Apartment Video Chat

As we adopt what will likely be the next wave of customer-centric tools, time and attention must be paid to what we do after hours.
There is a lot to be said about the leasing experience and enhancing it as a point of differentiation. Moreover using it as a strategy to create new and untapped markets. Video chat will certainly do it and if done really well it will move the consumer experience to the next level. Outside of a face to face interaction, it is likely the next best thing. The advent of the internet made apartment shopping a 24/7 experience and video chat will certainly enhance that but what do we do after hours? Even the most dedicated full time apartment maniac must sleep. Who takes over at that point?

I think this is a real opportunity for call centers that cater to the apartment industry. That is not to mention the major ILS’s. I have to believe someone out there is working on an offering. Are you aware of one? If so, please share.

Have an amazing Christmas week. M

Call Centers, Apartment Video Chat, Apartment marketing

There was an interesting conversation on Twitter last night between @Eric_Urbane, @ltrosien, @30lines and @artchickhb (forgive me if I left someone out). The topic, Social Media Predictions 2009, started with this tweet from @Eric_Urbane;

“@mbrewer, I am VERY interested to hear YOUR predictions for 2009, The floor is yours, What are your recommendations”

and where I responded with;

@Eric_Urbane Those who figure out and master the rapid response via a real live person will rule the day.

@ltrosien pointed us to lisapmaxwell which leads me to this;

Some time ago we wrote about yellowbook.com commercials on this blog. Specifically the commercials that depict a woman about to get married but she has a little problem. She has Mike tatooed across the low mid section of her back. Cool but she is marrying Tom. In the commercial she walks over to a spot in her living room, appears to push a button in air and down comes a virtual screen. She scrolls through the yellow pages, finds a tatoo removal practioner and proceeds to have a real time conversation. Side note: there is some very cool GRID technology being employeed by the Europeans that will make this kind of interaction come true in the near future.

While we wait for the GRID, there are some some very simple tools that make this kind of interaction possible and as you can see with lisapmaxwell’s site; very successful. There are two very simple steps;

First, set up a Gmail email address: Gmail Account

Second, set up a Gmail: voice and video chat account

Now clearly you and the user on the other end would need a webcam. Furthermore, the user would need to have both of the above mentioned account/services. That said, it won’t work for everyone and in the same respect not everyone would want to interact in this manner. For those who do and for those of us who want to provide an very unique experience, it is an option.

Thanks to each of my twitter friends who started this conversation, it really got my mind moving last night.

Apartment Video Chat, Apartment Social Media, Apartment Marketing