BDX News

The latest news and updates on BDX solutions.

By: Dan Bagby, BDX Content Manager

Google My Business was launched as a way to manage your Google listing and Google + profile. Find out what it means to homebuilders and how to take full advantage of the new Google listings portal.

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Since Google Maps was created, it has confused business owners and marketing professional alike with several portals to add and edit business listings. Claiming and verifying locations multiple times became the norm as Google released new ways to claim you page causing business details and reviews to disappear. With Google My Business, it seems these issues have been resolved. The portal combines all remaining services such as Google + and Google Places, allowing business owners to claim their locations one time and control their business listing, Google + profile, YouTube channel, and see insights from one dashboard.

There are several benefits to using Google My Business. First, by completing a profile for your sales center, community, or other location, builders can be found in the 7 Pack on the Google Search results. This is a section of the Google result page dedicated to local businesses usually showing 7 businesses.

Google2This also allows customers to rate and interact with the builder. With a few reviews, stars begin to appear below the listing, giving companies even more attention in the search result pages on Google. These listing can also help customers find the new home communities they are looking for on Google Maps, eliminating the frustration that comes when destinations do not appear on smartphones or other device used to get directions.

How to get the most out of Google My Business

  1. Claim your listing

The first step is to verify your listing. Go to Google My Business and search for your location. You will either need to claim an existing business or create a new listing. You will then be prompted to verify by receiving a verification code by postcard or phone call.

New communities will likely need to be sent a postcard to verify ownership. You can receive it at a sales office onsite, a construction trailer or a model home. If you have additional sales offices away from the community, claim those pages as well.

  1. Complete your profile

Once you have requested the verification code, you can start completing your business listing. From the dashboard, click edit where you will be taken to the Business Info page. Fill out this page including business hours, description, and add photos.

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  1. Continue to stay active

Once Google My Business is set up, continue to manage the Google + page. Post from the same dashboard to share pictures, blog articles, news and updates about your new homes and communities. Check back to view the insights that show number of impressions, clicks, and how people are interacting with you on Google +. Use the reviews section to reply to negative reviews and thank your raving fans. If you have videos, load them on YouTube and connect your channel to this page.

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  1. Link to your profile

Once your listing is complete, add a link to your Google + page from your website. If you have multiple locations, link to them from a location specific page on your site such as the contact us, driving directions, or community pages.

  1. Create citations

A citation is any site online that has a company’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) such as Yahoo, Yelp, YellowPages and SuperPages. By claiming listings around the web you create citation that will increase your rank within local search results. Claim the listing for all your new home communities using the exact NAP as the business info in your Google My Business page. To get a list of important sites to claim you can use Moz Local. Search a business name to receive a list of missing, incomplete, inconsistent, and duplicate listings to create or correct.

Taking these steps will increase local visibility and give home builders more control of their look and reputation. If you have any questions about local online marketing or reputation management services for builders contact us at info@thebdx.com.

revolutionjeffshoreThe market and real estate landscape changes daily, and we must adapt or be left behind. Do you need to [r]evolutionize the potential your team can have from the top to bottom?

If you’re ready to leap ahead farther and faster than you ever thought possible, then it is time that you embrace the [r]evolution! BDX is proud to sponsor the Jeff Shore Sales and Marketing Summit on October 3rd at the beautiful Lowes Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, CA. This year’s theme is [r]evolution 2014. Break The Past. Build The Future. Come learn everything you need to know about radically transforming your future and business:

  • How to Clarify Your Purpose and Priorities as a Sales Leader                                
  • Multiply Your Team’s Sales Through Superior Coaching Encounters
  • Move Salespeople Away From “Training” and Towards “Mastery”
  • Create an Upward Paradigm Spiral™ For Your Sales Team
  • Accerlerate Your Own Personal Development
  • Leave a Lasting Legacy Within Your Sales Organization
  • Create a Customized, High-Impact “Hot Sheet” For Immediate Action

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Jeff’s annual Summit is THE must-attend event each year for new home sales and marketing leaders. And for the second year, BDX is excited to sponsor and participate in such an amazing event. [r]evolution 2014 is built around all new tools and strategies that enable you to boldly build the unstoppable sales team. In addition to Jeff’s engaging insights, you will also hear leading edge research from an impressive list of industry experts while sharing best practices with leaders from across the country. And, of course, the BDX team will be there participating in the Summit as well!

The price of attending the Summit represents one of the greatest values that you and your team will find anywhere in the industry. We believe this is a game-changing event and we certainly hope that you’ll take full advantage of the opportunity!

Don’t wait any longer, click here to download the full brochure and register for this amazing event. You’ll come back with renewed vision, clear goals and refreshing new strategies to lead with passion. And be sure to use sponsor code “BDX” when you register for a 15% discount on registration!

We hope to see you at the [r]evolution!

The BDX Team

computer-click In an effort to make accessing BDX marketing materials easier, we have transitioned the Partner Marketing Kit from the HBA Portal to the BDX.com. Now all you have to do is visit http://www.thebdx.com/hba-Partner-Kit to find articles, webinars, advertising templates and consumer facing content from our Start Fresh. Buy New. campaign. The site can also be located by visiting theBDX.com and going to the BDX Quick Links in the top right hand corner of the page > HBA Partners. And the best part is there is not a login for you to remember!

If you would like to request a customized piece of collateral, please contact Ashlei Valles at AValles@thebdx.com.

As you know, signing up for listings on the HBA site, New Home Source and Move New Homes is free AND if the builder upgrades to the full BDX bundle we share that revenue back with you. Signing up for a free listing is quick and easy, by filling out the form at www.theBDX.com/Free.

Check out the new site today and be sure to book mark it! http://www.thebdx.com/hba-Partner-Kit

Please note that since all content has been published on theBDX.com, we will no longer be adding or updating materials on the HBA Portal site: hba.thebdx.com.

 

With the average smartphone user spending nearly 677 minutes a month using mobile applications, it is clear how much we rely on them in our everyday lives. And with nearly 50 percent of new home shoppers considering new construction, now new homes are searchable right on the realtor.com® mobile application for both iOS and Android platforms.

RealtorAppScreenshotSteve Berkowitz, Move’s chief executive officer says “The addition of fresh and accurate new home listings on the realtor.com® mobile applications gives buyers the competitive edge to identify and buy their perfect new home.”

Realtor.com® app users now have access to an astonishing 60,000 new home plans from approximately 7,500 new home communities sourced from BDX right at their fingertips. When searching for listings, home buyers can filter results by “new homes only,” or view new home plans,which is identified by a new home plan badge found alongside resale listings on main search results pages within the application.

BDX’s Melissa Morman stated that “this is an important milestone for our builders as we continue to position new home communities in the general real estate marketplace.”realtor.com ad

“Technology, paired with accurate data, drives informed home-buying decisions. Having the right tools, such as access to new home plans on the realtor.com® mobile applications, is crucial to finding the right home,” Berkowitz said. “Buyers who take their search a step further and educate themselves about what’s going on in their local market can hone in on their ideal home more quickly and negotiate with confidence.”

For more information or to download the realtor.com® application, please visit www.realtor.com/mobile. To get your homes listed on realtor.com® and on the new mobile application contact info@thebdx.com today!

_MG_8717Every year Texas 4000 competitively selects University of Texas students for a program designed to cultivate the next generation to lead the fight against cancer. The culmination of the students’ fundraising, training and volunteering is a 70 day bike ride from Austin to Anchorage. All along their 3 routes, the cyclists raise awareness and financial support for cancer.

This year, BDX/BHI was proud to host the riders in our Northwest Austin office building for their first night on the road to Anchorage. On Friday evening over 200 friends, family members and supporters filled our office to send the riders off on their journey. We were so proud to host this group and support these students. This truly is an amazing program with such an inspirational message and mission._MG_8716

As a 70-day ride that travels three routes from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska, the Texas 4000 summer ride is the longest annual charity bike ride in the world. Starting together in Austin on Day Zero, the team splits on Day Two into Sierra, Rockies, and Ozarks routes and later reunites in Canada to ride the last nine days together into Anchorage. Each rider logs more than 4,000 riding miles throughout the course of the ride.

_MG_8847As a result of their full experience, Texas 4000 riders report growth and increased skills in the areas of physical fitness, leadership, accountability, confidence, resiliency, decision-making, conflict resolution, cancer advocacy, community engagement, volunteerism, fundraising, networking, mentorship, nonprofit operations, bike maintenance, nutrition, public speaking, interviewing, time management, teamwork, and more.

To learn more about the program and follow the rider’s progress along the way — visit www.texas4000.org.