Best Mike theCarGuy Correra Podcasts (2024)

1
Has Google Lost Its Mind? 42:11

8d ago42:11

42:11

👉Get Kathi’s ebook: “A Beginner’s Guide to AI for Automotive Retail 👈 Let’s talk about the recent changes Google is making to search. It’s a wild ride and it’s not at all over yet. Music segment: Siouxsie Sioux B-day Beach Boys documentary (thumbs down) 100 ft Wave documentary 👉Get Kathi’s ebook: “A Beginner’s Guide to AI for Automotive Retail 👈 Go…

1
How To Welcome Female Customers Into the Service Department 39:34

25d ago39:34

39:34

👉Get Kathi’s ebook: “A Beginner’s Guide to AI for Automotive Retail 👈 Why women dislike service departments = Failure to meet their needs The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence states that women represent between 65% and 80% of automotive service customers. This means the female customer experience is directly related to service d…

1
Buried in Your Trade, And You’re To Blame 🎵 40:49

1M ago40:49

40:49

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 Beyond the obvious homage to Bon Jovi in this episode's title - in honor of the new Bon Jovi documentary - Kathi and Mike discuss the fallout/repercussions of the last 3-4 years of dealer markups. Of course the market often required markups due to supply chain issues and low inventory, but what comes next is th…

1
Genuine Care and Kindness Leaves a Lasting Impression 41:20

2M ago41:20

41:20

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life. It can also be the difference between you and the competition. Kathi and Mike share some real time stories about employees that have gone the extra mile, and in the process made themselves memorable. We also share some examples of what happens when poor m…

1
Spring Forward: Refreshing Vendor Relationships, Sprucing Up Operations and Financials 36:54

3M ago36:54

36:54

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 Spring is always a good time to review and reflect on what’s working for you, what’s not, and what needs more attention. Kathi and Mike share a few “Spring Cleaning” stories and best practices at the dealership. Music segment: Alanis Morrisette on David Letterman: You Oughta Know Milli Vanilli documentary The b…

1
Social Media Login Security + Website Traffic Study 50:10

3M ago50:10

50:10

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 This week, Kathi and Mike share insights on Rand Fishkin’s SparkToro’s website traffic sources study. Some surprises, great data. Then we talk about the valuable company assets known as social media business pages. It’s no longer simple or easy to retrieve them if you don’t have login credentials so we share ou…

1
Running on Empty 46:46

3M ago46:46

46:46

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 As we witness every social media channel changing and shifting, so goes the user experience and behavior on each one. Kathi and Mike try to make sense of the current state of social platforms, how to navigate the changes and what we can expect for the foreseeable future. One thing that doesn’t change? The need …

1
An Introvert Walks Into a NADA Convention 44:11

4M ago44:11

44:11

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 Mike gives us a breakdown of the goings-on at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention from his view as an exhibitor. As introverts, we both share certain traits (that are completely normal BTW) that make large groupings of people (like conferences, conventions) sometimes hard to navigate and are …

1
AI Oh My: Practical Uses for AI in Car Dealerships 40:42

4M ago40:42

40:42

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 Kathi and Mike are back with an episode to catch you up on what’s hip and what’s not in the world of using AI. We both come from dealerships so our perspective is different from that of a vendor’s. There’s a lot to learn and say about this exciting new tool but for now, here’s what we’re seeing as a practical w…

1
Everything Still Comes Down to Customer Experience 24:39

6M ago24:39

24:39

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 The 2023 Cox Automotive Service Study reveals a significant shift in consumer preferences regarding vehicle service providers and customer experience. While dealerships historically led as the preferred choice, they are now facing increasing competition from general repair shops. This change is driven by a decl…

1
Ten+ Years Later: Value of Building Online Profiles 35:12

6M ago35:12

35:12

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 We’re back after a short hiatus. Thanks for listening! In this episode, Kathi and Mike reminisce about their journey through automotive social media and online reputation management. Music: RIP Shane MacGowan/The Pogues FairyTale of New York (1988) The Dubliners and The Pogues (1987) The Irish Rover Here’s one …

1
Twitter is Dying, What’s Next? 40:45

8M ago40:45

40:45

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 Mike just got back from the Digital Dealer Conference in Las Vegas. We have thoughts. Twitter, the platform we’ve loved for 14+ years, is officially dead. While both of us are still there, we are down to about 5% of the amount we used to be. Many sane users have been looking for a place to go. We’ve tried most …

1
Have We Lost All Focus on Customer Delight in Automotive? 44:24

9M ago44:24

44:24

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 For some reason, Kathi and Mike have both been witnessing a lot of disturbing customer treatment lately. This week, we share a few stories and then discuss how that’s a losing proposition in today’s retail environment. Then, we discuss why it’s important to have a written social media policy and some training t…

1
Listen to Your Customers Before They Listen to Your Competition 46:08

9M ago46:08

46:08

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 One of the most important parts of social media strategy is to monitor comments. It can be as simple as taking a few minutes out of your day to review comments and respond where appropriate, or advanced as using online marketing and data analytics tools. All of it will provide valuable insights into customer se…

1
Stuck in Neutral: How Resisting Change Shackles You 45:26

10M ago45:26

45:26

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 We can all agree that change is hard, right? It’s super easy to retreat into the comfort of old habits (we’re all guilty of it!). Change is often accompanied by uncertainty, discomfort, and even fear and so resisting seems like the easier route. But when we view large and small shifts as opportunities rather th…

1
Pitfalls to Avoid with Social Media Vendors 40:44

10M ago40:44

40:44

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 You should consider your social media profiles as company assets. Don’t run the risk of losing them by giving outsized access to vendors. You wouldn’t give a vendor keys to the store so they can work on the vending machine, right? Mike got a new mic! Music segment: The Cure Elvis Costello Got a question (or two…

1
When Shady Comes to Shop: Dealing with Tricky Customers 1:01:31

10M ago1:01:31

1:01:31

👉Sign up for Kathi’s newsletter here👈 Kathi and Mike believe delivering the very best customer experience is crucial to dealership profitability. When it comes to selling cars, not all customers are created equal. Some approach the dealership with a lack of trust and the expectation of an adversarial buying experience. Sometimes, people are just sh…

1
Creative Content Ideas for Dealership Service Depts 48:09

10M ago48:09

48:09

Kathi and Mike are car biz veterans. We strive to make the car biz a better place. Mike shares his less-than-5-star dealer service experience and as with all things dealership customer related, we are inspired to share content ideas for service dept personnel and the marketers who love them. Kathi shares her experience running the Hanaeleh horse re…

1
ABC: Always Be Connecting 54:27

11M ago54:27

54:27

Throughout this podcast, Kathi and Mike have shared techniques and tips on how to make social media effective throughout the entire sales process. It works well in building a pipeline, nurturing leads, giving and getting referrals and achieving sales goals. The more things change, the more they remain the same. You can’t close the sale without conn…

1
Empathetic Ears: The Power of Listening to Your Customers 48:16

11M ago48:16

48:16

Car prices are coming down and dealers’ vehicle supply is going up. The problem now is that loans are harder to come by. Millennials and Gen Z can’t afford their car loans and it seems to be getting worse. Delinquency rates on auto loans are hitting record highs: in May 2023, the number of severe delinquencies matched that of 2006, when Cox Automot…

1
Imposter Syndrome: The Struggle is Real 56:24

11M ago56:24

56:24

Now that many of us are starting from scratch on a few new social networks, Kathi and Mike discover that when you’re forced to start over with a clean slate, it’s easy to lose sight of the exceptional talents each of us have. “Stinkin’ thinkin’” gets the better of all of us sometimes so we wanted to share our own tips and tricks for not letting imp…

1
Threads is Here! 54:12

11M ago54:12

54:12

Today (7/6/23) is the launch of Threads, Facebook/Meta’s answer to Twitter. Kathi and Mike had already explored it a bit and have a lot to share about it and the other new platforms that are popping up. As things shift and decentralize in the social media ecosystem, it’s more important than ever to begin with a strategy that outlines the goals you …

1
Is It Time for a Workforce Workout? 53:31

12M ago53:31

53:31

To say there’s been changes in the car business is a colossal understatement. After the challenges from the pandemic, it seems as though dealership processes are all over the place…and that’s to be expected. But now that we are beginning to see a return to some norms, and customers are expecting an improved experience at the dealership, focused tra…

1
Do’s and Don’ts of Using ChatGPT for Social Media Posts 54:44

12M ago54:44

54:44

There are consequences of social media behavior. Whether they’re good or bad is determined by you. We talk about it a lot but wow, it’s so crucial to think about how you want to be perceived. Then we talk about ChatGPT and how useful it can be for creating social media content. Kathi shares her insights with the latest Facebook push of short-form v…

1
Old Habits Die Hard in the Car Business 49:08

1y ago49:08

49:08

This week, we dive into some real-time stories of customer experience at dealerships. Both of us have noticed a deterioration of general behavior within the interactions between dealership personnel and customers and we’re a little worried about where we go from here. Takeaway: Be truthful with the customer. Music: On SNL: Elvis Costello and the Be…

1
Summer Camp Recap + More w/Kelly Wilson 1:13:06

1y ago1:13:06

1:13:06

Kathi and Mike welcome our friend, Kelly Wilson, who’s not only a top-notch dealership Marketing Manager and Internet Manager, but an awesome, high-producing Finance Manager. Kelly gives us a “boots on the ground” recap of the Dealer Knows Summer Camp. We also talk about overcoming adversity, something that Kelly knows “a little bit” about. She’s a…

1
Thriving in an Era of Rapid Change 45:50

1y ago45:50

45:50

Car dealers are bombarded by truckloads of vendors who each promise the world, and this is never more true than in the digital marketing and advertising space. Dealership personnel don’t have time to become digital experts so they depend on their vendors. But that dependency is only beneficial when there is trust built between the store and the ven…

1
Telling Stories on Social is Still Your Secret Weapon 1:07:44

1y ago1:07:44

1:07:44

Social media is changing dramatically and keeping up requires a focused effort. Kathi and Mike share examples of how stories differentiate you from all the online noise. In our music segment: Today (5/18/23) is the anniversary of Ian Curtis’ death. Ian was the lead singer and founder of Joy Division, a band from Manchester, England in 1976. The gro…

1
A New Pair of Running Shoes Leads to Sole-Searching Insight 50:43

1y ago50:43

50:43

Gawd knows, we’ve all heard those worn out car sales tropes promising great success through some “easy” steps. The fact is, creating a lasting career in the car business is hard work and some of that hard work must be done on yourself. But where to start? Self insight is super difficult to master, which is why so many avoid taking action. Mike shar…

1
Oh Facebook, Why? 55:04

1y ago55:04

55:04

Have you been running any Facebook ads lately? Kathi shares her latest go-round with Facebook “Meta” ads (this time for Hanaeleh, the non-profit horse rescue she’s involved with), and you’ll want to hear the results because when you spend your hard-earned money to advertise, you should be able to know where your budget is going. Then, Mike talks ab…

1
Seasonal Shift 40:17

1y ago40:17

40:17

It’s Springtime and that means new beginnings, fresh starts, and positive changes. When it comes to dealership operations, it’s the opportunity to update outdated processes that may be costing you money. Join Kathi and Mike as we share some of our dealership process experiences, positive and not-so-positive. What we learned might inspire you to exp…

1
Spring Cleaning and Google Lighthouse 38:43

1y ago38:43

38:43

We are just a couple of car peeps spreading helpful tips when we see ‘em. Please allow us to tell you about Google Lighthouse (and the Google Lighthouse Chrome extension). You can use it to audit any website you want for free. Spring is in the air(!) and we are here to remind you that it’s a good time to assess things. Clear up the clutter, so to s…

1
Buying a Car Online w/Anielka Gallo 52:08

1y ago52:08

52:08

We’re in the car business and maybe you are too. But even if you aren't, have you ever wondered what it’s actually like to buy a car online? And if you have, was your experience everything you imagined? Kathi and Mike have a chat with their friend Anielka Gallo, who worked at car dealerships in the marketing dept and now freelances her awesome grap…

1
Twitter Rants: The Ultimate Cardio Workout 50:46

1y ago50:46

50:46

For those of us who spend time on Twitter (even though it has seriously degraded since Elmo took over), the changes have not been positive. We would like our platform back and of course, that's not in the cards, which is why we must turn to self care. Self care in the form of a rant. Join us, won’t you? Afterwards, we explore how dealerships can do…

1
Conferences, amirite? w/Bill Playford 1:18:35

1y ago1:18:35

1:18:35

Kathi and Mike welcome back our friend, Bill Playford from Dealer Knows. We got to talking a few weeks ago about the sad state of automotive conferences and Bill is here to share some exciting news. Bill and his partner Joe Webb have been working hard to deliver a very different alternative that will likely change your mind about what a conference …

1
How to Make Automotive Social Media Fun! 55:25

1+ y ago55:25

55:25

Great content that people are interested in doesn’t have to be a chore. Social media is supposed to be fun (and profitable) but when you’re stressed and at a loss for what to post, it’s anything but fun. Implementing even a rudimentary strategy for social media content will greatly increase your chance of success. Kathi and Mike discuss some of the…

1
Go See Cal, Go See Cal, Go See Cal! 35:06

1+ y ago35:06

35:06

We are back from a short mental health break just in time to discuss the sale of the last Cal Worthington store here in So Cal. Kathi and Mike both grew up with Cal Worthington coming through their TVs (maybe you did too?). He was the OG car dealer and there'll never be another like him. Yesterday was John Doe's birthday so we are celebrating by ta…

1
Accountability Finally Comes for Tesla 53:03

1+ y ago53:03

53:03

Mike and I haven’t really shared our views on the whole “Full Self Driving” saga that’s been causing so much harm to unsuspecting drivers and by extension the driving public. Today we break our silence to convey how happy we are that a recall was announced saying that FSD “may cause a crash.” Then, we talk about a fool proof way to always have thou…

1
Using Social Media to Buy Cars 1:00:04

1+ y ago1:00:04

1:00:04

We are so happy to have Justin Osburn on the show this week. Justin is a leader in our industry for many reasons and when you listen, you’ll see why. Franchise or independent retailer, finding cars to sell is an art. Introducing BDC (Business Development Center) tactics can improve your success substantially and we talk with Justin about how to cha…

1
AI and the Car Business 47:08

1+ y ago47:08

47:08

First, we discuss a little bit about how the car business stereotype is still alive and well. Both Mike and I have spent our careers fighting the stereotype and we think it’s time to fix it. Then we cover ChatGPT and how we might be using AI today and in the future of the car business. ChatGPT is an AI chatbot system that OpenAI released in Novembe…

1
Google Business Profiles? Yes, Please! 54:42

1+ y ago54:42

54:42

It’s crazy to imagine but did you know that only a small fraction of the millions of US businesses use their Google Business Profile? Our guest today is Craig Darling of Darling Local and he’s on a mission to change that. Google Business Profiles are the single best way to get noticed in Search...for FREE. Craig is a long-time friend of ours. He wa…

1
New Year, New [Old] Social Media? 52:20

1+ y ago52:20

52:20

It’s a new year, and it’s a good time to review your social media strategy. What do you want out of social media? Do you have the resources to get there? There are a thousand different ways you can use social media and we talk about taking a multi-pronged approach. Hiring a social media manager is the first step and then supplement their efforts wi…

1
What Will 2023 Look Like For The Car Business? 38:31

1+ y ago38:31

38:31

It’s a New Year! In this episode, we share our insights on Cox Automotive’s Jonathan Smoke’s predictions for 2023. Having managed dealership operations for many years, we both feel strongly that challenges are coming - but nothing that we haven’t seen before. We are car people which means we always persevere through the tough times to come out on t…

1
Building a Community to Increase Sales (Guest: Bill Playford) 1:07:42

1+ y ago1:07:42

1:07:42

We stirred up some things with last week’s episode about building a community rather than an audience…and we loved it. This week, we invited our friend and amazing car guy, Bill Playford to pick up the conversation where we left off! The invincible strength in relationships within communities leads to higher sales. Bill shares examples of how, when…

1
Are You Building a Community or an Audience? 44:23

1+ y ago44:23

44:23

We’ve all seen them. “Influencers” who have lots of followers, likes and comments on social media. Some do “live videos,” look super successful but in truth, only a small fraction of influencers actually earn a living. If you’re in car sales, or any sales really, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. But at the end of the day, what exactly do you…

1
Have You Ever Thought About Speaking at a Conference? (Guest: Brent Wees) 57:08

1+ y ago57:08

57:08

You’re in for a treat. This week’s guest is Brent Wees. Brent is a wicked awesome speaker, coach and digital marketing strategist. He’s also been a friend of ours for over ten years. If you’ve ever seen him speak, you’ll never forget it. Brent’s energy is infectious and he’s here with us to share some of his tips on how to get chosen for a session …

1
Real Life Social Media Tips 45:43

1+ y ago45:43

45:43

We’ve been thinking a lot about the state of automotive social media. Both of us have witnessed so many years of salespeople and dealerships either ignoring the value of social or not taking action because of old limiting beliefs. In this episode, we share some real-life examples of successful social media and some simple tactics that could help yo…

1
A Brand Is Not Just a Logo 39:10

1+ y ago39:10

39:10

Did you know that Google has renamed Data Studio? (wait till you hear what they changed it to!). This on the heels of sunsetting our beloved GMB app and changing the oft-loved name - Google My Business - to Google Business Profiles. Kathi and Mike talk about the value in brands that we love and what happens when they change. PS: Remember the Ford T…

1
What is "Modern Retail?" 38:07

1+ y ago38:07

38:07

Those of us in the car biz, who’ve worked ding to dong, helping the public buy the vehicle of their dreams, can be a tad cynical. Retail can do that to you, but it’s not something we try to be, and it happens over time through experiences. What is “Modern Retail?” This is a term we’ve heard lately that defies logic. It’s a great word - Modern - but…

1
Is TikTok Safe to Use? 45:56

1+ y ago45:56

45:56

The topsy-turvy world that is social media right now is causing a lot of people to review each platform’s privacy and data collection policies. TikTok has been singled out as a unique concern so we decided to look at some of the reasons to pause before you jump. Kathi and Mike also talk about the precarious position some vehicle customers will be i…

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Mike TheCarGuy Correra Podcasts

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