Cars.com Helps Dealers Jump-Start New-Car Sales with August DealerADvantage LIVE Webinar

CHICAGO, Aug. 7 -- Cars.com (http://www.cars.com/) announced today the August edition of its DealerADvantage LIVE webinar series that will focus on internet tactics that franchise dealers can use to boost their new-car sales. The free, hour-long event, Jump-Starting New Car Sales: Your Online Marketing Options, begins at noon EDT on Aug. 10, 2007.

"With dealers nationwide confronted by a slump in the new-car market, we've focused this session on how to implement a comprehensive internet strategy that will help them drive more traffic to their stores and desk more deals," said Dennis Galbraith, vice president of dealer products and operations at Cars.com. "In addition to buying leads to supplement their business, successful dealers tell us they use their online advertising to list their new-car inventory and promote their new-car specials. This integrated approach allows them to minimize the impact of the current downturn and to generate more online traffic."

Cars.com training manager Kathy Kimmel will host a panel of three franchise dealers who will discuss:

  --  How to create a multifaceted new-car sales campaign online

  --  Where to find quality new-car leads

  --  Why it's important to market your new-car inventory through online
      listings

  --  Ways to promote your new-car specials with automotive shopping sites
      and on your store's website

  --  How to effectively work new-car prospects and drive even higher close
      rates

"It's time to talk about a comprehensive approach that combines the traditional quote-request process with inventory-based solutions," Galbraith said.

Hundreds of franchise and independent dealers have attended DealerADvantage LIVE since Cars.com launched it last September. Dealers do not have to be Cars.com customers to join, but they must download free WebEx software (http://www.webex.com/) to participate. More information about the free webinar, including how to register online and the archive of previous sessions, is availble at http://dealers.cars.com/live.

In addition to DealerADvantage LIVE, Cars.com offers a comprehensive dealer training program that includes in-market and web-based training workshops. Information on upcoming programs can be found in the Resources & Training section http://dealers.cars.com/. Here, dealers can also get expert advice anytime with dozens of informative articles, recorded webinars and more. Archived webinars include topics such as:

  --  Right Car, Right Price, Right Profit: Maintaining Gross on Internet
      Sales

  --  Driving Sales with Certified

  --  Measuring Your Online ROI

  --  Put Display Advertising to Work

  --  Managing Leads: Strategies to Close More Sales

  --  Picture More Sales with Multiple Photos

  About Cars.com

Partnered with more than 200 leading metro newspapers, television stations and their websites, Cars.com (http://www.cars.com/) is the most comprehensive destination for those looking to buy or sell a new or used car. The site lists more than 2 million vehicles from 13,000 dealer customers, classified advertisers and private parties to offer consumers the best selection of new and used cars online, as well as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping experience. Recently selected by Forbes.com as a Best of the Web site for car shopping, Cars.com combines powerful inventory search tools and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo galleries, buying guides, side-by-side comparison tools, original editorial content and reviews to help millions of car shoppers connect with sellers each month.

Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo , Gannett Co., Inc. , The McClatchy Company , Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company .