Photo Credit: Michael Stout
Over the years I’ve written down a number of opinions about the mobile Internet and home builders. In 2008, I wrote Homebuilder Mobile Marketing with Google discussing the impact Google’s Android platform would have on mobile usage (now with the greatest market share). In 2009, I wrote about how Foursquare would impact mobile real estate marketing. And more recently I wrote about mobile apps versus mobile websites for builders.
Why I got some things wrong over the years, I hit the mark quite a bit, too. I thought it might be fun to put some more skin in the game and outline a list of 2011 predictions for the mobile web and builders. Since 2011 is well under way, I’m going to revisit these in about 12 months time, maybe sooner, to see how I did.
Separated into “likely to happen” categories, here it goes:
Pretty Confident:
- Mobile website visits will be 10% or more of total website visits for the average builder.
- Mobile traffic originating from organic search will represent 25% of total mobile traffic.
- A major builder will offer special bonuses to nearby check-in’ers to come over for a model tour.
- Most Builders will stop using QR Codes to direct people to non-mobile sites. (Hint: If your prospects are scanning a QR code, they’re doing it from a mobile device)
Maybe/Hopeful:
- A Realtor incentive program will be launched incorporating geo-location to reward agents for model home check-ins.
- A major builder will launch an app that includes geo-location data (nearby check-ins, specials, etc).
Tough Puts (I’m not a golfer, but I’m told this means “unlikely, but doable”):
- A showcase of homes will take place incorporating a geo-location app or a tie-in with an existing geo-location service like Foursquare, Gowalla, or Facebook Places.
- An innovative builder will release an iPad app in the App Store (not just for sales office use)
- It will be commonplace for a mobile listing page to include a mobile optimized video of the property.
Some of these are less quantifiable than I’d like; i.e. “most”, “major”, “commonplace”, etc.
Am I missing something? Feel free to chime in and let me know your thoughts.
