TV Ad Spending Up In 2010 For Auto Dealers and Manufacturers

Online, June 4, 2010 (Newswire.com) - In a sign of increasing confidence in the economy, automakers and dealerships are spending more money on local television advertising according to a recent Bloomberg news story.

Media companies such as Gannett Co. and CBS Corp. are benefiting from this increased spending, and experts predict that local television advertising sales should rise by 16% this year. Last year car companies did very little television advertising, as automakers like General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC struggled with the bottom line.

Peter Dunn, President of CBS Television Stations, told Bloomberg, "Our TV ratings have been the best I've ever seen, I think it's the perfect storm for advertisers to come back even stronger."

So far this year, the automakers that are spending more on local television advertising included GM, Chrysler, Toyota and Ford. Neil Begley, a credit analyst at Moody's Investors Service told Bloomberg that approximately 30% of local broadcasters' annual sales come from the auto industry.

Joe Verde, CEO, Joe Verde Sales & Management Training Inc. ®, speaks to thousands of dealers and upper managers each year as head of the auto industry's largest sales training company, and he isn't surprised by signs of growing industry confidence.

"There's no doubt, as an industry, the worst of the downturn is now behind us," said Mr. Verde. He emphasized that everyone welcomes this increased optimism, but he also cautioned dealers not to rely exclusively on advertising to reach or maintain higher sales volumes.

"In good times or bad, dealers usually spend lots of money on advertising, tent sales and 'gorillas on the roof' to sell more units," Mr. Verde said. "Yet as soon the market soured and traffic slowed down, it was clear that they had never developed the selling skills their salespeople needed - and without those extra prospects on the lot - dealerships everywhere saw their sales and profits drop."

Mr. Verde said that the highest achievers in sales are all well-trained on their selling skills and their prospecting and follow-up skills, which means they aren't as reliant on walk-in traffic. "In all of our courses and in our Virtual training on JVTN®, we always remind salespeople that they aren't competing with the dealerships down the street, only with the selling skills and customer follow-up of the salesperson a prospect may talk to at the other dealerships. And just like in all forms of competition, the most qualified, most prepared salespeople win the sale more often."

For more information on Joe Verde's online training programs visit www.jvtn.com. To learn about Joe Verde workshops and products, visit the web at www.joeverde.com or call (800) 445-6217.

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About Joe Verde Sales & Management Training, Inc.®

www.joeverde.com | www.jvtn.com

Joe Verde Sales & Management Training, Inc. ®, founded in 1985 with corporate offices in Southern California and Dallas, Texas, is consistently rated the number one automotive sales and management training company in North America with its focus on leadership, management and sales training for dealerships, dealer groups and manufacturers.

Joe Verde holds workshops across North America and pioneered Virtual Training with JVTN®. Mr. Verde is the author of "A Dealer's Guide To Recovery & Growth", "How To Sell A Car And Close The Sale Today" and publishes two monthly newsletters; "For All Managers In Sales" and "Selling Cars Today".