NHS GalleryGreat photography and renderings are vital components to helping shoppers envision themselves in your homes. That’s why New Home Source is going even further to provide builders with expanded photo galleries to show off their beautiful architecture. Site visitors can will soon be able to experience images and video in a full-screen viewer.  And with the addition of community images, leads on average increase by 28% and click thrus by 20%! And don’t forget about video! Embedding video with your listing also increases leads by 28% and click thrus by 36%.

So how does it work?

  • From any community or home details page, click the “Expand” icon in the corner of the on-page gallery
  • Enjoy larger images and videos that fill your screen
  • Navigate via the forward/back toggles or via the thumbnails at the bottom
  • Icons for “Videos”, “Photos”, “[Interactive] Floor Plan” and “Tour” identify current media shown and can be used to jump to that/those slides in the viewer
  • Share images via Pinterest!
  • Grab a free brochure from the community via the form embedded in the viewer (last slide and also persistent button)

NHS Gallery 2We expect that this experience will delight users and should impact conversion positively — especially for those builders who have the recommended minimum or larger image sizes. To get the most of this new feature, we recommend images that are 1200×800 pixels or larger. We also tend to see best results with a 3:2 (sometimes called 1.5:1) aspect ratio, but we can accommodate others as needed. When you start to update your photos, a best practice is to include 1-3 exterior images, 2-5 interior images, & a floor plan for each story of the home.

What are you waiting for? If you don’t have stunning renderings or photos of your homes, contact us at info@thebdx.com today!

 

responsive websitesThe amount of internet searches from mobile devices has increased by a huge rate over the last few years. Did you know that 35% of shoppers will view your website on a mobile device?  Have you checked to see if your website is responsive and display correctly on all mobile devices including cell phones, tablets, and iPads? If not, then you may be in trouble.

On April 21st, Google started using website responsive design or mobile-friendliness as a ranking tool. When a buyer is searching for homes from their mobile device, Google will give your website a boost in ranking as long as it is responsive and displays correctly on mobile devices.

How do you know if your website is responsive? Keep the following in mind when you view your website from a mobile or tablet device:

  • Your website pages display correctly on your mobile or tablet screen without having to resize
  • Text is readable
  • Links are not too close together
  • Images are displaying correctly

If you want to be sure that your website is ranking higher in search results, Google has offered a Mobile-Friendly Test. You can enter your website URL and the test will report if the page has a mobile-friendly design.

Need help getting a responsive website that is mobile and tablet friendly? BDX can help! Click here to learn more about our responsive builder websites or email us at Info@thebdx.com.

 

 

Ad AgencySmart builders use social media – and Facebook specifically – for mission-critical reasons that drive business results. It’s critical to know what consumers are saying about you company, the homes you build and the service you provide.

Because of this, BDX is launching a new Facebook App that is available to builders listing all of their communities with BDX. Now you can include your listings on your company Facebook page with our app!

  • Your listings will show up as a dedicated app on your Facebook page
  • Visitors to your Facebook page can use the app’s geographical map or search by market area or city
  • The app has links to your communities with drilldown to your homes and plans in each community
  • The app features calls-to-action including a “request info” form and links to your website
  • All data is powered by the info you already provide to BDX
  • Email leads are delivered in the same manner as other BDX leads, with a dedicated source “Facebook SeaFB App Exrch App”

Having a vibrant social media presence protects and improves your website’s organic rank and traffic. Google places great value on social signals. The likes, shares and comments you earn – especially when you share inspiring photos, floor plans, renderings or videos of your new homes on Facebook – pay off with traffic from your posts and increased organic rank.

Facebook is a great way to crowdsource your design and marketing. Start by asking your fans which elevation they prefer, how they would build out a bonus room, or which cabinet color or style they like best. You’ll engage with prospective homebuyers and gain useful insights.

You can also elicit and share testimonials from homebuyers and to engage with shoppers and Realtors. According to Facebook Insights, 74% of adults with a college education use Facebook as well as 72% of adults who earn more than $75,000. Half of Facebook users are on Facebook, often on their mobile device, every day.  Your customers and prospects live on Facebook. Isn’t it time to reach them effectively? Make your Facebook page even more engaging by adding your listings with our new app. Contact info@thebdx.com to get started.

WebWe are excited to announce that New Home Source TV is now airing in Austin, Dallas and Raleigh!  New Home Source TV presents a fresh show & tell-style take on the traditional real estate shows you may be used to. Each week, host and Certified Home Inspector, Brett Tutor will take viewers on a behind the scenes tour of several beautiful newly-built homes from the hottest new communities in these areas as well as highlight design trends, green features and neighborhood amenities.

You may not know how desirable new construction is amongst home shoppers in these markets. In fact, more than 50% are considering “new” as they begin the shopping process!  What a tremendous opportunity to reach these home shoppers on a weekly basis and showcase the benefits of modern construction techniques and lower cost of living that comes with owning a truly new home.

If you are in the Austin metro area, tune in to FOX (channel 7) every Sunday at 9 a.m.  New Home Source TV will air in Dallas every Sunday on to CBS (channel 11) at 10:30 a.m. and at 11:00 a.m. in Raleigh on NBC (WCNC Channel 17).  Visit www.NewHomeSource.TV to see the beautiful communities that are featured on the program.

Want to learn more?  Watch the video below to get a preview of New Home Source TV.

Lights, camera, ACTION! Interested in being on future episodes of the show or want to know when it’s coming to an area near you? Contact us to put the spotlight on your homes!