THE best website in the entire Renault network – it’s quite some claim, but one that TC Autos is proud to boast.
Managing director Damien Maguire says they’re not his words, but those of the Northern Ireland director for Renault after checking out his firm’s website TCAutos.biz.
The Renault dealer, in Omagh, Northern Ireland, set out to build a website with partner Nemecom that was ‘fresh, non fussy and
informative’.
‘Our site has a clean and clinical design,’ says Maguire. ‘It’s intuitive too with two clicks from anywhere navigation and an idiot-proof backend system that can be updated in seconds which from experience is absolutely vital.’
The entry in the Franchised Eward category has certainly impressed our judging panel, some of which have taken an early look at the entry.
Clive Jackson, founder of Ewards 09 headline sponsor Autotorq.com, said: ‘The web is where the customer experience is nearly always initiated so it’s great to see a dealer posting customer testimonials on their website. These are very powerful and help build trust and reassurance. It’s a clever differentiator.’
And he wasn’t the only one that like the TC Autos site. Rob Queen, marketing manager for UK Web Sites and Compucars.co.uk liked the user-friendly graphics and design.
‘The used car search engine is prominently displayed on the homepage allowing customers easy access to available used vehicles which are then displayed with multiple images in a visually appealing page,’ he explained.
‘Graphics rather than text are used to represent fuel, transmission, colour and I also like the fact that wherever the consumer is on the site the used car locator is always displayed on the page, so the user can obtain information on say opening hours and then without clicking to a fresh page commence a used car search.’
Keith Rountree, group marketing manager of British Car Auctions was impressed with the site’s usability and design.
‘The look is clean and crisp, and sympathetic to the Renault brand,’ he said. ‘The navigation is overall well-structured, and the search engine for cars and vans is simple and intuitive.
‘There is very clear presentation of both new and used vehicle deals, but F&I or aftersales offers feel a bit relegated and don’t figure on valuable homepage space. There are good calls to action on vehicles and services and overall it’s a good site.’
IRISH EYES ARE SMILING
G-Forces marketing director Tim Smith was equally pleased by the Irish offering.
‘The TC Autos site was something of a surprise: a wealth of information displayed in a way that didn’t baffle the senses,’ he said.
‘The site has a great, crisp and clear design. While there’s plenty of information available on the homepage you never get the sensation of being bombarded with too much of it or that you’re being fed a brochure’s worth of details.
‘That vehicles are displayed with clear, optimised images is sure to encourage click-thrus for further information – and those details are never too far away. The offers are clearly shown but, again, in a way that isn’t over-powering, giving a nice sensation of space on a surprisingly well populated site.’
GET YOUR ENTRY IN!
Time is running out to get your entry in for this year’s Ewards competition. Deadline for entries is 5pm on October 16 and we can’t accept late entries.
We’ve already had hundreds of dealers put their sites forward for judging so don’t delay – make sure yours is included to be in with a chance of winning one of our coveted gongs.
