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Automotive Industry Word of Mouth and Social Media Solutions

Consumers drive automotive sales.

Word of Mouth sells cars. Automotive consumers may come from all walks of life, but what they drive identifies them. They share in a common passion, as well as the need to engage with other like-minded drivers, for support, to seek advice, express themselves, share experiences, and even show off.

Whether you are an auto manufacturer, supplier, dealer, car-rental agency, or simply want to reach auto enthusiasts, Affinitive can help take your brand Beyond Community™.

Did You Know?

  • 52% of prospective car buyers said they relied on recommendations from friends and family when gathering information on vehicles.

    Source: Harris Interactive

  • Eight out of 10 consumers now consult the Internet at least once during the car-buying process.

    Source: eMarketer

  • Women purchase more than 46 percent of all new vehicles and influence over 80 percent of all automotive sales.

    Source: CNW Marketing Research

  • That adds up to about $80 billion worth of business.

    Source: Road & Travel

Owners Clubs and Customer Communities

Ownership can have it privileges. Fully managed, integrated community solutions that rally your passionate consumers around your brand, foster engagement, loyalty, and two-way dialogue with advocates, and generate and sustain buzz. Learn more >>

Consumer Advisory Panels

Provide a "Walled Garden" for a select group of consumers and employees to share insight, provide feedback, and help guide product development, marketing/PR, and loyalty initiatives. Learn more >>

Loyalty and CRM Integration

Integration with your existing CRM platforms "connects the dots" between engagement, customer service, and loyalty.

Social Applications, Widgets, and APIs

Provide viral tools such as widgets, social applications, and iPhone apps, which allow consumers to spread, share, and "mash up" content easily. Learn more >>

"The combination of Affinitive's community building and unrivaled technical know-how has enabled us jointly to offer innovative solutions for organizations that want to connect with their most passionate consumers."

Fleishman-Hillard Senior Vice President
Fleishman Hillard

Social Network Marketing

Reach auto enthusiasts where they spend their time online by creating a relevant, dynamic presence on the top social spaces, including Facebook and YouTube.

Integrated Offline/Online Events

Leverage existing offline PR/event initiatives by providing ways to allow consumers to attend, document, and share their experiences in measurable ways.


Related Work and Case Studies

General Motors - GM Insiders

General Motors - GM Insiders

General Motors is a brand rich with consumer stories. GM Insiders provided a unique social platform for these stories to be aggregated, shared, and discussed. Participants in this private, invite-only program were sourced from GM employees, retirees, suppliers, enthusiasts, and opinion leaders. The program provided advocates with unfiltered insider access to GM happenings, gave participants exclusive sneak peeks of new cars before the public, and integrated with a nationwide mobile tour initiative.

Champ Car World Series - "Inner Circle" Fan Club

Champ Car World Series

The Champ Car World Series is an international open-wheel auto-racing series that merged with IndyCar in 2008. Champ Car had developed a traditional loyalty program that included a membership card and retailer discounts for members. The goal was to add interactivity and social media tools to the experience, expand customer acquisition, and increase word of mouth by cultivating brand evangelism. Affinitive conceived and developed a fan club solution that included a participation-based point/rewards system, monthly contests that connected to each race, offline meet-ups and race-day parties, and MySpace and YouTube integration. The 5,000 members quickly connected with the "insider" feel of the experience and became active brand ambassadors promoting the events both on and offline.

View all case studies >>