New educational offering will focus on best practices in online marketing
Kansas City, MO — The Business Technology Association (BTA; www.bta.org) has announced its newest educational offering, the BTA Dealer Marketing Workshop. The inaugural workshop will be held Nov. 6-7, 2014, at the Muratec America Inc. headquarters in Plano, Texas. Led by Darrell Amy, Lindsay Kelley and Jon Mitchell of Dealer Marketing, this workshop will help office technology dealers make sure their dealerships are ready to implement best practices in online marketing.
Amy, chief innovation officer at Dealer Marketing, says business decision makers are, on average, 57 percent of the way through the buying process before they contact a vendor or sales rep, according to a recent article in the Harvard Business Review. “The buying process has changed,” he says. “More of the initial research is done online. If you are not involved in this online research, you may not even get a shot at the deal.”
Amy suggests office technology dealers consider two key questions: Has your dealership adapted to this new buying process? Or, are you confused by the many local seminars and Internet articles from online marketing people that make big promises, but do not understand the office technology industry?
“It is time to get serious about online marketing,” Amy says. “The BTA Dealer Marketing Workshop will show you real-world examples of how dealers use the Internet to generate leads, cross-sell current clients and position themselves as local experts. As an attendee, you will learn how to turn your dealership website into a lead-generating engine; what types of information your prospects are looking for online; how to get found by the right people; three ways social media can help your sales process; and more.”
This workshop is designed for dealership principals who want to understand marketing and build a plan for their dealerships, marketing managers who want to learn best practices and sales managers who want to know how to generate leads. Attendees will receive an online marketing action plan and 12 monthly best-practices conference calls.
For the past 10 years, Amy has helped dealers develop online marketing strategies that support their business goals and challenges. Previously, he served as a sales rep, sales manager, branch manager and DSM for Toshiba.
Kelley is the chief marketing strategist for Dealer Marketing. She brings experience in the execution of integrated marketing campaigns, inbound marketing, digital marketing, and traditional and social strategies, including social selling strategy, content strategy and website builds. Kelley has served in a marketing function for more than 17 years, including working as the marketing director for a large office technology dealership.
Mitchell is the social media and campaigns director for Dealer Marketing. He manages social media for dealerships across the country. Mitchell’s previous experience includes working for HP and managing a document management system for a Blue Cross affiliate.
BTA member tuition for the BTA Dealer Marketing Workshop is only $995 for up to three people from a single dealership. BTA members may apply their $150 educational discount received with their membership toward this workshop. Non-member tuition is $1,425 for up to three people from a single dealership; registration includes a one-year BTA dealer membership.
For more information or to register, visit www.bta.org/DealerMarketing or call (800) 843-5059.
