Ford Lincoln of Ocala has a large presence in the local Florida area, and it’s not just because the main location sits on an impressive 14.5 acres. For more than 100 years, the dealership has been a staple in the Ocala community – both for the duration it’s been in business and for its active role in helping those in need.
This month we spoke to Steve Hollosi, general manager at Ford Lincoln of Ocala, on the dealerships’ charitable work and how digital and social media helps tie it back to their business.
Community involvement is important to most businesses, but Hollosi and his team take it to heart. In fact, the dealership has an entire blog focused on its work in the community. A quick glance at the blog and you will find years of charitable work with groups ranging from schools to veterans to the local hospital.
In addition to helping different organizations throughout the area, the dealership also uses their presence at these events to increase awareness and discover new leads. Different tactics for this include wrapped vehicles, registration tables and giveaways where data, like contact information, is collected.
"We are always out and about within the community and because of this we often have people coming in and they mention they initially saw us at an event or fundraiser,” Hollosi said. “One time we sold four new Lincolns in one day - specifically as a result of an event.”
To ensure a cohesive blend of their community involvement and Ford messaging, the team at Ford Lincoln of Ocala meets at the beginning of each month to look at marketing and promotions from Ford. From there, the staff takes all of the corporate messaging and mirrors it at a local level, communicating it through digital and social media, as well as traditional TV, local radio and print advertising. This process helps the dealership tie-in corporate messaging while still maintaining their position as the go-to dealership within the community.
"At the end of the day, we want to be best known for helping others in need,” Hollosi said. “We aren't in the car business, we are in the people business and we just sell cars for a living.”
2816 NW Pine Ave
Ocala, Florida 34475
Contact: 888-255-1788