You need every edge you can get in competitive rental markets, especially when it comes to marketing your properties.
Connecting with the right renters through your online marketing means going where your ideal tenants hang out, and social media sites provide you with a cost-effective outreach method.
Profiles on social sites only take a few minutes to set up and have site features that support quickly answering questions from prospective tenants and engaging with current tenants.
You don't have unlimited time or resources, so carefully select the social media sites based on your target demographic. Here are a few options to consider.
Facebook is the largest social media site and functions as a catch-all for social media marketing and engagement.
Over one billion people use this site every month, so it provides the highest traffic potential out of social media platforms. However, you can run into a lot of noise that creates a more competitive atmosphere for getting the word out about your vacancies.
Facebook offers a good starting point, but it's useful to supplement it with other social media profiles.
Your local community may have several Facebook groups set up for advertising, discussion, and other topics.
You can participate in these groups and post your property availability, as well as networking with established groups in your city or neighborhood.
Twitter is another large social media platform characterized by a 140 character limit on messages.
Your biggest advantage when it comes to marketing your property on Twitter is an effective usage of hashtags. You can tag your message with your location and other keywords, which boosts your visibility.
Twitter users looking for local hashtags have an easier time finding your posts.
Twitter is also used heavily on mobile, so you can reach out to smartphone users who may be searching for a new rental.
Pinterest is a highly visual social media site that works well if you have visually striking properties.
You can show off the best features of your vacancies, provide recommendations on the types of furniture arrangements that work well in your rentals and other visual information.
Reddit is a social media site comprised of smaller communities called subreddits.
Many cities have a local subreddit, making it an excellent way to reach out directly to the local community without dealing with a lot of competition.
More than just a mobile friendly extension of Facebook, Instagram is most popular among the renting demographic.
Having a relevant presence on Instagram can go a long way for telling the story of your company and community. Establish easy communication with residents and prospects in a simple to use platform.
Make sure to take advantage of all that Instagram has to offer. Take part in the community by posting comments and initiating dialog, building relationships and establishing expertise.
YouTube
While YouTube is a video streaming site, the commenting feature provides you with a way to engage with potential tenants. You can create video tours of your properties, show off your neighborhood and provide a welcome message for your tenants.
Social media provides powerful tools for marketing your properties, especially in competitive areas. You get direct access to your audience and an open line of communication.
Managing social media profiles is also a low-cost marketing method that doesn't take a lot of time out of your day.
