<![CDATA[MIKE THECARGUY! - News and Views]]>

<![CDATA[MIKE THECARGUY! - News and Views]]>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 17:24:29 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[The Secret Ingredient to Boosting Your Google Business Profile: Pictures, Pictures, and More Pictures]]>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 23:24:18 GMThttps://www.mikethecarguy.net/news-and-views/the-secret-ingredient-to-boosting-your-google-business-profile-pictures-pictures-and-more-pictures

When it comes to online visibility, most business owners obsess over keywords, reviews, and ad campaigns, but overlook one of the simplest and most powerful ranking boosters hiding in plain sight: images.

Data tells the story loud and clear: businesses with more than 500 images on their Google Business Profile consistently rank higher and show up in more searches than companies with fewer pictures. Think of it as feeding Google’s algorithm an all-you-can-eat buffet. The more you give it, the more it rewards you.

Why Pictures Matter So Much

Google wants to keep users on its platform, and that means showing them profiles that are fresh, complete, and engaging. A profile stacked with hundreds of images does a few important things:

Shows Google you’re active: Frequent updates signal that your business is alive and thriving.
Keeps users engaged: More images mean more reasons for a potential customer to linger and learn about you.
Matches more search queries: Photos get indexed and can surface in searches you didn’t even target.

My Personal Experience as a Google Local Guide

As a Google Local Guide, I’ve been on a mission to help local businesses shine. I make it a point to take pictures of businesses I visit, from restaurants and retail shops to automotive dealerships and service centers, and upload them to their Google Business Profiles and Google Maps listings.

To date, the images I’ve shared have been viewed nearly 200 million times. That’s 200 million moments where someone saw a business’s products, storefront, or atmosphere before deciding whether to visit. That’s a lot of eyeballs, and attached to them are potential customers, drawn in by nothing more than a well-timed photo.

The Domino Effect of More Images

Once your profile starts ranking higher thanks to your photo abundance, everything else improves:

More profile visits
More clicks to your website
More calls and directions requests
And ultimately, more sales

This is not theory, trust me it’s data-backed reality. Studies consistently show that image-heavy profiles outperform their sparse counterparts in both search rankings and user engagement.

How Businesses Can Put This Into Action

Encourage customers to share photos: Happy customers love sharing and showing off their experiences.
Document your day-to-day: New inventory, team photos, behind-the-scenes shots, it all counts.
Leverage seasonal and event-based content: Holiday décor, community events, and special promotions are photo gold.
Upload regularly: Aim to add new images every week to keep your profile fresh. They don’t have to be professionally shot either, an image of a cool sunset over your marquee can grab attention!

The Bottom Line

Your Google Business Profile is a living, breathing storefront in the digital world. Just like you wouldn’t let your physical location go stale, you can’t afford to let your online presence stagnate.

If you want more visibility, more clicks, and more customers, start flooding your profile with high-quality, authentic images. Whether they come from your phone, your customers, or that one friend who insists on taking artsy shots of everything (that would be me!), every photo counts toward a stronger online presence.

After all, if 200 million people have already looked at my photos of local businesses, imagine what could happen if you put the same energy into your own profile. The results might just surprise you… and your competitors!

]]><![CDATA[Why Google Reviews Are Your Inland Empire Business’s Secret Weapon...]]>Sat, 02 Aug 2025 20:19:37 GMThttps://www.mikethecarguy.net/news-and-views/why-google-reviews-are-your-inland-empire-businesss-secret-weapon

As the marketing world continues to shift at an insane pace, Google is working hard to keep users on the platform when they search for local businesses—making a strong Google review strategy more critical than ever. A recent post from the pros at Search Engine Land “Why Google Reviews will power up your local SEO in 2025” provides an excellent overview and actionable tips to help your business get maximum visibility. Here are the highlights:
What Makes Google Reviews So Powerful for Local SEO

Map Pack visibility: Google Reviews play a major role in which businesses show up in the coveted Google Local Pack, the top‑three listings above the fold in local searches. Businesses visible there earn dramatically more traffic and user actions like calls or direction requests.
Review signals Google ranks: Google looks at review quantity, velocity (rate of new reviews), diversity (text plus media), recency, and overall average rating. All of these factors help inform its algorithms about your reliability and relevance.
Search‑augmented trust: Review text with specifics, like naming your team members or describing exactly how you fixed an issue, can even appear in search results as “justifications” and may help with keyword relevance too.

How to Build Your Review Game Plan in 2025

Ask for detailed reviews: Encourage customers to write five‑star reviews that include meaningful text, mention services/products, team members, even upload photos if they can. Detailed reviews carry more weight than “Great service!”.
Keep the momentum: Aim for a steady review flow—new reviews signal fresh relevance. But avoid batch‑requesting so you don’t pressure or bias reviewers.
Respond thoughtfully: Reply to both positive and negative reviews. Acknowledging issues, offering solutions, and showing professionalism can actually improve trust and rankings.
Monitor for suspicious reviews: Google is cracking down on fake or incentivized 5‑star reviews and recent reports show that over 70 % of deleted reviews were top‑rated. Keep an eye on your review stream and flag anything fishy.
Use review insights strategically: Analyze competitor review trends and customer language. What pain points come up repeatedly? What do reviewers praise? Those insights can fuel better website content, social posts, and tweak your service offerings.

Inland Empire Spotlight: Here’s How to Apply It Locally

Auto repair shops, salons, and restaurants that may be targeting potential customers in Colton, Rancho Cucamonga, or Moreno Valley? Ask local customers to mention which location they visited. If you only have one location, you can still ask that your reviewers mention where they traveled from to reach your business as well. That helps boost geographic relevancy.
Share photos: Before/after shots, team selfies, or customer content is perfect for review photos. Those images help your listing stand out.
Train frontline staff to say: “If we made your day, would you mind leaving it on Google? A few words and any photo helps others know exactly what to expect.”

Final Drive: Put Reviews Into Overdrive Google reviews are no longer an optional add‑on they're a core part of local search strategy. With well‑written, photo‑rich, authentic reviews and an active review response system, your business can dominate local visibility in 2025 and stay competitive in the fight against AI-driven search!

]]><![CDATA[Video Messages Should Be Part of Every Customer Touchpoint at Your Dealership...]]>Tue, 15 Jul 2025 22:53:33 GMThttps://www.mikethecarguy.net/news-and-views/video-messages-should-be-part-of-every-customer-touchpoint-at-your-dealership

Let’s face it—video isn’t just for your internet leads anymore.
In today’s fast-paced, digital-first world, every customer interaction is an opportunity to stand out. And one of the simplest (yet most overlooked) ways to make a lasting impression? Personalized video messages.
Here’s how you can use video throughout the customer journey and why you absolutely should.
1. Thank Every Fresh Up with a Video
When a potential buyer takes the time to visit your dealership, a quick thank-you video from their salesperson shows appreciation and professionalism. It also keeps you top of mind if they’re still shopping around.
2. Follow Up Every Phone Call with a Video
Don’t let phone leads go cold. A short video thanking the caller for their time and offering a face to the name can build trust and move the conversation forward.
3. Make Sure Every Customer Gets Your Info
Every interaction should be followed by a personalized video that includes your dealership’s contact details and the salesperson’s name. It’s easy, memorable, and adds a human touch to your follow-up.
4. Stay Top of Mind After the Sale
Send a quick video 90 days after delivery, reminding the customer their first service might be coming up. It’s helpful, it’s thoughtful, and it brings them back to your service lane.
5. Celebrate Birthdays with a Smile
Spot an upcoming birthday in your CRM? Send a fun, personalized birthday video. It’s a small gesture that creates big loyalty.
Use Video to Break Through the Noise
The digital world is noisy. Everyone’s competing for attention. By using video in creative, consistent ways, you set your dealership apart, not just with flashy cars, but with genuine, personalized experiences.
Start simple. Start today. Just hit “record.”

]]><![CDATA[Why Video Isn’t Optional in Today’s Car Biz (And Why I’m All In on MinMax Video)]]>Fri, 11 Jul 2025 20:54:30 GMThttps://www.mikethecarguy.net/news-and-views/why-video-isnt-optional-in-todays-car-biz-and-why-im-all-in-on-minmax-video

Recently, I sat through an OEM webinar about, wait for it... the importance of video in today’s retail automotive space. Yes, in 2025. I’ve been beating this drum for over a decade, but hey, better late than never, right?

While the main purpose of the webinar was to announce "preferred vendor" status for a couple of video marketing companies (don't get me started, that is a whole other blog piece!), some of the data they shared had me nodding my head so hard I almost got whiplash. Messages with video have a 96% higher click-through rate. Seventy-five percent of shoppers say video influenced their purchase decision. No shock to me as I’ve seen it in action at my own store.

A few months back, I pitched a video tool to my sales team. The response? Classic skepticism: “I don’t like how I look on video,” “I say ‘um’ too much,” and my personal favorite, “Nobody watches those.” Even the GM was hesitant and not willing to foot the bill, yet I believed in it so much I signed us up for MinMax Video out of my own pocket. Yep, I put my money where my mouth is. Spoiler alert: it paid off.

Sure, the team had jitters at first. So, I rolled up my sleeves and made a few videos myself to show them it wasn’t that scary. Guess what? Customers don’t need Hollywood, they want real. A few "ums" and some authentic personality actually work in your favor.

The results? Mind-blowing. Of the 41 vehicles we sold in June to internet leads, 39 were to customers who watched their personalized video three or more times. The average views on the last 100 videos we’ve sent? Six. That’s six solid impressions from customers already warmed up to our team before they ever set foot in the showroom.

So, yeah, video works. But talking about it and actually doing it are two different things. If you’re still on the fence, hit me up I’d love to share what we see working. And if you’re looking for a solid platform to empower your team, I can’t recommend MinMax Video enough!

]]><![CDATA[Déjà Vu: From Google Gurus to AI Experts – Same Pitch, New Buzzword...]]>Thu, 03 Jul 2025 22:03:24 GMThttps://www.mikethecarguy.net/news-and-views/deja-vu-from-google-gurus-to-ai-experts-same-pitch-new-buzzword

I remember about ten years ago, marketing vendors kept hitting me with the same line: “We stole the best minds from Google!” Supposedly, these folks knew Google’s algorithms inside and out. I even joked with one guy, “If everyone’s hired the Google team, how’s Google still in business?”

Fast forward to today, and here we go again except now it's artificial intelligence instead of search engines. Suddenly, every vendor is boasting they’ve got ex-OpenAI, ex-DeepMind, or “we basically invented AI” types on their payroll.

The funniest part? I’m in a weekly study group with some truly brilliant people, actual AI developers, researchers, and innovators. And not one of them calls themselves a guru. Not one drops phrases like “I’m the AI whisperer” or “I cracked ChatGPT’s code.”
So when a cold-call vendor swaggers into the store and claims they’ve got exclusive access to “the minds behind AI,” my skepticism meter doesn’t just blink red—it explodes off the charts.

Maybe my wife is right and I am a little too cynical. But maybe, just maybe, it’s not cynicism. Maybe it’s just experience... and a solid BS detector.

]]><![CDATA[Preferred Vendor… or Preferred Tee Time?]]>Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:30:07 GMThttps://www.mikethecarguy.net/news-and-views/preferred-vendor-or-preferred-tee-time

After 35 years in the car business, working with OEMs and their ever-rotating carousel of “preferred vendors,” I’ll admit that the very first thing that pops into my head when I hear about a newly announced partnership isn’t excitement. It’s a question: “So, who sits on whose board, or who shares a tee time at Torrey Pines?”

I’m not trying to be cynical (well, maybe just a lil), but after decades of watching solutions come and go, I’ve learned to be skeptical when a new service or system is suddenly pushed as the next big thing, especially when the sales pitch comes with a heavy dose of “It’s 100% co-op’able!”

Now don’t get me wrong, I know there are vendors out there who have genuinely earned their spot at the OEM table and worked with many that prove why they are there consistently. Companies that deliver value, drive results, and actually support dealers, rather than just sell to them. But when a rep starts preaching about a product I’ve never heard of with a commission-like enthusiasm, my inner red flag waves harder than a Saturday blowout sale banner.

Dealers deserve more than buzzwords and boardroom handshakes. We deserve tools that actually work, have been tested, proven, and built for our side of the business. Call me old school, but I still believe performance should matter more than proximity to the OEM’s annual retreat. hashtag#JustSayin ;)

What are your thoughts car pros?

]]><![CDATA[Is Social Media Still Worth It for Car Dealers? Let’s Talk About It...]]>Mon, 02 Jun 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.mikethecarguy.net/news-and-views/is-social-media-still-worth-it-for-car-dealers-lets-talk-about-it

Is Social Media Still Worth It for Car Dealers? Let’s Talk About It.

Social media isn’t dead… but it sure isn’t acting like it used to.
In the latest episode of The First Pencil, your favorite duo Kathi and Mike pull no punches as they dive into the ever-evolving world of social platforms—and how it’s changing the game for car dealers trying to stay in front of today’s buyers.

~Is organic reach officially a ghost town?
~Are paid ads the only way forward—or just a money pit with better graphics?
~And most importantly, what is actually working right now?

Whether you’re managing a single rooftop or leading a multi-store group, this episode is your heads-up (and maybe your wake-up call) on why your old social media strategy might be costing you more than just dollars, it might be costing you relevance.
Tune in to hear what’s changed, what’s working, and what smart dealers are doing differently in 2025 to make social media work for them not the other way around.

Listen in HERE

]]><![CDATA[A Car Guy's Journey Into The Digital Landscape...]]>Sat, 12 Apr 2025 17:01:18 GMThttps://www.mikethecarguy.net/news-and-views/a-car-guys-journey-into-the-digital-landscape

Sometimes You Gotta ‘Lego Your Ego’ to Succeed…

When I first became fascinated with marketing, it was way before social media was a thing. Back then, I was just a car guy trying to figure out how to use this new thing called "the internet" to grow the reach of the dealership I worked for. It was 2005 and there weren’t many digital tools, but that didn’t stop me. I went down a lot of rabbit holes trying to figure out what worked and what didn’t. Wild goose chases? Oh yeah. Plenty.

In those early days, I kept most of my ideas to myself. I was testing things, tweaking things, and honestly screwing up more often than not! Some of that came from fear: fear of being judged, fear of getting it wrong. And sure, maybe a little ego too—thinking I’d cracked some secret code that would launch our visibility into the stratosphere. (Spoiler: it didn’t.)
Eventually, working in a vacuum started to wear me down. I realized the results I thought I was getting were more smoke and mirrors I created for myself than actual progress. That’s when I started connecting with other folks online—people who were getting real results. And to my surprise, they weren’t just open to sharing their insights, many were actually interested in what I was doing too.

That changed everything.

As I learned from the best in the biz, I slowly let go of the fear and that pesky ego. That’s when things really took off. The big aha moment? Realizing I wasn’t going to appeal to everyone and that’s perfectly okay. Letting go of that pressure was like dropping a 200-pound weight off my shoulders.

Now, I focus on the people my message does resonate with, my real customers. I’d rather connect with 10 people who actually want to do business than 10,000 who just "like" a post and scroll on. Trust me, that shift in mindset made a huge difference.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to anyone struggling with social media marketing, it’s this: drop the act. Be real. Don’t try to sound like what you think people want to hear. Just be you. Authenticity wins... EVERY. TIME.

👉 What about you? Have you had your own "aha moment" in marketing? What helped you break through? Drop a comment or shoot me a message—I’d love to hear your story! :)

]]><![CDATA[Accountability rules them all...]]>Fri, 10 Jan 2025 21:31:26 GMThttps://www.mikethecarguy.net/news-and-views/accountability-rules-them-all

Content May Be King Online, but Accountability Still Rules the Showroom
Do You Inspect What You Expect?

These days, it seems like every vendor that sits in front of me says the same catchphrase: “Content is king.” While I’m sure that’s true in the online world, today I want to talk about a different king—one that rules the showroom. At the dealership, I have a saying I’ve repeated thousands of times over the years: “Accountability is king” or in other words Inspect what you expect!

But there’s a difference between repeating that phrase and actually practicing it.

Too often, we look only at the results of an employee’s performance and assume we know the activities that led to those results—whether positive or negative. For example, we might assume that a salesperson who sells 20 cars a month must be diligent about following their daily work plan. Conversely, we might assume a low-performing salesperson isn’t putting in the effort.

Here’s the hard truth: a lack of accountability is an all-too-common issue in the car business.

If your dealership has accountability down to a science, I applaud you! But after 30-plus years in showrooms, I speak from experience when I say that most of us—including myself—can get sidetracked. We all get busy, and it’s easy to lose track of the day. Many managers simply nod as their salespeople check out with a casual “Good night, boss,” without taking the time to inspect their activities.

When this kind of "check-out" process goes unchecked, we end up scrambling at the end of the month to find those last few deals that might save us from a slow performance.

The Reality: Preparation and Accountability Win the Month
The truth is, there are no “slow months.” What we’re dealing with is often a lack of preparation, follow-up, and consistent management to hold our teams accountable for their production.

Our people rely on us to keep them on track and help them earn a living. That’s why it’s our responsibility as managers to:

Ensure they have clear and easily understood goals.
Review those goals with them regularly.
Inspect their progress daily to ensure they’re working toward their objectives.

Plan the Work, Then Work the Plan
Before the end of the current month, next month’s activities should be planned out. For retail salespeople on the floor, this means projecting how many ups, demos, and write-ups they’ll need to reach their goals—and, most importantly, identifying how they’ll create those opportunities.

For internet salespeople, the steps are similar: managing how many leads, phone calls, appointments, demos, and write-ups they need to hit their targets.

It’s crucial to use your CRM daily to monitor what your team is—and isn’t—doing. Then, follow up with them to provide praise for what’s going well and guidance where improvement is needed.

If you see someone performing well on the sales tracker, don’t just assume they’re doing a stellar job across the board. Look into it. If they’re excelling, praise them! If they’re falling short in some areas, challenge them to imagine how much better their results could be with consistent follow-up.

For low performers, dig deeper. If someone is taking plenty of ups but not getting to the demo stage, help them work on that. If they’re doing great at demos but aren’t asking for the sale, that’s the focus of your next coaching session.

Inspect, Guide, and Elevate
I’m not breaking any revolutionary new ground here, but these are reminders worth repeating! Fire up your CRM, inspect the activities of your team, and hold them to a higher level of accountability. That’s how you find more deals, improve performance, and create a winning month—every month.

Until next time: Sell something

]]><![CDATA[Yes Johnny, Google Business Profiles Are Still Important...]]>Mon, 06 Jan 2025 21:54:51 GMThttps://www.mikethecarguy.net/news-and-views/yes-johnny-google-business-profiles-are-still-importantNew Episode Alert!
Just before the holiday on The First Pencil, Kathi and I dove back into one of our favorite topics: Google My Business (now Google Business Profiles). These profiles are a goldmine for local SEO, and consistently adding photos is just one of the easy wins dealers are overlooking.
We chatted about SearchLab’s latest car dealer study that reveals some surprising gaps in how the industry uses this powerful tool—and what you can do to stand out. 💡 Don’t miss these insights that could transform your marketing game.
🎧 Listen in now here: https://thefirstpencil.buzzsprout.com/1861300/episodes/16312508-new-study-reveals-car-dealers-seo-blind-spot-google-business-profiles

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