Today, I am at the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show. The Louisville Show is sponsored by the Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation and is one of the premier manufactured housing trade shows in the country.
What am I doing here?
Well, in addition to my business as an Internet Marketing Consultant, I hold a Manufactured Housing Installer Manager’s license in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and act as the staff Installer Manager for Affordable Home Sales in Danville and Campbellsville, KY.
We attend this show to keep up with the latest developments in the manufactured housing industry.
What does all this have to do with marketing on the Internet?
One of the problems faced by the manufactured housing industry is a perception if their product as a “mobile home.” The term “mobile home” actually only applies to what are known as “pre HUD Code” homes, those manufactured prior to 1974. In 1974, the first HUD Code was introduced. As a performance code, it greatly improved the quality of the homes, which now meet or exceed the quality of site built homes.
Manufactured housing is the most affordable high quality housing available in America today. But to reach it’s potential, the industry needs to shake off it’s old “mobile home” image.
And there is no better place to do that than the Internet. The Internet provides the opportunity for the industry to tell it’s side of the story. I’ve bought, owned and sold manufactured homes, both single- and multi-section. I know their side of the story and it is worth telling.
I’ve been present at the installation of many of these homes and have managed repairs and rehabilitation of several older ones. These homes are sturdy and built to last. And they cost much less than comparable site-built homes.
Despite the tireless efforts of loyal boosters, in my opinion the manufactured housing industry hasn’t done enough to get the word out. They need to use every tool in the new media toolbox. Social sites, video and more. Pull out all the Web 2.0 stops. And don’t give up until they dominate the affordable housing market.
The manufactured housing product fits the dream of of America as a nation of homeowners like a glove. Homes people can afford without resorting to toxic mortgage packages.
As Americans scale back their expectations to meet the realities of the new real estate marketplace, manufactured housing will be there to provide quality housing at an affordable price. They just have to get the word out.
And that’s why I’m at the Louisville Show.
Resources:
Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute
Manufactured Housing Institute
HUD Manufactured Home Consumer Guide
Manufactured Housing Global Network
