SAN FRANCISCO -
AutoTrader.com , a Pre-Owned Automobile Dealers Alliance Partner, today announced the national launch of the Connections Bundle, which integrates social media, chat, dealer ratings and more to create more avenues for car shoppers to connect with dealers online, Auto Remarketing learned.
 
The bundle includes Dealer Chat, Social Connections, Dealer Ratings and Sitelink Advanced, according to the company.
 
The bundle was tested throughout the third and fourth quarters of 2010 and found to be successful, thus allowing the offering to be rolled out nationwide.
 
The company offered more specific dealers on each feature:
 
—Dealer Chat enables dealers to instantly connect with prospects online via text-based conversations. When a dealer representative is available, a link noting that availability appears on the vehicle listing and encourages shoppers to start a chat session. Powered by auto dealer chat software from Contact At Once!, the chat feature can also be extended to the iPad and most smartphones, so dealers can chat with prospects even when they’re not at their desks. In prior tests conducted by AutoTrader.com, shoppers used the chat feature three times more than e-mail to connect with dealers, resulting in a 20 percent lift in shopper interactions.
 
—Social Connections helps dealers connect with their prospects via social networking by creating highly visible links to their Facebook and Twitter pages. More than 25 percent of dealers use social media, and this feature enables them to promote their presence on these sites and further develop their relationships with prospective customers.
 
—Dealer Ratings allows dealers to showcase independent reviews and promote their online reputation. Dealers can select a third-party review site from a range of options and have that site linked to their presence across AutoTrader.com, extending the reach of their positive feedback.
 
—Sitelink Advanced is a graphic button that enhances the visibility of the dealer’s website link on a vehicle listing page, giving dealers’ websites more prominence and making it easier for prospective buyers to learn more about the dealer.
 
“At AutoTrader.com, our goal is to connect buyers and sellers and we’re always working to enhance those connections,” explained Chip Perry, president and chief executive officer.
 
“Dealers invest significant resources in telling their stories online, from creating compelling websites and social media presences to ensuring that customers have positive experiences to share. The Connection Bundle offers dealers multiple ways to merge information from across the Web and interact with their prospects online, helping them forge more productive relationships and ultimately sell more cars,” he stressed.
 
As a POADA Partner, AutoTrader.com joins the Alliance in its goal of helping dealers sell more and profit more in their pre-owned sales and service operations. The industry traditionally has been segmented into new vehicles and used vehicles, but now the market, primarily driven by the certified programs of the manufacturers, has added a third element — pre-owned vehicles. POADA focuses on this segment, which it has defined as including vehicles current model plus four years and less than 100,000 odometer miles.
 
POADA membership is free for dealers. As a benefit of joining POADA, dealers can elect to offer their customers CarMark vehicles. CarMark Certified is the independent vehicle certification program that is equivalent to the average factory CPO program.
 
It has a lot of similarities to a manufacturer program, benefits that make the program very attractive to consumers. The in-service date limited powertrain warranty program is for 72 months/100,000 miles for vehicles that have some original manufacturer warranty remaining, are no more than four model years old with less than 60,000 odometer miles. There is also a powertrain warranty for vehicles outside these guidelines with less than 80,000 odometer miles. In addition to the limited warranty package, CarMark Certified provides consumers with a 116-point physical inspection, trip interruption benefit, rental car reimbursement, towing benefit and wheel and tire coverage.
 
To learn more about CarMark and POADA, visit booth 4511N at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo in San Francisco this weekend.
 
For more information about the Connections Bundle and other AutoTrader.com products and services, visit booth 901S at the National Automobile Dealers Association and Expo.