Let’s define a few things

“Tablets” used to be based on PC operating systems and had all the capability of a laptop. I carried the first real Tablet all around the country in 2005 and literally stunned audiences. New “Post PC” Tablet (aka Slate) devices are based on mobile operating systems (like Apple iOS and Google Android). We could explore all the nuances of Pre and Post PC Tablets technologies but I rather consider why this new wave of computing makes really exciting  tools for business.

I’ll reference  just two models – the Apple iPad 2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. (by the way a new study suggest the iPad is expected to dominate the market until 2015).

Unlike a laptop/notebook PC, new Tablets offer business users some major advantages and I believe there are advantages that justify a fundamental shift in mobile computing.

Seven Reasons

• Weight – they are light and effortless to carry around (approx. 20 oz)
• Portability – the overall dimensions fit in even the smallest attaché (approx. 10”x7”)
• Visuals – high resolution backlit LCDs generate superb eye candy (132+ pixels-per-inch)
• Touch – forget the stylus, multi-touch is natural and efficient (more fingers are better)
• Fast OS – instant on access and no “lag” (1 GHz Dual-Core Processors)
• Power – the latest batteries can last 8 to 12 hours (I use mine for several days)
• User Interface – if my mom can navigate with ease, anyone can (love you Mom!)

The “not to be ignored” bonuses include; front and rear cameras, Bluetooth, GPS, mapping, social networking, heck – mobile web browsing is still unbelievable!

Really Untethered

I guess the most important enabler of all Tablets is wireless connectivity. Wifi has been around forever and most business users have relied on mobile wireless (3G) access for many years now. The new crop of Tablets all include 4G LTE wireless (expected with iPad 3 this year). This 4^th generation network allows for speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second. I know lots of serious business operations that don’t have anything near that bandwidth!  Plus the nearly unlimited power of “The Cloud” (more in a future post), and these simple devices are true “game changers” for business computing.

The Apps

But to truly unleash the potential of this powerful, sexy hardware a critical component has to be added – software.

The quantity and quality of the third-party applications from both the Apple and Google (iOS and Android) app stores is staggering. Granted most of these are mindless games but there is an increasing volume of serious business software emerging. This includes a plethora of alternatives for the entire desktop office suite (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.), communication tools, file sharing and much more. Ultimately, the greatest potential for Tablet software is to leverage advantages of being mobile along with the real time data of back office systems.

The new legal pad

Simply because a Tablet is a larger device than say… your mobile phone,  you can effectively use this tool to “present” ideas to another person. That’s the key for business! Sharing ideas, explaining problems, selling something! Forget all the analog print materials. Keep PowerPoint slides hidden in your laptop. Engage your decision maker face to face and let the Tablet become your new collateral.

At BrightDoor, we have been focused on the convergence of all these factors for the past year. To really empower our customers, a Tablet solution has to be completely integrated into a CRM database. Incidentally, we released our first iPad application – BrightBase Explorer this week.

Make it your own

When you combine the paradigm shifting power of this hardware, the interactive benefits of great software, wireless connectivity from almost anywhere and intelligence of a Cloud based CRM, you have concocted a recipe sure to change the world!

Go buy a Tablet today and embrace your future:)

She make the argument that Facebook commerce is a subset of social commerce and e-commerce, referring to commerce executed on or influenced by the Facebook platform. Commerce off Facebook (on other sites) is commerce that takes advantage of Facebook’s Open Graph, allowing shoppers to sign into Facebook from any online site with a PC or mobile device.

More than half our customers are seriously investing in (at least exploring) ways to leverage social media. The impact and growth cannot be ignored. According to USA Today this week, Facebook now has roughly 500 million users – 250 million of whom are on the site every day. The average user has 130 friends. Each month, people spend a total 700 billion minutes on Facebook.

Even the media seems to be catching on to the fact that now is the time to jump back into real estate. A few weeks ago in our weekly e-briefing “Monday’s First Cup”, we linked an article in Fortune/CNN entitled Real estate: It’s time to buy again. While there are still many economic factors that continue to be cause for concern, the crisis of confidence around investing in real estate seems to be on the way out.

For all of our friends and colleagues, we welcome the opportunity to share information and successes as we emerge from what has been a tremendous, challenging time. With that said, here are a couple of places you can sound off:

• Linkedin – Join the “Amenity Communities Development Association” group. As our membership grows, we may look to host webinars and special events.
• Facebook – Friend BrightDoor and contribute to the discussion

Onward and upward!

At the midpoint of my RDU to DFW flight I thought I could complete a customer proposal with some information from my office PC. With a quick connection to our VPN and Remote Connection to my office Dell, I am sifting through my desktop files while somewhere above the clouds over Tennessee. And at broadband speed!

This shouldn’t come as a big surprise for a veteran tech savvy traveler like me (remember 9,600 baud?) but I have to admit… the world just got much smaller!

Good-bye InFlight Entertainment

It all starts by determining what you’re trying to attain with the technology. Is lead generation the sole focus? Do you plan to use social marketing to stay connected with your current owners? Are you looking to broadcast special offers as quickly as possible? All of the above?

BrightDoor customer Hampton Lake has a robust Facebook presence.

As a primer to the potential of social marketing, I’ve compiled the following links to help as you build your plan. Although these articles aren’t necessarily real estate focused, they do provide some good background information on social media marketing, tips and best practices.

• From Pragmatic Marketing - Tuned in social media
• From Associated Content - Business: Three Risks and Myths of Social Networking
• From About.com – Reasons to Adopt Social Media Marketing
• From Duct Tape Marketing – Your Social Media Strategy

Once you’re off and running, like any other marketing initative, analyze the results and makes any necessary adjustments. In the digital age, change is just a few keystrokes away.

There are some notable changes from Q1:

• Lack of management experience is a big factor – lots of confusion about what to do next.
• Increased pursuit of any and all types of “efficiencies”. How can I cut cost and still do more.
• Continued financing hurdles for those that want to buy – especially on home sites.
• Buyers perception is that you can get 25% – 40% off at present.  They all want foreclosures or short sales….then it’s tough to get them financed.
• Pre-development communities are stagnant or dead.
• New development ownership and private capital on the rise.
• Interested prospects want completed communities – show me the clubhouse, let me play the golf course, what time is dinner?
• We are using the web and social networking much more. Must be targeted rather than mass media.
• Most prospects are jumpy and just won’t spend cash or go further in debt.
• On site agents have to relearn the art of selling.
• Follow-up is the key! Must be more frequent and more creative.
• Sales consultants have to be just that — consulting on financing, timing, market competition and they better be well versed in the competition too.
• A strong, trusted brand even more relevant than ever before.
• Developers lacking a positive and strong track record are dead in the water in this environment. People will not trust un-proven developers.
• Still watching for signs of positive consumer confidence – starting to see some now!

Add your feedback below….

All good questions. But consider this. If persistance pays off, how do I manage my marketing and sales efforts over the long term? Agencies are invaluable at establishing your brand and developing a plan for targeting your ideal prospects. Most of them understand that an integrated marketing approach (mostly weighted around online) is the best, most cost-effective approach.


Today, unified software systems like BrightBase give you the power and flexibility to take control of the on-going content management process. This now extends to your public website (inventory, site maps, surveys, registration) as well as other sales force automation tools such as information kiosks and sales center presentation. No one expects the “good old days” of 2006 to return anytime soon. As developers consider how to get back in the game, those with a persistant approach are best positioned for long term success. They’ll need technology that gives them full control of their online presence.

• Increasing anxiety about prolonged economic turmoil (domestic and global)
• With staff reductions, new spending hard to justify
• Increased pursuit of any and all types of “efficiencies”
• Financing hurdles for those that do want to buy
• Growing operational limitations imposed by lenders and owner/investors
• Near abandonment of print advertising, collateral and media
• Chapter 7 vs. chapter 11
• Interested prospects want completed communities (no renderings)
• Recognizing need for exceptional service and experience for every single on-site prospect
• Retail buyers are looking for foreclosures, short sales or a “steal”
• Leadership is learning to sell because all sales people have quit or been fired
• Watching for signs of positive consumer confidence
• Progressively more dependent on web-based databases and lead generating tools
• Interested prospects have low levels of interest in home sites
• Research is leading to a fractional explosion over the next 5 years
• Flush developers and lenders (and there are many) have the opportunity/opportunities of a lifetime
• Best location, best product and best price still wins!

Special thanks to these folks for their contribution this month: Linton West, Jason Weaver, Harry Redfearn, Terry Tolbert, Ranie Good, Chris Hill, Jami Mullikin, Terry Weaver, Gary Harmon, Judith She’, David Pisano, Mike Notartomaso, Burt Baine, Johnny Ussery

As our friend Terry Weaver likes to say, “If none of us hold back…All of us can move forward.” In the spirit of that notion, we’d like for you to sound off on any of these real estate sales & marketing topics:

• What source of inbound leads are most effective today?
• What lead generation efforts are you investing in this year?
• What ineffective sales and marketing programs are you eliminating?
• How are you keeping your sales team(s) engaged and motivated?
• What are you doing to ensure future success?