The Impact of Technology on the Automobile Industry

Over the years, we have witnessed many enormous transformations in the automobile industry. The automobile giants and their engineers are working tirelessly to embrace new technologies and introduce innovations in the modern-day vehicle. Cars evolve with technology. Thanks to automotive marketing, car buyers and enthusiasts are able to keep pace with this evolving automobile technology.

In the recent years, the concept of "in-vehicle services" has gained prominence with many consumers looking forward to enjoying the benefits of infotainment systems and advanced driver assistance systems.

• Connected In-Car Infotainment

Automotive infotainment is one of the fastest growing technologies in the automobile industry and owing to the smartphone technology boom in today’s world, this growth trend is expected to rise in the future.

Apple CarPlay or Android Auto Play is taking most of the limelight in auto advertisements in Dallas these days with many consumers considering these to be a “must-have feature” in their cars. The trend of integrating the car’s embedded system with the driver’s mobile device is currently shaping the car market. This feature allows users to tether their smartphones to a vehicle’s in-dash display and thereby get hands-free access to its driving related services.

Calling, texting, navigation etc. - all these areas are addressed by CarPlay and AutoPlay. These features not only display large app icons in the central display, but they also allow users to navigate apps through built-in car controls. It is basically entertainment with safety as a priority. For example, when a driver connects his iPhone to his car, he can conveniently change music or call some without taking his eyes off the road by using the buttons on the steering wheel.

The greatest aspects of Apple CarPlay are Apple Maps and Siri. Siri's ability to read, reply and send messages is impressive. Similarly, if a driver asks "Siri, where is the nearest McDonald’s?" the system will respond with a route and time estimate almost instantly.

• ADAS Technology

This is yet another remarkable technology which is being talked about in many auto advertisements in Dallas. ADAS uses modern detection and alert systems to enhance on-road safety. This technology senses road conditions with the help of radar and sensors; it informs the driver of hazardous road conditions and in some cases, even stops the vehicle. It also monitors in-vehicle health like tire pressure.

Road accidents have become quite frequent in many major cities. In such a scenario, auto advertising agencies should focus on promoting the importance of road safety and car health.

ADAS technology is great for detecting objects in the vehicle’s blind spot, lane change assistance, forward collision warnings and more.  Highly advanced systems can also predict actions of other drivers. For example, it can predict when a car is about to back out from a parking space. ADAS technology is in vogue and the demand and advancement are expected to rise steeply in the coming future.

Technology largely affects the way cars are designed, manufactured, operated and maintained. Consumer preference of a car’s design, performance, and safety also greatly depends on recent technological trends.  Whether it’s changing the music while driving, sending a text message, finding the nearest gas station or parallel parking with sensor-based assistance, technology has changed the way people drive a car. In the near future, consumers can expect upcoming vehicles to integrate more technological solutions. Hence, auto advertising agencies should consider building their automotive marketing strategies around these areas.

Keys to Effective Automotive Video Marketing Strategy

If you wish to find success in an increasingly digital marketplace, then it is essential to invest consistent effort and employ the latest marketing techniques.There are several agencies that offer specialized automotive marketing in Dallas and other localities. Choosing the right method that suits your needs and falls within your budget limits is not always simple. It helps to employ the aid of professionals. Moreover, you also need to consider your market condition, competitors and business goals for selecting the right channel of advertising.

Automotive video marketing is one of the most versatile and strategic methods to promote your business and generate new streams of revenue. Why should you consider video marketing for your automotive advertising needs?

• Videos have great influence on boosting conversions and increasing sales. According to recent studies, 74% of users who watched a video on a product have bought the product eventually.

• About 76% of businesses agree that video marketing campaigns have provided a good return on investment. Although video production isn’t cheap, it is easily worth the money when done right. Besides, smartphone technology and online video editing tools are advancing at a rapid rate which makes video production more affordable.

• Video builds customer trust and loyalty. Automotive videos engage and evoke emotions in customers minds. The major goal of any automotive marketing technique is to build customer relationships and trust, and promotional videos are a proven way to achieve this. According to a survey report, 57% of the consumers said that videos foster trust and gave them the confidence to make a purchase.

• Google and mobile users love videos. We all know the importance of search engine rankings and online visibility. Videos have a great influence on your search engine rank and embedding videos on your business website is more likely to increase the traffic to your website. Moreover, the number of smartphone users is growing, which translates to an increased number of viewers.

• The next question is what type of videos do you need for your business? Having a video recorder or smartphone won’t be enough. You need to develop a good content marketing strategy before proceeding with your video production plan. Some of the possible options include:

• Vehicle reviews: As a dealership, one of your most important tasks is to educate and inform potential customers about your inventory. You can film new and used vehicles in your showroom with expert reviews or highlighting features. You can even consider shooting a test drive or recording the experience of a customer.

• Service department: Dealerships not only deal with the sale of vehicles but servicing and financing as well. Think about filming the details of such services by taking a video tour of your dealership’s service and finance departments.

• Words from your staff: You need to generate trust among customers in order to build long term connections. Record your sales team and let them speak about their services and experience at the dealership.

Once you have produced a quality video, the next important decision involves posting the videos. Where should you post the video? More than 50% of website traffic is generated from mobile devices. Some of the standard platforms for posting your videos include social media, YouTube and your website itself.

Video marketing is one of the best forms of creative auto advertisement strategies in Dallas. All you have to do is come up with a strong content strategy, production tools, and techniques to create and post the best automotive videos.

4 Best Strategies for Your Digital Automotive Marketing

When it comes to embracing the digital revolution, the automotive sector has always been a step behind. But thanks to the changing consumer behavior, the automotive industry has been eager to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in digital marketing realm. In today’s world, half of the potential buyers make use of online resources in order to make an informed decision.

They check the expert reviews of latest car models, read customer feedbacks and follow the brands on social media to figure out more about the latest makes and models in the automobile industry. So if you are running a dealership, then you need to tap into digital marketing opportunities by seeking the services of a unique automotive marketing agency in Dallas or any other locality. Below listed are some of the best ideas and strategies for promoting your automotive business across the digital platform.

• Acquiring digital data and building CRM database: We all know the importance of collecting data for launching an innovative marketing campaign across the online platforms. But acquiring data and building an audience database is not an easy task. That is where we need unique automotive marketing ideas and strategies. Yahoo! in collaboration with Hyundai found an easy way to drive data acquisition and build their CRM database. All they did was to launch an easy to enter sweepstakes. Hyundai fans were eager to submit the online form by providing all the necessary details. The final result was around 362K shares, 6K shares and 47% conversion rate. 

• Monetize social media and amplify conversions: The best way to get connected with the modern day consumers is through social media platforms. Boosting the social presence and conversion is quintessential for increasing the reach and customer engagement. BMW did it by featuring a social hub to its BMW Championship webpage. Fan followers and website visitors kept a close tab on the latest updates by checking out the social wall of BMW. Quality social content from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, together with selected highlights from the golfing event were featured. In fact, the brand even started a social chat around Twitter with #BMWChamps to amplify the buzz and enhance its reach.

• Build and improve a positive branding image: Building and retaining a positive brand image is essential for the success of any business. Since the auto industry is witnessing a cut-throat competition, your business needs to maintain and enhance a positive brand perception in order to catch the attention of masses. And that is what exactly Chevrolet did. The bowtie brand launched a social media campaign with #DayItForward trend to celebrate the extra day in a leap year. The campaign encouraged the social media users to do something nice and kind to someone who least expects it. Well, in the end the idea paid off as 22.7K people contributed to the campaign in a single-day and positive brand perception was reported as 98%. 

• Develop interactive experiences with the audience through video content: Video marketing has been a highly sought after marketing trend in the recent days. Not only video engages the laziest buyer by evoking emotion, but it also builds trust and perceived value. National Geographic and Toyota entered into a partnership in order to launch an innovative campaign. National Geographic published a video campaign and sweepstake on its website to engage with the online visitors. Participants needed to watch a video, attend a poll screen and submit their entries. As a result, both the companies had all the valuable audience data with them. 

Launching a successful digital marketing campaign won’t be an easy task. That is why it is strongly advised to seek the expertise and services of the best automotive marketing company.