Builders and Remodelers of Greater Boston (BRAGB) Hosts NAHB Area 1 Summer Caucus

Industry Leaders Speak on Market Trends, Importance of Social Media to Market Membership

On Thursday, August 22, 2013 the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston hosted the NAHB Area 1 Summer Caucus for construction, real estate and marketing professionals alike. Attendees were offered insight into market trends and the importance of harnessing social media platforms to promote both their companies and NAHB affiliation.

Tom Woods, 2013 Second Vice Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), began the program with a discussion on the state of NAHB membership and suggestions on how to increase member activity with the association. In response to this conversation, Dianne Beaton, Creative Marketing Director of 2DiFore Marketing Solutions, offered practical techniques for effectively utilizing and promoting an association membership. Distinguishing between the functions of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+, Beaton offered instructive insight into the benefits that resulted from use of each individual platform.

Following lunch, Greg Zick of Membership Services and Education at NAHB spoke on the generational shift as it relates to association membership, and actions that can be taken to respond to this trend. Referencing “The End of Membership As We Know It: Building the Fortune-Flipping, Must-Have Association of the Next Century” by Sara Sladek, Zick emphasized the importance of taking advantage of new communications and marketing tactics and the increasing popularity of social media to bring membership back up.

Wrapping up the event, Floyd Greenwood, Founder and President of Alphamatician, provided a market overview projecting an improved economy, increased consumer confidence, a rising consumer interest and overall stable market.

Gerry-Lynn Darcy, Executive Officer at BRAGB, was very pleased with the diversity of experience the speakers offered the event guests. “Our keynote speakers each offered unique suggestions and input into the state of association membership today,” she commented. “The four presentations were very cohesive, and the audience was able to take away tangible practices for improving their overall market strategy.”

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About The Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston:

The Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston (BRAGB) is a long-standing trade association affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Home Builders Association of Massachusetts (HBAM), and has represented the industry since 1944. BRAGB has evolved into one of the leading trade associations in New England serving both remodeling contractors and small, moderate, and large volume builders and developers who construct single family, multi-family, and commercial properties. Associate members represent property management professionals, sales and marketing firms, realtors, suppliers, architects, engineers, land planners, attorneys, accountant, financial institutions and distributors of construction related materials.