Devonshire Homes
"When looking for a PR agency you want to work with people you trust, who understand your business and have a positive proactive attitude, we found immediately that Absolute PR have all of these attributes and many more. The team are knowledgeable and professional in working to promote and elevate Devonshire Homes through both traditional and new media channels thus exposing us to a wider market; they continue to assist in developing and maintaining our brand and support us as required"
Jane Pearce, Sales and Marketing Director
Devonshire Homes
The Process
What
To raise the profile of Devonshire Homes in the South West
How
Media relations, crisis and issues management, event management, social media management, email marketing, sponsorship, internal communications and industry awards.
Where
Regional and trade media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn
When
2016 – present
The Challenge
To raise the profile of Devonshire Homes in the West Country, positioning the company as a leading independent local housebuilder which creates high-quality new build homes for Devon, Cornwall and Somerset house hunters whilst enhancing communities and remaining sympathetic to the local environment.
To build Devonshire Homes’ reputation as a responsible house builder that landowners can trust, supporting Devonshire Homes’ mission to acquire land and achieve its goal of doubling its turnover and building 400 homes per annum by 2030.
Our Solution
Since 2016, Absolute has driven media relations and social media campaigns to raise the profile of Devonshire Homes amongst house hunters, landowners, fellow industry professionals, trade and regional media. Our strategy promotes how Devonshire Homes is an independent local housebuilder which understands its customers, delivering high-quality new build homes to people who need them.
Absolute operates a dedicated press office for Devonshire Homes. This includes day-to-day communication with a variety of media outlets; writing and distributing news releases which celebrate important milestones in sales, land acquisition and business success; responding to journalist requests for information or statements; identifying news opportunities and monitoring media outlets daily for Devonshire Homes coverage. We are the first point of contact for the media when they enquire about Devonshire Homes which ensures all responses follow key messaging and do not go off-brand.
Absolute also provides an event management service to Devonshire Homes, strengthening the housebuilder’s relationship with potential customers and the communities in which it builds. Our management of corporate events such as the company’s biennial charity golf day helps to position Devonshire Homes as a leading SW firm in the housing and construction industry.
Devonshire Homes’ social media accounts are managed by Absolute to grow the housebuilder’s online presence, and reach, and to engage with a wider audience. Absolute schedules posts daily across Facebook and Instagram and shares updates on LinkedIn. Messages are carefully tailored to each platform with direct messages and comments monitored and responded to promptly. Absolute also leads and manages Devonshire Homes’ social media advertising to generate warm leads for the Sales Executives.
Ensuring consistency across all communications, Absolute manages Devonshire Homes’ e-marketing schedule. This includes drafting and distributing regular email campaigns tailored to individual site databases.
What We Achieved
Absolute secures regular coverage in regional and trade press with stories covering the latest homes for sale, land acquisitions, company milestones and charity partnerships. On average, Absolute achieves over 60 pieces of coverage for Devonshire Homes across print and online outlets per year. Key recent press highlights include the opening of Devonshire Homes’ new headquarters at Gotham House, Tiverton; ribbon-cutting events for show homes at Chilla Junction and Mariner’s Haven; a visit from Ilfracombe Primary School to an archaeological dig at Mariner’s Haven (as featured on the BBC); and the launch of a new charity partnership with Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT).
Absolute’s event management service for key Devonshire Homes’ celebrations/events such as their 25th Anniversary saw Absolute manage every stage of the process from venue hire to creating a bespoke guest list, drafting speeches to liaising with members of the press. The well-attended, successful event raised over £36,000 for charity and achieved extensive trade and local media coverage.
Social media followers and engagement have increased considerably since Devonshire Homes appointed Absolute. From just 13 Facebook likes, the housebuilder now has over 3000, as house hunters and buyers engage with the homebuilder across Meta, and more than 7000 people and companies now follow Devonshire Homes on LinkedIn. In addition, our social media strategy has generated over 3,000 warm leads since Absolute has managed Devonshire Homes’ social media advertising, some of which have resulted in sales of new homes.
Absolute’s creative and engaging consumer e-marketing has ensured Devonshire Homes is in regular contact with its potential customers. Campaigns are designed to generate interest in the available new homes, promote incentives and special events and encourage house hunters to book appointments. Absolute manages and implements the e-marketing schedule for Devonshire Homes and retains a well-above-average open rate and click-through rate for its industry.