The top viewed item this past month was the latest RLD webinar, available to watch as a replay, in which Bob Clements of Bob Clements International shared how to successfully negotiate and close the sale. Other top items included a "Fix My Problem" item regarding an owner who lacks the skills to move a dealership forward and dealer outlook based on compact tractor brand.

Mike Wiles, who is also a columnist and contributing writer for Rural Lifestyle Dealer, says the growth of the channel is not surprising considering the changing demographics of the average tractor buyer.

In the top viewed story this month, a dealer shares his experience as a customer, outlining a really bad car buying experience, and what he learned from it. Other top stories included news of new product releases and best practices to improve your dealership. 

The most viewed stories of the month include an article on what motivates employees, dealership branding and coverage of Bob Clements International's Management Boot Camp.

Dealers specializing in selling compact tractors (under 40 horsepower) had another banner year in 2017 as U.S. and Canadian sales of the small equipment reached all-time highs.

More than one-quarter of landscaping companies will up capital expenditures in 2018, while two-thirds will maintain their 2017 spending levels, according to the Seaport Global Securities latest survey. Only 10% say they will reduce their investment in power equipment in 2018.

In case you've missed it, here's a roundup of our most read items on RuralLifestyleDealer.com during the past year.