Last year Facebook was the new online darling– users were signing up at a phenomenal rate and site traffic exploded.  Suddenly, companies were forced to consider whether they needed a presence in this suddenly-popular social media sandbox.  Now that everyone is moving on to the Next Big Thing – aka ... Read More »

It’s clear; everyone is frenzied over Twitter.  Consumers are engaged by the transparency offered by brands and pop-personalities, while brands are attempting to quickly grasp the latest online curve-ball that’s truly swept us away to a whole new tworld.  In the automotive tworld, no matter what ... Read More »

As companies adopt Twitter, one immediate issue they must consider is the kind of profile(s) to create.  A corporate account (e.g. @GMblogs, @Starbucks, @JetBlue ) offers a new communication medium that’s consistent with other media channels while enabling direct conversations with consumers.  Another option ... Read More »

In the midst of a struggling economy we’re all aware of the decline in new vehicle sales, but an area that is often overlooked is the used vehicle sales market, specifically, certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles which have maintained a steady sales volume over the past year.  Many shoppers who can’t afford ... Read More »

In today’s social media dominated world, online consumer generated content, such as reviews and ratings, is prevailing as a key influence in shoppers’ decision to ultimately purchase a product or use a service. This trend can be recognized by the increase in popularity of Web sites built on business models ... Read More »

We recently presented (via Webcast) the latest results from the Online Media Behavior Study.  This groundbreaking study combines two sources, clickstream data provided by Compete, Inc.'s online panel and actual new-vehicle buyers gathered by the Power Information Network, to create unique behavioral data.  The ... Read More »

As everyone knows (or is quickly figuring out), Twitter enables real-time microblogging, with information and news being disseminated almost instantaneously.  Some automotive companies have chosen to be a part of the conversations, but Twitter still offers tremendous value even for those that don’t join.  ... Read More »

The rapid ascent of social networks has prompted some companies to set up their own private communities.  These networks give manufacturers a controlled setting in which they can interact and conduct research with owners and enthusiasts who have chosen to participate.  I tried joining three such automotive ... Read More »

The importance of the new Ford Fiesta - a global vehicle with high expectations in a struggling global economy - cannot be overstated.  And when you read through the reams of product analysis that are already available on it there is no lack of evidence that it is a strong product.  In fact, in a time where all ... Read More »

What’s New In collects some of the most interesting recent data and analysis related to the automotive Internet.  The themes vary depending on what’s currently hot – for instance, social networking has produced tremendous chatter in the past few weeks. 
Social Networking Twitter Trends ... Read More »