Autobytel Dealer Awards Program Honors Exceptional Dealers for Outstanding Internet Lead Management and Customer Service Standards
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IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 2, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL), pioneer of the automotive Internet and the company dedicated to connecting automotive consumers with dealers, has named Tom Gregg, Internet Sales Director at Toyota of Naperville in Naperville, Illinois, the Autobytel Dealer of the Month for October 2014.
The company's Dealer Awards Program honors exceptional #ABTLDealerStars who employ the highest standards in customer service and Internet automotive retail sales and lead management processes. The Autobytel 2014 Dealer of the Year Award is slated to be announced in January 2015 at the NADA Convention & Expo in San Francisco – when Autobytel officially celebrates its 20th Anniversary – with the crowning dealer chosen from this year's pool of monthly winners.
Tom joins Todd Hilleboe of Liberty Toyota in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Linda Ly of Norm Reeves Honda Superstore in Cerritos, California; Eric Wass of Heuberger Motors in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Jackie Parker of Patriot Subaru in Saco, Maine; Chad Bravender of Larry H. Miller Honda in Boise, Idaho; John Walters of Lexus of Naperville in Naperville, Illinois; Frank Carrasquillo of Mercedes-Benz in Naples, Florida; and Chris Baughman of Sunset Honda in San Luis Obispo, California – who were named earlier 2014 Autobytel Dealer of the Month winners – in that pool of candidates.
"Toyota of Naperville is the number one volume Toyota dealership in the Midwest because Tom and his team provide an unparalleled level of service," said Jeff Coats, President and CEO of Autobytel Inc. "From the way the dealership has optimized its website for the best online experience, to the manner in which customers are treated during the in-store appointment, Toyota of Naperville is committed to making the car buying process exceptional every step of the way. We're proud Tom and his team are part of the Autobytel family."
Each month, Autobytel's sales and dealer operations teams evaluate prospective candidates from a competitive field of thousands of automotive retailers in the Autobytel network, with a monthly winner selected based on key online automotive best practices. The company launched its Dealer Awards Program at the beginning of 2013, honoring monthly winners throughout the year and in markets throughout the U.S.
Criteria evaluated for the Autobytel Dealer Awards Program include conversion rates, lead management processes, customer service principles, customer and brand retention analytics and Internet department practices, among others.
"Our dealership is hitting on all cylinders," said Gregg. "We don't have one specialty. We do a lot of things well from start to finish. We have an upbeat professional attitude, and we take our jobs seriously here. We're honored. There are a lot of Autobytel dealers out there, so to be selected out of the many is great. We're happy to accept this award."
When it comes to Autobytel leads, Gregg says the program is successful for his dealership.
"For Toyota, the Autobytel program really works," said Gregg. "We do quite well at around a 13% close rate. The stream of leads Autobytel sends us is highly qualified."
Toyota of Naperville, part of the Dan Wolf Automotive Group, represents Toyota and Scion. The dealership is located west of Chicago and services customers in the Naperville and Aurora markets, and all of the surrounding cities. It is the number one volume Toyota dealership in the Midwest, and one of the most highly awarded dealerships in the state of Illinois, including being named the prestigious Toyota President's Award winner for the past six consecutive years.
Autobytel consistently ranks as a top quality Internet lead provider, with the company's internally-generated leads converting at approximately three times the rate of the estimated industry average. It was named Top Rated New Car Leads in 2013 by DrivingSales; a finalist of the 2013 DrivingSales Most Valuable Insight Award; both a Power 250 Company and a Major Player in the Used Car Industry by Auto Remarketing Magazine; and # 1 Dealers' Choice Awards in 2012 by Auto Dealer Monthly.
For more information about the Autobytel Dealer Awards program, visit the Dealer Corner at http://dealer.autobytel.com/. To learn more about the October 2014 Autobytel Dealer of the Month, Tom Gregg, visit http://dealer.autobytel.com/dealer-corner/autobytel-dealer-spotlight-tom-gregg-toyota-of-naperville/.
Visit http://dealer.autobytel.com/auto-dealer-lead-products/ to learn about the company's leading automotive information and products and services. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube to stay connected to our latest news.
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. provides high quality consumer leads and associated marketing services to automotive dealers and manufacturers throughout the United States and offers consumers robust and original online automotive content to help them make informed car-buying decisions. The company pioneered the automotive internet in 1995 with its flagship website www.autobytel.com and has since 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.
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