Drones and Photography

We all work very hard to get the very best photographs of our communities and properties for advertising and marketing purposes. Well very soon photographers will begin using drones to get a view of our communities and Real Estate properties that we have never been able to capture before. This is not just for still shots but also video. Drones will play a very important part in giving our clients a view from a brand new perspective. So when looking for a photographer to take new photos for your marketing plan for the new year ask them what new technology they are using. Make sure to choose the photographer that is up to date and maybe even ahead of their time. Get the most for your money by getting the best possible photos from all angles!

Virtual Reality

Can you imagine showing your apartment home from any where?! Well we are now able to do just that. The 3D VR Headsets are on the market to give us that option. This is just one of many new technological items available to give us the freedom to show apartments, houses, commercial space and any other Real Estate from just about anywhere. What an exciting time. One day this will be the norm but until then it is considered cutting edge and any company that offers this will be the innovative group. This a time saving and fun experience for your clients!

Check in on Facebook!

Everyone loves Facebook. We are checking in on a daily basis to let our friends know exactly where we are and what we're doing. We love sharing experiences virtually. This means we are really giving reviews without even realizing it and promoting businesses just by saying we're there! Restaurants, nail salons, shopping malls etc. The fact that we're there and we use these companies usually means we are happy with our experiences and are loyal customers. We may even have a specific person in mind that waits on us or a hair dresser that has done our hair for years. So why not do the same for apartment communities? Purchase a sign encouraging your residents, future residents, customers and vendors to check in! Ask them to add a selfie and tag your properties page! This is a great way to get your residents to interact with your page in a fun and positive way!. Put a sign in all of your common areas such as your pool, fitness room and BBQ areas. Encourage your staff to do the same. There's nothing better then a happy crew!

We're Lucky to Have You!

March is coming up soon and it's always fun to start planning your St. Patrick's Day events and ordering your marketing products! Start with a theme such as "we're Lucky to Have You!" create a contest and start posting now on your social media sites to create a buzz. Decorate the office and put your staff in green t-shirts with your community logo on them. Plan your contest give a ways. Will you be offering an amount off the rent or a prize such as a TV or Ipad. Maybe even a gas card since prices on gas have come down. You will get more for your buck! You can have two contests one for current residents and one for leasing or even a referral contest. The resident with them most referrals wins! Play a St. Patrick's Day history contest. Ask residents to participate and give out small prizes. This is always fun because you can get more people involved. Purchase green balloons and put the prizes inside the balloons. Have your leasing agents pop the balloon for each tour and see what the future resident wins! Have leasing contest for the most leases in March or by St. Patrick's Day. Give the leasing agents a $5.00 Starbucks card for each lease. Don't limit this to just in office or community events. Add this theme to your outreach marketing. Make sure to use the holidays as a time to drop off little gifts of candy with a catchy card attached to let your area business owners and vendors know how much you appreciate your partnership with them. Be creative and make it fun. If you use the holidays as a way to create excitement you will never lose! So Happy St. Patrick's Day and have a blast!

New Year! Fresh Start!

It's that time of year again. Time to look at the accomplishments of the previous year and the failures or the things that we can improve upon. Just as you will be creating a personal list of New Years resolutions you should be looking at goals for your business as well. Here are a few tips to make your goal setting successful.

1. Pull your staff together for an end of year or beginning of year meeting. Hand out paper and pens. Make this an interactive meeting. Ask each team member to jot down their personal goals or resolutions and a few things that they would like to see happen at your community. This can be for the over all property or specific to their department. Allowing them to add their thoughts and opinions will help you to make your final business goals for your community. This will also help them want to be involved in making sure everyone commits and sticks to them all year!
2. Pull reports. Look at your numbers. The numbers never lie. This will give you a very clear picture of where you need to spend your community's budget.
3. Pull employee reviews and community reviews. Take a look at your customer service and employee satisfaction.
4. Once you have analyzed all aspects of your business you may begin to put them in order by priority.
5. Decide how many goals you would like to focus on. I would pick three. One from each department or one main goal and a couple smaller goals.
6. Create realistic goals and an action plan.
7. Request approval from corporate and come up with a bonus system or an agreed upon reward.
8. Place your goals in an area where all staff will see them daily.
9. Go over the goals at your monthly or quarterly meetings. If the goals are being met respond by congratulating staff and even rewarding them with a lunch or bonuses etc. If they are not find out why and adjust.
10. Take time to enjoy the process. Make it fun! Take pictures. Create a goal board. Show off the accomplishments through out the year.

Good luck and have a successful 2016!!!

Logo Ornaments

The holidays are a great time to get out and market your community. Traffic usually slows down and gift giving is appropriate this time of year. Take this opportunity to pull together some fliers, business cards and any other marketing materials you have available. Put them in a gift bag with some holiday candy or cookies, maybe even ornaments with your logo on them. What a fun way to celebrate the holidays and promote your community at the same time! Dress in festive wear with Santa Hats and holiday colors. Spread holiday cheer and make your meetings memorable. They will never forget your smiling face and upbeat approach. Invite local business owners to your residents holiday functions or just invite them to tour your community and enjoy some hot chocolate and treats. Don’t miss out on this once a year marketing opportunity.

Share A Memory

A wonderful way to get residents to come together during the holiday season is to create an event that includes the entire community. One way to do this is to ask each resident to share their favorite Holiday memory. Make a party of it and invite residents to the clubhouse where you can offer refreshments and snacks as well as pens and paper. Make sure to ask that each resident add their name to their story. Once the residents have written down their favorite memory you will compile them into a book. You can type them yourself and make copies at Kinkos or you can have your printing company print the books up for you. Be sure to add a cover page and a page of thank you to all that participated. Give these away as Holiday gifts at your community holiday party!