I don’t really consider myself a “vendor” per-say. I mean, I get paid for my services but when dealers (or vendors) ask me the inevitable “Who are you with?”, I simply reply “I’m with Arnold.” I love my job and get to meet and interact with tons of intelligent, smart and successful people in our industry from the entire spectrum – dealership personnel, dealers, vendors, members of the media, etc. – and because I’m not soliciting anyone, it’s always genuine face-to-face interaction.

My good friend, Kevin Frye, included me in his NADA video.

In their NADA recap article, AutoMotion featured some of my tweets intended to break up the monotonous “come to our booth” messages and introduce some entertainment into the Twitter feed. If we want dealers (or vendors for that matter) to recognize the value of Twitter, it’s got to be interesting when they look at it, wouldn’t you agree? (Check out hashtag #NADATips if you want to see some.)

DealerTrack‘s social media person (whoever you are) did a fantastic job interacting with people – including myself – at NADA with the @DealertrackDMS account.

Many local New Orleans companies also showed their social media savvy including what became one of my favorite spots – The Cat’s Meow – which I visited four nights including assisting in organizing an event for VinSolutions in 4 hours that saw over 200 guests attend. The Cat’s Meow was super accommodating on all of those nights as well as super interactive and responsive with their @catskaraoke Twitter account. It’s not often that you  get to meet the person who is actually interacting with you from a local establishment like this but I was able to on my final night out in New Orleans. Kudos to her!

I also got the opportunity to hang out with the AutoTrader.com and Haystak Digital Marketing team there one night and, of course, had to throw some shout-outs to them to the tune of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen on stage. [Here’s a LINK to the video if you really want to hear me sing.]

The fact that many of us got stranded in New Orleans due to inclement weather presented PCG Consulting and Brian Pasch with the opportunity to provide a bonus educational opportunity to stranded NADA attendees that was given the name the “PCG Freeze Out” which I was fortunate enough to participate in.

I know I’m forgetting some people as I was fortunate to interact with a ton of people. Over the course of NADA, I was astounded by the response and stats from only my personal Twitter account @arnoldtijerina –

Screen Shot 2014-01-31 at 11.02.00 AM

but the most humbling feedback, BY FAR, came from long-time industry expert and insider, Cliff Banks, owner of The Banks Report (which you should subscribe to), when he tweeted this:

Thanks to everyone for all of their support. I truly enjoyed all of the interactions I had at the show whether they were as myself or on behalf of a client and I look forward to seeing everyone again at the next event.

P.S. And many thanks to Helion Automotive Technologies for the rocking caricature and to the NADA Convention for the $150 gift card to Mr. B’s Restaurant. My wife and her friend LOVED the dinner. I was too busy.. well.. tweeting… but appreciate it just as much.

BREAKING: DealerTrack acquires Clickmotive

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Acquisition Strengthens DealerTrack’s Digital Interactive Marketing Offerings for Automotive Retailers

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — DealerTrack (Nasdaq: TRAK) today announced the acquisition of ClickMotiveLP, a leading provider of interactive marketing solutions for the automotive retailing industry. Total consideration for the transaction is expected to be $48.9 million in cash, subject to a standard purchase price adjustment and net of certain expenses. Additionally, the sellers will be eligible to receive additional consideration of up to $7.65 million, payable in 2014, if ClickMotive achieves certain performance targets in 2013.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101028/DEALERTRACKLOGO )

ClickMotive, which was established in 2005 and based in Plano, Texas, is the innovator of an award-winning digital marketing platform that combines the power of Web, mobile, search, social, video, inventory, call-tracking, tag, and dashboard tools to generate qualified leads and increase sales for automotive groups and individual franchised dealers. Currently, more than 3,000 U.S. automotive dealerships leverage ClickMotive’s platform.

“With this acquisition, we are able to significantly expand the website and interactive marketing capability we acquired with eCarList,” said Mark O’Neil, chairman, and chief executive officer, DealerTrack. “Additionally, we believe this acquisition will enhance the competitive positioning of our inventory solution and expand our relationship with a number of key OEMs.”

“From helping dealers acquire customers to managing those customers throughout the entire purchase and delivery process, DealerTrack continues to be an integral part of managing a dealership’s overall workflow,” added O’Neil.

“We are looking forward to joining the DealerTrack family,” said Stuart Lloyd, chief executive officer and co-founder of ClickMotive. “This acquisition will allow us to reach more and more dealerships, enabling them to create their own unique digital voice that can be heard across multiple Internet, mobile, and social platforms.”

Details on the financial impact of this transaction are expected to be discussed on DealerTrack’s third quarter earnings conference call in November.

About DealerTrack (www.dealertrack.com)

DealerTrack’s intuitive and high-value web-based software solutions and services enhance efficiency and profitability for all major segments of the automotive retail industry, including dealers, lenders, OEMs, third-party retailers, agents, and aftermarket providers. DealerTrack, whose solution set for dealers is the industry’s most comprehensive, operates the largest online credit application network inthe United States, connecting over 18,000 dealers with more than 1,200 lenders.  DealerTrack’s Dealer Management System (DMS) provides dealers with easy-to-use tools and real-time data access to enhance their efficiency. DealerTrack’s Inventory offerings provide vehicle inventory management, transportation, and merchandising solutions to help dealers drive higher in-store and online traffic with state-of-the-art, real-time listings, accelerate used-vehicle turn rates, and increase dealer profits. DealerTrack’s Sales and F&I solutions allow dealers to streamline the entire sales process as they structure deals from a single integrated platform.  Its Compliance offering helps dealers meet legal and regulatory requirements, and protect their assets.  DealerTrack also offers processing and other solutions for the automotive industry, including a web-based network for arranging vehicle transportation and shipping, electronic motor vehicle registration and titling applications, paper title storage, and digital document services. For more information visit:      www.dealertrack.com.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the benefits of the acquisition of ClickMotive, including enhancing our inventory solution’s strategic positioning and expanding our relationships with OEMs, and all other statements in this release other than the recitation of historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of DealerTrack to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Factors that might cause such a difference include the successful completion of the acquisition of ClickMotive, meeting its financial goals, the acceptance by dealers of DealerTrack as the owner of the acquired company, and other risks listed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2011. These filings can be found on DealerTrack’s website at www.dealertrack.com and the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and DealerTrack disclaims any obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances.

TRAK-G

SOURCE DealerTrack

[VIA PR NEWSWIRE]

NADA 2012: Day Four Recap – Final Day

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By Day 4 of NADA, I was totally wiped. Between walking the exhibit hall, networking, and night-time adventures, I didn’t have a lot of gas left.

Day 4 in the exhibit hall had me looking for some cool swag for my daughter. Not many booths had “kid” swag (lighty-blinky things, etc. A lot of footballs but not much else). In my treasure hunt, I managed to get a caricature done courtesy of Jack Behar and the VisuallyLinked booth, a DealerTrack 1/24 scale die-cast car, some autographs with Playmates at the Aspen Marketing booth and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I managed to make it until I won this huge bear from the CUDL booth:

Won me a big bear at the CUDL booth at NADA

Walking around the exhibit hall with that huge bear got me a mixture of strange looks, smiles, queries as to how I was getting it home (I drove) and monetary offers but I was taking this home to my 5-year old daughter. (Man, was I a hero when I got home.) In the end, at about 2:30, I had to go back to my hotel room just to drop this off. I took a load off my feet and **BAM** I was out. I woke up right as former President George W. Bush was speaking. I was bummed to miss that.

I was invited to dinner with 3Birds Marketing that evening and we went to a delicious Thai restaurant. Afterwards, I needed to make a stop at the Caesars Palace Forum Shops. As the store closed its doors, they allowed someone in to shop privately. It happened to be Floyd Mayweather Jr.!! It was him and I, the store employees and his bodyguards (although I dont know why he needs bodyguards). Got to say “Hi” to him but I succeeded in restraining myself in asking for a picture with him.

After that, it was off to the Imperial Palace Karaoke Club. I typically visit at least once every time I’m in Vegas and it so happened that, earlier that day, Shaun Raines of DrivingSales tweeted out an impromptu industry karaoke party. Some of the 3Birds Marketing crew were there as were some ReachLocal people. It was a blast, as always. Rob Fontano KILLED the songs he sang. Dude even had a freakin’ harmonica in his pocket and played it during his songs. Are you kidding me?!?! I’ve NEVER seen someone whip out a harmonica during karaoke. Check it out:

Then, Shaun stepped up and did a duet with the DJ:

Great people. Good times.

To summarize, this NADA was the best experience I’ve had at a conference and the first major industry event in the last couple of years in which I wasn’t working in some way or another. Between all the celebrities, events, parties, swag, gifts from heaven, networking, and sessions…. I sincerely felt charmed the whole time. Thank  you to NADA, God, the Lucky Charms leprechaun, and all those that made this convention so wonderful for me.

If you’d like to see some of the pictures I took (102 on display), you can view them HERE.

Oh, and remember that eBay Motors party I told you about in my Day Two Recap? I’ll leave you with some ice, ice, baby.

 

 

NADA 2012: Day Three Recap

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Sunday saw a lot of meetings, and running into (and trying to connect with) people. The exhibit hall was in full swing and jumping. The day was destined to be short because the Super Bowl started at 3:30pm here and all the parties were starting at 2:30pm.

We went to what, in my opinion, was the best Super Bowl party ever! eBay Motors set up the classiest, most intimate Super Bowl party I’ve ever been to. It was so classy celebrities were asking to come just so they could have a place to watch out of the general public. Not only that but all of them were super nice. They rented out the whole Seville Row bar restaurant… hell, I don’t even know what it was. It was a private area that is part of the LAX nightclub. Max capacity was only 125 people. Every place to sit was a freaking couch VIP area. Lots of room. Great wait service with an open bar and lots of great food. We even had home-made cupcakes made, and hand-delivered, by Robyn and Taryn of The Food Network’s Cupcake Wars TV show.

I met Roy “Big Country” Nelson from the UFC as well as Greg Hendrick who is the Director of Event Operations for the UFC. I also met Coolio .. yeah.. that one. We were living in Gangsta’s paradise. Roy Nelson joined us at our table for a while as did the girls from Cupcake Wars. Lots of great conversation (and pictures). Oh, and Coolio gave me his cell phone number and the club manager gave me a UFC t-shirt and an autographed Roy Nelson action figure. Yeah, that’s how I roll. Talk about making connections, how is a partnership with the UFC for digital marketing and social media sound? Money, baby. That was only one of many connections that I, and people I know, made.

eBay Motors delivered a first-class Super Bowl experience. I couldn’t have improved it in any way. In my, and other people’s, opinions, they pulled off both the best party of NADA (Vanilla Ice) and the best SuperBowl party of NADA.

After that party, we headed to the DealerTrack party at the XS nightclub. We got there and, swear to God, the line looked like people were at Disneyland waiting to ride Space Mountain. Serious.

That party was OFF THE HOOK. HUGE place, great layout and tons of people. You could party inside or by the pool. Nice. Well played, DealerTrack.

After DealerTrack, it was off to a nice dinner then bed. Brilliant day at NADA.

It was so brilliant, this is what I felt like at the end of the day:

That’s right. The Honey Badger doesn’t care. He takes what he wants.

This year, I’m going to be the Honey Badger.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow! Thanks for reading!

BREAKING: DealerTrack to Acquire eCarList

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DealerTrack to Acquire eCarList

May 25, 2011 8:30 AM ET

Adds Innovative Vehicle Merchandising Solutions to Industry Leading Inventory Management Offering

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — DealerTrack AAX, Inc., a subsidiary of DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. TRAK, today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire substantially all the assets of eCarList LLC, a leading provider of inventory management and merchandising solutions for automobile dealerships  The combination of DealerTrack’s current AAX inventory management solution with eCarList’s product suite of vehicle merchandising, pricing analytics and mobile inventory solutions will provide dealerships with a comprehensive vehicle management offering.  Len Critcher, president and chief executive officer of eCarList, along with the entire eCarList management team, will remain with the combined company.  The acquisition is expected to close in July, subject to customary closing conditions.

Mark F. O’Neil, chairman and chief executive officer of DealerTrack, commented, “We are extremely excited to announce this acquisition.  eCarList is one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry and is a leader in delivering innovative vehicle merchandising and management solutions for the automotive retail industry.”  O’Neil continued, “We believe the addition of eCarList will enable DealerTrack to expand its leading position as the industry’s most comprehensive suite of inventory management and merchandising solutions that leverages the best from each company.”

“We look forward to joining the DealerTrack family,” said Len Critcher. “The combination of DealerTrack AAX and eCarList will drive even more innovation to help dealerships generate additional vehicle interest and higher quality Internet and showroom traffic, all while maximizing overall deal profits.”

The financial impact of this acquisition to DealerTrack’s 2011 guidance will be given in conjunction with the release of DealerTrack’s results for the second quarter of 2011.

About DealerTrack (www.dealertrack.com)

DealerTrack’s intuitive and high-value software solutions and services enhance efficiency and profitability for all major segments of the retail automotive industry, including dealers, lenders, OEMs, agents and aftermarket providers.  DealerTrack, whose solution set for dealers is the industry’s most comprehensive, operates the largest online credit application network in the United States, connecting approximately 17,000 dealers with more than 1,000 lenders. DealerTrack’s Dealer Management System (DMS) provides dealers with easy-to-use tools and real-time data access to enhance their efficiency, while DealerTrack AAX delivers the inventory management tools and services needed to accelerate used-vehicle turn rates and help increase profits for dealers.  DealerTrack’s Sales and F&I solutions allow dealers to streamline the entire sales process as they structure deals from a single integrated platform.  Its Compliance solution helps dealers meet legal and regulatory requirements and protect their assets. DealerTrack also offers additional solutions for the automotive industry including electronic motor vehicle registration and titling applications, paper title storage, and digital document services. DealerTrack’s family of companies also includes data and consulting service providers ALG and Chrome Systems. For more information, visit www.dealertrack.com.

About eCarList (www.ecarlist.com)

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, eCarList provides a full suite of inventory management and online marketing tools for the retail automotive industry enabling dealers to appraise, price, and merchandise vehicle inventory online in real-time.  eCarList’s services include inventory management, inventory distribution, vehicle appraisal and pricing tools, mobile software, dealership health reporting, CRM, custom web design, and digital marketing solutions via a fully integrated software as a service platform.  eCarList improves dealership productivity, inventory turn, sales, and profits for its clients by improving and simplifying the way in which inventory is managed, distributed, and viewed by consumers.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements  

Statements in this press release regarding benefits to DealerTrack and its customers of the pending acquisition of eCarList and all other statements in this release other than the recitation of historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995).  These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of DealerTrack to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Factors that might cause such a difference include: economic trends that affect the automotive retail industry or the indirect automotive financing industry including the number of new and used cars sold; reductions in auto dealerships; the impact of some vendors of software products for automotive dealers making it more difficult for DealerTrack’s customers to use DealerTrack’s solutions and services; security breaches, interruptions, failures and/or other errors involving DealerTrack’s systems or networks; the failure or inability to execute any element of DealerTrack’s business strategy, including selling additional products and services to existing and new customers; the integration of the eCarlist acquisition and the expected benefits; DealerTrack’s success in expanding its customer base and product and service offerings; and other risks listed in DealerTrack’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.  These filings can be found on DealerTrack’s website at www.dealertrack.com and the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and DealerTrack disclaims any obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Originally published on DealerElite.net and ADM

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