The Rise of Visual Search

by Jay Smithweck | Jan 13, 2025 | News

Google Lens and Similar Technologies:

These tools allow users to visually search for products, including cars, by simply uploading a photo or taking a picture with their phone. This has significantly increased the reliance on visual cues in the car buying process.

Social Media Influence:

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are highly visual. Car enthusiasts and influencers often share stunning photos and videos of vehicles, influencing consumer preferences and driving demand. Very few of them mention price.

Enhanced Online Shopping Experiences:

• 360-Degree Views and Virtual Reality (VR):
  These technologies provide immersive experiences that allow potential buyers to virtually “walk around” and inspect a vehicle from all angles.
• High-Definition Photography:
  High-resolution images with detailed close-ups showcase a vehicle’s condition and features more effectively than ever before.
• Mobile-First Approach:
  With the increasing dominance of smartphones, consumers are primarily browsing and researching vehicles on their mobile devices. High-quality visuals are crucial for capturing attention and engaging mobile users.

In Summary:

2/3 of Shoppers in 2019 and it’s grown from there. Dealerships that prioritize high-quality photography, 360-degree views, and other visually engaging content will have a significant competitive advantage in today’s digital landscape.

To further support this, you can look for recent studies and reports from industry sources like:

• Cox Automotive: They regularly publish data and insights on automotive consumer behavior.
• J.D. Power: This research firm conducts in-depth studies on consumer preferences and buying habits.
• Google/Google Trends: Analyzing Google Trends data can reveal insights into how consumers are searching for and researching vehicles online.

By staying informed about the latest trends in consumer behavior, dealerships can effectively leverage visual content to attract customers, build trust, and drive sales with a 360Booth vehicle photo studio

Addressing Critics

by Jay Smithweck | Jan 11, 2025 | News

My recent blog post, “Aren’t Dealers Catfishing?” aimed to spark discussion and challenge conventional thinking. I was intrigued by the comments from some who claimed to experience no negative consequences from using fake backgrounds in vehicle photography. 

For me, the issue transcends potential sales impacts. It’s about manipulating the reality of the vehicle’s presentation. As someone with over 28 years of experience in operating a lot photography service, I believe this manipulation is inherently misleading.

Consider Porsche North America. They explicitly prohibit the manipulation of backgrounds at all their North American factory stores. This policy clearly demonstrates a commitment to authenticity in vehicle presentation. 

Why would Porsche enforce such a strict rule? In my opinion, it highlights a fundamental truth: dealerships that rely heavily on fake backgrounds may simply lack the dedication to proper photography techniques. They may neglect essential aspects like shooting from optimal angles and ensuring accurate color representation. 

Furthermore, the reliance on third-party photography services often signifies a “band-aid” approach. “throwing money at a problem to make it go away” Instead of investing in in-house expertise and improving their photography processes, these dealerships outsource the problem, avoiding the necessary commitment to quality. 

Based on my extensive experience, I firmly believe this observation holds true for many dealerships. 

**Disclaimer:** This blog post expresses my personal opinions. 

Aren’t Dealerships Catfishing?

by Jay Smithweck | Jan 10, 2025 | News

Definition:

Catfishing refers to the act of creating a FALSE online persona, often using DECEPTIVE IMAGE and fabricated information, to DECEIVE others, typically for romantic or FRAUDULENT purposes. This practice involves intentionally misleading individuals by presenting a false identity to gain their trust or exploit them.

Deception:

Catfishing involves deliberate deception to create a false impression. Similarly, using fake backgrounds to digitally alter vehicle photos can be seen as an attempt to deceive potential buyers by presenting a more idealized version of the car.

Misrepresentation:

Just as catfishers misrepresent photos of themselves online, dealerships using fake backgrounds misrepresent the actual appearance of the vehicle. They might digitally remove minor blemishes, enhance the color, or even change the background entirely, creating an unrealistic expectation for the buyer eerily the same as catfishing.

Lack of Transparency:

Catfishing thrives on a lack of transparency. Similarly, when dealerships use fake backgrounds, they lack transparency with potential buyers. This can erode trust and damage the dealership’s reputation.

However, it’s important to note some key distinctions:

Intent:

Catfishing typically involves malicious intent, such as financial gain or emotional manipulation. While using fake backgrounds can be misleading, the primary intent is usually to enhance the visual appeal of the vehicle and increase its perceived value.

Severity:

The consequences of catfishing can be severe, including emotional distress, financial loss, and even legal repercussions. The consequences of using fake backgrounds are generally less severe, although they can still negatively impact a dealership’s reputation and sales.

In Conclusion:

While the comparison isn’t perfect, there are some parallels between catfishing and dealerships using fake backgrounds. Both involve a degree of deception and misrepresentation. However, the intent and severity of the actions differ significantly.

It’s important for dealerships to be transparent about their use of any image enhancement techniques and to prioritize ethical and honest practices in their marketing efforts.