Number 1 – Our Dealerwing First Class Award for MOST UNIQUE CAMPAIGN goes to…

Fast food drive-thru flyers!

Because good marketing is about meeting people where they are…including a drive-thru line.

A Los Angeles based Honda service drive turned their unique location – close enough to a popular fast food chain that the line of cars wrapped around their dealership – into a unique opportunity. With customers constantly circling their building, they started handing out flyers to Honda drivers offering a complimentary meal with any service appointment.

We were impressed by their creative tactics and even more impressed when, halfway through the year, they let us know they’d be needing more flyers.

This campaign proves that the best marketing ideas can come from using your environment and turning everyday situations into customer engagement opportunities.

Number 2 – Our Dealerwing First Class Award for Our HIGHEST CONVERSION RATES goes to…

Declined services campaigns!

Your best leads are often the customers who already said “not today.”

Our declined services supplemental campaigns are converting at record levels in 2025. The strategy is straightforward: when a customer declines a recommended service, we log it and send them a targeted coupon for exactly what they need.

Why does this work so well?

• The customer knows their vehicle requires the service
• The offer is personalized, not generic
• Timing creates urgency before small issues become big problems

These campaigns don’t push services people don’t need; they make it easier for customers to say yes to maintenance they’ve already been advised to complete.

Second chances: they’re good for the soul, and for service retention.

Number 3 – Our Dealerwing First Class Award for STRONGEST ROI goes to…

Old-age vehicle campaigns!

The numbers don’t lie: Americans are holding onto their vehicles longer than ever, with the average age of cars on the road reaching record highs. In 2024, the average vehicle age hit 12.6 years, and experts project this trend will continue through 2025 and beyond.

For service departments, this represents a massive opportunity.

Our old-age, high-mileage campaigns specifically target vehicles that are due for significant maintenance and repair work. No “first service free” here – these campaigns offer the comprehensive services that keep aging vehicles running reliably for years to come.

The ROI is consistently the strongest in our entire campaign portfolio, and it’s no surprise.

Older vehicles require more extensive work, owners are committed to keeping them running, and these customers already trust you with their vehicle’s history.

In an era where vehicle longevity is the norm, marketing to aging cars the key to sustained, long-term success – for the vehicles and the dealership!

Number 4 – Our Dealerwing First Class Award for NOTABLE NEWCOMER goes to…

Mobile recall service campaigns!

The most exciting new campaign of 2025 is already proving its worth.

Recalls have always been a headache for customers. Schedule an appointment, drive to the dealership, wait around, arrange alternative transportation – it’s no wonder recall completion rates have historically been frustratingly low.

Enter mobile service.

The dealership brings the recall repair directly to the customer’s location. The convenience factor has driven record high adoption rates, and customer satisfaction scores are off the charts.

This campaign represents the future of service department marketing: meeting customers where they are, literally and figuratively. It removes friction, increases completion rates, and strengthens customer relationships all at once.

It’s new to market and already making waves. Keep your eye on this one.

Number 5 – Our Dealerwing First Class Award for MOST NICHE campaign goes to…

Conquest campaigns!

They’re the campaign most dealerships can’t afford to run—but some absolutely need.

They sound glamorous, but the reality is, these campaigns are costly. Customer acquisition costs run higher than retention marketing. Average returns are lower than other strategies. Most established dealerships just don’t have the budget to justify aggressive conquest efforts.

But in a few scenarios, they make perfect sense:

• Brand new dealerships building their database from scratch
• Recent acquisitions that didn’t inherit the previous store’s customer list
• Targeting a geographical area where a competing on-brand dealership closed down

Conquest marketing isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Knowing when not to deploy a strategy is just as important as knowing when to go all in.

For the right dealership at the right time, conquest campaigns can be the foundation of future growth. For everyone else, there are more efficient ways to drive service lane traffic.

Proof positive that there is no “right” strategy, only the right strategy for you.

Ready to Take Your Dealership’s Marketing to the Next Level?
Dealerwing specializes in AI-driven marketing solutions designed to increase service retention, optimize ad spend, and drive measurable results. Let’s build a smarter, more profitable marketing strategy for your dealership today.