CHICAGO, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com dealers using
the company's free online chat functionality can now communicate
with customers from their Internet-enabled smartphones. The company
added on-the-go access to its chat platform to create new
opportunities for dealers to connect with buyers.
"Mobile chat allows salespeople to be more responsive to
shoppers' inquiries, even if they've stepped away from their desk,"
said Michael Page, Cars.com vice
president of advertising products. "Dealers can respond at
shoppers' convenience, giving them the information they need to
take the next step toward a purchase. With the popularity of
smartphones in the store, dealers can use this capability to
enhance their customer service and sell more cars."
At Buster Miles Chevrolet Dealership in Heflin, Ala., sales consultant Phil Amason said he appreciates the immediacy of
chat. "It's definitely been a plus for our store. It's a better way
for customers to reach us live and for us to respond. They get
immediate access to the information they need, and I think that's
really key."
Amason, who added online chat approximately a year ago, reported
an increase in business after he began testing the new mobile chat
enhancement. "I was able to accept two chats last month that I
would not have been available for if it weren't for mobile chat. I
know this resulted in two sales. They were two hard, trackable
sales," he said. "In my experience, appointment rates are higher
with live chat compared to traditional email and phone
appointments. There seems to be a better quality interaction
because of minimal delay in response."
Dealers interested in adding chat functionality to their online
advertising package can contact their sales representative. To help
dealership sales teams incorporate chat into their sales process,
Cars.com presented "Chat Up Your Inventory: Leverage Chat to Reach
In-Market Shoppers and Win Sales" through its DealerADvantage Live
webinar series. A recording of the free workshop is available at
http://dealers.cars.com/live.
Cars.com launched online chat for its customers in January 2009 at no additional charge as a way to
help dealers connect with more online shoppers. The technology is
delivered through a partnership with Contact At Once!. Mobile chat
capabilities are made available as part of a renewed agreement,
also announced today, between the two companies.
About Cars.com
Cars.com is the leading destination for online car shoppers,
offering credible, easy-to-understand information from consumers
and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where
to buy and how much to pay for a car. With comprehensive pricing
information, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries,
videos, unbiased editorial content and a large selection of new-
and used-car inventory, Cars.com puts millions of car buyers in
control of their shopping process with the information they need to
make confident buying decisions.
Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is
a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading
media companies, including Belo (NYSE: BLC), Gannett Co., Inc.
(NYSE: GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company and
The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).
SOURCE Cars.com
Copyright . 26 PR Newswire