We have to admit, we love the test drive.  Being a potential driver and leaving the lot, smile intact, back poised, and prepared for the road ahead, makes us feel like an integral part of our decision  Test-driving a car is important because it solidifies your buying decision.  There’s a series of questions potential buyers ask themselves.  In today’s blog we’re going to discuss the best ways to test-drive your car and the questions you should ask yourself when you’re driving. 

Most purchasers start their research online.  By checking out our automotive dealership website, you can consider what features you would like your new vehicle to have.  The options are endless, including: color choice, specs, and features.  Also, keep in mind that these are based on your individual preferences and you should never settle for a vehicle you’re not “sold” on.  Once you come into the dealership, it’s time to “feel the wheel.”  You saw what you liked online, and now you want to see if that translates into your true experience.  These are some questions you should ask as you step behind the wheel of your dream car:

Is it easy for me to enter and exit the vehicle without banging my head?

Is the driving position comfortable?  Is my seat positioned too high or low when I’m in the passenger seat?

Are all of the controls easily accessible when I’m in a driving position?

Are the controls easy to use?

Do the gas and brake pedals match my body type and are they adjustable?

Some other tips include checking out the vehicle from a spectator point-of-view.  Listen for the noise level inside the car, as well as the acceleration, braking, cornering, suspension, seat comfort and cargo space.  These are all major factors that can help your buying decision.  Your test-drive is meaningful to us and we want you to enjoy your experience as much as possible.  Happy Shopping!

#Automotive Advertising

Hey, Fans! A new year means new beginnings for us.  We’re rearing up for another great year in the Automotive world, and wanted to have some fun with our blog.  Every year, we showcase the coolest car facts (not to be confused with Car Fax) this side of the Northern Hemisphere.  If you have facts that you would like to add, feel free!  We welcome any and all feedback from our readers.  Rear view mirrors were first attached to cars in the year 1916.

•    The world’s longest skid marks are 950 feet long.

•    The Carburetor and the clutch mechanism were invented by women in the year 1923.

•    The world’s first license plates were issued by the French police in the year 1893. They were called number      plates then.

•    The Tata Nano is the cheapest car in the world. ($2500 US)

•    The world’s first car accident took place in 1769. The car is still preserved at a museum in Paris.

•    The average length of electrical wires in every car is about 3000 feet.

•    A driver spends about an average of two weeks of his life waiting for the traffic light to change color.

•    Japan produces the most number of cars in the world.

•    Airbags take only 40 milliseconds to open in case of an accident.

•    The first cars had levers instead of a steering wheel!

We’re looking for more facts to expand our list!!!

Last night's Grammy's was a great night inmusic...considering.  Over the weekend we lost the legendary, WhitneyHouston.  On Sunday night, she was remembered in an array of shout outs,tributes, and songs that heightened her presence and made any viewerfeel as though she was there.  During the Grammy's, there was a also aheartfelt commercial that stuck with us here at the agency.  Themelodramatic hums of a Coldplay classic: "The Scientist" as sang by thewidely popular Willie Nelson, added an eerie backdrop to an amazing message.  You just have to see it for yourself:

In our blog entries, we like to provide insight on options that can simplify your life when it comes to your vehicle.  In today’s instance, we’re going to provide you with tips on how to read a tire.  Knowing how to read your tire can provide detailed information like the type of vehicle, if they’re seasonal, the speed rating, temperature resistance, as well as the width and diameter of the tire.

Read the manufacturer and the tire name.  These are easy! They are printed in large letters toward the outside of the tire.  With more than 100 tire manufacturer’s it might be hard to pinpoint the perfect one for your vehicle.  By contacting our service department, we can help you find a perfect fit.  The tire name might just be a combination of numbers and letters following the manufacturer name.

Width and aspect ratio.  This is a sequence of numbers near the center of the tire.  They would look something like www/aa/SCrr or www/aaCrr.  The first series of 3 numbers tells width in millimeters (from 155 to 315).  The 2 numbers after the slash show the aspect ratio of the tire.

The prefix in front of the width and aspect ratio drtermine type.
LT – Light truck
P – Passenger
BP – Cosmetically Blemished Passenger
ST – Steel Radial

The load index is the tire size's relative load carrying capabilities. The higher the load index number, the larger load carrying capacity.

The Z,W, and Y ratings are for tires that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.

The cold inflation numbers are near the inner edge of the tires.  This tells you the pressure the tire should be at to optimize performance.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at the dealership for more info!

For your viewing pleasure, we were able to find four of the TOPautomotive commercials for the 2012 Super Bowl.  Commercials cost around3.5 million with some slots upwards toward 4.  We're stoked to seewhat's in store for next year.  Check out what we have so far!!!!

Honda - Ferris Bueller Ad

Volkswagen - The Bark Side

Chevy - Happy Grad

Lexus - Preview

Feel free to comment!!!

Social Media is a long-term investment.  It takes time, patience and stellar content to rise through the ranks and improve your ROI by a large margin.  Investing in social media has huge benefits, as it's a great medium for consumer discussion, questions and engagement.  In today's blog, we have a infographic from the geniuses at Wildfire.  Check it out and see WHY Social Media is a rewarding medium for the masses:

At a car dealership, our main priority is finding the perfect vehicle for you: the consumer.  In today’s day and age, so many individuals are well versed in what they want.  Through careful research in online forums, review sites and word of mouth, they know the exact model to fit their lifestyle-all the way down to the trim color.  In today’s blog, we would like to get YOUR feedback.  We want to know how you research a new vehicle.  Just leave your comments below to discuss.  Thanks for your participation!

Branding is everything.  It's the identity of your product, the consumer perception and an overall grand scheme of your marketing values.  Motor companies maintain positive branding by marketing their product in such a way that promotes good character, quality cars and exciting new technologies.  In today's case, Porsche has created an AWESOME new commercial that chronicles its rise to what it is today.  It's a great commercial and should not be missed.  Check it out here and let us know what you think:

SOPA.  We've all heard tidbits, banter and online discussions about the new bill. Some ask what it really means for the online community.  To put it lightly, it's the end of online expression as we know it.  Ok, maybe I'm being a bit rash...overzealous perhaps, but it could affect any entrepreneur that utilizes the internet as a communication medium. 

I'll explain: SOPA, which stands for the Stop Online Piracy Act, was introduced October 26th of last year. The bill would grant the ability for intellectual property owners (like movie studios and record labels) to remove foreign sites they have a copyright claim against.  To put this in perspective, lets say a new film is being torrented in Amsterdam.  The studio would then be able to demand that Google remove it from their search, remove Paypal payments from that site and any ads would be consequently removed as well.  It would even block consumers from visiting the site.   This aspect is understandable.  However, as Brian Barrett on Gizmodo explains:

Resources for this type of policing would be VERY difficult for start-up companies.  SOPA would censor EVERY online outlet you have while preventing new ones from emerging.  This is scary for the avid blogger or photographer.  Why?  Because it doesn't just affect off-shore torrent sites. If the government decides ANY part of your site infringes on copyright and proves it in court.  You're done.  All of your creativity destroyed in one fell swoop.  The most ridiculous part is that the US already has the MPAA and RIAA to govern infringing online material.  How many times have you seen the "video removed" image on YouTube? 

Overall, the bill is confusing and messy.  Even the White House has sided with the online masses.  Google, Reddit, Craigslist, Amazon...and countless other online retailers and sites have claimed the bill is ridiculous.  As a matter of fact, visit Google's home page right now to see how they're protesting.  We've gotta stop this bill, by any means. 

Petition: https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

SOPA article by Brian Barrett in detail: http://gizmodo.com/5877000/what-is-sopa

These tech geniuses would make any of us feel like a self-proclaimed "slacker".  These tenacious young entrepreneurs broke the mold and engaged with online media on a momentous scale, emerging victorious in the eyes of tech geeks everywhere.  To the victor go the spoils...and millions of dollars in new revenue.  Check out these top techies and their launch to super stardom in H&R Block's awesome infographic:

Ever since your children were born, you’ve had the unwavering confidence to protect them against all odds.  Your parental skills acting as an impenetrable field against anything put in their way.  You're a knight, slaying dragons that breathe fire of pestilence, laziness, and the occasional Social Media stint that your kids can’t escape.  As your children get older, however, they begin to drive, literally.  A 16-year-old behind the wheel is usually a scary thought; a fear for any caring parent.  In today’s blog, we discuss 3 awesome options for keeping safe while you drive. 

 

1.  A Vehicle with High Crash Test Scores – this isn’t really a safety feature, but it should be something you search for in a vehicle.  Look for four or five star crash test ratings for front and side impact, as well as an endorsement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The side impact test conducted by the IIHS is designed to measure the level of occupant protection when a vehicle is struck by an SUV or truck.

2.  Frontal Airbags – most vehicles come with these stock, featuring sensors which consider factors like occupant size, seat position and crash sensitivity to determine the level they should inflate.  Advanced airbags effectively reduce the risk of an injury.

3.  Side-impact and side curtain airbags – These are mounted in either the seat backs or doors and protect the torso during side-impact crashes.  Generally, they’re usually for front seat occupants, but manufacturers give you the option to have them for the backseat.  These airbags span the length of the cabin and provide head protection for outboard occupants in side-impact collisions.  Also protecting during a rollover by keeping everyone inside safe.  A lost of crash related deaths stem from ejection for the vehicle.

What are some additional safety features you would recommend? Let us know!

Hyundai has made significant strives in the last couple of years, positioning themselves in the market as a premier manufacturer of gorgeous and reliable vehicles.  From the Sonata sedan, to the more luxurious Genesis, Hyundai has proven it's worth in the form of more vehicles and even more sales throughout the year. In addition, Hyundai had the HIGHEST customer retention rate last year, beating out the likes of Ford and Honda.  According to Automotive News:

"Last year, 64 percent of the new vehicles Hyundai sold or leased were bought by existing owners, J.D. Power and Associates said in its ninth-annual Customer Retention Study.  Hyundai jumped two spots in the rankings from 2010, when it retained 60 percent of buyers."

With an expanding model lineup (check out the new Hyundai Veloster) as well as the stellar perception of brand value and looks, Hyundai will continue to see success in the future.



For more Automotive News, visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

We’re a week in. Your palms are sweaty as you wipe your brow, fending off the urge to bite into that Krispy Kreme donut. Your New Years Resolution was to eat right, but you’re feverishly ill from the lack of a sugar rush. You take a deep breath, stand up and walk away. Crisis averted. It’s 2012 and you’ve said time and time again that you’ll stick to your guns and uphold your New Year’s Resolutions. You’re going to eat right, exercise and finally finish that novel you’ve been working on. A resolution can be a great tool for self-improvement and as long as you stick to the regiment you’ve created, you can come out victorious. In today’s blog, we have an infographic from LiveScience of the most popular resolutions.

Axe, the popular fragrance company, has always been at the forefront ofadvertising.  They utilize their creative flair to make innovativecommercials and ads that encompass the hip, cool, and modern adult.  Intheir newest venture, Axe has decided to create a LIVE graphic novel viatheir YouTube channel.  What does that mean? That they areexperimenting with two fragrances that are unleashed into today's worldand the chaos that ensues.  This graphic novel will be created inREALTIME, meaning that the content will be outsourced to YOU viaFacebook, Twitter and YouTube.  You pick the characters, location andeven suggest plot points! It's a really cool new idea, we would love tosee how it works.  For details, check out this quick minute look:

Driving is a fundamental tool for getting from point A to point B.  That’s a given.  In most cases, we need something to cut the monotony of driving day in and day out.  Listening to music in the car has always been a great way to pass that long morning drive in traffic.  If your favorite song is blaring through the speakers, it’s hard not to remember a nostalgic memory tied to a rock ballad from the 70’s, or a classical piece of music that rivets the soul.  In today’s blog, we’re going a step further.  We’re going to provide you with some innovative ways to listen to music in your car.  Feel free to read below and add your own comments.



Cassette tapes, CDs and if you’re ‘seasoned’ enough, 8-tracks were always a distraction in the car.  Now, with the emergence of mp3 players like the iPod, you can hold thousands of music files in one small device.  You can connect your iPod four ways:

1.  Aux-in connection: this is a common feature in most cars and only requires an Auxiliary cable (which you can pick up for about $2 on Amazon) to be plugged into a car’s aux-in jack on one end and the music player’s headphone jack on the other.  Then, just select AUX on a car’s stereo and viola!

2.  USB Port: most carmakers offer a computer-style connection.  You can plug in your iPod/iPhone using the computer-sync cable it was supplied with.  This allows you to control your device easily.

3. Proprietary connection: This relies on a cable supplied by the automaker that plugs into the iPod’s 30-pin connector on one end, just as a USB cable does.  The other end plugs into a connection that's unique to the vehicle. Another connection setup uses a two-pronged cable that has to plug into both the aux-in jack and a USB port.

4. Bluetooth Audio: allows you to transfer a conversation from a mobile phone to a car’s stereo that also let you wirelessly stream music between compatible devices.  Typically, the only features available are pause/play. 

These are just some of the ways music technology is making waves in the auto industry.  Choose the most convenient for you and run with it!

For more Automotive News, Social Media and Automotive Advertising visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

We’re car people…and if you’re reading this blog, then you are too.  Our appreciation for the transportation devices we use on a daily basis transcends the average user.  You will never see a ‘wash me’ outline on one our cars, never.  Another item we never leave home without is our smartphones.   So, how can you combine your love of technology AND cars? Easily!  ID America has created a Gasket Brushed Aluminum Case.  According to ID: “Integrate style to your phone with our Gasket Brushed Aluminum Case. Precision-built to be light-weight and rigid the Gasket Brushed Aluminum Case brings out the race car driver in you. Integrate style to your iPhone with our Gasket Brushed Aluminum Case. Precision-built to be light-weight and rigid, the Gasket Brushed Aluminum Case brings out the race car driver in you.”  Interested?  You can purchase one on Amazon right here:

2012 is here.  It's been regurgitated time and time again.  A new year means new beginnings in our personal lives and on a digital front as well and we're looking forward to positive reinforcement.  With the constant emergence of new technology, sometimes it can be hard to sit back and look at the progress that's been created.  Fortunately, Ad Age blogs has made an easy to read infographic showcasing the social media landscape.  So sit back, relax and enjoy this great presentation:

http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/social-media-statistics_b17188

If you're looking for the latest in social media news and the Automotive Advertising industry visit our blog, we love visitors. http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Mischief.  Trouble.  Mayhem.  These three words can accompany a questionable decision you’ve made, a night of unwanted remembrance or a tweet that you regretted as soon as it left your tech savvy fingers.  We’ve all made questionable decisions in our time, that’s obvious.  With the emergence of social media, it’s easier to broadcast your debauchery via tweet, text, message or photo...in an instant.  It’s an immediate blast to the online world, forever etched in the Internet’s repertoire. 



Have you ever posted something you later regretted?  In most cases, you can delete a post fast enough to avoid detection.  However, once you push ENTER and one person sees the post before you delete it, they can share it with their friends in an instant.   I.e.  Anthony Weiner, the disgraced Congressman who infamously tweeted a private picture, was the center of a huge scandal.  It’s also hard to forget the tweet by Ashton Kutcher, regarding the Sandusky scandal that read: “How do you fire Jo Pa? #insult #noclass as a Hawkeye fan I find it in poor taste.” Before he knew about the scandal…the list goes on. 

For the impulsive Twitter junkie, there’s hope. A new app called TwitWipe is able to delete ALL of your tweets in one go.   This might be a little drastic for most Twitter users, but if you regret most of the things you’ve said on Twitter, this is definitely the ideal road to travel.  Utilizing TwitWipe will let you start fresh on Twitter without losing your followers, the people you follow or your favorites.  It’s more beneficial than deleting your account because you still hold on to your followers, who you follow etc…  

There is a downside, however.  TwitWipe takes time to perform deletion and once done, there’s no turning back.  If TwitWipe is the right thing for you, click: http://twitwipe.com/login.php

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Automotive Advertising

This past weekend, Mashable put together an elaborate list of the top viewed YouTube ads of this year.  These ads have more of a web presence online than they do on television.  So sit back, relax and click this link to get the entire list of the top ads: http://mashable.com/2011/12/26/youtube-most-viewed-ads-2011/

Need a new app to feed your insatiable “app”etite? (see what we did there?).  You’re in luck! We’ve got a free app for your viewing pleasure.  It’s known as Car Butler, “the all-in-one app for people and their cars.”  Car Butler is great.  It offers features like: weather reports, GPS navigation, traffic information and the ability to locate such services as gas stations and repair shops.  Car Butler’s main screen houses four icons along the bottom.  The first one is commute, a navigation function that offers routes to your destination when you input an address or point of interest.  The GPS works effectively, serving up smart routing options to nearby locales.


The next icon, Services, also has a Google Maps interface; paired with an overlay of icons that denote gas stations, repair shops, car washes and parking.  Not to mention, they’re all powered by Yelp to help you decide with reviews. 


There’s also Comprehensive Accident Reporting, an icon we hope you never have to use. It starts by letting the consumer choose between a one-tap 911 call or “Start Accident Report” button.  Tap “Start Accident report” and you’ll receive an auto-fill form detailing the time and location of the accident via your GPS, as well as an accident description area for you to notate the details.  You can also take verbal notes with the apps voice recorder feature and store up to four photos.  It’s a great tool to have at a bad time. 

Car Butler is a great tool to have, check it out here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/car-butler/id434217027?mt=8

A lot of drivers ask themselves if they can switch.  The answer is yes.  Today’s automobiles have made strides in engine technology.  Even if the manual says premium, its performance will only suffer slightly.  For example, it might be a half a second slower when accelerating from 0-60.  Drivers should know if premium is recommended or required.  Still in doubt?  Here's a deeper explanation of why this is a benefit to your commute and your pockets. 

A long time ago, engines were unable to adjust to fuels with differing octane ratings.  If you used the wrong fuel, the engine would knock audibly as the fuel combustion became uncontrolled.  Engine knock can damage internal engine components over time.  Today advances in engine control systems can compensate for low octane by monitoring knock activity and adjusting ignition in advance to quell the knock.  According to Edmunds: “This sophisticated electronic capability effectively gives drivers more flexibility in the grade of fuels that they can safely use.  Compared to premium gasoline, lower-octane fuels don't allow the engine to run as much ignition advance during situations where lots of throttle might be used. Since the engine doesn't make quite as much power with lower-octane fuels, this translates into slower acceleration in cars for which premium fuel is recommended. The performance loss is especially noticeable in turbocharged gasoline engines.” In other words, this is only something you’ll notice if you have a heavy throttle foot.  Otherwise, it’s smooth sailing.  So take a sec at the pump and save!
Happy Holidays!


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Automotive Advertising

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Right? Right?  Um…hello?  Ok, so maybe once the gifts are wrapped, the food is prepared and Santa has left an abundance of presents and cookie crumbs, then you can take a breather and enjoy the holiday cheer.  These next couple weeks will be hectic, we know.  It’s a great time of the year, but the stress that goes into it can be overwhelming.  There’s hope, however.  In today’s blog, we’re providing some quick tips for navigating your holiday season safely. 



1.)    If you’re going on a road trip, please make sure your car is serviced properly.  Come into our dealership anytime for oil, brake fluid and tire condition checks.

2.)    SLEEP WELL.  Get a good night’s sleep before you venture into the world.

3.)    Plan your route; this will help you in the long run.  Unsafe detours can be dangerous and expensive.

4.)    Bring a paper map.  GPS is the wave of the future, but a paper map can act as backup if you’re GPS malfunctions.

5.)    Buy snacks and drinks before you leave, because stocking up at gas stations can be costly.

6.)    Tell at least 1 family member where you’re headed.  So, if something happens, you have a reliable person to get the message out.

7.)    DO NOT announce on social media that you’re leaving for vacation.  Secure your home and leave at least one light on.  This will detract burglars from your home.

8.)    Leave early.  If the common rush hour time is 9:30, leave a couple hours early to compensate for time.

Do you have any tips to add?  Feel free!  Have a safe drive and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Facebook is steadily approaching a billion members.  That means, 1 in 7 people on EARTH will have a Facebook page (give or take…)  It's quite an overwhelming number.  Facebook has taken over as the primary way of communicating your mood to countless people at once, but how much more is Facebook making us social? 



In many instances, the primary group of friends on your Facebook page is high school classmates,  followed by family and co-workers.  These high school classmates would have been forgotten had it not been for Facebook, lost to the past with only memories to recollect.  Would you have really kept in contact with the individual whom you disliked?  Would you have friended that strange nerdy kid who grew up to be a success, demeaning your current living state by showing off his new Bugatti as his profile pic (slight exaggeration, but stay with me here)?

It's funny how we seem to friend those who we had little to no direct contact with, only to boost our friend number and social status.  However, this doesn't apply to everyone.  A lot of individuals find lost loves, old buddies and even find relatives they never knew they had.  A relative of mine found a sibling on Facebook, scheduled a meeting and met a brother she never knew she had.  It was truly a heartwarming experience. 

Facebook is also a great way to promote your business by staying in direct contact with your consumer.  Business pages can answer questions and provide up-to-date information on a specific industry, while celebs and people of interest can show their fans a glimpse of their daily lives .  Social media also engages friends in conversation.  If someone posts their thoughts on a new film, their friends can voice their opinion and even ask for a recommendation of the film.

Overall, social media is definitely a mixed bag.  It's an online communication that can boost your thoughts, products and ideas to a realm of people.  Or, it can be used as a mechanism to boost your ego.  Only you can decide!  Feel free to comment below!

The television series, Seinfeld, known for its "show about nothing"tagline and pretentiously funny main characters, has become one of thebest sitcoms to ever reach the masses.  Jerry Seinfeld, comedian andmain character in the show, was a comic genius.  In one case, he seemsto inadvertently predicted social media!  Check out this short :45 second clip and give us your opinion:

Carticipates purpose is to bring commuters together in a large social network, helping them save money on fuel as well as contributing to the environment by emitting fewer fumes.  It allows users to search for ride locations near their cities, near business travel, and even outside of the US. You’re also able to coordinate driving plans by indicating where you are going, when, and post your ride. 



Carticipate will match you up to local carticipants going your way.
The new scheduler feature allows you to create and manage multiple trips where you define the "From" and "To" locations.
Carticipate comes with a list of pre-loaded default destinations, which you can edit, delete, or add your own custom locations.  The choice is yours!  Check it out here: www.carticipate.com/

For more Automotive News & Tech, visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

As 2011 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back on the year.  For the auto industry, it was a tad rocky, but we’ve managed to bounce back.  In other aspects, it was a great year for hope and prosperity, instilling a feeling of pride for what we do as a whole.  As Americans, we have been able to navigate a recession and emerge victorious.  One aspect that should be addressed is the environment.  As individuals, we have a responsibility for the vegetation surrounding us and in today’s blog; we delve into options for staying “green” in our current economy.  Feel free to add your own in the comments section below!


According to Compatible Green Energy:

1. Use cloth instead of paper: Try trading in your paper napkins, paper towels, paper plates and paper shopping bags, in exchange for more earth-friendly materials. Save the trees! People have been using cloth napkins, rags and shopping bags for centuries, not to mention that reusable, washable plates date back to the beginning of eating.

2. Grow something green: Plants use up CO2 and release oxygen. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Oxygen is good – plain and simple. You can’t get much greener than that.

3. Make a compost pile: Instead of tossing your left over food in the trash, or sending it down the garbage disposal, make a compost pile. Anything that once came from a plant can be composted – fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, etc. Decomposed plant matter contains nutrients that make it a great natural fertilizer.

4. Trade your wheels: It’s no secret that cars produce pollution. In the name of health, try biking or walking instead of driving. Even using public transportation such as buses or trains is better for the environment than driving your personal car everywhere.

5. Recycle: Ancient civilizations recycled their metals and we’ve been recycling ever since. Now, with a modern twist, we can recycle metals, plastics, glass and paper. Recycled materials are broken down and then processed into new products, such as high-grade paper being deinked, pulped and then repressed into more paper.

6. Reuse: Before you recycle, look for ways to reuse empty bottles, old newspapers or plastic containers. You can use empty containers to store food, cleaning supplies or household materials. Not only is it good for the world to reuse your old materials, it might save you some money too.

For more Automotive News, visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

You've been there.  It's always that ONE individual.  He (or she) is driving a behemoth; a truck with menacing black paint, chrome decals and dual exhaust.  Its screeching tires and top heavy body style command respect on the road.  So, there you are, driving Northbound on the turnpike: you're doing the speed limit and driving cautiously to avoid an accident.  Suddenly, you're blindsided by a reckless driver coming up fast in your rearview, the LED lights of a speeding commuter cause a troubling scene in your head.  Before you know it, you're slamming on the brakes, going into a fish tail and ending up on the median…not to mention, your car is wrecked.  Every year, 1.3 million people are killed and 50 million injured on the world's roads.  Could we ever see a change in that statistic?  We're thinking, yes…and it's sooner than you think.



Volvo believes this number could drop significantly.  They are so confident, that they said: "…beyond the year 2020, no one will be killed or seriously injured in one of its new cars."  "The major cause of crashes is the driver not paying attention or drivers being distracted. This technology is giving cars eyes and knows when the driver fails," explains Thomas Broberg, Volvo's senior technical adviser for safety at the company's research centre in Gothenburg.

According to the US Insurance Institute: "four of the currently available features - lane departure warning, forward collision warning, blind spot detection and adaptive headlights - could prevent or mitigate one out of every three fatal crashes and one out of every five crashes that result in serious or moderate injury."



New innovations for streets will also play an important role in the future of vehicle safety.  These features include:

• Blind spot monitoring
• Driver awareness monitoring
• Lane keeping support
• Intelligent signals
• Hazard messaging

Who knows what the future will bring, but it looks VERY optimistic. The US Highway Loss Data Institute found that 27% fewer insurance claims were made against cars fitted with Volvo's City Safety system, which uses autonomous braking technology to avoid front-to-rear low-speed crashes.  I guess we'll have to wait and see!  Have a great weekend, guys!  Feel free to comment below!

For more Automotive Advertising News, visit:  http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Our gadget of the day is TikTok, a simple snap-in design that allows the user to quickly andsecurely snap the iPod Nano in and out of the wrist dock. It cleanlyand simply integrates the Nano and transforms it info a modern,multi-function timepiece. TikTok is designed for those who want toeasily transition from clip mode or watch mode. The TikTok is moldedfrom reinforced PC/ABS and the straps are made from compression moldedhigh-grade silicone rubber with an anti-dust coating. All hardware isstainless steel.  http://lunatik.com/tiktok

Are you struggling to create that last minute chart that will blow the socks off of your boss?  Last minute projects are always the most crucial and it's sometimes difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel...but wait, there's hope!  Google has sharpened it's graph and chart creating tools to create a new platform that helps you create graph and pie charts!  According to Google, "Google Chart Tools provide a perfect way to visualize data on your website. From simple line charts to complex hierarchical tree maps, the chart galley provides a large number of well-designed chart types. Populating your data is easy using the provided client- and server-side tools"Check out the new content in the video below...Wow, Google strikes again!!  Visit: http://code.google.com/apis/chart/ for additional info!



For more Automotive Advertising News visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Good Morning, fans!  First and foremost we want to thank you for visiting our blog day after day for updated content.  We thrive on keeping you in the know and appreciate your comments.  It's Monday, and we know the beginning of the week can be difficult at times.  So today, we're providing some cool video for you to soak in. 

Imagine, driving on the Autobahn, cruising at a buck fifty above the speed limit (an exaggeration of course, safety first!) suddenly, you're approached on your tail by a police car that resembles the Audi R8...wait, or is it an R8 that resembles a police car?  Actually, it's both!! We've got video of the R8 GT-R, sponsored by ABT and given to the German police.  Unfortunately this car is strictly for shows and police events.  So, you will never see this in your mirror on the German Autobahn.  However this car has some amazing specs:

620HP
0-100km/h 3.2 sek.
0-200km/h 9,9 sek.
Topspeed: 325 km/h

Video below:


For more Automotive News, Social Media and more, visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

There used to be a time when you had to schedule appointments with a ballpoint pen and a scratch pad, feverishly writing down your notes as a co-worker spoke to you over the phone.  Their speech was fast and learning shorthand was crucial in your endeavors.  Picture sweat at your brow, aches in your palm, and an uneasy feeling that you're missing something.  Fast forward to 2011 and technology has furthered by so many leaps and bounds that all of those menial tasks we used to perform seem trivial.  Reminders are cultivated in our smartphones, along with our music, news and  current social media status.  Driving to destinations has become a breeze with in-dash GPS.  It's just easier.  

Now, a conference call is just a click away, scheduled with ease using video chat services like Skype.  Skype, is a great tool for setting up meetings with people around the globe.  For example, a banker who's customer is in Dubai could give him a ring via his skype ID and viola!  They're on a video call together discussing changes in the current economy.  However, what happens when the call is completed and the banker forgot to write down some pivotal info?  An innovative technology software  called Riviera, is a Skype call recorder for Windows conputers.  It automatically records Skype calls and conversations to MP3 files.  This nifty software features:  

 Automatic and manual Skype call recording

Free trial version has no functional limitations, but it does has a 14 day trial period only.

Check it out here: http://jiteco.com/skype_call_recorder.html

We LIVE Social Media.  We eat, sleep and breathe the dynamic by posting daily with relevant content to our industry.  However, we're always looking for creative ways to innovate and excel, putting the consumer in a great conversational experience.  In today's blog, we've got an infographic from social media site, Alltop.  It depicts what 5 famous companies are doing to leave their mark on social media.  Check it out and tell us what you think!

The road can be a dangerous place.  We all take the necessary precautions to create a safe vessel for our daily commute, but in some cases, things are unavoidable.  If you have been the victim of a flat tire, or mechanical mishap, then you’ve experienced that lonely feeling.  You’re stuck on the side of the road, all of your contacts are either busy or too far away for contact, and you feel stranded. Alone.  Roadside assistance has created a safe haven for daily commuters.  It’s a great service that provides assistance to motorists whose vehicles have suffered a mechanical failure that is significant enough to leave them stranded.  In today’s blog, we provide some tips for getting through it.

The first thing you should do is call and establish with the operator what the problem is.  The call is then relayed to the tow driver or emergency officials.  By popping the hood to see what’s wrong or getting out and checking the damage, you can survey the problem.  This gives the officials a general idea of what to expect.  Please, take caution, if you feel as if you’re taking a chance, stay in your vehicle!!



The next thing to do is describe your location.  According to eHow: “Tell the operator where exactly you were driving and where you think you may be on the road. This will help the operator call the closest tow truck company or emergency medical services so that they can get to you as quickly as possible. Turning on your flashers or your headlights and, if you feel safe doing so, put out reflective triangles behind your car to help the tow truck driver find you in a shorter amount of time.”

Information!  Information!  Information! Always keep a copy of all the info you would need for roadside assistance.  One should be in your wallet or purse, while the other should be easily accessible in your vehicle.  This should include the numbers that you would need for the operator, expiration date, and other details.

These are just a few tips for you guys to check out…feel free to comment!

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Automotive Advertising

Everyone is huddled around a long table, the soft scent of cranberry fused with smoked turkey emanates from the small area.  Your plate is already full to the brim with Turkey, doused in gravy and soaked up by a monstrous pile of stuffing.  You look down at your plate and smile.  Yes, this is perfection.  Thanksgiving is the best time of the year.  It’s a celebratory holiday for family, friends and an ice-cold brewski.  In other words, it’s AWESOME.  In today’s blog, we’re showing you that us car people can cook, too!  For those of you on your last minute cooking binge, pay attention!  We’ve got a couple of quick recipes courtesy of the Food Network for you:

Worlds Simplest Thanksgiving Turkey

Time: 3 Hours

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Pull the neck and giblets out of the cavity; ditch the liver and save the rest of the giblets for gravy. Dry the turkey with paper towels, then season inside and out with salt and pepper. Fill the turkey with aromatics like chopped onions, carrots, apples and herbs, then place breast-side up in a roasting pan and brush with melted butter. Tent with foil and roast for 2 hours (for a 10- to 12-pound turkey; add an extra 15 minutes per pound for larger birds). Remove the foil, baste with more melted butter and crank the oven to 425 degrees F. Roast for another hour or until the meat at the thigh registers 165 degrees F. Let rest while you make the gravy.

Pumpkin Pie

Time: 1 Hour 35 min

Ingredients
•    1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
•    2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
•    1 cup sugar
•    1/4 teaspoon salt
•    1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
•    1 cup half-and-half
•    1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
•    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•    1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•    1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
•    1 piece pre-made pie dough
•    Whipped cream, for topping

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color.

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.

Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream.

Enjoy!! Happy Thanksgiving!

Cars are an investment.  We know that car buying is a huge decision, affecting financing, safety, and reliance.  We know that car buying is a difficult.  We’re here to help.  In today’s blog, we've decided to provide the advantages of buying new and used.  The decision really boils down to what you can afford and what option will give you peace of mind in the future. 
Buying New

•Reduced Maintenance – buying a new vehicle means no worries for a while.  Only the occasional tune-up and oil change are required.

•Warranty Coverage – the manufacturer covers new vehicles under warranty for at least 3 years, some even longer.  With manufacturer warranties, if something goes wrong it's the responsibility of the dealer and manufacturer to fix it.

•Peace of Mind – if you do encounter problems with a new vehicle, you have legal recourse through state lemon laws (available in every state). 

•Roadside Assistance – All mainstream new cars come with free roadside assistance while the vehicle is under warranty.  Also, you could be reimbursed for alternate transportation should something goes wrong.


Buy Used

•Increased Choice – With used cars, you have a large choice of cars to choose from.  Someone is always selling your dream car in mint condition.

•Improving Reliability – used vehicles don’t usually have the same warranties as new ones, however the original factory warranty is transferable to a second owner at no charge.

•Just Like New – According to Edmunds: “Another trend that makes buying used a better option is the proliferation of certified pre-owned programs. The idea started with luxury brands such as Lexus and Mercedes-Benz and has become a popular alternative for car buyers.”

For more Automotive Advertising Tips, visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

L.A. Is bustling at the seams as car industry enthusiasts flood the scene.  The annual auto show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center is open to the public for ten days this year, filling 760,000 square feet (71,000 m2) of exhibit space.  The show, held November 18-27th is much underway.  There are countless industry giants at the show including Chevrolet, Lexus, Toyota, Subaru, BMW, and countless others, showing their speedy, eccentric, and new concepts to the world.  We pulled some of our favorites together in a slideshow below.  Let us know your favorites!

















For more Automotive Advertising News, visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

he daily commute can put a damper on your attitude.  Lets face it, sometimes traffic is the worst thing in your existence.  To make life easier, there’s an app for that.  No it doesn’t fly you over traffic in a hovercraft vehicle equipped with back massager, but it does act as your personal assistant.  According to Vlingo: “Tell your phone what to do!  The Vlingo Virtual Assistant turns your words into action.  Vlingo combines voice to text technology with its "intent engine" to help you quickly complete your desired action.   Simply speak to your phone or type a command through the ActionBar to get just about anything done while on the go.

Looking for directions to a restaurant?  Need to do a quick mobile search for information on bee allergies?  Can’t find the number for a plumber?  Want to update your social status to tell everyone about your new puppy?  Maybe you need to send a quick text to a colleague because you’re running late for a meeting?  Or perhaps you’re looking for a safer alternative to texting while driving?  Vlingo can do all of these things for you, and so much more!  
Vlingo has accurate voice recognition technology, speed and intelligence to help you stay connected with the people, businesses and activities that are important to you. “

The best part?  The app is free.  It’s a safe alternative for getting info while on the road while keeping your family and yourself safe.  Check it out right here: http://www.vlingo.com/.  Vlingo is available on iOS, Android Blackberry, Nokia, and Windows smartphone platforms.

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Automotive Advertising

Chevy is celebrating its 100th year in production, an amazing feat for any manufacturer or company alike.  With influential vehicles from the copious Bel-Air, to the classical Corvette, Chevy has truly become an American staple.  Seated neatly next to an American Pie and a baseball cap, Chevy truly embodies the American dream.  A true American hero...we salute you Chevy!!!





For more Automotive News and Automotive Advertising visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Facebook, the quintessential social media BEAST, has made another round of changes to its interface.  This is most likely a bi-product of the recent release of Google+, which went public (no invite required) last week.  With 750 million users, Facebook has definitely amassed QUITE a following.  In today's blog, we've provided some videos on Facebook's recent changes and how to use them.  Feel free to tell us how you feel!

Yesterday, at 3:45 PM, Google made it official.  Brands could now create a Page for their product, similar to the interface that Facebook originated, with the simplistic white palette that Google made famous.  Now, that Google has the mechanisms in place to verify brands, has finished beta testing, and has on overall grasp of the social landscape, we can move forward in increasing its popularity.  According to Eweek:

"Going forward, users can find brand pages they like; they will be designated by this square logo next to their brand profile name, and elect to follow those pages. Users will also be able to easily share Google+ Pages they like with those who follow them.

"This means we can now hang out live with the local bike shop, or discuss our wardrobe with a favorite clothing line, or follow a band on tour," said Google+ Senior Vice President of Engineering Vic Gundotra in a blog post.

"Google+ pages give life to everything we find in the real world. And by adding them to circles, we can create lasting bonds with the pages (and people) that matter most. For businesses and brands, Google+ pages help you connect with the customers and fans who love you."

Below, we've provided a list of current brands who have created a presence online, check them out:

    All American Rejects

    Anderson Cooper 360

    Angry Birds

    Barcelona Football Club

    Burberry

    Dallas Cowboys

    Good Morning America

    H&M

    Macy's

    Modelland

    The Muppets

    Pepsi

    Phoenix Suns

    Save the Children

    Special Report with Bret Baier

    Toyota

    Train

    WWE

    X Games

    Zen Bikes

Also, here is the direct site to get your page up and running: https://plus.google.com/pages/create

We love speed.  The exhilaration we feel when we’re driving with the top down and the landscape is whizzing by is an American pastime, almost a tradition in our culture.  We pack Nascar Speedways to watch speed demons circle a track, drive fast in the HOV lane, and mount up a ridiculous amount of speeding violations on a daily basis.  We’re a speed-based country bent on getting to the next objective…quickly.  As fans of the racing dynamic and the sense of adrenaline we get from it, I’ve decided to pull 3 crazy races into a list (Courtesy of HowStuffWorks.com) on our Blog.  Check them out below:

Red Bull Soapbox Race

It’s all about gravity with this one.  The objective is to create a makeshift vessel that can be propelled with only standard wheels.  The vehicle is engineless, and zooming downhill in this derby and winning could warrant a prize.  The derby oozes creativity, with past entrants being in the shape of a piano, a giant corn on the cob, and…the Golden Gate Bridge.  Now that’s awesome!

24 Hours of LeMons

According to HowStuffWorks.com “While the actual 24 Hours of LeMans sports car race, held annually in the eponymous French city, features real racing cars that have been tuned and engineered within an inch of their lives, the 24 Hours of LeMons race features real, well, lemons.”  If you paid more than $500 for your car, including modifications you won’t be allowed on the track.  Our first car out of high school would have worked perfectly.

Gumball 3000
The Gumball 3000 is a high-end car rally that runs annually between locations since 1999.  The tradition began in London, making its way through Europe, ending in New York City.  Other Gumballs have gone from New York to the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles and from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the Cannes Film Festival in the south of France -- not a very long trip until you consider that the route crossed the Mediterranean and passed through North Africa on its way to the finish line.  Have any you would like to add?
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Life has been made simpler with the emergence of smartphones.  Need to find a great place to eat? There’s an app for that.  Want to set up a reminder to pick milk after work?  There’s an app for that.  Want to begin your plan for world domination by taking over your city with one swift button?  There’s NO app for that, yet…but who knows what's in store for the future!

The iPhone app store has a plethora of GPS apps that range from $.99 to $100, all allowing for a step-by-step guide to get from point A to B.  Our app of the week, Waze, a new navigation system that provides step-by-step directions on a 3-D map, combining crowd-sourced info as well as accurate GPS, is the perfect solution. Also, the app is totally free!  According to 148Apps: “Waze is a free, social, mobile crowd-source navigation and real-time traffic application for iPhone that gives its users a "real-time," live description of the road/driving conditions around them. It's a free, useful, fun application everyone should download and experience!”

“McFly!” The phrase is well known in American society.  A quip that has been instilled in us since the eighties by a burly young man known by one syllable: Biff.  This man, Marty McFly’s arch-nemesis, made his life a living hell in the Back to the Future films by berating him with comments, abuse, and the fondling of his future mom (i.e. see film).  It’s an American classic.  Marty’s vehicle of choice for transcending the time space continuum was a 981 DeLorean DMC-12, a futuristic vehicle with gullwing doors and a fictional “flux capacitor”, the main cog in initiating time travel.  Now, in 2011, the manufacturers over at DeLorean have decided to bring this classic back…as an electric vehicle!  Check it out below:

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Automotive Advertising

If you're a fan of 80's cinema, then you'll remember the quirky film with minimilisitic colors and a sci-fi flare, known as Tron.  The story of a hacker is literally abducted into the world of a computer and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program.One piece of the film that stuck out was the infamous Lightcycle, a futuristic electric vehicle that was as fast as it was cunning.  In today's blog, we've got video of the newly Full Scale Electric Tron Lightcycle driving in the daytime as well as nighttime. This bike has had extensive reworking on the body as well as Lithium Ion batteries and a 96volt electric motor. For more info go to parkerbrotherschoppers.com or call 321.215.5116



For more Automotive News, visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Hey Guys! It's been a while since we posted some cool new car tech. Today, I found some cool video of the new Kia GT Concept.  Stepping up their game in every aspect, Kia has become a force NOT to be reckoned with.  The popularity of the Kia Optima has propelled the company sky high, reaping the benefits by creating great quality vehicles.  Check out this cool concept below an tell us what you think!



For more Car Technology, Automotive Advertising and News visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Rain is essential.  It helps vegetation flourish, provides nutrients to soil, and is an overall integral part of life here on Earth.  But when it’s hitting your windshield and the pitter-patter of raindrops causes you to clench your teeth, it’s time to take precaution.  Rain can be attributed to thousands of car accidents a year.  Accidents can be preventable by drivers who weather (pun intended) the conditions of the road, using their intuition and defensive driving skills to stay safe during their commute.  When the road is wet, a film is created on the asphalt, causing your tires to lose traction.  Another problem during a downpour is your perception.  You can’t see as far into the distance as normal, so this decreases visibility of other cars and the road itself.

In today’s blog, we discuss some options to driving safely when the roads are wet.

Be careful when it rains after a dry spell.  Engine and oil grease cake up on asphalt over time.  When this is mixed with rainwater, it can cause the road to be extremely slick. 

Allot more time for your commute.  This allows for a steady drive to your destination.  The last thing you want to do is rush, it also compensates for delays, flooding, and unexpected accidents.

No Cruise control!  If you go into a hydroplane, there’s a slight chance your car could accelerate.  Reaction time is crucial and you’ll need your foot close to the pedal at all times.

Turn on your headlights.  This helps you see the road, and also lets motorists see you.  Blasting your high beams however can prove detrimental.  It can obscure your view further, reflecting water droplets in the air. 

Hydroplaning.  The first rule to avoiding the dreaded hydroplane is to avoid braking suddenly or turning the wheel, which can cause your car to spin or skid off of the road.  According to Edmunds: “Release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, tap the brake pedal (unless you have antilock brakes, in which case you can put your foot down).”

Defog your windows.  Rain causes your windshield to fog up fairly quickly.  Turn on your defrosters and make sure you're A/C is turned on.  Most vehicles climate control systems will automatically engage the A/C when the windshields defrost is selected. 

Do you have any tips for us?  Feel free to provide them below, we love your feedback!

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Automotive Advertising

You’ve probably heard a lot of buzz surrounding the new iPhone.  After the unprecedented passing of Apple’s head honcho, Steve Jobs, a new iPhone 4s was released shortly thereafter.  This new piece of hardware came with an app that would blow the socks off its users.  This app: Siri, is a personal assistant.  In other words, you can have your phone perform tasks for you.  Reminders, locations, and a bunch of other features are preloaded into this awesome app.  Don't worry,Skynet is still a long time off, but the voice recognition technology is pretty amazing.   Enough talk, we’ll show you:

Automotive Advertising

The digital world has become a backbone of society.  Picture Neo in the Matrix, delving deeper into the rabbit hole as time passes,  but instead of a sci-fi epic, we've become digital explorers, seeking out online ratings, social media-based peer reviews, videos, and in-depth product details.  The final result: Purchase.  Google has taken this online decision moment and created a powerful new marketing strategy entitled: Zero Moment of Truth — or simply ZMOT.  There's also a FREE eBook from Google available (see link below).  Check it out as soon as possible!

Our future in online is here…
Download the eBook here: /UserFiles/File/google-zmot.pdf



for more Automotive Advertising and Automotive News, visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Facebook has been making a lot of major changes lately.  Logging in for the first time after the update can be a bit overwhelming, however after a few updates, pokes, and comment "Likes" it's a welcome addition to the Facebook family.  The sidebar ticker, a column on the right-hand side of your home page that updates to the second with what your friends are doing, keeps you in the know.  One example being: John Smith likes Jimmy John's status.  It's an up to the minute live feed of the online conversation your friends share.  Along with a couple tweaks that rival Google +, another social juggernaut, (Facebook allows you to put friends in certain groups, similar to Google+'s Circles) it's worked in Facebook's favor.


Now, as users familiarize themselves with these new tweaks, Facebook is preparing for the mother load: Facebook Timeline.  Facebook Timeline can be closely compared to a digital scrapbook version of your profile page.  The new format features a HUGE widescreen banner that allows for a photo that explains the quintessential YOU.  It's the first thing people see when they visit your page.  I've seen a scuba diver embracing a dolphin, a woman in a clear meadow, the possibilities are only stinted by your imagination.  Under the photo, you can share memorable posts, and life events on your timeline.  You can choose to tell the most important moments of your life.  Freaking Awesome…Can you imagine?  When we're 70 years old, suffering from carpal tunnel, our grandkids could log on and see a snippet of the circle of life…cue Elton John.



Below that, you'll find you favorite movie quotes, songs, activities, and social app integration.  For example, if you just finished watching Tron on Netflix and wanted to share, it would be right there on your Timeline.  Facebook Timeline is essentially a digital record of your life.  You can choose what's available for the world to see.  To sign up for Timeline, click: http://www.facebook.com/about/timeline

For more Automotive News and Automotive Advertising visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

When I close my eyes and picture the future of the automobile, several things come to mind.  Maybe a vessel that moves like a flying saucer that only George Jetson could maneuver, or a hovercraft that can traverse both land and sea? The state of vehicle technology has amazed me with each passing day.  In today’s blog, we discuss the future of car technology and how it will affect the way we roll. 

Emergency Steer Assist



To begin, this system does not take over and steer for you, it’s designed to compliment emergency braking systems.  According to Popular Mechanics: “ESA works with your electric steering rack to vary the torque by direction, thus very convincingly "suggesting" the proper steering wheel motion. Suppose you need to swerve left—the torque in the clockwise motion is greatly increased (resistance), but it's ridiculously easy to turn the wheel counterclockwise. Similarly, during the maneuver recovery phase (you may know this as the tank slapper), the inverse is true, the steering working in tandem with ESC (electronic stability control, mandatory on all cars in 2011) to control the aftereffects of the swerve.

Adaptive Cruise Control

ACC is only available on a few select vehicles, but by utilizing radar sensors on the front of a vehicle, adaptive cruise control can tell when an object is in front of it and if that object is moving and how quickly.  Thus, maintaining a constant speed, but also maintaining a set distance between it and the car in front.  Brilliant!

Self Parking Cars



Advance parking Guidance Systems use sensors all around the car to guide it into a parallel parking space.  So, if you’re in the drivers seat, and you remove your hands from the steering wheel and your feet from the gas pedal…viola! There are a couple stipulations, however.  One, the spot has to be at least 6 feet long, and you have to position the vehicle and tell it where to go, but still…this is something you would expect to see in a sci-fi movie! Thumbs up!  There are countless other new devices in the market!!  Feel free to add any that you’ve seen.

For more Automotive News and Automotive Advertising needs, visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Pioneers are usually elusive in their character. 

Distant. 



Almost mysterious in their stature, they are usually portrayed as larger than life beings capable of tremendous feats in their expertise.  The medical field, philanthropy, and even technology to name a few.  This Is where Steve Jobs, comes in.  Equipped with a slightly faded turtleneck, a pair of Levis, and a pair of scuffed New Balances, Jobs has been able to capture a nation with his charm, wit, and even subtle arrogance; a total opposite of the usual 'closed door' policy of visionaries.  This was all utilized to push his company's enigmatic character into the forefront of modern technology.  Jobs was liked, and also disliked, but the consensus will ALWAYS be captured in his dedication to perfection.  At twenty-five, Jobs was already a millionaire, making headway in the technological realm, thus paving the way for dreamers everywhere.  This one's for you, Steve.  Rest in peace…

Apple is a marketing beast.  Positioning their products as clean, effecient, quality machines with aesthetic appeal has placed them at the top of the technological revolution.  Their aim?  World domination, using their mass appeal as bait to reel in the unsuspecting consumer. Apple has cornered the tablet market, smartphone innovation, and personal computers,  now venturing into cloud technology.  Their prowess as a tech powerhouse is well deserved, however; quality only a few can compete with.  

In the smartphone department, Android has begun to steal their fire.  Android, another operating system for mobile devices, offers open source software, a plethora of smartphone devices that house their OS, and a more personal experience with customizable widgets.  There's just more freedom with an Android phone.  Oh, and I can't forget the ever-illusive 4G that the iPhone lacks.  Lets see how this new iPhone stacks up, and if it will become the reigning smartphone champ once again...We'll keep you posted tomorrow! 

For now, here are some articles to keep you up to date from our friends over at Mashable:

iPhone 5 Expected to "Shatter" Sales Records - http://mashable.com/2011/10/03/iphone-5-sales-projections/

iPhone 5 Are You a Fanboy? - http://mashable.com/2011/10/02/iphone-5-are-you-a-fanboy-infographic/

iPhone 5 Launch: Top 10 Questions - http://mashable.com/2011/10/01/iphone-5-launch-polls/

For more news on Automotive Advertising, please visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

The reality bug has been infecting the American masses for quite some time now.  The shaky camera, constant 'bleep' of foul language, and the occasional boom mic slip-up are all evidence of our affliction.  Known to most as a guilty pleasure, it has become etched into our primetime routine, wedged in between Desperate Housewives and CSI.  From popular reality TV shows like Big Brother and American Idol, to the "cheesy" mishaps of the Jersey Shore, these shows have flooded our DVR lineup. 

When it comes to the automotive industry, we also have our fair share of reality Tv shows like Overhaulin' and King of Cars.  However, a new premise has emerged!  Spike TV, in the wake of struggling car dealerships worldwide, has recruited Tom Stuker, the man famous for being the first to earn 10 million United Airlines flyer miles.  He has consulted with over 1,500 dealerships in his career.  The goal is for him to visit a dealership with his team of expers and consult on every aspect of the dealership's business.  According to a network announcement, “His blunt talk may rub some of the salespeople the wrong way, but his tough-love approach and keen sense of the business ultimately delivers unmatchable success.” So it sounds like a car dealership version of Hell’s Kitchen if Gordon Ramsay were a car sales expert instead of a chef.  Oh, and all of this is done in a weeks time.  Stay tuned to your local listings and visit http://www.hermanadvertising for more Automotive Advertising news!

The Jetsons is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of electric vehicles, not necessarily a floating utopia equipped with flying cars, but it’s definitely a wave of the future.  With countless manufacturers rolling our production vehicles and prototypes, it’s not difficult to get lost in the shuffle.  We’ve heard the conversation around electric vehicles: they’re quiet, cheap to maintain, and environmentally friendly.  Lets delve a bit deeper and get the actual price of maintaining one.



According to Edmunds: to figure out the cost of fueling an EV, start with the electric car's energy consumption rate, which is expressed as kWh per 100 miles (kWh/100m). This figure will be listed on the EPA's upcoming EV fuel economy label (the 2011 Leaf's preliminary label is shown here, complete with an erroneous 12-cent per kWh figure in the cost estimate that Nissan says it is correcting). The next figure is your home electric rate, assuming that's the primary charging site. Multiply the kWh/100m figure by the electric rate to get the cost per 100 miles. For instance, the Leaf's kWh/100m figure is 34. If electricity is 11 cents per kWh — the national average — it would cost $3.74 to go 100 miles.

Utility companies, and the time and level of use set the electricity cost.  You pay more for kWh at peak hours, making a lot of electric commuters pay more than the national average of 11 cents per kWh.  How do real individuals save on their electric vehicles? 

Tom and Cathy Saxon have two electric vehicles.  They installed separate electric meters for their EVs (electric vehicles) in July 2009 and have been tracking them since then.  The Saxton's Tesla is consuming at a rate of 30.8 kWh/100m (bettering its official EPA rating); the RAV4 is averaging about 35 kWh/100m.  They pay an average of 11.25 cents per kWh.  In other words, they drive about 30 miles on a dollar’s worth of electricity, it would be much more expensive to drive with gas.  Results do vary, depending on a couple factors like when and where you’re charging, but the true cost of filling up is a tad more complicated than expected.

Facebook, the quintessential social media BEAST, has made another round of changes to its interface.  This is most likely a bi-product of the recent release of Google+, which went public (no invite required) last week.  With 750 million users, Facebook has definitely amassed QUITE a following.  In today's blog, we've provided some videos on Facebook's recent changes and how to use them.  Feel free to tell us how you feel!

If you're a fan of 80's cinema, then you'll remember the quirky film with minimilisitic colors and a sci-fi flare, known as Tron.  The story of a hacker is literally abducted into the world of a computer and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program.One piece of the film that stuck out was the infamous Lightcycle, a futuristic electric vehicle that was as fast as it was cunning.  In today's blog, we've got video of the newly Full Scale Electric Tron Lightcycle driving in the daytime as well as nighttime. This bike has had extensive reworking on the body as well as Lithium Ion batteries and a 96volt electric motor. For more info go to parkerbrotherschoppers.com or call 321.215.5116



For more news on Automotive Advertising, visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

I’m not one to be cynical; the world is a strange and cold place, I know.  It’s full of thieves, negative influences and shady politics, but today’s blog isn’t about debate.  It’s about a brief epiphany I had earlier, as I watched a group of people lift a car (yes, you read that correctly) and save a mans life who was tucked under the vehicle, a man they didn’t “know from Adam”.  Their amazing bravery caused me to choke up a bit, wiping my tears with the back of my sleeve.  The world DOES have good in it, and through our daily routines, we sometimes forget.  So, if you’re reading this blog entry, think back to when you’ve helped someone, or look forward TO helping someone in the near future, and check out the video below for an awe inspiring clip of perseverance through struggle.  Feel free to add your comments !



For more Automotive News visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Unlike any Range Rover before it, the LR2-based 2012 Evoque 2-Door is so sopping with sport, style, and urban appeal that venturing off-road seems almost inappropriate. It's not.  We love new technological styles, as well as emerging concepts.  In today's blog we're showcasing a new concept from Land/Range Rover.  Tell us what you think...



For more Automotive Advertising news, visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Hello Fans! If you’ve come to our blog today, you’re in luck.  Twitter, the micro blogging social media site is an amazing little tool for self-promotion.  Through savvy, profound, and funny tweets, you can become a big player in an ever-growing market.  In today’s blog, from our friends over at allfamousquotes.weebly.com, we’ve got a great list of quotes for you to hit the site with, providing some fun and enticing quotes to increase your followers.  Check them out below:

A-MAZ-ING The New OnStar App lets Pamela Mars turn on her vehicle, lock her doors, even her check fuel, right from her phone. Get to know the 2011 Buick Enclave luxury in this video.  What are your thoughts?  How would you feel about accessing your car straight from your phone?

Once in a while a concept comes along that changes the way we look at cars.  In this case, a new Ford Concept known as the Evos, has just revolutionized your experience.  Ford has been hard at work perfecting a plug-in hybrid compact vehicle that revolves around you...literally.  This vehicle knows your work schedule, keeps tabs on traffic and weather conditions, even assists in monitoring your lifestyle.  It will “enable a seamless lifestyle between home, office and car linked by access to the driver’s personal information.” Ford, says. 



Ford also explained that the Evos will pick up a song you were listening to at home, monitor your physical state and workload, all while adjusting the handling, heating, and cooling of the car based on your alertness, perhaps even preventing sleep.




One awesome feature after another makes this vehicle sound stellar.  The car's smart systems would be able to pre-cool or pre-heat the car based on your favorite temperature.  A Ford spokesperson says, “The car gets to know you and can act as a personal assistant to handle some of the usual routines of a daily commute.”



The Evos rolls out at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this month, check out some photos below!!!  And for more Automotive Advertising, visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Weathering the storm is a serious matter.  We’ve all been through some type of preparation for some kind of weather turmoil.  From putting up shutters, purchasing food in bulk, and having enough batteries to power a small village, we’ve all done what it takes to protect our families and property.  In today’s blog, we’re providing some quick tips to help you guys out.  If you have any tips to add, please provide them below, we love your feedback!

As a video gamer, I've grown an appreciation for the aesthetics and detail of what actually goes into a gaming title.  Also, as a lover of anything automotive, it's easy for me to get lost in the appeal and style of a new vehicle.  Today, I stumbled upon a new shift in the industry.  The incorporation of gaming and the auto industry.  I know there have been popular vehicles in gaming.  From Maserati's to Ferrari's, you see appearances everywhere in titles frequently. In today's situation, the Jeep Wrangler Black Ops edition is based on a video game vehicle.  Inother words, they've taken a fictional version of a vehicle and made it a reality.  The developers of Call of Duty: Black Ops discuss the integration and role of the Jeep Wrangler in the game.Check it out below!



For more cool news, Automotive Advertising, and relevant content...click Herman Advertising!

Facebook is the number one social media network on the planet, and as we all know, it has paved the way for millions of people to act and react simultaneously.  You're on Facebook.  Your family's on Facebook.  And yes, your Mom is on Facebook.  We're all familiar with the platform.  Facebook is making some SUBSTANTIAL changes to their privacy policy.  In part, inspired by Google+'s plethora of features.  Accessibility is the main priority here and a lot of features are being moved to News feeds and profile pages as opposed to setting pages. 

"A new drop-down menu will appear next to individual status updates and pieces of profile information (see above), enabling users to select the “audiences,” groups, and friend lists who can see those bits of their personal lives. The View Profile As tool will now reside at the top of your profile page rather than deep in the privacy settings, making it painless to preview what your mom will see before approving her friend request. Keep reading for a breakdown of some of the other big additions."
-Washington Post

Now, you will also be able to tag people who are not yet your friends, with users being able to accept or deny those tags before they're associated with you.  An ideal feature for night's that you would like to forget by not being tagged performing a "keg stand".  It helps protect your online integrity and private life. 

A couple other features include:

• Geo-location in status updates
• Ability to change who sees Facebook updates after they've posted.
• Change of "Everyone" terminology to "Public" (borrowing the lingo from Google+)

The changes begin on Thursday August 25th, showing a great initiative in Facebook's dominance.  What else do you think Facebook should change?  Let us know in the comments below! 

Automotive Advertising

Peering at one of these on the street might remind you of an Aston Martin.  Its sleek design is enough to stir excitement in any sports car enthusiast.  Cue the Fisker Karma, a new plug-in hybrid vehicle with 400-horsepower.  Yes, that's right…a plug-in with a crazy amount of horsepower.  No inception here, unless you count Leonardo DiCaprio's recent purchase of one of these baby's. 

The Karma includes:

• In stealth mode, the vehicle operates as a pure electric car, strictly delivering power from the batteries to the rear wheels. When switched into Sport mode, the car’s four-cylinder turbocharged engine supplies energy to the 22-kWh battery pack.
• The Karma comes with custom-designed 22-inch wheels.
• There are no gears and no shifting. The linear acceleration delivers 980 foot-pounds of torque, and propulsion up to 125 miles per hour.
• Front-seat passengers can peak at the battery pack through a plexiglass window in the center tunnel. (Courtesy www.plugincars.com)

The main power will be an EV connect provided charging equipment.  EV installs a 2200-volt home or workplace charger for Karma owners for about $1,500.  For further details check out the test drive below:



For more Automotive News and Automotive Advertising visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Cadillac is proud to announce production of the new standard in extended-range electric vehicles. The Cadillac ELR is a luxurious, dramatic 2+2 coupe, based on the highly acclaimed Cadillac Converj Concept. Using electricity as its primary propulsion source and a range-extending four-cylinder engine, the ELR will be as exhilarating as it is responsible. The future is just around the corner.  Check it out!

Tech website, TECHi conducted a study of the Automotive influence and social media stance on Facebook.  Check out their detailed graphs to get a grasp on the automotive influence of consumers.  For more from our friends at TECHi visit http://www.techi.com.

Luxury

Import

 

Domestic

For more Automotive News and Automotive Advertising, visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

The agency is a buzz as several individuals of the design team stifle a chuckle.  Peeking into the department from a birds eye view, I see several co-workers huddled over an iMac monitor.  My curiousity peaked, I walk over stealthily, catching a glimpse of the YouTube video on screen.  "What's playing?" I ask.  "Oh, just a Scion commercial..." they say.  I watch with anticipation as Zeus takes charge of his Scion tC, his Godly locks swaying in the wind.  It's a great thirty second commercial with enough panache to keep you entertained.  I thought I would share it, enjoy!



For more Automotive News, visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

By now, you probably have an understanding of QR codes and how they work.  If not, a QR code is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR readers, smartphones, and to a less common extent, computers with webcams. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text, URL, or other data.  Here are some beautiful designs:









for more designs visit Mashable, for more Automotive News visit: http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Hello everyone! It's Friday, we know you're excited to begin your weekend ventures, a stroll in the park, a relaxing Saturday afternoon...maybe even a dip in the swimming pool.  As you hop into your vehicle and drive off into the sunset, we ask that you stay safe and answer one question for us...Do you think this commercial should be deemed the "Best Car Commercial of All Time?" (random, huh?)  This list is a bit sporadic , and we know this question is random; however, tell us what you think...and feel free to critique the list by Complex Magazine.  here's the link: http://www.complex.com/rides/2011/05/the-50-best-car-commercials-of-all-time/audi-old-luxury



For more Automotive Advertising visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Good morning, fans!  In today’s blog, we’re going to discuss your presence in social media.  You’re the much-needed backbone to a digital revolution.  Providing comments, retweets, check-ins and a plethora of other content to the web.  We have one question though: have you ever wondered how BIG your influence was?  Well Klout,  a scoring system of your overall online influence, might shed some light.

Klout scores you on a range from 1 to 100 with higher scores representing a wider and stronger realm of influence.  Klout uses over 35 variables to measure your reach and network score.

Klout explained: “True Reach is the size of your engaged audience and is based on those of your followers and friends who actively listen and react to your messages. Amplification Score is the likelihood that your messages will generate actions (retweets, @messages, likes and comments) and is on a scale of 1 to 100. Network score indicates how influential your engaged audience is and is also on a scale from 1 to 100. The Klout score is highly correlated to clicks, comments and retweets.

We believe that influence is the ability to drive people to action -- "action" might be defined as a reply, a retweet, a comment, or a click. We perform significant testing to ensure that the average click-through rate on links shared is highly correlated with a person's Klout Score. The 25+ variables used to generate scores for each of these categories are normalized across the whole data set and run through our analytics engine. After the first pass of analytics, we apply a specific weight to each data point. We then run the factors through our machine-learning analysis and calculate the final Klout Score. The final Klout Score is a representation of how successful a person is at engaging their audience and how big of an impact their messages have on people.”

Klout is an awesome new way to check your personal influence on the web…we know, you’re DYING to see yours.  Visit: http://www.klout.com and find out your score today!

for more Automotive Advertising & Social Media visit: http://www.hermanandvertising.com

1.000.  That's the number of dealers and managers from almost every state that congregated and participated in more than 83 sessions and workshops.  With more than 90 exhibitors in a 100,000 sq. ft. hall, the turnout was ASTOUNDING.  The last two conferences drew GM's, sales managers, Internet sales managers, e-commerce directors,  BDC/CRM managers, fixed operations managers, and pre-owned managers.  All under one roof. 

The 11th Digital Dealer® Conference & Exposition is the premier event for any dealer and dealership manager who wants to learn about maximizing the Internet and technology to sell and service more cars and trucks.  Register for the event right here: http://www.eventfarm.com/dd11

Check out these interviews of last year's attendees, below:



For more Automotive News, visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Just How Good Were the Good Ol' Days? To find out, Motor Trend gathered three modern high-spec ponycars and matched them with their glory days ancestors. This includes:  a 2011 Camaro SS against the '69 Camaro SS396 that inspired its design; a 2011 Challenger SRT8 meets the '70 Challenger it so faithfully resembles; and a freshly minted Shelby Mustang GT500 convertible meets its '69 forebear. Check it out!



For more Automotive Advertising News visit http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Every company should have a Facebook Page, but there's a difference between creating a page and maintaining it.  Once it's created, you need a dedicated individual to maintain the positive content and news feed weekly.  In today's blog, with help from Ryan Soffa at Dealer Magazine, we're able to provide some great tips on how to build your page and keep it relevant in an ever-changing social media environment. 

Updates – your page has to have new, fresh content updated on a regular basis.  Along with service specials, and dealer news,  you should also provide news around your industry, fun facts, local news, and a dedicated day of blogging and fun.  Keep it fresh and mix it up.  Post a video one day, a poll the next, and end it with a Happy Friday quote.  There are countless possibilities.



Promotions – try and do promotions periodically, this will increase your Facebook Fans and keep those who are already fans coming back.  There are several inexpensive ways to promote your product.  Have a questionnaire or a refer-a-friend promo, for starters.

Charity – Local charity events are great because they're a win win for both parties. Support a local charity utilizing your employees as spokespeople, you could support the charity by promoting it on your dealer website and asking individuals to sign up.  Charities are always a great alternative.

The Dealership – talk a bit about your dealership.  If it's a co-workers birthday, post a picture of him cutting a cake with a small caption.  People love to see how others function throughout the day.  This shows that you're all hard working people like your fans, adding a human element to a Facebook Page.

RESPOND – If a fan has a question, answer it quickly and efficiently.  Negative comments should never be deleted, but rectified.  Approach the problem with a positive outlook and acknowledge it.  Take the remainder of the online conversation offline by calling them and asking them to come in.  That way the most recent comment fans will see is you trying to fix the problem.  Once you solve the client's problem, ask them to follow up, on Facebook, in most cases they will say that you repaired the problem.

These are just a few of options available o social media maintenance.  For more Automotive News, Automotive Advertising, and Social Media, contact http://www.hermanadvertising.com

Tata Motors, a huge vehicle manufacturer in India, announced the "Mini CAT, a car that utilizes compressed air to push its engine's pistons to propel the vehicle.  The vehicle could cost around 365,757 rupees in India, or $8,177 US.  The Mini CAT is a simple, light urban vehicle with a tubular chassis, a body of fiberglass that is glued not welded and is powered by compressed air.  There's also a microprocessor unit that controls all of the electronic functions.  The Mini CAT also has one small radio transmitter that sends a feed to the lights, turning signals, and every other electrical device on the car. 

One very cool feature is the temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe.  It's 0-15 degrees below zero.  This creates an internal air conditioning system that doesn't utilize gas or power.   The Mini CAT has no keys, just an access card that's read from your pocket.  According to the designers, it costs less than 50 rupees, or about a dollar per 100 KM, that's about a tenth of the cost of a car running on gas.  The mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car, making it a preferred choice by motorists.  You're probably wondering about the top speed.  The Mini CAT tops out at 60 mph with a range of 185 miles between fuels. 



Refilling the Mini CAT takes place at adapted gas stations with special air compressors.  Fill up time takes 2-3 minutes, costing just 100 rupees, or around two bucks.  The Mini CAT does not have a combustible engine so changing the 1 liter of vegetable oil is only necessary every 30,000 miles.  Also, due to its simplicity, maintenance is almost a non-factor. 

The Mini CAT sounds too good to be true with no gas, no maintenance, an a low price  Well it isn't without complications, and after conducting some further research In 2009, Tata Motors’ Vice President of Engineering, S. Ravishankar admitted that the project was facing difficulties in terms of vehicle range and cooling. At that time, Ravishankar declined to say whether the company was officially calling off the project, but commented that excessively low engine temperature caused by the compressed air was a major problem.

I guess we'll have to see.  It's an awesome concept.  We'll keep you posted on any breaking news on the new fascinating phenomenon.  Could you see yourself in one of these vehicles?  Let us know below!