Automotive Internet Media

AIM Team

Automotive Internet Media Proudly Attends the University of Michigan Winter Job & Internship Fair

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Automotive Internet Media was proud to attend the University of Michigan Winter Job and Internship Fair, held February 3rd and 4th from 12:00 to 4:00 PM at the Michigan Union in Ann Arbor. The in-person event brought together ambitious students seeking career and internship opportunities across a wide range of industries.

As a growing leader in digital marketing solutions for automotive dealerships, Automotive Internet Media was excited to connect with students interested in the evolving intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and marketing strategy. The event provided an excellent platform to introduce students to the innovative work we are doing and the expanding digital marketing careers available within our organization.

Published: February 12, 2026

AIMedia | Digital Marketing Agency

Michigan Career Fair

Showcasing DeepSignal™ to Future Innovators

During the fair, our team highlighted DeepSignal™, our new predictive AI-powered marketing product designed specifically for automotive dealers.

DeepSignal™ uses advanced predictive AI to analyze consumer behaviors and buying journeys, identifying new shoppers whose actions closely align with those of past buyers. By focusing on signals near the point of purchase, the platform enables dealers to prioritize high-intent consumers earlier, resulting in stronger engagement, higher closing rates, and incremental sales opportunities.

Students were especially engaged by how predictive AI is reshaping digital marketing solutions within the automotive industry. Many were eager to learn how data science, machine learning, and performance marketing strategies combine to produce measurable results for dealerships nationwide.

Exploring Digital Marketing Careers at AIMedia

Throughout both days of the event, our team spoke with dozens of prospective candidates interested in digital marketing careers, software development, data analytics, and AI innovation. We were particularly excited to meet students who bring a unique blend of technical expertise and marketing insight, the kind of hybrid talent that drives innovation at Automotive Internet Media.

We discussed our continued growth as a company, our investment in advanced technology, and the opportunities available for students looking to begin or advance their careers in a fast-paced, forward-thinking environment. As we continue expanding our suite of digital marketing solutions, we are focused on building a team that is passionate about innovation and measurable performance.

Looking Toward the Future

The energy and talent we encountered at the University of Michigan reinforced why we are so optimistic about the future of our company and the industry. Connecting with the next generation of professionals is an important part of our long-term growth strategy.

Automotive Internet Media is excited to see which candidates may become part of the next chapter of our expansion. If you are interested in learning more about our company, our technology, or digital marketing careers, contact Automotive Internet Media today or visit www.aimyes.com to explore current opportunities.

Recent Posts

AIMedia Proudly Partners with the CATA Again and Attended the 2026 Chicago Auto Show

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AIMedia Proudly Partners with the CATA Again and Attended the 2026 Chicago Auto Show

AIMedia is proud to continue our valued partnership with the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) and attend the 2026 Chicago Auto Show, held February 7–16, 2026, at McCormick Place.

As the largest and longest-running auto show in North America, the Chicago Auto Show remains one of the most influential automotive events in the country. Each year, it brings together manufacturers, dealers, media, and automotive enthusiasts to experience the latest vehicle debuts, cutting-edge technology, and emerging industry trends. AIMedia is honored to support the digital initiatives behind this iconic event and help power its trusted vehicle shopping destination, DriveChicago.com.

Published: February 11, 2026

AIMedia | Digital Marketing Agency

AIMedia Team at Chicago Auto Show

Driving Results with Strategic Digital Marketing

AIMedia plays an integral role in expanding the Chicago Auto Show’s digital footprint, ensuring the excitement extends far beyond the show floor. Through advanced digital marketing strategies, targeted media placements, and data-driven audience engagement, our team helps amplify the show’s messaging to in-market auto shoppers across Chicagoland and beyond.

By leveraging innovative advertising solutions and industry expertise, AIMedia helps drive awareness, engagement, and measurable results for one of the automotive industry’s most anticipated annual events.

Supporting DriveChicago.com with CarClicks

In addition to supporting the Chicago Auto Show, AIMedia is proud to continue its partnership with the CATA in powering DriveChicago.com. Operated by the CATA, DriveChicago.com serves as a premier local vehicle shopping platform that connects consumers with dealerships and available inventory throughout the Chicagoland area.

  • AIMedia Team at Chicago Auto Show
  • AIMedia Team at Chicago Auto Show
  • AIMedia Team at Chicago Auto Show
  • AIMedia Team at Chicago Auto Show

Strengthening the Chicagoland Automotive Community

AIMedia is honored to work alongside the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and support initiatives that benefit local dealers and the broader community. Our continued involvement with the Chicago Auto Show and DriveChicago.com reflects our commitment to advancing automotive marketing innovation while supporting the dealers and organizations that drive our industry forward.

We are grateful for the opportunity to attend the 2026 Chicago Auto Show and look forward to another year of collaboration, innovation, and continued growth within the Chicagoland automotive community. Contact AIMedia today for digital marketing solutions for your business. 

Recent Posts

Automotive Internet Media Partners with the 2025 Chicago Auto Show

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Automotive Internet Media Partners with the 2025 Chicago Auto Show

by automotiveinternetmedia | February 7, 2025 | Digital Marketing, Chicago Auto Show

Automotive Internet Media and Chocago Auto Show Partnership

Automotive Internet Media (AIM) is pleased to continue our valued partnership with the renowned Chicago Auto Show, taking place from February 8-17, 2025. As one of the premier automotive events in the United States, the Chicago Auto Show provides an exceptional platform for showcasing the latest vehicles, innovations, and industry trends. We are proud to support their digital initiatives for the 2025 show and help power their local vehicle shopping portal, DriveChicago.com.

Driving Results with Digital Marketing

AIM plays a key role in amplifying the Chicago Auto Show’s reach by supporting its digital marketing initiatives and ensuring the event’s presence extends far beyond the convention center. By leveraging our industry expertise and digital platforms, AIM ensures that the Chicago Auto Show’s messaging reaches its target audience, driving excitement and attendance.

CarClicks and DriveChicago.com

In addition to our continued partnership with the Chicago Auto Show, AIM is proud to support the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) in powering DriveChicago.com. CATA, the organization responsible for producing the Chicago Auto Show, also oversees DriveChicago.com, a key digital platform designed to connect car shoppers with local inventory and dealerships across Chicagoland. AIM plays a key role behind the scenes, contributing to the development of the website. AIM’s CarClicks inventory marketing product also helps DriveChicago.com reach in-market auto shoppers with strategically placed and personalized digital ads.  

Automotive Partnership Supporting Chicagoland

Automotive Internet Media is honored to be associated with the Chicago Auto Show, DriveChicago.com and the automotive industry in Chicago. We greatly value our local partnerships and are happy to support the impactful initiatives the CATA provides to both automotive dealers and the broader community.

Recent Posts

Connected TV Advertising in Automotive

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In early March, when Covid-19 restrictions began locking people in their homes, many dealerships began to either cut or halt all marketing budgets.

Was that the right thing to do?

If you look, used car prices hit a record recently, in what can be described as a surprising development amid a global pandemic and falling new car sales. In June, the Manheim used vehicle price index hit a record, rising about 4% year over year, 7% compared with the May reading, and surging more than 16% compared with the April pandemic-induced low. There are a few reasons for the rise, which were a positive for all retail automotive stocks.

PAG Penske Automotive Group Inc.

GPI Group 1 Automotive Inc.

SAH Sonic Automotive Inc.

LAD Lithia Motors Inc.

AN AutoNation Inc.

 

There are numerous data points that suggest the U.S. auto industry is in the midst of a V-shaped recovery – sales snapping back rapidly after a sharp decline.

New car sales are coming back strongly as well. After dropping from an annualized rate of about 16.8 million units in February to 8.6 million in April, sales hit 12.2 million units in May. Analysis believe annualized sales could top 14 million units in June. That would be a 67% jump from April lows.

So why are some dealerships and dealer groups excelling during the pandemic?

After a slight hesitation by almost all dealerships, which is normal because know one knew what we were facing, some operators made a decision to take advantage of whatever buyers were in the market. As Robin Williams would say, Carpe Diem – Seize the day. That’s right, some dealerships made a conscious decision to win at all costs. Not to cut all their advertising expenses and wait it out, but to realize there would be consumers sitting all day, either on their phone or computer.

They assumed their audience would not be consuming content the same way they always have, and they were right. The standard media patterns were changing dramatically. With extensive work from home policies, this required little driving, which meant less people listening to the radio. All sports were canceled. Movie theaters and box offices closed.

Good operators assessed these shifts and looked to other ways to reach their audience.

One approach to get in front car buyers was to leverage the promise of Connected TV (CTV). It appears COVID-19 has pushed Connected TV to the forefront for many dealerships. CTV advertising spend increased by 35% in Q2 2020.

Dealers learned that advanced targeting tactics can support reinvestment across both linear and CTV to take advantage of increased at-home viewing.

The case for CTV advertising in automotive is compelling, especially when considering 1.8 million subscribers “cut the cord” from traditional pay television services to embrace subscription-based streaming services in Q1 2020, and the pandemic prompted a boost in streaming hours. Audience reach is not the only opportunity that is drawing direct response marketers towards CTV.  The great appeal for dealers is the ability to bring all the beloved aspects of digital marketing to the television channel — especially granular targeting, retargeting, and better measurement. There can be little doubt that CTV is here to stay and will become the norm in households across the United States if it isn’t already.

Yet, while CTV advertising has accelerated in recent months, there are considerable complications for dealerships to overcome.

There are over 200 OTT (over-the-top) streaming providers, and CTV devices range from smart TVs and HDMI sticks to gaming consoles and Blu-ray players. All these platforms complicate creative development, tracking ads, gathering performance metrics, and attributing conversions.

At Automotive Internet Media we realize the marketing environment has become vast and complex. We offer a dynamic video media service.

AIM’s Dynamic Video Media including CTV, OTT, Instream, Outstream and YouTube!

Benefits of AIM’s Dynamic Video Management:

  • Comprehensive platform with CTV, Digital Audio and Programmatic Buying capabilities
  • AIM Strategic Insights (Audience, Competitive trends, Vertical information)
  • We are living in a multi-screen, cross-platform world, AIM Video allows dealerships to follow the viewer regardless of device
  • There is no one-size-fits-all approach to AIM’s Video Management, so we continue to test and learn
  • Placement can be pre, mid or post roll in addition to in-banner, in-feed and interstitial
  • We provide the ability to track view and completion rates giving dealers insight into the level of engagement your content is receiving

There is no doubt that CTV should be tested and will undoubtedly become a permanent fixture of the marketing mix for most dealerships. However, for dealerships that are still lacking getting serious, highly-engaged shoppers to their website, there is an overlooked digital channel that delivers high quality traffic to your website. That channel is CarClicks Inventory Marketing. Click here to learn more about CarClicks products.

Did Your Dealership Pause Your Ad Campaigns?

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Dealership Must Seize the Marketplace Opportunity

Dealership Must Seize the Marketplace Opportunity

As many dealerships scale back, it’s time for aggressive dealerships to seize the opportunity.

For those of you in retail automotive marketing, you have likely seen ad budgets paused or dramatically reduced. Having been on every side of the automotive industry, these moves don’t surprise me.

For savvy dealerships it’s time to quickly act in order to take advantage of dealers in your market that may not be as visible online in the current state of affairs. It reminds me of one of my favorite sayings in advertising.

“A man who stops advertising to save money, is like a man who stops the clock to save time.”  Henry Ford

I’m painfully aware that when things get tight for dealerships, one of the first things the management is tempted to cut is the advertising. It’s like a survival tactic that kicks in and all they want to do is shore up resources to make it to the other side. I understand, but it’s important not make the mistake of sabotaging your short- and long-term success.

When dealerships advertise, in addition to generating immediate sales, they bolster consumer confidence in the future of their business. Consumer confidence builds market share. Market share leads to profit. Those that continue to advertise in tougher or slower times will actually gain a bigger piece of the pie when business starts back on the upswing…leaving their competitors (who cut way back on their advertising efforts) cleaning up the crumbs at the bottom of the pie tin.

Adjust Your Marketing Strategy

Perhaps the most powerful way to keep generating sales is to rethink your marketing strategy. Maybe it’s time to stop spending on expensive ads and rethink where you’re putting your marketing efforts.

It’s time to move to CarClicks Inventory Marketing to drive high quality traffic to your website while lowering your overall advertising costs. The CarClicks platform is easy to use and an excellent way to promote your inventory to shoppers that are most likely to purchase them. It’s time to reboot and restart the momentum to seize the sales opportunity in your market.

Hotter Than Search

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What's the Marketing Platform Hotter Than Paid Search?

Platform Hotter Than Paid Search

What's the Marketing Platform Hotter Than Paid Search?

Platform Hotter Than Paid Search

A Proven Marketing Platform 

For eight years, savvy and forward-thinking dealers have relied on CarClicks Inventory Marketing programs to deliver serious, highly engaged auto shoppers to their dealership.

A CarClicks strategy creates an integrated and cohesive approach to inventory marketing. We seamlessly promote your inventory to auto shoppers across multiple channels, while factoring in the different devices that auto shoppers are using to shop for your inventory. It’s all about driving the auto shopper to your website!

Lower Your Marketing Cost

As dealers and managers struggle to offset the reduction in gross profit, marketing costs have come under intense scrutiny. For many dealerships, reducing the customer acquisition cost is a smart way forward to improving margins. Unfortunately, the cost of one of the most popular marketing tools available to dealerships continue to rise.

Surges in search engine marketing costs, especially in Google, are burning holes in dealerships budgets. Pay per click (PPC) advertising has become standard for most dealers and often consumes a large part of a dealership’s advertising expense.

It varies by market, but dealers in metro markets are paying over $10 per click for keywords like “Chevy Equinox” and “Ford Explorer”. Their “average” cost per click (CPC) is lower because PPC companies offset the high click costs by buying the dealership name and less expensive keywords like the OEM brand and city of the dealership. Inventory keywords continue to increase because there are so many companies bidding for your customer. Try searching “cars for sale” and you find companies like Autotrader.com, Cars.com, CarGurus.com and others in your market bidding up the keywords. It’s no wonder that I recently saw a Ford dealer pay $17.65 a click for the “Ford Escape” keyword (which had a 100% bounce rate).

Why do dealerships leverage pay per click advertising? Because they believe they are reaching the people they need to reach and when they want to reach them.

What if dealers can reach those same people for a third of the cost? Wouldn’t that be savvy?

Using good judgement, practical knowledge of your options and most importantly data when managing your advertising budget is important to get optimal results.
It’s no secret that good operators are leveraging CarClicks Inventory Marketing Products to get lower their advertising costs while increasing the number of auto shoppers to their website.

Premium “Omni-Channel” Network

CarClicks has created a Premium “Omni-Channel” Network that promotes a dealership’s inventory with priority within our network of 3rd party automotive sites, premium publishers, search engines, social sites…everywhere.

A CarClicks strategy creates an integrated and cohesive approach to inventory marketing. We seamlessly promote your inventory to auto shoppers across multiple channels, while factoring in the different devices that auto shoppers are using to shop for your inventory.

Our fully integrated approach provides dealerships an effective and efficient way to market their inventory across multiple devices and touchpoints within the CarClicks automotive advertising ecosystem.  to deliver high quality traffic to the dealership websites.

The main function of the product is to promote vehicles to auto shoppers that are most likely to purchase them.

The linchpin of CarClicks success

Not all internet traffic is created equal. Both quantity and quality of traffic are important for high-performing dealerships. High quantities of traffic mean brand awareness and online visibility. High-quality traffic, however, can mean a higher ratio of conversions and vehicle sales.

Providing high quality traffic is the most notable CarClicks’ feature because that’s what gets you customers and sells cars.

Being smart with data is how the CarClicks team produces great results. We found that the effective use of machine learning, coupled with expert team members​ optimizing campaigns, is what sets CarClicks apart from competitors. Our custom software program provides actionable insights for making real-time adjustments to ensure our campaigns produce the best return on investment for our clients.

Diversifying and activating CarClicks

Just as marketing channels like paid search have established themselves as valuable customer acquisition channels, CarClicks Inventory Marketing Platform is doing the same for growth-oriented dealerships.

Well-run marketing teams know that there are options for reaching people and acquiring new customers. Dealers can choose marketing models that best align with their business and acquisition strategy.

By diversifying and adding CarClicks to your marketing strategy, dealerships will have more highly engaged auto shoppers on their websites, lower their marketing costs and create more sustainable sales opportunities.

​About CarClicks

CarClicks Inventory Marketing products provides dealerships an integrated solution for marketing their inventory to serious, highly engaged auto shoppers that are most likely to purchase them. ​

To learn more about our proven platform – sales@aimyes.com or 312-473-0024

CarClicks Comparative Case Study

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CarClicks 
Challenge

Inventory Marketing 
Comparative Case Study

A Midwest auto dealer needed to increase the number of in-market auto shoppers to their website to help them sell more vehicles.

Their Challenge?

Getting the right shoppers that are interested in their brand and inventory.

Companies

How a Midwest auto dealer compared two inventory marketing companies to drive more traffic to their website to help them sell more vehicles.

 

CarClicks promotes dealership inventory
to auto shoppers that are most likely to purchase them.

A CarClicks strategy creates an integrated and cohesive approach to inventory marketing.
We seamlessly promote dealership inventory to auto shoppers across multiple channels, while factoring in thedifferent devices that auto shoppers are using to shop for your inventory. It’s all about driving the auto shopper to the inventory on the website!

LotLinx Inventory Marketing Platform provides several channels to merchandise inventory at the VIN level.

These channels include third party inventory listings sites, ad placement on key consumer sites, Facebook, SEM and retargeting.

Over the past few years, dealerships have moved a significant part of their advertising budget to digital marketing. It is critical to properly measure the returns on investments spent on digital. Google Analytics offers the dealership the medium to do so.

Google Analytics have features to collect click-stream data and processing and presenting the website data as meaningful information to help dealers and managers make informed decisions.
As most dealerships aim to outperform their competitors, website analytics helps them proactively optimize their ad spend to ensure they are getting the best returns.

This case study is a good way for dealerships to understand the basics of Google Analytics and provide them guidelines to facilitate the informed decision making in using technology to improve the sales and marketing function of their dealership.

Both companies were given the same ad budget for one month
to drive traffic to the website by promoting the dealership inventory within their ad networks. Getting auto shoppers to the website is an important part of any dealership’s marketing strategy.

The goal was to determine which product, CarClicks or LotLinx produced better results.

The results indicate that CarClicks is the best choice.

CarClicks drove twice as many auto shoppers to the site, their shoppers were more engaged, and conversion was more than double. The data made clear that CarClicks is the leader in driving VIN-specific in-market shoppers to the dealership’s websites.

A life well lived – RIP Tex Earnhardt

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Over the years I’ve had the pleasure to meet and work for, in some capacity, a few legends in the automotive industry – Pat Ryan, Roger Penske and Tex Earnhardt are a few. It came to my attention that one of those legends, Tex Earnhardt has passed away over the weekend.

I first met Tex Earnhardt in the early 90’s. I was a customer satisfaction consultant for Chrysler at the time. I was living in San Antonio working with local Chrysler dealerships when I was notified of a business trip my division was taking to tour Earnhardt Dodge. At the time Earnhardt Dodge was always competing with Lynn Hickey Dodge for the Number 1 Dodge dealership ranking in the world. The difference was that Earnhardt Dodge sold the volume, but also had great customer satisfaction scores.

At the time, I remember being in “awe” of meeting Tex and the magnitude of his operation. The vast size of the dealership, the number of vehicles on the lot and of course the bin of stuffed Bulls was quite different than most dealerships at the time. If you purchased a vehicle you got a cute little stuffed Bull, hence their “No Bull” mantra.  During our visit we learned that short phrase “No Bull”, truly encapsulates the entire position of the dealership’s point of difference from other stores. You see, Tex really cared about his customers and it showed through his people.

Since meeting Tex over 25 years ago, his operations has become one of the most impressive auto groups in the country. I was fortunate to have met Hal Earnhardt Jr. again one last time in November.

A life well lived. Rest in peace Tex.

Goodbye to a legend