SEATTLE — Cobalt, a provider of automotive digital marketing services, upgraded over 8,000 dealers to its new video vehicle merchandising solution at no charge, and will provide the service free through May 31, 2009 to accelerate lead production and showroom traffic.

This effort reflects Cobalt’s commitment to lower the cost of marketing cars through digital marketing innovations that drive sales. Dealers will experience a “no risk” trial to prove that video generates the sales results they need to make it a permanent part of their website merchandising strategy.

Early users of Cobalt Video report exceptional results. “We have seen our Website traffic increase, our phone leads have jumped by almost 40 percent, and we have sold 12 additional cars in the last month.” said CJ Barnett, general manager for Baytown Hyundai in Baytown, Texas. “I am positive this is a result of the addition of Cobalt Video to our website. It is engaging our customers, keeping them on the site and giving them the information they need to convert.”

As dealers continue to transition from traditional advertising to Internet-based media, they need dynamic content to boost time spent on their websites and help persuade prospective consumers to contact their dealerships. Cobalt’s business intelligence analysis shows consumers are spending 30 percent longer on websites with Cobalt Video enabled. Video is an essential marketing tool to help dealers’ merchandize new, used and certified vehicles, which provides prospects another reason to continue to shop and stay engaged in the vehicle search process.

Key features of the Cobalt Video solution include:

· Supports new, pre-owned and certified vehicles

· Professionally produced video test drive reviews with narrative voiceover

· Advanced videos automatically created and narrated from dealer provided photos (Picture-to-video technology)

· Automatic integration of dealer phone number in narrative voiceover

“In this economy you must have video on your website. It gives your prospects another reason to stay on your site and stay engaged in the vehicle search process,” said Lee Maynor, Internet director for Saturn of Greenville, Saturn of Spartanburg and Saturn of Asheville in South Carolina. “Cobalt Video is great. Our sales team has been using the videos for lead follow-up and on the sales floor; the videos are a great tool for quickly highlighting a vehicle’s selling points.”

“Video gives dealers the edge they need in today’s market,” said Paul Nagy, Cobalt’s vice president of core products. “Once they see how video engages customers and drives their sales we are confident it will earn a place in their marketing strategy even in these tight times.”

Video is Cobalt’s latest addition to the industry’s most comprehensive suite of dealer marketing services, including dealer Websites, lead services, search, display advertising, owner marketing and proactive services.

For more information about Cobalt Video, call 800-909-8244 or visit www.cobalt.com/video.