Automotive Internet pioneer, Autobytel, announces Q3 2015 Dealer of the Month winners. To tweet this release and to celebrate, click #ABTLDealerStars
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 14, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL ), a leading provider of online automotive services connecting consumers with dealers, recently named Ben Seyden of Taylor Chrysler Dodge Jeep ; Rob Grossheim of Stillwell Ford ; and Peter Deiser of the Ed Morse Automotive Group as the Autobytel Dealers of the Month for Q3 2015.
The Autobytel Dealer Awards Program honors exceptional #ABTLDealerStars who employ the highest standards in digital automotive retail sales, lead management processes, customer service, and a commitment to mobile and emerging technologies.
“Our Dealer of the Month winners for the third quarter are truly progressive in their business approach, and we are pleased to honor them for their commitment to process and exceptional customer service,” said Jeff Coats, President and CEO of Autobytel Inc. “We applaud these dealers for implementing the latest technologies, for continually enhancing their sales processes, and most importantly, for understanding that having happy customers and happy employees are critical ingredients for success.”
The team at Chicago-area dealership Taylor Chrysler Dodge Jeep services customers in their market area, as well as consumers from Wisconsin, Indiana, Arkansas, Texas – even as far away as Germany and England. Internet Director Ben Seyden says roughly 40% of the dealership’s total sales come from Internet leads. Its commitment to process, including finding the right people, properly training them, and keeping them happy, has helped increase the store’s average sales per month. The dealership also utilizes Autobytel’s TextShield platform to communicate with customers in the manner they prefer, reaching incremental car buyers they wouldn’t have reached without a texting platform.
Stillwell Ford in Hillsdale, Michigan happily sells cars to customers who live five minutes away from the dealership, or 500 miles away. Rob Grossheim, Internet Sales Manager, credits much of the store’s success to an outstanding staff and explains that responding to customers quickly and offering the exact information they are looking for in a clear and concise manner is fundamentally important. Stillwell Ford also uses TextShield, and Grossheim says the response from customers who opt in to communicate via text is very positive. Overall, Stillwell Ford’s process, its commitment to consistent and timely communication, and a willingness to step outside its comfort zone to evolve with customers’ needs are key factors of the store’s success.
The Ed Morse Automotive Group in Florida is a family-owned and operated dealer group established in 1946. Director of E-Commerce, Peter Deiser is an auto industry veteran. His very first Internet prospect and sale was an Autobytel lead in the spring of 1998 when he first started in the business. For Deiser and his team, technology, measurement, and adaptation are imperative factors for success, but having happy customers and employees is truly the foundation that makes it all gel. As a member of Autobytel's Dealer Advisory Board, Peter says that one great perk is being among the first to pilot Autobytel’s emerging technologies and latest products.
Winning dealers are selected each month based on key digital automotive best practices after Autobytel's sales and dealer operations teams evaluate prospective candidates from a competitive field of thousands of automotive retailers in the Autobytel network.
In March 2016, Autobytel will announce the Autobytel 2015 Dealer of the Year Award at the NADA Convention & Expo in Las Vegas, with the dealer champion chosen from the group of 2015 monthly winners.
To learn more about the Autobytel Dealers of the Month, visit the Dealer Corner at http://dealer.autobytel.com/dealer-corner/ . Visit http://dealer.autobytel.com/auto-dealer-lead-products/ and http://mobile.autobytel.com to learn about the company's leading automotive sales and marketing products and services.
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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 .
CONTACT: Autobytel Inc. Media Relations Splash Media Jennifer Lange 9499164820 jlange@getsplashmedia.com or Autobytel Inc. Investor Relations Kimberly Boren SVP, Chief Financial Officer 949-862-1396 kimb@autobytel.com or Cody Slach or Sean Mansouri Liolios Group, Inc. 9495743860 abtl@liolios.com
