Apartment Trends Magazine February 2019 | Page 17

STEP 2: DETERMINE WHERE SOCIAL FITS INTO YOUR STRATEGY Each part of your marketing strategy should fit together into one cohesive piece. Your website, social media presence, user experience, customer experience, etc., should operate in harmony. After all, you do not want to create a content sharing calendar only to realize your blog has not been updated in three years! Start by thinking about your buyer personas: their wants, needs, careers, lifestyles, and what they look for in an apartment community. The reason we create personas or join conversations is so we can get to know the people we are marketing to. With this approach, we are building relationships, building trust, and identifying key marketing insights. When you know what’s important to your renters, you can serve them better than anyone else. STEP 3: CREATE A MEMORABLE, DISTINCT BRAND Does your online presence elevate your brand? The most distinct online presences are the ones that adhere to a visual style and brand. For example, to separate our client Preston Hollow Village from surrounding retail competitors, we established a distinct visual style which branded PHV as colorful, vibrant, and dynamic. And although today’s smart phones have powerful cameras, professional photography also helped elevate this brand to a new level. STEP 4: LOOK BEYOND YOUR MARKETING BUDGET While social media is certainly a viable marketing strategy, it is also part of your customer service strategy. The internet allows word-of-mouth communication to spread easier than ever, both positive and negative. For many of our clients in the multifamily industry, negative commentary from residents is commonly found online via Yelp, Twitter, and Google business pages. Residents who are frustrated with a property’s maintenance issues or poor customer service often express those feelings publicly online. The way a multifamily property responds will ultimately determine how a negative comment affects your business. WHAT YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT, WITH THE SERVICE THAT YOU DESERVE In short: make sure you are allocating various parts of your budget accordingly. And if you plan to take out ads on social media, make sure you are tracking cost per click and cost per lead to determine if social advertising offers you a cost-effective return on ad spend (ROAS). DEVELOPING A STRATEGY When it comes to developing a social media strategy, determining what to post is one of the easiest aspects of the equation. We encourage our clients to take a data-driven approach and think holistically about where social media fits into their larger online strategy. Who is your buyer persona? What goals are you trying to accomplish? How can your online platforms help you accomplish these goals? Once your strategy and team are aligned, you can position your property for digital marketing success. Ashley Tyndall is the Director of Client Services for Criterion.B an agency focused on branding and inbound marketing for the commercial real estate industry. PROJECT SUPPORT CUSTOM FABRICATION ONLINE ORDERING FREE SAME-DAY DELIVERY* STUDENT HOUSING *in qualifying areas Maintenance Supply Headquarters offers dedicated local sales representatives, a customer service call center, and will call at each location to ensure you have prompt, personal customer service. With MSH, your property maintenance solutions are never far away! supplyHQ.com | @MSupplyHQ Phone: 866.630.6747 | Fax: 866.631.6747 | Español: 888.281.0255 www.aamdhq.org FEBRUARY 2019 TRENDS | 15