Comodus.it was born in 2007 out of the need for a real estate search solution for private parties. The main purpose is to provide a platform where real estate sales and offers (residential and commercial for sale or rent) between individuals can take place without the involvement of real estate agents, saving the cost of expensive fees for both sellers and buyers.
A distinct feature of the project is the platform's complete impermeability by real estate agencies, guaranteed by:
∞ Registration requirement to access our advertisers' contact information
∞ Requirement for signed declaration of no involvement by a real estate agent
∞ Phone verification of all registered users by a dedicated call center
∞ Ability to report the presence/infiltration of possible real estate agents by our users
Another feature of the current platform is the ability to search for property for sale or rent by buyers/renters, as well as a mirror image search engine for owners looking for potential buyers/renters.
The advertisements on the online platform (www.comodus.it) can be freely viewed by owners or buyers/renters, with a registration requirement for those who want to contact the advertisers.
The evolution of the project includes more strict access to the site, even when just checking advertisements, with the goal of creating a community of individuals looking to buy or sell a home, rather than a portal of real estate listings that can be freely viewed as with the big players in the sector (casa.it, immobiliare.it, idealista.it, trovocasa.it, etc.).
WHAT IS IT ?
In this step you will find information about the Brand Builder, who is asking you to propose a Solution for the challenge. He introduces himself (as a Brand of course :) The more you understand about the Brand, the more chances you have to create what is wanted.
IMPORTANT: There is a possibility that the Brand Builder prefers not to disclose who he is, usually for confidentiality reasons. Such Briefs will be published in an anonymous way. In this case the Brand Builder will say as much as he feels comfortable saying.
Here are two EXAMPLES
In case there is no problem with disclosing the identity (VISIBLE):
“NMN -No More Nicotine- is a Brand that promises to counteract the damages to the skin that can be caused by smoking. NMN is distributed in pharmacies and drugstores and its price positioning is middle-high; it is mainly promoted through professional endorsement and is not massively advertised.”
In case the Brand doesn’t want to disclose his identity (ANONYMOUS):
“Brand counteracting the damages to skin caused by smoking. Its products are distributed in pharmacies and drugstores with a middle-high price positioning; they are mainly promoted through professional endorsement and are not massively advertised.”
In summary: Who is your client (in a visible or “anonymous” way :)
Comodus.it would like you to come up with a campaign to launch the online Comodus.it community, through:
∞ The design of an "Introduction Page" for user registration, following the example of these sites:
www.facebook.com
www.linkedin.com
www.venteprivee.com
www.buyvip.it
∞ The development of an introductory Demo (flash or video) lasting a maximum of 60 seconds, to be embedded in the introductory registration page, explaining how the comodus.it community works
WHAT IS IT ?
This is the task the Brand Builder asks you to accomplish. If you don’t understand it, you are completely out of luck !
EXAMPLE
“We ask the Creators to develop a print advertising campaign in order to increase Brand’s visibility. It will be used in national magazines this spring.”
In summary: It’s the objective of the client, therefore your objective too !
The target customer for this initiative is a B2C (business-to-customer) cross-target in search of a home as a primary residence / second home / vacation home, characterized by:
∞ Age range: 18 – 55 years;
∞ Income level: any;
∞ Education level: average - high (high school – university)
∞ Access to technology: easy access to broadband Internet;
∞ Other characteristics: does not have access to a tool dedicated to real estate transactions between individuals; pays attention to the proposals made in the communication and the service offered; is constantly bombarded by phone calls from real estate agents; not keen on building their home through photographs or video; needs to be reassured of the absence of real estate agents; needs to be "heard".
WHAT IS IT?
People that the Brand Builder wants you to entertain and persuade to think, feel or do something using your creation. Usually you will read about their age, sex, social level and behaviors. You should always keep that information in mind while creating, as the target audience is the final recipient of what you create.
EXAMPLE
“Smoking girls and women who would like to quit smoking but can’t. Usually health-conscious adults who care about their looks. They feel guilty about smoking because they know it is harmful. They read books about it. This is a real problem for them: it’s like “My brain wants something, but my body acts of its own accord”. They don’t relate to my brand, they are just waiting for a trustworthy “helping hand”.
In summary: Get under their skin !
The communication should therefore reassure the user of the complete absence of real estate agents, convince the user to register and become a member of the Comodus.it community and motivate them to use the platform.
WHAT IS IT?
The thing that the Brand Builder wants to make the target audience think/feel/do because of your creation.
Here are some very concrete examples:
∞ Some things people can think/feel:
- There is a new Brand (or product or idea or...) out there
- This Brand is better than the alternatives or than it used to be
- This Brand is worth paying more for
∞ Some things people can do:
- Start buying the Brand’s products
- Buy the Brand more often
- Stock more products of the Brand in their outlets
The above written examples are very concrete whilst often the proposition of the Brief is emotional. That’s even better as it can be more inspiring!
EXAMPLE
“We’d like to encourage smokers to use NMN in order to minimize the damage to their health while they are keeping giving up smoking (especially if they’ve already tried and failed before).”
In summary: Get inside their brain !
Comodus.it performs a phone verification of all users, to find possible real estate agents and guarantee the concept of real estate transactions between individuals.
Comodus.it does not ask for commissions for sales and/or purchases, and its earnings will come from the purchase of a subscription (right now the platform is completely free), which is not obligatory, after a trial lasting a month.
WHAT IS IT?
This is the key to achieving the objective. It is what supports the proposition and makes it believable. Usually it is a rational statement.
EXAMPLE
“Every cigarette you smoke is causing damage to your appearance. A recent study took several pairs of identical twins where one twin was a lifelong smoker and the other had never smoked. The smokers’ skin was a quarter thinner than that of non-smokers, and in some cases there were differences of up to 40%. NMN contains thinning-blocking anti-oxidants which counteract the effect of nicotine on the skin.”
In summary: You are looking for arguments? You’ll find them here!
Reliable, uncompromising, transparent.
WHAT IS IT?
It’s who the Brand is. Yes... who!
Treat the Brand as a human being, as it has its own personality. To know the personality of the “client” is fundamental in order to provide a tailor-made job. So, read carefully the listed adjectives...
EXAMPLE
“Scientific, trustworthy, result-oriented, ‘a party’ to achieve your goals.”
In summary: Imagine the live person !
The demo and introduction page will introduce the current online portal.
WHAT IS IT?
A list of places (or media, or things) where the target audience will see the outcome of your creation. In this step sometimes the Brand will also acknowledge you how much he plans to invest into production. This information will give you an insight whether to create a BIG project or make it small... :)
EXAMPLE
“This campaign is going to appear in lifestyle- and health-focused women magazines of New Zealand, during the spring of 2009. We plan to invest 500,000 USD, which means approximately buying 100 single pages.”
In summary: Consider the medium !
Introduction page:
Psd format;
The registration form should contain the following fields:
∞ Name
∞ Last name
∞ E-mail
∞ Password
∞ Field with the following choices: owner, buyer, builder/developer (combo box, flag, etc. …)
∞ Field with the following choices: renting, selling, buying (combo box, flag, etc. …)
∞ Flag declaring the absence of real estate agencies
∞ Information Privacy Flag
Demo: the demo will not be used with the "intro page" but will be embedded within the introductory registration page:
∞ Format: flash, video
∞ Duration: max 60 sec.
High-resolution images should also be provided for possible use in the development of the project, as well as vector paths or SWFs of any graphic creations.
Examples from which you can draw information on the private party real estate world:
www.pap.fr
www.entreparticuliers.fr
www.houseweb.co.uk
More information on the project can be found at:
If the Brand has preferences or technical requirements that your Solution has to match, you will find them here.
Here are some items that you may find in this section:
∞ Guidelines or mandatory inclusions (do’s and/or don’ts)
∞ Business objectives
∞ Market and competitors overview
∞ Good and bad samples
Depending on the Brief, you may also find some files attached with a logo, pictures of product(s), a template that you should use in order to submit your ideas, or any other file that the Brand wants to share with you. So, study the attachments before starting creating.
In summary: Anything else you need to know (not written in the 7 steps before) !
