10 SEO Tips To Ensure Online Shoppers Find You In 2010

   Reprinted from 12/09 AutoSuccess Magazine, p 28

By Tim James
Director of Sales
HomeNet Automotive, Inc.

Everyone wants to come up at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs), but the truth is, in this industry there are millions of pages sharing similar content and most of your keywords.  The search engine optimization (SEO) tricks of the yesteryear no longer work well, and many will get you penalized, some so badly you’d be better off with a new domain name and website.

For instance, it used to be popular to add blocks of keywords at the bottom of pages in the same color as the page’s background, making those words invisible to visitors but indexed by search engines.  Such practices littered search results with worthless and unrelated pages, and the public abandoned those search engines (remember Alta Vista?).  In order to make money, search engines depend on ad revenue, which depends on quality search results, so search engines are always honing their ranking algorithms and methodology.

Here are some SEO recommendations that you can employ now to pull more traffic to your site, rank higher in SERPs, and increase conversions (visitors taking some action indicating interest in your site, like clicking on a link to go further into your site, watching a video, or contacting you):

    Know the goal for each page of your site, and create its page title, URL, keywords, alt tags, etc. accordingly.  Is your aim for vehicle display pages to direct traffic to your showroom?  Then your site should include a landing page for every car in your inventory, and the configuration of those pages should be individually search engine optimized to appeal to the person who is searching for that vehicle.  Alternatively, there may be sections of your site where your goal is to build community, your brand, and customer loyalty.  Not everyone who visits your site is a solid prospect at that moment, but that is no reason to ignore them.  Woo future buyers by presenting them with compelling content, an engaging community, and keywords specific to what they may be searching for.

   Content is king, queen, and pied piper.  No matter what other SEO tricks you use, the fact remains that high quality, relevant content is still your number one tool to not only interest your visitors but ensure that search engines deem you—and your web pages—credible.  According to Edmunds.com, 85% of all prospective buyers search online first before buying a car.  Think of it as having one chance for you to establish credibility and trust, as well as to get them to happily follow you into the showroom. 

   Place the most important content “above the fold,” which means readily visible in the standard browser window without scrolling down.  Search engines consider this your most essential information, and it earns higher ranking stature than content residing “below the scroll line.”  Not to mention, what greets people once your page loads had better be your most relevant information!  Rather than have long pages that incorporate disparate information, you’re better off with shorter, highly focused pages.

   How-to articles and blog posts are good content for SEO as well as informative and entertaining for your prospective customers.  Imagine how both will love your glossary page entitled, “Automobile Service Terminology for the Automotive-Challenged“ or a blog post called, “66 Winterizing Tips for Every Rochester Car Owner,” or a weekly Q&A from your service manager.  From within your blog posts, link to deeper pages on your site, as cross-linking adds SEO reliability to your deeper pages, especially if those links are followed.   While you’re at it, be sure to include service coupons, pictures, and videos on those blog pages.

   A picture is worth 1,000 words—and many clicks, particularly when you use page-relevant alt tags on all your photos. In addition, the more photos you have, the more consumers will perceive your operation as transparent and, therefore, trustworthy.  On vehicle landing pages, I recommend no less than 24 pictures of any one car, and even then, I would go for 30 or more, particularly for pre-owned vehicles.  What shoppers can see with their own eyes, they feel more secure—and passionate—about.  Along those lines, be forthright and include photographs of anything out of the ordinary on the vehicle to avoid accusations of non-disclosure (if there is any body damage, even a scratch, post a close-up of it). 

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Add comment December 9th, 2009

It's Not Rocket Science: Creating Internet Ads That Spark Emotion

   Cover Story Reprinted from Auto Success 10/09

By Tim James
Director of Sales
HomeNet, Inc.

Over the last couple of years, we have seen individuals — both those new to the auto industry and industry veterans alike — defy the conventional wisdom that “the best you can do is survive in this economy” and skyrocket their dealerships into top performers. So we’ve sat down with a few of these superstars and searched out some of the fundamentals that seemed to be common to each.

Start With the End in Mind
There are a lot of places and ways to list your cars online these days. There are so many cool gadgets out there to plug into your Web site for this, that or the other. The fact is that it is easy to lose track of what we are really trying to accomplish. The Internet, like television or radio, is simply another means of communication. People connect to the Internet looking for information or entertainment, just like they do when they turn on the TV or radio. This has created new media sources that provide consumers with the information or entertainment that they desire (some being more popular than others), and thus create the opportunity for you to advertise your inventory.

So where does that leave you? The same place you’ve always been. Your goal is to create ads for your inventory that get people to your lot. The great thing about it is that your own Web site and inventory display pages, if used properly, are also “media sources,” and can now be included in the “channel guide” (a.k.a. search engines) to drive even more people directly to them.

We know that the more information and emotion we have in our ads, the more likely it is they will rank high on the search engines, and the more likely it is that they will satisfy the consumer’s search for information. If this is the case, they will generate more emotional response from the consumer, and this will make your Web site a trusted source of information. The consumer will more likely come back to your Web site later in the buying cycle.

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Add comment November 30th, 2009

HomeNet, Inc. and GetAutoAppraise.com Announce Strategic Partnership

October 13, 2009 (West Chester, PA) - HomeNet, Inc., the leading online inventory solutions provider for auto dealerships, and GetAutoAppraise.com today announced a partnership that allows consumers who are shopping online for a new car to get an instant appraisal on the trade-in value of their old vehicle. Valuations are based on dealer-determined ranges attached to vehicle data from NADAguides, the oldest trade valuation tool in the industry. HomeNet is integrating the GetAutoAppraise features with its Web IOL software, which facilitates the listing of inventory online for over 15,000 automobile dealerships nationwide.

Consumers may also upload unlimited photos and videos of their trade-in, which guarantees a stronger conversation between the dealership and the buyer, according to Barry Brodsky of GetAutoAppraise.com. "The quality of these leads is excellent because shoppers who go through the trade-in valuation exercise are ready to buy. In fact, if a shopper on your site is sending you pictures of their trade-in, what they’re really saying is, ‘You have a car on your lot that I want. Here’s my old car. How do we make this happen?’"

With the GetAutoAppraise functionality, available for a monthly fee to dealers using HomeNet’s Inventory Online (IOL) Internet Marketing Suite of solutions, dealers may also add their own, custom rebates, coupons, and other incentives, so as shoppers complete the valuation process, they are presented with compelling reasons to visit that dealer now.In addition, when buyers indicate what type of vehicle they’re interested in, they are presented with actual inventory options from the dealer to peruse, and they may then make an appointment with a salesperson to visit the showroom.

"We believe dealers who add this feature to their Web IOL subscription will close more deals more quickly because customers trust dealers who provide this level of transparency," says Neal Gann, Director of Development at HomeNet, Inc. "And we’re excited that GetAutoAppraise uses the highly regarded NADAguides as their valuation tool."

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Add comment October 14th, 2009

HomeNet Adds “Live Video” And Other New Features To Its Video Online Marketing Suite

West Chester, PA, October 1, 2009 – HomeNet’s Video Online (VOL) Marketing Suite is a video-based Internet marketing system that allows automotive dealerships to create dynamic video commercials for every vehicle in their inventory.  By utilizing HomeNet’s Inventory Online (IOL) Internet Marketing Suite, Video Online offers features like API- driven automated video creation and live video upload which allow dealers to take actual videos of their inventory and quickly upload them to their webIOL data files, allowing virtually real-time display on HomeNet IOL Hosting platform which many dealers use as their “online display” of their inventory.

“More and more every day, dealers are understanding that it is the “content” of their videos (vs. just having a video)  that gets the consumer emotionally involved and increases their conversion rates,” says Tim James, Director of Sales at HomeNet.  James adds, “Just as a dealer’s other online ads have to emotionally highlight the unique and different features of each car to create value, build trust, and inspire mental ownership, the same is true for video.  The real power of video is that it allows the dealer to truly sell a car online.  With this in mind, we’ve added features to our Video Online Marketing Suite that make it easier for a dealer to create the maximum amount of emotion with the minimum amount of effort.”  Some of the recent features added to HomeNet’s Video Online Marketing Suite are:

•    Live Video:  dealers may shoot actual videos of a vehicle and quickly add that video to their webIOL vehicle data to be distributed across the web
•    Video Ad Hosting:  dealers are able to upload “non-vehicle-specific” video ads into webIOL that may then be distributed with their vehicle data or as standalone video ads across the webSatellite Videos:
◦    Code Generation:  HTML code is generated for each video allowing the dealer to easily embed it on websites across the web
◦    Viral Marketing:  built-in video player functionality allows each consumer viewing a video to see “similar videos” of other vehicles a dealer has in inventory as well as save, bookmark, embed, or email each video
◦    Video Slideshows:  dealers easily create various sizes of dynamic “banner ads” that can easily be placed on the dealer’s website or 3rd party websites
◦    Video Player Banner Ads:  dealers are able to create vehicle-specific banners to enhance the emotion and call-to-action of each video
◦    Multiple Voice Options:
▪    High Quality Text-To-Speech (TTS) driven from a dealer’s webIOL vehicle description
▪    Custom Voiceover allows a dealer to quickly and inexpensively create a professional voiceovers for each vehicle
▪    Human Voice Data-Driven Scripts utilize webIOL vehicle data to generate a voiceover
▪    TTS Data Driven Scripts utilize webIOL vehicle data to generate a high quality TTS vehicle voiceover
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Add comment October 1st, 2009

HomeNet Earns Spot on Inc. 5000 List for Third Consecutive Year

West Chester, PA – August 12, 2009 – The rapid growth trend continues for HomeNet, Inc., as the automotive technology provider has been named to Inc. Magazine's annual list of the 5000 fastest growing companies in America for the third consecutive year.  With an average 366.5% growth over the past three years, HomeNet moved up 349 places to #798 on the 2009 list.  HomeNet also ranked #53 when compared to other software providers on the list.

"We are very excited to be included on the Inc. 5000 list for the third year in a row," commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “HomeNet's consistent growth year after year is indicative of the hard work that our team puts forth each day in support of our customers.  It's been a lot of fun to see the ranking improve each year. We are now in the triple digits and hope to finally crack the 500 next year!"
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Add comment August 12th, 2009

HomeNet Continues Rapid Growth by Helping Dealers Avert Industry Woes

West Chester, PA – July 13, 2009 – HomeNet, Inc. is pleased to announce that its rapid growth and success has continued, despite the economic challenges that have plagued the automotive industry, as well as the global economy as a whole.  The Pennsylvania-based automotive technology provider has reinvested substantially into its popular Inventory Online (IOL) Vehicle Marketing Suite, injecting an array of enhancements and powerful new features aimed at helping more than 17,500 dealership locations throughout the United States and Canada to be more competitive in the face of the economic headwinds.

“It’s unfortunate to see how the economic turmoil and uncertainty within our own industry has affected the livelihoods of so many hard-working people, many of which have become our loyal customers and friends,” stated HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “We view the current climate as an opportunity to raise the bar and challenge our team to make substantive improvements to our products with one goal in mind – helping our customers to sell more cars online.  We’ve nearly doubled our staff in the past year and have been fortunate enough to hire some exceptional talent with valuable industry experience.  Our team is absolutely dedicated to doing our part to help dealers to survive and ultimately thrive in these difficult times.”
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Add comment July 13th, 2009

Biter Advises Dealers on Using Social Media Tools to Increase ROI

HomeNet, Inc. CEO Jesse Biter was a featured guest speaker at the recent 6th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas.  Biter's presentation, "Getting Social
 in
 an Economic Downturn," focused on teaching attendees how to turn social media initiatives into a legitimate profit center for their dealership.

"As automotive dealers look for ways to save money amid the economic downturn, social media presents a powerful yet cost-effective tool that should be a part of a diverse overall Internet Marketing strategy," commented Biter.  "When you strip away the geeky technology and the hip Web 2.0 jargon, social media is simply the digital equivalent of the oldest form of advertising - word of mouth.  Sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. have millions of users from virtually every demographic representing enormous viral marketing potential and dealers can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines."

Biter cited statistics that indicate that the vast majority of social media users are fatigued by traditional media advertising and turn to social media outlets in search of unfiltered/unbiased sources of real-time information.  The presentation advised dealers to take a more community-centric approach and learn to “participate” in the conversation on social media websites, rather than alienating users with an unsolicited sales pitch.  By taking the time to participate in the conversation and share useful information with community members, dealers can create opportunities to sell cars – without actually trying to sell cars.  The presentation also highlighted the importance of utilizing social media for customer retention, brand awareness, SEO, and reputation management.

"There are endless opportunities for consumers to vent their frustrations online," stated Biter.  "The last thing your dealership needs is for some random negative comment to appear in the top 10 search results page under your name on Google or Yahoo.  Establishing a positive online presence via your dealership blog and a variety of social sites will generate an abundance of content rich pages that can be heavily weighted by search engines.  This can help you to avoid allowing a single bad customer experience to morph into an online reputation killer that can spiral out of control."

For more information regarding this conference or upcoming events please visit:
www.homenetinc.com

Add comment May 25th, 2009

HomeNet Provides Interactive, On-Demand Payment Advertising Service for Dealers

West Chester, PA – April 20, 2009 – HomeNet, Inc. has announced a new partnership with Automobile Consumer Services, Inc., in an effort to provide an interactive, on-demand payment advertising service to automotive dealers. The new “Drive It Now” service is the latest addition to the automotive technology provider’s popular Inventory Online (IOL) Vehicle Marketing Suite.  More than 15,000 dealership locations throughout the United States and Canada will now have an opportunity to display real, eye-catching low payment offers for their vehicle inventory throughout all of their Internet marketing channels.

“Consumers who see real payment offers on vehicle listings can quickly determine affordability and commit to a purchase,” stated Rusty Platt, Director of “Drive It Now” Dealer Services. “Leads generated from “Drive It Now” are pre-sold and ready to buy.  We are pleased that HomeNet chose “Drive It Now” as a product of their Inventory Online (IOL) Vehicle Marketing Suite to help dealers generate more quality leads from their websites and online classifieds.”

Dealers can display the “Drive It Now” payment offers on their website(s), online auctions, or online classified listings.  When a potential buyer clicks on the “Drive It Now” button, they can instantly customize, select, and secure finance offers.  Dealers then receive real-time detailed lead information from customers who are ready to buy.  Lease funding sources are also made available to the dealers, enabling them to earn additional back-end reserve profits.

“HomeNet is excited to be working with “Drive It Now” and to offer their next generation lead generation system to our customers,” stated Tim James, HomeNet’s Director of Sales.  “As with all marketing, Internet marketing is about creating emotion.  The “Drive It Now” system not only creates emotions that inspire urgency and mental ownership, it engages the consumer to generate real-time leads and buyers for the dealership.  Factor in that the system can help you hold more gross, offer lease and finance options, and generate higher F & I profits too, this is truly a lead generation system of the future.”

For more information regarding the “Drive It Now” tool, dealers should contact the HomeNet Sales Team at salesteam@homenetinc.com or 877-738-3313.
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Add comment April 20th, 2009

HomeNet's Biter and James to Speak at Digital Dealer Conference

WEST CHESTER, PA – March 20, 2009 – Two members of HomeNet's executive team will serve as featured speakers at the upcoming 6th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition at the Mirage, Las Vegas, April 19-21, 2009.  Given the current economic climate, the event is aptly titled "How to Endure, Survive, and Even Thrive in Tumultuous Times."  HomeNet's CEO Jesse Biter will be making his first speaking appearance at the conference while Director of Sales Tim James will be marking his fifth speaking appearance.

“It truly is a privilege to have an opportunity to speak directly to dealers at this important event," commented Biter.  "As the conference title suggests, dealers really are facing tumultuous times right now.  The goal for both Tim and myself is to do more than simply share our unique perspectives and insights on the automotive industry.  We will provide valuable and actionable information that attendees can take home with them and apply to their business, in an effort to maximize the ROI from their Internet Marketing investment."

The last spring conference in Orlando in April drew over 1,000 attendees and featured 60 exhibitors in almost 100 booths spaces. There were over 540 registered dealers, GMs, Internet Sales Managers, e-Commerce Directors and BDC/CRM Managers, and unlike the NADA Convention & Exposition, every one of them was there to learn more about Internet and technology-related issues, both from speakers and from exhibitors.  For more information on the event, please visit www.digitaldealerconference.com.

Add comment March 20th, 2009

Don't Let Fear Drive Your Business

HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter wrote an article that was published in the March edition of AutoSuccess magazine.  The article entitled "Don't Let Fear Drive Your Business" encouraged automotive dealers to remain focused on core long-term business strategies, amid the current economic climate.

"There’s no sugar-coating the very serious challenges that are currently facing the automotive industry, as well as nearly every other sector in the global economy.  The credit crisis has led to abysmal vehicle sales figures and the near-term economic forecast does little to evoke confidence in the possibility of a rapid recovery.  Not to mention, it’s more than a little unsettling to watch CEOs from the Big Three US Automakers trek to Washington, tin cup in hand.  But while the challenges may prove insurmountable for some, opportunities for success and even growth will still be available.  For those dealers that choose to face this adversity head-on and adapt their business accordingly, the reward may ultimately include capturing market share from more fear-stricken competition." 

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

Add comment March 6th, 2009

HomeNet’s New Video Tool Helps Dealers Enhance Emotional Connection with Vehicle Buyers

West Chester, PA – February 23, 2009 – HomeNet, Inc. has announced the release of a new video generation tool which enables automotive dealers to efficiently upload custom video advertisements to the Web.  The new Video Online service is the latest addition to the automotive technology provider’s popular Inventory Online (IOL) Vehicle Marketing Suite.  More than 15,000 dealership locations throughout the United States and Canada can now further enhance their Internet Marketing via single-click video distribution to popular sites such as AutoTrader.com, Cars.com, YouTube, Craigslist, eBay, Facebook, MySpace, Plaxo, and others.

“As the economic crisis continues to further expand the vehicle buying cycle, dealers need to realize that the Internet Marketing status quo just isn’t going to work in this environment,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “Effective online listings will get consumers emotionally-connected with the vehicle, creating the sense of mental-ownership needed to motivate them to make the move from the computer screen to the showroom. Video Online is a convenient, cost-effective tool that makes it easy for dealers to tap into that raw human emotion, delivering an enhanced multimedia experience that can significantly improve the ROI from your online spend.”

Video Online equips dealers with the ability to create stunning video presentations, utilizing vehicle images from their webIOL account.  In addition to the visual component, users can upload a custom voiceover or take advantage of the system’s text-to-speech functionality in order to help further elaborate on the vehicle’s finer details which may otherwise go unnoticed.  Buttons can be generated and placed next to the video, providing users with a direct link to the dealership website or special promotional page.

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Add comment February 23rd, 2009

HomeNet's Tim James Delivers 'Straight Talk' For Dealers

HomeNet's Director of Sales, Tim James, was a featured guest on the popular automotive radio show/podcast - "Straight Talk with Jimmy Vee & Travis Miller."  This interview is a part of a special series created exclusively for auto dealers who want to drive more traffic and find success in the ever changing new economy.

The interview covered a variety of topics that are vital to the success of dealers in this challenging economic climate.  James noted that while 2009 will most likely prove to be a tough year for the industry, it could also be a year of opportunity for dealers who are willing to accept the fact that it's not 'business as usual'.  According to James, successful dealers must streamline their internal processes and view the Internet as 'marketing' as opposed to 'technology'.

Vee and Miller pressed James for three concrete ideas that will help dealers to thrive in the current economy.  James' response:

1. Become the best media source in your market.  You are in the 'media business' now, so it's your job to drive traffic to your website and satisfy the consumers thirst for on-demand information.
2. Get your inventory on the Web right away!  You are losing money ever day your vehicles sit on the lot without being advertised.
3. Embrace the next generation of marketing, specifically 'mobile marketing'.

CLICK HERE to download a FREE copy of this very informative podcast.

Add comment February 13th, 2009

HomeNet Provides Real-Time Access to Carfax Reports

West Chester, PA – Feb. 3, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. has released an upgrade to the automotive technology provider’s popular Inventory Online (IOL) Vehicle Marketing Suite, which further enhances its integration with Carfax. More than 15,000 dealership locations throughout the United States and Canada are now equipped with the ability to provide consumers with real-time access to Carfax Vehicle History Reports, straight from their webIOL account. Convenient template emails which contain links to Carfax reports can be customized and distributed to prospective buyers who request more information about a specific vehicle.

“This convenient tool is designed to make it easier for dealers to provide consumers with the real-time information they have come to expect during the vehicle buying cycle," commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  "The faster dealers can get reliable 3rd-party information like a Carfax Vehicle History Report into the hands of prospective customers, the more likely they will be to visit the lot."

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Add comment February 3rd, 2009

HomeNet Releases New Pricing Analysis Tool for IOL Pro Dealers

West Chester, PA – January 15, 2009 – HomeNet, Inc. has released a new pricing analysis tool, as part of the latest upgrade to the automotive technology provider’s popular Inventory Online (IOL) Vehicle Marketing Suite.  The new feature will equip dealers with the ability to obtain real-time pricing information for their online inventory, based on HomeNet’s extensive database of more than 2.5 million vehicles.  Dealers will be able to take advantage of this upgrade immediately, as part of their IOL Pro subscription.

The system evaluates pricing for a particular vehicle, comparing it to similar vehicles on a local or national basis.  Advanced features permit users to refine the results even further, based on dealer-defined parameters.  An interactive graph displays the system’s final analysis, clearly outlining where the dealer’s price point ranks in comparison to the competition.  Furthermore, the tool provides trend analysis to help dealers better predict future pricing changes.

"This is very useful new feature and we are pleased to make this available to our IOL Pro dealers,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. “In this challenging economic climate, it is imperative for dealers to ensure that their vehicles are both accurately and competitively priced.  We are confident that the pricing analysis feature will become an invaluable tool for our dealers, helping them to better stay in tune with rapidly-changing marketplace trends.”

For more information regarding the pricing analysis tool, dealers should contact the HomeNet Sales Team at salesteam@homenetinc.com or 877-738-3313.
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Add comment January 15th, 2009

Free Best Practices Guide to Effective Vehicle Photography

West Chester, PA – Dec. 8, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. has released a new 'Best Practices Guide to Effective Vehicle Photography'.  The free eBook provides a step-by-step guide of best practice tips and techniques that have been developed and successfully incorporated in the field by experts in digital lot management.  Topics covered include: photo standardization, custom vehicle-specific photos, frame display, vehicle location, avoiding shadows/glares, and much more.

“HomeNet has been serving the online inventory needs of dealers for more than a dozen years and as a result, our paths have crossed with virtually every aspect of the online automotive space,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “While there are many examples of effective vehicle photography on the web, unfortunately, there are still significatly more non-effective examples.  This guide was compiled by experts who not only know their way around a lot, but are also quite knowledgable in both digital photography and Internet Marketing.  This guide presents a great primer for newbies and will provide a valuable reference tool for seasoned Internet Managers and other automotive professionals.”

CLICK HERE to download this free eBook.

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Add comment December 8th, 2008

HomeNet Partners with Experian Automotive, Integrates AutoCheck® with IOL

West Chester, PA – Dec. 1, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. has announced the integration of Experian Automotive’s AutoCheck vehicle history reports with HomeNet’s popular Inventory Online (IOL) Vehicle Marketing Suite.  This agreement between HomeNet and Experian Automotive will bring nearly 15,000 automotive dealers throughout the United States and Canada the ability to utilize a seamless, one-step process to access AutoCheck vehicle history reports straight from their Inventory Online (IOL) accounts.

“We are pleased to partner with Experian Automotive in an effort to better serve our mutual customers,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “Integrating AutoCheck with IOL will equip dealers with another convenient, time-saving feature.  Ultimately, this will help to further streamline the inventory management and marketing process for dealers.”

“In a market that is becoming increasingly digital, a dealer’s online inventory is one of the most vital assets in maintaining a competitive edge during these trying times the industry now faces,” said Scott Waldron, president of Experian Automotive. “Partnering with HomeNet gives dealers the chance to quickly and easily access vehicle histories for their used vehicles in order to make more educated decisions on how to best manage and market their used inventories.”
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Add comment December 1st, 2008

HomeNet Hires Former Autobytel Executive Neal Gann

West Chester, PA – November 17, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of former Autobytel, Inc. executive Neal Gann to its senior management team.  Gann brings to the rapidly-growing automotive technology provider over a dozen years of experience implementing sales and marketing initiatives in the automotive industry. Most recently, Gann served as Vice President of Strategic Relationships for Autobytel, where he worked for more than a decade.

“HomeNet’s hiring philosophy has always been to locate exceptional talent and put them to work at what they do best, in an environment that promotes personal and professional growth,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “Neal has a proven track record of results throughout his career and exemplifies the type of leadership experience we look for in a prospective member of our executive team.  As a well-known and respected leader in the automotive industry, Neal will be an integral part of HomeNet’s growth in the years ahead.”

As Vice-President of Strategic Relations, Gann will lead business development initiatives aimed at increasing HomeNet’s market share with OEMs and other large wholesale accounts.  Gann will also serve as a member of HomeNet’s executive management team, where his industry expertise and leadership experience will help shape the overall direction of the company.

“The automotive space is facing challenging times and it’s more critical than ever for dealers to leverage best-in-class technology, in an effort to gain every competitive advantage possible,” commented Gann.  “As consumers continue to become more sophisticated online, dealers will look to innovative leaders like HomeNet to provide them with the tools they need to connect with buyers and maximize their ROI.  I’m excited to join this great company and look forward to helping our partners to successfully market their vehicles online.”
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Add comment November 17th, 2008

HomeNet's James Speaks at Digital Dealer Conference

WEST CHESTER, PA – October 13, 2008 – HomeNet’s Director of Sales, Tim James, was a featured speaker last week at the 5th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas.  The event marked James’ fourth appearance as a speaker for the conference.

“It was a privilege to have the opportunity to speak once again at this exciting event," commented James.  "HomeNet is privileged to work with many of the top E-Dealers in the country and we take great pride in our participation in forums such as Digital Dealer.  We appreciate the opportunity to speak directly with conference attendees in an effort to share the best practices that have helped these top E-Dealers to achieve consistent success."

The widely-anticipated event featured dozens of exhibitors and drew hundreds of attendees including GMs, Internet Sales Managers, e-Commerce Directors and BDC/CRM Managers. For more information on the event, please visit www.digitaldealerconference.com.

Add comment October 13th, 2008

HomeNet Helps MileOne Boost Lead Acquisition, Increase Online Marketing ROI

West Chester, PA – October 6, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. is pleased to announce that its partnership with one of the nation’s largest automotive dealership groups has yielded remarkable results.  MileOne Automotive, which represents 28 automobile brands in 65 retail locations, has reported a significant uptick in lead acquisition from its website and third-party classifieds.  MileOne attributes this success, in part, to the group’s enterprise-wide implementation of IOL Pro, the flagship application in HomeNet’s popular Inventory Online Vehicle Marketing Suite.

“It is a tremendous challenge to manage the Internet Marketing efforts for 65 locations, but HomeNet helps us to rise to this challenge every day,” commented MileOne Chief Marketing Officer David Metter.  “IOL simplifies what would otherwise be a painstaking process, giving us the flexibility we need to advertise our vehicles the moment they hit the lot.  This frees up our Internet Managers to spend more time with customers and less time with the computer. We continue to receive more qualified leads than ever before and the overall buying experience for our customers has been greatly enhanced.  The increased in ROI speaks for itself and we couldn’t ask for a better partner than HomeNet.”

IOL Pro serves as the centralized vehicle inventory management and marketing system for all of MileOne’s 65 retail locations.  Internet Managers at each rooftop utilize IOL Pro’s intuitive web-based interface to create emotional advertisements for every vehicle on their lot.  The system then distributes the updated listings directly to MileOne’s website and third-party classifieds, ensuring their online marketing is always accurate and up-to-date.

MileOne management also takes advantage of IOL Pro’s powerful reporting tools.  Members of the group’s management team receive daily automated “state-of-the-inventory” reports which enable them to monitor key performance metrics.  This real-time assessment helps management to ensure that dealer-defined standards are consistently met and Internet Marketing best practices are routinely followed.

"MileOne is a perfect example of a dealership group that is absolutely getting it right,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. “We continue to find dealers that still think that effective Internet Marketing means writing monthly checks to their website company, online classified service, and a photographer.  In today’s fast-paced and increasingly competitive marketplace, writing checks is simply not enough.  Top E-Dealers are putting forth greater care than ever before into the actual Internet Marketing process.  MileOne understands that the more effort they put into properly merchandising their inventory with a dozen or more photos per listing, custom vehicle descriptions, and accurate vehicle specifications, the better return they will earn on their Internet Marketing investment.  IOL Pro is the most efficient and robust inventory marketing tool on the market to help dealers to manage this process from the store to the group level.”
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Add comment October 6th, 2008

HomeNet and Carfax Enhance Online Tools for Automotive Dealers

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (October 2, 2008) – HomeNet, Inc. and Carfax today announced an enhanced set of online tools that help subscribing dealers more effectively market their pre-owned inventory.  Carfax Vehicle History Reports have been fully integrated into HomeNet’s popular Inventory Online (IOL) Vehicle Marketing Suite.  More than 13,000 dealership locations throughout the United States and Canada that utilize IOL to market their vehicles on the Web now can view and obtain vehicle history information from Carfax direct from their IOL account to ensure they’re stocking the cars their customers want.  HomeNet automatically links the Carfax Reports dealers have run to their vehicle listings to help build consumer confidence.

“We are pleased to broaden our partnership with Carfax,” said HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “By enhancing our integration with an industry leader like Carfax, IOL will make it even easier for dealers to streamline their inventory management and marketing process.  We look forward to working with Carfax to provide our dealers with the most comprehensive suite of inventory management and marketing tools available.”

Smart shoppers looking for the best value now can search for used cars based on ownership history, narrowing their search results to include only Carfax 1-Owner cars.  HomeNet highlights these premium vehicles in a subscribing dealer’s online inventory so consumers can easily find the cars they want.  In addition, dealers can more effectively market their vehicles on the lot by adding Carfax 1-Owner and other vehicle history highlights from Carfax to window stickers.

“Readily available access to Carfax Vehicle History Reports is a must for dealers today,” said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax.  “From auction to retail, Carfax gives dealers the tools they need to stock the cars smart shoppers demand and build consumer confidence on the lot and online.  Carfax and HomeNet are working together to help our mutual dealer customers sell cars faster and make more money on every used vehicle they take into inventory.”

HomeNet and Carfax will provide demonstrations of the enhanced IOL Vehicle Marketing Suite at Booth #1 during the 5th Digital Dealer Conference and Exposition in Grapevine, Tex., October 6-8.
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Add comment October 2nd, 2008

HomeNet to Serve as Title Sponsor for 5th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition

WEST CHESTER, PA – September 15, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. will proudly serve as a Title Sponsor at the upcoming 5th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition, to be held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas, on October 6-8.

The widely-anticipated event will feature dozens of exhibitors and will draw hundreds of attendees.  The event aims to strike the right balance in providing valuable, information-packed sessions along with quality networking opportunities with exhibitors and peers.  The speaking program will be heavy with practitioners who are having great success in their markets.

“The Digital Dealer Conference just keeps getting better and we look forward to another successful event,” stated HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. "It is a privilege to have the opportunity to meet directly with so many ISMs, GMs, and owners who are all there for one reason - to learn how to sell more cars online.  It's a challenging economic climate for dealers, but we are extremely enthusiastic about the numerous recent enhancements to HomeNet's product line.  Our team is chomping at the bit to show dealers exactly how the IOL suite can help them to get more leads and to maximize the return on their Internet Marketing investment."

Add comment September 15th, 2008

HomeNet’s New Online Community Connects Dealers and Industry Professionals

West Chester, PA – September 2, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. has announced that the automotive technology provider has launched a new online community aimed at connecting automotive dealers and industry professionals.  The new ‘IOL Community’ enables dealers to instantly connect with their peers to ask questions, share internet marketing best practices, and exchange viewpoints on a variety of subjects related to the automotive industry.  Membership is free and currently open to dealers and industry professionals throughout the United States and Canada, including the more than 13,000 dealership locations presently using the popular Inventory Online (IOL) Marketing Suite.  Long-time professionals as well as new-comers are all encouraged to join.

"In a rapidly changing marketplace, dealers need a way to cut through the spin in an effort to obtain accurate information on the multitude of issues that affect their bottom line,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “IOL Community promotes a genuine sense of camaraderie among dealers, many of whom share similar challenges and experiences each day.  By engaging in an open dialogue with their peers, dealers can bypass the typical marketing rhetoric and redirect their due diligence efforts towards examining unique perspectives from actual end users. The authentic nature of this communication medium will encourage dealers to help one another, making an increasingly challenging industry a little easier to navigate.”

To sign up for a free IOL Community account, please visit www.iolcommunity.com or contact HomeNet at 877-738-3313.
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Add comment September 2nd, 2008

HomeNet Earns Spot on Inc. 5000 List for Second Straight Year

West Chester, PA – August 25, 2008 – For the second straight year, HomeNet, Inc. has been named to Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the 5000 fastest growing companies in America.  With an average of 326% growth over the past three years, the automotive technology provider moved up 135 places to #1147 on the 2008 list.

"We are absolutely thrilled to earn a place on the Inc. 5000 list for the second year in a row,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “HomeNet’s remarkable growth is the direct result of two key ingredients – our loyal customers and our dedicated team.  We are committed to continuing to push the envelope further each year to not only grow our own business, but to help our customers to grow theirs as well.”
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Add comment August 25th, 2008

HomeNet to Provide Free Automated Inventory Reports

West Chester, PA – August 20, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. has announced that the automotive technology provider will begin distributing FREE automated inventory reports, designed to make it easier for dealers to evaluate the performance of their Internet Marketing investment.  The daily ‘State of the Inventory’ reports will be sent directly to the inbox/mobile phone of General Managers, Sales Managers, and Internet Managers, in an effort to ensure that online vehicle listings consistently meet dealer-defined standards.  The comprehensive, real-time reports will include:
•    Vehicle Counts per Rooftop
•    Out-Of-Date Alerts
•    Average Days in Stock
•    # of Vehicles Missing Price
•    # of Vehicles Missing Photos
•    # of Vehicles Missing Descriptions

"IOL Automated Reports provides key metrics that successful dealers need to monitor on a daily basis.  With more than 13,000 dealer inventories in our system, we feel it is our duty to make this vital data more accessible and to provide to dealers free of charge,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. “Over 80% of all vehicle sales originate from the Web and it is now more important than ever to provide consumers with accurate and up-to-date inventory information – 24/7.  The reports make it easy for dealer management to stay in the loop and receive an honest assessment of the state of their online inventory.  Ultimately, the goal is to hold the entire dealership team accountable towards making sure that effective Internet Marketing best practices are implemented and consistently followed every day.”
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Add comment August 20th, 2008

HomeNet Inks Distribution Deal for Powerful Lead Conversion Tool

West Chester, PA – August 4, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. has announced a strategic partnership with The Intellimark Group to distribute Intellisweeps, a powerful ‘Incentive-Based Marketing’ tool designed to significantly enhance lead conversion rates for automotive dealership websites.  Under terms of the agreement, HomeNet will market the system as an optional service upgrade to more than 13,000 automotive dealership locations throughout the United States and Canada that currently utilize the popular Inventory Online (IOL) Marketing Suite.

“Marketing is the second biggest operating expense for dealers, so it is absolutely vital that dealers maximize every conversion opportunity they have” stated The Intellimark Group Vice President/General Manager Rudy Martin. “Our core objective with Intellisweeps is to increase online marketing ROI by equipping dealers with a tool that will seamlessly turn their website traffic into qualified leads.  Our system captures precision consumer data, empowering dealers to provide the most relevant follow-up response possible to prospects. We are very pleased to partner with HomeNet and believe the IOL dealer base is an ideal distribution channel for this product.”

Intellisweeps begins the process of lead conversion by placing a simple eye-catching icon on a dealer’s existing website.  Consumers are encouraged to engage with the system by clicking on the icon which features a high value incentive, bonded and fully funded by The Intellimark Group.  Intellisweeps’ proprietary ‘Smart Survey’ technology guides the consumer through a brief multiple-choice questionnaire, each question prompted based on the prior response.  The contact information and survey results are then fed directly into the dealer’s lead management application, to enable immediate dealer follow-up.

“IOL markets more than 2.5 million vehicles each day and we feel that the Intellisweeps system will give our dealers a compelling means in which to move this inventory even faster,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “There is a unique synergy between our systems.  While IOL makes it easy for dealers to create emotional advertisements for their vehicles and maintain consistent advertising across all online marketing channels, Intellisweeps works to improve the end result by extracting very precise and detailed lead information.  Intellisweeps takes a big step towards closing the loop on the online marketing life cycle and will be a nice addition to the IOL suite.”

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Add comment August 4th, 2008

IOL goText Mobile Marketing Tool Updated

West Chester, PA – 7/24/08 — HomeNet, Inc. has announced an important upgrade to IOL goText, the automotive technology provider’s powerful mobile marketing system.  As part of the enhanced IOL goText service, dealers can now market vehicle-specific ‘Go Codes’ in an effort to further maximize the effectiveness of their mobile marketing initiatives.  The unique codes are auto-generated using a portion of the corresponding VIN number and can be seamlessly displayed on custom window stickers printed via the dealer’s IOL account.

“Since HomeNet first launched the IOL goText service earlier this year, we have seen a tremendous response from dealers who are embracing the concept of mobile marketing,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter.  “IOL goText delivers exactly what consumers want – on-demand, real-time information.  We are pleased to incorporate the ability to generate unique Go Codes for each vehicle, which will ultimately make this powerful lead-generating tool an even more vital component of successful automotive marketing.”

Built on Gumiyo’s dynamic Mobile Marketing platform, IOL goText extends HomeNet’s Inventory Online (IOL) Marketing Suite to mobile phones, literally putting a dealership’s inventory and showroom directly into the hands of qualified and interested buyers.  It enables dealers to connect immediately with in-market consumers anytime and anywhere, providing them with on-demand detailed inventory listings, vehicle photos, and Carfax reports.

For more information regarding IOL goText, please contact the HomeNet Sales Team at 877-738-3313 or salesteam@homenetinc.com.

Add comment July 24th, 2008

HomeNet Announces Integration with Honda’s OEM Website

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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Add comment July 14th, 2008

New Study: Decrease Days in Stock for Pre-Owned Units by Nearly One-Third

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…)

Add comment July 8th, 2008

IOL Dealers to Benefit from Upgraded VIN System

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.

Add comment June 30th, 2008

HomeNet Named as Finalist in 2008 American Business Awards

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.

Add comment May 14th, 2008

HomeNet’s Tim James to Speak at 2008 Synergy Sessions

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.

Add comment April 21st, 2008

IOL goText Provides Dealers with Powerful Mobile Marketing Solution

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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Add comment April 8th, 2008

HomeNet Receives Dealer's Choice Award

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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Add comment April 2nd, 2008

HomeNet Set to Double its Dealer Sales Team

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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Add comment March 18th, 2008

HomeNet Partners with CarTango to Help Dealers Connect with Female Customers

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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Add comment March 10th, 2008

HomeNet’s Tim James to Speak at 4th Digital Dealer Conference

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.

Add comment March 6th, 2008

HomeNet to Provide Extended Weekend Customer Support Hours

WEST CHESTER, PA – March 3, 2008 – In an effort to better serve its rapidly growing client base, HomeNet, Inc. announced today that it has extended its weekend customer support hours. Effective immediately, HomeNet’s Client Services department will be available to serve the needs of customers every Saturday from 9AM – 3PM EST.

“We have been blessed with tremendous growth over the past several years and a big part of our success has been our unyielding customer-first mentality,” stated HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. “Our dedicated Client Services team truly is the backbone of our organization and they work incredibly hard to exceed the expectations of over 11,000 dealership locations nationwide. We are pleased to offer the extended support hours and will continue to reinvest significant company resources back into both our products and most importantly, our customers.”

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Add comment March 3rd, 2008

Auto Success Magazine Interviews Tim James for Sales Training Podcast

Auto Success Magazine recently interviewed HomeNet's Sales Director, Tim James, for a podcast to be featured on their website - www.autosuccesspodcast.com. The site provides free podcast interviews with a variety of sales professionals and automotive industry leaders. James spoke with Selling Success Magazines Publisher, Patrick Luck, regarding the disconnect between Traditional Marketing and Internet Marketing. He also provided his perspective on the trends dealerships need to be aware of to achieve future growth and success.

To download the complete podcast, please click here.

Add comment February 11th, 2008

HomeNet to Showcase IOL Enhancements & Private Label Wine at 2008 NADA Convention

WEST CHESTER, PA – February 7, 2008 – HomeNet, Inc. is set to exhibit at the 91^st NADA Convention and Expo, February 9-12 in San Francisco, CA. Located at Booth # 3601W, the rapidly-growing automotive technology provider will unveil several new upgrades to its popular Inventory Online (IOL) marketing suite. As a special gift to dealers, HomeNet will be giving away free bottles of its private-label Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 to those who participate in a full IOL product demonstration.

“This will be the sixth consecutive year we have exhibited at NADA and we are more excited than ever to be a part of this tremendous event,” stated HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. “As an organization, we really feel that we are bringing some significant momentum with us to San Francisco this year. IOL recently surpassed another major milestone and now markets 2.5 million vehicles at over 11,000 dealer locations nationwide. We have some very powerful new features that will further cement IOL’s position as the most comprehensive vehicle inventory management and marketing solution in the industry.”

HomeNet’s team of Internet Marketing experts will be on hand to showcase new IOL product enhancements including: ‘CARTXT’, an application that instantly sends vehicle information to mobile phones; ‘Lease It Now’, an integrated system that provides on demand lease payment information; ‘VideoLink’, a multimedia video marketing system; ‘IOL Auction Manager’, an integrated eBay management and Craigslist distribution tool; and ‘IOL Price Analysis System’, a new service which helps dealers to better price their inventory. In addition, convention attendees will also get to preview the new and improved ‘Pocket IOL’, a handheld vehicle marketing device that enables dealers to take their own photos with ease.

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Add comment February 7th, 2008

HomeNet and TK Carsites to Provide Enhanced, Integrated Internet Marketing Solutions to Dealers

WEST CHESTER, PA – February 5, 2008 – Automotive technology provider HomeNet, Inc. announced today that it has bolstered its partnership with automotive website provider TK Carsites, Inc. Under terms of the agreement, dealership customers will now manage enhanced website and inventory marketing solutions via an integrated single sign-on platform.

“Partnerships are very important to TK because we have always focused on what we do best – websites and SEO,” commented Richard Valenta, TK Carsites President & CEO. “We try to not do everything ourselves which is why we seek to align ourselves with industry leaders such as HomeNet. Dealers know that HomeNet has the top inventory solution and we want our customers to have the very best.”

TK customers have been utilizing HomeNet’s Inventory Online (IOL) marketing suite to get, edit, and deliver their vehicle inventory for over two years. Previously, dealers would manage website content and inventory data from two separate web-based systems. The new integration will streamline this process, giving dealers the ability to seamlessly update both their website and their inventory via a single sign-on platform. This eliminates the need to maintain two user accounts, saving the dealer valuable time in which to spend communicating with prospective buyers.

“TK provides a very compelling, full-service marketing system for dealers that is well-positioned to increase its market share,” stated HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. “HomeNet is privileged to work with such a fantastic partner and we are very pleased to offer the enhanced IOL integration. We look forward to serving the inventory needs for TK’s customers for many years to come.”

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Add comment February 5th, 2008

HomeNet’s Inventory Online Reaches 2.5 Million Vehicle Milestone

WEST CHESTER, PA – January 31, 2008 - HomeNet, Inc. announced today that the rapidly growing automotive technology provider has reached another significant milestone. The popular Inventory Online (IOL) marketing suite continues to outpace the competition, currently marketing more than 2.5 million vehicles each day for over 11,000 dealer locations nationwide.

“Inventory has been in our DNA for over a decade and HomeNet’s position as an industry leader is something we have earned through hard work, innovation, and an unwavering customer-first philosophy,” commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. “IOL was the first system of its kind to offer the combination of flexibility and reliability that dealers need to bridge the gap between those who wanted to retain full control over their inventory and those who were working with a variety of third-party providers. Our team is committed to never being satisfied with the status quo and will work to ensure that IOL remains the premier inventory management and marketing system in the industry for many years to come.”

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Add comment January 31st, 2008

Vehix Selects HomeNet as Automotive Inventory Partner

Vehix Selects HomeNet as Automotive Inventory Partner

Auto dealers and consumers get access to enhanced automobile inventory features

Salt Lake City – January 28, 2008 – Vehix, the multi-platform digital automotive network, has adopted the Inventory Online (IOL) technology from HomeNet, Inc., a leading provider of vehicle inventory management and marketing solutions. Vehix dealers now utilize HomeNet’s powerful IOL system to efficiently upload vehicle listings and photos to the Vehix network. Currently, more than 3200 Vehix dealers utilize IOL to accurately display over 800,000 vehicles at www.vehix.com .

“It’s a win-win for consumers and auto dealerships,” said Derek Mattsson, Vehix CEO. “Increased inventory with detailed vehicle information and photographs makes Vehix more relevant for consumers, and HomeNet’s robust and easy-to-use inventory editing tools make it remarkably simple for dealers to work with Vehix and list automobiles for sale.”

Vehix dealers will enter IOL’s intuitive web-based editing system via the Vehix Dealer Resource Center. Dealers will have the ability to automatically upload inventory details, pricing information, and up to 27 photos per vehicle. IOL enables dealers to easily edit vehicle information and seamlessly update inventory to be instantly posted on the Vehix site. This enhancement to Vehix’s back-office technology positions Vehix to continue increasing vehicle inventory.

“Building a partnership with Vehix is a truly exciting opportunity,” said HomeNet’s CEO, Jesse Biter. “Vehix provides a valuable service for online automotive shoppers and their marketing strategy has proven very effective at maximizing brand awareness. This partnership will help Vehix continue to increase its market share while ensuring their customer’s inventory is in very capable hands.”

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