Autobytel launches its 2014 Dealer Awards Program honoring exceptional dealers for outstanding Internet lead management and customer service standards.
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IRVINE, Calif., March 14, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL ), pioneer of the automotive Internet and the company dedicated to connecting automotive consumers with dealers, has named Frank Carrasquillo , General Sales Manager at Mercedes-Benz of Naples, Florida , the Autobytel Dealer of the Month for January 2014.
The company's Dealer Awards Program honors exceptional #ABTLDealerStars who employ the highest standards in customer service and Internet automotive retail sales and lead management processes. The Autobytel 2014 Dealer of the Year Award is slated to be announced in January 2015 at the NADA Convention & Expo in San Francisco – when Autobytel officially celebrates its 20 th Anniversary – with the crowning dealer chosen from this year's pool of monthly winners.
Rese Ballou of Hendrick Toyota Scion in North Charleston, South Carolina, took home Dealer of the Year honors for 2013, announced this past January at NADA in New Orleans.
"This year's competition starts off as an outstanding one with the selection of Frank and the Mercedes-Benz of Naples team," said Jeff Coats, President and CEO of Autobytel Inc. "They understand how to develop long term relationships with their clients, which is why they've won the Mercedes-Benz 'BEST OF THE BEST' award three out of the last four years – something only five percent of the top Mercedes-Benz dealers win. We congratulate Frank and his staff for a job well done."
Each month, Autobytel's sales and dealer operations teams evaluate prospective candidates from a competitive field of thousands of automotive retailers in the Autobytel network, with a monthly winner selected based on key online automotive best practices. The company launched its Dealer Awards Program at the beginning of 2013, honoring monthly winners throughout the year and in markets throughout the U.S.
Criteria evaluated for the Autobytel Dealer Awards Program include conversion rates , lead management processes , customer service principles , customer and brand retention analytics and Internet department practices , among others.
"No matter how you slice it, this a people-oriented business and if you understand what the person on the other side of the lead is asking for, you will be the one to win them as client," said Carrasquillo. "We've been successful by being fair and upfront in our pricing structure. We know Autobytel has many choices of dealers in its program, and to have chosen us speaks volumes with all of the stores in its portfolio. We are greatly honored."
Mercedes-Benz of Naples, Florida services a broad territory of the southwest Florida market, from Sarasota to Marco, and offers a full range of new and pre-owned Mercedes. For three out of the past four years, the dealership was named a BEST OF THE BEST dealer by Mercedes-Benz and its customers – an award that goes to top performing dealerships for demonstrating superior performance in various areas of their business, including customer satisfaction, new vehicle sales, certified pre-owned sales, leadership and management, parts operations and market penetration.
Named Top Rated New Car Leads in 2013 by DrivingSales; a finalist of the 2013 DrivingSales Most Valuable Insight Award; both a Power 250 Company and a Major Player in the Used Car Industry by Auto Remarketing Magazine; and # 1 Dealers' Choice Awards in 2012 by Auto Dealer Monthly, Autobytel consistently ranks as a top quality Internet lead provider, with the company's internally-generated leads converting at approximately three times the rate of the estimated industry average.
For more information about the Autobytel Dealer Awards program, visit the "Dealer Corner" at http://dealer.autobytel.com . To learn more about the January 2014 Autobytel Dealer of the Month, Frank Carrasquillo, visit http://dealer.autobytel.com/dealer-corner/aut...nz-naples/ . Visit www.autobytel.com to learn about the company's leading automotive information, and products and services. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Google+ and YouTube to stay connected to our latest news.
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. provides high quality consumer leads and associated marketing services to automotive dealers and manufacturers throughout the United States and offers consumers robust and original online automotive content to help them make informed car-buying decisions. The company pioneered the automotive internet in 1995 with its flagship website www.autobytel.com and has since helped tens of millions of automotive consumers research vehicles; connected thousands of dealers nationwide with motivated car buyers; and helped every major automaker market its brand online.
Investors and other interested parties can receive Autobytel news releases and invitations to special events by accessing the online registration form at http://investor.autobytel.com/alerts.cfm .
Autobytel Inc. Media Relations Splash Media Jennifer Lange 949-916-4820 or Autobytel Inc. Investor Relations Curtis DeWalt Chief Financial Officer 949-437-4694 or PondelWilkinson Inc. Roger Pondel/Laurie Berman 310-279-5980
