Mashable: When It Comes to Online Marketing, Don’t Do It Yourself

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Special Finance Group has a message for car dealerships looking to gain an online audience. The message can be summed up in 4 simple words: Don’t do it yourself.

A recent article on Mashable, the web’s premiere resource for social media news and technology, had suggestions for companies who are looking into mobile ecommerce. Most of the list pertained to marketing in general like choosing the right platform or simplifying the look, but the last and best suggestion they offered was “Quit Building It Yourself.”

Most business people are overachievers. This isn’t a bad quality, but sometimes they will wrongly believe that they can still manage all of their responsibilities and take on social media and online marketing as well. The problem with this strategy is that the business will focus less time on the actual product and more time learning new technology and online tools. Car dealerships will be spending so much time worrying about their online presence that they will be distracted from providing good customer service to people walking through the door. Dealerships might think they are saving money by doing online marketing themselves, but they are much better off hiring social media and internet marketing specialists like the team at Special Finance Group.

At Special Finance Group, we have you covered in internet marketing, online engagement, and lead generating. Our team is experienced in targeting and bringing in interested car buyers, earning associated dealerships hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional revenue every month. To learn more about what Special Finance Group can do for your dealership, read the Complete Special Finance Solution here. For the latest news from Special Finance Group, like Special Finance Group on Facebook and follow Special Finance Group on Twitter.

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The Auto Industry’s Marketing Dilema

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The news lately with regard to the auto industry has been a steady stream of good news. Business is returning after the industry sunk to a disastrous low that lead to a government bailout. The headlines are filled with subjects about just how high the sales were in each month of this year. It’s a craze that doesn’t seem to be dying out anytime soon. The car makers certainly are prepared to throw a bunch of great new models off the assembly line and are looking at any means to capture the moment and dominate in sales. There’s the new Dodge Dart finally nearing release, or the upswing sales of the Ford Focus with the thriving hybrid market. That being said, the industry is facing a new challenge though, the question of who to sell their cars to.

The Atlantic points to a problem with the Millennial generation. They make up about 40 percent of the car buyer population. However, only 27 percent of the new cars were bought by people between the ages of 21 to 34. They are just not interested in buying new cars. Researchers have pointed to the online culture of youth as the problem. Everything is available on a computer screen these days, making the youngsters feel they have no need to drive to a place when they can just access it via the internet. Why drive to a friends place to talk to them when they are just an email away? There’s also the economy to keep in mind.

Just what seems to be the problem is what many dealerships are asking. What can they do to put young buyers behind the wheel? How can they get the $172 billion in spending that they have to offer in their own pockets? Companies, like GM, have turned to MTV to help them solve these problems. They see the solution being in offering new ideas to the youth, like rethinking how test drives work and introducing a new series of colors to their new models. Other companies, like Jeep, don’t see the youth as the buyers they need to sustain sales. They have turned their eyes to the older generation. Jeep has begun taking out full ads in AARP magazine to entice the above 50 crowd and let them know that you don’t have to be 20 to enjoy life behind the wheel of a jeep.

Wherever the future of the industry goes, in terms of marketing and demographic targeting, Special Finance Group will be there to help dealerships get every generation into the dealerships. Read more about our Complete Special Finance Solution here. Be sure to also like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, to see the latest news in the industry.

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Lenders: Auto Loans More Accessible in 2012

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In 2012, the road to better credit leads right through car dealerships.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the requirements for home and business loans are still strict with most lenders, but lenders are more willing to give auto loans, even for consumers with no credit or challenged credit. They based their analysis on a survey of senior loan officers at American banks as well as foreign banks with U.S. operations.

Studies have shown that car ownership can lead to upward mobility in the workforce and higher pay since car owners are not reliant on public transportation. They won’t be late to work because of a delayed bus or train, and they have more employment options open to them. When a steadier source of income is combined with new available credit, the end result is that the consumer is put in a much stronger financial situation.

Since other forms of credit are not accessible to consumers with a sub-prime credit score, there is a whole market of people looking to re-establish their credit history who will be looking for car loans. Car dealerships that partner with Special Finance Group can tap into this market and have a brand new source of customers. In addition to tradition advertising methods, Special Finance Group has an established online presence and utilizes the latest in online marketing to target the right car shoppers.

To learn more about what Special Finance Group could do for your dealership, read the Complete Special Finance Solution here, and keep up with the latest from Special Finance Group via Facebook and Twitter.

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April Sales Forecast Great Year for Auto Dealerships

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Hey, Auto Industry! Forget your troubles, come on and get happy!

Not that long ago, there was gloom whenever the auto industry was mentioned in the news. Stagnant sales plagued the industry, and pundits droned on and on about how the bailout failed. The past few months, however, have boosted morale across the auto industry and, pundits are eating their words and changing their tune on the effectiveness of the bailout. So far, the sales in 2012 have been fantastic, and they don’t show any sign of slowing down.

April was full of good news for sales. J.D. Power and Associates published a report showing that the volume of sales are expected to increase by 8 percent. This is great news because April will be the fourth month in a row with a positive upswing in sales for the car industry, and insiders know it is truly extraordinary because of how notorious April is for poor sales. John Humphrey, the senior vice president of global automotive operations at J.D. Power and Associates says, “While April is typically a challenging month to draw comparisons with because the Easter holiday some years falls in April and other years in March, the signs of sustained growth are evident.”

One of the most noted results on the report comes from the luxury vehicle sales. The industry as a whole is up 10.8 percent, but luxury vehicles are down 12.1 percent from the previous year. The speculation being made here is that with gas prices on the rise, the onslaught of powers are looking for sensibly priced vehicles. For example, cars such as the Ford Focus are becoming much more popular.

Sales are continuing to grow, and they show no sign of letting up anytime soon. The auto industry is back with force, and people are flocking to dealerships to get themselves back on the road. That’s why you need Special Finance Group’s help with this new flow of customers. We help those buyers connect with your dealership. Take a look at the Complete Special Finance Solution to see just how we can help you. Like us on Facebook and we’ll keep you in the loop for the latest trends and news in the industry.

Press Release: Special Finance Group Brings On Garden City as New Partner

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Long Island, New York, April 17, 2012 – This week, Special Finance Group announced that it will be partnering with Garden City Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram to help sub-prime customers in the New York tri-state area, particularly in the Long Island area.

Special Finance Group’s ApprovedLoanStore.com gives consumers with no credit or poor credit another chance at getting a car. People with good credit will also have a wider selection of vehicles and rates available to them. On average, Special Finance Group’s partner dealerships bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional revenue.

Special Finance Group’s Director of Operations Roberto Barca had nothing but praise for Garden City Jeep Chrysler Dodge. “Our customers will love Garden City’s selection and their attention to customer service,” he said regarding the partnership. “We couldn’t be happier to have them part of the Special Finance Group family.”

Garden City Jeep Chrysler Dodge is the premier spot for new and used car shopping in Hempstead, Long Island. Located at 283 N Franklin Street, they have a vast inventory of Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, and Ram vehicles including favorites like the Grand Cherokee, Town & Country, and Charger. Go to http://www.gardencitycardeals.com or call 877-819-3836 for more information.

Located in Midtown Manhattan, Special Finance Group helps connect qualifying customers with dealerships willing to work with them through their website ApprovedLoanStore.com. ApprovedLoanStore.com also provides financial resources, educational materials, and the latest news from the auto lending industry, helping consumers make better informed financial decisions.

Record-Breaking Months for Special Finance Group

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY – April 13, 2012 – Special Finance Group celebrated record-breaking months in February and March after funding over $1.5 million and $2.2 million in auto loans.

In February, 91 customers were approved for loans through Special Finance Group’s Approved Loan Store program, and in March, 124 customers were approved. These customers had an average income of $27,000 per year and an average FICO score of 545. Despite their clients’ less than ideal financial situations, Approved Loan Store found a way to work with lenders and fund $3,740,978 in auto loans for February and March.

Special Finance Group and Approved Loan Store work with auto dealerships in the New York tri-state area to bring in additional business while also helping car shoppers obtain auto loans. Most Approved Loan Store customers have challenged credit and are unable to get approval for a car loan at their local dealership. With U.S. auto sales continuing to rise, car dealerships partnered with Special Finance Group will get to work with a wider range of car buyers and bring in higher sales and profits than their competitors, benefiting both customers and dealerships.

Located in Midtown Manhattan, Special Finance Group helps connect qualifying customers with dealerships willing to work with them through their website ApprovedLoanStore.com. ApprovedLoanStore.com also provides financial resources, educational materials, and the latest news from the auto lending industry, helping consumers make better informed financial decisions.

Contact:
Rachel Godfrey
info@specialfinancegroup.com
Phone: 877-217-2217

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Consumers With Low Credit Scores Dominate Auto Loan Market

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Car dealerships that aren’t offering car loans to consumers with challenged credit are missing out on significant business.

According to research by J.D. Power & Associates, consumers with credit scores between 0 and 649 now make up a whopping 15 percent of sales for new-vehicle buyers. To clarify, this does not mean that 15 percent of car shoppers have sub-prime credit, it means that 15 percent of actual sales are for people with sub-prime credit.

Analysts have attributed this trend to the fact that credit standards for auto loans are not as restrictive as they used to be. They have also pointed to the rise in auto sales as proof that lenders are willing to work with consumers regardless of their credit situation.

Special Finance Group is in the business of helping car shoppers connect with dealerships that want to work with them and get them into a new or used vehicle. Customers with challenged credit can get approved, and customers with good credit can find a better deal. Go to http:///www.specialfinancegroup.com to read more about Special Finance Group’s Complete Special Finance Solution and how it could benefit your dealership. You can also like Special Finance Group on Facebook and follow Special Finance Group on Twitter.

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Sub Prime Marketing Experiencing Lending Boom

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Just a few years ago, having some bad dings on a credit report would have made getting something like a credit card or even an auto loan an impossibility. That was then, but things are starting to change. With the recession on the rebound, lenders are starting to eye ball the very people they turned away just a few years prior.

Equifax has released a new report called the “National Consumer Credit Trends.” This report shows that new credit issued to consumers grew more than 10% to $782 billion. This was really due in part to the subprime borrowers. There has been significant growth in the amount being loaned out to that sector. Banks are starting to see that there is real money to be made here and their lending habits are reflective of this.

A lot of this is due to the banks realizing that the recession set many people back, the same people that are now paying back their loans. Amy Cutts, Equifax’s Chief Economist, says that, “Subprime today is not the same that it was five years ago. There are a lot of borrowers out there that have some pretty big blemishes now on their records” but “are in a better position than the ones we lent to a few years ago.”

People who were being denied loans are now starting to find themselves at an advantage. Every dealership should be definitely looking to capitalize on this opportunity. Special Finance Group is here to aid dealerships. To read more about how our Complete Special Finance Solution and see how it can do to help your dealership, take a look here. Be sure to like us on Facebook, that way you can see the latest trends in the industry and just how SFG can assist you.

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Subprime Auto Loans in an Upswing

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Recent studies are showing that dealerships that are not putting their resources behind special financing are missing out on a prominent and steadily growing market.

According to Automotive News, there has never been a better time to get in on special financing. Interest rates are dropping, even for high-risk loans, and 41.5 percent of auto loans are subprime auto loans. Only a few years ago, subprime auto loans were closer to a third of all auto loans, and now they are creeping up to half. Besides that, Standards and Poor has estimated that subprime loans in general will be higher this year. In 2011, subprime loans were 24 percent of all loans, and in 2012, they are expected to make up 25 to 30 percent of all loans.

With these numbers, putting resources into special financing is a no-brainer for any car dealership, and Special Finance Group can help dealerships make the most of their special finance departments. Special Finance Group brings years of experience as well as the latest in internet marketing and social media tools to bring in new clientele and hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional revenue.

Read more about Special Finance Group’s Complete Special Finance Solution here and find out what it could do for your dealership. Also, keep up to date on the latest from Special Finance Group by liking us on Facebook here.

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Call Centers Aid Dealership Come-Back

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Everyone suffered when the economy collapsed, but dealerships felt the brunt of it harder than most. The car industry was dealt a heavy blow and it took the government stepping in to bail them out.

Since then, the economy has turned around, and so has the auto industry. 2011 turned out to be a fantastic year for sales, with January and February continuing this trend. Dealerships have been brought back from the brink and are now being taxed with keeping up with the increase in demand. The question exactly what steps are needed to get back to the level they were at before the recession.

A recent post on AutomotiveDigitalMarketing.com says that answer lies in the call center. It’s hard not to see why considering the help they can supply. For example, callers that hang up on hold or go to voice mail get reduced by 26%. There’s an increase from 29% to 55% in connected sales calls. Service appointment rates on inbound calls go from 45% to 65% Best of all, follow up of calls for people who haven’t made appointments doubles from 20% to 40% with a call center.

Still, in order to get such a positive response from a call center, it takes more than just people calling on telephones all day. It takes the highest quality people making the phone calls, making good impressions on customers to keep not just new, but also old clients from leaving.

That’s where Special Finance Group agrees. In order to get the best results you need the best employees on staff. The SFG staff strive everyday to overcome negative stereotypes typical to the call center environment. With an operations manager who has over 21 years of experience in customer contact solutions and an experienced sales staff, SFG offers only the best in call centers. Sign up today to see just how much they can improve your dealerships special finance department. Go online for more information or call today 212-239-7270. Be sure to follow on Facebook for all the latest news.

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