The best way to bring in residents to your property, whether it’s for seniors or affordable housing, is to ensure the people in your area know about its availability. Today, the vast majority of people will, as a reflex, do their initial research online. So, if you want to ensure that your online marketing is doing what it needs to, you should be aware of these four factors.

Keep Your Website Up To Date

It’s no exaggeration to say that your website is your first and most important online marketing tool. In many ways, a property’s website is a virtual lobby acting as a point of entry to your property, as well as a brochure that can offer marketing material to potential residents.

This is why, just like with any physical storefront, lobby, or reception area, it is important to make a good impression here. A website should have a professional presentation and, perhaps more importantly, be easy to read and navigate. People should not struggle to find what they’re interested in, and you should take every opportunity to promote, in detail, the specifics of your property, but do so in discrete, separate sections of relevance, not all piled together in a single web page.

Use Google Business Profile

While it’s not universal, Google is the de facto search engine for many people. As a result of this, the importance of your presentation on Google itself can’t be understated. This is why it’s important to take advantage of the tools Google makes available, such as the My Business Profile feature that allows you to exert control over how your business appears on Google Search and Google Maps.

This My Business profile can even act as a mini-social media platform, allowing you to push out messages or notifications that will appear on the search engine. So, if you’ve just updated your property with new fitness facilities, this can be highlighted on the business profile and be seen by people who are searching for new places to live with better exercise options, for example.

Make Virtual Tours Available

One of the most popular features—at least for people with attractive facilities—in real estate marketing today is the “virtual tour.” This is where full, 360-degree photographs are taken of a property that allows people online to get a more accurate idea of what a property is like.

For apartments and other managed properties, it’s important to cover all the important facilities and really show off their virtues. So, if you have a pool, exercise room, or common area that is worth promoting, be sure to include these. However, it’s also important to include individual apartments.

Implement Move-In Specials

This doesn’t have to be available all the time, but some potential residents do search specifically for “move-in specials.” Depending on what you’re willing to invest, a move-in special can be anything from the first month or two, rent-free to free residence parking for a specified period, or even reduced or free utilities for a short period.

There’s a lot of variety in potential move-in specials.

If you’d like to help better manage your property rental investments, contact Occupancy Solutions and let us help.