PCBC – Day 3 Video Post
It was a the last day of PCBC and I had the chance to interview two companies.
First was Lynette Rogers, Product Marketing Manager for James Hardie. The are by far the most active building supplier in the social media space. You can check out all of their efforts on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and LinkedIn They were also actively promoting their social media efforts at the booth and by tweeting updates from the floor.
We also hear from Jim Adams, CEO of NewHomesDirectory.com about their industry PR Site called NHDBuzz.com. A free site to post stories and releases.
#pcbc09 Tweetup Video Post
We had a great time at booth 2134 and the official #pcbc09 tweetup – spearheaded by Rob Bivens @rbiv from Golden State Lumber (yes, a supplier people!) I put together a quick video highlight of the event. I asked a few of the folks there how they and their companies were using Twitter.
At the tweetup:
@juliesenter
@allijb
@cassandragrauer
@rbiv
@jim_adams
@graphiclanguage
@carolruiz
@bialav
@hometeam
@wwpa
@summerhillhomes
@jonjonbailey
I feel like I have missed some. Were you there? Leave a comment.
PCBC – Day 2 Video Post
Another jam packed day on Thursday. There was a lot of energy and it was busy with meetings.
In this video Sarah Yaussi from Big Builder, the hardest working journalist at the show, gives her impression of the show (I definitely echo her sentiments). She is overflowing with information and knowledge .
I talked with James Honeycutt, Director of Sales for Builder Homesite (BHI) – the Newhomesource.com guys. They have other great products to complete the “digital experience” for homebuilders.
Had lunch with the Bokka Group from Denver, they are now global getting ready to do some work in Australia. (I had to bribe Paula Huggett to go on camera – she pulled it off)
Stopped by the Move.com booth and talked to my good friend Dan Sargent – had him talk about some great advertising options for home builders.
We also did a live stream online – first one for the homebuilding industry – I’ll dedicate another post to that later in the week.
Seth Godin – Marketing advice from PCBC – Video Post
Close your eyes (okay, mentally close your eyes). Picture a twelve year old girl who just won front row seats to a Hannah Montana concert. Now, picture Seth Godin presenting the keynote speech to close out PCBC. Now picture me, Mike Lyon, meeting Seth Godin. I am the Hannah Montana girl. For myself, my passion and business life overlap. The opportunity to not only hear him speak but potentially shake his hand was a large influence in my decision to fly from Tulsa, OK to San Francisco for the 2009 conference.
He was set up to do a book signing at 9:00am – 1 hour before his presentation. I set up camp at 4:00 a.m., not really, but I did make sure I was there early to ask a few questions, and maybe get a little bit of his genius to rub off on me.
Let me say – he dropped a few bombs, opened my eyes and even answered some specific questions I had pertaining to some clients. It was time well spent.
As far as marketing goes, it’s no secret that the homebuilding industry has a lot of catching up to do. We need to do things differently, now I know it’s not just me thinking this, but Seth too. I encourage you to listen to his words of wisdom in this brief video interview. My favorite quote “the low hanging fruit is probably the most rotten fruit” You’ll like his socks too.
So, how will you implement his advice this year? Leave a comment and let us know.
Here are some excerpts from the tweets I was blasting during his keynote:
- Opening line – We missed the warning signs and are here anyway We need to be congratulated.
- The market has made it easier for builders left to make through the dip.
- Comparing building business to record business – broke but not going away
- Perfect industry for the past 30 years. A house was also an investment. Now it’s different
- Home builders have been making brown cows. Average products for average people. Rethink building and selling.
- Timid trapeze artists are dead trapeze artists. Home builders need to be bold
- Tribes are built 10 get 10 get 10 enabled by Internet. Takes weeks not months. Only 1000 true fans needed.
- Seth Godin – he bought his house to die there.Homebuilding may be moving back to long term investments.
- Beatles did not invent teenagers, they just decided to lead them. We don’t need to create new tribes, just lead
- Fill your house with details that don’t match the spec sheets. If you treat green like a gimmick, you will kill the movement
- New home communities with tribes will outsell communities down the street with no tribes
- Tell a story – Connect a tribe – Lead a movement – Make Change
- Either quit today or make a commitment to do scary, patient, respectful things for 40 years
- Pick up the phone. Tell customers “I built that home you live in -do you like it?
- Do you have permission to market to past customers. Most likely not because you are afraid of getting sued for radon in the dirt.
- Make a pot full of money. Create and lead tribes while doing it.
PCBC Day 1 Video Post
Day one at PCBC – busy with some great conversations and great folks. Was able to talk with Robert O’Shaugnessy, Director of Online Marketing at Graphic Language and Chris Graham, Director of Product Development and Marketing at Constellation.
Will keep the video rolling. Getting ready for another great day tomorrow.
