Combined Solution Delivers Ultimate Digital Marketing and Retention Solution for Auto Body and Repair Shops

(Poway CA, January 10, 2012):  Summit Software and Optima Automotive today announced a strategic business alliance designed to deliver the most powerful and complete on-line and digital consumer marketing and retention solution ever offered to auto body and repair businesses.

According to Frank Terlep and Mark Claypool, the founders of Summit and Optima respectfully, the alliance was created to deliver a complete and integrated suite of digital based tools, technologies, techniques, standard marketing procedures and services that, when implemented properly, will help shops capture, service and retain more cars, customers, revenue and profit.

Summit and Optima state that this new alliance allows their respective companies to deliver the following on-line and digital marketing and retention solutions;

• SEO optimized website development and design
• Search Engine Optimization services
• Social media marketing products and services
• Email and Text message communication, marketing and retention platform
• Unsold estimate follow up
• Mobile web pages
• Location based marketing services
• A smart phone based roadside emergency service
• An automated customer retention and branding platform
• Email, text, website or Facebook based customer surveys, reviews, ratings and reporting
• Digital ads, promotions, and e-couponing solutions
• Email, text or Facebook based vehicle status solutions
• Facebook apps
• Customized Phone Apps
• A Virtual Marketing Manager service
• Digital Marketing and Retention Education and Consulting Services

Mark Claypool founder of Optima Automotive states, “Frank and Summit have a proven track record of developing innovative technology solutions for auto body shops. When Frank showed me their e-MarketPlace digital marketing and retention platform I had never seen anything like it but immediately knew every shop interested in marketing to and retaining consumers would need and want it.”

Frank Terlep, Summit’s CEO and Lead Sherpa commented, “ Mark is one of the most respected individuals in our industry and has created on-line and social media solutions that deliver real value and results. In today’s world every shop needs a website and social media presence that attracts consumers to their brand and business.  I truly believe that Optima’s websites, optimization solutions and social media services are solutions every shop must have to succeed in today’s on-line world.”

Both companies stated that their joint digital marketing and retention solutions would be available to all shops in North America beginning January 10, 2012.

About Summit Software and Marketing Solutions, Inc.

Summit Software designs, develops and implements business, process, production, scheduling, sales, marketing, advertising, communication, customer acquisition, customer retention and business management systems and services to auto and truck collision repair businesses and repair networks.

Summit Marketing designs, develops and implements digital marketing, advertising, communication, customer acquisition and customer retention tools, technologies and techniques for the auto collision, auto aftermarket and other service and repair industries through is wholly owned subsidiary, e-Marketing Sherpa’s.

For more information on Summit Software and Marketing Solutions please contact Frank Terlep at 858-547-8697 EXT 101, send an e-mail to fterlep@summitsoftwaresolutions.com or visit Summit’s web sites at www.summitsoftwaresolutions.com or www.emarketingsherpas.com.

About Optima Automotive LLC

Optima Automotive provides web presence management services including website design and development, search engine optimization (SEO), social media management (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.), search engine and social media marketing (pay per click), reputation management and more.  In addition, Optima Automotive provides standard operating procedure development and implementation services, including the SOP MD^TM system.  Contact Optima via phone at 888-225-6968, email info@optimaautomotive.com or online via www.optimaautomotive.com and www.sopmd.com.

For immediate release

Summit Software Launches New Division

e-Marketing Sherpa’s to Focus on Digital Marketing Technologies and Services

Summit Software and Marketing Solutions today announced the launch of a new division, e-Marketing Sherpa’s.  This new division, which has been created through an acquisition and merger, will focus on the design, development and implementation of digital marketing, communications and customer retention technologies and services for small businesses, beginning with auto body shops.

According to Summit, e-Marketing Sherpa’s initial focus will be on helping auto body shops capture, service and retain more cars, customers, revenue and profit. Summit stated it plans to enter other service and repair based vertical markets such as auto repair, detailing, motorcycle, bicycle, truck, and others within the next 12 months.

The new division has big plans as described by Summit CEO, Frank Terlep. “World-wide statistics support the fact that e-mail, text messaging, smart phones, mobile and location based marketing, social media, and digital advertising are essential components of a successful marketing, communications and customer retention strategy. We expect this new division to be a world leader in the development and delivery of technologies and services related to marketing, communications and customer retention.”

Terlep continued, “Over the past 25 years I have had the opportunity to help thousands of auto body and repair businesses become more efficient and profitable by designing, developing and implementing leading edge shop management software. Our new division will allow me to help repair businesses capture, service and retain more cars, customers, revenue and profit through leading edge digital marketing, communications and customer retention software and services.”

Summit states that its new e-Marketing Sherpa’s division is now prepared to offer auto body shops throughout North America, the following digital marketing, communications and customer retention solutions:  

e-MarketPlace is a single, integrated digital marketing, communications and customer retention platform that allows a shop to build an invaluable marketing database through automated integration with Audatex, CCC and Mitchell, use email and text messaging to send automated vehicle status updates, thank you messages, e-newsletters, advertisements, promotions, and an e-couponing platform. The e-MarketPlace platform also incudes integration with Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, all major smart phone platforms, an integrated customer survey, review, ratings and reporting platform, automated performance reporting and much more.

DigitalDeals is an advertising, promotion and e-couponing platform that allows small businesses to create, manage and measure email, text, internet and social media based advertisements, promotions and coupons.

e-Raving Fans is a web based platform that helps small businesses capture, control and share validated customer reviews on their shop’s website, Facebook page and other internet sites that leads to improvements in customer referrals, retention, closing ratios, web site traffic, and insurance relationships.

Virtual Marketing Manager will allow shops to “hire” Summit to create, manage and perform their digital marketing, advertising communications and customer retention activities for them. Summit’s experienced e-marketing managers will create, manage and distribute digital ads, promotions, e-coupons, and other materials via emails, text messages, social media, websites, and other digital platforms.

Mobile Vehicle Assist allows auto body and repair shops the opportunity to create a personalized phone app and offer a smart phone based, scheduling and roadside assistance service.

SEO Optimized Websites provide shops with a powerful, customizable website designed to help them attain the highest search result placement on most major search engines and integrate customer reviews, ratings, digital ads, promotions, and other powerful marketing, advertising and retention tools.

About Summit Software and Marketing Solutions

Summit Software designs, develops and implements business, process, production, scheduling, sales, marketing, advertising, communication, customer acquisition, customer retention and business management systems and services to auto and truck collision repair businesses and repair networks.

Summit Marketing designs, develops and implements digital marketing, advertising, communication, customer acquisition and customer retention tools, technologies and techniques for the auto collision, auto aftermarket and other service and repair industries through is wholly owned subsidiary, e-Marketing Sherpa’s.

For more information on e-Marketing Sherpa’s please contact Frank Terlep at 858-547-8697 EXT 101, send an e-mail to fterlep@emarkertingsherpas.com, or visit Summit’s web sites at www.summitsoftwaresolutions.com or www.emarketingsherpas.com.

Below are 8 ways your business can improve its marketing to smart phone users.

1. Build an app for your business! To help generate mobile leads, develop an application. An application for an iPhone, Android or Blackberry device can go along ways in generating leads and boosting business. (Click here for more details)
2. Use QR codes with your traditional and print advertising and marketing. QR stands for quick response. QR codes use the camera function on your customer’s smart phones and puts it to good use. The consumer can take a picture  of your QR code and they are instantly taken to your company website or anywhere else you want to send them! (Click here for more details)
3. Consider user Twitter…. Twitter is used on your PC’s, laptops, tablets and smart phone by more than 190 million users. Did you know you can use Twitter’s advanced search capability to receive tweets related to car accidents within a 50 mile radius of your shop? Many consumers are using Twitter on-the-go which provides you with the ability to reach people regardless of where they are….(Click here for more details)
4. Send a text. Use text messaging to send vehicle status updates, advertise sales, hand out discount codes or alert customers of breaking news. Please remember your customers do not have to have smartphones to opt-in to text messages from your business. (Click here for more details)
5. Use mobile coupons. Everyone loves a good deal! Send your customers links to special offer coupons. Remember 98% of consumers read their text messages in 3 minutes or less. (Click here for more details)
6. Always include your name, logo and brand! Marketing campaigns are not successful if customers cannot remember your name.
7. Create a mobile site. For smartphone users on-the-go, mobile sites load faster and are much easier to navigate. (Click here for more details)
8. Use phone apps, text message marketing and mobile sites to make it easy for smartphone users to contact your business and purchase your services with their phone. (Click here for more details)