Social media has changed mainstream journalism. We hear reporters and news anchors routinely talking about someone’s Tweet, or about a post on Facebook. A video on YouTube may be cited in a commentary. There are bloggers who blog, and journalists often blog now too. Welcome to A.M. – the “Alternative Media” – and where it intersects with the mainstream media.

Let’s briefly see what AM means to Manufactured Housing in Magnificent May 2015.

Word cloud credit – Peekaboo.

When I ask a room filled with MH pros, “Do media accounts relating to our Industry impact your sales, notably on issues like tornado coverage?” Usually almost every hand go up. So we know the media impacts perceptions and thus our MH sales, for good or ill.

Yet many of those perceptions are skewed at best, or are agenda driven, etc.. While it pains some in journalism to admit that their profession has often been politicized and has become agenda driven, that is hard to argue against when you have the NYTimes, MSNBC and others on the left, Wall Street Journal, Fox News and others that tend more to the right.

Given a careful read of any given article or TV news report, and a you can often deduce the political or other spin of that journalist.

Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean that journalism is dead. There are good journalists out there. But when agendas are so obvious, doesn’t it make sense to engage in AM in a way that might positively influence the media conversation? Shouldn’t we in MH be as keen to share our facts as other special interest groups are to advocate for their interests?

The answer is obvious. Yes, we need MH AM that can intersect positively with the media.

There are a number of bloggers in MH. There are those who put out PDF monthly reports on their areas of interest. We still have the Journal, the last true print publication (okay, there are newsletters that go out via U.S. Mail too…), and numerous association news for their members. All of these and others might be called part of MH’s AM.

Then there are MHProNews.com and MHLivingNews.com. What we can point to is that we are intersecting with the media, an increasingly, because we are careful in being able to back up what we publish, the mainstream media is little by little responding, often favorably.

We too candidly have an agenda with MHProNews.com and MHLivingNews.com. We want to report on and periodically set the record straight on issues relating to MH. As much as possible, we want to be the Good News about MH, without ignoring the challenges that face us all.

We’re the broadest and most balanced AM resource on MH. We Provide, You Decide ©.

When someone asks me, what term do you use to describe your online publications? We are MH Industry Trade Media.

While some have both print and a website, I’m not aware of anyone that does all that our two platforms do, including

• Videos,

• Daily Business News,

• Business Daily Market Reports,

• our popular Cup of Coffee with… interviews with industry figures, etc..

• Articles, commentary, inspirational quotes, etc., etc.

You and thousands of others have responded by making us the most popular platforms of their kind in MH. Who says? Readers and viewers like you, and website statistics (traffic). Our leadership in MH AM – trade media – is a matter of facts, not just opinions.

Is this important? Yes. We are increasingly influencing the media and public officials.

Also important, we have MH professionals who use our MHLivingNews.com website to sell homes to customers ‘on the fence’ who have concerns about issues like MH in windstorms. I’ve been given unsolicited ‘thank you’ comments on MH sales made due to information we share free online.

No wonder our traffic on both sites has steadily grown.

Sustainably Growing MH Sales

There are a few key facets to selling more MH. Some will say, Financing. Clearly, you have to have loans and lenders in any big ticket sales industry. But what is needed beyond financing and the products themselves?

1. Professionalism – Best Practices. MHProNews brings you more columns by more attorneys or other experts than anyone else in MH AM today.

2. Useful articles and videos on MHLivingNews.com. Just see for yourself. We know the information and education found this site is used in selling more MH. That is good for current and future MH Homeowners, as well as for associations, businesses and individual industry professionals.

3. Inspiration and motivation. Our industry isn’t in the go-go 90s post-HUD Code heyday. Our pros often need a boost. We provide that via Innovation – Information and Inspiration for Industry Professionals. ©

4. News and commentary. MH Industry News, Tips and Views Pros Can Use. © That tag line sums it up.

Add in our fee based services for websites, marketing, sales training and consulting, you have a unique mix that lifts up all involved for a better bottom line.

Can all of this influence others over time? Yes. Every month, government, educators, media, investors and the public at large find and login to our twin sites by the thousands.

This Month’s Featured Articles…

Ready for some thoughtful articles? You’ve come to the right place. We are so please to bring you experts from a range of disciplines and experiences that are some of the best MH AM has to offer.

More pros like you logon here than any other ‘similar’ site in MH history. That is humbling. That trust is a responsibly.

Yes, we have an agenda. We are pro-MH!

We are pro-MH for sound reasons. MH is the future. MH is needed by a public starved for quality affordable living.

Together, let’s forge a future that is great for all the home owners and residents we serve by the millions. When we serve the public well, when we show and tell our stories well, more will have their eyes opened to our great industry.

Here below are this month’s featured articles. Please be sure to see the latest on rhyme evolving MH Industry Image and Education efforts. Thanks as always for checking in.