Buick, GMC Sites Introduce New Facebook Connectivity

Buick, GMC Sites Introduce New Facebook Connectivity

Buick and GMC are making their online vehicle-shopping experiences more socially engaging by letting site visitors build, save and share their configured vehicles with their Facebook friends who can post comments or “like� their customized selections.

The new connectivity enables customers to review their saved vehicle configurations alongside comments from their friends and family in one convenient place to help with their vehicle shopping.

 

Buick and GMC are among the first automotive brands to provide customers the opportunity to leverage their social connections in one location to deepen and personalize the shopping experience.

“We recognize that car buyers are not only looking for product information when shopping for their next car or truck but also use feedback from friends and family to help narrow down their selection,� said John Schwegman, U.S. vice president of GMC Marketing.

A study conducted by Beresford Research found that approximately half of respondents consider information shared on their social networks when making a purchase decision – and the proportion was higher among users ages 18 to 24, at 65 percent.

“By offering a connection between our web sites and Facebook, we help our customers get the feedback they want and need to make vehicle purchase decisions,� said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing.

GMC recently introduced a Showroom Mobile App that allows shoppers to explore vehicle photos or videos, configure a vehicle to their specifications and review competitive comparisons. Buick will launch its own Showroom Mobile App in the near future. The free apps also allows users to find the vehicle of their choice within local dealer inventories, request a quote, schedule a dealer test drive or view current offers.

According to a survey conducted by Chadwick Martin Bailey and iModerate Research Technologies, more than 50 percent of consumers polled said they use their smart phones to assist them with shopping.

Buick and GMC also launched sites for Apple iPad® users that mirror the shopping tools on Buick.com and GMC.com. The iPad-friendly sites offer in-depth model information, such as standard and optional equipment, powertrain and chassis options, capabilities and dimensions. Its enhanced shopping experience includes Build Your Own, Locate a Vehicle, Locate a Dealer and Request a Quote capabilities.

According to a survey conducted by Shopzilla Solutions, 61 percent of iPad or tablet users polled said it is as easy to shop online with their mobile device as with their personal computer, and 71 percent said they have bought or would buy online using their device.

“Along with social media, mobile devices play an ever-growing role in our customers’ vehicle shopping process,� said Janet Keller, advertising manager, GMC Digital and Social Media. “We will continue to provide more user-friendly ways to research, shop and engage with our brand.�

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