As part of a recent exercise on social media for a homebuilder client, I searched for examples of other homebuilders using Twitter as a marketing tool.  Yep, you guessed it — not so much.  There are a few examples of builders doing it really well (check out @lennar for example), and yet there is so much more that can be done.

Twitter is a tool that builders can embrace because of it’s immediacy, intimacy and personality.  Relationships can be built with potential homebuyers through twitter, or at the very least those relationships can be strengthened through continued communication via builder tweets.  For example, a residential community could tweet about price changes, incentives and — yes, they are actually happening — new phase releases.  Sales associates could direct message buyers with updates on the construction of their new home, send links to photos of the development, and let them know about upcoming milestones and special events.  A builder could be tweeting about his or her blog (ahem, Steve Doyle) and letting all its existing and future homeowners about news and trends.  Twitter really is a very powerful tool for homebuilders, just waiting to be tapped.

Builder Magazine recently published a list of builders using twitter.  Let’s hope that since it was released in March, this list has grown substantially along with the growth of twitter.

And another recent article in Brand Republic News ranked that top 100 brands most mentioned on twitter.  And no surprise – not a single homebuilder brand made the list.  But give us a little time — I’ll bet by next year builders and real estate developers are all over twitter like bees on honey.  It’s just a natural combination

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