Dealer.com—Car Dealer Website Solutions, SEM and SEO

August 2008

• Dealer.com Launches Live Visitor Lead Calculator™One-of-a-Kind Tool Allows Dealers to Estimate Potential Sales From Websites Before They Buy

  August 18th, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, has launched a redesigned website that includes the Live Visitor Lead Calculator™, a revolutionary new tool that allows dealers to estimate the potential sales that a Dealer.com SmartSite™ will generate before they buy. Based on over ten years of data collected from more than 7,000 dealer websites across the country, Dealer.com can predict the approximate number of visitors that an industry leading website in a particular region will organically generate. By entering in the franchise and area that a dealership is located in, the tool provides instant estimates of unique visitors, leads and then based on closing rates, potential sales revenue.

  “One of the most challenging aspects that dealers face when shopping for a new website vendor is that they don't know what kind of return they can expect from their most important and effective marketing investment,” said Mark Bonfigli, president and CEO of Dealer.com. “With the launch of this unique technology, we are the only Internet marketing vendor that discloses this invaluable information that takes the guesswork out of dealers' investments.”

  “Dealer.com offers this tool with confidence because we have looked at industry statistics and know that our products deliver the most total lead and phone calls, which is the number one thing dealers need to be focused on in buying an Internet marketing platform,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer of Dealer.com. “We want dealers to see those numbers that will translate into sales up front, as the majority of our competitors' salespeople can't provide this type of information until after the site goes live.”

  Dealership website traffic varies considerably based on a number of factors, including how well the site is search engine optimized, organic customer demand, market trends, other offline advertising, time of year, geographical location and more. Likewise, conversion rates of visitors into leads varies based on how well the site is designed and how diligent the dealerships are in updating content and inventory and using back end tools to boost site performance. The Live Visitor Lead Calculator gives a 30-day rolling average based on calculations of direct visitors to more than 5,000 Dealer.com sites and those generated from search engine results. They do not include the higher numbers a dealer can reasonably expect to achieve by adding a paid search program to their Internet marketing initiatives. Lead counts include both form submissions and phone lead estimates.

  The Live Visitor Lead Calculator can be accessed at Dealer.com's redesigned website, www.dealer.com. The new website was built using the advanced Web 2.0 platform that provides dealers with an interactive experience and showcases the high quality of rich media that Dealer.com incorporates into its website designs. Dealers can also glimpse inside the cutting edge corporate culture at Dealer.com and review detailed information on all of Dealer.com's products and services.

• Dealer.com Announces EasyLaunch for Flawless Transition to New Websites

  August 4, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced EasyLaunchSM, a dedicated world class process for automotive dealers that speeds the transition from an old website to a new one. EasyLaunch virtually eliminates concerns associated with switching vendors such as site down time, technical problems, or lost website traffic and leads.

  “Our process has been perfected over the last ten years during which we've launched more than 5,000 websites,” said Rick Gibbs, chief technology officer for Dealer.com.

  “We were very nervous about flipping the switch because I had heard stories from other people about how their site had been down for days or had technical problems,” said Gregg Berkowitz, Internet director for Park Avenue Auto Group in New Jersey (www.parkavebmw.com) “But Dealer.com handled the transition really well; in fact it was pretty much flawless.”

  Each Dealer.com customer is assigned an EasyLaunch team that includes the Regional Sales Director, Project Manager, dedicated Account Manager and Creative Designer (if the customer chooses additional custom design work). The team conducts an in-depth dealer prep and launch survey that outlines the dealer's current needs, then creates a process map that details instructions to achieve a fast and effortless new site launch.

  The EasyLaunch process also provides dealers with the following benefits:

  • Expert SEO Team. Dealer.com's SEO consultants work with the site designer to keep current organic traffic levels consistent and growing after a new site launch.
  • World Class Training. Online video training and weekly live training classes allow dealership employees to login whenever it's convenient for them, increasing overall participation and performance during the transition.
  • Power To The Dealer newsletter and Driving Sales (www.drivingsales.com) online network. All Dealer.com customers have access to these valuable informational sources for continued learning and development.

July 2008

• Dealer.com Launches Cyber CarLot™Revolutionary Standalone Vehicle Inventory System Designed to Generate Additional Leads and Phone Calls

  July 21, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced the launch of Cyber CarLot™, a revolutionary standalone vehicle inventory management system. Cyber CarLot plugs into any third-party automotive dealership web site, allowing dealers to replace existing inventory pages with a customized inventory system proven to generate additional leads and phone calls from a dealer's own site.

  “Inventory is one of the most important parts of a dealer's web site, and it's very important to have a dynamic page that reflects current offerings. Even if a dealer doesn't have the exact car a consumer wants, Cyber CarLot is designed to offer a wealth of alternatives to keep visitors clicking and increase conversion rates,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer of Dealer.com. “Dealer.com has lead the industry in vehicle inventory management for the last half decade. What we design and build has been constantly duplicated by our competition.”

  Cyber CarLot has the most advanced features of any product on the market today. Consumers can search for vehicles using attributes such as make, model, location, price, color and year. The search engine then returns results with a list of specific vehicles that match the criteria so the consumer can link directly from the search result page to the dealer's inventory page. Additionally, Cyber CarLot offers the following benefits:

  • RapidView™ Inventory Browsing allows dealers to post more inventory on each page Integrated 360-degree imaging, optional video and up to 40 expandable photos per vehicle keeps visitors on the site and engaged longer
  • Multiple calls to action located strategically throughout the page result in higher conversion rates Smart inventory search function guarantees no “zero” results and displays similar vehicles so that every consumer finds a car to meet their needs
  • CarFax report integration provides a full and complete history of vehicles, boosting consumer confidence
  • Printable E-Brochures with dealer contact information and driving directions increase showroom traffic
  • Integrated EPA gas mileage and manufacturer certified logos

  Dealers can easily manage their own inventory by logging into Dealer.com's Control Center, where they can update pricing, upload new videos and photos, and more. Cyber CarLot is a robust, flexible solution that can be custom designed for each individual dealer's needs, and is available immediately. To view a video featuring the advantages of Cyber CarLot, visit http://www.dealer.com/dealer-websites/cyber-carlot.htm

June 2008

• Dealer.com President and CEO Mark Bonfigli Named Finalist in the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Program

  June 30, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced that President and CEO Mark Bonfigli was named a Finalist in the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award program in the New England region. Founded twenty two years ago to celebrate entrepreneurial success and achievement on a regional, national and global level, the awards are designed to honor those building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. This is the second year Bonfigli has achieved this distinction.

  “This award is an honor and also a tribute to the Dealer.com employees who have contributed to the amazing growth and success we have experienced in the past year,” said Bonfigli.

  “Mark is very innovative in his management approach, having instituted incredible programs within the company such as the Employee Wellness Program, and forming cross-functional teams in order to create a work environment in which the employees take ownership of every project,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer of Dealer.com. “His exemplary leadership skills have created a unique culture that is creative, inspiring and very productive.”

  Bonfigli has more than 20 years of marketing, retailing, wholesaling, and service experience in the auto industry, including 10 years as the co-founder of EARTHCARS, Inc., a New England-based automotive retailer. After generating a 300% increase in sales over a one-year span by deploying unconventional internet marketing strategies at EARTHCARS, Bonfigli founded Dealer.com in 1998. Today Dealer.com is the fastest growing internet marketing provider in the auto industry. As president and CEO, Bonfigli instills high standards of health, fitness and the environment into the culture of the company, creating a workplace unparalleled in its ability to inspire employees to be creative and produce innovative, award-winning products.

  “These finalists are the best of the best, embodying the unique spirit of entrepreneurship,” said Bryan Pearce, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director for New England. “They positively impact our region in a major way, through jobs, community growth and development and innovation. Ernst & Young is proud to salute them.”

  The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards are given to entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in areas such as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Award recipients were announced at a special gala event on June 24, 2008 at the Westin Boston Waterfront.

  About Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year

  Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

  About Ernst & Young

  Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 130,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve potential.

  For more information, please visit www.ey.com

  Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.

• Dealer.com Partners with Autodata Solutions to Provide Dealers with Industry's Best Automotive Content, Images and Data for SmartSites™

  June 23, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced it has entered into a licensing partnership with Autodata Solutions, Inc., the industry's leading provider of automotive software and data to auto manufacturers and consumer research portals. Dealer.com plans to seamlessly incorporate Autodata's extensive automotive content, images and research tools into Dealer.com's suite of online marketing solutions, providing dealers with the most accurate vehicle data available for their websites.

  “The alliance with Autodata allows Dealer.com to focus on building the industry's best performing websites, while providing dealers with the rich content they need to stay ahead of their competitors online,” said Rick Gibbs, chief technology officer of Dealer.com. “When it comes to technical innovation we are two to three years ahead of our competitors, and this partnership is another way we will continue that trend.”

  Dealer.com customers will achieve better website conversion, higher lead volumes and boost sales and profitability goals by receiving updated VIN decoded data, technical specifications, detailed vehicle options and accurate images of vehicle inventory. Additionally, dealers can take advantage of displaying invaluable tools such as online configurators, side-by-side vehicle comparisons, and manufacturer incentives. Autodata provides automotive content, research, and technology implementation services to most of the auto manufacturers who distribute vehicles in North America, along with several of the most popular consumer research portals.

  “With such a broad array of online marketing solutions for thousands of automotive retailers, Dealer.com is perfectly positioned to leverage Autodata Solutions' broad and integrated platform of vehicle data, content, images and applications,” said Michael Benavides, Group VP of AutodataDIRECT. “Dealers in the U.S. and Canada have the opportunity to significantly benefit from our daily updated vehicle information and persistent innovation. We look forward to contributing to Dealer.com's success in both markets.”

• Dealer.com Expands Relationship with Akamai to Ensure SmartSites Deliver the Fastest, Most Reliable and Secure Content in Automotive IndustryOnline Marketing Leader Joins Ranks of Fortune 500 Companies that Use Akamai's Global Network and Services to Deliver Unmatched Performance

  June 16, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced that it has recently expanded its relationship with Akamai Technologies, Inc., the leader in powering rich media, dynamic transactions and enterprise applications online, to ensure that its SmartSites deliver the fastest, most reliable and secure web content available today. By leveraging Akamai's Web Application AcceleratorSM service, Dealer.com is one of the only marketing vendors in the automotive industry to join the ranks of Fortune 500 companies and multi-national corporations that use Akamai's globally distributed computing platform to conduct business online.

  “As dealers rely more on their websites to sell cars and add to the bottom line, it becomes crucial for their websites to perform flawlessly. Akamai has the largest network for extremely fast delivery of the rich, multimedia content that today's auto shoppers demand,” said Rick Gibbs, CTO of Dealer.com. “Dealers looking for every competitive advantage will benefit from their websites' connection to a backbone that offers unparalleled performance.”

  Akamai's Web Application Accelerator service is used to optimize the performance of thousands Dealer.com client websites. Akamai's EdgePlatformSM is one of the world's largest distributed computing platforms comprising more than 34,000 servers equipped with proprietary software and deployed in 70 countries. The system is designed to intelligently optimize routes, avoid problem spots on the Internet and ensure that websites perform optimally, media and software download flawlessly, and applications perform reliably and fast. At any given time, Akamai's powerful network delivers between 10-20% of the world's web traffic.

  Dealer.com also takes advantage of Akamai technology to create redundancy in its network, providing dealers with fail-safe, continuous operations of their websites in a secure environment.

• Dealer.com Ranks Among Best in Software Industry for Customer Service Online Marketing Leader Scores Top Marks in Net Promoter® Score Survey

  June 3, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced it ranks among the best companies in the nation in the software industry for customer service, based on the results of its Net Promoter® Score (NPS) survey. Many large Fortune 500 companies rely on the NPS score as an indicator of customer loyalty and future success. The score is obtained by asking customers a number of questions to determine their likelihood of recommending Dealer.com.

  Since the score is based on a scale of -100 to +100, Dealer.com's recent score of 41 percent was an extremely high result and within three percentage points of the top scoring company in the software industry, which was Adobe, at 46 percent. Dealer.com is one of the only software vendors in the automotive industry to use the NPS' notoriously tough standards to gauge its own customer service performance, and has consistently scored high since it began using the NPS indicator in 2006. The most recent results reflect a continued trend of improvement.

  “At Dealer.com our entire company culture is proactive and focused on building strong relationships with our customers,” said Mike Lane, COO of Dealer.com. “Every dealer has an assigned account manager who acts as an Internet consultant, ensuring they have the industry-leading technology and best practices expertise to maximize sales. Our staff responsiveness and knowledge is unmatched in the automotive industry.”

  Stoddard Porsche and Audi Willoughby in Cleveland, Ohio has been a Dealer.com client for 6 months. “I have already recommended Dealer.com,” said Ceil Cohen, Online Business Director. “Working with the entire team has been a great experience with knowledgeable people eager to do the right thing all the way to the goal line. WOW. They have gone above and beyond my expectations almost every encounter.”

  Other companies that use the NPS system to measure customer loyalty and improve customer service operations include General Electric, Proctor & Gamble, Allianz, American Express and more.

May 2008

• Dealer.com Attributes Success and Innovation to Employee Wellness

  May 21st, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced that a key contributor to its recent success and innovation is the company's unique Employee Wellness Program. In the last year, Dealer.com has released several industry first products and increased their customer satisfaction to the highest levels to date. During the same period, the company unveiled a LEED certified, 65,000 square foot headquarters in Burlington, Vermont that includes an indoor gym, basketball and tennis courts, ping pong table and an organic foods cafe. Dealer.com has also developed an Employee Wellness Program and creative company culture that rivals any found on the large “dot com” campuses located in Silicon Valley.

  “Employee wellness is our core company culture and is defined as the aggressive pursuit of happiness, health and the creation of a work environment that anyone would be proud to be a part of,” said Mark Bonfigli, president and CEO of Dealer.com. “I believe wholeheartedly that the program is a leading contributor to the brain power of our employees who are responsible for creating the most cutting edge products in the market today, as well as giving a greater level of customer service than any other provider.”

  The Dealer.com Employee Wellness Program has been a draw for tech workers in other parts of the country seeking an affordable quality of life. “I was attracted to the unique one of a kind culture in our industry at Dealer.com,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer of Dealer.com. “The company combines a fun and hard working atmosphere with innovative programs and a structure that inspires and motivates employees to achieve to levels they did not think they could,” said Evans.

  Nearly 200 Dealer.com employees currently benefit from the wellness program that includes the following activities and environmentally sustainable practices that contribute to a healthy work environment:

  • Subsidized ski and snowboard passes to local resorts
  • Dot Calm Cafe: an organic, local foods cafe with delivery right to employees' desks!
  • LEED certified green building
  • Employee of the Month Awards program with cash prizes
  • The “Playground” an all inclusive training facility with the following amenities:
    • World class, cushioned professional tennis court
    • Basketball court
    • World championship ping pong table
    • Fully featured weight training facility with state-of-the-art equipment & HD TV's
    • Health & wellness workshops on a variety of topics such as Nutrition 101, core strength development, quit smoking programs and more.
    • Guest speakers on a variety of topics ranging from financial management to resolving workplace disputes
    • Company team building events such as BBQs, parties and movie nights
    • Fully sponsored sports teams including softball, soccer, tennis, and more
    • Internal events and fund raisers to raise money for local charities
    • Ride share programs

• Dealer.com Clients Dominate Auto Dealer Monthly's 2008 Internet Achievement Awards

  May 8th, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced that many of its clients garnered top placements in Auto Dealer Monthly's 2008 Internet Achievement Awards. Dealer.com is the website provider for five of the top ten dealers on the Top 100 Internet Retailers list, and four of the Top 10 Auto Dealer Websites on the magazine's list.

  “The dealers on the Top 100 Internet Retailers list get, on average, 43 percent of their leads through the dealership website, and those leads close at a higher rate than leads from other sources,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer of Dealer.com. “It's thrilling to see so many of our dealer clients being recognized for their success, proving that our focus on design performance and dynamic search engine marketing solutions results in more units being sold.”

  Dealer.com was recognized by Auto Dealer Monthly as the vendor with the largest increase in market share of dealers on the list, gaining seven percentage points in one year. Dealer.com is also the website provider for more of the dealers on the Top 10 Auto Dealer Websites list than any other vendor. Criteria for judging the best dealer websites included search engine optimization, compliance issues and visual appeal, with search engine optimization results being one of the most heavily weighted scores. In general, judges preferred websites that were clean, professional, intuitive and included lots of photos and information about vehicles.

  Checkered Flag Automotive Group won first place in the Top 10 Auto Dealer Websites category. “Dealer.com has handled CheckeredFlag.com for more than two years and is my favorite vendor to work with,” said Alex Snyder, Checkered Flag's director of e-commerce. “Their re-design of our website launched in April 2008 incorporates many innovative features that this industry has never seen before in a dealer website. We're excited to have earned this recognition with a redesign that isn't even a month old!”

• Dealer.com Introduces Video Streaming Toolkit, First Do-It-Yourself Video Upload Solution for Automotive Dealers Revolutionary Solution Makes it Easy for Dealerships to Post Videos to Websites

  May 5th, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced the release of the Video Streaming Toolkit, a revolutionary solution that makes it easy for automotive dealers to upload videos to their websites. The Video Streaming Toolkit is the only do-it-yourself solution available to dealers, allowing them to create professional, customized content that differentiates them from competitors, and to leverage existing video investments such as television commercials, all at a fraction of the cost of what they would pay website management companies to manage videos for them.

  “Our dealer clients have been asking for this capability for several years, and the technology finally developed to a point where we could produce an affordable, simple solution,” said Mark Bonfigli, president and CEO of Dealer.com.

  The explosive popularity and growth of video on the web has been well documented. In a 2007 study conducted by Advertising.com, 62% of consumers said they regularly view streaming video content online, and according to the Online Publishers Association (OPA), 44% of consumers have taken some action as a result of viewing an online video ad.

  “Videos have been proven to attract consumers to a web site and keep them there longer, increasing the likelihood they will purchase a car,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer of Dealer.com.

  The toolkit allows dealerships to differentiate themselves from competitors with an assortment of dealer-created videos that address every profit center within the dealership, including:

  Other features include:

  • Videos of Internet department, sales and service personnel
  • Videos of how the service department works and specials
  • Videos of the dealership facility
  • Videos of happy customers and other testimonials
  • Welcome video from the general manager

  Dealer.com's Video Streaming Toolkit accepts all common formats of video (AVI, MOV, QT, MPEG, etc.) and allows personnel to simply drag and drop videos into any editable text section on any page, then size as necessary the same way they would any other object. Also, dealers can easily supplement their videos with custom descriptions for SEO purposes.

  The Video Streaming Toolkit offers dealers a low-cost alternative to expensive fees that many website management companies charge, as well as a more professional alternative to the free video services that many dealers use to embed videos into their websites. The Video Streaming Toolkit offers several major advantages over free video services:

  More Customers:

  Free video players often link users to other websites, where they may be enticed by promotions and other videos offered for them to view, including those from competitive dealerships. The Video Streaming Toolkit keeps car shoppers on the dealership website, increasing chances they will submit a lead.

  Professionalism:

  With the Video Streaming Toolkit, all videos posted on the website will convey the branding and messaging that the dealership wants to convey. With a video from a free service, the service logo appears on the dealership website, in effect helping to brand another business as well as conveying an image that is less than professional.

  Quality:

  The Video Streaming Toolkit automatically converts, optimizes and buffers virtually any video format that a dealer may have into a Flash streaming video. With the Video Streaming Toolkit, the video image quality is six to eight times higher than the average video shown on a free video service.

  Performance:

  The Video Streaming Toolkit optimizes videos for flawless performance, regardless of what type of browser, media player or connection speed that a consumer has. Video available from the free services often appear jittery or blocky depending on whether the consumer has a high or low speed Internet connection.

April 2008

• Dealer.com Launches Chrysler Canada's Web Solutions for Five Star Retailers Nearly 300 Dealership Websites Go Live from Concept to Launch in Record Time

  April 28, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced that it has successfully launched its V8 OEM SmartSites™ web solutions for Chrysler Canada Inc.'s Five Star Retailers. Dealer.com was recently chosen to be the exclusive provider for Chrysler Canada's new marketing program for nearly 300 of its premier dealers. In just a few short months, about one third of the time it traditionally takes to launch, Dealer.com delivered a flexible and scalable solution encompassing high performance web sites, search engine marketing, lead generation maximization and comprehensive reporting and metrics.

  “Dealer.com was selected for the reliability of its network, the quality of its product and service, proven experience in the marketplace and a commitment to launch within a timeframe of a few short months,” said Pearl Davies, senior manager of National Advertising/Direct Marketing with Chrysler Canada Inc. “We and our dealers are pleased at how smooth the entire transition process was.”

  “The V8 OEM SmartSites™ incorporate a unique technology that allows us to provide an extremely flexible and customizable solution for both decision makers at the corporate level and dealers at an individual level,” said Rick Gibbs, CTO of Dealer.com. “Our platform is also extremely scalable so we were able to respond to Chrysler Canada's requirements as easily as we are to those of an individual dealer or dealer group, which we have been doing on a daily basis for more than ten years.”

  Dealer.com's V8 OEM SmartSites™ is the industry's most powerful manufacturer website platform on the market today. Dealer.com designs and builds web sites for maximum customer interaction and performance, delivering the highest visitor-to-lead conversion rate.

  Other features include:

  Extreme Flexibility:

  The V8 OEM SmartSites™ ControlCenter is an easy to use interface that provides both dealers and executives at the corporate level with unprecedented control over their online marketing and advertising campaigns. Dealers can login and make changes to their web site design or incorporate individual specials on the fly. OEM executives can push a manufacturer special or specific content to every dealer site in an instant, thanks to pre-determined "real estate" always available on dealer sites regardless of the dealers' choice of design. Specifications can also be modified for individual dealers, dealer groups or the entire dealer body.

  Advanced Reporting:

  The V8 OEM SmartSites™ ControlCenter provides clear and specific reporting to both dealers and corporate decision makers in just a few simple clicks, allowing them to see important trends in online advertising effectiveness and providing a solid basis for website strategy. Campaign results can be viewed and analyzed instantly, then adjusted accordingly on the fly. Easy to use reporting tools allow marketing performance to be rolled up or down on an individual, regional or national level.

  Always Live Training Modules:

  Dealer.com conducts online training modules for dealers on an hourly basis, so dealership employees can login whenever it's convenient for them, increasing overall participation and performance. Training modules go beyond simply explaining how the application works by incorporating best practices to help put everything in context for the dealer, thereby making it a more useful and valuable experience.

  Speed of Execution:

  Dealer.com believes in management superiority and starts the process with a detailed project outline and timeline. Once the contract is signed everything is in place for Dealer.com to take over and get everything in place immediately. OEMs and dealers need no longer suffer the headaches traditionally associated with this process. Dealer.com also has a highly expert On Demand QA team that can be ramped up to as many as 40 people as needed, ensuring the fastest launch with the fewest errors possible.

  Fastest, Most Reliable Network:

  Dealer.com has partnered with Akamai, the world-renowned global network of thousands of servers. It enables the delivery of extraordinary speed, reliability, and a response time that is unmatched in the automotive website market space.

• Dealer.com Rolls Out Vehicle Showroom™ for Dealer Websites Dynamic Video and Research Solutions Proven to Increase Lead Volume

  April 14, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced the addition of Vehicle Showroom™ for automotive dealer websites; a marketing solution that features CarFlix Virtual Test Drive™ videos, a video gallery for dealers' inventory, and an online research center designed to keep car shoppers on dealer websites longer. In a recent dealer study involving nearly 10,000 Internet shoppers, Dealer.com video tools were shown to increase lead submissions by as much as eighty-seven percent.

  Vehicle Showroom™ is a set of pages within a dealer's website that includes the same research tools that a car shopper would find on a manufacturer site, helping keep customers on the dealer site longer. Within every showroom CarFlix Virtual Test Drive™ videos are featured, with customized content for each vehicle model.

  “Dealers are realizing very quickly that they must compete on the Web with third party sites for customers and this multimedia platform allows them to do so at little cost,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer of Dealer.com “As fast as video is exploding on the Internet, in less than a year, if a dealership does not have video on its web site, most consumers will think of it as outdated as a black and white television.”

  Fifty-nine percent of auto dealers say they plan to use Internet video on their own websites during the next 12 months, up from the current 33 percent, according to a new study by The Kelsey Group, a provider of research, data and strategic analysis on local media, small-business advertising, mobile and vertical market advertising.

  Dealer.com client Dennis Capio, Internet manager of DCH Millburn Audi in Maplewood, New Jersey, explained how his store benefits from using video on their site. “The advantage of personalized content is that the customer can get a sense of who they're dealing with before going to the dealership. The 'Meet Our Staff' page on our site is a popular destination, with many staff members presented via video. I know that video is the way to go.”

  Advantages of Vehicle Showroom™ featuring Dealer.com's CarFlix Virtual Test Drive™ videos:

  • Video is proven to generate more leads to your dealership. As the Internet landscape has evolved it has become increasingly interactive and difficult to keep consumers engaged. Video attracts a greater volume of online car shoppers, resulting in more leads.
  • Video keeps customers on your site longer. According to Dealer.com studies, if a user watches one video on a vehicle, there is a 97% chance that they will watch two or three more videos. And, the longer a consumer spends on a website, the more likely they are to submit a lead.
  • Video helps emotionally engage customers with a vehicle. Video creates excitement. As a consumer watches a video on a vehicle of interest they become more emotionally engaged, which also increases the likelihood that they will submit a lead.
  • Video allows branding and differentiation opportunities. The ability to provide a link to videos of vehicles in outgoing e-mails is a great way for dealerships to differentiate themselves to consumers who are shopping multiple stores. Enclosing a link also increases the likelihood of the customer visiting the web site.
  • Videos provide an "always-on" sales pitch. No matter what time of day or night, videos allow dealers to present a professional and positive presence that is consistently good.

March 2008

• Dealer.com Wins Gold in Auto Dealer Monthly's 2008 Dealers' Choice Awards

  March 27, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced it has been named a recipient of the Gold Award in the Web Site Design/Provider category of the 2008 Auto Dealer Monthly Dealers' Choice Awards. This is the third year dealers have chosen Dealer.com for a top placement in its category.

  “Winning the gold holds special significance because vendors are chosen by dealership employees who use a variety of products and services every day,” said Mark Bonfigli, president and CEO of Dealer.com. “The data and findings from these awards are very valuable as we use the direct feedback from dealers to improve our company and the customer experience.”

  Each year Auto Dealer Monthly recognizes the most highly regarded vendors, suppliers and finance companies in the retail automotive industry. The award is determined by a survey of dealers across the country who are asked to select the top providers in the industry. Vendors are scored on performance, customer support and overall value compared to cost to the dealership. In 2008, more than 36 companies were named winners in 20 categories of products and services, with more than 25,000 votes cast overall.

  “We've been with Dealer.com for two years now and we have no intention of going anywhere else," said Alex Snyder, director of e-commerce at Checkered Flag Motor Car Corporation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. "Customer service with Dealer.com has been phenomenal. I'd say it's the main reason that makes Dealer.com my favorite vendor to work with. Between the organic search and the Dominator platform, which we're very excited about, they have everything we've been asking for. Conversion has been off the charts., I can't say anything better.”

  Dealer.com offers automotive dealers a suite of online marketing solutions including award-winning web sites, lead management tools and proven search engine marketing strategies. More of the top 100 auto groups use Dealer.com for their Web solutions than any other vendor. Dealer.com's web sites are designed to convert online browsers into buyers and are consistently the highest performing web sites in the industry.

  The complete list of Dealers' Choice Award winners can be found at http://www.AutoDealerMonthly.com/2008DCA_winners.pdf.

February 2008

• Dealer.com Launches No-Contract and No-Fee Search Engine Marketing Solution for Auto Dealers TotalControl DOMINATOR™ Revolutionizes the Market

  February 9th, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced the launch of Total Control Dominator™, a product and service combination that is revolutionizing search engine marketing for auto dealers and their advertising agencies. TotalControl DOMINATOR gives dealers more control over their entire search engine marketing program, while making it more simple and efficient, in a new user-friendly, web-based interface. Without binding contracts, monthly management fees, or long-term commitments, this next generation product allows auto dealers to cost-effectively leverage their online search marketing program without the financial risk.

  The industry leading technology platform that powers TotalControl DOMINATOR automates the process of keyword selection, configuring over 8,000 of the top keywords. Real-time bidding and ad unit monitoring work simultaneously, resulting in low-cost, high-quality phone and email leads for every profit center of the dealership, including sales, parts, and service. With TotalControl DOMINATOR, Dealer.com provides automated detailed reports showing hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and even annual performance metrics. Reporting includes ad effectiveness, keyword performance, cost-per-click, and cost-per-lead analyses. The system is streamlined and easy to use, which is ideal for all dealers regardless of their level of experience with search engine marketing.

  “Now more than ever, it is essential for dealers to cost-effectively attract consumers to their own websites, where they are best at converting those browsers into buyers,” said Mark Bonfigli, president and CEO of Dealer.com. “Dealers want to reduce their dependency on high-cost newspaper, radio, and TV advertising, as well as over-priced, low-quality third party leads. TotalControl DOMINATOR offers the industry's only state-of-the-art, automated, and easy to use way for dealers to take advantage of online search without the financial risk or binding agreements.”

  “Dealer.com believes in empowering dealers to maximize their advertising and marketing dollars,” added Dean Evans, chief marketing officer at Dealer.com. “While search is fast becoming the largest online advertising investment for dealers, they and their ad agencies have had little control over how those dollars are spent. Dealer.com is changing the game in favor of dealers.”

• Dealer.com Drives Strategic Online Marketing for More of the Automotive News Top 100 Dealer Groups in the U.S. than any other Provider Full Product Suite Integration and Video Rich Media are Highlights to the Industry's Most Powerful Internet Marketing Platform for Top Dealers in 2008

  February 8th, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT and NADA Booth 3557W – Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced that more of the Top 100 automotive dealer groups in the country, as ranked by Automotive News and Ward's Dealer Business, use Dealer.com than any other website provider. Dealer.com's unique ability to unify all Internet marketing, websites, lead management and performance metrics on one platform resonates with progressive dealers and dealer groups.

  Jana Kusin, director of advertising for Gillman Auto Group, one of the Top 100 dealer groups included in the ranking, expressed why Gillman partners with Dealer.com: “Gillman Auto has always been very progressive in terms of harnessing technology to better serve our customers,” said Kusin. “Today, that means leveraging a unified online strategy, including having state-of-the-art websites, and being very proactive with search engine marketing. We share some core values with Dealer.com—there's a focus on being technologically progressive while maintaining a high level of personalized service for customers.”

  “Dealer groups see the value in a unified and strategic online presence,” said Mark Bonfigli, president and CEO of Dealer.com. “This is more than developing a website; it is about developing a strategic plan that leverages every marketing dollar spent while generating the maximum ROI. It's about helping dealer groups convert more leads into more sales.”

  “Helping dealers generate more sales for less money is our focus,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer of Dealer.com. “We are proud of our leadership position.”

• Sonic Automotive Selects Dealer.com to Maximize Company's Online Marketing Strategy

  February 5th, 2008 – BURLINGTON, Vt. (BUSINESS WIRE) –Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions in the automotive industry, today announced that it has partnered with Sonic Automotive, Inc., to provide exclusive online marketing solutions to all Sonic Automotive franchisees. Sonic Automotive is an industry leading automotive group in the U.S. and is using Dealer.com's industry leading SmartSites™ websites and DOMINATOR™ search engine marketing platform to drive more leads and sales while increasing marketing return on investment.

  Dealer.com is an attractive partner for Sonic Automotive because of its proven track record of supplying a dynamic and scalable technology combined with award winning levels of proactive dealer support and advanced metrics reporting designed specifically for regional and national dealer groups.

  “We chose Dealer.com because we believe they have the best overall online marketing solutions that will give us a distinct competitive advantage over our competitors and will provide an even more inviting destination for our customers,” said Rachel Richards, vice president, retail strategy of Sonic Automotive. “Dealer.com's forward-looking technology will enable continuity between all of our brands, across every dealership, and will enhance our position as one of the leading automotive groups in the country.”

  “Dealer.com's mission is to help our customers meet their individual needs by using the most advanced technology to streamline their online marketing solutions,” said Mark Bonfigli, president and CEO of Dealer.com. “Sonic Automotive is already one of the leading automotive groups in the country, and we are excited about working with them to be more competitive in 2008 and beyond.”

  Sonic Automotive is a Fortune 300 Company, and operates 169 dealership franchises representing 33 different brands of cars and light trucks at over 144 locations. Dealer.com works with thousands of auto dealerships across the country, and is one of the fastest growing technology companies in the United States, ranking 578 in the Inc. 5000.

January 2008

• Dealer.com Closes 2007 in Record Fashion

  January 15, 2008 – BURLINGTON, VT – Dealer.com, a leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced that 2007—its 10th year—was also the company's most profitable. The Burlington, Vt. – based company closed 2007 with another impressive growth year, boosting its 5 year growth total to 860 percent.

  Dealer.com strategically entered 2007 with the launch of Dealer.com 360°, a solution that allows automotive dealers the ability to measure the effectiveness and return on investment of their marketing programs. The only company in the industry offering automotive dealers the ability to prove the profitability of their marketing programs, Dealer.com saw rapid adoption by its customer base which allowed the company to expand its account teams by 67 percent in 2007.

  2007 also marked the grand opening of Dealer.com's new, 63,000 square foot, LEED certified headquarters. The rehabbed building includes not just an environmentally friendly, open-plan work environment that utilizes solar lighting, but also a sports complex that features an indoor tennis and basketball court, full gym with cardio and strength training equipment, ping pong, and the 'Dot Calm Cafe', an onsite, full service, organic foods cafe.

  “2007 was a milestone year for Dealer.com. Our rapid growth can be credited to our employees, who are constantly developing new solutions that keep Dealer.com ahead of the competition and the best strategic choice for our customers,” said Mark Bonfigli, president and CEO of Dealer.com. “Our financial success allowed us to open the doors to our new headquarters – an environment specifically designed for our employees to enjoy. 2007 was a banner year for the company and 2008 is shaping up for continued success.”

  Additional Dealer.com key milestones for 2007 include: The launch of Earthcars.com, an initiative to provide U.S.-based consumers with the latest research on alternative fuel vehicles, rankings of environmentally friendly cars, and the ability to view and compare green inventory from local car dealers. -- The appointment of Dean Evans, Chief Marketing Officer. Evans joined Dealer.com in October, 2007 and will leverage his 18 years of experience in automotive marketing strategies, as well as his relationships with auto manufacturers, dealerships, and large public retailer groups. -- The receipt of numerous industry-based awards:

  • Dealer's Choice Award: Dealer.com was the recipient of the Platinum Award in Web Site Design/Provider category of the Auto Dealer Monthly 2007 Dealer's Choice Awards
  • Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Founder and CEO, Mark Bonfigli was recognized as a finalist in the New England Region of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards
  • Deloitte Fast 50 Dealer.com was named one of the 50 Fastest Growing Technology Companies in New England and ranked 22 on the list
  • Inc.5000 Dealer.com ranked an impressive 578 of the nation's top 5000 fastest growing companies
  • The company also ranked 55 of the fastest growing Top Companies in Advertising & Marketing
  • Summit Awards Dealer.com was recognized with a number of Summit Awards in 2007 including:
    • Bronze Summit Creative Award in B2B Service Website for the design, development and implementation of a website created for the Checkered Flag Automotive Group
    • Leader Award in the Summit Emerging Media Awards for its business to consumer website designed for the Checkered Flag Automotive Group
    • Innovator Award in the Summit Emerging Media Awards for the content and mission behind Earthcars.com