Thanks to Colin Barnard of Google Australia for the invitation and for the permission to share the content of this years Google Thinkauto event in Sydney.
Once we recovered from the amazing venue we quickly realised how serious Google are about the automotive internet space and we starting thinking about what our industry and our dealers need to embrace when things being adopted so very fast by the car buying public. Interesting times.
We are delighted to share five of the seven presenters with links to their slides and videos. We hope they cause you to ponder how you will prosper in this accelerating online marketplace. You might also like to think about your online offerings when the NBN arrives across Australia
Session: The Acceleration of Everything
Presenter: Colin Barnard, Head of Google Auto Australia
Best Statistic: 50% of new car buyers watched online videos in 2011
Scariest Statistic: 42% of new car buyers make their final decision using the internet. This is a 50% increase compared to 2009
Message: The automotive internet is growing faster than the automotive industry.
Video: CLICK HERE. (Viewing time is 11:30 min)
Presentation: CLICK HERE (15 slides)
Session: Social: Pivoting around people
Presenter: Suzie O’Carroll, Social Specialist Google Australia
Best Statistic: 90% of consumers online trust recommendations from people they know
Scariest Statistic: 58% of internet users find professional and consumer reviews equally helpful
Message: Social is not a destination, it is part of the consumers buying process
Video: CLICK HERE (viewing time is 10:35 min)
Presentation: CLICK HERE (35 Slides)
Session: Local: Dealer Digital strategies
Presenter: Ale Vendramin, Senior Industry Manager Google Auto Australia
Best Statistic: 1 in 4 auto buyers accessed a dealer website via their mobile device.
Scariest Statistic: 50% + of consumers who use dealer websites as information sources have a poor user experience.
Message: The best link between online and a local dealer is mobile. Dealers must “think local”
Video: CLICK HERE (viewing time is 22:41 mins)
Presentation: CLICK HERE (14 slides)
Session: Mobile: Big ideas for the small screen
Presenter: Brendan “Bob” Forster, Product Specialist Google Australia
Best Statistic: Automotive queries across Google Australia mobile is X 200 since 2008
Scariest Statistic: For 53% of people information is hard to access on a mobile device.
Message: Develop and integrate your mobile strategy
Video: CLICK HERE (viewing time is 18:02 mins)
Presentation: CLICK HERE (18 slides)
Session: Selling Cars online: The future of car buying.
Presenter: Dennis Morgenstern, Industry Manager Auto Google Germany
Best Statistic: You are falling behind. 42% make purchase decision online
Scariest Statistic: Not many people “book a test drive. Most of the car buyers just show up!
Message: Let the user choose where they want to buy…..(Not kidding)
Video: CLICK HERE (viewing time is 23:13 mins)
Presentation: CLICK HERE (18 slides)
Hope you enjoyed this article. Feel free to comment.
