Ford Uses Explorer As Guinea Pig For Facebook Marketing Success
Ford made history on July 26, 2010 when it revealed the 2011 Ford Explorer exclusively on Facebook. The move scored big with online car shoppers in some astounding ways:
- There was a 104% increase in traffic to Ford Explorer pages in Jumpstart Automotive Group’s websites on that day.
- Daily users for Ford Explorer pages on Jumpstart’s websites more than doubled compared to the July average.
- Daily page usage for days immediately following the reveal date also improved by 66%, 25%, 13% and 8%, showing that Facebook marketing can pay off big if done well.
- Ford’s share of of SUV shoppers on Jumpstart’s websites grew by 52% on the reveal date.
- The Ford Explorer was the most researched SUV on Jumpstart sites that day.
- Dollar for dollar, Ford’s return on investment for the Facebook reveal outperformed the company’s return on Super Bowl ads in 2010, which resulted in only a 14% increase in shopping growth.
Source: Press Release
Jumpstart and Ford proved that Facebook marketing can work for the automotive industry. The Facebook-only reveal of the 2011 Ford Explorer is the first such Facebook marketing success for new auto roll outs in automotive industry history.
Reader Caution
There are some fan-run pages out there so when you check this out take note of that. Fan-run pages are ok, but it would be a shame to think you found the official Ford Fan page when in truth you haven’t. The image to your right is from one of the stronger Fan-run pages. Below are links to other Ford and advertising activities and information.
Things to do…
> Visit Ford Explore Facebook Fan Page
> Read Ford reviews at AutoConverse.com
> Follow AutoConversion on Facebook
More About Jumpstart Automotive
Jumpstart Automotive Group is a leading representative of in-market automotive publishers with the most highly engaged audience of online car shoppers. Founded in 2001, Jumpstart Automotive Group capitalized on the massive shift taking place in advertising — the move of ad spending from traditional to interactive advertising. With online advertising expected to be a $42 billion industry by 2013, Jumpstart is leading the way, growing exponentially each year to a nearly 1000% increase in revenue since our founding.
Bill Gates behind funding for eco-friendly engines
EcoMotors recently received $23.5M in venture capital from software mogul Bill Gates and Khosla Ventures for a new kind of engine, one that is environmentally friendly.
The engine is called Opposed Piston Opposed Cylinder (OPOC). That’s a fancy way of saying 2-cycle engine. The idea is to place a crankshaft betwixt two cylinders, each with two pistons that move in opposite directions. The new design eliminates the valve train and cylinder head for a lighter, more compact engine that is also more efficient and produces lower emissions. It still runs on gasoline.
While this does not put the internal combustion engine behind us, it is a step in the right direction for generating equivalent power with less dust. The engines are designed to work with existing infrastructures to easily replace engines like the four-stroke combustible engines used in many passenger cars. They will also be less expensive than these engines.
EcoMotors makes engines that run on diesel or gasoline but have greater power density, weigh less and produce lower carbon emissions than conventional engines. OPOC engines are being developed for passenger vehicles, as well as for commercial vehicles, aerospace and power generators.
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Honk Makes Driving More Social
Honk if you’re social.
I can’t think of any activity less social than driving – except maybe sleeping. I mean, you sit behind a wheel and other drivers sit behind their wheels in different cars. You can’t communicate unless you do so by hand signals and blinking lights. Unless you know their cell phone numbers.
And unless you have passengers in the car with you, you’re all alone. So much for being social.
But social media automobile website Honk has figured out a way to make car buying more social. The website recently underwent a maintenance check and enhanced some of its features.
(Source) The site’s new Dashboard now is meant to give potential buyers a central location to manage their entire vehicle-shopping process from discovery to purchase. As users identify their needs and track opinions on their Dashboard, Honk’s recommendation engine can sift through more than 300 vehicles and offer suggestions. These recommendations are based on personal lifestyle, tastes and needs plus reviews from like-minded users.
When you go to buy a car, don’t you ask your friends for recommendations, check auto reviews and test drive a few models to see what you like? That’s what Honk is designed to help you do more efficiently.
If making a decision on what to drive has you torqued and low on tread then maybe it’s time to make the decision-making process more social. Drive by Honk for a peak under the hood. And if you’re like me, you’ll wonder why they call their discussion features “streams” instead of “access lanes.”
Speaking of social, why not meet us on Facebook where we share the better topics from this blog about advertising, energy, technology, and more?
Toyota And Tesla Motors Finalize Deal
Tesla Motors has become a respectable name in eco-friendly vehicles, particularly the all-electric variety. Toyota not so much. Which makes this deal a rather unique one, and a rewarding one for both parties.
Toyota has had a respectable brand name since coming to U.S. shores in 1957. Its reputation really preceded it. By the mid-1960s, Toyota had entrenched its reputation as a great car manufacturer in the United States. While Toyota doesn’t exactly have the sales to prove its commitment to eco-friendly driving, it is recognized as the manufacturer of the most fuel efficient gasoline vehicle on the road – the Prius. But that’s just one vehicle.
Toyota’s success with the Prius coupled with its financial power and Tesla Motors’ commitment to alternative energy in automotive manufacturing make their partnership a very powerful one. The two companies made their finalization announcement last week.
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The vehicle the two companies will partner on as a first effort is an electric version of the Toyota RAV4. The RAV4 is a Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive, a compact SUV that really set the market for compact SUVs. Toyota is known for its innovations and that’s why partnering with Tesla Motors to make the RAV4 an all-electric vehicle makes sense.
The RAV4 is expected to hit the streets in 2012. It will feature a Tesla electric drivetrain inside the RAV4 body and integrated with other key components of Toyota manufacturing. The only question that seems to be unanswered regarding the all-electric RAV4 and Toyota’s marriage to Tesla Motors is “Is the market ready for it?” I’m banking that, by 2012, it will be.
Learn more about the 2010 Toyota Prius. Get the latest information on the Tesla Roadster by Tesla Motors.
All-Electric Vehicles: The Wave Of The Future Or A Tsunami Of False Hope?
From natural gas to hybrid cars to all-electric vehicles, or EVs, U.S. automakers have tried every way possible to create a vehicle that runs on alternative energy. Now may be the best time in history to actually get these vehicles up and running. Or get the drivers up and running – to the local ell-electric dealer.
There are, in fact, more automakers (and not all are U.S.-based) willing to offer vehicles powered by alternative energy than ever before, and it seems that the energy that they may settle on is all-electric. Or is this just false hope?
Here’s a list of some of the manufacturers who have rolled out all-electric vehicles in just the past couple of years:
- General Motors – The 2011 Chevy Volt comes with an 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
- Liberty – The manufacturer got its start in 2007, but introduced the all-electric Range Rover SUV in 2010. However, they’ve improved on it in 2011.
- Mitsubishi - The i-MiEV isn’t the most attractive vehicle on the road, but it is one of the less expensive all-electric vehicle options.
- Tesla – You just have to see the Tesla Roadster. You’d be surprised it’s all electric.
- Toyota – Toyota has not done well selling its hybrids so it has partnered up with Tesla to produce all-electric vehicles. None have hit the market yet, but the company plans to introduce all-electric vehicles outside its Tesla partnership in 2012.
- Nissan – Nissan got in on the all-electric market early with the LEAF.
- Smart – You know those funny-looking European cars? They now have a scooter equivalent that will be powered by all-electric energy.
- Citroen – The French automaker has its own sports car powered electrically.
- Luxgen – Even Taiwan automaker Luxgen is going electric with the Luxgen 7 all-electric MPV.
- Volkswagen - Look for it in 2013.
- Th!nk – A Norwegian company with an American division. Think Ox will hit the streets soon.
- Electric City Motors - Manufactures the all-electric vehicle the Current.
- Chrysler – Chrysler created an entire division for all-electric production: ENVI.
With so many traditional automakers introducing all-electric vehicles, you’d think this was a big market to tap. The current political and social landscape in the U.S. makes me think it is. Al Gore preached about the evils of the internal combustion engine and he was laughed off the planet, but now it seems that all the auto manufacturers that are worth a darn are singing his praises. Maybe not literally, but figuratively in the act of rolling out their all-electric creations.
General Electric has manufactured a charger for the vehicles. Nissan and Chevrolet are fighting over a passing gear. And Nissan offers further encouragement by offering to plant a tree on your behalf.
Clearly fuel and energy alternatives are here and making their footprint. Like the days of Cable vs. DSL, the alternatives are battling things out for a shot at mainstream.
Is Natural Gas Becoming Sexy Again?
The BP oil spill, rising gasoline prices in recent years and global terrorism are causing American political leaders to seek out alternative sources of energy and to create a more energy independent nation. One of the potential sources of alternative energy for automobiles seems to be natural gas. In fact, GM will roll out two vehicles for 2011 powered by natural gas.
The question is, is that a good bet?
Consumers don’t seem to be all that interested in all electric or hybrid cars. Maybe they’ll be interested in natural gas. The problem is, there aren’t that many fueling centers for natural gas. Here’s the dilemma:
“It’s a chicken-and-egg thing,” Hill explained. “If there were a lot of delivery points, [automakers] would make the vehicles. And fuel providers say that if there were more vehicles, they would provide the fuel. You probably needed some sort of government intervention to subsidize more fuel stations.”
Perhaps GM is testing the market. If the automaker can create a demand for natural gas vehicles then perhaps more service stations will begin offering natural gas filling centers. Then, if more service stations begin providing natural gas more automakers will start making these vehicles to fill the demand. Or, maybe it’s all just a pipe dream.
But you do have to hand it to GM for making the move. For decades, automakers have been fixated on body style design and technological innovations. This is a welcome change.
There are two ways to pump up demand for natural gas vehicles and cars powered by other alternative energy sources. One is a free market solution and the other involves government grants, or investments.
- The free market solution so far has not worked too well. Automakers have been building eco-friendly vehicles for years. Drivers just haven’t been interested in them. One reason is because they are so expensive coming off the floor. But new technologies generally are more expensive until they are widely accepted. Maybe we just haven’t reached the point in the marketplace where consumers are willing to make the commitment.
- Government subsidies could open the floodgates to alternative energy. Grants for service stations to add natural gas pumps might create more demand for the vehicles. Or perhaps the federal government could subsidize the building of the vehicles and offer incentives to consumers to purchase and drive natural gas vehicles, which would spark the demand for more fuel.
Whether you are a proponent of supply-side solutions or demand-side injections, one thing is clear: If natural gas is to be the sexy solution that GM is banking on it being then something has to give. The endless tug of war between supply and demand will need to break.
Click here for more great reads on the use of alternative energies in the automotive industry.
Nissan Begins LEAF Production In U.S.
Many consumers and some politicians have been calling for greener energy and independence for decades. A part of the overall green picture in the U.S. involves vehicle emissions. Some states have placed stringent testing on vehicles in an effort to curb emissions. But little has been done to change the way vehicles are made in the U.S. – until now.
Nissan is leading the way with its Nissan LEAF, a vehicle based on electric power and zero emissions.
“Nissan is committed to affordable, sustainable mobility. What we’re doing here will radically transform the automotive experience for consumers. Today is a major step in helping create a green economy in the United States,” said Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Mr. Ghosn continued:
“Production of Nissan LEAF and lithium-ion batteries in Smyrna brings the United States closer to its goal of energy independence, creates green jobs and helps sustain American manufacturing. Nissan is a leader in global manufacturing innovation, and this state-of-the-art battery plant will strengthen that leadership.”
LEAF is an acronym that stands for Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car. It is a huge step forward in the green movement with a 100% electric vehicle that is affordable and is good for the environment.
Production for the vehicle is to begin in 2012.
Prior to production of the LEAF by Nissan, the plant will begin producing lithium-ion batteries, another technological product that is good for the environment and that will enthuse green advocates. The Nissan plant is expected to provide a good number of jobs and help improve the economy as well.
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