InsideAuto Podcast

In the latest episode of InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay speaks with Josh Detzel about how he scaled his vehicle acquisition operations into a full scale Vehicle Operations Center. Josh explains how in just two months of careful planning, he successfully scaled his acquisition operation from 8 vehicles to 28 by carefully allocating resources, developing internal work processes and leveraging the power of AI. Listen in now to learn exactly how he managed to accomplish this feat and how he plans to continue scaling and spreading his methodology to other dealerships in his auto group and corner the used car market in his area.

In the latest episode of InsideAuto Podcast, Anthony Cameron, Operations Director at Diehl Automotive Group speaks to Ilana Shabtay about the steps his automotive group has taken to try to mitigate the impact of rising interest rates on their business and his predictions for how interest rates will behave over the next few quarters. Listen in now to learn more about the light at the end of the tunnel!

In this episode of InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay speaks with Jan Hansen, SVP Growth at FINN, to discuss the company’s car subscription model, the impressive success they have seen in the German market, and their plans to break into the US market over the next year. The pair discuss how the millennial market has embraced the subscription model and  how FINN is helping to simplify and take the work out of owning a personal vehicle in the current economic climate.

Don Erwin is the Director of Digital Marketing and Communication at Mtn View Auto. He started his career in the automotive industry in late 2001. He started in sales, and quickly moved up in the dealership, establishing a centralized BDC at Mtn View with 15 agents working leads and fielding incoming sales calls for 4 rooftops. In his current position, Don is responsible for all digital marketing and customer communication training for the auto group. Don is a proud grandparent to 8 grandchildren and is looking forward to his retirement in just 3 years.

In this episode…

Is your dealership using data and metrics provided by third-party vendors to improve your business? 

If not, your dealership is wasting valuable resources and missing out on a massive opportunity for growth. The data brought in by third-party vendors can help dealerships understand where there is room for improvement in dealership operations - from holes in the sales funnel to missed opportunities for followup and beyond. Understanding your data and being willing to make changes based on what that data shows can transform your business by helping you bring in more revenue through smart, data-backed business decisions. 

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay interviews Don Erwin, Director of Digital Marketing and Communication at Mtn View Auto about how data - both first and third-party - have impacted his marketing strategy and his decision making processes. They also discuss how Don is utilizing new AI technologies like ChatGPT at his dealership and what the future holds for the automotive industry when it comes to EV adoption across the US. 

Mike Dececco is the Vice President of Business Development at Fullpath. He is an entrepreneur, automotive technology veteran, and an early employee at Dealer.com, where he helped build the business into a billion-dollar company, holding management positions in sales, marketing, and business development. Mike is a strategic thinker, skilled presenter, and trusted leader with a deep knowledge of the automotive industry software on both the retail and wholesale sides of the business. 

In this episode…

What can dealerships do to streamline their business processes? How can you provide uniform customer experiences?  

To develop efficient business processes and serve customers better, dealerships need to leverage the power of technology. Automotive veteran Mike Dececco advocates finding the right mix of marketing technology tools to drive sales, improve business communication, and create a more engaging business environment for employees and customers. 

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay interviews Mike Dececco, the VP of Business Development at Fullpath, about leveraging technology to streamline business processes. They also discuss common challenges dealerships face with online marketing, the need for an open API marketplace and unified data sources, and Mike's predictions for the automotive industry.

Russell Richardson is a Sales Associate at Biondi Lincoln, a family-owned car dealership serving the greater Pittsburgh area. Russell leverages social media to provide free, valuable content on Lincoln products, including vehicle purchasing and maintenance tips. His platform, RussFlipsWhips, through which he also shares funny car sales skits, has garnered millions of views across various online channels. Russell lives right outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

In this episode…

Social media marketing has become an effective tool for dealerships to build an audience. When executed effectively, social media can help you build trust with potential customers and drive sales.

To get outstanding results from your social media marketing strategies, it is critical to create relatable and engaging content. Auto sales expert Russell Richardson leverages the power of social media to market cars by creating educational content that helps buyers make good buying decisions. He also uses humor in his videos to entertain his existing followers and build a larger audience. Content creation can help you stay in touch with your customers, gain new prospects, and drive sales.

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay sits down with Russell Richardson, a Sales Associate at Biondi Lincoln, to talk about social media marketing strategies for dealerships. They also discuss the evolution of the car industry, the main challenges with social media marketing, and Russell's thoughts on the direct sales trend.

Jordan Cox is the Digital Marketing Manager at Gates Automotive, a prominent automotive retail group located in northern Indiana. With a strong passion for innovative marketing strategies, Jordan plays a role in the company's success by overseeing various aspects of digital marketing, including social media, content creation, web design, user experience, branding, and event creation. One of his notable achievements includes creating and producing the podcast, Car Talk, presented by Gates Automotive. 

In this episode…

In today's competitive market, developing the right marketing strategy is critical to survival. Dealerships have an uphill task ensuring that they remain top of mind for their audience to stay in business.

To beat the competition, be creative in your sales and marketing strategy. Give your customers more value by not only providing exceptional products but also building brand loyalty. Jordan Cox and his team at Gates Automotive leverage the power of podcasting to tell their story. It is essential to experiment to find out what works and does not, and make changes where necessary.

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay sits down with Jordan Cox, the Digital Marketing Manager at Gates Automotive, to talk about building brand loyalty through content. They also discuss spinning podcast content for various media, Gates Automotive's marketing strategy, and the evolution of Fullpath.

Rich McNulty is the CEO of Blue Whale EV, an advisory and service organization to the EV charging community. The company supports commercial and government clients through the entire EV charging adoption journey, from education to sales, installation, and maintenance. Rich joined the electric vehicle charging industry after years of executive leadership in electrical contracting and security companies, including  McLaughlin Electric, AT&T Security, Kolb Electric, and Eastern Home Solutions.

In this episode…

Over the last couple of years, many manufacturers have started building electric vehicles to meet increasing demand in the market. Gas companies like Shell have commenced plans to construct charging stations in various parts of the country, which will encourage more car owners to adopt electric cars.

However, to get maximum benefits from your vehicle, there are strategies you can use to save on costs, charging time, and help protect the environment. What if there’s a way to charge your EV to extend its battery life? Your EV may need less maintenance compared to gas cars, but it is critical to follow best practices when charging and engage the services of a reliable dealership to provide you with the right support. 

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay is joined by Rich McNulty, the CEO of Blue Whale EV, to talk about electrical charging solutions for electric vehicles. Rich shares tips for efficiently charging electric cars, the benefits of charging with solar energy, and the future of the EV industry.

Micah Birkholz is the Director of Sales at VistaDash, a marketing intelligence tool that enables dealerships to track the success of their online campaigns. With over 20 years of experience in sales, strategic marketing, and performance management, Micah is an accomplished business growth expert who helps dealers and agency partners optimize their teams and technology. He is also an engaging public speaker and presenter, having delivered presentations at several notable events, including Digital Dealer, UAAMG, AAAS, Modern Retail Conference, DMSC, and IDS. 

In this episode…

In the automotive industry, technological advancements play a significant role. They drive innovation, influence consumer preferences, and help improve service delivery. In addition, technology has improved the growth of digital retailing among dealerships. 

So how can players within the automotive space leverage technology to provide better services to clients? What strategies can dealerships implement to optimize their costs? In his 20-year stint in sales and marketing, Micah Birkholz learned the importance of analyzing data to provide insights into a business before launching a campaign. 

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay sits down with Micah Birkholz, the Director of Sales at VistaDash, to talk about technological advancements in the automotive space. They also discuss Micah's experience working in the vendor side of automotive, the effects of technology and AI on the industry, and how the recession drove Micah to social media marketing. Stay tuned.

Adam Dennis is the Founder and Principal of SurgeMetrix, a company that has provided software and service solutions to automotive dealers for over 20 years. He helps dealers build fast, bilingual, Google-optimized websites that drive car shoppers into a dealership's sales funnel. Adam entered the automotive space in 2000 when he founded a SaaS company that offered website, inventory, and lead tracking solutions to automotive dealers across the US. He is also an expert panelist at Dealer Marketing.

In this episode…

How well do you know your target market? What strategies do you use to market to potential customers effectively?

According to automotive industry veteran Adam Dennis, having appropriate data about your dealership’s audience is crucial. He advises dealers to identify their target market and focus on creating customer-centric products that meet buyers’ needs. In addition, your marketing message should resonate with ideal customers. When you understand consumer preferences, you can leverage that to meet their expectations

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay interviews Adam Dennis, Founder and Principal of SurgeMetrix, about the dynamics of cultural-based marketing. They also discuss the benefits of building mobile-responsive websites and leveraging AI to create audience-specific organic content.