Leadpile’s Blog

Many industry experts are predicting that intensifying economic pressure is sure to lead more auto dealers to consider closing. According to the Detroit News, “General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and privately held Chrysler LLC are going through cash at a faster rate than they generate it, and investors worry that one or more of the companies could run short, perhaps before the end of next year”

According to the Wall Street Journal,  “Ford, GM and Chrysler are running programs aimed at reducing their dealership network by weeding out under-performing sites while bolstering profitability potential for those who remain. The auto makers are kicking in cash to help dealers buy out one another or exit the business”.

What will happen to Dealerships as more competetion, and a weekening economy, continues to “hit” them?

The answer is pretty straight forward. Competition will reign supreme, and efficiencies in sales cycles, cash flows, and ROI’s will rule the day.

What does this mean for the portion of LeadPile’s business that makes up our Online Exclusive Auto Lead Exchange?  Simply put, as more efficiency is demanded by the market, only those companies that can compete with an efficient deliverable (in this case an auto lead), will continue to gain market share.

If you are a lead buyer in our Online Auto Lead Exchange, and you need anything at all to make your buying experience even better, please do not hesitate to ask. We are at your service!,

I was on the EcomXpo online trade show this week and WOW, pretty amazing people.  So I’m at the lounge to interact and market, yet you see a few attendees craving attention.  Being mean, to put their name out there.  Yes, being indecent, vulgar  and obnoxious.  But for the most, part it was a phenomenal show and the interactions with some more serious players were beyond concrete.  Of course I got a good laugh in the lounge. 

I must say trade shows are hard work, even online.  Great experience it is but next week follow ups will be constant dialing to reach out and indulge in making new partners.  

Trade shows respect has moved into different directions.  

Working with advertisers and publishers, many might think its a waste of time to attend the trade shows. What matters is what works, not what its “thought”.  The facts count.  The facts are that they work, get a feel for the networking inside trade shows and how it will bring in business and strategic partners.  

I remember going to ad-tech, sure the interaction is there.  Nothing like talking face to face and meeting the person on the other side of the phone.  But one thing that bothers me is some of these attendees are just their for the booze!  Each time I talk to them, they are with a new company, they talk a big game but talk is cheap and when it comes down to business they are shady.  Its ridiculous that one person has been with 5 different companies within the industry in a short period of time.  

I scratch my head and ask myself “who hires them?”.  Now, now, I’m being honest not offensive, but realistically why would you hire someone that has been with a multitude of lead exchanges in such a short time and doesn’t fit in.  

Ad-Tech, Affiliate Summit, EcomXpo and all other trade shows believe it or not is a perfect place to network and create new partners.  Over 10,000 exhibitors and attendees go to these social networks so that’s a lot of business.  

When you do get a chance visit some of the conferences and discussions that are offered. You will learn valuable information that all in all will be beneficial to your business.  

In the lead exchange open doors for new opportunities, there is a need for leads in almost every industry, you just have to know how to approach it! 

Working in affiliate marketing you always want to figure out creative ways to get your name out there on the net.  Here are some places that I found to be helpful in building the partners I am working with.

LinkedIn- great place to join various groups and have access to companies in your line of work.  I found that some people I come across in my network are companies/websites that I would not have necessarily located with one of the search engines.  LinkedIn is also great to get some professional advice from all the people in your network.   You create a profile and the website does the work for you!  Great site to get your name out there! 

http://www.linkedin.com/home?trk=hb_home

Glam Interactive Group- womens on-line networking site.  This site allows you to get in touch with women who are always looking for new partnerships and new ventures.  You have a profile on this site and the website does the work of connecting you with other women in the industry.

http://glaminteractivenetwork.ning.com

Ecomexpo- a virtual tradeshow for the on-line marketing industry.  If your company can’t necessarily get out to the tradeshows around the US, then this is a great way to network and meet new potential partners. You can have a booth set up or just be a visitor.  Nice way to get a lot of new contacts in companies that you might already be working in or have wanted to work with.  All the work can be done from your desk.

http://www.ecomxpo.com/

youtube- great place to see some off the wall videos, but I also found it to be a place that you could locate some partners.  There are a lot of affiliate marketers doing videos and talking about various aspects of the industry.  Maybe they are a great candidate to become a partner or they have connections to those that might be interested.

http://www.youtube.com/

Trying to come up with unique ways to get new partners is something I feel that you have to do in order to grow your business.  Using these sites has helped me to come into contact with new people that I might not have ever ran into.