15 Winning Dealership Marketing & Advertising Strategies
Quick Answer Dealerships can increase sales by using customer data to personalize marketing, identify buying trends, and reach relevant audiences. Local SEO, targeted advertising, mobile-friendly websites, AI-assisted lead follow-up, and video content can help generate leads, while email marketing, review management, and loyalty programs can support customer retention. Feel like you’re constantly fighting for attention […]
What Belongs on a Service Manager Daily Checklist?
Quick Answer A service manager daily checklist includes structured morning shop walkthroughs, repair order audits, technician dispatch monitoring, mid-day customer update tracking, and end-of-day performance reviews. By following a consistent daily operating routine, fixed operations leaders eliminate shop bottlenecks, improve advisor communication, protect effective labor rates, and drive higher dealership absorption. Managing a dealership service […]
Why You Don’t Need Advisor Training
Service Drive Revolution — Episode #377 Official Full Transcript Host: Chris Collins Guests: Adam Krey and Chris Hogland Published: September 21, 2026 Duration: 57:49 Listen on Apple | Listen on Spotify Building on weeks of deep-diving into shop floor culture and productivity, Service Drive Revolution — Episode #377 tackles a controversial truth: training your SERVICE […]
Automotive Mechanic Salary & Career Guide 2026
Quick Answer Automotive mechanics earn an average of $50,988 and $53,087 annually, with specialized technicians and Master Mechanics making significantly more. Building a successful career in this field requires formal technical training, hands-on experience, and industry-recognized ASE certifications. The job outlook remains highly stable, offering long-term advancement into management, business ownership, and the rapidly growing […]
How to Sync Inventory With Your Actual Service Drive Demand
Quick Answer Dealerships can align parts inventory with service drive demand by using sales data, seasonal forecasting, and clear phase-in and phase-out rules. Regular dead-stock reviews, pre-job parts staging, and real-time communication between parts staff and technicians can reduce downtime, improve bay productivity, and support profitability. Ever feel like your service department is constantly waiting […]
How Does a Higher MPI Completion Rate Drive Shop Revenue?
Quick Answer A higher MPI completion rate directly boosts revenue by uncovering hidden service opportunities on vehicles already in the shop. Motivating technicians and enforcing daily audits ensure these essential inspections are performed consistently and accurately. Service advisors can then use clear communication and visual evidence to easily convert these discovered repairs into approved sales. […]
How to Maximize ROI With Dealership Financial Reports
Quick Answer Dealerships can improve ROI by tracking key metrics such as gross margin, effective labor rate, and absorption rate. Managers should also review expenses for profit leaks, including unapplied labor and unnecessary discounts. Regular financial analysis and management training can help turn these metrics into practical profitability decisions. Do your dealership financial reports feel […]
How to Train Service Advisors to Write Better Repair Orders
Quick Answer Training service advisors to write better repair orders requires teaching structured customer interviewing, precise symptom documentation, and clear diagnostic question frameworks. By replacing vague complaint lines with detailed notes on vehicle conditions and operational symptoms, advisors eliminate shop floor confusion, speed up technician turnaround, and improve total labor performance. Every morning across the […]
How To Avoid Socialism In The Service Drive
Service Drive Revolution — Episode #376 Official Full Transcript Host: Chris Collins Guests: Adam Krey and Chris Hogland Published: September 15, 2026 Duration: 54:32 Listen on Apple | Listen on Spotify Following up on the massive conversations sparked by last week’s episode regarding technician pushback and changing shop floor dynamics, Service Drive Revolution – Episode […]
C Speck is the Richest Car Dealership in America
The wealthiest dealership in the United States has been a fixture of idyllic Sunnyside, Washington, since 1912. They don’t sell fancy European sports cars; they’ve never received a celebrity endorsement or shot a commercial with a killer whale, and they don’t own a sports team – unless, of course, you count the Prosser Mustangs, the […]
How Can Service Lane Follow-up Stop Customer Ghosting
Quick Answer Dealership customers may stop returning for service when the process feels inconvenient, pricing is unclear, or communication feels too sales-focused. Service departments can reduce customer drop-off by providing clear pricing, personalized digital updates, and consistent follow-up. Low-pressure outreach can also help re-engage customers who have stopped responding. Your service department is losing customers, […]
Top 10 Service Advisor Mistakes & Best Practices to Fix Them
Quick Answer Service advisors often lose sales and customer trust by rushing check-ins, quoting prices prematurely, and communicating poorly. To fix these mistakes, advisors must build genuine relationships, emphasize value using visual proof, and set realistic timelines. Empathetic, transparent, and proactive communication throughout the service process further guarantees long-term customer satisfaction and boosts overall revenue. […]
