In Marketing, What’s a “Channel?”

Channel Definition | Investopedia
Definition of 'Channel'

1. The system of intermediaries between the producers, suppliers, consumers, etcetera, for the movement of a good or service. 

Anyone can set up their own free channel on YouTube in maybe a minute. There are lots of “channels” that have nothing to do with video, when you use the definition supplied above by Investopedia.

Image credit ambientmediaww.

Cable TV, Satellite TV, Radio, Web, Social Media, etc…

We've seen in the last decade the explosion of media outlets! Cable, satellite, internet, social media are just some of the new ways to 'channel' information between producers, suppliers and sellers of products or services to the public.

In many cases, we see 'product placement' being used on TV, in movies or online videos. A story is told, with the product's name or logo being visible. Marketers have figured out this is a good strategy that subtly tells viewers that the product does all the fun or cool stuff the stars in the show enjoy or benefit from using.

Influencing Media as Media or via Social Media

Some are such good bloggers, tweeters, YouTubers or other forms of social media that the mainstream media begins to pick them up and “follow” them. In some cases, the mainstream media responds in almost real time to a tweet from some public figure's Twitter feed.

Those who try to tell you 'how easy it is' to do social media, blogging, etc. are selling something! Many public figures, corporations or celebrities have one or more dedicated professional doing their blogging or social media for them.

But experts are correct in saying that when done properly, this works. Success requires planning and effort to achieve the kind of following that results in more business for your operation or location. We know, because for almost 5 years, we've built the largest audience of its kind in MH here on MHProNews.com.

Too small to do it all?

If your operation is “too small” for you to do it all, why not:

a) team up with others? For example, explore doing such efforts through your buyers group or association. Or..

b) piggy back with RSS feeds to MHLivingNews.com?

Relevant content – even in the form of links – is one proven way to bring more people back to your site. Since the good cash or credit shoppers often don't call or directly reach out for 6 months to a year (they have good credit because they plan ahead!), your website needs something is is routinely updating and changing.

UMH.com has at the bottom left of their website an RSS feed linked to ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com. At 12:05 PM ET on 8.13.2014, it looked like this:

Each of those topics could be interesting to someone shopping for a manufactured home, or someone looking for a community they may want to move their MH. Here is how RSS looks on the Welcome Home Ohio website, found at the bottom right-center column footer on their home page.

A very robust RSS feed is found on the Indiana MH association's http://communitylivingindiana.com/ website.

Some networks and media own multiple 'channels,' you should use multiple channels to distribute your marketing message too! In the second decade of the 21^st Century, tapping into or creating your own channels is easier than ever, but “easier” still requires some time and effort.

If you want to sell more homes, especially to those who are cash or better credit buyers, using more channels is worth it. ##

By L. A. “Tony” Kovach