Erik Cofield selected as Consultant at Builder Radio

by Erik Cofield in News and Events 2/3/2010 3:25:00 AM

BuildTopia is pleased to recognize Erik Cofield, VP Sales and Marketing, as a new consultant for Builder Radio!  More details available at www.builderradio.com.

Erik Cofield, CGA has leveraged technology and provided business management consulting for all sizes and types of builders, developers and Remodelers since 2000, including volume, multi-family and custom, to help them improve their business. He is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing with BuildTopia, a widely used international construction management software company.  He enjoys applying best practices to businesses and being part of their success, growth and financial stability. As a long time advocate for education and professionalism in the residential construction industry, he managed the education program for the Greater Houston Builders Association for 2 years and holds the CGA (Certified Graduate Associate) designation from the National Association of Homebuilders.  

He speaks on a variety of subjects and provides content to outlets including Home Builder Associations, HGTV, NAHB, magazines and e-zines. 

He has been published in the 2008 and 2009 NAHB Business Management Guides He writes the business management best practices blog here at BuildTopia www.buildtopia.com/blog 

He is an NAHB Approved Instructor for:         
Customer Service
         
Sales and Marketing for Remodelers
         
Introduction to Business Management
 
The CSP Course-Certified New Home Sales Professionals

One of the best compliments we here about Erik is from builders who tell us he has made a difference in how they run their business.

Congratulations Erik!


BuildTopia Supports Epcon at Sales Conference

by Erik Cofield in News and Events 1/14/2010 9:19:00 AM

We are happy to expand our role at the Epcon sales conference in Columbus this month.

As a preferred vendor for Epcon corporate and franchisees, it is not just about having customers. BuildTopia is also pleased to be providing training support on the system and sales best practices to help leverage the system to out position the competition. 

We know it has been a tough year for builders.  If you are going to have a smaller piece of the pie, make it very rich!  As a partner to Epcon, we are happy to announce we are as steadfast, solid, still growing, and still willing to give back added value to our clients.

BuildTopia supports and participates in numerous on site events, speaking engagements, presentations at home builder associations, on site group training, webinars with Builder Radio, Blue Tangerine Solutions and road shows with strategic partners such as New Home Source.

If you are interested in discussing our involvement in your organization, please contact Erik Cofield at ecofield@buildtopia.com


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St. Louis HBA proves most successful seminar with 14 new customers

by Erik Cofield in News and Events 1/8/2010 1:25:00 AM

The recent selling strategies seminar BuildTopia was at in St. Louis proved to be the most successful yet. BuildTopia's VP of Sales, Erik Cofield, joins Builder Homesite's, Chad Bria and Carol Flammer with mRelevance to promote the Builders Trifecta: You have to get leads, you have to have a great web site and social media presence and you have to manage leads like a Super-Hero! 

The attendance was incredible strong with over 60 attendees. BuildTopia ended up signing up 14 builders on BTLead in one day!

More "road shows" are planned. If you would like this seminar at your HBA, contact Erik Cofield at ecofield@buildtopia.com. The presentation may be complimentary in some cases.


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Transform Your Marketing With This Powerful Tip

by Erik Cofield in Articles 1/8/2010 1:20:00 AM

What helps sell more homes faster? A) construction science, B) deep pockets C) stellar sales people D) strategic marketing?

 

You guessed it, strategic marketing. You might have said all of the above, but not really because of the word “faster”. Why?  Construction science can build it faster. Money is great, but not if you waste it on poor marketing choices. Sales people help, but only if they have leads.  So, strategic marketing fits that bill.  

Do you think you are in construction? Too bad, you are also in marketing. You may have gotten in to this industry because you are a construction science guru, or maybe you are a brilliant architect, or you graduated from Business College and you got in it for the money or your parents gave you the business. It doesn’t matter, congratulations, you are now in marketing.

 

While most builders don’t usually do blow away marketing, some do. You can too. Whether you could build a home blind-folded, or you are a Harvard business grad, or you were a superintendent and are starting your own company, none of that matters if you are not marketing like a Transformer!  So here is a tip many builders overlook. It will help you out-position your competition. More...


BuildTopia in St. Louis - Seminar - Successful Selling Strategies

by Erik Cofield in Articles | News and Events 12/27/2009 1:43:00 PM

Join us as we head to St. Louis!  Erik will present his "Managing Leads Like a Super-Hero!" as one of the presenters with Builder Homesite.  BuildTopia is part of a road show with Builder Homesite as we head to Home Builder Associations around the country giving builders real world advice on successful selling strategies to sell homes online, or anywhere else. Carol Flammer with mRelevance joins as well.

RSVP details are in the flyer below.

If you would like this at your HBA, contact Erik Cofield at
ecofield@buildtopia.com.

St Louis 1-5-10 seminar on selling homes.pdf (54.78 kb)


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BuildTopia on Builder Radio - CRM systems making money for builders!

by Erik Cofield in Articles 11/9/2009 3:18:00 PM

Erik Cofield, VP of BuildTopia, is interviewed by Jerry Roleau and Scott Stroud from Builder Radio. It is all about CRM systems. Listen to unbiased real world best practices and judge for yourself if you are profiting from a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system.

You can listen to the 30 minute audio from their main site. It will only be here for 1 week, then archived.
http://builderradio.com/

The article that accompanies the interview is below! Download it. Share it. Strategize with your team. It is all about CRM systems. Are you leveraging your system to the max? Let us know what you think. We provide builders with real world best practices, every day, whether you use BuildTopia or not!

Want the presentation at your company, or at your home builder association? Contact Erik at ecofield@buildtopia.com

CRM Systems: Real World Q &A (Not Product Specific)
August, 2009

INTRODUCTION
CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is misunderstood, because the actual subject matter is wide, the issues diverse and the needs are different based on volume size of builder, number of staff, type of product built, method of obtaining leads, and more.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
Many builders are either not benefitting from a CRM system or not using the one they have to their full potential. They think they don’t need one, can’t afford one, or wouldn’t benefit from one, their staff would not use one or that it is just an expense, instead of an investment with a qualified quick return. Some builders even think there are just too many options and get stuck in the “fear of change” category.

PREVIOUS OPTIONS
There are a myriad of options currently available, which still include hard copy (paper), spreadsheets, contact management systems (Outlook) and then the entire world of real CRM software applications, not to mention the industry specific CRM systems specially designed for the needs of the residential construction industry.

SOLUTION
The following questions were gathered from real world sessions with Builders, specifically and exclusively on the subject of CRM (not BuildTopia products).  This content is provided as industry best practices advice.

Benefit 1
With a CRM System, a builder can out position, and out perform, their competition.

Benefit 2
W
ith a CRM System, a builder can minimize pricing mistakes on options and inventory.

Benefit 3
With a CRM System, a builder can get immediate access to accurate results and make real time qualified decisions.

*There are dozens of additional benefits!

IMPLEMENTATION
Implementation varies widely depending on several factors, including, the level of capability (functionality) in the system chosen, the skill level of the staff involved, and the amount and type of support the vendor company offers the builder. The investment costs of implementation from the vendor company for the solution can vary tremendously as well. This can range from nothing for a self-implemented system, to many thousands of dollars. Some systems offer methods for the builder to self-implement and/or utilize highly skilled project managers, usually for an additional investment. Factor the return on investment against the cost of the system, cost of implementation, ongoing technical support costs, and version upgrades, if any.

SUMMARY
BuildTopia has been helping builders of all sizes and types, as well as thousands of their trade partners, for over 10 years. We hope you find this information helpful in your search to improve your company performance and maximize your potential to profit. The questions and answers are in their original conversational style. They were asked from a wide variety of builders in residential construction.

CRM Systems: Real World Q &A

What does CRM stand for?

Customer Relationship Management. But the term “CRM” typically refers to a system or software application that allows for processing all the elements of the “day in the life of” a contact. Industry specific systems manage leads to prospect to homebuyers to home owners.
_
What is a lead management system?

Leads are just one type of contact. A lead management system can be a stand alone system, but is really only one part of a total CRM system.
_
What is the difference between a CRM, a CMS and a Sales System?

A CMS is a Contact Management System. Typically, a CMS is not as in-depth in terms of ability or functionality. It is managing a contact in terms of data, as opposed to a total relationship.  A CRM system provides in-depth customer relationship issues, such as tasks, multiple emails, multiple phone numbers, notes, documents, dates, contact information, etc. It allows you to not just track contact data, but ultimately, the entire relationship with marketing campaigns, lead sources, reporting tools and more.
A Sales System is a CRM system that is industry specific and takes CRM to a whole new level with added functionality. For this industry, it would include management of contracts, options, incentives, campaigns, survey cards, associated people such as Realtors, Brokers and harmonious things such as interaction points with the consumer, such as home buyer home pages (portals).
_
How do you use sign-in cards in a system or electronic database?

You have to More...


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MOVE, INC. AND BUILDER HOMESITE LAUNCH BUILDERS DIGITAL EXPERIENCE, NEW HOME MARKETING VENTURE

by Erik Cofield in News and Events 10/14/2009 11:29:00 AM
Move and Builder Homesite Join Forces and Resources To Connect Builders With Buyers

Westlake Village, CA (October 14, 2009) – Move, Inc., and Builder Homesite, Inc., today announced the launch of Builders Digital Experience (theBDX.com), a joint venture dedicated to helping new home builders reach buyers with innovative online marketing solutions, providing the nation’s largest network of new home web sites, and streamlining customer service and support.  As a result, this new venture will enable increased investment in product portfolio expansion while providing builders with greater value and affordability.

Through this new strategic partnership, Builders Digital Experience (BDX) will operate the Move.com New Homes Channel and NewHomeSource.com, the country’s two most visited new homes websites1, thereby delivering the largest online collection of new home listings. In addition, BDX will provide home builders with a one-stop-shop for the comprehensive portfolio of marketing and media services they need to market new homes to buyers.

Full article and press release at www.thebdx.com

Erik Cofield
ecofield@buildtopia.com


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BuildTopia at Houston Product Expo 10-22-09

by Erik Cofield in News and Events 10/14/2009 1:31:00 AM

The Greater Houston Builders Association holds their annual product expo on 10-22-09 and expects hundreds of builders of all types and sizes to come see nearly 100 exhibitors, to see new products, take the contract seminars and reconnect with vendors. BuildTopia will be there in booth number 30 showing the entire suite of products, BTBuilder, BTSales, BTService and BTLead. BuildTopia will also be communicating the GHBA member discount on BuildTopia's extraordinary lead and prospect management system, BTLead.

More information at www.ghabshows.com

Is your HBA ready for a great non-dues revenue source? If so, contact Erik Cofield at ecofield@buildtopia.com


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Hanley Wood’s Fall Update on the 20 Healthiest Markets in Housing Industry

by Erik Cofield in Articles 10/6/2009 11:05:00 AM

More information at www.builderonline.com or http://bit.ly/pVkkf

#1 Austin

Market Health Indicator: 50.3

Even though it took a step backward during the last six months, Austin happens to be the only market on our list that is genuinely close to healthy. Home prices, which rose in 2008, finally declined this year—they are down 4.6% through September—as this Texas metro ended a long run of employment growth and lost some jobs. But its population has expanded by 4.3% during the first half of 2009, which should add housing demand and help firm up home pricing. It was the same story with Austin-area employment numbers, which remained in positive territory until mid-2009, when its manufacturing segment began losing jobs. Still, unemployment in this progressive city runs only about 7%, significantly below the national average. Dell Computer is Austin’s largest employer, with about 17,000 jobs. Austin continues to draw population, especially retirees, with its low cost of living, inexpensive housing, and warm-weather climate. The city had the third highest household growth rate in percentage terms among the top 100 market. Even so, permit activity fell by 38% during the first half of the year.More...


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BuildTopia Rolls in to Florida! We Could be at Your Association Too!

by Erik Cofield in News and Events 10/5/2009 12:58:00 PM
For a web-based total construction management system, we sure get around!

We are rolling in to Jacksonville on 10-9-09 as a content provider for NEFBA's SMC council, and we could be at your association too

BuildTopia, and our partners, Builder Homesite's New Home Source and mRelevance are swinging in to town to present content on ways to out position your competition.

If only a few sales are going to be made, why shouldn't they be yours? They can be, but you will have to be good at your game.

If you are not near Jacksonville, ask us how to get this road show to your HBA. If you are near NEFBA, this is an investment with a quick ROI, and yes, just like always, when I leap to the stage, you will stare!  Then we will get to business. You really can close more deals!

More details at: http://www.smcnefba.com/

Erik Cofield, VP of Sales and Marketing
Ecofield@buildtopia.com or 240-399-0110 x213 
 

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