Put that Turkey Down. It’s for Closers Only (aka the dealers ready for 2015).

The holidays are right around the corner. Many dealers will be preparing to give turkeys or hams to their team. Some will be planning the company Christmas party. There will even be those who are getting ready to visit family.

All of this is important. Work-life balance is one of the things that many successful dealer employees struggle with and we would never insinuate that anyone should take away from family time now or any time of the year. However, this is also the time when many decisions are being made about your marketing for 2015. Those who get their plan ready now will enjoy Aunt Betty’s famous pecan pie even more when it hits the table.

2015 is going to be a crucial year. Some dealers have seen success in the last couple of years that helped them to bounce back financially from the recession period, but whenever sustained success hits, there’s an opportunity for complacency to set in. The rest of this year and into next year are going to be extremely important times for most dealers as the pivot that’s coming is not going to follow the current trends.

We don’t know what’s around the corner. We do know that all of the signs from both the financial sector as well as the automotive-specific news point to a shift in one direction or the other. There may be a buying spree that catapults the industry to new heights never seen during the digital age. There may be an economic slowdown that tightens wallets and reduces sales.

Either way, now is the time to get the proper marketing and advertising strategies in order so that you’re prepared for feast, famine, or anywhere in between.

At Dealer Authority, we have been pioneering aggressive digital marketing concepts that are ripe for those dealers who aren’t simply in it to ride the wave of the trends. Our techniques are designed to take advantage of a strong 2015 and to protect against a weak one.

Before you get ready to carve turkeys, it’s time to carve out your marketing strategies and distribute your marketing budgets in the best ways possible. Do that first. Do that now. When the turkey hits the table, you’ll be able to eat it with the best dressing around: peace of mind.