ASA Announces Enhanced Agreement with CustomerLink
Get Special Pricing for Electronic Marketing Services

The Automotive Service Association announces the renewal of its CustomerLink Systems benefit offering ASA members even more savings and expanded products and services. Through the agreement, ASA members will have special discounted pricing for CustomerLink's new smrt 2.0, which adds a variety of Internet marketing tools to its existing line of shop marketing services.

The smrt 2.0 marketing program automates the gathering and publication of online customer reviews and uses them to gain search engine relevance for CustomerLink's clients. Smrt 2.0 also includes automated posting to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, and monitors the Internet for online conversations involving client businesses, informing them when and where conversations are taking place.

"Most shops don't have the time, personnel or expertise to keep up with ever-changing Internet technologies and applications," said Joe Gibson, CustomerLink channel manager. "But with smrt 2.0, we can help those shops aggregate the information that's already out there and use it to better communicate with and market to their customers."

As a longtime ASA-sponsored benefit provider, CustomerLink offers a complete suite of direct mail, unlimited email, newsletters, websites and automated social media and online reputation management services that help independent automotive repair and service centers get new customers and maximize profits from existing customers.

"ASA is pleased to enhance our member offering with CustomerLink. With an advancing electronic marketing landscape, the association works diligently to provide members with tools and solutions to further their business success and increase customer awareness," said B.J. Johnson, ASA's vice president of member services.

CustomerLink will be conducting an educational session at this year's Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS). "We're looking forward to attending CARS this year, making new connections within the industry, and sharing our knowledge and experience in helping shop owners be more successful," said Gibson, who will speak about how new technology is changing the marketing landscape for service center owners and providing the tools they need to compete with the dealerships and corporate chains.

Established in early 2000, CustomerLink is the industry-leading provider of automated, results-driven customer retention and acquisition marketing programs powered by consumer research and demographic technology in conjunction with satellite mapping, social media and other technologies. To take advantage of this member benefit, or to sign up today, call the ASA membership department at (800) 272-7467, ext. 295, or log in to ASA's entire benefits portfolio in the ASA Marketplace at http://ASA.biz unite.com.

Shop Fire Results in ASA-Texas Members Lending a Hand'

David Donaho, owner of Steiner Automotive, an ASA member shop in Houston, Texas, lost his business due to a fire in April. To keep his business going, he and his staff worked on cars in the parking lot of his shop and tried to make do with limited resources.

To help him get back on his feet, Rick Layton of Diagnostics on Wheels arranged for popular trainer, Doc Nall, to teach a hybrid class to raise proceeds for Donaho. Nall donated his teaching services for free. Held April 19-20, the class covered controller area network, AC compressor operation, power accessories and differences/commonalities between the major hybrid OEMs - Toyota, Honda, Ford and GM.

Approximately 28 participants attended the event and raised $3,000 to help Donaho. Said Layton about his efforts to help his friend, "If something like that happened to me, I would appreciate help like this."

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