5 posts tagged “cash for clunkers”
Supporters of the Cash for Clunkers Bill got some good news.
House and Senate lawmakers seem to have agreed on a $106 billion dollar wartime spending bill that includes $1 billion dollars for the Cash for Clunkers program.
Consumers looking to get assistance with a new fuel efficient car purchase are one step close to qualifying for a $3,500 or $4,500 cash voucher. This coupled with existing manufacturer incentives can add up to big savings.
For example, Hyundai is offering a $3,000 rebate on the purchase of a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. If a consumer traded in an old clunker getting 15 mpg, their total cash incentives from the CFC program and Hyundai would total $7,500. That total package will be very motivational for cash strapped Americans.
Detroit Auto News
According to a Detroit Auto News email blast:
"House and Senate negotiators reached agreement late Thursday
on a $106 billion wartime spending bill that includes $1 billion for a "cash
for clunkers" program to boost auto sales.
The House and Senate are expected to pass the compromise version of the
spending bill next week. But the $1 billion set aside for the auto-purchase
program is far short of the full cost of such an effort, estimated at $4
billion. The $1 billion is expected to fund the program through Sept. 30,
the end of this fiscal year, according to two congressional sources close to
the negotiations who asked to remain anonymous."
Start Negotiations Now
As some of you may know, I have been working on a marketing plan for the new Cash For Clunkers bill to drive leads to my clients.
As I was reviewing the placement of the website www.cashforclunkersfacts.com I was reminded why press releases are SO very important. Look at what is at the top of Google search results for the phrase "cash for clunkers".
On June 16, 2009 I did a Google search for the phrase "cash for clunkers" and this is what was shown:
I am very glad that the MediaSyndicate press release was one that we posted. I was also glad that the WordPress microsite is holding strong despite being late to the game.
Now that the House passed the Cash for Clunkers bill by a 298 to 119 vote, we come back to the basic Automotive SEO question: How can car dealers leverage this news?
The first though to to create a page on the dealer website that is optimized for searches on the phrase "Cash for Clunkers Bill". Make sure the page is design to come up for your brand and your state. The idea is that if you are a Honda dealer and a consumer had some questions about Honda cars and the bill, that if they typed "Cash for Clunkers Honda" that your dealership page would come up.
If you type into Google "Cash for Clunkers Phoenix" you will see that a Honda Dealer in Phoenix has already put out a press release on the subject and is in postion #1. In many cases, those dealers who are first to act with content on their websites will be rewarded.
Cash for Clunkers Dealer Marketing Tools
I have created a Cash for Clunkers Participating Dealer badge that you can drop onto your home page and add some text about the bill. You can start to educate consumers on the bill. Since most dealers get HUNDREDS of new visitors to their website every day, having this badge on the home page will START new dialogue.
If you would like to add the badge to your website or blog, follow this link for the free code:
http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com/bill/dealer-cash-for-clunkers-badge
Once dealers place the badge on their wbesite, send me a link at: brian@paschconsulting.com and I'll add the dealership website to the National Cash for Clunkers dirtectory.
Consumer Interest
As we notes in a past this week, Toyota car models lead consumer interest in fuel efficient cars. I will keep you posted on how the data changes in the coming weeks.
Cash For Clunkers Consumer Interest
Four car manufacturers are leading the pack for consumer interest in fuel efficient cars. From data collected from www.cashforclunkersfacts.com website, the number one choice for consumers looking to purchase a new fuel efficient car is Toyota. In the top four spots, there are two Japanese brands and two American brands.
This is good news for these four manufacturers which should bode well for them if the Cash for Clunkers Bill is passed into law this summer.
Preparing Your Website
I would encourage all car dealers interested in leveraging this sales opportunity if it becomes law, to start to optimize the websites and blogs for the program. Car dealers can add a "Cash for Clunker Participating Dealer" badge to their website and create a page on their own website talking about the program.
If you would like to get the free code to generate the Cash for Clunkers badge, click on this link: CFC Dealer Badge
If you need assistance with preparing your website to get wide coverage for car searches in your State, give us a call at: 732-450-8200 .
Americans who could use a new fuel efficient car and would benefit from the anticipated cash vouchers offered in the Cash for Clunkers bill may not qualify for a new car loan. The bill would reward consumers driving old “clunkers” if they traded their cars in for a more fuel efficient model.
However, many America’s who are struggling with unemployment, layoffs and foreclosures will not be able to qualify for a new car loan. In fact, there has been an upsurge in used car sales at local car dealers who offer a Buy Here Pay Here model. In this business model, dealers offer consumers the ability to purchase used cars with a payment plan that takes into consideration poor credit.
Ohio Used Car Dealer
A “Buy Here Pay Here” dealer group in Ohio called ABC Motor Credit is one automotive retailer that has actually seen an uptick in business. Sam Snellenberger, an executive at the company commented; “In this economy, consumers need reliable transportation to get to work. We match them with a car and a payment that they can live with; many have had their cars repossessed. For many consumers, ABC Motor Credit is their last chance to be able to drive to work or find a new job that requires transportation.”
Consumers with poor credit are hoping that the proposed Cash for Guzzlers or Cash for Clunkers bill provides additional support for consumers hit hard by the recession. Some opposing voices to the current draft of the cash for Clunkers legislation say that the bill is not doing enough to allow consumers with low credit to utilize a cash vouchers. Some opponents actually have petitioned that the vouchers should not be made available for wealthy Americans.
With poor credit a reality for many Americans living in 2008, used car sales will continue to rise and consumers with poor credit may be forced to drive less fuel efficient cars because they will be priced in the marketplace at the bottom of the value scale.
Cash for Guzzlers
The Cash for Guzzlers bill is still under scrutiny and compromise with Washington laymakers. A new effort called Drive Forward America Act is another effort to get a cash voucher system passed this summer. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) are backing this new measure in a bi-partisan effort.
