We've "scene" it all--The SceneExchange Blog

You never appreciate what you have 'til it's gone...

Rochester, NY is usually a little behind the rest of the country when it comes to welcoming in the warmer weather of spring. Our winters are cold and long, so while the near record-setting temperatures today are a welcome change, I was devastated to find that at some point over the winter my trusty air conditioner had died. With temperatures pushing 88 degrees Fahrenheit today I very quickly called my shop and scheduled a diagnostic appointment. Then I started Googling potential COD's for my AC.

There are a number of helpful sites about trouble-shooting air conditioning problems and even some do-it-yourself sites for those of us in need of help staying cool.

My best find of the day, though, was a "helpful tips" article about how to cool yourself down in your car without AC. While very creative and resourceful, I still think it'll be worth every cent to have some cold air blasting out of my vents come August. Here's my favorite one: A 10lb block of ice on the floorboards under a vent will help cool things down. The ice block can rest in a plastic pan or baking tin. Opening a window a little will help with air flow. This was Arizona AC in the 40's and 50's.

P.S. Make sure to check out the third bullet point under the Warnings section.

Digital Tools Overview--from Podcasts to Search Engine Optimization

Just for fun, I thought I'd put together an overview of several types of digital tools available for marketing. We use many of them here at Scene Genesis, so here's my .02 on everything from SEO to Blogs.

Blogs

If you are reading this, then you have some sense of what a blog can be like--think of it as a place for more informal commentary about subjects that are of interest. A blog can be a gathering-spot in cyberspace--sort of like a coffeehouse. Readers can, and are encouraged to, leave comments. In 2008, there were more than 112 million blogs tracked by Technorati. 33% of US Internet users read blogs.

They can include text, photos, audio and video. If you hope to begin blogging, here are a few tips:

• Commit to a posting schedule
• Write with personality--you can let opinion and individuality shine on your blog
• Build a following by linking to other blogs and posting there

Social Networks
Social networks allow users to construct a profile and connect with family, friends, co-workers and peers. They can be effective for marketing to micro-segments of customers (or potential customers). And, don't think of them just for the young, Facebook's fastest growing user segment is women ages 55+. More people use social networks and blogs than email, BTW. Bear in mind that the operative word is social--any marketing you do needs to get people talking and buzzing!

Podcasts
These are the audio or video files that can be downloaded to computers or portable media players. We do a great series aimed at information shop owners might want to hear about, Topics in Ten. Listen to a sample here. Over 17.4 million people downloaded podcasts monthly in 2008.

Search Engine Optimization

Lots of web companies will market to you based on the SEO results they can obtain for you. Simply put, if someone does a search, you want to be in the top tier of listings. SEO is the marketing and technological finesse that helps weigh things in your favor. Technically, SEO makes sure that search engines can properly index your site via keyworkds, content and links. From a marketing standpoint, it means that you are targeting specific keywords, so that your site should rank high for them.

I hope this helps give an overview of these tools and terms. Now you can toss the words around and impress everyone with your web-savvy.

--Beth

GM Volt - Good. Fuel Cells Built in Korea? Not So Good.

I got a twitter today from GMVolt:

LG Chem Has Begun Battery Plant Construction for Chevy Volt Cells.

Sounds great - the GM Volt, an American car, green, totally electric. 

So why did they award the contract to build the fuel cells for the GM Volt to LG Korea?  According to the post on GM's own Volt blog, GM awarded the contract to LG from a field of 27 applicants.  LG's Korea unit has begun construction on the assembly line to deliver units to GM for the 2010 launch of the Volt. 

Considering the other GM news today, that GM will be shuttering several plants for as much as nine weeks - putting American GM workers out of work and out of pay for that time. 

GM - why not build the plant in Detroit, and move the workers from the plants you're shuttering to build the Volt fuel cells?

-- Chrisa

Scholarships and awards

Just wanted to make sure that these Automotive Management Institute applications are on your radar.

The Richard Cossette/Gale Westerlund Memorial Scholarship
    $1,000 toward attending NACE in 2009

Emil Stanley Merit Award Applications
    $1,000 toward attending NACE in 2009

BodyShop Business Magazine Scholarship
    $1,000 Scholarship toward attending NACE in 2009.

To request a scholarship application, call AMI at (800) 272-7467, ext. 241, or fill out a scholarship application online at www.amionline.org.  Good luck!

--Beth

Has your shop gone "virtual?"

Being in the software industry, I love to hear stories about how implementing various technologies have a positive impact on business. This story on Virtual Auto Body of Dayton (out of Fairborn, OH) caught my attention for just that reason. Virtual Auto Body figured out a way to keep their customers informed of the status on their vehicle, which in turn, is keeping them happy. They installed 10 web cams around their shop and they stream the video live on their website. Therefore, giving their customers better access to the status of their repair, and exactly what goes into fixing their vehicle.

If you check out their website you can also see that they offer a plethora of other online features as well which include live chat support, online payment of your deductible, email and help desk, and customer surveys. This shop has definitely grasped the idea that people like to get as much information from their service providers online as they can - and it sounds like it's working for them!

Have you implemented any features like this on your website? If so, how are they working for you?

--Shanna

Silly Driving Laws

I blame my high school social studies teacher for my love of useless information. He started each morning with a piece of silly trivia, and my fondness for it has stuck to this day. One of my favorite things are silly laws that are still on the books in many cities and states in our country. With the help of Aha Jokes, I share with you the list of silly driving and automobile laws still enforceable in the United States today:

Alaska - No one may tie their pet dog to the roof of a car. Presumably you can tie a dog that is not your pet to your roof, however.

Alabama - drivers cannot drive barefoot or blindfolded.  But you can drive the wrong way down a one-way street if you have a lantern affixed to the front of your car.

Arkansas - In Little Rock, no person shall sound the horn on a vehicle at any place where cold drinks or sandwiches are served after 9:00 P.M.  I don't know if this means you can honk before 9:00 PM, or you can honk if they only serve hot beverages after 9:00 PM, though.

Arizona - Cars may not be driven in reverse in the city of Glendale.  Hope you have a circular driveway.

California - It is illegal for women to drive wearing a housecoat.  It’s also illegal to shoot game from a vehicle, except for whales.  In Long Beach, the only item allowed in a garage is a car.  I used to live in Long Beach, and I violated this one - my washing machine was in my garage. In San Francisco,it is illegal to wipe your car with used underwear.  Eww. 

Iowa - It is illegal to throw bricks onto the highway without obtaining permission from the local city council.  I can't imagine when they would grant permission.

Colorado - In Denver, it is illegal to drive a black car on Sundays.  

Connecticut - In New Britain, it is illegal for a fire truck to drive more than 25 miles per hour, even on the way to a fire.  I hope it's a small town.

Florida - If you tie an elephant to a parking meter, you still have to pay the fee, as if you parked a car there.  Seems fair.

Georgia - Members of the state assembly may not be ticketed for speeding while the state assembly is in session.  

Illinois - In Chicago, drivers are required to contact the police before driving into the city. Can you imagine how many calls they must get in a day?  In Evanston, it is illegal to change your clothes in a car, except in cases of fire.  Of course, I think it's pretty stupid to change your clothes in a burning car.

Indiana - A male driver over 18 can be arrested for transporting a girl under the age of 17 that is not wearing socks and shoes.  That's it.  Doesn't say she needs to be wearing anything else.

Kansas - In Wichita,before proceeding through the interesection of Douglas and Broadway, a motorist is required to get out of their vehice and fire three shot gun rounds into the air.

Louisiana - In New Orleans it is illegal for a woman to drive a car unless her husband is walking in front of it, waving a flag.  You'll notice a trend with this one if you keep reading.

Massachusetts -  Taxi drivers are prohibited from making love in the front seat of their taxi during their shifts.  Must be a lot of off duty lights on cabs in MA.

Michigan - Couples may not neck in a vehicle unless the vehicle is parked on their property.

Minnesota - In Minneapolis,red cars cannot be driven down Lake Street.  Ever.

Mississippi - In Oxford, horn honking is illegal because it scares horses.

Montana - It is illegal to have a sheep in the cab of your truck without a chaperone.  Of course, the law doesn't specify if the chaperone can't be another sheep.

Nevada - It is illegal to drive a camel on the highway.  Down the strip is presumably ok.

New Hampshire - Cattle crossing the road must wear a crap collection device.  I wonder who sells those?

New Jersey - You may not apply for personalized plates if you have been convicted of drunk driving, and cars may not pass horse drawn carriages on the street. 

North Carolina - In Forest City you must stop and call City Hall before entering town in an automobile. This is so the townspeople will have time to go out and hold their horses until you get through town.

Oklahoma - It is illegal to read a comic book while operating a motor vehicle.  The newspaper is presumably fine, however.

Ohio - Drivers must slow down or stop when approaching a horse, and in Youngstown, It is illegal to run out of gas, or ride on the roof of a taxi.

Pennsylvania - Any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop every mile and send up a rocket signal, wait 10 minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and continue.  A ROCKET signal.  Not a flare.  Also, any motorist who sights a team of horses coming toward him must pull well off the road, cover his car with a blanket or canvas that blends with the countryside, and let the horses pass. If the horses appear skittish, the motorist must take his car apart, piece by piece, and hide it under the nearest bushes.  Wouldn't the sound of dismantling a car make the horses downright petrified?

South Carolina - When approaching a four way or blind intersection in a non-horse driven vehicle you must stop 100 ft from the intersection and discharge a firearm into the air to warn horse traffic.  Be careful of where the ammo comes down!

Tennessee - In Memphis it is illegal for a woman to drive a car alone - she must have a man in the front seat waving a red flag.  Sorta like New Orleans.  It’s also illegal for anyone to drive while asleep, and you can’t shoot game from your car, except whales.  How many whales live in Tennessee?

Texas - It is illegal to drive without windshield wipers. You don't need a windshield, but you must have the wipers. 

Virginia - Waynesboro yet again makes it illegal for a woman to drive a car up

Main Street

unless her husband is walking in front of the car waving a red flag.

Washington - At least Washington doesn't discriminate.  ALL motor vehicles must be preceded by a man carrying a red flag (daytime) or a red lantern (nighttime) fifty feet in front of said vehicle. 

West Virginia - Roadkill may be taken home for supper.  You don't even have to be the one that hit it.

Wisconsin - In Milwaukee, an ordinance forbids parking for over two hours unless a horse is tied to the car.  What you do with the horse after that two hours is up is a mystery.

--Chrisa

Should we make like the Europeans?

Unfortunately, I'm not referring to their lengthy vacations, but rather the "cash for clunkers" plan to juice car sales. Nearly one dozen European countries are hoping to spur car owners by subsidizing drivers who get rid of old cars for smaller, more fuel-efficient ones.(average subsidy, 1,000-2,500 euros)

President Obama has endorsed a similar plan--could it work here? In Europe it has exceeded expectations, leading to about 2 million cars rolling off the lots. Still, Americans favor higher-priced, larger cars when compared to the smaller, cheaper cars that the Europeans are driving. And, the plan wouldn't be enough to keep G.M. or Chrysler from bankruptcy, though it would help keep people employed (for now, at least).

France had a program in the nineties and it produced an initial bump, but was followed by a deep plunge. How can we be sure the initial positive impact would not end up back-firing in the long-run?

What do you think would getting extra money off the sticker price be enough to get you to trade in your clunker?

--Beth

April is National Car Care Month

April is National Car Care Month and an excellent time to use this as a marketing opportunity. National Car Month is held twice a year allowing businesses to promote the safe use of cars and other events. If you visit the site www.carcare.org you can get tons of ideas on how to make this a marketing success for you. There are links to consumer ideas, business ideas, and kits that can guide you through the event.

Here are some ideas for you to consider:

Reach out to your existing customers: Using your database of past customers is your best promotion source. Many of your customers may have minor damage to be estimated or have friends and relatives that are in need of collision service. Start by offering free estimates for any work.

There are three categories you can build upon for an event:

Small -Your individual business holding a car care event. You could hold a "car seat safety check" in conjunction with your local police department, hold an "extraction" activity with your local fire department. 

Medium - Hold the event in conjunction with a similar business--such as a dealership, mechanical shop, oil lube shop, tire shop--and share in the activities that would be promoted.

Large - This would build upon the same activity as a medium event but you would get a local charity event involved and accept donations for that charity. You could collect food for a food pantry, money for teen driving events, MADD or even work toward giving a way a car that you and your business partners restore and give to a deserving member of the community.

Whatever level of involvement you decide to participate in, you can get excellent marketing coverage, media coverage, and have a reason to reach out to your community and past customers to generate business.

Good Luck!

--Alan

News Coverage in New York-Watch our TV Coverage

Channel 8 in our home town of Rochester, NY did a story on SceneExchange. Here's the TV spot.

Watch it here.

--Beth

As the Economy Goes Down, Fraud Goes Up

There was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal this week about the rise in cars being dumped in lakes, burned on the side of the road, or even rolled off of cliffs.  The drivers aren't injured because many of these cases turn out to be insurance fraud, perpetrated because the owners can no longer afford their car payments.  The rise in this type of fraud is becoming increasingly common in Las Vegas, where declines in tourists coming to gamble means halted construction, less casino jobs, and more unemployment. 

And it's not just your average family sedan that's being torched in the middle of the Nevada desert - it's not uncommon for the Clark County Sheriff to find a Mercedes Benz or Land Rover on fire.  The rise has been so acute - upwards of 18% since 2008 - that the authorities in Las Vegas have taken to patrolling the desert skies in helicopters, looking for smoke. 

While I can't condone - or stomach - insurance fraud, I can understand the desperation that these people must feel, particularly in Las Vegas, where there's not many jobs that aren't directly or indirectly tied to tourism.  What can be done, in the grand scheme of all the bailouts and renegotiations going on, for us little guys?  When will the relief be bottom up, rather than just top down? 

--Chrisa