The Mobile Apps Every Dealer Should Know About

Here at RV Trader, we are constantly striving to provide you with the most up-to-date information on new and improved technology to help you boost your dealership’s digital footprint and further measure business success.

With the mobile app industry expanding to accommodate the needs of countless industries, we’ve come across a number of mobile applications to help your company make the most of every hour of every day, pushing business success no matter where in the world you are. With just the touch of a few buttons, the apps listed in this lineup all serve a helpful, measurable purpose that could truly transform the way you use mobile to enhance your dealership’s operations, employee communication and productivity, and digital marketing effectiveness.

Take a look and see if you are currently taking advantage of these influential applications:

NADA Guides
iOS / Android

Pricing and value details on various vehicles and units are important- too important to only be able to access while sitting at a desk behind a computer. Keep this trusted guide provider on your mobile dashboard, and you’ll be able to successfully field related customer questions and inquiries, no matter where your business travels take you.

LinkedIn

iOS / Android

Businesses succeed through the development of connections with members of a number of audiences and communities, and LinkedIn helps you grow and maintain those relationships. Keep in touch with acquaintances and tell your story, developing your brand’s digital footprint online. Follow feeds that provide you with information on industry news and interests, and easily find top qualified employees to support your business needs.

Evernote
iOS / Android

This app will transform the way you manage projects, ideas, and notes - no matter what device you’re using. Curate to-do lists and save items, photos, and links from the web, or simply use it to take notes for client profile development. You can even scan and digitize documents, business cards, and any other physical collateral you don’t want to discard or lose.

MailChimp

iOS / Android

It’s true- email marketing and customer follow-up doesn’t have to be hard! With this the MailChimp app, you can develop, execute and track email campaigns- easily and securely from your phone. Effortlessly track campaigns, preview drafts, and view simplistic but valuable analytics on each and every email campaign you submit.

Survey Monkey

iOS / Android

Getting an accurate, understandable read on the opinions and feedback of your customers and community members may appear to be a heavy task at first, but with SurveyMonkey, the hard work is done for you. With dozens of templates to choose from, you can build eye-catching, effective surveys and submit them to your audiences through various platforms, including social media channels and, email, and text. Plus, tracking has never been easier, as your results are updated continuously in real-time.

Deputy

iOS / Android

This app takes the complications out of employee scheduling, payroll management, and task delegation. Publish schedules via text, email, and more, and track your employee’s logged work times by having them clock-in using the app. You can even rate your team’s performance and have the app remind employees about their upcoming shifts, and instantly find shift replacements with the touch of a button.

Hootsuite

iOS / Android

Finding the time to regularly update your company’s profile on various social networks may at first appear to be a major time killer, but with the Hootsuite app, you can write and schedule all of your posts days, weeks, or even months ahead of time- freeing up more of your time for important daily business operations. You can even autoschedule messages to post at the most ideal time for your audiences, keeping you from guesstimating what time your key demographics are most engaged online.

NetSuite OneWorld

iOS / Android

Finance management, at the tip of your fingers? Believe it - this app does it all. If you have an account with NetSuite and download this app, you can access your cloud from anywhere, virtually taking your business with you on-the-go. From calendar management and purchase approvals to estimate reports and expense management, once this app is on your mobile device, you’ve got all your business content available to you, regardless of your location.

Basecamp III

iOS / Android

When it comes to group messaging, Basecamp is by far the way to go. Create message boards, interact within chat rooms, schedule deadlines and organize documents - with the most recent iteration of this app, digital team communication is simple and easy, and you may just see productivity skyrocket.

ScanBot

iOS / Android

If you need a simple way to convert and upload documents and QR codes, ScanBot is your go-to. You can even send the documents you upload automatically via email and fax, and incorporate visual themes before sending to contacts. Plus, it’s passcode-protected, so you won’t have to worry about manually guarding sensitive information contained within the app.

Join.Me

iOS / Android

Conference calls have never been easier. Because Join.Me connects via internet or cell connection, you never have to worry about difficulties viewing and hearing shared content in real time. Instantly share screens and communicate easily- conference calls couldn’t get any simpler or more enjoyable due to the ease of this app.

SuccessFactors

iOS / Android

In search of a better way to develop working, productive relationships between various employees, managers, and more? Inspire your employees to hit specific goals to attain tangible rewards, and schedule one-on-one meetings to follow up about their progress. This app enables you to show your employees that they play a valuable role on your dealership’s team, and has the ability to increase productivity and workflow via improved communication and goal setting.

RingCentral

iOS / Android

No more checking countless phone calls when you get back to work on Monday- if you’re waiting for an important point of contact to get in touch with you for work outside of business hours - RingCentral enables you to make calls and check messages from your business phone, all via the app on your mobile device. Plus, if the landline phones at your dealership aren’t working due to power outages or technical difficulties, this backup could literally save business for the day.

While this list certainly includes some of our favorites, there are dozens more apps out there that can prove beneficial when it comes to improved dealership management. What apps do you see as your go-to’s at the dealership? Are you still in search of an app that serves a specific performance function for your business? Comment and let us know.

The Path to Purchase: The Way Technology Continues to Change the RV Industry

The Path to Purchase

The Way Technology Continues to Change the RV Industry

Before we dive into the depths of how the Internet has changed consumer shopping habits, let’s first take a quick look at the average RV buyer.

• Only 18% of RV buyers contact a dealership before visiting it in person1

• 45% will wait up to a day for a dealer to respond before moving on - and 52% then contact another dealer1

• 90% of RV buyers say they aren’t loyal to a specific brand or manufacturer1

• 55% of RV consumers plan to have the keys to their next unit within a week of contacting a dealer1

If you look at these statistics as whole - one thing is evident: the Internet has changed the research process.

Because of this - brace yourself - they are using the Internet instead of coming into the dealership to decide which unit will match their budget and lifestyle. Now, you can expect that a consumer is more informed and further along the path to purchase when they arrive at your dealership.

In this ever-changing digital culture, how do you position your dealership to be seen as a resource for consumers, even when they aren’t physically walking through your doors and asking for information?

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1. Put time and effort into building your online presence.

A new Nielsen Company audience report suggests that, on average, U.S. adults spend 10 hours and 39 minutes a day consuming digital media. Out of 168 hours in a week, over 74 of them are spent using devices.2 That means we spend nearly 50% of our time each week using technology in some way, shape or form.  It is inarguable that the Internet has changed the way consumers are researching their potential purchases.

Google has actually coined the phrase “Zero Moment of Truth” to describe the process of gathering research that happens prior to ever stepping foot in a dealership. By that point, the buyer has compiled all of their research together in order to confidently make a final choice on the item - or unit - they will purchase, which means your online presence is more important than ever.

To keep consumers engaged with your listings - as opposed to researching your competition - it is important that you treat your online listings as an extension of your dealership. Think of them as your online showroom where consumers can begin to familiarize themselves with your brand and value proposition. It is easy for a consumer to see the difference between a quality listing - packed with photos and a video to see the entire scope of the unit - as opposed to a few stock photos thrown together. Just because a consumer hasn't contacted you yet, doesn't mean they can't tell the difference between a dealer who puts time into building their online listings and one who doesn't - and guess which dealership will ultimately get that lead?

Even if a consumer has a large amount of discretionary income to spend, the purchase of an RV is still a big commitment and they want to take their time to determine what unit will best fit into their budget and lifestyle. Make sure to include high-quality, original photos and videos, a detailed description and a price to help them fall in love with the unit the minute they lay eyes on it. Don’t skimp on your listings. The more detail, the better. Always.

2. Analyze consumer insights and adjust accordingly

The trajectory of a buyer’s path to purchase is fairly unpredictable -- but we know that, on average, they are spending 123 days educating themselves on what the market has to offer, what a fair purchase price is, how a unit will fit into their lifestyle and what dealership will meet their needs.4  Just as consumers are researching you - you should be researching them to fully understand what attracts them and causes them to engage with your listings online.  

It is important to take a holistic look at your marketing campaign, truly understanding what is driving traffic to your website and which online listings are producing the most engagement. With consumers hesitant to contact a dealer, focusing the success of your marketing campaigns on just phone call and email leads will likely leave you feeling slightly disillusioned. It’s imperative that you understand how consumer is engaging with you online prior to reaching out or walking through the front door of your dealership.

Let's play this out a little further. Say a consumer sends you a lead email or makes a quick call inquiring about the price of a unit. Even though they contacted you, this really isn't a qualified, high-quality lead. They were just looking for more information because it wasn’t provided. Now let’s shift and think about the consumer who finds everything they need online during their research process. They print out a map and show up in your dealership later that day. You’ve never communicated with this person, but they are an extremely qualified lead. They are informed and ready to leave with keys in their hand.

In today's digitally-influenced market, there is so much more to leads than phone calls and emails. A consumer is looking for so much more when they land on your ad detail page. They are looking for information, guidance and reassurance that you are the right dealer with the right unit for them.

Test it yourself. Build out a listing with 5-10 original photos, a great description, a price - maybe even a video. Then post one that has only stock photos, a minimal description and no price. See which one does better. Remember to look at more than just how many phone calls and emails you get. Consumers will rely on the more robust listing as a resource and engage with it much more heavily than the less detailed listing - particularly because they can find the information from the basic listing through other resources.

3. Understand that your marketing strategy must be multi-dimensional

The truth is, two people will likely never take the same exact path to a purchase. The average consumer consults 18+ sources during their decision-making process, making the path to purchase look more like a complex interstate exchange - with exits and entrances all along the way.5 It’s easy for someone to get lost in their research journey.

Whether a consumer begins their search through social media, word of mouth, at an event, an OEM’s website or elsewhere, your dealership’s branding and message should be clear and consistent -- ultimately create an appealing and trusted purchase environment. We cannot anticipate that most - if any - consumers will take the same path to purchase. They will each have their own method and it is important to make sure they can find your dealership no matter how and where they are choosing to search.

With 79% of consumers turning online to research a major offline purchase, the pressure is on for you as a dealer.4 You have to be present and engage your consumers across all mediums in order to hang with competitors in - and around - your market. Be sure to focus on:

• Beefing up your social media presence: Buyers love social media. It is the perfect mix between honest opinions and a community of die-hard fans. Be sure to engage in a two-way conversation with your followers on social media. Be present. Answer their questions, respond to their comments and help them get a peek into what doing business with your dealership would be like. Don’t hesitate to have a little fun here either. Consumers on social channels are looking to be both engaged and entertained.

• Building a website worthy of your dealership: 61% of consumers are unlikely to return to a site they have had difficulty using.6 We’ve all been there. A site that loads slowly, looks like it was made in the ‘90s and before we’ve read any of the content -- we’ve moved on. Consumers often feel that the experience they have on your website is a direct reflection the experience they will have if they walked inside your dealership. If your website’s a mess, they have reason to believe your physical location - and service - is too.

• Understanding how search affects your traffic: There is no question that with an average of 2.3 million searches performed each minute on Google, that the search engine is the place most consumers start their search.3 Build ads that are relevant to your target market or areas where you would like to grow market share, as well as the inventory you carry. This will help increase brand awareness for your business in the areas that really count.

• Having the best ads out there: We discussed this earlier, but your online listings really are a vital part of your online presence. Your dealership’s livelihood is based off of moving units, so why not spend some time making your ad listings the best they can be? The more effort you put in, the higher your return on investment will be.

• Giving consumers a low-pressure way to get information: When consumers seek information, they want it fast. Half of shoppers spend 75% of their total shopping time conducting online research.7 This includes inquiries to dealers. Integrating a chat platform on your website gives consumers a quick and convenient way to reach out for information. Do keep in mind that if you have chat - you have to be present and respond in a timely manner. There is no worse experience for a consumer than reaching out and hearing nothing but crickets - and that’s why 51.6% of them will reach out to your competition instead.1

1HotJar, 2016.

2 Nielsen Company Audience Report, 2016.

3 BusinessInsider.com, 2016.

4 ComScore, 2016.

5 http://dealers.tapcars.com/engine-bay/how-car-buyers-shop/, 2016.

6 Google Surveys, 2016.

7 HubSpot, 2016.

Did You Know? RV Trader's Revolutionary Dealer Tool Expands the Reach of SylvanSport’s New Inventory

The RV Trader family is proud to announce that we've partnered with SylvanSport to feed current dealer inventory from RVTrader.com directly to SylvanSport.com, allowing consumers to easily view available inventory and request more information without ever having to leave the OEM’s website.

When a prospective buyer uses the “Find a Dealer” tool on the SylvanSport website, current online inventory from RV Trader will display, along with product photos and advertised prices. Manufacturers like SylvanSport use this tool to easily display their dealers’ units for sale on their website, giving interested buyers, particularly those still in the research phase of their path to purchase, the information they need.

“SylvanSport places a great emphasis on providing every tool possible to set our dealer-partners up for success. This live inventory technology from RV Trader makes it easier than ever for customers to see exactly what their local dealer has in stock,” said Kyle Mundt, vice president of marketing for SylvanSport. “We’re very excited to partner with RV Trader on this innovative tool.”

“Our dealer tool is a simple way for OEMs to provide consumers with a comprehensive shopping experience on their sites,” added Paige Bouma, vice president of RV Trader. “By showing their listings to buyers, they can effortlessly find the unit they are searching for and contact the dealer without ever leaving SylvanSport.com.

Current SylvanSport dealers on RV Trader are already displaying on SylvanSport.com and SylvanSport dealers who are not RV Trader customers can call (877)-354-4068 or contact their local RV Trader representative to learn more about the program. Manufacturers interested in integrating the dealer tool onto their homepage can contact affiliates@rvtrader.com for more information.