Social Media in Construction

It used to be that all you needed to be a contractor was a truck, a hammer, and a dog. While those are still good fundamentals, add to that at least a smart phone – and a computer. All joking aside, the use of technology has seen an exponential growth in the last year: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google. Can this be harnessed for construction?

It already has. Take YouTube as an example. This is an amazing tool to distribute video to the masses, and the quality ranges from solid science to raving hysteria. But GenX’ers are increasingly savvy and detached, which gives them a healthy dose of skepticism to help pick out the facts from fiction.

Companies can use this to their advantage. Short, concise infomercials can deliver a message with a visual imprint (see Concrete Network – LOGIX) or project reviews. YouTube can be very good forum for providing specific installation detailing ( Spackling paste 3D). It would seem that a customer service dept. could take their most frequently asked questions, produce a YouTube, and then just direct customers to view the training on their own computer. A laptop computer can bring this same training to a jobsite – where a visual explanation may help overcome language barriers.

For a builder’s further education, there are several good “channels” on YouTube that have filtered the uploads, and are reliable sources of information. GreenBuildingAdvisor is linked to the website of the same name, and includes some of the seminars of BuildingScience.com.

Not to be missed are the more sensational videos. My favorites are hotel in China built in 6 days! And for a quick booster in thermodynamics, how about the rap version of convection, conduction & radiation? … and the Worst Construction Mistakes and…

O.k. - so YouTube can be addictive, it can be educational, it can be a good promotional venue. But it is here, and is a tool which can be harnessed for our industry.