The document summarizes an upcoming conference on digital marketing for car dealerships. It discusses how new transactional websites are allowing consumers to purchase vehicles entirely online by selecting vehicles, getting financing approved, choosing accessories and paying deposits digitally. A featured speaker, Ralph Paglia, will demonstrate how these new sites work both for customers and dealers. The conference aims to help dealers learn best practices for online sales and marketing to stay ahead of trends enabling fully digital car purchasing.

1. Article from Dealer Pre-Owned Page 1 of 2
Article from Dealer Pre-Owned (http://www.imakenews.com/dealerdpo/e_article000838291.cfm?x=b11,0,w)
June 13, 2007
Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition: A must event
“Transactional eCommerce Web sites for car dealers are just now emerging, and while the old Internet-lead
business model has served us well for the past 10 years, these transactional Web sites are changing the rules
of the automotive Internet game,” says Ralph Paglia, Director of Digital Marketing for ADP Dealer Services and
a featured speaker at the 2007 Fall Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition at the Las Vegas Hilton October 1-
3.
“Digital marketing pioneers are quietly developing DMS integrated
dealer Web sites giving car buyers the ability to actually buy a car
online,” says Paglia, a former dealership Internet Sales manager who notes
that industry statistics show no more than about 20 percent of
consumers who go online in search of a new car will take part in the
lead process.
The conference is the largest of its kind examining how dealerships can target prospects and existing
customers to add value to the relationship and pump up their profits.
"New digital marketing prototypes are being piloted by several major dealer groups, allowing
consumers to pick a car from the dealership's inventory, negotiate a price, get approved for
financing, select their accessories and F&I products, pay their down payment to the dealer
online, and receive a DMS generated deal number and full finance disclosures on a real time
basis”
-- Ralph Paglia, Director of Digital Marketing, ADP Dealer Services
“It’s time to get serious about the Internet” is the theme of this 3rd Digital Dealer
Conference & Exposition. The event venue, the Las Vegas Hilton, is the resort
complex next door to the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the NADA
Convention & Exposition is held.
It promises not only the nuts and bolts for retailers new to the online game but
insights for those ready to drill down into the Internet best practices that the most
successful stores rely on. It will be packed full of sessions surrounding issues such
as the one Paglia will address in his remarks, tentatively titled "Transactional eCommerce Web Sites for Car
Dealers."
“A transactional Web site allows a consumer to do the same thing as existing transactional websites. New
digital marketing prototypes are being piloted by several major dealer groups, allowing consumers to pick a car
from the dealership's inventory, negotiate a price, get approved for financing, select their accessories and F&I
products, pay their down payment to the dealer online, and receive a DMS generated deal number and full
finance disclosures on a real time basis,” says Paglia.
“I plan to demonstrate both the front-end and back-end of transactional Web sites, and it’s just the kind of thing
an Internet manager soon might be asked to explain to his or her manager. This is where the industry is
heading.”
The fall event is gearing up to attract 50-plus exhibitors and 500 attendees, including 300 from dealerships
around the nation, says Mike Roscoe, President of Dealer Communications, publisher of Digital Dealer
magazine, the Digital Dealer e-newsletter, and this conference & exposition.
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2. Article from Dealer Pre-Owned Page 2 of 2
“The speaking program will be heavy with practitioners who are having great success in their markets,” he
notes.
“We are bringing in speakers from outside the industry to help forward–thinking dealerships stay ahead of the
curve. We’ll have a ½ day “newbie” class on Monday so anyone new to this side of the business, including
dealers themselves, can get up to speed quickly and get the most out of the two days of powerful sessions on
Tuesday and Wednesday.”
The main business of the conference will include general sessions and workshops, exhibitors answering
questions on the spot and fantastic opportunities to network with your peers. The lineup is growing by day of
industry experts who will address key issues facing every dealership and offer valuable how-to advice, says
Roscoe.
The exhibit hall -- a single room big enough for 50 exhibitors and 500 attendees -- will host all dining, break and
social functions, so exhibitors will get plenty of exposure.
More than 400 attendees converged at the Spring conference last March in Nashville, TN, including just under
200 Internet Sales Managers, e-Commerce Directors, BDC/CRM managers, dealers and GMs attending the
information-packed sessions. 40 exhibitors were on hand to answer questions on the spot.
Spots are limited. For more information, contact: conference@DigitalDealer-magazine.com
(www.DigitalDealer-magazine.com)
Published by Dealer Communications
Copyright © 2007 Dealer Communications Inc.. All rights reserved.
Information in this newsletter is provided by both proprietary and public sources.Dealer Communications makes no claims as to
the accuracy of information provided by third party providers.
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