http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 Most Recent Submissions from Lance_Boldt on AutoPro Workshop Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:40:04 GMT Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:40:04 GMT mwillins@advanstar.com (AutoBizGuru) mwillins@advanstar.com (AutoBizGuru) KickApps Feed Builder 2013-04-30T16:40:04Z 258 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/searchEverything.kickAction?as=31710&includeVideo=on&includeAudio=on&includePhoto=on&includeBlog=on&sortType=recent 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Cooling-System-Basics/video/1830822/31710.html Ross Hayner gives a quick overview of how modern cooling system components challenge the chemistry of a vehicle's cooling system.  Some quick tests to determine if the coolant should be replaced. AutoNetTV.com Ross Hayner gives a quick overview of how modern cooling system components challenge the chemistry of a vehicle's cooling system.  Some quick tests to determine if the coolant should be replaced. AutoNetTV.com Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:40:04 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Cooling-System-Basics/video/1830822/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-04-30T16:40:04Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop Ross Hayner gives a quick overview of how modern cooling system components challenge the chemistry of a vehicle's cooling system.  Some quick tests to determine if the coolant should be replaced. AutoNetTV.com autonettv, motor age nonadult false Cooling System Basics video autonettv,motor age 466 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age 0 1830822 4041194 Member 250 284 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Digital-Signage-Expansion-in-the-Automotive-Industry/blog/6521652/31710.html April 2013, American Fork, Utah – Even as technology under the hood and in the shop has taken huge strides in recent years, so has technology in front of the counter.  AutoNetTVTM Media, Inc., producer of award-winning automotive service and repair content and cutting edge content delivery systems, reports its best sales quarter in the company’s history.  The Utah based company had 742 product installations in the first quarter of 2013.  Bobby Cannon, Director of Sales, reports that the sales were comprised of their Digital Lobby TV, Digital Menu Board and Web Tools products.  ·         Digital Menu Board is a high-tech advancement of traditional menu boards, illustrating a service center’s offerings with 3D animations, motion graphics and full-motion video.  The content displayed and menus are customizable by the individual location through a cloud-based interface. ·         Digital Lobby TV is customizable television programming consisting of automotive service and repair video segments mixed with short-form entertainment content from various sources.  The AutoNetTV video library is accessed via a powerful cloud-based user interface. ·         Web Tools is a SEO content generation system for automotive center websites.  Weekly service and repair videos and animations are delivered to the website.  The videos are accompanied by key-word rich articles, personalized for the individual location to facilitate local search. “We’re delighted with how the industry embraces our products,” said Cannon.  “We’ve made a significant investment in all areas of the company to develop leading edge content, cost-effective content delivery, and a great customer experience.  And we’re very excited about the new products we have under development. AutoNetTV’s sales success extends beyond their products to custom video and animation production for outside companies in the automotive industry.  Production projects already booked this year are double last year’s number. About AutoNetTV AutoNetTV is the pioneer of automotive television programming for customers in the waiting areas of automotive centers.  Viewers in thousands of locations throughout North America receive this custom programming to educate customers on their factory scheduled and preventative maintenance needs, and to improve their waiting experience.  AutoNetTV combines fast-paced entertainment pieces from CBS, SPEED and others with independent editorial content to increase customer satisfaction and preventative maintenance services.  The monthly program is approximately four hours long and provides multiple options for major service brands to integrate their branded messages within the existing AutoNetTV programming content.  AutoNetTV Digital Menu Boards provide highly customizable menu systems complete with an extensive library of short videos and animations on typical menu items.  AutoNetTV Web Tools brings powerful, search optimized consumer education video content to the websites of automotive centers, attracting potential customers. Web Tools videos are used at point of sale to help consumers understand service advisor recommendations. Website: http://www.AutoNetTV.com AutoNetTV Media, Inc.Bobby CannonDirector of SalesPhone: (801) 492-9900bcannon@AutoNetTV.com April 2013, American Fork, Utah – Even as technology under the hood and in the shop has taken huge strides in recent years, so has technology in front of the counter.  AutoNetTVTM Media, Inc., producer of award-winning automotive service and repair content and cutting edge content delivery systems, reports its best sales quarter in the company’s history.  The Utah based company had 742 product installations in the first quarter of 2013.  Bobby Cannon, Director of Sales, reports that the sales were comprised of their Digital Lobby TV, Digital Menu Board and Web Tools products.  ·         Digital Menu Board is a high-tech advancement of traditional menu boards, illustrating a service center’s offerings with 3D animations, motion graphics and full-motion video.  The content displayed and menus are customizable by the individual location through a cloud-based interface. ·         Digital Lobby TV is customizable television programming consisting of automotive service and repair video segments mixed with short-form entertainment content from various sources.  The AutoNetTV video library is accessed via a powerful cloud-based user interface. ·         Web Tools is a SEO content generation system for automotive center websites.  Weekly service and repair videos and animations are delivered to the website.  The videos are accompanied by key-word rich articles, personalized for the individual location to facilitate local search. “We’re delighted with how the industry embraces our products,” said Cannon.  “We’ve made a significant investment in all areas of the company to develop leading edge content, cost-effective content delivery, and a great customer experience.  And we’re very excited about the new products we have under development. AutoNetTV’s sales success extends beyond their products to custom video and animation production for outside companies in the automotive industry.  Production projects already booked this year are double last year’s number. About AutoNetTV AutoNetTV is the pioneer of automotive television programming for customers in the waiting areas of automotive centers.  Viewers in thousands of locations throughout North America receive this custom programming to educate customers on their factory scheduled and preventative maintenance needs, and to improve their waiting experience.  AutoNetTV combines fast-paced entertainment pieces from CBS, SPEED and others with independent editorial content to increase customer satisfaction and preventative maintenance services.  The monthly program is approximately four hours long and provides multiple options for major service brands to integrate their branded messages within the existing AutoNetTV programming content.  AutoNetTV Digital Menu Boards provide highly customizable menu systems complete with an extensive library of short videos and animations on typical menu items.  AutoNetTV Web Tools brings powerful, search optimized consumer education video content to the websites of automotive centers, attracting potential customers. Web Tools videos are used at point of sale to help consumers understand service advisor recommendations. Website: http://www.AutoNetTV.com AutoNetTV Media, Inc.Bobby CannonDirector of SalesPhone: (801) 492-9900bcannon@AutoNetTV.com Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:41:59 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Digital-Signage-Expansion-in-the-Automotive-Industry/blog/6521652/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-04-24T20:41:59Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop April 2013, American Fork, Utah – Even as technology under the hood and in the shop has taken huge strides in recent years, so has technology in front of the counter.  AutoNetTVTM Media, Inc., producer of award-winning automotive service and repair content and cutting edge content delivery systems, reports its best sales quarter in the company’s history.  The Utah based company had 742 product installations in the first quarter of 2013.  Bobby Cannon, Director of Sales, reports that the sales were comprised of their Digital Lobby TV, Digital Menu Board and Web Tools products.  ·         Digital Menu Board is a high-tech advancement of traditional menu boards, illustrating a service center’s offerings with 3D animations, motion graphics and full-motion video.  The content displayed and menus are customizable by the individual location through a cloud-based interface. ·         Digital Lobby TV is customizable television programming consisting of automotive service and repair video segments mixed with short-form entertainment content from various sources.  The AutoNetTV video library is accessed via a powerful cloud-based user interface. ·         Web Tools is a SEO content generation system for automotive center websites.  Weekly service and repair videos and animations are delivered to the website.  The videos are accompanied by key-word rich articles, personalized for the individual location to facilitate local search. “We’re delighted with how the industry embraces our products,” said Cannon.  “We’ve made a significant investment in all areas of the company to develop leading edge content, cost-effective content delivery, and a great customer experience.  And we’re very excited about the new products we have under development. AutoNetTV’s sales success extends beyond their products to custom video and animation production for outside companies in the automotive industry.  Production projects already booked this year are double last year’s number. About AutoNetTV AutoNetTV is the pioneer of automotive television programming for customers in the waiting areas of automotive centers.  Viewers in thousands of locations throughout North America receive this custom programming to educate customers on their factory scheduled and preventative maintenance needs, and to improve their waiting experience.  AutoNetTV combines fast-paced entertainment pieces from CBS, SPEED and others with independent editorial content to increase customer satisfaction and preventative maintenance services.  The monthly program is approximately four hours long and provides multiple options for major service brands to integrate their branded messages within the existing AutoNetTV programming content.  AutoNetTV Digital Menu Boards provide highly customizable menu systems complete with an extensive library of short videos and animations on typical menu items.  AutoNetTV Web Tools brings powerful, search optimized consumer education video content to the websites of automotive centers, attracting potential customers. Web Tools videos are used at point of sale to help consumers understand service advisor recommendations. Website: http://www.AutoNetTV.com AutoNetTV Media, Inc.Bobby CannonDirector of SalesPhone: (801) 492-9900bcannon@AutoNetTV.com autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, customer service, motor age nonadult false Digital Signage Expansion in the Automotive Industry text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,customer service,motor age 260 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age 0 6521652 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_DMB-Adpng/photo/18972638/31710.html Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:40:03 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_DMB-Adpng/photo/18972638/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-04-24T20:40:03Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false DMB Ad.png photo 50 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18972638 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Underwear-Motorcycle-Gang/blog/6519654/31710.html by Sean Whiffen [image]Few things are better than the rush of the wind against your bare skin as you cruise in nothing but underwear and socks.  Or so we imagined as we ran around the house with one pair of tighty-whities on our bodies, another pair on our heads – with one of the openings placed over our eyes so we could see, and a pair of white socks on our hands like sweet riding gloves.  The loud muffler sounds rippled off our lips as the spit flew in every direction.  Yes, back in the days of early Saturday morning cartoons, when the TV set sat on the ground and was made of the same wood as the rest of your furniture, our pre-pubescent bodies cruised the house with thoughts of real asphalt rolling beneath our feet.  Imaginations seem so vivid and expansive when you’re young.  Thankfully, they don’t end as we age.  We adults still have dreams and goals, but the difference is often in the way we make them more personal – with emotional connections.  These are often the most powerful because they have deeper meaning. Your customers also make personal connections with your business.  Some may tie into their dreams of affirmation for making smart decisions, others perhaps to an actual relationship with a professional who cares for them and simply gives good advice that protects them and saves them money.  Always consider the human element when implementing anything new in your business.  Of course things can and should make your business more efficient, saving time and money, and improving service for people. But a new “widget” can be a bad addition if it doesn’t have a positive emotional connection that helps people. For example, a customer at a Los Angeles tire dealership cancelled his additional service order of over $400, work that he needed, because of the negative emotional impact of the cable TV news discussing a current downturn in the financial markets.  Alternatively, I observed a Grandmother reading the book she brought to a local tire dealer – eventually putting it down because our program had a video clip about glass cookware breaking.  She had no interest in other clips, but that one resonated with her and finally moved the book to her purse.  I see examples like this Grandmother often when I visit and observe at our customers’ locations.  We call and we talk with our customers.  We hold sessions with actual vehicle owners, show content, watch their behavior and ask them questions.  In the end, it’s all about the people.  There are personal connections made with you and your employees at your business.  The content and/or messages you promote inside of, and externally about, your business should also encourage personal connections – and emotional benefits to the customer.  Imagining your customers in their underwear may help a new and nervous service advisor start the conversation.  But remembering the thrill of being a kid and developing experiences will help you look for better ways to establish a rapport and provide tools that connect your services with the emotional and logical needs of your customers. Sean Whiffen is Co-Founder and Vice President of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. by Sean Whiffen [image]Few things are better than the rush of the wind against your bare skin as you cruise in nothing but underwear and socks.  Or so we imagined as we ran around the house with one pair of tighty-whities on our bodies, another pair on our heads – with one of the openings placed over our eyes so we could see, and a pair of white socks on our hands like sweet riding gloves.  The loud muffler sounds rippled off our lips as the spit flew in every direction.  Yes, back in the days of early Saturday morning cartoons, when the TV set sat on the ground and was made of the same wood as the rest of your furniture, our pre-pubescent bodies cruised the house with thoughts of real asphalt rolling beneath our feet.  Imaginations seem so vivid and expansive when you’re young.  Thankfully, they don’t end as we age.  We adults still have dreams and goals, but the difference is often in the way we make them more personal – with emotional connections.  These are often the most powerful because they have deeper meaning. Your customers also make personal connections with your business.  Some may tie into their dreams of affirmation for making smart decisions, others perhaps to an actual relationship with a professional who cares for them and simply gives good advice that protects them and saves them money.  Always consider the human element when implementing anything new in your business.  Of course things can and should make your business more efficient, saving time and money, and improving service for people. But a new “widget” can be a bad addition if it doesn’t have a positive emotional connection that helps people. For example, a customer at a Los Angeles tire dealership cancelled his additional service order of over $400, work that he needed, because of the negative emotional impact of the cable TV news discussing a current downturn in the financial markets.  Alternatively, I observed a Grandmother reading the book she brought to a local tire dealer – eventually putting it down because our program had a video clip about glass cookware breaking.  She had no interest in other clips, but that one resonated with her and finally moved the book to her purse.  I see examples like this Grandmother often when I visit and observe at our customers’ locations.  We call and we talk with our customers.  We hold sessions with actual vehicle owners, show content, watch their behavior and ask them questions.  In the end, it’s all about the people.  There are personal connections made with you and your employees at your business.  The content and/or messages you promote inside of, and externally about, your business should also encourage personal connections – and emotional benefits to the customer.  Imagining your customers in their underwear may help a new and nervous service advisor start the conversation.  But remembering the thrill of being a kid and developing experiences will help you look for better ways to establish a rapport and provide tools that connect your services with the emotional and logical needs of your customers. Sean Whiffen is Co-Founder and Vice President of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:35:48 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Underwear-Motorcycle-Gang/blog/6519654/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-04-10T18:35:48Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop by Sean Whiffen [image]Few things are better than the rush of the wind against your bare skin as you cruise in nothing but underwear and socks.  Or so we imagined as we ran around the house with one pair of tighty-whities on our bodies, another pair on our heads – with one of the openings placed over our eyes so we could see, and a pair of white socks on our hands like sweet riding gloves.  The loud muffler sounds rippled off our lips as the spit flew in every direction.  Yes, back in the days of early Saturday morning cartoons, when the TV set sat on the ground and was made of the same wood as the rest of your furniture, our pre-pubescent bodies cruised the house with thoughts of real asphalt rolling beneath our feet.  Imaginations seem so vivid and expansive when you’re young.  Thankfully, they don’t end as we age.  We adults still have dreams and goals, but the difference is often in the way we make them more personal – with emotional connections.  These are often the most powerful because they have deeper meaning. Your customers also make personal connections with your business.  Some may tie into their dreams of affirmation for making smart decisions, others perhaps to an actual relationship with a professional who cares for them and simply gives good advice that protects them and saves them money.  Always consider the human element when implementing anything new in your business.  Of course things can and should make your business more efficient, saving time and money, and improving service for people. But a new “widget” can be a bad addition if it doesn’t have a positive emotional connection that helps people. For example, a customer at a Los Angeles tire dealership cancelled his additional service order of over $400, work that he needed, because of the negative emotional impact of the cable TV news discussing a current downturn in the financial markets.  Alternatively, I observed a Grandmother reading the book she brought to a local tire dealer – eventually putting it down because our program had a video clip about glass cookware breaking.  She had no interest in other clips, but that one resonated with her and finally moved the book to her purse.  I see examples like this Grandmother often when I visit and observe at our customers’ locations.  We call and we talk with our customers.  We hold sessions with actual vehicle owners, show content, watch their behavior and ask them questions.  In the end, it’s all about the people.  There are personal connections made with you and your employees at your business.  The content and/or messages you promote inside of, and externally about, your business should also encourage personal connections – and emotional benefits to the customer.  Imagining your customers in their underwear may help a new and nervous service advisor start the conversation.  But remembering the thrill of being a kid and developing experiences will help you look for better ways to establish a rapport and provide tools that connect your services with the emotional and logical needs of your customers. Sean Whiffen is Co-Founder and Vice President of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, blogs, customer service, motor age nonadult false Underwear Motorcycle Gang text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,blogs,customer service,motor age 272 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age / Blogs 0 6519654 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Underwear-Helmetjpg/photo/18916404/31710.html Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:33:11 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Underwear-Helmetjpg/photo/18916404/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-04-10T18:33:11Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false Underwear Helmet.jpg photo 162 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18916404 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_What-You-Wish-They-Knew/blog/6518228/31710.html  Your business depends on your prospects and customers knowing what you wish they already  knew.  What is the best way to convey that knowledge during your best opportunities?  Go to our article in the March – April edition of Fixed Ops Magazine for some very effective suggestions.  See you on page 44. http://fixedopsmag.com/magazine/marchapril2013/document.pdf Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content.  Your business depends on your prospects and customers knowing what you wish they already  knew.  What is the best way to convey that knowledge during your best opportunities?  Go to our article in the March – April edition of Fixed Ops Magazine for some very effective suggestions.  See you on page 44. http://fixedopsmag.com/magazine/marchapril2013/document.pdf Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:34:45 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_What-You-Wish-They-Knew/blog/6518228/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-03-29T16:34:45Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop  Your business depends on your prospects and customers knowing what you wish they already  knew.  What is the best way to convey that knowledge during your best opportunities?  Go to our article in the March – April edition of Fixed Ops Magazine for some very effective suggestions.  See you on page 44. http://fixedopsmag.com/magazine/marchapril2013/document.pdf Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, blogs, customer service, motor age nonadult false What You Wish They Knew text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,blogs,customer service,motor age 345 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age / Blogs 0 6518228 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_FIxed-Ops-Mag-Mar-Apr-2013jpg/photo/18865462/31710.html Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:29:19 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_FIxed-Ops-Mag-Mar-Apr-2013jpg/photo/18865462/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-03-29T16:29:19Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false FIxed Ops Mag Mar Apr 2013.jpg photo 94 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18865462 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Suns-and-Daughters/blog/6516408/31710.html [image]by Robert Cannon When I was young my father bought a Ford Galaxie Sunliner. Bright red and a convertible to boot. I loved how it looked and I also loved how fast it was. My father was a dentist and so the only tools around our house were for probing and poking inside the mouth and not the engine of a car. I did not learn about the inside of the car until I got married. One day I drove into my driveway and my neighbor, ex NFL defensive end, and his father walked over to me. They were looking at me very strangely and then Stan said, “Your wife was outside today changing the oil in her car”.  Caught a bit off guard by their statement, I responded, “Good, because I wouldn’t know how to do that”. Fortunately, I played some running back so I avoided being sacked. The lesson I learned was valuable and something “we” passed along to our children. Taking care of our cars is critical to their longevity and safety. But, of more importance is understanding what the various services are on a car and why they need to be done. There is more than just oil that needs a car owner’s attention. Recently my daughter, from Dallas, a long way from home, called me about her car. She had received a notice to have her car serviced. She and her husband, more financially inclined than I, took their car to the service center for the work. In a few minutes they left without doing any service. She called me all frustrated. “They told me that I needed all of these services and I didn’t know what they were talking about.” I understood their frustration: if you’re asked to spend money you want to know why. Any wise customer wants to understand why they need to perform services. As my daughter said, “Call them and tell them to use your videos to show me what they are talking about”. You know she is right. A picture is worth a thousand words. If a customer can see how a specific service works and the impact it has on the longevity and safety of their car, they will see the benefit of the service. Most people don’t understand how many parts and systems on a car need routine maintenance. Help your customers by attaching video links on emails and postcards; show them at the point of sale or in your waiting area. No one wants a frustrated daughter. Robert Cannon is Chairman and CEO of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. [image]by Robert Cannon When I was young my father bought a Ford Galaxie Sunliner. Bright red and a convertible to boot. I loved how it looked and I also loved how fast it was. My father was a dentist and so the only tools around our house were for probing and poking inside the mouth and not the engine of a car. I did not learn about the inside of the car until I got married. One day I drove into my driveway and my neighbor, ex NFL defensive end, and his father walked over to me. They were looking at me very strangely and then Stan said, “Your wife was outside today changing the oil in her car”.  Caught a bit off guard by their statement, I responded, “Good, because I wouldn’t know how to do that”. Fortunately, I played some running back so I avoided being sacked. The lesson I learned was valuable and something “we” passed along to our children. Taking care of our cars is critical to their longevity and safety. But, of more importance is understanding what the various services are on a car and why they need to be done. There is more than just oil that needs a car owner’s attention. Recently my daughter, from Dallas, a long way from home, called me about her car. She had received a notice to have her car serviced. She and her husband, more financially inclined than I, took their car to the service center for the work. In a few minutes they left without doing any service. She called me all frustrated. “They told me that I needed all of these services and I didn’t know what they were talking about.” I understood their frustration: if you’re asked to spend money you want to know why. Any wise customer wants to understand why they need to perform services. As my daughter said, “Call them and tell them to use your videos to show me what they are talking about”. You know she is right. A picture is worth a thousand words. If a customer can see how a specific service works and the impact it has on the longevity and safety of their car, they will see the benefit of the service. Most people don’t understand how many parts and systems on a car need routine maintenance. Help your customers by attaching video links on emails and postcards; show them at the point of sale or in your waiting area. No one wants a frustrated daughter. Robert Cannon is Chairman and CEO of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:25:51 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Suns-and-Daughters/blog/6516408/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-03-15T16:25:51Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop [image]by Robert Cannon When I was young my father bought a Ford Galaxie Sunliner. Bright red and a convertible to boot. I loved how it looked and I also loved how fast it was. My father was a dentist and so the only tools around our house were for probing and poking inside the mouth and not the engine of a car. I did not learn about the inside of the car until I got married. One day I drove into my driveway and my neighbor, ex NFL defensive end, and his father walked over to me. They were looking at me very strangely and then Stan said, “Your wife was outside today changing the oil in her car”.  Caught a bit off guard by their statement, I responded, “Good, because I wouldn’t know how to do that”. Fortunately, I played some running back so I avoided being sacked. The lesson I learned was valuable and something “we” passed along to our children. Taking care of our cars is critical to their longevity and safety. But, of more importance is understanding what the various services are on a car and why they need to be done. There is more than just oil that needs a car owner’s attention. Recently my daughter, from Dallas, a long way from home, called me about her car. She had received a notice to have her car serviced. She and her husband, more financially inclined than I, took their car to the service center for the work. In a few minutes they left without doing any service. She called me all frustrated. “They told me that I needed all of these services and I didn’t know what they were talking about.” I understood their frustration: if you’re asked to spend money you want to know why. Any wise customer wants to understand why they need to perform services. As my daughter said, “Call them and tell them to use your videos to show me what they are talking about”. You know she is right. A picture is worth a thousand words. If a customer can see how a specific service works and the impact it has on the longevity and safety of their car, they will see the benefit of the service. Most people don’t understand how many parts and systems on a car need routine maintenance. Help your customers by attaching video links on emails and postcards; show them at the point of sale or in your waiting area. No one wants a frustrated daughter. Robert Cannon is Chairman and CEO of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, blogs, customer service, motor age nonadult false Suns and Daughters text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,blogs,customer service,motor age 2965 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age / Blogs 0 6516408 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Ford-Galaxie-Sunliner/photo/18802388/31710.html Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:24:24 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Ford-Galaxie-Sunliner/photo/18802388/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-03-15T16:24:24Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false Ford Galaxie Sunliner photo 294 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18802388 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Raising-Golden-Eggs/blog/6513357/31710.html I was just two months shy of my 16th birthday when I found myself hanging from a balcony 20 feet off the ground with a half dozen strangers below holding a fireman’s net yelling for me to jump.  I leaned back, closed my eyes and let go. Now I wasn’t jumping for my life, it was the opening event of a “Father and Teens Wilderness Experience” put on by Brigham Young University (BYU).  After a few more harrowing activities, my dad, younger sister and I were given a can of root beer and an orange as we boarded a bus from campus to the Uinta Mountains.  Turned out that this was all we would get to eat until we got another orange the following morning – after a 14 mile overnight march to camp.  The next couple of days were filled with confidence and team building activities like a ropes course, rappelling off a cliff and pit roasting an old sheep that we killed and dressed.  None of this was in the promotional brochure, by the way.  For me, one of the highlights of the experience was our guest “speaker”, the late Dr. Stephen Covey.  Dr. Covey, then a professor at BYU, brought his son Sean along on the trip and conducted several breakout sessions for the group on topics like relationships, spiritual growth and charting a course in life.  Of course, he went on to author “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and to develop an entire program that has benefited millions of people worldwide.  I’ve been fortunate to have participated in Covey’s training at two companies for which I’ve worked. We all realize that success comes from doing the right things; the most important things.  The problem is that we get so busy working in our businesses, that we don’t take time to prioritize all that activity and make sure we get done the things that will provide the best long-term results.  [image]Stephen Covey taught us to distinguish Importance from Urgency using a chart like this one.  For example, a ringing telephone is urgent.  It makes noise and is hard to ignore.  Is the call important?  Maybe yes, maybe no: we’ll find out when we answer it.  How about getting Mrs. Jones’ alternator replaced as promised by 5?  That’s important and urgent. So what do we end up doing? We have no problem eliminating things that are unimportant and not urgent  Things that are both important and urgent are no brainers – just do them We tend to end up doing unimportant things that are urgent just get them out of our life What most often gets left undone are things that ARE important, but not urgent – for most of us, thinking about and focusing on this quadrant will deliver big results For example, the AutoNetTV production department has more custom work to do in the first six months of this year than it had in the previous two years combined.  These are all Quadrant II projects – they’re important and they have deadlines.  But what about other activities like marketing support and research?  Obviously they are important: marketing today means sales tomorrow.  Today’s research will lead to the future products and services we will create and offer.  These are the things that determine our long term success; but with no outside deadlines, these vital pursuits can end up postponed indefinitely. Dr. Covey reinforced this with the concept of taking care of the Goose that Lays the Golden Eggs.  If we neglect to feed and nurture the goose (our business) because we are too focused on the golden eggs (fixing cars, creating videos, etc.) the goose will suffer, be less competitive and eventually could cease laying eggs at all.  I suggest setting aside time at least once a month to look at those Quadrant I issues: Identify them; make a plan to address them yourself or delegate or automate (perhaps your in-store marketing could be automated with an AutoNetTV  Digital Menu Board – just saying) and schedule time to get it done.  You’ll be surprised how it really won’t slow down your Quadrant II priorities.  And the focus on Quadrant I will give you a quantum boost. One last Dr. Covey story:  One of our activities was to cross the Strawberry River, raging at near flood stage from early summer run-off, on a single rope stretched across the river.  The idea was to crawl along the top of the rope to conserve energy.  Of course only a couple guys were coordinated enough to pull that off – the rest of us slid around and were hanging by our hands and ankles.  It was really hard and dangerous.  Half way back, Dr. Covey was struggling.  He tipped his head back, looking upside down at us cheering him on from the bank and yelled, “P.H.D. – help me now!” Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. I was just two months shy of my 16th birthday when I found myself hanging from a balcony 20 feet off the ground with a half dozen strangers below holding a fireman’s net yelling for me to jump.  I leaned back, closed my eyes and let go. Now I wasn’t jumping for my life, it was the opening event of a “Father and Teens Wilderness Experience” put on by Brigham Young University (BYU).  After a few more harrowing activities, my dad, younger sister and I were given a can of root beer and an orange as we boarded a bus from campus to the Uinta Mountains.  Turned out that this was all we would get to eat until we got another orange the following morning – after a 14 mile overnight march to camp.  The next couple of days were filled with confidence and team building activities like a ropes course, rappelling off a cliff and pit roasting an old sheep that we killed and dressed.  None of this was in the promotional brochure, by the way.  For me, one of the highlights of the experience was our guest “speaker”, the late Dr. Stephen Covey.  Dr. Covey, then a professor at BYU, brought his son Sean along on the trip and conducted several breakout sessions for the group on topics like relationships, spiritual growth and charting a course in life.  Of course, he went on to author “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and to develop an entire program that has benefited millions of people worldwide.  I’ve been fortunate to have participated in Covey’s training at two companies for which I’ve worked. We all realize that success comes from doing the right things; the most important things.  The problem is that we get so busy working in our businesses, that we don’t take time to prioritize all that activity and make sure we get done the things that will provide the best long-term results.  [image]Stephen Covey taught us to distinguish Importance from Urgency using a chart like this one.  For example, a ringing telephone is urgent.  It makes noise and is hard to ignore.  Is the call important?  Maybe yes, maybe no: we’ll find out when we answer it.  How about getting Mrs. Jones’ alternator replaced as promised by 5?  That’s important and urgent. So what do we end up doing? We have no problem eliminating things that are unimportant and not urgent  Things that are both important and urgent are no brainers – just do them We tend to end up doing unimportant things that are urgent just get them out of our life What most often gets left undone are things that ARE important, but not urgent – for most of us, thinking about and focusing on this quadrant will deliver big results For example, the AutoNetTV production department has more custom work to do in the first six months of this year than it had in the previous two years combined.  These are all Quadrant II projects – they’re important and they have deadlines.  But what about other activities like marketing support and research?  Obviously they are important: marketing today means sales tomorrow.  Today’s research will lead to the future products and services we will create and offer.  These are the things that determine our long term success; but with no outside deadlines, these vital pursuits can end up postponed indefinitely. Dr. Covey reinforced this with the concept of taking care of the Goose that Lays the Golden Eggs.  If we neglect to feed and nurture the goose (our business) because we are too focused on the golden eggs (fixing cars, creating videos, etc.) the goose will suffer, be less competitive and eventually could cease laying eggs at all.  I suggest setting aside time at least once a month to look at those Quadrant I issues: Identify them; make a plan to address them yourself or delegate or automate (perhaps your in-store marketing could be automated with an AutoNetTV  Digital Menu Board – just saying) and schedule time to get it done.  You’ll be surprised how it really won’t slow down your Quadrant II priorities.  And the focus on Quadrant I will give you a quantum boost. One last Dr. Covey story:  One of our activities was to cross the Strawberry River, raging at near flood stage from early summer run-off, on a single rope stretched across the river.  The idea was to crawl along the top of the rope to conserve energy.  Of course only a couple guys were coordinated enough to pull that off – the rest of us slid around and were hanging by our hands and ankles.  It was really hard and dangerous.  Half way back, Dr. Covey was struggling.  He tipped his head back, looking upside down at us cheering him on from the bank and yelled, “P.H.D. – help me now!” Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. Sat, 23 Feb 2013 13:27:03 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Raising-Golden-Eggs/blog/6513357/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-02-23T13:27:03Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop I was just two months shy of my 16th birthday when I found myself hanging from a balcony 20 feet off the ground with a half dozen strangers below holding a fireman’s net yelling for me to jump.  I leaned back, closed my eyes and let go. Now I wasn’t jumping for my life, it was the opening event of a “Father and Teens Wilderness Experience” put on by Brigham Young University (BYU).  After a few more harrowing activities, my dad, younger sister and I were given a can of root beer and an orange as we boarded a bus from campus to the Uinta Mountains.  Turned out that this was all we would get to eat until we got another orange the following morning – after a 14 mile overnight march to camp.  The next couple of days were filled with confidence and team building activities like a ropes course, rappelling off a cliff and pit roasting an old sheep that we killed and dressed.  None of this was in the promotional brochure, by the way.  For me, one of the highlights of the experience was our guest “speaker”, the late Dr. Stephen Covey.  Dr. Covey, then a professor at BYU, brought his son Sean along on the trip and conducted several breakout sessions for the group on topics like relationships, spiritual growth and charting a course in life.  Of course, he went on to author “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and to develop an entire program that has benefited millions of people worldwide.  I’ve been fortunate to have participated in Covey’s training at two companies for which I’ve worked. We all realize that success comes from doing the right things; the most important things.  The problem is that we get so busy working in our businesses, that we don’t take time to prioritize all that activity and make sure we get done the things that will provide the best long-term results.  [image]Stephen Covey taught us to distinguish Importance from Urgency using a chart like this one.  For example, a ringing telephone is urgent.  It makes noise and is hard to ignore.  Is the call important?  Maybe yes, maybe no: we’ll find out when we answer it.  How about getting Mrs. Jones’ alternator replaced as promised by 5?  That’s important and urgent. So what do we end up doing? We have no problem eliminating things that are unimportant and not urgent  Things that are both important and urgent are no brainers – just do them We tend to end up doing unimportant things that are urgent just get them out of our life What most often gets left undone are things that ARE important, but not urgent – for most of us, thinking about and focusing on this quadrant will deliver big results For example, the AutoNetTV production department has more custom work to do in the first six months of this year than it had in the previous two years combined.  These are all Quadrant II projects – they’re important and they have deadlines.  But what about other activities like marketing support and research?  Obviously they are important: marketing today means sales tomorrow.  Today’s research will lead to the future products and services we will create and offer.  These are the things that determine our long term success; but with no outside deadlines, these vital pursuits can end up postponed indefinitely. Dr. Covey reinforced this with the concept of taking care of the Goose that Lays the Golden Eggs.  If we neglect to feed and nurture the goose (our business) because we are too focused on the golden eggs (fixing cars, creating videos, etc.) the goose will suffer, be less competitive and eventually could cease laying eggs at all.  I suggest setting aside time at least once a month to look at those Quadrant I issues: Identify them; make a plan to address them yourself or delegate or automate (perhaps your in-store marketing could be automated with an AutoNetTV  Digital Menu Board – just saying) and schedule time to get it done.  You’ll be surprised how it really won’t slow down your Quadrant II priorities.  And the focus on Quadrant I will give you a quantum boost. One last Dr. Covey story:  One of our activities was to cross the Strawberry River, raging at near flood stage from early summer run-off, on a single rope stretched across the river.  The idea was to crawl along the top of the rope to conserve energy.  Of course only a couple guys were coordinated enough to pull that off – the rest of us slid around and were hanging by our hands and ankles.  It was really hard and dangerous.  Half way back, Dr. Covey was struggling.  He tipped his head back, looking upside down at us cheering him on from the bank and yelled, “P.H.D. – help me now!” Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, blogs, customer service, motor age nonadult false Raising Golden Eggs text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,blogs,customer service,motor age 451 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age / Blogs 0 6513357 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Quadrantsjpg/photo/18703191/31710.html Sat, 23 Feb 2013 03:25:10 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Quadrantsjpg/photo/18703191/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-02-23T03:25:10Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false Quadrants.jpg photo 271 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18703191 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_View-From-the-Outside/blog/6511597/31710.html [image]Here are observations of the OE market from the perspective of a company with 9,000+ product installations in the Aftermarket.  Both the OE and the Aftermarket have strengths and weaknesses in their approach to automotive service and repairs.  Our article is on page 38 of Fixed Ops.  http://fixedopsmag.com/magazine/septoct2012/index.html Check out Digital Lobby TV  and Digital Menu Boards, AutoNetTV’s digital signage programs designed to increase sales and CSI while entertaining your customers – and AutoNetTV Web Tools videos for your website.   [image]Here are observations of the OE market from the perspective of a company with 9,000+ product installations in the Aftermarket.  Both the OE and the Aftermarket have strengths and weaknesses in their approach to automotive service and repairs.  Our article is on page 38 of Fixed Ops.  http://fixedopsmag.com/magazine/septoct2012/index.html Check out Digital Lobby TV  and Digital Menu Boards, AutoNetTV’s digital signage programs designed to increase sales and CSI while entertaining your customers – and AutoNetTV Web Tools videos for your website.   Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:47:01 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_View-From-the-Outside/blog/6511597/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-02-14T21:47:01Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop [image]Here are observations of the OE market from the perspective of a company with 9,000+ product installations in the Aftermarket.  Both the OE and the Aftermarket have strengths and weaknesses in their approach to automotive service and repairs.  Our article is on page 38 of Fixed Ops.  http://fixedopsmag.com/magazine/septoct2012/index.html Check out Digital Lobby TV  and Digital Menu Boards, AutoNetTV’s digital signage programs designed to increase sales and CSI while entertaining your customers – and AutoNetTV Web Tools videos for your website.   autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, customer service, motor age nonadult false View From the Outside text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,customer service,motor age 311 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age 0 6511597 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Fixed-Ops-Sept-2012jpg/photo/18658159/31710.html Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:45:58 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Fixed-Ops-Sept-2012jpg/photo/18658159/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-02-14T16:45:58Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false Fixed Ops Sept 2012.jpg photo 279 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18658159 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Am-I-Going-Crazy/blog/6507205/31710.html [image]“Doctor, thank you for seeing me on such short notice.” “Certainly, Joan.  Please, lie down on the couch.  Now what’s disturbing you?” “I keep having this dream.  I don’t understand it.” “Go on.” “Well it’s kind of fuzzy, but it has something to do with CSI.” “Interesting.  New York?  Las Vegas? . . . Miami?” “No, it’s not like that.” “Do you think this is connected to that dream last month about David Caruso in the wallaby suit?” “No, no.  I kept getting the impression that CSI was rising.  That my CSI was rising.” “Hmmm.  Go on.” “And the word ‘differential’ keeps flashing through my mind.” “Equations?  Diagnosis?  Is this about Dr. House?” “It’s more like compensating . . . making up for differences . . . something that requires attention.  But now that you mention it, I do have the feeling that it’s television related.” “I see.  Let’s take a step back and look for triggers.  When did these dreams start?” “Monday night.” “Tell me about Monday.” “It was a pretty typical day.  I got the kids off to school and went to work.  Oh, on my way home I stopped to have my oil changed.” “Stop there.  What do you remember about the lobby?” “It was nice.  Clean.  There was a TV program playing.” “Go on.” [image]“Well it was fun to watch.  It had a movie review, a clip from The Doctors.  Oh, and I got a great tip on how to untangle necklace chains from Rachael Ray.” “I think I know what is going on.  Do you recall hearing the term ‘AutoNetTV’?” “Yes – there were several segments from AutoNetTV on different car services.  I actually learned a lot.” “Yes, this is all becoming clear.  AutoNetTV is a cunningly crafted digital signage television program that combines education on taking care of your vehicles with entertaining segments from various sources like CBS, REELZ Channel, and so on.  As you can attest, the program can really get into your mind.  Tell me, Joan; do you feel motivated?” “Motivated and empowered.  I really see how I can save money by taking care of my car.  My auto center even has AutoNetTV videos on their website so I can research anything I want about my car.” “Yes, Joan, AutoNetTV is very powerful.  Fortunately, they use their power for good.  Now let me interpret your dream.  One of the AutoNetTV educational segments you viewed was on differential service.  Your differential compensates for the difference in wheel speed between your inside wheel and your outside wheel in a turn.  Your differential requires service on a schedule to keep it running properly.” “Yes, yes!  I remember now!” “Listen – this is the astonishing part:  CSI stands for Customer Satisfaction Index.  Your dream is telling you that you are satisfied with your service experience.  How your unconscious mind was able to produce that metric fascinates me . . .” “Doctor, I was a little embarrassed to mention this earlier, but in my dream that handsome service advisor was sitting right next to me.” “Ah!  That is the final proof!  Watching AutoNetTV is like having a full-time service advisor in the lobby with the customers at all times.  You have nothing to worry about, Joan.  You are simply under the influence of AutoNetTV’s beneficial forces, urging you to show care for your family by caring for your car.  I pronounce you ‘Cured’!” “Thank you, Doctor.  By the way, when was the last time you had your cooling system serviced?”   Check out Digital Lobby TV  and Digital Menu Boards, AutoNetTV’s digital signage programs designed to increase sales and CSI while entertaining your customers – and AutoNetTV Web Tools videos for your website.   [image]“Doctor, thank you for seeing me on such short notice.” “Certainly, Joan.  Please, lie down on the couch.  Now what’s disturbing you?” “I keep having this dream.  I don’t understand it.” “Go on.” “Well it’s kind of fuzzy, but it has something to do with CSI.” “Interesting.  New York?  Las Vegas? . . . Miami?” “No, it’s not like that.” “Do you think this is connected to that dream last month about David Caruso in the wallaby suit?” “No, no.  I kept getting the impression that CSI was rising.  That my CSI was rising.” “Hmmm.  Go on.” “And the word ‘differential’ keeps flashing through my mind.” “Equations?  Diagnosis?  Is this about Dr. House?” “It’s more like compensating . . . making up for differences . . . something that requires attention.  But now that you mention it, I do have the feeling that it’s television related.” “I see.  Let’s take a step back and look for triggers.  When did these dreams start?” “Monday night.” “Tell me about Monday.” “It was a pretty typical day.  I got the kids off to school and went to work.  Oh, on my way home I stopped to have my oil changed.” “Stop there.  What do you remember about the lobby?” “It was nice.  Clean.  There was a TV program playing.” “Go on.” [image]“Well it was fun to watch.  It had a movie review, a clip from The Doctors.  Oh, and I got a great tip on how to untangle necklace chains from Rachael Ray.” “I think I know what is going on.  Do you recall hearing the term ‘AutoNetTV’?” “Yes – there were several segments from AutoNetTV on different car services.  I actually learned a lot.” “Yes, this is all becoming clear.  AutoNetTV is a cunningly crafted digital signage television program that combines education on taking care of your vehicles with entertaining segments from various sources like CBS, REELZ Channel, and so on.  As you can attest, the program can really get into your mind.  Tell me, Joan; do you feel motivated?” “Motivated and empowered.  I really see how I can save money by taking care of my car.  My auto center even has AutoNetTV videos on their website so I can research anything I want about my car.” “Yes, Joan, AutoNetTV is very powerful.  Fortunately, they use their power for good.  Now let me interpret your dream.  One of the AutoNetTV educational segments you viewed was on differential service.  Your differential compensates for the difference in wheel speed between your inside wheel and your outside wheel in a turn.  Your differential requires service on a schedule to keep it running properly.” “Yes, yes!  I remember now!” “Listen – this is the astonishing part:  CSI stands for Customer Satisfaction Index.  Your dream is telling you that you are satisfied with your service experience.  How your unconscious mind was able to produce that metric fascinates me . . .” “Doctor, I was a little embarrassed to mention this earlier, but in my dream that handsome service advisor was sitting right next to me.” “Ah!  That is the final proof!  Watching AutoNetTV is like having a full-time service advisor in the lobby with the customers at all times.  You have nothing to worry about, Joan.  You are simply under the influence of AutoNetTV’s beneficial forces, urging you to show care for your family by caring for your car.  I pronounce you ‘Cured’!” “Thank you, Doctor.  By the way, when was the last time you had your cooling system serviced?”   Check out Digital Lobby TV  and Digital Menu Boards, AutoNetTV’s digital signage programs designed to increase sales and CSI while entertaining your customers – and AutoNetTV Web Tools videos for your website.   Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:12:25 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Am-I-Going-Crazy/blog/6507205/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-01-31T08:12:25Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop [image]“Doctor, thank you for seeing me on such short notice.” “Certainly, Joan.  Please, lie down on the couch.  Now what’s disturbing you?” “I keep having this dream.  I don’t understand it.” “Go on.” “Well it’s kind of fuzzy, but it has something to do with CSI.” “Interesting.  New York?  Las Vegas? . . . Miami?” “No, it’s not like that.” “Do you think this is connected to that dream last month about David Caruso in the wallaby suit?” “No, no.  I kept getting the impression that CSI was rising.  That my CSI was rising.” “Hmmm.  Go on.” “And the word ‘differential’ keeps flashing through my mind.” “Equations?  Diagnosis?  Is this about Dr. House?” “It’s more like compensating . . . making up for differences . . . something that requires attention.  But now that you mention it, I do have the feeling that it’s television related.” “I see.  Let’s take a step back and look for triggers.  When did these dreams start?” “Monday night.” “Tell me about Monday.” “It was a pretty typical day.  I got the kids off to school and went to work.  Oh, on my way home I stopped to have my oil changed.” “Stop there.  What do you remember about the lobby?” “It was nice.  Clean.  There was a TV program playing.” “Go on.” [image]“Well it was fun to watch.  It had a movie review, a clip from The Doctors.  Oh, and I got a great tip on how to untangle necklace chains from Rachael Ray.” “I think I know what is going on.  Do you recall hearing the term ‘AutoNetTV’?” “Yes – there were several segments from AutoNetTV on different car services.  I actually learned a lot.” “Yes, this is all becoming clear.  AutoNetTV is a cunningly crafted digital signage television program that combines education on taking care of your vehicles with entertaining segments from various sources like CBS, REELZ Channel, and so on.  As you can attest, the program can really get into your mind.  Tell me, Joan; do you feel motivated?” “Motivated and empowered.  I really see how I can save money by taking care of my car.  My auto center even has AutoNetTV videos on their website so I can research anything I want about my car.” “Yes, Joan, AutoNetTV is very powerful.  Fortunately, they use their power for good.  Now let me interpret your dream.  One of the AutoNetTV educational segments you viewed was on differential service.  Your differential compensates for the difference in wheel speed between your inside wheel and your outside wheel in a turn.  Your differential requires service on a schedule to keep it running properly.” “Yes, yes!  I remember now!” “Listen – this is the astonishing part:  CSI stands for Customer Satisfaction Index.  Your dream is telling you that you are satisfied with your service experience.  How your unconscious mind was able to produce that metric fascinates me . . .” “Doctor, I was a little embarrassed to mention this earlier, but in my dream that handsome service advisor was sitting right next to me.” “Ah!  That is the final proof!  Watching AutoNetTV is like having a full-time service advisor in the lobby with the customers at all times.  You have nothing to worry about, Joan.  You are simply under the influence of AutoNetTV’s beneficial forces, urging you to show care for your family by caring for your car.  I pronounce you ‘Cured’!” “Thank you, Doctor.  By the way, when was the last time you had your cooling system serviced?”   Check out Digital Lobby TV  and Digital Menu Boards, AutoNetTV’s digital signage programs designed to increase sales and CSI while entertaining your customers – and AutoNetTV Web Tools videos for your website.   autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, blogs, customer service, motor age nonadult false Am I Going Crazy! text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,blogs,customer service,motor age 2247 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 2 Motor Age / Blogs 1 6507205 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Crazyjpg/photo/18561465/31710.html Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:11:14 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Crazyjpg/photo/18561465/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-01-30T17:11:14Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false Crazy.jpg photo 396 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18561465 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Digital-SignsNew-Flush-Toilet/blog/6501173/31710.html [image]Screens are everywhere.  And there is content everywhere:  The big questions you need to ask in your service operation are “How many of those screens do I own? and  How much of that content is mine?” Check out our article in the January – February 2013 issue of Fixed Ops magazine.  http://fixedopsmag.com/magazine/janfeb2013/document.pdf  See you on page 48! [image]Screens are everywhere.  And there is content everywhere:  The big questions you need to ask in your service operation are “How many of those screens do I own? and  How much of that content is mine?” Check out our article in the January – February 2013 issue of Fixed Ops magazine.  http://fixedopsmag.com/magazine/janfeb2013/document.pdf  See you on page 48! Tue, 22 Jan 2013 04:21:47 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Digital-SignsNew-Flush-Toilet/blog/6501173/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-01-22T04:21:47Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop [image]Screens are everywhere.  And there is content everywhere:  The big questions you need to ask in your service operation are “How many of those screens do I own? and  How much of that content is mine?” Check out our article in the January – February 2013 issue of Fixed Ops magazine.  http://fixedopsmag.com/magazine/janfeb2013/document.pdf  See you on page 48! autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, blogs, customer service, motor age nonadult false Digital Signs=New Flush Toilet text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,blogs,customer service,motor age 854 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age / Blogs 0 6501173 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Fixed-Ops-Mag-Jan-Feb-2013jpg/photo/18513051/31710.html Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:20:36 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Fixed-Ops-Mag-Jan-Feb-2013jpg/photo/18513051/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-01-21T18:20:36Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false Fixed Ops Mag Jan Feb 2013.jpg photo 398 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18513051 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Smoke-Signals/blog/6499155/31710.html Let’s face it; a whole lot of your day revolves around the internet.  70% of shoppers research online before they hit the stores.  That figure is 78% for women.  If you have a business you need a website – and it better be good. Unfortunately, too many of the automotive service websites I see are pretty dusty.  They haven’t changed since someone’s nephew put it up 5 years ago.  Usually the basics are covered: address, phone number and hours of service.  Maybe a blurb on how many years you’ve been in business or the services you perform.  What more can you do? [image]Well to really stand out you need to do a lot more because doing nothing is like hoping prospects will notice your smoke signals on the horizon.  This falls into two main areas: converting website visitors into customers and getting your website found.  A clever automotive service business has a website content strategy that does both. Customer Conversion A lot of business owners think that consumers visit their website to learn more about their business when the primary motivation is to learn more about the consumer’s problem.  My brakes are grinding: I go online to find out what might be the cause and how to get it fixed.  I don’t want surprises when I take my car in and I want to feel like I know enough about brakes to make a good service decision and not be taken advantage of.  If I can go to your website and get answers to my questions and gain confidence in my understanding – why wouldn’t I buy from you?  Put another way; if you offer something, why wouldn’t you have specific informative and compelling website content on the subject that conveys your expertise and caring?   It’s a natural key to converting website visitors into customers. People like to receive their information in different ways: some prefer the written word and others like video.  A sound content strategy includes both. Getting Found with Automotive Web Video In the course of business, I need to find websites of customers and prospects.  Even when I know the name of a particular automotive service center I sometimes have a hard time finding the website.  A couple of reasons for that: there are gazillions of websites and some of those old websites that haven’t changed in years are simply not indexed by the search engines with any frequency and have such a low search ranking that they never come up.  Such websites have little chance of getting you new customers and may even frustrate existing customers looking for you on the web. In this article I want to focus on organic search rankings as opposed to paid web marketing campaigns.  Organic search means that your website search ranking rises over time on its own merits rather than paying for “clicks” (which may be something you want to do – I’m just not going to talk about it here). Search engines such as Google and Yahoo have job to do: Connect people with the right websites.  Search engines look for websites that contain content that’s relevant to what people are searching for.  So if I want to be recommended to a consumer looking for brake service, my website should contain keywords related to various aspects of brake service.  The search engines will also judge your content by how long people stay on your website.  Videos are a great way to get people to spend time on your site: a prospect watches a 2 minute video on brake service and then watches 2 or 3 on other topics and pretty soon they’ve spent 10 minutes on your site.  The verdict: your site must be very relevant to people searching for brake service if they are staying on your site for so long. Search engines also like growing sites.  If you add fresh content pages every week, the search engines will be trained to index your site every week making the new content available for searchers. A lot of automotive centers are using social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to leverage their online presence, posting links to their useful website content on their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.  This enhances their local reputation as go-to guys for automotive service information and helps keep them top-of-mind with their customer community. In the automotive service arena, one of the most effective online marketers is Greg Buckley of Buckley’s Auto Care in Wilmington Delaware.  He’s been at it for several years.  He has a great looking website with a content strategy and a strong social media presence.  Recently I did a Goggle search for “Buckley’s Auto Care” Wilmington.  I got 169,000 results.  Now I don’t know if all of those are related to Greg, but I did check the first 150 and they were all his.  No matter how you look at it, that’s a lot of ways to be found.  With a reach like that, chances are any auto-service related search in Wilmington will bring up some of Greg’s content.  The proof: Greg averages 1.5 new customer calls every day.  Would 9 new customers a week help your bottom line? The Rub By now you’re probably saying: “I don’t have time for that.” “I don’t know how to do it.”  “How much would it cost to get someone to do this for me?”  You do have a business to run and whatever you do should be simple, quick and affordable. AutoNetTV Web Tools can do all of this for you.  Web Tools is easy to install on your website or can operate as a standalone site.  When you set-up your account, you start with an initial library of 15 automotive service videos and related articles.  The articles are full of information relevant to a particular service topic and are customized for the individual automotive center to aid in local search. A new video and article are added each week – automatically.  New content can be setup to automatically post to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.  It really couldn’t be easier and the subscription is very affordable.  If you don’t believe me, ask Greg Buckley. To learn more about automotive web video, check out  Web Tools or give us a call at 877-642-3555. Let’s face it; a whole lot of your day revolves around the internet.  70% of shoppers research online before they hit the stores.  That figure is 78% for women.  If you have a business you need a website – and it better be good. Unfortunately, too many of the automotive service websites I see are pretty dusty.  They haven’t changed since someone’s nephew put it up 5 years ago.  Usually the basics are covered: address, phone number and hours of service.  Maybe a blurb on how many years you’ve been in business or the services you perform.  What more can you do? [image]Well to really stand out you need to do a lot more because doing nothing is like hoping prospects will notice your smoke signals on the horizon.  This falls into two main areas: converting website visitors into customers and getting your website found.  A clever automotive service business has a website content strategy that does both. Customer Conversion A lot of business owners think that consumers visit their website to learn more about their business when the primary motivation is to learn more about the consumer’s problem.  My brakes are grinding: I go online to find out what might be the cause and how to get it fixed.  I don’t want surprises when I take my car in and I want to feel like I know enough about brakes to make a good service decision and not be taken advantage of.  If I can go to your website and get answers to my questions and gain confidence in my understanding – why wouldn’t I buy from you?  Put another way; if you offer something, why wouldn’t you have specific informative and compelling website content on the subject that conveys your expertise and caring?   It’s a natural key to converting website visitors into customers. People like to receive their information in different ways: some prefer the written word and others like video.  A sound content strategy includes both. Getting Found with Automotive Web Video In the course of business, I need to find websites of customers and prospects.  Even when I know the name of a particular automotive service center I sometimes have a hard time finding the website.  A couple of reasons for that: there are gazillions of websites and some of those old websites that haven’t changed in years are simply not indexed by the search engines with any frequency and have such a low search ranking that they never come up.  Such websites have little chance of getting you new customers and may even frustrate existing customers looking for you on the web. In this article I want to focus on organic search rankings as opposed to paid web marketing campaigns.  Organic search means that your website search ranking rises over time on its own merits rather than paying for “clicks” (which may be something you want to do – I’m just not going to talk about it here). Search engines such as Google and Yahoo have job to do: Connect people with the right websites.  Search engines look for websites that contain content that’s relevant to what people are searching for.  So if I want to be recommended to a consumer looking for brake service, my website should contain keywords related to various aspects of brake service.  The search engines will also judge your content by how long people stay on your website.  Videos are a great way to get people to spend time on your site: a prospect watches a 2 minute video on brake service and then watches 2 or 3 on other topics and pretty soon they’ve spent 10 minutes on your site.  The verdict: your site must be very relevant to people searching for brake service if they are staying on your site for so long. Search engines also like growing sites.  If you add fresh content pages every week, the search engines will be trained to index your site every week making the new content available for searchers. A lot of automotive centers are using social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to leverage their online presence, posting links to their useful website content on their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.  This enhances their local reputation as go-to guys for automotive service information and helps keep them top-of-mind with their customer community. In the automotive service arena, one of the most effective online marketers is Greg Buckley of Buckley’s Auto Care in Wilmington Delaware.  He’s been at it for several years.  He has a great looking website with a content strategy and a strong social media presence.  Recently I did a Goggle search for “Buckley’s Auto Care” Wilmington.  I got 169,000 results.  Now I don’t know if all of those are related to Greg, but I did check the first 150 and they were all his.  No matter how you look at it, that’s a lot of ways to be found.  With a reach like that, chances are any auto-service related search in Wilmington will bring up some of Greg’s content.  The proof: Greg averages 1.5 new customer calls every day.  Would 9 new customers a week help your bottom line? The Rub By now you’re probably saying: “I don’t have time for that.” “I don’t know how to do it.”  “How much would it cost to get someone to do this for me?”  You do have a business to run and whatever you do should be simple, quick and affordable. AutoNetTV Web Tools can do all of this for you.  Web Tools is easy to install on your website or can operate as a standalone site.  When you set-up your account, you start with an initial library of 15 automotive service videos and related articles.  The articles are full of information relevant to a particular service topic and are customized for the individual automotive center to aid in local search. A new video and article are added each week – automatically.  New content can be setup to automatically post to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.  It really couldn’t be easier and the subscription is very affordable.  If you don’t believe me, ask Greg Buckley. To learn more about automotive web video, check out  Web Tools or give us a call at 877-642-3555. Wed, 16 Jan 2013 03:52:12 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Smoke-Signals/blog/6499155/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-01-16T03:52:12Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop Let’s face it; a whole lot of your day revolves around the internet.  70% of shoppers research online before they hit the stores.  That figure is 78% for women.  If you have a business you need a website – and it better be good. Unfortunately, too many of the automotive service websites I see are pretty dusty.  They haven’t changed since someone’s nephew put it up 5 years ago.  Usually the basics are covered: address, phone number and hours of service.  Maybe a blurb on how many years you’ve been in business or the services you perform.  What more can you do? [image]Well to really stand out you need to do a lot more because doing nothing is like hoping prospects will notice your smoke signals on the horizon.  This falls into two main areas: converting website visitors into customers and getting your website found.  A clever automotive service business has a website content strategy that does both. Customer Conversion A lot of business owners think that consumers visit their website to learn more about their business when the primary motivation is to learn more about the consumer’s problem.  My brakes are grinding: I go online to find out what might be the cause and how to get it fixed.  I don’t want surprises when I take my car in and I want to feel like I know enough about brakes to make a good service decision and not be taken advantage of.  If I can go to your website and get answers to my questions and gain confidence in my understanding – why wouldn’t I buy from you?  Put another way; if you offer something, why wouldn’t you have specific informative and compelling website content on the subject that conveys your expertise and caring?   It’s a natural key to converting website visitors into customers. People like to receive their information in different ways: some prefer the written word and others like video.  A sound content strategy includes both. Getting Found with Automotive Web Video In the course of business, I need to find websites of customers and prospects.  Even when I know the name of a particular automotive service center I sometimes have a hard time finding the website.  A couple of reasons for that: there are gazillions of websites and some of those old websites that haven’t changed in years are simply not indexed by the search engines with any frequency and have such a low search ranking that they never come up.  Such websites have little chance of getting you new customers and may even frustrate existing customers looking for you on the web. In this article I want to focus on organic search rankings as opposed to paid web marketing campaigns.  Organic search means that your website search ranking rises over time on its own merits rather than paying for “clicks” (which may be something you want to do – I’m just not going to talk about it here). Search engines such as Google and Yahoo have job to do: Connect people with the right websites.  Search engines look for websites that contain content that’s relevant to what people are searching for.  So if I want to be recommended to a consumer looking for brake service, my website should contain keywords related to various aspects of brake service.  The search engines will also judge your content by how long people stay on your website.  Videos are a great way to get people to spend time on your site: a prospect watches a 2 minute video on brake service and then watches 2 or 3 on other topics and pretty soon they’ve spent 10 minutes on your site.  The verdict: your site must be very relevant to people searching for brake service if they are staying on your site for so long. Search engines also like growing sites.  If you add fresh content pages every week, the search engines will be trained to index your site every week making the new content available for searchers. A lot of automotive centers are using social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to leverage their online presence, posting links to their useful website content on their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.  This enhances their local reputation as go-to guys for automotive service information and helps keep them top-of-mind with their customer community. In the automotive service arena, one of the most effective online marketers is Greg Buckley of Buckley’s Auto Care in Wilmington Delaware.  He’s been at it for several years.  He has a great looking website with a content strategy and a strong social media presence.  Recently I did a Goggle search for “Buckley’s Auto Care” Wilmington.  I got 169,000 results.  Now I don’t know if all of those are related to Greg, but I did check the first 150 and they were all his.  No matter how you look at it, that’s a lot of ways to be found.  With a reach like that, chances are any auto-service related search in Wilmington will bring up some of Greg’s content.  The proof: Greg averages 1.5 new customer calls every day.  Would 9 new customers a week help your bottom line? The Rub By now you’re probably saying: “I don’t have time for that.” “I don’t know how to do it.”  “How much would it cost to get someone to do this for me?”  You do have a business to run and whatever you do should be simple, quick and affordable. AutoNetTV Web Tools can do all of this for you.  Web Tools is easy to install on your website or can operate as a standalone site.  When you set-up your account, you start with an initial library of 15 automotive service videos and related articles.  The articles are full of information relevant to a particular service topic and are customized for the individual automotive center to aid in local search. A new video and article are added each week – automatically.  New content can be setup to automatically post to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.  It really couldn’t be easier and the subscription is very affordable.  If you don’t believe me, ask Greg Buckley. To learn more about automotive web video, check out  Web Tools or give us a call at 877-642-3555. autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, blogs, customer service, motor age nonadult false Smoke Signals text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,blogs,customer service,motor age 784 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age / Blogs 0 6499155 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_KO-Size-Up-the-Competition/blog/6495559/31710.html [image]When I was in 1st grade my Dad took me on a Father and Son campout sponsored by our church.  It was late spring at Lake Tahoe – cold, gray and drizzly.  I spent a lot of time warming by the fire.  We did take a spin on a speed boat but no one would let me drive.  So when one of the dads broke out some boxing gloves and drew a ring in the sand, I was thinking this whole thing might not be a bust after all.  I watched while the older boys – 10 and 11 year olds – had their matches.  I was pretty confident that I could do better than they were; after all I watched Wild, Wild West every week and had all the moves down.  I begged Dad to let me get in the ring.  He finally relented and I was matched up with a 5th grader who weighed twice as much as me.  Frankly, I was quite surprised at how easily he knocked me on my can – repeatedly.  When it was over, his dad said to mine, “I guess my son is too well-built for your boy.”  I remember thinking, “Too well-built!  He’s 10 and I’m 6!” My point: whether we’re winning or losing in business, we need to take a critical and realistic look at ourselves as a competitor visa vie our competition.    Confident and fearless as I was as a boxer, I was totally out gunned and had no skill or strategy.  My opponent, relying on being “well-built”, could be in real trouble against a better trained contender.  A common assessment method is the SWOT analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.  You can find a lot of great information on how to conduct a SWOT analysis for your business – I just want to give an overview and motivate you to take action.  Keeping your head down while swinging away isn’t good enough in a day where the business environment changes as quickly as it does. Strengths When you look at the competitors in your service area, access their strengths relative to yours.  For example, you may be proud that your technicians are highly skilled and capable of pulling off any job.  But if your competitors are equally skilled, this strength doesn’t really give you a competitive advantage.  Keep looking until you can identify unique strengths that you can leverage to your advantage.  Think facilities, customer base, personality, capital, vendor relations, marketing ability, etc. Weaknesses This can be painful, but if you’re not honest, you’ll underrate the number and extent of the ways your competitors can use to beat you.  Just as important, don’t exaggerate your competitor’s weakness – when you underestimate them you can be dismissive of their successes while they’re running right over you. Opportunities  I think most small business owners and managers miss the boat on this one.  They are so busy running their business and doing the daily tasks that must be done they don’t take time to observe trends, gather market intelligence and think about how they can take advantage of change.  Aging national vehicle fleet, used vehicle availability, and shifting demographics of your best customers all present opportunities for success.  Ignored, change tends to work against you.  Information and analysis has never been so accessible.  What they haven’t made more of is time – you have to set some aside to recognize opportunities that can change your life.  Threats  You can’t live in fear and succeed; neither can you ignore threats and prosper.  Being able to identify threats in advance allows you time to mount a good defense.  If you get really good at discerning threats, you can turn them into opportunities that others miss. I challenge you to take some time here at the beginning of the year to do a SWOT analysis or something similar.  Review what you’ve written each month to see if your strategies and tactics are working and adjust as necessary.  Back up the courage and hope that you’ve already demonstrated by being in business with some new strategic skills – at worst you‘ll keep your butt off the canvas; and you might just take home the title. Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service        [image]When I was in 1st grade my Dad took me on a Father and Son campout sponsored by our church.  It was late spring at Lake Tahoe – cold, gray and drizzly.  I spent a lot of time warming by the fire.  We did take a spin on a speed boat but no one would let me drive.  So when one of the dads broke out some boxing gloves and drew a ring in the sand, I was thinking this whole thing might not be a bust after all.  I watched while the older boys – 10 and 11 year olds – had their matches.  I was pretty confident that I could do better than they were; after all I watched Wild, Wild West every week and had all the moves down.  I begged Dad to let me get in the ring.  He finally relented and I was matched up with a 5th grader who weighed twice as much as me.  Frankly, I was quite surprised at how easily he knocked me on my can – repeatedly.  When it was over, his dad said to mine, “I guess my son is too well-built for your boy.”  I remember thinking, “Too well-built!  He’s 10 and I’m 6!” My point: whether we’re winning or losing in business, we need to take a critical and realistic look at ourselves as a competitor visa vie our competition.    Confident and fearless as I was as a boxer, I was totally out gunned and had no skill or strategy.  My opponent, relying on being “well-built”, could be in real trouble against a better trained contender.  A common assessment method is the SWOT analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.  You can find a lot of great information on how to conduct a SWOT analysis for your business – I just want to give an overview and motivate you to take action.  Keeping your head down while swinging away isn’t good enough in a day where the business environment changes as quickly as it does. Strengths When you look at the competitors in your service area, access their strengths relative to yours.  For example, you may be proud that your technicians are highly skilled and capable of pulling off any job.  But if your competitors are equally skilled, this strength doesn’t really give you a competitive advantage.  Keep looking until you can identify unique strengths that you can leverage to your advantage.  Think facilities, customer base, personality, capital, vendor relations, marketing ability, etc. Weaknesses This can be painful, but if you’re not honest, you’ll underrate the number and extent of the ways your competitors can use to beat you.  Just as important, don’t exaggerate your competitor’s weakness – when you underestimate them you can be dismissive of their successes while they’re running right over you. Opportunities  I think most small business owners and managers miss the boat on this one.  They are so busy running their business and doing the daily tasks that must be done they don’t take time to observe trends, gather market intelligence and think about how they can take advantage of change.  Aging national vehicle fleet, used vehicle availability, and shifting demographics of your best customers all present opportunities for success.  Ignored, change tends to work against you.  Information and analysis has never been so accessible.  What they haven’t made more of is time – you have to set some aside to recognize opportunities that can change your life.  Threats  You can’t live in fear and succeed; neither can you ignore threats and prosper.  Being able to identify threats in advance allows you time to mount a good defense.  If you get really good at discerning threats, you can turn them into opportunities that others miss. I challenge you to take some time here at the beginning of the year to do a SWOT analysis or something similar.  Review what you’ve written each month to see if your strategies and tactics are working and adjust as necessary.  Back up the courage and hope that you’ve already demonstrated by being in business with some new strategic skills – at worst you‘ll keep your butt off the canvas; and you might just take home the title. Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service        Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:32:05 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_KO-Size-Up-the-Competition/blog/6495559/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-01-02T22:32:05Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop [image]When I was in 1st grade my Dad took me on a Father and Son campout sponsored by our church.  It was late spring at Lake Tahoe – cold, gray and drizzly.  I spent a lot of time warming by the fire.  We did take a spin on a speed boat but no one would let me drive.  So when one of the dads broke out some boxing gloves and drew a ring in the sand, I was thinking this whole thing might not be a bust after all.  I watched while the older boys – 10 and 11 year olds – had their matches.  I was pretty confident that I could do better than they were; after all I watched Wild, Wild West every week and had all the moves down.  I begged Dad to let me get in the ring.  He finally relented and I was matched up with a 5th grader who weighed twice as much as me.  Frankly, I was quite surprised at how easily he knocked me on my can – repeatedly.  When it was over, his dad said to mine, “I guess my son is too well-built for your boy.”  I remember thinking, “Too well-built!  He’s 10 and I’m 6!” My point: whether we’re winning or losing in business, we need to take a critical and realistic look at ourselves as a competitor visa vie our competition.    Confident and fearless as I was as a boxer, I was totally out gunned and had no skill or strategy.  My opponent, relying on being “well-built”, could be in real trouble against a better trained contender.  A common assessment method is the SWOT analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.  You can find a lot of great information on how to conduct a SWOT analysis for your business – I just want to give an overview and motivate you to take action.  Keeping your head down while swinging away isn’t good enough in a day where the business environment changes as quickly as it does. Strengths When you look at the competitors in your service area, access their strengths relative to yours.  For example, you may be proud that your technicians are highly skilled and capable of pulling off any job.  But if your competitors are equally skilled, this strength doesn’t really give you a competitive advantage.  Keep looking until you can identify unique strengths that you can leverage to your advantage.  Think facilities, customer base, personality, capital, vendor relations, marketing ability, etc. Weaknesses This can be painful, but if you’re not honest, you’ll underrate the number and extent of the ways your competitors can use to beat you.  Just as important, don’t exaggerate your competitor’s weakness – when you underestimate them you can be dismissive of their successes while they’re running right over you. Opportunities  I think most small business owners and managers miss the boat on this one.  They are so busy running their business and doing the daily tasks that must be done they don’t take time to observe trends, gather market intelligence and think about how they can take advantage of change.  Aging national vehicle fleet, used vehicle availability, and shifting demographics of your best customers all present opportunities for success.  Ignored, change tends to work against you.  Information and analysis has never been so accessible.  What they haven’t made more of is time – you have to set some aside to recognize opportunities that can change your life.  Threats  You can’t live in fear and succeed; neither can you ignore threats and prosper.  Being able to identify threats in advance allows you time to mount a good defense.  If you get really good at discerning threats, you can turn them into opportunities that others miss. I challenge you to take some time here at the beginning of the year to do a SWOT analysis or something similar.  Review what you’ve written each month to see if your strategies and tactics are working and adjust as necessary.  Back up the courage and hope that you’ve already demonstrated by being in business with some new strategic skills – at worst you‘ll keep your butt off the canvas; and you might just take home the title. Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service        autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, blogs, customer service, motor age nonadult false KO: Size Up the Competition text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,blogs,customer service,motor age 782 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age / Blogs 0 6495559 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_little-boxer/photo/18402281/31710.html Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:30:59 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_little-boxer/photo/18402281/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2013-01-02T22:30:59Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false little boxer photo 393 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18402281 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Logic-Emotion-Service-Decisions/blog/6487732/31710.html [image]In the service lane, which reigns supreme: Logic or Emotion.  Check out our article in the November-December 2012 issue of Fixed Ops.  Click here for a digital version.  See you on Page 30. Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. [image]In the service lane, which reigns supreme: Logic or Emotion.  Check out our article in the November-December 2012 issue of Fixed Ops.  Click here for a digital version.  See you on Page 30. Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:30:18 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Logic-Emotion-Service-Decisions/blog/6487732/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2012-12-14T09:30:18Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop [image]In the service lane, which reigns supreme: Logic or Emotion.  Check out our article in the November-December 2012 issue of Fixed Ops.  Click here for a digital version.  See you on Page 30. Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, blogs, customer service, motor age nonadult false Logic-Emotion: Service Decisions text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,blogs,customer service,motor age 729 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age / Blogs 0 6487732 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Fixed-Ops-Magjpg/photo/18269390/31710.html Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:28:02 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Fixed-Ops-Magjpg/photo/18269390/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2012-12-13T23:28:02Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false Fixed Ops Mag.jpg photo 453 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18269390 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Automotive-Digital-Menu-Board/video/1802069/31710.html Most of us are familiar with digital menu boards at restaurants and such, but may not know what to expect of an automotive specific application.  Check out this short sample of AutoNetTV's Digital Menu Board. Note the various templates or layouts.  The pricing is customizable.  Also note the various images, videos and 3D animations that play in various panels in the templates.  What plays in these content windows is selected by the service center.  Promotional assets can also be customized. For more info, check out this webpage or give us a call at 877-642-3555. Most of us are familiar with digital menu boards at restaurants and such, but may not know what to expect of an automotive specific application.  Check out this short sample of AutoNetTV's Digital Menu Board. Note the various templates or layouts.  The pricing is customizable.  Also note the various images, videos and 3D animations that play in various panels in the templates.  What plays in these content windows is selected by the service center.  Promotional assets can also be customized. For more info, check out this webpage or give us a call at 877-642-3555. Wed, 05 Dec 2012 04:45:05 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Automotive-Digital-Menu-Board/video/1802069/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2012-12-05T04:45:05Z Motor Age Videos AutoPro Workshop Most of us are familiar with digital menu boards at restaurants and such, but may not know what to expect of an automotive specific application.  Check out this short sample of AutoNetTV's Digital Menu Board. Note the various templates or layouts.  The pricing is customizable.  Also note the various images, videos and 3D animations that play in various panels in the templates.  What plays in these content windows is selected by the service center.  Promotional assets can also be customized. For more info, check out this webpage or give us a call at 877-642-3555. autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, motor age, videos nonadult false Automotive Digital Menu Board video autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,motor age,videos 664 1 4.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age / Videos 0 1802069 4041194 Member 250 222 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Serpentine-Belt-System/photo/18071533/31710.html Thu, 15 Nov 2012 06:49:01 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Serpentine-Belt-System/photo/18071533/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2012-11-15T06:49:01Z AutoPro Workshop nonadult false Serpentine Belt System photo 582 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 18071533 4041194 Member 250 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Tighten-Your-Belt-Selling-in-the-Modern-Age/blog/6464857/31710.html [image]With the median vehicle age exceeding 10 years, the automotive technology on which repair operations must be competent on a daily basis spans more than 20 years.  This is especially daunting when you look at the rocket ship trajectory of near-term developments.  This reality dictates that your financial and time commitment to training, equipment and information services has to step up.  And your ability to reflect that commitment in your pricing has to keep pace if you are going to maintain a sustainable profit margin. Lest you think that the technology gap always runs to the complicated, like new hybrid systems and dual clutch automated manual transmissions, let’s look at something decidedly low tech: serpentine belts.  Since the mid-90’s, serpentine belts have been made from EPDM.  There’s a big difference in how EPDM and the old neoprene belts age and wear; and there’s compelling evidence that a lot of service advisors and technicians haven’t kept up with this simple advancement. Neoprene belts tend to crack and lose chunks of material as they age.  EPDM belts don’t.  They lose material in the walls of the grooves. EPDM belts that are worn to the point that they are no longer able to provide the wedging force necessary to transfer torque to the accessories are left on the vehicle because they aren’t cracked or glazed.  Technicians aren’t testing with a belt wear gauge.   EPDM belts now have the same service life as their belt tensioner (rather than the 2 to 1 ratio under neoprene  A small fraction of EPDM belts that are returned under warranty are actually defective.  Noise complaints are due to a worn tensioner.   Further evidence of the impact inadequate training on EPDM serpentine belt and tensioner systems comes from studies that show that 25% to 75% of alternators that have been replaced are actually still working within specification when bench tested.  The serpentine belt simply didn’t have enough tension to properly spin the alternator.  The serpentine belt system transfers torque to the accessories and dampens the firing impulses of the engine.  A slipping belt and weak tensioner allow slippage and vibration that translates into heat transferred into the bearings of the accessories: Can you say “premature wear”. One shop began replacing serpentine belts and tensioners with alternator replacements and reduced alternator comebacks by 47 a year  Replacing a worn belt and tensioner can lower A/C temperature by 20 degrees  Loose belts can cause false codes   OK – this is a simple example of an advancement that’s been with us for nearly 20 years that is still not as recognized (and trained for) as it should be.  Of course, you also need the means to educate your customers on every service and maintenance topic in order to effectively sell service related to advancing technology.  For me – 10 years have passed between my last new vehicle purchases.  My current car is chock full of technologies that weren’t even available 11 years ago – and it will probably still be on the road 20 years from now.  What will tomorrow hold?  One thing we know for sure is that the learning curve will be steep.  Operations that don’t budget for the training necessary to keep up will be left behind.  And only those that are able to reflect the value of the cost of that training in their pricing will survive.  Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. [image]With the median vehicle age exceeding 10 years, the automotive technology on which repair operations must be competent on a daily basis spans more than 20 years.  This is especially daunting when you look at the rocket ship trajectory of near-term developments.  This reality dictates that your financial and time commitment to training, equipment and information services has to step up.  And your ability to reflect that commitment in your pricing has to keep pace if you are going to maintain a sustainable profit margin. Lest you think that the technology gap always runs to the complicated, like new hybrid systems and dual clutch automated manual transmissions, let’s look at something decidedly low tech: serpentine belts.  Since the mid-90’s, serpentine belts have been made from EPDM.  There’s a big difference in how EPDM and the old neoprene belts age and wear; and there’s compelling evidence that a lot of service advisors and technicians haven’t kept up with this simple advancement. Neoprene belts tend to crack and lose chunks of material as they age.  EPDM belts don’t.  They lose material in the walls of the grooves. EPDM belts that are worn to the point that they are no longer able to provide the wedging force necessary to transfer torque to the accessories are left on the vehicle because they aren’t cracked or glazed.  Technicians aren’t testing with a belt wear gauge.   EPDM belts now have the same service life as their belt tensioner (rather than the 2 to 1 ratio under neoprene  A small fraction of EPDM belts that are returned under warranty are actually defective.  Noise complaints are due to a worn tensioner.   Further evidence of the impact inadequate training on EPDM serpentine belt and tensioner systems comes from studies that show that 25% to 75% of alternators that have been replaced are actually still working within specification when bench tested.  The serpentine belt simply didn’t have enough tension to properly spin the alternator.  The serpentine belt system transfers torque to the accessories and dampens the firing impulses of the engine.  A slipping belt and weak tensioner allow slippage and vibration that translates into heat transferred into the bearings of the accessories: Can you say “premature wear”. One shop began replacing serpentine belts and tensioners with alternator replacements and reduced alternator comebacks by 47 a year  Replacing a worn belt and tensioner can lower A/C temperature by 20 degrees  Loose belts can cause false codes   OK – this is a simple example of an advancement that’s been with us for nearly 20 years that is still not as recognized (and trained for) as it should be.  Of course, you also need the means to educate your customers on every service and maintenance topic in order to effectively sell service related to advancing technology.  For me – 10 years have passed between my last new vehicle purchases.  My current car is chock full of technologies that weren’t even available 11 years ago – and it will probably still be on the road 20 years from now.  What will tomorrow hold?  One thing we know for sure is that the learning curve will be steep.  Operations that don’t budget for the training necessary to keep up will be left behind.  And only those that are able to reflect the value of the cost of that training in their pricing will survive.  Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. Thu, 15 Nov 2012 01:51:21 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Tighten-Your-Belt-Selling-in-the-Modern-Age/blog/6464857/31710.html Lance_Boldt 2012-11-15T01:51:21Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop [image]With the median vehicle age exceeding 10 years, the automotive technology on which repair operations must be competent on a daily basis spans more than 20 years.  This is especially daunting when you look at the rocket ship trajectory of near-term developments.  This reality dictates that your financial and time commitment to training, equipment and information services has to step up.  And your ability to reflect that commitment in your pricing has to keep pace if you are going to maintain a sustainable profit margin. Lest you think that the technology gap always runs to the complicated, like new hybrid systems and dual clutch automated manual transmissions, let’s look at something decidedly low tech: serpentine belts.  Since the mid-90’s, serpentine belts have been made from EPDM.  There’s a big difference in how EPDM and the old neoprene belts age and wear; and there’s compelling evidence that a lot of service advisors and technicians haven’t kept up with this simple advancement. Neoprene belts tend to crack and lose chunks of material as they age.  EPDM belts don’t.  They lose material in the walls of the grooves. EPDM belts that are worn to the point that they are no longer able to provide the wedging force necessary to transfer torque to the accessories are left on the vehicle because they aren’t cracked or glazed.  Technicians aren’t testing with a belt wear gauge.   EPDM belts now have the same service life as their belt tensioner (rather than the 2 to 1 ratio under neoprene  A small fraction of EPDM belts that are returned under warranty are actually defective.  Noise complaints are due to a worn tensioner.   Further evidence of the impact inadequate training on EPDM serpentine belt and tensioner systems comes from studies that show that 25% to 75% of alternators that have been replaced are actually still working within specification when bench tested.  The serpentine belt simply didn’t have enough tension to properly spin the alternator.  The serpentine belt system transfers torque to the accessories and dampens the firing impulses of the engine.  A slipping belt and weak tensioner allow slippage and vibration that translates into heat transferred into the bearings of the accessories: Can you say “premature wear”. One shop began replacing serpentine belts and tensioners with alternator replacements and reduced alternator comebacks by 47 a year  Replacing a worn belt and tensioner can lower A/C temperature by 20 degrees  Loose belts can cause false codes   OK – this is a simple example of an advancement that’s been with us for nearly 20 years that is still not as recognized (and trained for) as it should be.  Of course, you also need the means to educate your customers on every service and maintenance topic in order to effectively sell service related to advancing technology.  For me – 10 years have passed between my last new vehicle purchases.  My current car is chock full of technologies that weren’t even available 11 years ago – and it will probably still be on the road 20 years from now.  What will tomorrow hold?  One thing we know for sure is that the learning curve will be steep.  Operations that don’t budget for the training necessary to keep up will be left behind.  And only those that are able to reflect the value of the cost of that training in their pricing will survive.  Lance Boldt is Vice President and Co-Founder of AutoNetTV.  AutoNetTV’s digital signage products deliver entertaining and educational TV programming to the lobbies of automotive service and repair businesses as well as digital menu boards and automotive website video content. autonettv, autonettv digital menu board, autonettv lobby tv, autonettv web tools, blogs, customer service, motor age, serpentine belt, serpentine belt tensioner nonadult false Tighten Your Belt: Selling in the Modern Age text blog autonettv,autonettv digital menu board,autonettv lobby tv,autonettv web tools,blogs,customer service,motor age,serpentine belt,serpentine belt tensioner 2024 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4041194&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_1982534_31710_4041194_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Motor Age / Blogs 0 6464857 4041194 Member 250