HomeBuilders: Your Team as Content Providers - Part II

Recently, we suggested homebuilders consider using their Construction Team to create relevant content for website and other social media outlets.  The trend towards social and mobile media -- coupled with content "commoditization"-- suggests every business needs to locate sources for cost-effective content (the highlighted Forrester Research study provides a great jumping-off point for a thorough discussion on this subject).

How might you move forward with this idea?  Internal sources to consider might include using team members as subject matter experts, developing information that is relevant to your business processes (for example, using CPS' construction scheduling software, FieldConnect Mobile, to post "stage of construction photos) and providing information to educate your buyers (such as a "behind the walls" video discussing how your homes are built). 

Builders creating relevant website/social media content!

We were really thrilled to see an example come to life: William Lyon Homes just published a YouTube video featuring one of their project managers,  Patrick McCabe, talking about the impact of William Lyon Homes in his life (his family moved into a Lyon home when he was 2 years old!). We've enjoyed working with him over the years; take a look here!

Another great suggestion for builder-generated content was provided by new home sales trainer and  marketing guru, Jeff Shore: ask your sales agents to create their own "walk thru" video describing a home recently toured by a prospect.  All they need is a smart phone The agent is able to quickly recap what features the prospect liked, how the floorplan met their needs and add additional educational information, as well.  Who wouldn't love receiving this type of follow-up email?

Construction Field Managers: "Tablet Revolution" includes you!

 

Smartphones and tablets are changing the way almost every business does business.

The reasons vary but we can say that communication is at the heart -- whether you're presenting beautiful products,  providing information for off-site employees, doublechecking a phone number, photographing a problem ... business uses are as varied as the number of businesses. 

Construction field managers have had the opportunity to utilize mobile devices (remember PDA's?) for several years.  There wasn't a "standard" environment across devices, however, so scheduling programs typically had to be designed for a specific mobile device.  If you didn't have the "right" device...you'd either have to change or add another device to your toolbelt!

Now, widespread acceptance of iOS and Android smart phones/tablets have encouraged/enabled developers to design for a large portion of the market.  Yes, there are others but -- at least for now -- iOS and Android are the major smartphone/tablet operating environments; lots of construction personnel already have them and scheduling programs need to be available across both platforms.

Why should Field Managers get enthused about CPS' new cross-platform FieldConnect Mobile? First, they're able to use phones and tablets they already have -- no additional expense.  Then, they can starting improving both their business processes and communications.  Current FieldConnectMobile builder clients report measurable critical business benefits: decreased cycle times and increased carry rates.  And, there are the "softer-side" benefits, too: ease-of-use, access to buyer/vendor data on the jobsite, better communications with vendors and the ability to incorporate "built-in" features such as cameras and voice recognition. 

We like to talk about "connectivity" -- and there are many components to that phrase.  FieldConnect Mobile changes the construction "connectivity" game with anytime/anywhere scheduling that works on virtually all of today's smartphones and tablets.  And, we'll be demonstrating these benefits at NAHB's IBS2012 in Orlando next month!