Yesterday while driving home I became nauseous at the thought of what is going on. Such panic and suspense on radio and TV. You have to wonder if there is anything to talk about today other than global finance and partisan US Politics.

John Kerry was on and he made me sick. His interest is heavily focused on bringing down President Bush. It’s this kind of politics that ruins this nation. All Obama talks about is what’s wrong with our government and the injustice it causes. Well no kidding, Barrack. But you are not the solution. You are a dreamer and a wooer, not a realist. No wonder Europe loves you. You won’t stand up to them, or anyone for that matter. You are a socialist and you don’t know it. Or do you?

Curiously, the Republican answer seems spoon fed on a platter, but McCain doesn’t see it. Turn it Up, John! Kick it up a notch. I would love to see you look Obama in the eye and tell him he doesn’t get it. Do that and you will win. Mark my words.

I am glad the “bailout bill” failed. I think it shows promise in the people of our government that rightness and common sense still have an influence No one wants the corrupted culprits to get off scott free, especially on the backs of the working class. Congress seems to understand this, but Congress also is not willing to go down with the corporate crooks which puts us all at a disadvantage because no one has the ability to make concessions with the lawmakers. Therefore, the people will be pay the price.

It’s a pickle and not only am I witnessing declining stock prices I also am witnessing declining traffic on car dealer sites and it makes me curious where the breaking point is or if everything just always bends.

Maybe I don’t want to know, but I do know that our civil servants need to loosen up, have some humility, be prepared to make some sacrifices, and do what is in the best interest of the people. That might require some of the same from us as well too. Society has drifted from its Keeper. Imagine the impact one of our leaders could have for breaking the plane of church and state separation and calling on God to rectify things.

The partisan politics going on right now is ludicrous. This may be a point-of-no-return turning point for our country and the entire globe.

There is a revealing report out by JD Power about what bloggers think about automakers. You can read an article about it here.

You will see from the report there is a hefty emphasis throughout the blogosphere on eco-sustainability, i.e. the environment and economy. This comes as no surprise considering the economic situation in the U.S. and throughout the globe and the exponentially increasing awareness to and passion for more environmentally sound choices in all industries not just in automotive.

Blogging is no doubt powerful. You could suffice to say that it has become a vital part of most cultures, especially in the U.S and Australia in my own observations. This demonstrates the increasing importance for car dealers to not just embrace blogging but to get good at it and to partake in these ether discussions in a creative and productive manner.

Blogging is simply a means to an end. There is no better way to get good at something than to go out and do it. The risk in blogging is that you will spend too much time doing it and not see the results you might expect, but the benefit is that you spend the right amount of time doing it and see the results. There is nothing new about the essence of blogging for it is merely people communicating in certain ways, which dealers must learn to do.

Dealers should be encouraged to know that consumers are interested in what dealers might have to say. Just be sure to take the time and understand what your customers want to hear from you. There is no yellow brick road here. Just some fundamentals, some imagination, and dedication to success.

Pink Floyd pianist/keyboardist Richard Wright passed away today. Apparently he had a short bout with cancer.

Richard Wright was one of the original founding four members of the Pink Floyd in 1965 and aside from a brief period as only a “session” musician when Roger Waters essentially ousted him, Wright has been with Pink Floyd through its entirety from Piper at the Gates of Dawn to the Division Bell.

The Pink Floyd brand is an awesome example of residual equity where the investments you made long ago continue to pay off. Not just monetarily but in all fashions. People know Richard Wright. Maybe not by first name but certainly by association with one of the world’s more popular rock bands of all time. Wright exemplifies the power of a lasting brand and the character necessary to succeed.

When Floyd originally set out to play music, they were categorized as a blues band but with some psychedelic flavor. But it was Floyd’s breakaway from the Blues resemblance that ultimately helped push the envelope of Pop Rock at the time and set themselves apart from the British Invasion of which several other bands of longevity such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were formed.

So shouts out to Richard Wright, his family, and remaining members of the Pink Floyd. Your influence on Art, Pop Music, Rock-n-Roll, and society all together is one of extraordinary force. Wright’s passing should be one of celebration and acknowledgment for a true contribution.

Peace be with you, Richard. You were Pink Floyd as much as Pink Floyd was you.

Just returned from a workshop we held today with the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia (Shouts out to Greta, thank you). The workshop concentrated on providing attendees with an applicable technique they could deploy at the dealership using their Blog, Email, SEO, Social Media Networking sites, and Video.

Interestingly, none of the near 30 attendees representing more than a dozen dealerships reported their dealership having a blog. While I am not surprised by this, I do think it hints at the blue ocean still remaining before us in the auto industry of incorporating blog strategies into a car dealer’s Internet Marketing Strategy.

The purpose of our workshop today was to show dealers a real-life way to utilize their blog in their Business Marketing and Advertising plans, the importance of permission-based email marketing, and how SEO must be considered a core part of any online marketing campaign. It was presumed that attendees had already crossed the Internet bridge and the SEO bridge, and we anticipated that many people present would be hoping to learn how to get a blog or start blogging. I confess not clarifying well enough in the beginning that our emphasis was on how to utilize your blog versus how to get one but I am confident people still were able to take something home that was useful.

The message we shared today is one that I have seen evolving in recent years and fortunately being embraced by most dealerships today. It’s the idea of selling a relationship and not a car which really is just Sales 101. But more important than the message is the “How?” and “Why?”. While the idea of selling a relationship and not a commodity sounds good and all, pulling it off is a challenge, especially for car dealers. And that is what we really covered today. Why use a blog and how it can be utilized?

So while the dealer industry is still in its infancy for incorporating Blog Marketing Strategies into their Business Marketing and Advertising plans, it was evident today seeing how much more welcome the idea of using blogs has become for dealers. A year ago I would have been chased out the room for saying the “B” word. Today it seemed we couldn’t talk about it enough.

We are in the process of rolling out 3 new websites. One to represent our product, one for training, and one for our online business community. It’s a lot to chew on for a start-up like ours with minimal capital and human resources, but it has become necessary.

While most people would balk at the idea of a 3-site presence, today’s market welcomes it. The Web is kind to those with a simple concise message, and a simple concise message we have not. Sure you could simply say that we help promote Car Dealer Websites, but people want to know how and that’s where it gets complicated.

Our “sophisticated message” is due in part to my own personality as I am prone to focus on the tactical or mechanical aspects of a Business Marketing and Advertising plan, but what we do is also new to the Automotive Industry so when we pitch our product to people they do become interested, but many struggle to get their heads fully wrapped around what we do which of course makes it more difficult to sell.

Our Business Marketing and Advertising message has 3 audiences and our ultimate goal is to be a bridge between consumers and industry. My hope is that by carving our message into 3 distinct and functional websites it will help to simplify things by giving people simpler and more tangible pieces of our message along with the ability to do something with each piece.