Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: marketing question

[Elizabeth Stevenson (tamgoddess]

FWIW, I say even the most "cohousing" of the ads is not "cohousing" enough.
Drop the icky "upscale" pseudo-word (at nearly half a mil, I think just
about everyone *gets* that it's pricey), and focus more on the benefits of
community. I don't think a classified ad, no matter how targeted, will get
the people you seek. I would go with more graphic ads in local publications
that cater to your kind of crowd: theaters, food co-ops, lefty
organizations, educational institutions, and of course, advertising with the
national cohousing website, etc. We have some members we recruited from our
local progressive Catholic Church as well-so don't forget religious
organizations.

Oh, and you actually *want* to scare away people who are afraid of the word
"cohousing."
-- 
Liz Stevenson
Southside Park Cohousing
Sacramento, California
lilbert [at] comcast.net
> From: Lon Goldstein <zebulon269 [at] yahoo.com>
> Reply-To: zebulon269 [at] yahoo.com, Developing cohousing - collaborative 
> housing
> communities <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 10:36:14 -0700
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Subject: [C-L]_ marketing question
> 
> Hello fellow cohousers,
> As one part of our marketing effort to sell our last two homes (they are
> the largest and most expensive units as it happens) at Wild Sage
> cohousing we are taking out classified ads in the real estate section of
> the major Boulder and Denver newspapers.  A difference of opinion has
> arisen about how prominently to include the concept of cohousing in the
> ad. 
> 
> Some feel that using the word "cohousing" too prominently in the ad
> would scare away people who don't know what it is, and might immediately
> assume it is some sort of commune and not for them. These folks want to
> just spark peoples interest in the house, and then when they call, let
> our wonderful folks at Wonderland talk to them and have the chance to
> explain what cohousing is in a way that won't scare away people with
> initial doubts.
> 
> On the other hand, some people feel that if "cohousing" is sort of
> hidden somewhere at the end of the ad, we'll miss those folks who might
> specifically be interested in cohousing (or just community in general)
> and would not necessarily be drawn by the fact that the home is a newly
> constructed townhome with nice features.  Also, there is a sense of "why
> are we ashamed of the word cohousing?"  And wouldn't emphasizing
> community be a draw for the kind of people we want to attract?
> 
> A lot of this revolves around just catching peoples attention in a
> classified among many classifieds to get them to call in.  And since
> these are the larger more expensive homes, traditionally a little more
> challenging to find buyers for, there is a sense of anxiety not to scare
> any potentially interested folks away. (Not to worry, in any case no one
> will move in before meeting the community and knowing what they are
> getting into.  We have taken heed of some communities experience with
> that sticky mess!)
> 
> I'll paste 3 options we are considering for the ad below.  The first is
> the original, with subtle cohousing placement, the second right up front
> with our name and the word cohousing.  The third is a compromise
> focusing on community, but leaving the cohousing at the end, but still
> including our web site address (with also contains the word cohousing).
> 
> Any comments and insights, especially from those who have been thru a
> similar marketing effort would be more than welcome! Thanks!
> Lon Goldstein
> Wild Sage Cohousing
> www.wildsagecohousing.org
> 
> #1 (original)
> New Construction!
> Upscale twnhm in Holiday Neighborhood. Superior finishes. 3 BR/2.5 bath
> 2700sqft incl unfin daylight lower level + garage. Part of new cohousing
> cmty. Starts @ $461K. 303.449.3232 x116
> 
> #2 (more community focus)
> Comfort and Community!
> Upscale twnhm at Wild Sage Cohousing in new Holiday Neighborhood.
> Superior finishes. 3 BR/2.5 bath 2700sqft incl unfin daylight lower
> level + garage.  Starts @ $461K.  www.wildsagecohousing.org 303.449.3232
> x116 
> 
> #3 (compromise)
> Comfort and Community!
> Upscale twnhm in Holiday Neighborhood. Superior finishes. 3 BR/2.5 bath
> 2700sqft incl unfin daylight lower level + garage. Part of new cohousing
> cmty. Starts @ $461K. www.wildsagecohousing.org  303.449.3232 x116
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Cohousing-L mailing list
> Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
> http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L

_______________________________________________
Cohousing-L mailing list
Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L