Outsell to Speak at Kain Automotive’s 15th Annual Clients & Friends Digital Success Workshop Taking Place Nov. 12-14
Outsell’s founder & CEO Mike Wethington to share best practices on transforming the way brands engage consumers
Minneapolis, MN – Nov. 12, 2019 – Outsell, which offers the first AI-driven marketing automation platform for the automotive industry, announced today that company founder & CEO Mike Wethington has been invited to address an audience of the nation’s most innovative automotive dealers at Kain Automotive’s 15th Annual Clients & Friends Digital Success Workshop. The event, taking place Nov. 12-14 in Lexington, Ky., is an exclusive workshop featuring industry leaders and training from Kain’s own team of experts, and draws hundreds of dealers each year.
Wethington’s presentation, scheduled for Nov. 13 from 9.30-10.10am local time, is titled, “People Buy Experiences. The Key to Transforming the Way Brands Engage with Consumers.”
Wethington pioneered the concept of applying AI-based marketing techniques to automotive sales and marketing. “AI technology is absolutely essential for auto dealers in today’s competitive sales and service environment,” said Wethington. “I look forward to a lively discussion on digital marketing best practices – and speaking with great minds in the auto industry.”
Outsell helps dealers better understand the impact of every dollar spent
Outsell announced today that while US auto sales continued to weaken in Q3, Outsell’s year-to-date revenue kept growing – up 7 percent compared to prior year, while direct sales increased 19 percent year-over-year.
“Historically, weak auto sales translate into growth for Outsell,” said Mike Wethington, co-founder and CEO of Outsell. “We saw it in the 2008 downturn, and we’re seeing it now. That’s because in a challenging market, dealers have to be more careful about how and what they spend, and Outsell’s platform helps them determine what’s working and what’s not.”
Highlights from the quarter:
- Launched Mileage Estimator, a predictive model that helps dealers more accurately target consumers in their customer journey.
- Sponsored and spoke at Digital Dealer 27, one of the auto industry’s preeminent events.
- Outsell assembled its Customer Advisory Board at Outsell Headquarters, bringing together industry leaders to discuss the company’s 2020 product roadmap & objectives, and how it can continue to improve its value to dealers.
“With our best-in-class ROI attribution, Outsell quickly pays for itself by providing dealers with the data they need to make smarter marketing investments,” said Wethington. “With Outsell, dealers stay top-of-mind with consumers, retain more customers, and earn more market share.”
October 21, 2019
Getting ahead of the data quagmire
NADA’s recent article on the complicated data quagmire plaguing the auto industry is spot on. For auto retailers to truly leverage data to benefit their customers, the industry absolutely must find a way to securely and efficiently integrate data flows across all channels.
This means across technology partners, DMS providers, your OEM— everyone. And in the age of Amazon where a seamless flow of data is crucial to providing the dynamic, personalized experience customers expect (and receive in virtually all other industries), this isn’t a problem that can be ignored.
The good news, as the NADA article stated, is that some OEMs are finally turning a new leaf on how they approach data. The bad news is that many technology and DMS providers are making data integration even more complicated or hoarding data for themselves to use in ways that abuse customer privacy and hurt vendor integrity.
As Peter Welch, NADA President and CEO, said, “Dealers need partners—OEMs and vendors alike—willing to embrace this reality and work with dealers, not against them, in service of consumers.”
Hear, hear!
At Outsell, we truly believe what’s right for the dealer is right for the customer. In order to provide the best customer experience, vendors must embrace an open ecosystem in order to capture the data coming from all different directions.
It’s also time to stop abusing the data needed for our success and to start being more accessible and collaborative to achieve that success together.
Speakers to address how to personalize the customer experience and increase engagement
Outsell announced today that it is presenting with customers on a panel at Digital Dealer 27 on the topic “4 Tips to Conquest & Retain More Customers with Personalized, Cross-Channel Marketing,” taking place August 20, 2019 at 10:00 am. The panel will feature speakers Charles Paul, Marketing Director at Scharmach Automotive Group, Chris Mathis, Internet Director at Jackie Cooper Imports and Valerie Vallancourt, Vice President of Marketing at Outsell, who will discuss how dealers can provide personalized experiences across multiple channels.
The customer journey today often includes a variety of devices and channels – and no two customer journeys are the same. Consumers that shop both online and in the dealership have a 30% higher lifetime value than those who shop using only one avenue when searching for a vehicle. Additionally, companies that employ a cross-channel customer engagement strategy retain on average 89% of their customers. It’s imperative for dealers to provide personalized experiences across channels, especially in a slower market. During this panel, attendees will walk away with a better understanding of how to improve customer engagement with new cross channel marketing methods.
Key takeaways that the panelists will share:
- Understand what customer experience means to consumers today and how to personalize the customer experience at scale.
- Learn how to create an omnichannel approach to meet consumers wherever they are in their lifecycle.
- Learn how to orchestrate an end-to-end experience to increase overall customer engagement.
Who:
Charles Paul, Marketing Director at Scharmach Automotive Group, Chris Mathis, Internet Director at Jackie Cooper Imports and Valerie Vallancourt, Vice President of Marketing at Outsell
What:
“4 Tips to Conquest & Retain More Customers with Personalized, Cross-Channel Marketing”
Where:
Mandalay Bay J, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas
When:
Tuesday, August 20 from 10:00-10:50 am
Outsell will also be at booth #841 showcasing the newest enhancements to the Outsell platform. Click here for more details and to sign up for a demo.
To register for Digital Dealer 27 and learn more about the agenda, please visit, https://www.digitaldealer.com/conference/education/agenda/
Dealers are tightening belts but continue to invest in Outsell
Outsell announced today that it hit its revenue plan for the first half of 2019, despite a weakened auto industry environment.
In the first half of 2019, U.S. auto makers posted six straight months of decline in new car sales after a historic bull run. That has naturally affected dealers’ spending in areas such as technology. Outsell however still managed to complete two strong quarters, with revenue on plan and bookings at 99 percent of plan.
Outsell makes dealers’ lives easier with AI-driven, automated marketing communications across channels. Outsell sends personalized communications on dealers’ behalf through various channels specific to each consumer’s lifecycle stage. Each communication is tailored to individual preferences, including specific inventory matching their needs. Outsell also helps dealers identify which consumers are in market (or back in market as it relates to previous customers).
“In a weaker sales environment, dealers need Outsell more than ever,” said Mike Wethington, founder and CEO of Outsell. “Outsell helps them be more efficient and effective with marketing dollars and has built-in reporting to show dealers how much return they are getting on every dollar spent.”
Just after the close of Q2, Outsell announced several enhancements to its core platform intended to help dealers improve the accuracy and efficacy of marketing campaigns, including:
- A Mileage Estimator that allows dealers to better predict what consumers might need so they can provide timely automotive service and vehicle offers and provide a better customer experience.
- Single Sign On (SSO) for security and a better user experience.
- A lapsed servicer preset filter to help dealers quickly identify consumer and vehicle information (including number of visits and VINs) and then easily download a quick call list that staff can use to drive visits to their service departments.
Predictive analytics help dealers tailor dynamic content to consumers
Outsell announced today that it has added a new Mileage Estimator predictive model to the Outsell platform. The Mileage Estimator allows dealers to better predict what consumers might need so they can provide timely automotive service and vehicle offers and provide a better customer experience.
Vehicle mileage is an important data point for helping dealers pinpoint where consumers are in their automotive lifecycle. Most dealerships however either don’t have access to the data for vehicles they don’t service, don’t regularly collect mileage when they do service it, or may not have the expertise to analyze the data they have. That leaves a data gap – one that’s now filled by Outsell’s new Mileage Estimator model, which establishes mileage patterns for every make and model and combines them with unique data it has for each consumer to more accurately calculate current mileage for a vehicle identification number (VIN).
“Enhancing our models and implementing the Mileage Estimator has had a major impact on the platform,” said Litded Davis, Vice President of Product and Program Management at Outsell. “We’re able to fill in missing information for dealers and consumers to better predict their service and vehicle needs. This helps the dealer drives sales zeroing in on the right consumer, which results in higher engagement for a happier and more loyal customer.”
Davis said that before adding Outsell’s Mileage Estimator, most dealers see between 60-70 percent of their database records unassigned to a consumer lifecycle stage. After adding Mileage Estimator, that typically drops to 30-35 percent, meaning hundreds or thousands of additional consumers are now eligible for communications across channels relevant to their individual lifecycle stage, personalized for them.
Other new Outsell enhancements include Single Sign On (SSO) for security and a better user experience, and a lapsed servicer preset filter to help dealers quickly identify consumer and vehicle information (including number of visits and VINs) and then easily download a quick call list that staff can use to drive visits to their service departments.
Speakers to share advice on turning data insights into actionable sales
Outsell announced today that it is co-hosting a webinar with DrivingSales titled, “4 Tips to Influence Buyer Behavior,” taking place June 6, 2019 at 2:00 pm ET. Moderated by DrivingSales, the event will feature speakers Gray Scott, Marketing Director for Muller Honda and Muller Honda of Gurnee, and Jon Petron, Vice President of Advanced Services at Outsell, who will discuss intent to purchase versus consumer intelligence and how to turn those insights into actionable sales.
Attendees will learn how to pursue in-market car shoppers effectively. What truly motivates car shoppers to their next purchase? How should your BDC/Sales teams follow up when shoppers are in market and throughout the rest of their purchase lifecycle to stay top of mind? Webinar attendees will learn the difference between consumer intelligence vs intent to purchase, what motivates auto shoppers to buy, how to pursue in-market shoppers effectively, customer lifecycle management after purchase, and best practices for influencing future buyer behavior.
Key takeaways:
- Drive more leads down the sales funnel with consumer intelligence
- Use buyer detection to engage in-market shoppers before competitors
- Pursue in-market shoppers with timely, personalized communications
- Refine customer lifecycle management after purchase
Who:
Gray Scott, Marketing Director for Muller Honda and Muller Honda of Gurnee, and Jon Petron, Vice President of Advanced Services at Outsell
What:
“4 Tips to Influence Buyer Behavior”
Where:
Online
When:
June 6, 2019 at 2:00 pm ET
Register for this event at: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5014280296530654220
Turk instrumental in scaling Outsell’s Dealer Success and Account Management teams to support company’s rapid growth
Outsell announced today that Tricia Turk has been promoted to Vice President, Customer Success, overseeing the company’s Dealer Success and Account Management teams. A three-year veteran of Outsell, Turk was previously Director, Customer Success.
“Tricia has been a great collaborator with others throughout the organization to do the right thing for Outsell’s customers,” said Mike Wethington, founder and CEO of Outsell. “Her skills in hiring, staffing and developing her team have resulted in multiple associates being promoted within the organization. Her ability to assess and rapidly implement process improvements has had a direct impact on our high customer retention rates.”
After joining Outsell in 2017, Turk was quickly promoted to Director of the Customer Success team, which supports Outsell’s rapidly growing customer base. She implemented new processes and lead a hiring campaign that helped scale the team’s size and capabilities to support the company’s growth while maintaining strong support for, and relationships with, its customers.
In addition to managing the Customer Success and Account Management teams, Turk also leads Outsell’s Customer Advisory Board, a steering committee comprised of Outsell customers that helps ensure Outsell is listening to the voice of the customer and taking actions to continuously improve its solutions.
Prior to joining Outsell, Turk was Supervisor of Direct Accounts for UnityWorks! and Director of Business Development for Saxton-Ferris-Global.
“I joined Outsell because of its customer-centric values – I knew customer success was an important function here, and felt I could make a difference,” said Turk. “Together, we have built a fantastic team. I’m proud to represent Outsell to our customer community, and thrilled to keep working side-by-side with our customers to help drive marketing innovation for them.”
Turk is the second addition to Outsell’s senior leadership team so far in 2019. The other is new CFO Jon Ochetti, who joined Outsell from the Star Tribune Media Company in March.
Outsell marketing platform is even more valuable in challenging economic times, as its impact on auto sales, service and retention is completely measurable
Outsell announced today that Q1 2019 was one of the strongest first quarters in company history. The company added new Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) bookings at 142 percent ahead of plan, thanks to robust sales to large auto dealer groups.
While overall U.S. auto sales were weak in Q1, Outsell sales did not suffer. Outsell founder and CEO Mike Wethington believes that the Outsell platform is even more valuable to dealers in tough economic times. “Outsell is designed to help dealers not only drive more sales and service, but also retain existing customers – that’s crucial when industry sales are declining,” said Wethington. “And Outsell makes it simple to measure the impact of every marketing dollar, something dealers need to pay more attention to in a challenging sales environment.”
Other highlights from Q1:
- Outsell introduced several new innovations for customers, including on-demand campaigns, private offers and social ads integrated with Inventory Mover – all leveraging AI to help dealers better target and personalize their offers.
- Outsell hired Jon Ochetti as CFO. Ochetti was most recently Vice President – Business Strategy and FP&A at the Star Tribune Media Company. Prior to that, he held senior financial roles at publisher Meredith Corporation’s marketing services agency, MXM, and at McDonald’s Corporation and KPMG.
“Retention is the name of the game right now for our customers, and Outsell plays a big role in helping dealers mine their own data to identify opportunities,” said Wethington. “With Outsell, dealers can work smarter, not harder, to stand out from the competition and win more business.”
Finance, marketing and media experience made Jon Ochetti ideal candidate for Outsell CFO
Outsell announced today that Jon Ochetti has joined the company as CFO, responsible for all areas of finance and accounting. As part of Outsell’s senior leadership team, he will also play a role in determining the company’s growth strategy.
Ochetti was most recently Vice President – Business Strategy and FP&A at the Star Tribune Media Company. Prior to that, he was Vice President – Finance for publisher Meredith Corporation’s marketing services agency, MXM. He also worked in finance positions at McDonald’s Corporation and KPMG.
“Jon has deep experience in media and marketing, and understands the challenges of moving from traditional to online media,” said Wethington. “That, combined with his financial background and expertise, made him the ideal candidate for Outsell’s CFO position. We’re excited to have him on board.”
“Outsell is doing so many exciting things in the automotive marketing world,” said Ochetti. “I think that the industry is at an important inflection point in that digital is really overtaking traditional media as the most effective communications channel. It’s a space I know well, and I’m thrilled to join this team.”