Outsell, which offers the only AI-driven marketing automation platform for the automotive industry, announced with agency partner DSplus that it was named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award in the 16th Annual American Business Awards, received a Digiday Content Marketing Award and a 2018 Communicator Award.
Award Highlights for the 2018 Toyota CH-R Launch Campaign co-created by Outsell and DSplus:
- Gold Stevie Award in the 16th Annual American Business Awards in the category Marketing Campaign of the Year – Automotive Vehicles.
- Digiday Content Marketing Award in the category Most Original Email Campaign.
- 2018 Communicator Award Distinction in the categories Campaign-Business to Consumer for Integrated Campaign and Campaign-Promotional for Integrated Campaign.
“I want to thank the judging committees for recognizing the work once again produced by Outsell and DSplus. Over the past several years, we have developed effective integrated marketing campaigns to help Toyota launch new models including the Camry and Highlander and now the CH-R,” said Michael Wethington, president and CEO, Outsell. “This well-executed campaign is another great example of how dealers are benefiting from modern-day integrated programs that improve customer interaction and test drives which ultimately leads to a surge in sales.”
The 2018 Toyota CH-R Launch Campaign
In 2017, the all-new 2018 Toyota CH-R was about to launch and DSplus and Outsell were tasked to create awareness, encourage test drives and drive sales for 200+ participating Toyota dealerships across North America. For several months prior to the launch, each dealer sent teaser emails regarding CH-R in order to gather behavioral data and measure interest in the new 2018 model. The subsequent launch campaign consisted of three main elements. First, a targeted initial trigger email to spread awareness and send traffic to a second element — a custom Toyota CH-R microsite. Consumers were encouraged to schedule a test drive and browse local dealers’ inventory via the exclusive microsite. The third launch element was a targeted follow-up drip email to consumers who engaged in the initial email and microsite.
The overall goals were to drum up excitement, create new dialog with interested consumers and close the deal on a new Toyota CH-R. The results were impressive: more than 200,000 consumers interacted with the CH-R launch emails and microsite, moving thousands of CH-Rs off the lot for participating dealers, resulting in close to a million in sales. To view examples of the award-winning campaign emails and microsite, visit 2018 Toyota CH-R Launch Campaign. Outsell provided the technology behind the campaign, a marketing automation platform driven by artificial intelligence that increases customer engagement and drives more revenue by transforming how dealers engage with customers and prospects throughout their individual lifecycles.
“The nominations submitted for The 2018 American Business Awards were outstanding. The competition was intense, and those recognized as Stevie Award winners should be immensely proud of this accomplishment,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards.
“I like how this campaign focused on strong creative and a micro targeted approach to auto sales. Also, good sales metrics tied back to the campaign,” read feedback from a Stevie ABA judge that evaluated the Outsell and DSplus 2018 Toyota CH-R Launch Campaign nomination.
The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. Stevie winners will be presented with their awards on June 11 in New York City. Earlier this year, Outsell and DSplus’s 2018 Toyota CH-R 2018 Launch Campaign received a Bronze Stevie Award at the 12th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service for Outbound Marketing Program of the Year. Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2018 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.
The Digiday Content Marketing Awards recognize content that connects brands to audiences across various channels including mobile, social, video and others. Winners were announced at the awards gala on May 9 at Sony Hall in New York City. To view the complete list of 2018 Content Marketing Award winners, please visit www.digiday.com/marketing/digiday-content-marketing-awards-winners-2018/.
The Communicator Awards is the leading international awards program recognizing big ideas in marketing and communications sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, an invitation-only group consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media, communications, advertising, creative and marketing firms. Founded over two decades ago, The Communicator Awards receives over 6,000 entries from companies and agencies of all sizes, making it one of the largest awards of its kind in the world. A list of the 2018 Distinction winners is available at www.communicatorawards.com/winners/
