Braun/Allison Inc. is CHBA BC and BC Homes Magazine’s Marketer of the Year!

We’re thrilled, ecstatic, delighted, downright tickled pink to share that Braun/Allison Inc. has been awarded the Marketer of Year Award for new residential construction in British Columbia from BC Homes Magazine and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC (CHBA BC).

A rather large image of David Allison graces the cover of the magazine’s August/September issue, while a pieced together, life-sized version of the cover that the team had a little fun with – think eye patch and pirate goatee – is plastered on the boardroom wall.

BC Homes Magazine is the only province-wide magazine that keeps readers informed about B.C.’s residential construction industry, and we’re honoured to have been recognized for our work.

David will be the guest speaker at the upcoming award luncheon to be held September 24, 2010 at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel (1180 West Hastings St.). Registration will begin at 11:30 followed by lunch at 12 p.m. and David’s keynote address at 1p.m.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased here, or by calling the CHBA BC office at 604.432.7112

Want to know what we’re reading?

The team at Braun/Allison Inc. are constantly reading about interesting stories and cool new developments happening in the world of marketing and branding. And what better way to spread the excitement about some of the articles and posts we’ve come across than to share them?

So we thought we’d try something new. If you text “david” at 82422, you’ll receive David’s mobile business card and a recommended monthly reading list.

Here’s what has caught our attention recently:

What Does A Viral Video Cost And How Do You Make One?

We’re big believers in video – if it’s done right. A great post reminding us all that it takes more than just a camera and an idea to create, produce and launch a viral video.

Survey: Most Audiences to Get Information from Mobile Devices

Agreed. A phone is so much more than a communication piece, and there are some helpful stats in this post to back that up.

2010 Logo Design Trends

As a company that works to design creative campaigns for our clients, it’s essential that we stay on top of the latest trends. The headline is self-explanatory.

The big app transition

A very interesting read about old and new media convergence. And a reminder not to get too comfortable. These days, change is the only constant. 

The Best Kept Secret in Social Media

Share content without sending people away from your site. Simple tips with pictures too!

It’s (always) too soon to know for sure

We love posts that get us thinking, and Seth Godin has a knack for it. Enough said.

Altered States: Times Square Billboard Crowdsources Content, Disrupts Reality

Using high-tech surveillance cameras and computer vision technology, Forever 21’s billboard actually interacts with crowds in Times Square. Wow. This is social media on an entirely new level.

Social is Changing the Media Mix

This video blog is a clip from an upcoming documentary about social media. The documentary is being produced by BBN3, and we’ll be sure to let you know when it is finished and available for viewing. Meanwhile, watch this video of Braun/Allison’s David Allison talking about the philosophy behind a good social media program, while simultaneously balancing an empty coffee cup in one hand. Enjoy.

What Type of Web Content Sells Real Estate?

Businesses often turn to firms offering Search Engine Optimization for guidance on key words and meta data in an effort to improve their website traffic. But good SEO is only part of the formula.

It’s a universal rule that good content – good stories — get consumed and the bad stuff is ignored.

When developing content for a new Real Estate Development website be sure to include information that people want to spend time with. If it’s interesting and useful, readers will stick around, want more, and visit your site again and again as you add more and more stories.

While snappy headlines are a great way to capture attention, be sure you have crafted a great article below the headers to keep readers engaged.

Rather than producing a website filled with advertising copy, focus on your target audience and establish what type of information would appeal to prospective buyers. Think outside the box: product information is a given, but what else makes your offering an appealing one? The neighbours? The retailers? The amenities? We’ve yet to encounter a project that doesn’t have dozens of compelling stories to tell.

And make sure your web design company includes a plug-in like Sociable that allows visitors to instantly share your content with others via email, RSS feeds, or social media websites. If your stories are a good read, and you make them easy to share, you could find yourself with thousands more prospects than you anticipated.

By crafting great web content and allowing visitors to share it with others, you will see a higher volume of traffic on your site. More traffic leads to more leads. And more leads yield more sales.