Welcome to the APC Blog!
Stay ahead in the automotive industry with our blog—your go-to source for marketing strategies, dealership tips and tricks, F&I optimization, and posts for consumers. Our posts help marketers, dealership staff, agents, and others thrive in today’s fast-evolving landscape.
We know that the automotive industry is constantly evolving. Consumer expectations are shifting, new technologies are emerging, and the competition has never been higher. Our blog shares strategies that connect service drive opportunities, post-sale engagement, and long-term customer retention—delivering value at every stage of the customer lifecycle. We monitor shifts in consumer behavior, regulatory changes, and technology advancements to bring you the latest in automotive.
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Communicate with Customers without Spamming Them
Data Security, Dealership, Direct Mail, MarketingWe’ve all had our phone ring and look at the number on the screen, only to realize it’s a spam call. Effective communication is integral to the success of any marketing campaign. In a world where a consumer is spammed, how do legitimate offers and communications from businesses stand out?
Why an Acquisition can be Positive for your Dealership
Dealership, SalesDealers today are being confronted with the reality of consolidation throughout the automotive industry. The dealerships themselves are often acquired by large dealer groups or even competition. Agency partners, administrators, and others are also impacted by consolidation – agencies buy agencies, administrators partner together, and other companies are joining to grow business. Many industry experts predict that consolidation will be an ongoing trend, so it’s important to think about the future and how best to plan for how your dealership can keep its identity if it joins another group.
5 Ways to Keep Automotive Sales Consultants Motivated
Customer Loyalty, Marketing, SalesIt can be difficult for dealerships to motivate their sales teams – vehicle sales are intensive, and employees can easily be drained. Sales managers need to understand that they must also focus on rewarding their employees in ways that go beyond their paychecks.
Everyone deserves to feel motivated by the work they do for their sales manager.
Why Direct Mail is Still Effective in Today’s Digital Age
Direct MailIn today’s world, digital marketing ads dominate. Most of us can’t turn on our phone or desktop browser without seeing a myriad of notifications and ads for a product or service. Many businesses are under the impression that digital marketing is more effective due to the level of saturation we see every day on our devices. However, the exact opposite is true: direct mail is still the top performing marketing method.
Customer Loyalty: Building Lasting Connections in Automotive
Customer LoyaltyCreating lasting connections with customers offers many benefits, such as repeat business, a robust brand reputation, and customer loyalty to your dealership. In an industry with many routes for a customers to purchase and maintain their vehicles, trust in your dealership is a must.
According to a Zippia study, 65% of an average company’s business comes from existing customers. The study also reveals businesses can increase profits by 25-95% by increasing customer retention by only 5%.
The Impact of Extended Coverage in the Electric Vehicle Market
Customer Loyalty, Electric VehiclesDid you know that more than 10 million electric vehicles are on the road worldwide today? To put this into perspective, that figure was only 53,000 in 2012, representing a massive 18,000% growth in the EV market. As the EV market continues to thrive, exploring the benefits of vehicle service contract coverage, the costs associated with electric vehicle repairs, and the unique technical requirements of these environmentally friendly vehicles is essential.
Vehicle Service Contract Importance in Today’s Economy
Customer LoyaltyVehicle service contracts, commonly referred to as VSCs, are the piece of vehicle protection that most owners don’t realize they need. If you’re a dealer, you know that most customers decline immediately. You hear polite declines of “no thank you” or “I don’t need that.” They look at the initial cost of the contract instead of the overall big picture and how much they could save if the vehicle has mechanical issues down the road.
Safeguards: A Guide to Dealership Customer Data Security
Data Security, SafeguardsIn today’s digital age, automotive dealerships possess a large amount of consumer data that can include everything from personal information to financial details. This information must be safeguarded to protect both the dealership and the customers. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) Safeguards Rule is a standard set by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which requires organizations to create and maintain an information security program to protect consumer data.