West Chester, PA – July 14, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. has announced that the automotive technology provider’s popular Inventory Online (IOL) Vehicle Marketing Suite can now distribute actual photos of Honda Certified Used Cars to Honda.com. This real-time integration provides a seamless process in which Honda dealers can effectively manage their Certified Pre-Owned online marketing from a single, centralized location.
"Honda has equipped their dealers with a powerful marketing advantage by providing free access to their OEM website and HomeNet is pleased to help support this effort," commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. "Now is the perfect time for Honda dealers to take advantage of HomeNet’s enhanced distribution service as our team has noticed a sharp increase in logins and vehicle edits from IOL users since January 2008. These trends indicate that pre-owned vehicles and specifically CPO have become the 'new' new cars for many consumers that may be struggling in a more challenging economic climate. As CPO sales continue to gain a larger piece of a dealer's overall gross revenue, it is increasingly vital that dealers consistently market these vehicles to as many websites as possible with the most accurate, robust, and up-to-date details/photos available.”
Honda dealers presently utilizing IOL Pro that wish to send their vehicles to OEM sites at no extra charge should contact IOL support at support@homenetinc.com. Honda dealers interested in learning more about IOL Pro should contact the HomeNet Sales Team at salesteam@homenetinc.com for more information.
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July 14th, 2008
West Chester, PA – July 8, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. has announced the results of an internal study which illustrates that dealers marketing their vehicles online with a dozen or more actual photos, in conjunction with customized vehicle descriptions and accurate pricing, are moving pre-owned inventory an average of 32% faster than those who don’t. This study was based on detailed analysis of more than 2.5 million vehicles marketed each day via HomeNet's Inventory Online (IOL) Marketing Suite.
“If more owners and GMs were aware that their pre-owned inventory could be moved nearly a third faster without costing them a dime, you would see Internet Managers turn into amateur photographers and writers overnight,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. “Snapping a few extra photos and writing emotional vehicle descriptions with accurate pricing are such simple, yet effective, ways to improve your online marketing ROI. Consumers aren’t asking for much, they just want information. It simply doesn’t make sense to invest significant resources into online marketing yet fail to make your listings as attractive as possible to the people you are trying to reach. We anticipate this gap widening in the years ahead, as dealers who continue to put forth the minimum effort with sub-standard listings will likely get even more accustomed to seeing the same vehicles on their lot each and every day.”
The study showed that during the month of June, the average ‘days in stock’ for pre-owned units was more than 32% higher for dealers who failed to include 12 photos, custom descriptions, and pricing information for their online listings. The analysis factored in data from dealerships in all 50 states and included every major OEM brand.
“Posting effective vehicle advertisements on the web is no longer a choice, it is an absolute necessity,” stated Tony Rimas, Director of Operations for The Red McCombs Automotive Group. “With all the tools readily available to make the online marketing process easier, dealers that fail to equip each listing with multiple photos and emotional vehicle descriptions are really putting their dealership at a disadvantage. Our online marketing philosophy is to do everything we can to duplicate the same emotional buying experience that buyers receive when they visit the lot, across all of our online marketing channels.”
Presently serving nearly 13,000 dealership locations throughout the United States and Canada with a powerful suite of inventory management and marketing tools, HomeNet is well-equipped to provide expert analysis to the automotive industry. The company plans to continue mining its vast proprietary database of vehicle inventory in an effort to uncover useful facts and interesting trends. Organizations seeking to obtain customized research data are welcome to contact HomeNet for more information. (more…)
July 8th, 2008
West Chester, PA – June 30, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. has taken another step forward towards standardizing the vehicle inventory data process by announcing a significant upgrade to its proprietary VIN Enhancement system. Featuring a more robust color decoding and match to DMS data, the upgrade improves the overall data population ratio which provides more precise vehicle information to HomeNet's powerful inventory management tool. The improved system will ensure that dealers advertise only the most accurate and consistent vehicle data available across all of their online marketing channels, resulting in more qualified leads from their online listings.
"HomeNet has been blessed with tremendous customer loyalty because we routinely make the extra effort to truly understand the day to day business concerns of our dealers," commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. "Our team works tirelessly to enhance our systems regularly, in an effort to ensure that the benefits they provide continue to exceed the expectations of the dealers we serve."
The automotive technology provider's popular Inventory Online (IOL) Marketing Suite presently serves 13,000 dealership locations throughout the United States and Canada, processing more than 2.5 million vehicles each day. The upgraded VIN Enhancement system will be launched immediately, providing a seamless transition for IOL end users.
June 30th, 2008
West Chester, PA – May 14, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. was named a Finalist today in the “Best Overall Company” category in the 2008 American Business Awards. Hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars” (New York Post , April 27, 2005), The American Business Awards are the only national, all-encompassing awards program honoring great performances in business.
Stevie Award winners will be announced during the annual gala on Thursday, June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. More than 600 executives from across the U.S.A. are expected to attend. The ceremonies will be broadcast on radio nationwide by the Business TalkRadio Network and hosted by Liz Claman of FOX Business Network.
“It’s a great privilege to be named a Finalist for the American Business Awards,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. “Rapid growth really put our dedicated team to the test last year, but I am proud to say that each team member rose to the occasion to help make it our best year on record. Although we take pride in our accomplishments, we are even more excited about what’s to come as we continue to grow in 2008 and beyond.”
More than 2,600 entries from companies of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in more than 40 categories, including Best Overall Company, Best Executive, Best New Product or Service, Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program, and new categories including Best Management Team and Best Corporate Environmental Responsibility Program.
Members of the Awards' Board of Distinguished Judges & Advisors and their staffs will select Stevie Award winners from among Finalists in final judging during the week of May 19. Finalists were chosen by business professionals nationwide during preliminary judging in April through early May.
“ABA entries grew more than 30% this year, so being named a Finalist is more of an accomplishment than ever before,” said Michael Gallagher, founder and president of The Stevie Awards. “It means that independent business executives have agreed that the nominee is worthy of national recognition. We congratulate all of the Finalists on their achievement and wish them well in the competition.”
About The Stevie Awards
Hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars,” Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, The Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.
About HomeNet, Inc.
HomeNet, Inc. is a privately owned automotive technology provider. Founded in 1996, HomeNet's core focus is providing innovative technology solutions to help automotive dealers increase online sales. HomeNet offers its products to a variety of customers including dealers, OEMs, website providers, CRM providers, digital lot management firms, finance/leasing agents, auction agents, and more. The company is based on Christian principles and is headquartered in West Chester, PA, with satellite offices in AZ, FL, GA, IA, IL, TX, and UT. For more information, please visit www.homenetinc.com.
May 14th, 2008
WEST CHESTER, PA – April 21, 2008 – HomeNet’s Director of Sales, Tim James, will be a featured speaker at the 2008 Synergy Sessions in New Orleans, LA, May 13-14. The host companies Dealer Synergy, AutoSuccess Magazine, and The Dubis Group have teamed up to bring the Automotive Retail Industry one of the best "no-nonsense" training events of 2008. James' presentation will be focused on helping automotive dealers to attract more ‘Internet Shoppers’ and effectively turn them into ‘On-the-Lot Buyers’.
“It is a privilege to speak at the upcoming Synergy Sessions and I am truly excited to help dealers better understand the online marketing initiatives employed by the top e-Dealers in the country,” commented James. “Besides learning successful strategies that drive unique and return visitors to their website, dealers will learn how to duplicate their traditional marketing principles and apply those same time-tested techniques to their Internet marketing. The combination of emotional advertisements, effective call-to-action techniques, and robust inventory information will not only drive more traffic to your website, but will also drive more traffic to your lot.”
Th Synergy Sessions are targeted to more experienced dealership personnel including Internet sales professionals and fixed operations managers. Attendees will already know the basics, so speakers will be covering the specifics required to maintain and grow an already engaged department that can't seem to get to the next level. Speakers will address the quickly changing landscape of the automotive industry, using cutting edge technology to build relationships, drive more qualified traffic to your website, how to hire winners and more importantly how to keep them.
The conference will be held at the W Hotel - 333 Poydras Street; New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. For more information on the event, please visit www.synergysessions.com.
April 21st, 2008
West Chester, PA - April 8, 2008 -HomeNet, Inc. has announced the release of IOL goText, a mobile marketing solution that extends HomeNet's Inventory Online (IOL) Marketing Suite to web-enabled mobile phones. The new feature, which is powered by Gumiyo's mobile web technology, can literally place an automotive dealer's entire online inventory directly into the hands of prospective buyers.
"In today’s world, consumers don’t just want on-demand information – they expect it," commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. "IOL goText makes it easy for dealers to empower prospective buyers by equipping them with real-time access to robust inventory information anytime, anywhere. IOL goText is a terrific addition to the IOL suite and we expect that this powerful marketing tool will give dealers a competitive edge in their respective markets."
HomeNet’s popular Inventory Online (IOL) Marketing Suite currently serves more than 12,000 automotive dealership locations throughout the United States and Canada, processing over 2.5 million vehicles each day. The IOL goText feature is fully integrated into the webIOL system, where it automatically formats, optimizes, and syncs a dealer’s on-lot inventory for the mobile web. Once optimized, IOL goText instantly distributes vehicle inventory with one click, providing easy-to-use tools to connect buyers with the dealership using simple SMS text messages.
Similar to text message voting popularized by American Idol, consumers can access the dealer’s inventory via their mobile phone by keying a short Go Code(TM) (a simple keyword unique for each dealership) into the body of a text message and then sending it to 48696. The codes are marketed through the dealer’s TV, print, radio and billboard campaigns, making traditional automotive advertising "clickable", trackable and measurable.
The reply message that comes back to the user includes information on the dealership and a mobile Web link to a media rich version of the dealer’s showroom. Every vehicle listing viewed by the user on the mobile Web has a way for the buyer to send a text message to the dealership, initiate an email or live phone call, or notify the dealer that they would like to be contacted by phone or email.
Go Codes can also be extended with the last eight digits of the vehicle identification number (VIN) or the dealer’s stock numbers to take a mobile consumer directly to a specific vehicle.
To learn more about IOL goText, dealers should contact the HomeNet Sales team at 877-738-3313.
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April 8th, 2008
WEST CHESTER, PA – April 2, 2008 - HomeNet, Inc. is proud to announce that it has been named a recipient of the "Gold Award" in the Online Auction Listing Services category of Auto Dealer Monthly's "2008 Dealers' Choice Awards". The annual awards recognize the most highly regarded vendors, suppliers, and finance companies serving the automotive industry. Companies are nominated in a variety of categories by the end users of their respective products/services - automotive dealers.
"We are truly humbled to be recognized by the same people we work so diligently to serve each day - the dealers," commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. "This award affirms our commitment to an unwavering customer-first philosophy in which we strive to earn our reputation one vehicle at a time. Our team looks forward to continue providing best-in-class inventory solutions, accompanied by the unparalleled customer experience that our dealers have come to expect from HomeNet."
This is the fourth year that Auto Dealer Monthly has recognized the companies that have consistently exceeded the expectations of their dealership customers. The nominating process is a method in which dealers and dealership personnel can collectively voice their opinion of the products/services, customer support, and the overall value that nominated companies provide to their dealership. CLICK HERE to view the complete 2008 list.
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April 2nd, 2008
WEST CHESTER, PA – March 18, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. has announced plans to bolster its Dealer Sales Team, in an effort to satisfy the rapidly-growing demand from automotive dealers throughout the United States and Canada. The automotive technology provider cites the overwhelming response to the recently enhanced Inventory Online (IOL) marketing suite as the catalyst behind the success-driven expansion.
“Our Dealer Sales Team has done an exceptional job of promoting the HomeNet brand and building relationships throughout the dealer community,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. “The dealer side of our business has increased substantially and we expect this growth to continue as we further equip the IOL suite with even more lead-generating features. The updated product enhancements, including IOL VideoLink and IOL goText, are squarely focused on one thing - delivering more quality leads. By embracing current marketing trends such as online video and mobile marketing, dealers will ultimately gain a tremendous competitive edge in their respective markets. We are absolutely thrilled every time we hear another success story and look forward to helping more dealers to harness the enormous capabilities of effective online marketing.”
HomeNet plans to jumpstart the staffing surge by doubling its sales force, effective immediately. The company will then continue to hire new reps on a regular basis to support the anticipated sales growth in the months ahead. Expectations are set for the sales team to triple its capacity within 12 months, as HomeNet continues to capture more market share as a leading full-service provider of Internet Marketing solutions.
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March 18th, 2008
WEST CHESTER, PA – March 10, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. announced today that it has partnered with CarTango, Inc., in an effort to provide a unique opportunity for its automotive dealership client base to connect with female customers. Dealers will now be able to seamlessly upload their vehicle inventory to Cartango’s website via HomeNet’s Inventory Online (IOL) marketing suite.
"CarTango.com is designed to provide a better experience for the primary purchasers of automobiles in the United States - women," says CarTango, Inc. Founder and CEO Daniel Osborne. "Women directly purchase over 50% and influence the purchase of over 80% of all vehicles sold. Unlike any other site on the internet, the functionality and exclusive features of CarTango.com were specifically designed to address the wants and needs of this powerful female demographic. CarTango ultimately makes it easier for women to locate and purchase their ideal new or used car, at the best price because it eliminates the frustrating aspects of the car-buying process that typically inhibit female consumers."
For a limited time, HomeNet’s IOL Pro customers will be eligible to receive a FREE 60-Day CarTango test drive. In addition, dealers will lock in a savings of nearly 30% off the monthly membership fee for their first year of service when they continue after the trial period. As an added bonus, CarTango will do a press release/event for dealerships who are the first in their respective area to register. For more information regarding this special promotion, dealers should contact HomeNet’s Sales Department at 877-738-3313.
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March 10th, 2008
WEST CHESTER, PA – March 6, 2008 – HomeNet’s Director of Sales, Tim James, will be a featured speaker at the 4th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition in Orlando, FL, April 21-23. James’ presentation, which was highlighted in today’s Digital Dealer E-newsletter, will be focused on helping automotive dealers to attract more ‘Internet Shoppers’ and effectively turn them into ‘On-the-Lot Buyers’. This will be James’ third appearance as a speaker for the conference.
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to speak once again and I am truly excited to help dealers better understand the online marketing initiatives employed by the top E-dealers in the country,” commented James. “Besides learning successful strategies that drive unique and return visitors to their website, dealers will learn how to duplicate their traditional marketing principles and apply those same time-tested techniques to their Internet marketing. The combination of emotional advertisements, effective call-to-action techniques, and robust inventory information will not only drive more traffic to your website, but will also drive more traffic to your lot.”
The conference will be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Conference Center in Orlando, FL. The conference in Las Vegas last October drew over 540 attendees and featured 45 exhibitors. There were over 300 registered dealers, GMs, Internet Sales Managers, e-Commerce Directors and BDC/CRM Managers. For more information on the event, please visit www.digitaldealerconference.com.
March 6th, 2008
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