Car Care Tips To Ensure Smooth Holiday Travel

Holiday travel can be a bust if your vehicle breaks down on the way to visiting friends and family.

With today’s busy schedules and high-tech vehicles, most drivers are left with neither the time nor inclination for an afternoon of tinkering on their car. But motorists can still do their part.

According to the experts at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), good communication between the repair shop and the customer can help ensure satisfactory service.

ASE offers the following tips to help make the repair process go smoothly.

* Do your homework before taking your vehicle in. Read the owner’s manual to learn about the vehicle’s systems and components. Follow the recommended service schedules and keep a log of all repairs and service.

* Don’t ignore your vehicle’s warning signals. There may be explicit dashboard messages or subtle changes in performance. Make a note of any problems – and under what conditions they occur.

* Inspect your car frequently. Check for unusual sounds, odors, drips, leaks, smoke, warning lights and gauge readings. See if you notice changes in acceleration, engine performance, gas mileage or fluid levels. Also, check for worn tires, belts or hoses, and problems in handling, braking and steering or vibrations.

* Communicate your findings. Be prepared to describe your car’s symptoms. Carry a written list of those symptoms to give to the technician or service consultant. Do not suggest a specific course of repair; let the technician diagnose and recommend a remedy.

* Stay involved. Do not be embarrassed to request simple definitions. Professionally run repair establishments recognize the importance of two-way communication in automotive repairs. However, don’t rush the technician to make an on-the-spot

diagnosis.

* Leave a telephone number where you can be reached. Ask to be called and apprised of the problem, course of action and costs before work begins. Before you leave the shop, be sure you understand all shop policies regarding estimates, guarantees and acceptable methods of payment.

ASE is dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of certification. Their employers often display the blue and white ASE sign.

How Advertising in Social Networking Sites Helps Your Automotive Business

With the increase in number of social networking users, the Internet has added up another potential arena for marketing online social networking sites. Especially for automotive business, where branding will be the major marketing objective, advertising in social media is not worth ignoring. Here are some benefits of advertising in social networking sites for automotive businesses:

Reaches wider audiences
We are now in an era where an account in social networking site is as important as having a mobile. Facebook alone has 175 million users logging into the site each day. When you place your ad in a social networking site, it is more likely that your ad is watched by a large number of visitors.

Moreover, users are becoming more offended with traditional advertisements as they seem to invade their privacy. The ads in social networking sites may not seem intrusive as they mingle with the flow of conversations in them.

Improves traffic
The effectiveness of target-based advertising has long been recognized by businesses. It is much easier to promote your auto dealership to niche consumer base through wide number of options such as forums, marketplaces and groups on social networking sites. Such targeted online ads are more likely to increase click-through rates of your ads, from potential consumers. Thus, advertising in social networking sites will not only improve your landing page traffic, but also is more likely to convert the traffic into leads.

Builds good reputation
More and more consumers are turning to social networking sites for advice on purchasing their car. There are many credible automotive forums, blogs or groups on sites like Facebook, which have already built their reputation by helping many such people seeking advice. These conversations are re-visited and referred by many others who require similar advice. When your ad is displayed among those conversations, chances are more that you can build good brand reputation out of it.

Highly interactive
Interactive advertising has become one of the popular online advertising techniques today. The best option available for interactive online advertising is social networking sites. Unlike advertising in traditional media, advertising in social networking sites enables auto dealers to interact with their customers.

Post offers and discounts: There are certain social networking sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, Scoutmob, etc. that have become popular these days by allowing businesses to post offers and discounts at faster pace. They already have gained much popularity among consumers, thus leaving enough chances of increasing your advertising ROI.

Your social media marketing campaign can turn more effective, when supported by social networking advertisements. As the ads belong to the same platform that the users are using, it is more likely to get them to subscribe or sign up to your messages. This further helps you achieve your marketing goals easily.

Get feedback instantly: Social media enables two-way interaction between you and your consumers. Queries and feedback related to cars or services from consumers will reach you instantly. However, it is not likely that the feedback is positive always. But responding appropriately and quickly even to a negative feedback, will prove you more credible in the market.

You will require an effective social media strategy to gain success here the major reason most auto dealers do not succeed with it. Since the competition is less, there are more chances that you can use it to your advantage with the help of an experienced social media strategist.

If you are one of those auto dealers, who are still struggling to get enough ROI out of their advertising campaign, the problem might be with the advertising space you are investing in. It is then the right time to move to social networking sites for promoting your auto dealership.

Winkler Automotive Wins Prestigious Customer Service Award

George Winkler’s goal of providing the area with the most complete and trusted independent automotive repair shop when he opened the doors to Winkler Automotive in 1982 was validated once again with the recent awarding of the “Excellence In Customer Service Award” from the Washington, Maryland, Delaware Service Station and Automotive Repair Association (WMDA).

The prestigious honor, from the region’s primary trade association for the industry, was bestowed upon Winkler and his staff at the organization’s recent Annual Convention & Mega Show in Ocean City, Md.

“This is the biggest honor we have received since we opened 30 years ago, and we couldn’t be more thrilled and proud with the recognition,” said Winkler. “We know the type of customer service we provide, and this is our No. 1 mission, but to be recognized for it is very special, and a tribute to our magnificent staff.”

The honor even attracted interest from Maryland state comptroller Peter Franchot, who personally wrote Winkler a note of congratulations, which read in part “you must be pleased that your work and professionalism have been recognized with this prestigious award.”

Franchot went on to add “you are making a significant contribution to our great state of Maryland and I thank you. As Maryland’s chief regulator of motor fuel and tax collector, I understand the countless contributions that your industry provides to our state and its families.”

Winkler Automotive, located in Gaithersburg at 401 East Diamond Avenue, is AAA approved, and all its technicians exceed rigorous standards to be ASE certified. And Winkler Automotive performs maintenance and repair service on all makes and models, including European, American and Japanese cars, trucks, SUVs, vans and minivans, along with extended warranty work on all.

The Washington, Maryland, Delaware Service Station and Automotive Repair Association, (WMDA) was established in 1937 as a trade association serving independent business men and woman of service stations, repair facilities, convenience stores, and other related businesses. WMDA provides automotive and management educational training programs throughout the year for owners, managers and technicians with the primary objective of innovating and educating.

The WMDA award now hangs proudly in the waiting room of Winkler Automotive, and also serves as a reminder to the Winkler staff of its commitment to customer service.

“I always stress to my staff to put themselves in our customer’s shoes,” noted Winkler. “People trust us, and when it comes to having your car serviced, that’s most important.”

About Winkler Automotive
Winkler Automotive of Gaithersburg is an AAA approved and ASE certified auto repair shop now celebrating its 30th year. Since 1982, Winkler Automotive has been committed to providing the best, most honest and most reliable car care service in the area, offering customers complete satisfaction and one-stop shopping, as well as an alternative to expensive dealerships. Winkler Automotive performs maintenance and repair service on all makes and models, including European, American and Japanese cars, trucks, SUVs, vans and minivans, while extended warranty work is also accepted. For more information and web specials, visit www.WinklerAutomotive.com, or call (301) 258-2774 and ask for owner George Winkler.

Custom Billet Upgrades Are The Baywatch Boob Jobs Of Automotive Style

The average man dreams of the day when he can tell his special lady to get a boob job and follow it up with an at home install simply by going online, ordering breast implants, and waiting a couple of weeks for delivery before busting out his tools, slicing her open, and doing a home install, but until that day your going to have to make do with treating your car like that pretty darling you wish you could take to bed tonight minus a couple ton of course. With Custom Billet Upgrades you can swap your factory built door handles, dome lights, window cranks, steering column trim, and other parts for shiny chrome and aluminum replacements that can make any descent vehicle start turning heads like Pamela Anderson running down the beach in a Baywatch swimsuit chased by a hairy man from Kazakhstan. You could buy the best car off the lot, but without Custom Billet Parts your car will be like Paris Hilton in her Bently. Flat chested and the butt of cruel jokes by people like Sarah Silverman who once said “People say ‘Pamela Anderson’s nothing without her tits!’ And that’s not true! That is ‘not’ true!… She’d be Paris Hilton” while riding in a car that high end Billet parts and accessories would transform into a thing of exterior beauty as if the driver herself got a boob job or swapped cars with Pamela Anderson. Your exterior door handles, license plates, and windshield wiper arms will look very nice, but wont need any future replacement implants or face lifts.You may be thinking so what if my ride has no special assets, it looks just fine after a few beers and a bong hit. Maybe exterior beauty doesn’t matter to you, but what about your inner beauty? Brake fluid reservoirs need love too just like window cranks and dome lights. You won’t impress a special lady with a binged out exterior and used car lot soiled cushion bling free interior. With a good foundation vehicle, Billet interior, and Billet exterior it won’t be long until the Billet Specialists at BilletBuilder.com turn your hairy Kazakh beast of a ride into a babe magnet with rock star sex appeal to make your dreams come true.

Pull-Behind Motorcycle Trailers

If you are a rider and youve been used to hauling your gear for long trips on side-bags and inside bunjee-jumped bags hitched to the back of your seat, you might want to rethink the possibilities.

Trailers for motorcycles are coming in all shapes, sizes and colors and they are making it possible for riders to hit the open road with ease.

Weve all see it: driving behind a motorcycle out on the highway, somewhere between nowheresville and the next gas stop, with large bags hanging from both sides of its back end. Not only does the extra baggage add weight to the motorcycle itself, they also just look plain clunky.

Rethink the travel trailer and imagine a sleek, shiny black egg-shaped trailer that hitches quickly and easily to the back of your motorcycle. Pull-behind motorcycle trailers are making it possible for riders to hit the highway for days at a time, carrying everything from camping gear to work tools and other items behind them, rather than on the back of their seat.

You can virtually tow your luggage or gear behind any Harley, Goldwyng, Can Am Spider or Victory or any motor bike, trike or tricycle. Many pull-behind motorcycle trailers can be customized to match the color of your bike, trike or tricycle and come with accessories, including spare tires, covers, chrome trim and packaging and more.

These beautiful new pull-behind travel trailers for motorcycles are not your old-school side-car looking numbers in any way. They are hitched to your trailer hauler and the back of your bike and come in stunning colors and materials, including fiberglass and aluminum.

Your travel trailer hauler can also come with top racks for extra storage space or designed with platforms for putting other items on, such as ice chests, tool boxes, camping gear, photography equipment and more.

Why are pull behind motorcycle travel trailers and storage units so popular? Simply put, they make the art of road travel by motorcycle fun and convenient. They help take the hassle out of travel altogether because, as is the case with a trailer behind a car, for example, there is no constant un-packing and untying of bags to get to what you need as you make your stops along the way.

With pull-behind motorcycle trailers, you simply pull over and open up your travel hauler to get to what you need, fast and efficiently. Close it up and hit the highway!

There are even travel trailers being manufactured for motorcycles today that have top-rack capability for storing a bicycle! That means you can take you motorcycle out on the road, find a camping spot and then enjoy your other favorite sport: mountain biking or city touring by bike!

Motorcycle pull-behind trailers and storage units are redefining what it means to be a biker. There are no special requirements for licensing involved in operating a trailer for your bike, but of course you may want to make sure you practice driving with it, parking and maneuvering before you hit the road. Because they add length to your motorcycle, you want to know how the trailer feels and how much room you need to put it into a parking space, park it curbside and also how to safely make those lane changes on the freeways and highways.