Autobytel Re-launches Popular Email Manager Program to Help Dealers Manage Lengthening Consumer Purchase Cycle

"Communicating with today's less-decisive car-buyer first, faster and longer is critical to closing a sale. This is why Email Manager's enhancements are specifically customized to help our dealers communicate and stay-in-touch with prospective car-buyers from the moment they "raise their hand" online and throughout today's lengthier purchase cycle," said Mark Garms, Chief Operating Officer of Autobytel Inc.

The new Email Manager includes completely redesigned and automated email campaigns developed -- and proven -- to increase consumer open rates and responsiveness and to directly reach the inbox of the target consumer. In addition, earlier and more frequent communications over a full 90-Day period, starting at Day 5, have been incorporated into the product.

"At a time when efficiency in dealership resources has never been more important - and car-buyers have never needed more attention -- Email Manager's automated features and real-time alerts enable dealerships to manage and close today's more labor-intensive, longer term customers without straining existing staff resources," said Garms.

One of several highly effective "lead treatments" included with Autobytel's new car lead program for dealers, Email Manager is the only product in the industry to feature real-time "Dealer Alerts" sent as soon as a consumer clicks on any of the links in the email. This important feature increases sales effectiveness and efficiency by enabling dealers to communicate with a potential car buyer precisely at the point when that consumer is engaged with a campaign email -- and armed with knowledge of the consumer's specific vehicle interest and place in the buying cycle.

Dealership Success with Email Manager

Dealers across the country are already benefiting from Email Manager which sends out nearly 200,000 branded, customized emails a month for Autobytel Member Dealers and has an open rate over 50% higher than traditional email campaigns.

According to Robert Kadi, e-Business Manager of Clinton Acura in Clinton, New Jersey, Email Manager has contributed to increased closing ratios and marketing effectiveness: "Autobytel's Email Manager is an invaluable part of our internal follow up process, especially with the increasing number of customers who are taking longer to decide. Staying in regular touch with these prospects over the long-term - without using up our valuable dealership resources - is a huge benefit," said Kadi. "This, in combination with EMM's real-time alerts - which let us know exactly where the customer is in the buying cycle - helps improve overall sales efficiency and greatly increases our likelihood of closing."

How Email Manager Works

-- Email Manager campaigns are automatically deployed on a strategic 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 day cycle, timed from the date the customer first submits a Purchase Request.

-- Each email is dealership-branded and customized by vehicle type and by the consumer's position in the buying cycle.

-- Each email covers issues relevant to the car buyers (vehicle information, trade-ins, lease vs. buy, safety features, etc.).

-- Dealers are instantly alerted by email when a customer clicks on the email campaign.

-- Dealers are provided with detailed reports on consumer activity.

About Autobytel

Autobytel Inc. (NASDAQ: ABTL), a leading automotive marketing services company, pioneered the automotive Internet when it launched autobytel.com in 1995. Since then, the company has helped tens of millions of automotive consumers research vehicles; connected thousands of dealers nationwide with motivated car buyers, and helped every major automaker market its brand online. Today, through its flagship website Autobytel.com(R), its network of automotive sites including Autoweb.com(R), AutoSite.com(R), Car.comsm, CarSmart.com(R), CarTV.com(R), and MyRide.com,(R) and its respected online partners, Autobytel continues its dedication to innovating the industry's highest quality Internet programs to provide consumers with a comprehensive and positive automotive research and purchasing experience, and auto dealers, dealer groups and auto manufacturers with one of the industry's most productive and cost-effective customer referral and marketing programs.

Autobytel's New and Used Car Programs connect dealers, dealer groups and OEMs with a steady flow of serious, in-market car shoppers from Autobytel's family of websites and other premium Internet brands, as well as providing a suite of value-added tools proven to help close those leads, including Rapid Responsesm, Custom Messagingsm, Email Managersm, and LeadCallsm. The Company's Internet advertising programs include the automotive sections of third party co-branded websites operated by Autobytel, and the Autobytel AutoReachsm advertising network.

SOURCE: Autobytel Inc.

Autobytel Inc. 
Crystal Hartwell, 949-437-4755 
crystalh@autobytel.com 
or 
mWEBB Communications 
Melanie Webber , 949-307-1723 
melanie@mwebbcom.com