Toyota Reaches Loyal Customers on Facebook

Toyota is gaining significant sales gains even with a lot of negative press about its many recalls. The plan, since last month, is to offer deep discounts that are unheard from Toyota. In fact, for years Toyota has benefited from high resell values because they haven’t had to offer deep new car discounts that do cause residual values to fall and drop prices in the used market which has given Toyota a nice advantage against the Big Three American companies -- Chrysler is still American, right? – that could have long term impacts. This of course all depends on how long Toyota will have to offer big discounts to curb the recall sales fallout.

Right now Toyota is reaching its loyal owners through a rather large media buy on Facebook with a video ad that has ran almost two months solid featuring Ronny, a Toyota technician, who communicates how the brand is responding to consumers going through the recall.

More importantly, Toyota is running several loyalty ads informing owners of “Toyota’s biggest offers ever!” with the ad headline reading “Toyota Loyalty” or “Toyota Loyalty Incentive”. The ads are not about adding Facebook fans. The ads bring users to the Toyota website where there is a landing page communicating the local offers and special incentives available at this “historic” time.

The discounts are helping as Reuters is reporting today that sales are up 35% over last year for Toyota.

Toyota's focus on loyal customers is part of their strategy since new buyers may be a difficult sale in the wake of recalls. As James Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales USA, said March 30, "Our challenge down the road is going to be with conquest buyers," said at a conference cosponsored by the National Automobile Dealers Association and consulting firm IHS Global Insight.

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Jeep Attracts New Twitter Users for Chance to Win, But Will They Stay?

The first phase of the Jeep “Tweet-To-Win” contest concluded last Friday. Five people were the first to answer trivia questions on Twitter before anyone else and thus won trips to the New York Auto Show. The five winners will now have a chance to search a giant sandpit to locate a Tiki idol that wins the finder a new Jeep Wrangler Islander edition.

If this sounds vaguely familiar, I covered this story before the contest started and now it’s time to see how the contest performed for Jeep on Twitter.

The contest ran from March 15-19. The first person to correctly Tweet the answer along with the hashtag #NYIAS (referencing the New York International Auto Show) was the winner that day. The Jeep Facebook page announced everyday when the trivia question was going to be asked on the @Jeep Twitter account.

I noticed several Jeep Facebook fans commenting how they were disappointed the contest was on Twitter and not Facebook. Some fans decided to join Twitter so they could participate and Jeep’s Twitter followers went from 2,307 on 3/14 to 3,646 on 3/20, resulting in an increase of 1,339 followers during the event.


Quite a few of the new followers are new Twitter users too. Several people joined Twitter just to participate in the contest. One contest winner even updated his Twitter profile after winning and Tweeting 17 times with the words, “I have stopped updating Twitter. Unfortunately I have better things to do. :)” Three of the five winners had never used Twitter before and a fourth had a dormant account that hadn’t been used since last December.

This all raises the question: If the contest generates a decent bump in followers, but ones who are not active in the community and are simply there just for your contest and once the contest is over they leave the social platform, was it really an effective way to build your brand's presence in the community?

Now I understand the contest isn’t just about more Twitter followers. It was also about the brand showing it can do social media and provided a platform to run a contest in a different way to further increase buzz and awareness for the Jeep Wrangler Islander product. The contest definitely facilitated those goals. It was also a way to get the word out about @Jeep being on Twitter since the account has only been around since December 23, 2009.

Jeep is definitely a brand to watch, as they have been very active in social media on Facebook and enthusiast forums for years. It’s also a brand with a passionate group of enthusiasts that can be tapped to engage in a way many other brands wish they had.

Lexus Markets Its Hybrid Longevity

Website Experience: http://www.lexus.com/hybrids/

The Lexus Power of h campaign has been going strong since 2008. I’ve always loved the idea of Lexus owning a letter of the alphabet; it is a great way to define the campaign in a simple, easy to comprehend manner plus it gives the brand a way to show it is an early adopter in the hybrid space, in the same way someone gets an email address like "chris@yahoo.com" or "@Justin" on Twitter. It shows they were there before everyone else.

Lexus’ new ad campaign highlights their first mover advantage by positioning their luxury hybrid products in the total miles and vehicles built while their competitors are just beginning to come to market. With Lincoln, Infiniti and many others to enter the luxury hybrid segment, now is the time for Lexus to show their experience and the TV spots do that very well.



The Power of h campaign also received a newly designed web experience that uses interactive demonstrations that teach more about the hybrid and green technologies found on Lexus vehicles.

The site’s primary content areas are Innovation, Responsibility, and Conversations. The Innovations section talks about the technology benefits to the overall hybrid message. Users can see how different technologies impact fuel economy and better use energy in the vehicle.

Responsibility content communicates the ecological impact of the Lexus vehicles on our ecosystem, providing information about recycling, reducing waste, and even some cradle-to-cradle approaches to design.

The Conversations area houses video content that talks about different ecological actions that have less to do with hybrid cars, but is rather a way to associate the Lexus brand with green thinking. Most of the videos showcase green engineering examples to create a better world. The content is very interesting and demonstrates a true respect for the environmental movement.

As part of the Lexus 250hs launch, Lexus marketed to a group of video developers in a contest to create Viewer Created Ad Messages (VCAM) -- user generated video content developed by the community at Current TV. Typically this kind of content gets relegated to a YouTube channel or stays within the community it was created in, but Lexus brought the user generated videos into the new hybrid site under the aptly named “Conversations” navigational link. It’s a great example of how to extend user generated content into a larger campaign and by using Current TV members they attracted a group who semi-pro to professional videographers, which increased the quality of the content generated.

Overall the new Power of h campaign has some great messaging, an engaging web experience, and showcases user generated content in a way that is perfectly integrated into the work. None of this should come as a surprise as Lexus has set the bar for hybrid marketing.

/daily painting

Spyker C8 Aileron 2009

Spyker Cars has introduced Spyker Aileron 2009 at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, this cool automotive has 400Hp (298KW) Power and 300Km/h (187mph) Top speed. The exterior of this fast sport car has a rough and tough design line with a futuristic touch. With 4617mm length, 1972mm width, 1270mm height and 1425kg weight this cool car able to reach 0-100km/h (0-60mph) in just 4,5 second.

Spyker Cars is a premium sport cars manufacturer from Netherlands, they used the Audi 4.2 litre V8 engine for the Spyker C8 Aileron 2009. The exterior is made from aluminium body panels over aluminium spaceframe, creating a classic and contemporary looks at the same time.

The Interior of this luxurious sport car is using a vibrant color leather and also available in 14 standard colors for it’s seats and dashboard, the customer also has the option to choose other color option that they desired. The interior has a retro design, the highest quality leather cover and the metallic silver on dashboard design give a classical design touch to this super fast car.

Affordable Sports Car Insurance

Get the Best Insurance Rates For Sport Cars

People who own sports cars might be the "Owners of the Street". Sports cars offer great features and many, many benefits that many automotive buyers are looking for. But, sport cars often more times than not pose a problem when obtaining the car insurance they desire without paying too much.

It's an absolute fact that insurance for such vehicles have much higher premium rates than any other car on the road. So it can be a major problem when applying for car insurance since the fees and rates for premiums hit the pocket book hard. So, here are a few tips that can help you in getting the best insurance rates possible for your sports vehicle.

1. The owner of the vehicle should have a very good credit score and maintain that rating for many years. Insurance companies will offer better rates to those people who have great credit scores. Before applying for your insurance policies, the vehicle owner should make sure he or she has no credit card debt.

2. Vehicle owners can enjoy insurance rates that are better for them if they install their sports car with safety features and gadgets. The vehicle owner can buy safety airbags, have antilock brakes put in as well as stability traction controls. These few are recommended for the protection they provide. Not only will this safety insure the vehicle owner is safe it also allows insurance companies to lower rates.

3. Sports car owners should also maintain very good driving records. Insurance companies offer lower rates to safe drivers.

4. Sports Car Premium quotes are reviewed based on the shared information that is givin to the insurance company. Sports vehicle owners should try to always make sure that they give the most accurate and correct information when applying for better rates, through insurance quotes for their vehicle. This will always help make sure you are trusted.

5. It is super important to do research before ever buying any type of vehicle insurance. Insurance companies offer different insurance rates. Insurance companies offer discounts during special events or when they are pushing to promote their company. Any car owner should always know this and keep informed about any type of discounts and rates. They can always make use of the vastness of the internet to get insurance quotes and compare rates between companies before making a final selection.

6. Once a final choice has been made, car owners should not stop there. They should update their policies and their information on a regular basis. They need to continue to check their insurance policies to ensure that they are still enjoying the same rates and terms that were initially offered.

Sports cars are great and I think they are something everyone looks forward in their life to enjoy. So they should not be such a burden to those who own them. Even though they have higher rates in their insurance. The owner should at least make a stand and fight for their right for a fair rate!

Nathan Scheer is alternative research and author. Who works with insurance companies to make sure fair rates are given to all.

His favorite quote is: "Get an immediate Raise by Saving Money" - And it's true.

Visit Possible Cash Auto Rates to find out more about ways to save money on Car Insurance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Scheer

Sports Cars Aren't Just For the Rich

Long gone are the days that sports cars are for the rich and famous movie stars and sports stars. You don't have to be David Beckham to drive one of these luxurious machines. With the market offering so many choices of cars all that each offer something that appeals to someone, there is a car for every market and a buyer for every car.

There is more on offer to the man on the street than ever before in the choice of sports cars. You can opt for a luxury sports car or even a classic one if you are drawn to the vintage feel and design. Some might say that there is too much choice. Do you want high performance? A convertible or not? Front or rear wheel drive? Then there is also the history of the company to consider. Do you want a 'New Kid on the Block' or a brand that has been around for years? Some people will also decide on their car depending on where it is made. Perhaps only choosing a car that is built in the UK as to support the British economy, yet other may argue that Italy is the home of the true sports car.

Cost is not what it used to be. You can get some really good used super cars that have been well looked after and well maintained from a pre owned dealership. Many of these cars have been services through the correct dealerships so you know the work has been carried out to the standard that the manufactures intended. Previous owners usually only take the best of care on their cars if they have had them since new so it should be fairly easy to find a good condition one. A real bargain can be had at a company who specializes in pre owned sports cars as the depreciation in value usually happens most dramatically with the owner who has had it from new.

This information should provide you with enough motivation to consider looking for a second hand sport car. The dealership will be able to provide you with a car that has been well looked after and that can also offer some form of warranty just to give you that extra peace of mind.

This article was written by Tom Sangers on behalf of Romans International who offer Pre owned Bentley cars in the UK.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Sangers

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Competitor Websites Respond to Toyota Recall Woes

Toyota is gearing up for a March rebound with 0% financing and aggressive lease pricing after taking a 9% hit in year-over-year sales last February due to their very public recalls. Meanwhile everyone is trying to capitalize on Toyota's quality troubles. Late night sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live poked fun at Toyota's issues by putting two people in an unattended accelerating Toyota Prius with the fake ad saying "Ford: We make hybrids too."

Comedic marketing spoofs aside, it is interesting to see how Toyota's competitors are responding to the recalls at their manufacturer websites.

The strongest marketing message comes from General Motors. For example, their Chevy homepage features a promotion tile reading "Special information for Toyota owners/lessses" that is in the most prominent position in the promotion banner ribbon on the page (I say most prominent because users tend to click mostly on links to the far the left as American consumers read left to right.)

Ford also features a nod to the Toyota quality issues but in a more tempered way by promoting a quality claim the brand has been using since last year after a major quality report put Ford on par with Toyota and Honda. The message is more about Ford and less about their competitor Toyota. The promo reads "Learn more about why Ford quality can't be beat by Honda or Toyota."

The only other manufacture website I found promoting a strong quality message on their homepage is Hyundai. Hyundai uses an image from their recent Sonata campaign, "Hyundai Quality: Hyundai Held to a Higher Standard." This approach uses no competitor call-outs, but it certainly can be read as a strategic message to appeal to people cross-shopping Hyundai with Toyota.

The home teams in Japan - Honda, Mazda, and Nissan - make no mention of quality or Toyota on their home pages. Seems local support is strong for the time being.

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Jeep Summons Tiki Idol to Promote WranglerIslander Edition

Twitter is a very active place this month for the automotive industry: Ford kicked off Fiesta Movement 2 (#fiestamovement); Chevy ran a social media road trip contest to South by Southwest (#chevysxsw); Kia held a Twitter Party with mommy bloggers (#kiasorento); and now Jeep is getting into it with their “Jeep-Tweet-To-Win” contest.

Jeep is running a contest from March 15 to March 19 where the first person to answer the correct answer to a daily quiz Jeep-branded question “in the correct format” will win a trip to the New York auto show. The five winners will then have a chance to win a Jeep Wrangler Islander edition.

Jeep will announce each day on its Facebook fan page at 10am EST when the Twitter question will be asked. The five winners will dig in a giant sandbox for a “Golden Tiki” that wins one person the Islander Wrangler.

This connection between Facebook and Twitter accounts will attract some more fans and followers to Jeep’s social media accounts, but like all contests it is not really attracting fans, but contest participants who care only about winning not about possibly buying your brand or products. It’s a great way to build a list or add more counts in social media without really building a true fan base or solid leads.

Let’s hope the Tiki idea doesn’t further lead to bad luck for the Chrysler group. With sagging sales and a lot of promises of profitability without product to back it up; though, that may change soon enough, the Chrysler brands can use all the Tiki idol luck they can get.

However, searching for a Tiki reminds me of an episode of the Brady Bunch where the boys find a Tiki idol that leads to an episode of bad luck situations. While wearing the idol Greg wiped out on his surfboard, Peter gets an unwelcome spider crawling on him at night and Bobby is almost hit in the head by a heavy wall decoration in the hotel room. The ancient curse of the idol can only be reversed if the idol is returned to the Tiki Caves back to its resting place with the ancient island kings.

I’ll play and watch the contest this week to see how Jeep promotes the event. They have a small amount of Jeep followers on Twitter (2,307 as of 3/14 at 9:44am.) Perhaps word will get out that a free car is being given away like when Jason Calacanis tried to give away a free Tesla Model S if his @auto account became the #1 account on Twitter. That netted @auto slightly above 10,000 fans but then sputtered out.

Chevy Uses Location-Based Service to Lift Brand Perception

The Chevrolet team is down in Austin, Texas this week for the South by Southwest (SXSW) technology and arts festival. As part of Chevy’s marketing effort, they teamed up with location-based service company Gowalla (a competitor to the better known Foursquare) to create a nicely done driver service for those checking into the Austin Bergstrom Airport.

Basically, when one checks into the airport’s location on the Gowalla application some people are randomly served up a free ride from the airport to downtown Austin in a Chevy vehicle of course.

I really like the online, offline integration here. It definitely provides Chevy with some positive brand lift for the well-connected people attending the SXSW festival. It's a nice way to reach a socially active audience that is sure to Tweet, blog or even talk in person about what a cool thing Chevy and Gowalla did on their trip.

For one blogger’s personal experience with the Chevy Gowalla offer checkout this post from the blog DigitalBeforeDigital.

Crayon's Joseph Jaffe shares his impression of the Gowalla Chevy execution:

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Kia Finds a Respectable Balance with Their Twitter Party

Kia threw a Twitter Party for the Mommy Bloggers Club last night. The Kia Sorento is building off their Super Bowl family-oriented TV ad that featured several kid toys including a Yo Gabba Gabba character Muno, a Sock Monkey and couple other random plush toys. It was personally one of my favorite TV ads from the Super Bowl.


The event was fairly well received especially by the women who participated. The “party” was basically a Kia Sorento trivia quiz with several prizes award randomly to those who answered the questions correctly during the allotted time. Questions focused on the Sorento vehicle and knowledge of the popular Super Bowl ad played into the quiz as well.

Participants used the hashtag #kiasorento to participate in the “party.” A hashtag is used in Twitter to conduct a threaded conversation so everyone can filter #kiasorento to see what everyone is saying in their tweets (for more on hashtags on Twitter checkout this article.)

Determining if the Twitter Party with the Mommy Bloggers Club was successful is a bit difficult without knowing the goals established by the marketing team. There were about 40-50 unique people who participated; though, there really isn’t a baseline to understand if this Twitter contest performed well. Engagement was high but that was by design as people were answering quiz questions to win a prize. There were a few comments where people expressed their love for the Sorento ad or the vehicle.

Reach is always an interesting thing. I pulled some random profiles from those who participated and most of the women had decent Twitter followings and even some good engagement metrics when analyzed against the stats provided by the website Klout. The good news is that Kia definitely reached their target by having the Mommy Bloggers Club promote and co-host the event.

Twitter Spam

Many also feel in the Twitter community that this kind of contest turns the people one is following into spammers. So there are some negative side effects too when considering this tactic. I personally feel it is pretty much pointless spam banter for the followers not participating or caring about the “party” going on, but this is the case with many hashtag campaigns.

One campaign recently held by a major automaker caused me to temporarily unfollow several people because it was becoming very annoying seeing twenty of the same messages getting retweeted every 10 minutes. Fortunately, there is a tool called TwitterSnooze to turn this stuff off for people not interested in such Twitter noise.

Brands definitely need to be aware of the impact of such tactics. The good thing about Kia’s approach is it only lasted a couple hours instead of multiple days like other hashtag events.

Kia definitely raised some awareness about their brand and found a fun way to extend their popular Super Bowl commercial to an online, social media adept crowd who definitely seemed impressed with Kia’s effort. Overall, I’d say for a Twitter contest this one was managed effectively and was brief enough to not be a considerable annoyance that can lead to negative brand sentiment.

BMW Downshifts from Half a Million Fans to Zero

I had a “why? Moment” this evening checking my Facebook Updates inbox. There was a message from BMW USA on February 20th inviting me to join their fan page. A new BMW Fan Page from the brand that just celebrated having over half a million fans is creating a whole new fan page for their U.S. team. Why? Why separate your brand into two distinct branded Facebook experiences?

For those who don’t know, MINI decided last October to create an official home for the global MINI brand from zero after they already had over 160,000 fans on a MINIUSA fan page. Since that time the MINIUSA fan page has lost a few fans in their total fan count and the new official MINI brand fan page has gained over 70,000 fans. It never really made sense why MINI didn’t just assume the 160,000 fans of the USA page and then grow the official MINI global brand fan page to increase the brand’s reach and have one single destination for all fans to congregate around.

Now BMW is following the same strategy of having a distinct USA fan page from their global page, but unlike MINI, BMW had the fans already at a global fan page. Both BMW and MINI are global brands without much variation in product or even messaging and both brands had pretty decent fan numbers to continue to build from.

In my opinion, there are some issues with this approach:

1. Confuses search result destination for potential fans. People who search Facebook for the brand are presented a couple options and most will likely choose the one with the larger fan base or the cleaner name – i.e. MINI, not MINIUSA.

2. The brand has to build two fan bases. The marketing of the fan page now becomes a country of origin issue and the brand now has to decide if marketing campaigns or customer communications will point people to the USA or global fan pages. Why cause this issue every time the brand goes to market their Facebook presence? It doesn’t make any sense especially when the global fan page is made up of a significant US population of fans?

3. Dividing fans reduces the overall fan count for a brand. Reducing fans by splitting them up reduces the effectiveness of the social community’s reach, since fewer fans mean fewer people getting a status update, promotion, images or other news.

4. If a communication is relevant to both groups of fans, the community managers must collaborate on messaging and also post the same content on two different pages, again an inefficiency for the brand.

Seems to me if you are truly a global brand like MINI and BMW are, there is absolutely no reason to create more work by having to market, communicate and develop two distinct communities one for the USA and one for everyone including the USA.