Using AutoNetTV Web Tools, an ASA member’s site will be automatically updated with articles, automotive news and videos. With new content added weekly, a shop’s Web site can become the “go-to source” for prospects and customers alike. This special feature is included with an ASA member’s AutoNetTV subscription (if obtained by August 1st).

In addition, the DVDs received by ASA members who subscribe to AutoNetTV will now receive ASA-branded discs that contain specific ASA messages, either for consumers in a shop’s waiting area or for the Pro Channel programming for employees.

AutoNetTV programming entertains and educates customers while they’re on-site, with an emphasis on vehicle maintenance, safety and the importance of having worked performed on schedule. Pro Channel programs can be viewed before and after hours by employees, and address such topics as sales and marketing strategies, the latest industry products and services, and training, tips and best practices for technicians, managers and owners.

“AutoNetTV provides members with an invaluable consumer and employee educational tool at a low cost. Through the use of the DVDs, members have a virtual service advisor educating their customers on the importance of preventive maintenance,” said B.J. Johnson, ASA’s vice president of membership services. “In addition, the Web tools option offers added marketing capability to help increase the car count for the member-business. ASA is appreciative of AutoNetTV’s continued support of the association and its members.”

AutoNetTV is a pioneer in the field of television programming for on-site customers of automotive service and repair facilities. These programs allow service centers to conveniently educate customers on their factory-scheduled and preventive maintenance needs, and to improve their waiting experience. Pro Channel programs provide business and marketing insights, technical training, and other industry-specific messages devoted to professionals working in the automotive service and repair industry.

“We’re proud of our membership in and support of ASA, and feel strongly that it provides great benefits to the entire aftermarket. Enhancing our award-winning lobby TV program with messages from ASA to its members only helps to spread the aftermarket message further.” said Lance Boldt, co-founder of AutoNetTV. “ASA members will love how easily the Web Tools integrate with their web site, and that every article published will be tagged specifically for their shop – giving them greater results in search engine ranking.”

ASA members receive special discounted pricing on quality consumer education and staff training in one package, in DVD format.

To learn more about AutoNetTV or any of the more than 35 ASA member benefits, call (800) 272-7467, ext. 295; or access ASA’s electronic benefits portfolio within ASA OnDemand, which can be downloaded from www.ASAOnDemand.com.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA’s headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org.

The event was held at the Open Source Technology Center on the Novell campus. Over 60 people attended with six investors comprising a panel of judges. Investors were treated to a review of five up-and-coming business opportunities, and entrepreneurs were given a preview of what it is like to present a business to potential investors.

As a participant, I found it to be an extremely valuable experience.

The five companies who pitched were:

• ListPipe, a new SEO company focused on providing custom content through an online subscription service.
• Izatt International, a local development group focusing on iPhone applications.
• Gruvie, a social utility that enables you to wrangle all your social networking accounts into a single login.
• Lignin Bio Fuels, an alternative fuel company that produces transportation fuel out of non-edible biomass.
• Estamar Strategy, a consulting group managing business investment opportunities.

After the presentations, the audience voted for their favorite companies with ‘Monopoly-style’ dollars. Two companies with the most amount of ‘investment cash’ were selected as ‘winners’ and were awarded $500 in-kind consulting services from Funding Universe.

The two winners chosen by the audience were: ListPipe and Gruvie. See photos below.

In addition to our appreciate for event hosts Funding Universe, a special thanks to the event sponsors, which included Dashboard Accountants, The Open Source Technology Center, Fibernet, and Grow Utah Ventures.

The next LivePitch event has not been announced; stay tuned for information as it becomes available.

Presenters receive votes in the form of faux 'investment dollars'

Contact Funding Universe for more information.

Learn how to do the basics in Wordpress.

If you are a new blogger, ListPipe offers a training site that includes the top ten recommended tasks you should know how to do in your blog. Recorded expressley for Wordpress bloggers, the top ten wordpress training videos can be viewed here. Just click on the headline for each numbered item to go to the video page.

You can also dive straight into the ListPipe Wordpress video library from this page.

The how-to videos are presented in high quality Quicktime on the site, and are also available in YouTube format. There are currently 13 of them, covering topics such as logging in, and inserting images.

Each video on the ListPipe demo blog includes written instructions on how to complete each task in Wordpress version two. Each video is designed to teach you the specific task quickly, usually in two to three minutes.

For those of you new to Wordpress blogging, this is an excellent way to become familiar with the basics of your Wordpress system.

Give them a try and let us know what you think.