The Look Ahead for Manufactured Housing Media

by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach

This becomes our First Anniversary issue of www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com for short. Bob, our IT Manager, has recapped what has transpired plus other insights; Catherine, our associate editor, shares what we have that you may not yet realize; now let me give a few looks ahead at what we plan to do and what that means for YOU.

Furthering the Industry Discussion

A week rarely goes by without some call or message, usually many of them, that is "off the record.' The reasons for such off-the-record remarks are many. Some include:

• Wanting to get problems off their chest, but not knowing how to address them
• Not wanting to irritate a partner or superior
• Not wanting to upset some association leader
• The list goes on…

Many of these comments or insights are simply amazing! While I can't say that I agree with them all, the fact remains that many offer real to brilliant insights.

Our policy has been that platforms such as our Industry Voices Guest Blog have to have a real person, with a name and contact information attached to it. The same has been true for our Feature Articles.

Some of those who email, write or call do so once or twice. Some do so routinely. One of those routine contacts was an individual, who we decided to let print a Feature Article on the general topic of how to 'fix' the Industry. Real Change for Manufactured Housing Results by Michael F.B. Barnabas So long as I know who has submitted the article, we will consider running such columns by others, not just MFBB, in the future.

So all of you out there who have shared your detailed perceptive on Industry related issues, and you simply didn't want to have your own name in print for some reason or another, consider this as your way to join the Industry conversation in the future.

Of course, comments on articles and blogs, so long as they are in good taste (no profanity or name calling, no ad hominem or blatant spam) are always welcome. If you notice, we don't mind disagreement with our writers, follow-up questions, comments or pats on the back. Treat our writers like you would want to be treated, and your remark can stay posted.

Between Meetings

Leaders have often commented to me how few people attend the big meetings of MHI or a state event compared to what the potential attendance could be. Part of this is due to economics, no doubt. But part is the lack of ability to get into depth and discussion on topics.

That greater depth or follow-up on a topic can be facilitated here at MHMSM.com.

We want to revisit the forum concept. Our IT Manager, Bob Stovall, has some powerful options in mind, ranging from a "community builder" concept, to forums with moderators and more. If you have interest in being a forum moderator or a preference on how this might be done, please feel free to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and copy me in the message.

We already have public comments available at the end of most articles and blogs. Please feel free to post your comments; just keep it clean and respectful. Our discussion systems even allows you to post your link to your website, but if what you are doing is blatant spam or pure self-promotion, the system or a team mate will automatically flag and remove you. So no profanity please; let's not attack someone; let's stick to ideas, for or against.

Candid discussion can promote education and positive change. Common sense and common courtesy will allow you and others to enter into the discussion. Your feedback is not only welcome, it is encouraged.

Enhanced cross links for Authors and Feature Writers

When you have thousands of pages already on line, and hundreds of feature articles and blog posts already published, it isn't easy to make some changes! But we have a plan to enhance the accessibility for each of our valued featured writers.

The essence of the concept is simple. Our regular authors will likely end up with their "own page." The link to every article of theirs will be found on that page. So if you find an author you really like, you will be able to go to that page and read more!

Another aspect of this will be to take the uses of that person's name, and link it to that page. We again state in advance: with thousands of pages and hundreds of articles, this will take time. But once it is live, it is then a case of maintenance, which is easier.

Until then, you have the site search tool at the top of every page on our main site. While the site search tool isn't perfect, it does give you a way to access writers or topics by name. We also have archived articles by month; see the left navigation menu.

Retailer's Corner with Doug Gorman

Award-winning retailer Doug Gorman will be hosting a new department in the days ahead, just for retailers. Doug will write some, but this will also be open to other retailers who want to contribute an article or complete a question and answer. Interested in sharing an interview or article in the Retailer's Corner? Please send This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or our reporter This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it a message with Retailer's Corner in the subject line.

CEO's Forum

This concept will likely launch in 2011. Again, the idea is simple. Let's provide a place where CEOs from the Industry can exchange ideas easily online. These CEO Forum discussions could be done in a public or private – by invitation and login – fashion. Interested? Please send me a message with CEO Forum in the subject line.

Podcasts, Enhanced Media Relations and More

Our News at Noon and other features will develop and grow over time. These are available with a sign up.

Business to Business building services are a big part of the mix to come.

More concepts to boost interest and involvement in Association groups - state, regional or national.

Engaging the Mainstream Media will be a periodic topic, and we may well do a lunch- and-learn style webinar to help you get better media coverage in your area.

Frankly, we have more advanced ideas than what we can share in this article! So please do stay tuned and have others you know sign up and register free and join in the many ways you can learn and benefit from being here at www.MHMSM.com.

Thank you so much for a great first year. We want to thank each author, each team member, all the associations and companies that have made this effort possible and successful. A special thanks to Bob Stovall, who boldly went with me where no one had gone before in factory built housing media with www.MHMSM.com; finally a thank you to my wife and son, who help and support behind the scenes in ways that a man can't readily express. Each of you has been part of this ongoing industry-advancing adventure of www.MHMSM.com where…

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L.A. 'Tony' Kovach is Publisher and Marketing Director of MH Marketing Sales Management (www.MHMSM.com) – Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals – and does contract marketing, sales and management, turn around and growth services for MH industry professionals and companies. See his LinkedIn profile at: linkedin.com/in/latonykovach; call Tony at 847-730-3692 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .