Letter from our very appreciative Honda Civic Facebook Contest Winner

Dear Mr.Hoggle,

First off let me apologize for being so late with this letter. Life was a little crazy last weekend and I had to make sure I saw everyone I could that helped me win the car from back home in Ocala. Since getting back to college it has been non stop school work and actual work at my job. I did not want to send something that was rushed and half hearted to you and your staff.

I want to thank you personally for everything you did for me. I felt so honored when I was there by you and your staff. The way you went out of your way to make sure I was set up with everything I needed and made sure things went smoothly was awesome! You were very warm and welcoming from the time I got there to the time I left, and I appreciate every second of it. Thank you.

This whole process has just been so humbling and surreal to me. From day one, I have seen the love and support of friends and family and even people I do not know, and to me that is something not tangible like winning the car, but it is something that is just as special. One thing that I have learned over the last couple of years is that material things, the tangible things in life can be replaced in time, but these relationships and these friendships in life that God has blessed me with so far are priceless.

It is a crazy thought for me to think about growing up in Ocala, Florida all my life and to pass Honda of Ocala hundreds of times and not even realize that this particular dealership would bless me in a way I never could imagine. It was pretty cool for me to see the support from my hometown and all the friendships I made throughout the years whether through church, school, sports or just people I have come to meet throughout the years in various places come together and help me win this car. Ocala, holds a special place in my heart.  I go to Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, miles away from home and a good 15 hour drive, but it can never replace where I grew up and formed my life and relationships. I hold many memories back home in Ocala. From playing city league baseball at Brick City Park,to winning a state championship in baseball at Ocala Christian Academy, to going to Maplewood Elementary, to growing up in the same church all my life at Maricamp Road Church of Christ, to being baptized by my Dad in Lake Weir and everything in between. I have been truly blessed by living in Ocala and will always consider home.

I can't really express in words what winning this car means to not only me but my family. I know, personally, if it wasn't for the love and the support from my sister, Katelyn there is no way I could have pulled this off. Her support was incredible and has been all my life. She deserves every award out there for best sister. My parents and my brother and sister in law have been such a blessing as well with their prayers and their connections throughout the voting process. I am truly blessed by an amazing family. We can't thank everyone enough. Because this car was such a blessing to my life, I can't think of any better way to use it to bless others. Whether it is rides around my university campus, taking people to get Sonic drinks at Happy Hour, to sit in the car and listen to people about what is going on in their life, anyway I can bless others with this car, I plan on doing.

Thank you again for this opportunity to win a car!! It truly has been and will be a blessing to me for a long time to come! It was so nice to meet everyone down at Honda of Ocala! I was very impressed with the staff there! Especially, Big Dave! Mr.Hoggle, I would like you to know that Big Dave was awesome when he was helping me! The way he treated me and talked to me and explained everything to me was great! I felt like he cares about me as a person instead of just another customer. He definitely deserves some recognition!

Sincerely,
Carter Robison

Honda of Ocala : Facebook Marketing Case Study in Ocala, FL

I am smack dab in the middle of my first trial using Facebook Offers to drive repair order counts at one of our stores. My guinea pig is our Honda of Ocala dealership. I am using Honda of Ocala cause we are smack dab in the middle of a car giveaway as well and that Facebook page has quite a bit of new fans (many not our core customers) and lots of activity.

http://www.facebook.com/HondaOfOcala/ 

1) Choosing the Offer:

The offer we chose was one that had done well in previous mail outs. I wanted to make sure that the offer would never be in question only Facebook's ability to get customers attention and to get to try our service center.

One thing I have realized is that with our mail outs we had more of a captive audience: our past customer. Also most of that audience was familiar with our location and more than likely still owned a Honda vehicle. On Facebook especially within the contest of our Civic giveaway we have less than a focused target. Our Facebook fans (knowing 70% of our fans had come in the last 30 days) more than likely drove other makes and models.

What I am getting to is that perhaps our offer could have been more focused on those that drove other makes outside of the Honda brand. Also a more inexpensive offer with less bundled "features" may have been a better approach. So moving forward our next offer may be simplified at a lower price point with a focus on non-Honda customers.

2) Implementation:

The offer was built as our "Facebook Special" and was "re-shared" across our platform each day and promoted as well for $5.00. We decided to promote the ad so that "friends of our fans" would have exposure to the ad as well.

We created a separate operation code for our DMS system and began the offer on Friday August 10th at around 3pm. While it is only Tuesday of the following week and we only have around 5 coupon redemptions it's probably not too early to look at the success of the campaign from an impressions and "claimed" standpoint.

Our most successful post was our first "Offer launch" on the 10th.

3) Results of First Post

As of today we have had 828 organic impressions through our timeline. We have a little more than 1100 Facebook fans but this seems to be a good number.

The key here is seeing over 2,600 "Viral" shares meaning that our fans shared the offer to their friends. This increasingly supports the notion that people can and will use Facebook to seek and find offers much like a Groupon or discount website.

The remaining impressions were 1150 some "paid" and supported listings working out to about 4,655 total post impressions.

4) Conclusion of our " Honda of Ocala " case study:

As of current date (5 days after launch) we have 33 offers claimed with a combined reach of 8,558 and 87 Engaged Users and 65 Clicks resulting from low cost promotions. Total dollar amount spent $30.55 in promoted ad spend. Conclusion will have to wait to see who has actually come into our facility off the offer but so far Facebook looks like a viable campaign medium for our Service department.

http://www.hondaofocala.com

http://www.morganautogroup.com

http://www.facebook.com/MorganAutoGroup

Honda of Ocala's "Facebook Special" - August Service Special

Honda of Ocala is experimenting with Facebook offers by building their own very hard to resist August Service Offer. It's called, well, the Honda of Ocala "Facebook Special."

What is it?

Oil change, Tire Rotation, Breakfast or Lunch and a Complete Car Wash for $29.95? Yes! It’s called the Honda of Ocala “Facebook Special.” Simply show your Service Advisor this post on your timeline or ask for the “Facebook Special.”*

You can find our offer here: https://www.facebook.com/HondaofOcala and subscribe by "liking" our Facebook page. We like to be where our customers are and we are thinking we are fairly progressive with our Facebook service campaign. What are your thoughts? 

*Offer expires 8/31/2012 and is only valid at Honda of Ocala. Excludes synthetic oil. Hybrids and some models requiring 0-20W oil are slightly higher. Plus tax, shop supplies and disposal fees. Cannot be used on previous services and cannot be combined with other offers. See Dealer for details at 1800 Southwest College Road in Ocala or call (352) 867-1900.

Honda of Ocala is in Philadelphia to Preview the All New 2013 Honda Accord

Car launches are exciting things but they also can be well over hyped. So as I sit here in Philadelphia polishing off a fine lunch trying to remember all the new information just served to me ... all I can say is. I'm am excited about the new Honda Accord.

First off Honda (while a very conservative car company) seems to be dialed into consumers wants and needs. The All New 2013 Honda Accord will include a standard rear view camera, SMS texting, bluetooth, HondaLink, USB-Smart Phone-Connectivity along with an array of new available options like Blind Zone Camera and Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Warning Sensors as well. While the body style to me isn't a rapid departure from the last generation Accord you can see a noticeable effort from Honda to reduce the size of the A-pillar thus giving the driver better visibility.

Also Honda is touting increased efforts to lower road noise with increased sound dampening technology. The performance and handling of the Accord chassis also benefits from new technology --- so the "fun to drive" aspect of this Honda is not in danger of going away. And perhaps the best part --- the price of this new Accord is not believed to be far from the current model year pricing on the 2012 Accord.

Also this Accord will see the debut of Honda's new Earth Dreams Powertrain. I also believe I heard Honda say that they will have a 4-Cylinder Sport Model with Paddle Shifters (FUN!) as well as two Powertrain variations of the Hybrid model as well.

I am excited for the All New 2013 Honda Accord and I think we will do quite well inside of our three Morgan Auto Group Honda stores: Honda of Ocala, Honda of Gainesville and Brandon Honda. I am most excited that Honda has taken the time to invest in options and technology that people seem to actually want and safety features that will save lives (no doubt).

The new 2013 Honda Accord will press into production in September of 2012 and the Honda marketing blitz begins on September 19th. Expect a message from Honda that resonates with car buyers and the useful technology that is represented in the new Accord. All in All these are very exciting days for the Sedan buyer.

Civic Giveaway Hint of the Day from Honda of Ocala

For you who are participating in our Facebook Photo Win A Car (New Honda Civic) Giveaway here is our quick hint of the day:


Remember to always use the contest application link or your direct picture link when telling your friends where to vote. Also Facebook applications do not work inside of the Facebook mobile application so make sure they are using an actual web browser to vote! Keep focused - it's easier than you think to give great advice to help you win!

Thank you all from your friends at Honda of Ocala!

https://www.facebook.com/HondaofOcala/app_201143516562748

or Check Us Out on the Web:

http://www.hondaofocala.com/

or on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/HondaofOcala/

Honda of Ocala hosts another well attended Ocala Marion Chamber of Commerce After Hours

General Sales Manager Steve Hoggle, General Manager
Tom Moore and Morgan Auto's Brett Morgan are
pictured here with local VFW members.  

General Manager of Honda of Ocala Tom Moore yet again opened the doors of his dealership to more than 200 Ocala Marion Chamber of Commerce members and guests this past Thursday July 19, 2012.

The event included food and beverage and was yet again another great opportunity for members of the Ocala business community to fellowship and network in one of Ocala's finest dealership facilities.

Honda of Ocala employees always relish the opportunity to meet new Ocala residents but also to provide a productive community environment.

It also was another opportunity to exhibit Honda of Ocala's ongoing Honda Civic Facebook contest. Honda of Ocala will be using their Facebook page to interact within the community while keeping all aware of all community involvement and promotions. http://www.facebook.com/HondaOfOcala/  

It's also a great opportunity for Honda of Ocala to identify needs within the community. Here (General Manager of Honda of Ocala) is pictured with members of the local VFW post. Tom and Honda of Ocala are looking into ways to support the VFW in the construction of a new post. Please stop by Honda of Ocala if you would like more information on how you can help. We commend the service and sense of community held by our VFW friends.

Honda of Ocala "Perfect Attendance" Winner takes delivery of new Civic!

Congratulations to our Honda of Ocala “Perfect Attendance Senior” car winner Emma Derricks. She took delivery of her brand new 2012 Honda Civic today. To all our Marion County Seniors who achieved perfect attendance this year, Honda of Ocala wants to acknowledge your spirit of determination and commitment to your education.


Honda of Ocala is proud of those young people that are setting the example for others, everyday in our Marion County classrooms. Great job! 


To see more information and pictures from giveaways related to our "Perfect Attendance" reward program please go to Honda of Ocala's Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/HondaofOcala/