New Home Construction Web Portals: 24/7 Access for Vendors & Buyers

Are you familiar with the concept of a web portal, sometimes referred to as a neutral platform in the cloud?  Portals provide users the ability to view — and sometimes update — information developed by one or more systems from a single web-based location.

Give Your Vendors 24/7 Access to Schedules & Punch

What would a construction portal do for your construction process — inside and outside the company, including vendors and home buyers?  Effective portals improve communication and collaboration by providing real-time data access to enterprise information.

Let's take a look at a real-world example: CPS' FieldCollaborate Portal allows a builder's vendors to log-in — any time, 24/7 — and view their construction schedules, punch items and safety assessments.  And, they're able to pull up builder documents and drawings, too.

Home buyers, on the other hand, login to the FieldCollaborate Portal to view their home's schedule and stage-of-construction photos.  The Portal keeps home buyers actively engaged throughout the home buying/construction cycle, which in many areas can take nine months from the time of contract acceptance to closing. Great for out-of-town buyers!

Home builders use the Portal, as well, to share information within their enterprise. When we consider the entire set of participants — the builder, vendors and homebuyers. 

Think about the number of phone calls, faxes, emails and misunderstandings that can be eliminated!

What's more disruptive than having multiple sources of information?  Your portal provides the same information to everyone (governed by access credentials, of course) — and it's all available 24/7, in real-time, via the cloud!

Portals improve communication and that makes the builder's entire enterprise more efficient and productive — resulting in more profit for both the builder and their vendors. Ask us how FieldCollaborate and Portals can improve your scheduling, communication and efficiency!

Millennials and the "most convincing advertising"?

Just saw an interesting blurb:

"The most convincing advertising of all is seeing your own friends buying, wearing and using the product.  We engage with our peers through social media, I've bought countless items because of what I've seen on Instagram alone."

What do you think?  

Wendell Falls, NC - Social Media Wall

Many argue that millennials use social media not only to keep in touch with their circle of friends and family but to document experiences through photos and text.  

Historically, individuals enjoyed seeing their interests gain traction from their surrounding social circle -- whether friends, work colleagues or family members. 

Technology has enabled that process to embrace ever-widening circles and become an influential source of information, product marketing and influence.

Take a look at CPS' Social Media Wall combining traditional marketing copy and images with social media messages from Twitter, Pinterest, etc.  

The result: a dynamic marketing channel projecting vibrant and ever-changing messages -- many of which are created by your audience.

The Wall attracts attention by the very aspect that it responds to an audience need for new information. Trade static, passive signage for a continuously evolving set of photos, copy, video and customer-submitted (and curated) messages -- and watch the level of consumer engagement grow!

Builders: How Focused Are Your Sales/Marketing Efforts on the 91%?

Back in April 2015, the Blog highlighted the statistic that 91% of home purchase decisions were made by women.  We mentioned women are more "connected," they're interested in relevant information and appreciate relatable content.

Recently, TecHomeBuilder featured an article titled The WOW Factor of Women-Centric Building and highlighted several key factors women look for in the home buying process:

(1) Make an emotional connection -- images can really help with this item.  Take a look at the interactive touchscreen system designed for Newland's Tehaleh master plan community displayed below.  At a glance, you're able to put together a set of thoughts about the community, imagine the energy taking place on a daily basis and want to investigate further.

CPS' SalesTouch Helps Imagine Living Here!

(2) Engage your buyer with a story -- let your shopper get to know you and use language that speak to her such as "build a better life."

Didn't we talk about relatable content back in April?  Let your buyer know your community is the place for her!  You're going to need to do some discovery to determine not only the demographic of your audience but their drivers.  Sometimes, it's schools; other times, recreation, easy access to employment locations or health care facilities.  Take some time getting to know your buyer profile's back story in order to tell appropriate stories to your buyer!

Understanding the Back Story Helps You Tell Relatable Stories!

(3) Focus on a Quality Presentation -- here's where interactive presentations help you engage the shopper! Walk into an office (any office!) with what is called "passive signage" and then walk into another with interactive presentations -- whether in a kiosk, on the wall or presented via tablet.  You can feel the energy, will definitely get engaged and want to explore!

There's more to the WOW factor -- keep an eye on the Blog!

Content Marketing: Telling Stories, Building Relationships

How are you doing as far as all the terminology revolving around today's concept of Content Marketing?

Grab your audience; encourage participation in your brand!

Saw a nice blog on Contently: 10 Content Marketing Buzzwords You're Going to Hear Way Too Much This Year. 

No, we're not going to review all of them! If you're interested, you can read the entire blog here! It's still January so great idea to get a jump on the year!

We particularly liked and wanted to encourage use of Storytelling (as in: your brand encouraging storytelling) and Storyscaping (a new one for us but defined as "Stop creating ads, start creating worlds").

Take a look at some of CPS' other blog posts (including our most recent: Social Media Engagement: try it in your sales offices!). Storytelling and Storyscaping are key components of our SalesTouch and Social Media Wall products.  Take content (words, video, images) and engage your audience by actively soliciting touch and social media participation. Watch your audience and sales grow!

Planning on attending NAHB's Builders Show in Vegas?  We'll be telling stories all week; look for us in Booth 2860!