Is Social Media Marketing Worth It? Let’s Break Down the Numbers
Social media marketing: Everyone’s doing it, and the promise of a massive, engaged audience for “free” is hard to resist.
But hold on a second.
Before you jump into the endless vortex of posting and follower chasing, consider this: recent studies show that organic social media delivers the lowest return on investment compared to other marketing channels.
Ouch. That can sting.
However, before you write off social media entirely, here’s the good news: social media marketing can be a powerful tool for driving engagement and brand awareness (which ultimately leads to authority, thought leadership, website traffic, and even conversions). The key is understanding its strengths and weaknesses and how to leverage it strategically.
The allure of social media for business is undeniable. Endless scrolling, instant gratification, and the promise of reaching millions — it’s a tempting cocktail. But is more always better?
For years, the mantra was “post more, engage more.” But the reality is, the social media landscape has evolved. Audiences are savvier, attention spans are shorter, and algorithms are smarter. Now, it’s about strategic, high-quality content that truly resonates.
Why Tracking Social Media Success Can Feel Like Counting Raindrops
Let’s be honest, proving the value of social media marketing to upper management can feel like trying to quantify the weight of a cloud.
While platforms promise massive reach, 52% of organizations struggle to measure their impact. Unlike traditional advertising with clear metrics, social media’s influence often feels intangible. A witty tweet might go viral, generating tons of engagement, but did it translate into dollars and cents?
The tricky part is that social media marketing often lays the groundwork for later conversions in the marketing funnel. Someone might see your informative blog post about a common industry problem, “like” your page, and then months later, when they’re ready to tackle that problem, remember your company and visit your website for a solution.
It’s a subtle influence, not a direct conversion machine.
Why You Still Need Social Media Marketing (Even If It’s Hard to Track)
Despite the tracking challenges, social media marketing offers several invaluable benefits that contribute to your overall marketing strategy, even if they aren’t directly reflected in a sales report:
- Brand Awareness & Visibility: Social media platforms put your brand directly in front of a massive audience, keeping you top-of-mind and fostering brand recognition. It’s like having a constant, low-key billboard reminding people you exist.
- Building Relationships: Social media allows for two-way communication, the holy grail of marketing! Respond to comments, answer questions, and engage with your audience in real time. This builds trust and loyalty, turning fleeting followers into brand advocates.
- Market Research & Customer Insights: Social listening allows you to eavesdrop on the online world, seeing what people are saying about your brand, industry trends, and competitor activity. This invaluable intelligence can inform your marketing strategy and help you stay ahead of the curve.
- Community Building: Create a vibrant online community where customers can connect, share experiences, and feel a sense of belonging. This fosters brand loyalty and positive word-of-mouth marketing — essentially, free advertising from your happy customers!
Beyond the Likes
Despite the challenges in quantifying social media ROI, it still remains a critical component of any successful marketing strategy. Why?
Consider this: a staggering 94.6% of internet users between 16 and 64 years old visited a social network site in the last month. This massive audience represents a goldmine of potential customers.
While social media might not always yield direct sales figures, it’s where discovery happens. A full 44% of Gen Zers and 33% of millennials primarily gather product information through social channels. This means social media is often the first touchpoint for many consumers, influencing their purchasing decisions.
Additionally, 90% of marketers now recognize the importance of social search optimization, underscoring the platform’s role in the overall customer journey.
Prioritizing Quality Over Quantity
The era of shotgun social media marketing is over. Companies are realizing that spreading resources thin across multiple platforms isn’t always the most effective strategy. There’s a growing shift towards focusing on a few key channels where they can truly excel.
Platforms like Twitter have seen a decline in brand usage as companies prioritize social media ROI. The future lies in mastering a select group of platforms, delivering exceptional content, and measuring impact closely.
So how do we bridge the social media ROI gap?
- Set SMART Goals: Don’t just aim for “more followers.” Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals that align with your overall marketing objectives. Focus on metrics like website traffic, lead generation, or brand sentiment. These will be your guiding lights to measure success.
- Targeted Content: Don’t be a social media spammer. Create high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your ideal customer. Tailor your content to the specific platform, understand what your audience wants, and provide them with valuable information or entertainment. Social is best for building brand equity, which takes time. Don’t revert to your old, self-promotion-y ways either. No one likes a hard sell, and letting them flock to you will be so much more effective in the long run.
- Paid Advertising: Consider strategically using paid social media advertising to reach a wider audience and target specific demographics with a laser focus. Paid ads can be a powerful tool to promote valuable content offers, webinars, or drive traffic to key landing pages.
- Track & Analyze: Metrics like website traffic, lead generation, and social media engagement paint a picture of your social media’s impact, even if you can’t directly attribute every sale to a specific tweet. Use analytics tools to understand what’s working and what’s not, and constantly refine your approach. Run experiments with new content types or tone of voice. Once you see results, start tweaking future posts and keep testing and iterating as you go.
- Be Consistent: Regular posting keeps your brand on mind and builds your content’s anticipation.
To truly capture attention, brands must shift their focus from quantity to quality. Social media should be an interactive space where value exchange is a two-way street. crafting content that informs, inspires, or simply brings a smile to faces, businesses can foster genuine connections with their audience. It’s not just about promoting products or services; it’s about offering value and becoming part of the conversation. Remember, social media is a two-way street. By listening to your audience and responding authentically, you can build trust and loyalty that translates into long-term business success.
Making Social Media ROI Work for You
Social media success requires a strategic approach, not random posting. It’s like having a secret weapon in your marketing arsenal — one that fosters brand loyalty, fuels word-of-mouth marketing, and positions you as a thought leader in your industry.
Ready to unlock social media marketing’s true potential? Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you develop a winning social media strategy that aligns with your business goals.
4 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Social Media Strategy
Hands down, one of our client’s most significant pain points is developing and sticking to a consistent social media strategy.
How does one navigate the intricate maze of Instagram’s ad-friendly ecosystem or TikTok’s transformative brand narratives? As the multifamily sector stands on the cusp of this digital revolution, it’s not just about joining the trend. It’s about discerning where social media truly fits within the grand tapestry of multifamily marketing strategies.
A robust online presence pushes visitors to the company’s website, where vital, static information helps clinch deals. But remember, the essence of social media isn’t mere presence — it’s meaningful interaction and engagement.
Let’s take an aerial view to examine where social media sits within a broader multifamily marketing strategy.
1. Setting goals and KPIs.
Never before have businesses had such direct and interactive communication with their target audience. This two-way conversation offers insights and feedback in real time. Imagine how valuable billboards would be if they could actively respond to questions from inquisitive prospects!
By setting clear goals, whether it’s boosting brand awareness or establishing thought leadership, businesses can create purpose-driven relationships. The starting point should always be defining business goals and setting measurable KPIs.
2. Create content that compels engagement.
Once goals are set, every piece of content should have a clear intent and desired outcome. The challenge is to craft content that stops users mid-scroll and compels them to engage. This could be a captivating image, an intriguing blog headline, or an innovative video. Marketers must also ensure a consistent brand experience across all platforms. After all, user experience should remain consistent, whether a resident interacts with your brand online or on-premises.
Moreover, audience engagement provides insights into content strength, guiding businesses to optimize their sales or awareness funnels.
3. Leveraging ads for greater reach.
With a clear understanding of social media’s role in customer journeys, marketers can amplify their reach cost-effectively. While many flock to Google PPC, platforms like Facebook offer budget-friendly solutions. Though it might cater to a niche audience, the lead quality remains high. Mastering social media advertising involves meticulous A/B testing to optimize ads, from selecting visuals to refining copy. But once you find what clicks, the results can be astounding.
Harnessing Social Media: 4 Best Practices to Optimize Results
Many businesses struggle with maintaining a consistent and effective social media strategy. Here are some actionable tips to optimize your online multifamily marketing efforts:
1. Embrace Content Calendars
While it can be difficult to draft a content calendar for the first time, it proves immensely beneficial for your social media strategy in the long term. Content calendars keep your publishing schedule organized and prevent you from missing any important dates.
Organize your posting schedule by planning content in advance. Using tools like Google’s collaborative platforms helps streamline team communication, ensuring timely and diverse content publication.
Remember to plan as your business and surrounding area evolve. These posts can all be added to your content calendar in advance so that you can plan out your days to ensure nothing overlaps, you aren’t over-promoting your business, and you are diversifying your content appropriately.
2. Follow the 20/80 Rule
Regardless of the platform, social media is not a microphone for self-promotion. While it’s tempting to blast your latest offers, promotions, and new amenities across each channel, this “interruptive” promotion is not always effective. There’s a time and a place for promotional content, and that time accounts for about 20% of your feed.
Overall, 20% of your shared content should focus on you, while the remaining 80% should be about your audience and what interests them. Take this 80% opportunity to be a resource, a thought leader, and a value-add for your customers.
At Criterion.B, we refer to this rule as the “cocktail party methodology.” When you arrive at a cocktail party, what do you do? Most people walk up to a small group of people and ask about them: their names, their work, and where they live. You ask follow-up questions to get to know them and seek common interests.
With time, the conversation turns back to you, allowing you to share about yourself. Interrupting the current conversations and talking about yourself first would be rude. This is how social media works, too — it’s a conversation.
3. Pin Posts to Your Feed
Did you know you can pin important posts to the top of your feed? From your latest press release announcing a new product line to a fun giveaway promoting your participation at an upcoming trade show, there are plenty of opportunities to highlight important social posts.
Pinning posts to your feed is a simple three-step process:
- Go to your Facebook or X (Twitter) newsfeed and find the post you want to pin.
- Click the down arrow in the corner of your post.
- Select “Pin to Top.”
Pinning an important post can extend your reach, potentially attracting more engagement and interest. Don’t forget to “unpin” your post after three to four days to prevent ad fatigue. These reminders can be part of your content calendar.
4. Take Advantage of Influencer Marketing
From reviews to thought leadership, social media offers a unique outlet to turn fans into influencers. Influencers are recognized by their large following and insights covering all aspects of your respective market. A strong social presence is necessary to hold an influencer status and quality posts that engage followers actively. Often, influencers are viewed as a more trustworthy resource than advertisers, thus better capturing your audience.
Connecting with these influencers allows you to market your business simply by becoming visible through their followers. Rather than spending large marketing dollars on print ads, influencer outreach is free or significantly cheaper. Consider allowing an influencer to guest blog on your site, for example, or have them take over one of your channels daily to motivate your followers to engage.
Social media offers boundless opportunities for multifamily marketers. However, the key lies in integrating it effectively into a broader strategy, ensuring that every post, ad, and interaction aligns with the brand’s goals and resonates with the target audience.
Diving Into Your Property’s Facebook Ad Audience and Ad Types
We all know Facebook ads can significantly boost your property’s visibility, but navigating how to use Facebook ads manager and successfully launch ads is another story.
If your Facebook ads are not delivering as expected, it might be time to revisit the fundamentals.
Understanding Your Audience: Laying the Foundation
The bedrock of a successful Facebook ad campaign is reaching the right people. If apartment reviews are favorable, the last thing you’d want is for potential residents to miss them. Hence, understanding and creating a renter persona is paramount.
This persona, representing your ideal renter, can guide your targeting. For a multifamily marketing perspective, use our multifamily persona worksheet to help shape this persona.
You can access the “Audiences” section when navigating Facebook’s business tools. Here, Facebook allows you to create various audience types for your multifamily marketing ads, including:
- Custom Audiences: Focuses on those already familiar with your property, like website visitors. This audience is excellent for retargeting, creating those essential touchpoints to convert leads.
- Lookalike Audiences: Targets individuals similar to your existing residents. This model lets Facebook identify and target users who share attributes with your defined custom audience.
- Saved Audiences: Curated based on demographics and interests. While versatile, multifamily marketers must be wary of targeting restrictions due to housing regulations.
- Special Category Audiences: Specific to businesses in Special Ad Categories like housing. These audiences have distinct limitations, so be sure you’re compliant.
Understanding these audiences can aid in creating targeted multifamily marketing campaigns that resonate, especially when seeking to highlight positive apartment reviews.
Diving Into Ad Types: Crafting the Perfect Message
Determining the ad type is pivotal when deploying Facebook marketing for property management. Facebook offers several ad objectives, and then you can choose the ad format within those.
Ad Objectives
- Awareness: This is your chance to make a first impression. Use this objective when you’re aiming to put your property on the radar of potential residents. Think of it as your digital elevator pitch — succinct, compelling, and memorable. Perfect for showcasing the exterior of your property, community amenities, or even the surrounding neighborhood to entice potential residents.
- Consideration: Now that your audience is familiar with your property, it’s time to deepen that relationship. Engage those who have shown preliminary interest in your property but are still unsure about committing. Share content that paints a holistic picture of life at your property — perhaps a virtual tour, resident testimonials, or spotlighting features that make your property unique. Highlighting apartment reviews during this phase can be particularly effective, giving prospects a peer-based perspective on the resident experience.
- Conversion: This is the closing phase. Here, your objective is clear and direct action. Whether it’s encouraging potential residents to schedule a property tour, sign up for a newsletter, or even start leasing. The ads in this phase should be crafted with a strong call to action, directing the audience exactly where you want them to go. Offer incentives, showcase limited-time deals, or emphasize the urgency to act.
Choosing the right objective can optimize your ad’s effectiveness, whether you’re highlighting amenities or showcasing glowing apartment reviews. These categories are basically the three main stages of any marketing funnel, and it is the first selection you make when creating a new ad campaign. Once you choose, every ad you launch within that specific campaign has that same objective.
Now, within each Ad Objective, there are multiple options from which you can choose to optimize ad delivery. These options slightly change the way your ad looks to viewers.
For the Awareness Objective, you have Brand Awareness and Reach. These objectives are designed to show your ad to the largest number of people in your target audience within your budget.
For consideration, there are:
- Traffic
- Engagement
- App Installs
- Video Views
- Lead Generation
- Messages
These optimize your ad for a specific action step, such as visiting your website, watching a video, filling out a form, or sending your property a message.
Lastly, there are Conversions, Catalog Sales, and Store Traffic for the Conversion Objective. However, you might find that these options don’t really line up with your goals.
Based on our experience with multifamily ads, you can easily create conversions with the Consideration ad objectives. Traffic and Lead Generation are the top two ad objectives you will use and find successful.
Overall, don’t get too caught up in the minute details of each category; just choose the one that best matches the action you want a prospect to take when they see your ad.
Ad Formats
Now that we’ve covered all the ad objectives let’s talk about ad formats, which dictate how your ad will appear.
- Image Ads: Simple, straightforward, and ideal for quick, clear messages. For multifamily properties, these can highlight specific amenities or limited-time leasing offers. You can upload three different ad sizes for each image ad: Facebook News Feed, Instagram Feed, and Instagram Story.
- Facebook News Feed ad specs are 1080 x 628 pixels.
- Instagram Feed ad specs are 1080 x 1080 pixels.
- Story ad specs are 1080 x 1920 pixels.
- Video Ads: Engaging and dynamic, offering a chance to tell a more detailed story. Whether showcasing a resident testimonial or a property walkthrough, videos can enhance the resident experience. You can have a video ad running in these three sizes:
- Horizontal Video Ads should be 600 x 315 pixels.
- Square Ads should be 600 x 600 pixels.
- Story Ads should be 1080 x 1920 pixels. It’s also important to know that Story Ads can only be 15 seconds long max.
- Carousel Ads: Interactive ads allow viewers to swipe through multiple images. Perfect for showing various unit types or amenities. There is only one ad size available for this type: a 1:1 ratio with 1080 x 1080 pixels.
The correct mix of ad objective and format can differentiate between an ad that resonates and one that falls flat. And with the potential for driving down costs (like achieving link clicks for as little as 22 cents), it’s worth the effort to get it right.
Launching Your Ad: The Culmination
Once your audience is set, and your ad type is chosen, it’s time to launch. Integrating the strategies highlighted above — especially with the support of Facebook marketing agencies — can ensure your ad reaches potential residents and resonates with them. Aim to highlight positive apartment reviews, emphasize the quality of resident experience, and use effective multifamily marketing techniques.
Whether you’re just getting started or seeking to optimize your existing efforts, understanding these fundamentals is the first step toward Facebook marketing success. If ever in doubt, remember that many Facebook marketing agencies like Criterion.B specialize in multifamily marketing and can offer tailored guidance and support.
Proven Multifamily Social Media Marketing Strategies to Increase Engagement
Social media’s influence is profound and pervasive, with over 4 billion global users engaging on multiple platforms monthly, dedicating more than two hours daily to these platforms.
For multifamily property owners, this translates to a vast, often cost-effective marketing landscape teeming with potential. Creating a social media strategy can amplify a property’s digital footprint, heighten engagement, and elevate multifamily brand recognition.
Are you aiming for heightened visibility or superior leads? Here’s the inside scoop, including ways to maximize your reach with multifamily social media marketing:
1. Choose the right multifamily social media marketing platforms.
Determining the optimal social platforms for your needs is crucial. While there’s a plethora to pick from — from Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to Snapchat and X (formerly Twitter) — it’s essential to discern which is most frequented by your target demographic.
Both Facebook and Instagram reign supreme in terms of performance, yet TikTok is swiftly gaining traction, especially if you’re targeting the Gen Z segment.
Not to be overlooked, TikTok also holds appeal for millennials. Comscore data reveals that close to 30% of TikTok enthusiasts are aged between 20-29, and another 16.4% fall within the 30-39 age bracket.
Your overarching multifamily marketing strategy should guide your platform choices. For instance, if your focus is on running tailored social advertisements, Facebook stands out. Conversely, if you aim to diversify your property’s follower base, Instagram boasts features tailored for audience expansion.
While businesses often encounter a pay-to-play model on Facebook, it’s an excellent platform for promoting posts and rolling out social ads. Meanwhile, Instagram offers tools designed to introduce your property to new eyes and amplify brand visibility.
LinkedIn also stands out as a prime channel for multifamily vendors. Given its professional and formal tone, LinkedIn reaches the precise audience — property managers, real estate professionals, and potential partners. Before diving into other niche platforms, it’s strategic to tap into the robust network that your target audience already frequents.
2. Engage with your audience; don’t just promote.
When deciding what content to post on your channels, always consider what your audience would find interesting. Social media is not a microphone for self-promotion but a chance to connect with your audience.
While it’s tempting to showcase your products or services constantly, it’s crucial to prioritize engagement over sheer promotion. Your content should resonate with property managers, residents, and potential partners. Balance your feed with valuable original content, like how-to guides or industry insights, and share valuable articles or insights. Always prioritize your audience’s interests and subtly integrate how your offerings can solve their needs. Think about your audience first and piece in how you fit into the conversation second.
3. Narrate your multifamily brand journey.
Every multifamily vendor boasts a distinct narrative — encompassing its genesis, evolution, and the principles it champions. Embarking on a journey to create a social media platform dedicated to such storytelling can be invaluable. To maximize your social media presence, select the most suitable social media channels tailored for your target audience.
When crafting social media posts, consider profiling elated property managers who have reaped the rewards of your services. Such testimonials act as authentic endorsements, solidifying the trust of social media users in your offerings. Additionally, providing a sneak peek behind the curtains — showcasing the day-to-day operations of your business — can foster genuine connections. As property owners and small businesses scroll through their preferred social network, such posts can resonate deeply, increasing brand awareness.
Furthermore, celebrate every milestone, whether it’s the 100th property you’ve worked with or the 10th year of your operation. Sharing these achievements on various platforms can significantly boost traffic to your website.
4. Share and promote your blogs on social.
For social media managers at the helm, it’s essential to discern the content that aligns with the essence of the multifamily property. This ensures that the marketing campaigns rolled out resonate with the audience in real-time.
Incorporating blog posts related to the multifamily industry, insights, or even tips for property managers can become an integral part of your multifamily social media marketing plan. It provides value to your audience, and such posts can generate leads.
Lastly, actively monitor the leads generated from these endeavors. Track and measure the effectiveness of each campaign, adjusting strategies accordingly. This proactive approach ensures your brand remains agile and attuned to the ever-evolving digital landscape.
5. Focus on the imagery.
In today’s digital landscape, most leading social platforms place a premium on visuals. The logic is simple: the more visually captivating a post, the more shares it garners, subsequently reaching a broader audience.
With this in mind, it’s essential to prioritize high-quality imagery. Opt for striking and locally relevant photos that narrate your brand’s narrative and resonate with your desired clientele. Remember, the foundation of exceptional content is exceptional photography.
6. Diversify your content and use more videos.
While photography is still essential, you shouldn’t overlook the power of dynamic video content. Engaging and high-quality videos have become pivotal in modern digital marketing. According to a Wyzowl study, 84% of marketers leveraging video content reported lead generation, while 78% credit their sales growth to it.
Visual aids make your feed more enticing and improve information retention. A monotonous feed can lead to reduced engagement. Intersperse your content with vibrant images, videos, infographics, and other visual content.
Brands should particularly focus on crafting videos for Instagram Stories, Instagram Reels, and TikTok. The usage of Instagram stories by major brands has grown substantially, doubling in just the past year. Instagram Reels have also experienced significant traction.
An added advantage? Reels can seamlessly be adapted and shared on TikTok. This platform became the first non-Facebook app to achieve 3 billion global downloads, making it one of the most sought-after social platforms currently.
7. Expand your reach strategically.
Social media can also be an excellent outlet for paid advertising. Surveys show that nearly half of all social users say they’ve bought something after seeing it advertised on social.
Once you’ve established a consistent and engaging content strategy, explore the advertising features of platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. These platforms offer laser-focused targeting, ensuring your content reaches the right eyes. You can target specific locations, demographics, and even users with particular interests, backgrounds, and career fields on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. For instance, a post detailing the benefits of a specific service for property managers can be targeted precisely at that demographic.
Incorporating these strategies can transform social media from just another marketing channel to a dynamic platform that fosters connections, enhances brand visibility, and drives tangible results for multifamily vendors.
Paid advertising provides an opportunity to market to your target audience directly. It’s important to test, test, and test again — on every element of your ads.
8. Tap into user-generated content.
Producing all your content in-house isn’t a necessity. Often, content created by your users or followers, known as user-generated content (UGC), can be as impactful as the content you create, if not more. UGC can encompass anything from posts and photos that mention your property to online reviews and other social content shared by individuals beyond your team.
Given a choice between official brand messages and genuine customer reviews, consumers consistently lean toward the latter’s authenticity. The reality is that many consumers place more trust in fellow consumers than in brands themselves. Thus, it’s a strategic move to integrate UGC into your promotional strategy.
Another avenue to explore is influencer marketing. This approach involves partnering with well-established social media figures to advocate for your brand. It’s crucial, however, to select influencers whose followers resonate with your target audience and be prepared for the associated costs.
Begin Your Multifamily Social Media Marketing Journey
Ultimately, multiple paths lead to success in multifamily social media marketing. Defining your objectives, deeply understanding your desired audience, and springing into action are essential.
Recognizing your core audience and discerning what appeals to them on social platforms is fundamental to a campaign’s triumph. Once you’ve done that, charting a strategy concerning content type, its regularity, and its origins becomes paramount. Ultimately, analyzing outcomes and making necessary tweaks is the finishing touch to a winning strategy.
The Rise and Importance of Video Marketing in Your Multifamily Marketing
Reflect on the most engaging content you’ve encountered on social media lately. Which pieces left a lasting impression, prompting you to share or tag a friend?
The undeniable force behind these memorable moments is video content. Whether it’s an amusing pet mishap, an informative tutorial, or an innovative DIY project, videos have an unrivaled power to captivate.
U.S. adults, on average, dedicate six hours daily to watching videos, and this watch time has skyrocketed by over 270% in the past year. Research indicates that more than half (54%) of consumers want to view more video content from their favored brands or businesses. Remarkably, 86% of companies now leverage video for marketing, a significant jump from 63% a few years ago.
These striking statistics underscore the substantial potential of video content marketing, especially in the multifamily marketing landscape. Now is the perfect moment if you haven’t yet integrated a robust video marketing strategy.
Why Is Video Content Marketing Important?
Search engines love fresh and engaging content, and nothing fits the bill quite like creating videos. In today’s digital age, landing pages, blog posts, and other online spaces are instantly elevated when you include video. The type of video matters, too. For instance, an “explainer video” can help break down complex concepts, while a product video shines a spotlight on the unique features of your products and services.
With many video and social media platforms available, there’s never been a better time to experiment with video ads, live videos, and other video formats.
In our fast-paced digital world, consumers search for content that offers instant gratification. Videos perfectly meet this demand, enabling brands to encapsulate their core message in a short yet impactful format. When you add video to your marketing mix, it’s not just about visuals; it’s about building genuine relationships with your audience.
The art of promoting your video has also become more accessible and budget-friendly, thanks to evolving technology. Now, multifamily marketers can benefit from precise targeting on video platforms and receive in-depth analytics, making it an indispensable marketing tool. Plus, with the option to share videos widely, you increase the chances for potential customers to watch your video and connect with your brand.
Effective Content for Your Video Marketing Strategy
Understanding and integrating the importance of video within your multifamily marketing framework is crucial, but it’s just the beginning. Determining which video formats and styles align best with your business objectives can be challenging.
To navigate this landscape, here are some video marketing tips to optimize your strategy for the multifamily sector:
1. Live Streaming and Reels
Social videos are short, conversational clips explicitly designed for social media. From live streaming on Facebook to Instagram Stories, brands can cast a wide net around prospective customers and reel them in with captivating content. Given the transient attention span on social media, these videos should ideally be condensed, gripping, and under two minutes.
Embrace live videos, as these can be utilized for property tours, resident events, or Q&A sessions. Live interactions build authenticity and foster a deeper connection with potential residents.
2. Brand vs. Product
Brand videos offer a high-level overview of your company’s brand, mission, and style. This content can be clips of your office and showcase company culture, but it should not sell a product. You should consider a brand video as your mission statement.
Product videos, conversely, educate your audience about the benefits of your product or service. With this content, it is essential to highlight and explain customer benefits and not just the features.
Ensure you’ve added video components, landing pages, and promotional materials to your website. This enriches the user experience and positions your brand as current and responsive to digital trends.
3. Testimonials and Customer Spotlights
Customer spotlight or testimonials showcase one of your customers and how they benefited from your product or service. These videos offer a great alternative to your website’s traditional written testimonial.
At Criterion.B, we have seen word-of-mouth communication as a powerful force — especially when building brand trust. Trust is built organically by spotlighting real customers and narrating their positive experiences, making this a vital aspect of multifamily marketing. Your prospective customers will trust the opinions of your current customers more than they trust your website content, blog, or advertisements. Video testimonials are an authentic way to capture your customer’s feedback and potentially drive more multifamily leads to your business.
4. Trending Videos
As with all marketing endeavors, staying abreast of the latest video trends and innovations is crucial. Whether it’s new editing techniques, emerging platforms, or innovative content ideas, being in the know ensures your strategy remains competitive.
Trending videos leverage a trending or timely topic at the core, whether it’s a clip related to a holiday, an upcoming election, or just a hot topic within your industry.
For example, we developed a video on the importance of building buyer personas, featured during a panel discussion at NAA Apartmentalize. The clip was timely (for the event), trending (within the multifamily market), and relevant to all of our buyer personas. Watch the full video below!
5. Interactive Content
Interactive videos offer viewers a unique, participatory experience. You turn passive viewers into active participants by embedding quizzes, polls, or clickable links. This heightened engagement ensures better retention and provides invaluable feedback. In multifamily marketing, interactive content can virtually tour potential properties, allowing viewers to choose which areas of a residence they’d like to see or even select finishes and furnishings in real time.
6. SEO Video Marketing
Your video’s content is only as effective as its discoverability. SEO video marketing is vital. Ensure your video titles, descriptions, and tags are optimized with relevant keywords. Moreover, to make your content inclusive, provide subtitles or closed captions. This not only aids viewers with hearing impairments but also caters to those who watch videos without sound, which is a significant portion of viewers, especially on social media platforms.
Integrating these video marketing tips can further elevate your multifamily strategy, ensuring you reach a broader audience while providing engaging and valuable content. Remember, in today’s digital age, it’s not just about producing videos — it’s about creating videos that resonate, inform, and inspire.
5 Ways Video Content Can Drive Multifamily Website Traffic
With “doom scrolling” rising, capturing and maintaining a visitor’s attention on your website can be a significant challenge. However, integrating videos into your web content offers an effective solution. Here’s how:
1. Enhance Your User Engagement
Embedding videos in your blog posts or web pages can dramatically increase user engagement. Instead of skimming through a lengthy article, viewers can watch a video that summarizes or complements the content. This multimedia approach appeals to a broader range of learning styles — while some might prefer reading, others gravitate toward visual or auditory content.
2. Increase the Average Time on Page
One of the crucial metrics search engines use to gauge the quality and relevance of a page is the amount of time a user spends on it. A compelling video can keep visitors on your page for extended periods, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable. This can subsequently improve your site’s search engine ranking, making it easier for potential customers or readers to discover your content.
3. Reduce Bounce Rates
A “bounce” occurs when a visitor lands on a page on your website and leaves without interacting with any other part of your site. A high bounce rate can negatively impact your SEO ranking. Videos, with their innate ability to captivate, can mitigate this. By embedding a video, you’re giving visitors an additional reason to stay and explore, reducing the likelihood of a bounce.
4. Boost the Shareability of Your Site
Video content is inherently shareable. Visitors who find your video insightful, entertaining, or valuable are likelier to share it on social media platforms or with their network. Every share increases the potential for more traffic to your website, creating a virtuous cycle of engagement and discovery.
5. Improve Your Content Diversity
A diverse content strategy appeals to a wider audience. By embedding videos in your blog posts, you’re catering to those who prefer watching over reading. This diversity can make your website a go-to resource for information, ensuring repeat visits and consistent traffic.
Captivate Your Customers With SEO Video Marketing
While social media videography plays a crucial role, broadening your scope to include video across your website, landing pages, and emails is vital. Don’t limit yourself to just one type of video. From explainer videos detailing your amenities to animated infographics showcasing resident testimonials, diversifying your video formats can cater to varied audience preferences and increase engagement.
Delving into the benefits of video marketing reveals that it doesn’t just enhance engagement; it boosts SEO rankings, fosters trust, and increases conversion rates. Video marketing tips can help businesses optimize their content for SEO video marketing, ensuring their videos rank higher and reach a broader audience.
While the concept of branded video content’s immense multifamily marketing potential isn’t novel, its soaring popularity among consumers and its heightened significance to marketers certainly is. To stay competitive and resonate with your audience, harnessing this trend is no longer optional but imperative.
Maximizing Engagement and NOI With Instagram Marketing
Today, Instagram stands out as a game-changer, especially for multifamily digital marketing. With a user base majorly consisting of millennials and Gen Z, Instagram provides a dynamic platform that caters to the visual appetite of its audience, making it a prime tool in marketing.
Understanding Instagram’s Potential
At its core, Instagram is designed for sharing visuals — photos and videos. But it’s not just about simple picture-sharing; it’s about storytelling. With a plethora of editing tools and filters, you can elevate the aesthetic appeal of your photos, making them more engaging and resonating.
Whether you’re an individual or a property management company, the interactive features like commenting, favoriting, and tagging make the platform more dynamic. Its mobile-centric, scroll-friendly interface is what makes Instagram incredibly interactive and user-friendly.
Multifamily Properties & Instagram: A Perfect Match
Instagram isn’t just for influencers and brands; it’s a boon for multifamily properties and vendors. Here’s how you can leverage it:
- Show, Don’t Just Tell: Instagram’s visual-centric nature makes it perfect for multifamily properties to offer a sneak peek into their world. Be it a newly opened pool, the prep for a resident event, or delicious cupcakes in the lobby — let the residents see it. Highlight under-utilized amenities to generate interest. Remember, it’s not just showcasing facilities but emphasizing your property’s lifestyle and community vibe.
- Define Your Brand Personality: Before diving into Instagram marketing, it’s vital to identify your property’s tone and personality. Understand your target audience and tailor your content accordingly.
- Engage Your Residents Actively: With a substantial chunk of millennials active on Instagram, multifamily marketers can tap into the platform’s potential to boost resident engagement. Contests are a fantastic way to do this.
Leveraging Instagram in Multifamily Real Estate Investing
Instagram isn’t just a platform for residents and property managers; it’s a goldmine for multifamily real estate investing companies looking to position themselves as thought leaders and drive conversions. With its visually rich interface, Instagram can be an instrumental tool for showcasing industry insights, property highlights, and building trust among potential investors. Here’s how:
- Educational Content: Share bite-sized facts, stats, or trends related to multifamily real estate investing. Infographics and short video clips can effectively break down complex topics for your followers. These posts position your company as an industry expert and provide value to your followers, helping to build trust.
- Behind-the-Scenes: Showcase the inner workings of your company. Whether it’s a day in the life of your team, a property walkthrough, or the process of selecting a new investment property, giving a glimpse behind the curtain humanizes your brand and allows potential investors to feel more connected.
- Success Stories: Feature testimonials from satisfied investors or highlight successful property turnovers. Real-life success stories can resonate with potential investors, showcasing your company’s expertise and results in tangible ways.
- Engaging Polls and Q&A Sessions: Use Instagram’s poll feature or Q&A stickers in Stories to engage with your followers. This not only fosters interaction but can also provide insights into what your audience wants to know. Regular Q&A sessions can position your brand as transparent and responsive.
- Highlight Reels: Use Instagram’s highlight feature to categorize and save valuable content like property tours, investor testimonials, and educational snippets. This way, new followers or potential investors can quickly access and get to know your brand without scrolling endlessly.
- CTAs in Posts: Each post should serve a purpose. Whether you’re sharing an industry insight or showcasing a property, always include a call to action. It could be directing them to a recent blog post, inviting them to an investment webinar, or encouraging them to DM (Direct Message) for personal consultation.
- Leverage IGTV for In-Depth Content: Longer, in-depth discussions about multifamily real estate investing trends, strategies, or property evaluations can be shared on IGTV. This can benefit potential investors keen on understanding the nitty-gritty of the industry.
- Collaborate With Industry Experts: Collaborate with industry experts or influencers for joint live sessions or post-takeovers. This can expand your reach to their follower base and further cement your position as a thought leader.
Unlock Instagram’s Potential With Criterion.B
Instagram is a potent tool, not just for visibility but for building meaningful connections. It’s much more than a photo-sharing platform; it’s a multifamily digital marketing powerhouse waiting to be tapped.
As multifamily marketers, the goal is to think visually and strategically to engage current residents and attract potential ones. Need assistance with your Instagram marketing strategy? Criterion.B is here to help you navigate and maximize this dynamic platform.
Beyond Likes and Shares: 5 Facebook Strategies for Modern Student Housing
Generation Z has become synonymous with online interactivity. Having grown up during the rapid expansion of the internet and with smartphones always within reach, they are a generation that prioritizes digital communication over traditional methods. For Gen Z renters, expressing themselves through text or sharing weekend escapades on social media is the norm.
Struggling to connect with them? It’s a two-way street. Just as you might find their digital-first approach bewildering, they might be equally puzzled by older communication methods.
Dive Deep Into the Digital World of Gen Z Renters
If you’re in the realm of student housing development and wondering why social media should be your go-to communication tool, consider this: the window to engage with these students is relatively short. Missing out on the platforms they frequent means missing out on key interaction opportunities.
Let’s talk about Facebook to start. About 70% of American adults use Facebook. And you might be thinking, are any of those users even Gen Z renters? Recent studies show only about 7% of Gen Z users plan to quit Facebook in 2023. While this isn’t the “first choice” social media platform for this demographic, they still use it.
So, what’s the best way to tap into the heart of Gen Z’s digital life, especially on platforms like Facebook?
1. Promote On-Campus Events Digitally
If you’ve observed dwindling numbers at on-campus events, it might be time to rethink your promotional strategy. Traditional flyers might not just be environmentally unfriendly but might also not resonate with Gen Z renters.
Instead, create Facebook event pages to promote these events. Showcase visuals from previous iterations (if it’s an annual event) to blend tradition with contemporary outreach methods.
2. Quick Weather Updates
Imagine a scenario where unforeseen weather conditions, like heavy snowfall, disrupt regular schedules, and classes must be canceled. Instead of relying on email notifications that might go unread, why not use Facebook?
With Gen Z constantly scrolling through their newsfeeds, timely posts about weather alerts ensure immediate dissemination of crucial information.
3. Disseminate General Announcements
Got updates about the residential facilities, changes in semester timelines, or items in the lost and found? Facebook is your platform! Craft concise posts enriched with visuals (images or videos) to swiftly inform your student housing community.
4. Foster a Community With User-Generated Content
User-generated content is one of the most genuine ways to boost engagement and build a sense of community. Encourage your residents to share their unique experiences, be it a quiet study session in the lounge, a fun community event, or even a serene sunset view from their apartment window.
Launch monthly challenges or themes where students can share photos or stories about a particular topic or hashtag. Not only does this provide fresh, authentic content for your Facebook page, but it also allows residents to actively participate in creating the narrative of their community. Celebrate and showcase this content by sharing selected posts or creating monthly highlights. This validates your residents’ efforts and paints a genuine picture of life in your housing facility, which can be an invaluable tool for prospective students evaluating their housing options.
5. Utilize Facebook Groups for Direct Engagement
Did you know that 1.8 billion people interact in Facebook groups every month?
Beyond your primary Facebook page, consider setting up dedicated groups for different blocks, year groups, or special interest communities within your housing complex. Facebook Groups offer a more intimate setting for discussions, feedback, and announcements specific to group members.
For instance, a group dedicated to residents interested in fitness could have announcements about gym timings, fitness challenges, or even resident-led yoga sessions. Similarly, a group for a specific block or building can discuss maintenance issues, attend community meetings, or even organize block parties.
You can offer tailored content and create a more personalized resident experience by segmenting your audience. Additionally, these groups foster peer-to-peer interaction, helping residents connect over shared interests or concerns. It’s about broadcasting messages, facilitating conversations, and building a supportive community.
Social Media Isn’t Just a Tool
While the digital landscape and preferences of newer generations might seem complex, remember that platforms like Facebook were ironically first conceptualized for college students. Embracing such platforms for your multifamily marketing can bridge the communication gap, foster a vibrant community spirit, and attract new apartment leads. If done right, social media isn’t just a tool — it’s a transformative force.
Maximizing Occupancy & Revenue: Strategic Insights for Multifamily Property Success
High occupancy rates are the golden ticket to success in multifamily real estate. But how do you attract and retain tenants consistently?
Today, we’re diving into some tactical tips to boost occupancy and increase your net operating income (NOI). Through the lens of property management marketing and multifamily branding, let’s unlock the potential of your property.
1. Revamp Your Online Presence
Modern tenants scout online before they visit in person. And there is nothing worse than an unresponsive, slow-loading multifamily website. A modern web design can be the difference between one lead and dozens. Ensure your website is mobile-responsive, user-friendly, and provides comprehensive information, all while encapsulating your multifamily branding essence.
Our multifamily branding agency will deliver a high-quality, responsive website and handle your apartment marketing so you can focus on what matters most — nurturing your leads.
2. Dive Into Social Media
Social media is indispensable in property management marketing. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook can showcase your property’s amenities, community events, and testimonials.
We treat your social media as an extension of your website — by embracing your customers and serving them relevant content. Our team of social media experts will help adhere to your brand voice to concept, publish, and manage daily social media content — including Stories, Reels, and lead-generating ads.
3. Hire a Multifamily Branding Agency
Are there inconsistencies in your multifamily branding? Are you ranking low in search results — or even not at all? Are you losing leads to your competitors? Has your multifamily marketing plan fallen by the wayside? Don’t let sporadic multifamily marketing and branding stunt your NOI.
An expert multifamily branding agency can help refine your brand, ensuring it aligns with your target audience and stands out from competitors. An agency can also offer invaluable insights and solutions to uplift your brand. Our seasoned perspective ensures your brand resonates with your target audience, distinguishing you from competitors. Moreover, with our comprehensive market knowledge and analytical approach, we can identify and rectify hidden challenges or overlooked gaps hindering your brand’s full potential and stunting your NOI.
4. Host Community Events
Community BBQs, game nights, or workshops can provide a sneak peek into the vibrant life prospective tenants can expect, driving occupancy. We recommend hosting small, more affordable events every month (at least) and larger events every quarter. You should also aim for one significant event open to the public each year, such as a large Battle of the Bands, a Christmas celebration, or a charity event with raffle prizes. These large events will draw in the broader community and spread the word about your property.
5. Offer Referral Incentives
Encouraging current residents to refer friends or family is a strategic move in resident acquisition. Many trust recommendations from those they know, making this a reliable method to attract potential renters. Offering your current residents a discount on their next month’s rent or a bonus, such as a gift card to a popular local restaurant, can incentivize them to promote your property actively.
6. Professional Property Photos
High-quality photos can make a vast difference in online listings. Consider hiring a professional for interiors and exteriors to put your best foot forward. A multifamily branding agency can also help you coordinate a professional photographer, so there is no sweat off your back!
7. Revise Your Marketing Materials
Update brochures, banners, and flyers. Ensure all marketing for property management showcases the latest amenities, resident testimonials, and any recent renovations. If you recently rebranded your online presence, you need this to reflect in your marketing materials.
A multifamily branding agency can help you pinpoint all the collateral pieces that need to be updated and upscale those branding elements to match the look and feel of your new brand experience. From rack cards and brochures to banners and event flyers, we can help you generate apartment leads with premium collateral.
8. Enhance Security Measures
Safety is a top priority for many renters. Implement security cameras, keyless entries, or 24/7 security personnel to boost your property’s appeal. Once these are all updated, promote them with pop-ups on your website, add them to social media, and send an e-blast newsletter to current and prospective residents on your email list. This can show current residents you are bettering the property for their benefit and show prospective renters that you prioritize a safe community.
9. Offer Flexible Lease Terms
While not ideal for all properties, consider short-term leases or rent-by-room options. Flexibility can attract a wider range of potential residents. The short-term rental industry has seen an unprecedented surge in growth in recent years. In fact, the short-term rental market is expected to reach a valuation of $8,907.1 million by 2026. If your property has the means and logistics to tap into this market, you could open the door to some lucrative NOI.
10. Pet-Friendly Policies
Did you know that 72% of renters have pets, yet problems finding and keeping rental housing is a leading reason dogs and cats wind up in shelters?
Despite pets being prevalent in two-thirds of American households and integral to communities, many renters face challenges securing pet-accommodating residences. Shockingly, this housing dilemma leads to over half a million pets being surrendered to shelters annually, with many failing to find new homes. Even though the rental housing sector claims about 78% of apartment complexes are pet-friendly, the reality often contrasts starkly. Many properties impose weight restrictions, such as no dogs over 25 lbs. or having breed limitations. Hence, “pet-friendly” doesn’t truly represent most of America’s pets.
With more people adopting pets, offering a true pet-friendly policy (with appropriate rules) can be a significant attraction. Massive bonus points for the properties that also offer up pet-friendly amenities like dog washing stations, pet parlors, dog parks, and more. (p.s. This is also another way you can justify a rent increase!)
11. Implement Tech Upgrades
In today’s digital age, properties need to adapt to the ever-evolving technological demands of residents. Smart home features, such as voice-activated lighting, automated thermostats, and advanced security systems, offer convenience and modern living standards that appeal to a wide audience. High-speed internet has transitioned from a luxury to a necessity, especially for remote workers, avid gamers, or streaming enthusiasts.
Additionally, app-based service requests provide residents with a seamless way to communicate their needs directly to property management without the hassle of calls or in-person visits. As most people, regardless of age, have become adept with technology, integrating these features can significantly enhance the living experience and make a property more attractive to potential renters.
12. Maintain Immaculate Common Areas
First impressions matter. A visitor’s initial encounter with a property often sets the tone for their entire experience. Lobbies, hallways, and other shared spaces are the first touchpoints for prospective residents. Regularly cleaning and updating these areas is crucial for aesthetics and communicating the property’s commitment to maintaining a high-quality living environment. A clean and modern space exudes professionalism and care, making it a no-brainer for properties aiming to attract and retain residents who value such attention to detail.
13. Engage in Local Collaborations
Partnerships with local businesses can be a game-changer for multifamily properties looking to enhance the resident experience. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Collaborate with the neighborhood café to offer exclusive morning coffee discounts for residents.
- Strike a deal with a nearby gym, providing discounted memberships or trial sessions.
- Local spas or wellness centers could provide tailored packages or special rates for residents.
- Coordinate with nearby bookstores, theatres, or artisanal shops to host monthly events or offer promotional deals to your residents.
By intertwining with the local business ecosystem, properties boost the appeal of community living and foster a deeper sense of belonging and convenience for their residents.
14. Actively Gather and Showcase Testimonials
Testimonials play a pivotal role in property management marketing. To encourage satisfied residents to share their experiences on platforms like Google, Yelp, or even Facebook, properties can implement a few thoughtful measures.
- Create a straightforward process for leaving reviews, perhaps by sending periodic reminders with direct links to the review platform.
- Consider hosting community events or appreciation days, and during these events, set up kiosks or dedicated spaces where residents can quickly drop a review.
- To motivate residents to share their feedback, offer small incentives, such as raffle entries or discounts on community amenities.
- To foster a culture of appreciation and engagement, regularly spotlight and thank residents for their positive reviews in community newsletters or social media.
Properties build trust with potential tenants and reinforce their commitment to current residents by actively seeking out and celebrating testimonials.
15. Offer Move-in Specials
Properties need to think creatively to catch the attention of potential tenants. Limited-time offers can be a game-changer in this regard. By providing reduced deposits, properties can appeal to those who might be budget-conscious or hesitant about the initial financial commitment. Offering a free month’s rent generates buzz and can provide the gentle nudge a prospective renter needs to choose your property over another.
Additionally, bundled utilities simplify the living experience, removing the hassle of multiple bills and presenting a more streamlined approach to monthly expenses. Combined, these incentives showcase the property’s commitment to providing value and position it as an accommodating and tenant-centric choice in a sea of options.
16. Efficient Response Systems
Prompt and clear communication is a cornerstone of building trust with potential renters. In an era where instant messaging and rapid customer service have set expectations for quick responses, any delay in addressing queries can reflect how the property operates.
When potential renters reach out with questions or concerns, they are not just seeking answers; they are gauging the responsiveness and reliability of the property management team. Addressing their queries promptly provides clarity and showcases a property’s commitment to tenant satisfaction.
Efficient communication can often be the determining factor in a renter’s decision-making process. It bridges the gap between initial interest and final commitment, ensuring potential tenants feel valued and understood, ultimately making it more likely for them to choose your property over others.
17. Regular Market Analysis
Property managers and owners must be attuned to the pulse of the local rental market. With fluctuations in demand, economic shifts, and seasonal variations, rental prices can be highly dynamic. Staying updated on local market trends can help you gain insights into what competitors are charging, what amenities are in demand, and what potential renters prioritize in their housing search.
Proactively adjusting pricing in response to these multifamily trends doesn’t just ensure you remain competitive; it also demonstrates to potential residents that the property is in touch with the community’s needs and is adaptable. In a market where every edge counts, this level of responsiveness can be the difference between a fully occupied property and vacant units.
18. Enhance Green Spaces
An oasis of greenery in the form of well-maintained gardens, terraces, or even strategically placed indoor plants can significantly elevate the aesthetic and ambiance of a multifamily property. Beyond just their visual appeal, these green spaces and elements contribute to a sense of tranquility and well-being, offering residents a respite from the hustle and bustle of urban life.
The presence of plants can also improve air quality, acting as natural air purifiers. By investing in landscaping and indoor plants, properties not only enhance their visual appeal but also create a healthier and more rejuvenating environment. Such thoughtful touches signal a property’s commitment to providing residents with a holistic living experience, making it more enticing for potential renters seeking more than just four walls and a roof.
19. Invest in Upscale Amenities
Multifamily properties that offer more than just living spaces are capturing the attention of discerning renters. Common areas such as state-of-the-art gyms with the latest fitness technology, co-working spaces catering to the growing number of remote professionals, or entertainment zones with gaming areas and mini-theaters can truly set your property apart. These unique amenities serve as value-added propositions, providing residents with convenience, luxury, and diverse lifestyle options right at their doorstep.
These premium features offer a richer living experience, which warrants a justified increase in rent. When residents perceive tangible value in these amenities, they’re more likely to understand and accept a slightly higher rental cost. Ultimately, by elevating the standard of living through these specialized common areas, properties can significantly enhance their NOI while fostering a greater resident experience.
20. Continuous Staff Training
Investing in thorough staff training, especially in customer service excellence, is not just a box to tick; it’s a strategic move for the longevity and success of your multifamily property. Cutting corners in staff training can lead to missed opportunities, miscommunications, and unsatisfactory resident experiences, which can negatively impact your property’s reputation and occupancy rates.
When residents see familiar faces in the management team and service personnel, it fosters a sense of community and trust. Familiarity can often translate to increased comfort and security, which is essential in a resident’s decision to renew their lease.
On the flip side, frequent staff turnover can incur additional costs in hiring and training, and it may disrupt the seamless operation and rapport built with residents. In essence, by prioritizing staff training and retention, properties ensure smooth operations and a positive environment and enhance their bottom line by minimizing unnecessary expenses and optimizing renter satisfaction.
Boosting Demand with Comprehensive Multifamily Branding
Increasing occupancy and NOI is a blend of strategic multifamily branding, robust property management marketing, and understanding tenant needs. With these tips and the expertise of a multifamily branding agency, property managers can navigate the challenges of the rental market, ensuring their properties remain in high demand. Remember, in real estate, multifamily branding isn’t just a name — it’s an experience.
Pin to Win: Boosting Social Media Marketing and Multifamily SEO One Board at a Time
In today’s digital age, traditional methods of finding multifamily properties, like scouring the classified sections of newspapers or searching through Craigslist, have taken a backseat. The spotlight now is on dynamic and interactive platforms for social media marketing, and Pinterest is leading the charge as an unexpected yet potent tool.
For those still unfamiliar with this platform, Pinterest is much more than just another image-sharing site. It is a powerful repository of visual inspirations and ideas, neatly organized into “Boards.” Unlike many other platforms, it’s a place where users don’t just scroll and like; they engage, plan, and dream. This unique behavior makes Pinterest a compelling channel for social media marketing, particularly for multifamily properties.
Pinterest and Its Influence on Multifamily SEO
For multifamily property marketers, the crux lies in ensuring that your property website ranks high in search engine results. High multifamily SEO ranking translates to increased traffic, more leads, and a bolstered brand reputation. Here’s where Pinterest comes into play, acting as an unexpected booster for multifamily SEO.
Let’s explore how:
1. Setting Up Your Pinterest Profile
Your first step in Pinterest marketing is creating an account representing your business. Use your full business name and ensure that your Pinterest bio gives an immediate sense of who you are, complete with logos and essential contact details. Remember, a Pinterest marketing agency would stress the importance of consistency across platforms.
2. Board Creation and Management
Think of boards as visual chapters of a book. While the temptation is to create many, quality trumps quantity. A handful of well-curated boards can do wonders for your Pinterest marketing strategy.
Categories to consider include:
- Showcasing your property: Highlight rooms, amenities, and events.
- Tips and advice: From interior decoration ideas to space-saving hacks.
- Local guides: Offer insights into the neighborhood and local attractions.
- Lifestyle: Share easy recipes or DIYs for apartment living.
3. Harnessing Multifamily SEO
Keywords are the pillars of any SEO strategy, and Pinterest marketing is no different. Integrate relevant multifamily SEO keywords into your Pins’ titles and descriptions. This ensures search engines recognize the relevancy of your Pins, propelling them (and your property) to a wider audience.
4. Steering Potential Renters Your Way
Every Pin should serve a purpose, and in the case of multifamily properties, it guides interested parties back to your main website. Edit the source link of your Pin to ensure it leads back to your site. An engaging caption can further tempt users to make that all-important click.
Bringing Pinterest Into Your Social Media Marketing Fold
With its visually-driven platform and engaged user base, Pinterest offers multifamily properties a unique avenue for social media marketing. Collaborating with a Pinterest marketing agency can further refine your strategy, ensuring you harness the platform’s full potential.
As the digital landscape evolves, staying adaptive and innovative is vital. And, in the realm of social media marketing, Pinterest might just be the secret ingredient you’ve been looking for to elevate your multifamily SEO. So, why wait? Dive in and pin your way to success!
How to Launch Threads: Exploring the Next Frontier in Social Media Interactions
In the dynamic world of social media, new platforms continually emerge, aiming to redefine how we connect and interact. One such platform that has garnered significant attention is Threads.
Launched on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, Threads offers a fresh approach to social networking, focusing on fostering meaningful conversations and intimate group interactions.
Facebook has tried to compete with Twitter for years, including copying signature Twitter features such as trending topics and hashtags. But now Meta is taking a swipe at Twitter with this new platform.
Threads is intended to offer a space for real-time conversations — something that has long been a core selling point of Twitter.
The app has garnered 100 million active users (and counting) as of July 2023.
So, is Threads worth it? Should we dive into yet another social media platform? And how do you use it properly?
Introducing Threads: Redefining Social Connections
Threads is a social platform designed to create focused and intimate conversation spaces. It differs from traditional social media platforms by emphasizing privacy, close-knit groups, and meaningful interactions. With Threads, users can connect with friends, family, and communities more personally and engagingly, enhancing the quality of their social interactions.
Businesses can engage with their customers in real-time offering answers to important FAQs, customer support, and more personalized responses — similar to Twitter. Since its launch, Threads has gained momentum, attracting users who enjoy platforms like Twitter but seek change.
Getting Started With Threads
How to launch a Threads account
Joining threads is an extremely simple process — all you need is an Instagram account and the app! To join Threads, you need to download the mobile app on iOS and Android devices. You can also scan the QR code on the Threads website, redirecting you to App Store.
Once downloaded, follow the simple registration process to create your Threads account. You will then be directed to a screen where you can set up your profile. If you manage multiple business accounts, be sure to sign into the account you want to launch on Threads.
Please note that your name on Threads is automatically synced with your Instagram account and cannot be edited. You can manually add a profile photo, link, and bio or utilize the convenient “Import from Instagram” feature, which seamlessly transfers your existing details, including your profile picture, from your Instagram account.
Next, you can choose between a Public or Private account setting. Opting for a Private profile ensures that only approved followers can view and engage with your posts. It’s important to note that your choice on Threads does not impact your Instagram profile. You can maintain a private profile on one platform while having a public profile on the other, providing flexibility in managing your online presence.
After selecting, you will be presented with a list of Instagram accounts you currently follow. At this point, you can choose to follow all accounts on Threads or manually select specific ones. If you choose to follow an account that has not yet joined Threads, they will be automatically followed if they sign up later.
How to build your following on Threads
One burning question we hear is, “Can I import my Instagram followers on Threads?” Threads does not currently offer a built-in feature to import followers from other social media platforms or external sources. However, they can follow you when they join Threads.
You can also promote your Threads profile on other platforms or to your existing followers through various means, such as sharing your Threads username, posting about it on your social media accounts, or including it in your website or email signatures. This can encourage your existing audience to join you on Threads and potentially become your followers on the platform.
It’s important to note that the availability of features and functionalities on social media platforms may evolve. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to stay updated with Threads’ latest announcements, updates, and documentation to learn about any new features or possibilities, including the ability to import followers in the future.
How to post on Threads
To post on Threads, follow these simple steps:
- Launch the Threads App: Open the Threads app on your iOS or Android device. If you haven’t downloaded the app yet, you can find it in the respective app store for your device.
- Log in to Your Account: Enter your login credentials to access your Threads account. If you are a new user, you can sign up for an account following the app’s registration process.
- Explore or Create Threads: Once you are logged in, you have two options: explore existing threads or create your own. To explore threads, you can browse through different categories or search for specific topics or communities of interest. Join threads that capture your attention and align with your preferences.
- Contribute to Threads: To make a post within a thread, navigate to the specific thread where you want to share your thoughts or media. Look for the option to create a new post or participate in an ongoing discussion.
- Craft Your Post: Depending on the capabilities of the Threads app, you will typically have options to type out text, upload images, videos, or share links. Use the available tools and features to create your post, ensuring it aligns with the thread’s topic and intended purpose.
- Engage With the Community: After crafting your post, take a moment to review it for clarity, relevance, and appropriateness. Once you are satisfied, submit your post within the thread. Your contribution will become visible to other participants, who can respond and converse with you.
- Respond to Replies and Interact: As other users respond to your post, be sure to engage with them by replying to comments, sharing further insights, or asking follow-up questions. Threads are meant to foster meaningful discussions, so active participation and interaction contribute to a vibrant and engaging community experience.
- Follow Thread Guidelines: Like Instagram, remember to adhere to the community and thread-specific rules. Respect the privacy and preferences of other participants, maintaining a friendly and constructive environment for conversations.
FAQs: Answering Your Burning Questions About Threads
Q1: Is Threads a public platform?
No, Threads is designed to prioritize privacy and close-knit interactions. Users can control who can join their threads and access their conversations, allowing for a more intimate social experience.
Q2: Can I use Threads to connect with existing friends?
Absolutely! Threads provides an opportunity to deepen your connections with existing friends by engaging in focused and meaningful conversations. You can create private threads exclusively for your close group of friends or join threads initiated by others.
Q3: Are communities available on Threads?
Threads allows users to discover and join communities that match their interests. Communities unite like-minded individuals, fostering discussions and connections around specific topics or hobbies.
Q4: Can I share media files on Threads?
Yes, Threads supports sharing various media formats, including photos, videos, and links. This enhances the visual and interactive aspects of conversations within threads, making interactions more engaging and dynamic.
Q5: How does Threads prioritize user privacy?
Threads prioritizes user privacy by providing control over who can access conversations. Users have the ability to create private threads, invite specific individuals, and manage their thread settings to ensure a secure and trusted environment for communication.
Q6: Can I schedule posts in advance?
No. Currently, the platform is all app-based, and you can only post manually. We assume this will change very soon as Meta incorporates it into the Meta business platform.
Q7: Can I edit a Thread I’ve already posted?
Not yet. However, you can limit who can reply to your post or hide the number of likes even after you’ve shared a post.
Q8: Can you use hashtags on Threads?
Threads doesn’t support hashtags yet. There is no point in including them in your caption and wasting your character count (as of now).
Q9: How do I repost a Thread?
If you want to repost the content, click on the double arrow icon below the post, which is the same as the retweet icon on Twitter.
Q10: Can you manage multiple accounts on Threads?
Threads only allows you to log in with a single account at a time. You can switch profiles only by logging out of the current Thread account.
The Future of Threads: Is It Here to Stay?
Threads’ popularity and evolution presents exciting opportunities for individuals, communities, and businesses alike. But is it here to stay? Will it take off or flop after a year? Only time will tell. But we are here with you to help navigate this new platform and explore all the multifamily marketing opportunities it provides!
As Threads continues to evolve, it has the potential to reshape the social media landscape. Could it be the undoing of Twitter? Will Twitter still reign supreme? Only time will tell…