Apartment Blog

Viva La Vie Boheme in Your Apartment and win tickets to RENT: The Broadway Tour!

THE BOHEMIAN LIFE - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? Whether it’s you and your friends hanging out in your apartment, playing air guitar, cooking a gourmet meal, hosting a wine party or poetry slam, you know you live “La Vie Boheme” in your apartment. Send us a photo of your bohemian lifestyle and you could win a trip to see RENT.

It’s easy to enter! Just take a photo showing us your most “bohemian” moment in your apartment and follow the instructions below.

ForRent.com and RENT: The Broadway Tour will fly the winner and a friend to Sacramento to attend the final performance of RENT: The Broadway Tour in February. This will be your LAST chance to see Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp in the roles they made famous.

So take a minute, take a photo and show us your Vie Boheme! And if you don’t have the perfect apartment for living La Vie Boheme, you can find one at ForRent.com-check it out today.

First, go to the ForRent.com Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aptsforrent and become a fan.

Second, on the left side of the ForRent.com Facebook page is the option to add photos to the Fan Photos section.

Third, after clicking on the link, add your living “La Vie Boheme” photo from your photo albums to the ForRent.com Facebook Fan Photos section. Be sure to include a title and tags!

Fourth, send a confirmation email to contest@forrent.com alerting us to the submission.

Fifth, tell all your friends and family to ‘vote’ for you by liking your photo-the five photos with the most ‘likes’ will be submitted to the cast of RENT, who will pick the winner!

See below for the complete contest rules….

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE ODDS OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

CONTEST DATES. ForRent.com’s and RENT-The Broadway Tour’s ‘La Vie Boheme’ Photo Contest (the “Promotion”) begins at 12:00:00 p.m. Eastern Time (”ET”) on November 9, 2009 and ends at 11:59:59 a.m. Eastern Time (”ET”) on December 15  (the “Promotion Period). The Promotion Period consists of three (3) phases as set forth in the chart below.
Phase Starts at 12:00 p.m. ET Ends at 11:59 a.m. ET
Submission Only Phase I November 9, 2009- December 15, 2009
Voting Only Phase II- December 16, 2009-January 4, 2010
Judging Phase III- January 5, 2010-January 8, 2010

For the purpose of this Promotion, each phase will begin at 12:00:00p.m. Eastern Time (”ET”) and will end at 11:59:59 a.m. Eastern Time (”ET”).

PROMOTION ELIGIBILITY. The ForRent.com’s and RENT-The Broadway Tour’s ‘La Vie Boheme’ Photo Contest  (the “Promotion”) is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are age eighteen (18) or older as of November 9, 2009. A person who complies with all the eligibility rules shall be referred to as “Entrant.” Employees and their immediate family (parent, child, sibling and spouse of each) and individuals residing in the same household (whether or not related) of ForRent.com (”Sponsor”), For Rent Media Solutions^TM, United Advertising Publications, Inc., or Dominion Enterprises, RENT-The Broadway Tour and any of their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and all other entities or individuals associated with the development, administration, or fulfillment of the Promotion (collectively, the “Entities”) are not eligible to participate in this Promotion. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. The Promotion consists of a contest of skill (the “Contest”).

AGREEMENT TO OFFICIAL RULES. By participating in the Promotion, Entrant fully and unconditionally agrees to and accepts these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and/or Administrator, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Promotion. The award of a prize is contingent upon Entrant complying with all conditions and fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

HOW TO ENTER:

THE CONTEST OF SKILL. A substantial degree of skill is required to win. During the Contest Period phase visit the website, www.facebook.com/aptsforrent (the “Website”) and follow the instructions to submit an original photo which creatively shows ForRent.com how you are living “La Boheme”. The photo must comply with the following requirements to be eligible:

• 1) Go to the ForRent.com Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aptsforrent and become a fan
• 2) On the left hand side of the ForRent.com Facebook page there is the option to add photos to the Fan Photos section
• 3) After clicking on the link add your living “La Boheme” photo from your photo albums to the ForRent.com Facebook Fan Photos sections. Be sure to include a title and tags! And don’t forget to tell your family & friends to come vote for you!
• 4) Send a confirmation email to contest@forrent.com alerting us to the submission in order to be considered eligible
• 5) The photo must be the original work of the Entrant
• 6) In accordance with the website’s supported images, the photo must be submitted in one of the following formats: JPEG, GIF, JPG, PNG, PSD, TIFF, JP2, IFF, WBMP, XBM
• 7) The file size must be no larger than 604 pixels
• The photo may not have won previous awards
• 9) The photo may not have been published previously
• 10) The photo must not infringe upon the rights of any third-party, including, without limitation, copyright, trademark, and rights of publicity and/or privacy
• 11) The photo must be suitable for publication and may not be violent, immoral, offensive, illegal, pornographic, obscene, indecent or similarly inappropriate as deemed solely by Sponsor
• 12) The photo may not contain any content that is or may be perceived to be defamatory or that represents the Entities in a negative way or in any manner not consistent with Entities’ brand and/or reputation as deemed solely by Sponsor
• 13) The photo may not contain any mention, discussion, logo, trademark, service mark, storefront, trade dress, mascot, photograph, or other image of any business or company, other than ForRent.com and/or For Rent Magazine and RENT: The Broadway Tour. The photo may not have property names or physically identify a property by filming their front sign or some other unique feature or distinguishable architecture
• 14) The photo may not include the likenesses of any identifiable persons other than the Entrant, unless written permission is obtained by the Entrant
• 15) The photo cannot be dangerous or unsafe to make or produce, or include activities that are dangerous, unsafe, or present unreasonable risk of harm to person or property, or suggest or imply to any person to undertake any dangerous, unsafe or unduly risky activity as deemed solely by Sponsor
• 16) The photo may not in any other way violate applicable laws and regulations. Any photo in violation of any of the above requirements and restrictions will be deemed void. By submitting a photo in the Contest, each Entrant represents and warrants that these requirements have been met. Failure to satisfy these requirements, as determined in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion, may result in ineligibility with respect to all photos submitted by or on behalf of that Entrant.

ENTRANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING PERMISSION TO USE THE PICTURE, IMAGE, AND/OR LIKENESS OF ANY THIRD PARTIES SHOWN IN THE VIDEO. Sponsor may request that any such third parties sign a waiver and release prior to the posting of the photo on the Website or the granting of any prize.

USE OF FORRENT.COM TRADEMARKS AND SLOGANS. For the sole purpose of participation and entry in this Promotion, Sponsor hereby grants each Entrant a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the trademarks and copyrights owned by Sponsor in the creation of the Entrant’s video, subject to the entry restrictions and guidelines contained in these Official Rules. This license extends only to videos submitted to Sponsor in accordance with these Official Rules. This license does not extend to videos created in connection with the Promotion, but not submitted to Sponsor in accordance with these Official Rules. Use of trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property owned by Sponsor in videos or in any other form or media not submitted to Sponsor in connection with this Promotion and in accordance with these Official Rules constitutes an unauthorized use and infringement of the intellectual property rights of Sponsor. Sponsor hereby reserves all rights and remedies available to Sponsor at law or in equity to enforce these Official Rules, including, but not limited to, the enforcement of any trademark, copyright, and other intellectual property rights owned by Sponsor. 

SELECTION OF FINALISTS AND WINNERS. At the conclusion of the Promotion Period, Sponsor will post the finalists and grand prize winner in compliance with the Official Rules on Facebook on or around January 9, 2010. All photos will be reviewed for content before being posted on the ForRent.com Facebook Fan Page. Photos submitted may or may not be posted on the site, in the sole and absolute discretion of Sponsor. Sponsor shall have absolutely no obligation to give feedback or reasoning for why any photo is not posted on the site. Sponsor shall have the sole right to reject or remove a photo from the site at any time.

From 12:00:00 p.m. ET on December 16 2009 to 12:00 am January 4, 2010, the public may vote on those photos posted on the site by visiting the ForRent.com Facebook Fan Page and following the voting instructions. On or about January 8,. 2010 Sponsor’s internal review panel will choose one (1) Grand Prize Winner and three (3) Finalists.

CONTEST: Contest winners will be selected according to the following judging criteria:

• 25% Creativity and originality
• 15% Overall quality and appearance of photo
• 25% Relevance to contest theme of how you live the life of ‘La Vie Boheme’ in your apartment
• 14% Promotion of ForRent.comand RENT- The Broadway Tourand the usage ofphoto captions and tags
• 21% The total number of user generated Facebook “like’s” received

In the unlikely event of a tie, the photo with the earliest upload date will be deemed the winner.

PRIZES.
a) Contest Prizes: ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE: One winner will receive two tickets to the last RENT- The Broadway Tour final performance in Sacramento, CA on February 7, 2010, two back stage passes to the final performance, two person airfare to and from Sacramento and a one night hotel accommodations for two in Sacramento. Approximate Retail Value (”ARV”): Hotel $150/night; tickets $75.00 each; backstage tour has no retail value and airfare $1,400.

THREE (3) FINALISTS: Three finalists will each receive RENT- The Broadway Tour memorabilia. Approximate Retail Value (”ARV”): $100 each

Total ARV for all Contest Prizes $1,800: Limit: One (1) Contest Prize per person.

For All Prizes:
All federal and state taxes on prizes are the sole responsibility of the winners. No transfer, assignment, cash redemption, or substitution of a prize is permitted except that Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to substitute a prize (or portion of a prize) with a prize of comparable or greater value or cash value. In the event that a prize cannot be awarded for any reason or a winner is not capable of redeeming a prize for any reason, Sponsor shall not be obligated to award any prize. If, for any reason, more than the stated number of prizes are available and/or claimed, Sponsor reserves the right to award the prizes in such category by random drawing from among eligible prize claimants in such prize category or in a manner to be determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion.

RIGHTS IN THE PHOTOS. All photos (including all material embodied therein) submitted to Sponsor shall automatically become the sole and exclusive property of Sponsor immediately upon submission. Once a photo has been submitted pursuant to the Promotion, the Entrant may not distribute, disseminate, sell, use, license, or post the photo or any copies thereof in any medium (including other Internet sites) without the prior express written consent of Sponsor. Each Entrant, as a condition of participation in the Promotion, hereby grants Sponsor the exclusive, perpetual, worldwide right to edit, adapt, modify, reproduce, publish, distribute, and otherwise use (unless prohibited by applicable law) the photo (including all material embodied therein) in any way or in any media now or hereafter known for trade, advertising, promotional, or other purposes as Sponsor determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, without further notice or compensation to the Entrant or any other third parties. Nothing herein shall be construed to require Sponsor to publish, distribute or in any way use the photo (or any of the material embodied therein) should Sponsor in its sole discretion decline to do so.

When you got ready to leave home today, you knew there was the possibility that someone could wrongly come into your home to steal things, so you probably locked your door, and perhaps set an alarm.  Then, when you got behind the wheel of your car, you knew there could be an accident, so you buckled your seat belt.  No one is telling you not to leave home or not to drive, but both of these activities pose risks.  Everyday we take risks, and the better informed we can be about risks, the smarter and safer we are. 

The same is true for advertisers as they embrace social media to promote their apartment communities.  Social media is a great innovation, but it does have its risks, and the better informed advertisers can be about those risks, the smarter and safer they are.

Remember that a website is a form of advertising.  As a practical matter it is no different than any form of traditional advertising, and the same rules apply.  The things you say must be true, because if they are not, it is libel; you have to be aware of consumer laws (watch out for sweepstakes that are really illegal lotteries); and, you have to honor the trademarks and copyrights of others.

And of course, don’t forget about fair housing considerations.  The point of a website is to advertise the community; what is posted on a website (and that means both words and pictures) must therefore be fair housing compliant.   Quite simply, that means that a “reasonable person” looking at the website cannot see anything that would suggest “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.”  Therefore, the words that are used, the directions that are given, the symbols that are depicted, and the photos and pictures that are shown cannot indicate that type of preference, limitation or discrimination. 

The bottom line is that if there are fair housing issues with a basic website, the apartment community will be liable, since this is essentially an “ad,” and the community (its owner or PMC) is the “publisher.”

But what about a website where others are able to post information or are invited to blog?  Who is liable for what others post?  The answer is “it depends.”  It depends upon how much control the owner of the website (the “Publisher”) is exerting over the external posting by others.  It’s all about control.  The more the message is controlled, the more likely the accountability. 

Now, what about Facebook®, Twitter™, YouTube™ or a blog?  Are these a form of advertising?  The answer to that question is “it depends.” It depends on what a judge or jury might say about this.  The folks in the apartment industry who are using a fan page on Facebook or who are sending “Tweets” would ultimately have to admit that the ultimate goal is effective marketing of a community or PMC, and that sounds like advertising.

Social media can be a brilliant form of marketing, but people need to make informed business decisions.  They need to know what questions they should be asking before they take the leap into social media, questions like:

1. Who at the community/with the PMC will be its “voice”?
2. Where will this “voice” be heard?  On your own website or blog?  Or will this “voice” speak through posts at the websites and blogs of others?
3. If you will have your own website/blog, how much time will be committed to monitoring and promptly responding?
4. If you will have your own website/blog, how much control do you plan to exert regarding what is posted by others?
5. What will you do if someone says something bad about you or the community?
6. What will you do if someone says something bad about their neighbors or prospects–a lie, a slur, even an over-the-top compliment?
7. When is your employee your employee?  Are you responsible for their on-line actions?
8. When is your employee “on their own time”?  Are you responsible for their on-line actions?
9. Are you going to provide training for your employees on the proper use of social media as it relates to your website/blog?
10. Are you going to provide training for your employees on the proper use of social media as it relates to the websites and blogs of others?

Lock your house?  A good idea.  Seatbelts–ditto.  And take advantage of the wonders of social media and advertising, but do that with an understanding of the risks and a plan to address them.

REQUIRED LANGUAGE FOR ALL REPRINTING OF THIS ARTICLE: “Social Media- Don’t Take Risks” is written by Nadeen Green, Senior Counsel with For Rent Media Solutions. The information contained in this article is not to be considered legal advice, and the authors and their companies strongly suggest that you consult with your own counsel as to any fair housing questions or problems you may have.

With online advertising, you can increase your community’s visibility and drive more traffic to your property.  By following these simple techniques, you’ll expand your branding opportunities while keeping your community in front of potential residents.

Update Your Listings.  Did you know that Internet users make a judgment about your site in 1/20^th of a second?¹  Be sure to make the most of your online presence by keeping it current!  Up-to-date ads will draw people to your listings quicker, making it more likely that prospects will contact the leasing office.

Our research shows potential renters search for properties three ways²:

• 60% by maximum price
• 53% by total number of bedrooms
• 35% by amenities

Specials and Coupons.  Free rent for a month?  No deposit? If your community is running a promotion, let your potential renters know! In these economically challenging times, renters are looking for deals. Running a monthly special and publicizing it online will separate you from your competition.  Post your promotions anywhere you can, using headlines, bullet points or coupons.  Be sure to update these frequently and always include an expiration date.

Showcase Your Property and Units.  Research shows that apartment shoppers are a visual audience. When searching for apartments, they want to see pictures! Interior shots allow apartment seekers to imagine where they’ll be living.  Large, high quality images will grab their attention.   Here’s what they’re saying:  “I like when properties include photos of the interior of the units.  The amenities are great, but I will be spending most of my time inside my apartment and would like to see what the interior looks like…. ²”

Give a Real Life Perspective.  Want to take it one step further? Include online video! According to the most recent comScore report, a record 81 percent of U.S. Internet users watched online video in July 2009 alone. Online video is growing as a cost-effective, dynamic form of media for multi-housing professionals to reach potential renters. It allows the prospect to visit a community before they physically travel there.  Our research shows an average 24% increase in LEADS™ when properties use Community Theater® video from For Rent Media Solutions to showcase their community. ²

So remember, make the most of your online advertising!  To maximize the reach of your online ad, contact your local For Rent Media Solutions’ account executive or call Customer Service at 1-888-539-1150.

¹G. Lindgaard, “Attention Web Designers: You have 50 milliseconds to make a good first impression.” ²Based on internal sources.

By Erica Campbell & Gillian Luce

Social media is proving that free speech has extended its reach to new media platforms where conversations are being held between private individuals. Social media is all about people sharing opinions, insights, experiences and perspectives with each other through online media channels. So you would think that one should not be sued in court for simply sharing a thought online, right? Last week’s big Twitter story revolved around a pending libel suit brought by Horizon Realty Group, a Chicago real estate management company, against one of its former tenants, Amanda Bonnen, in Cook County Circuit Court. This case has received extensive publicity and touches on issues such as consumer protection, limits of libel, free speech, and strategic lawsuits against public participation.

Amanda Bonnen complained via Twitter to about 20 followers that her landlord was apparently allowing her to live in mold-infested filth: “Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon realty thinks its okay.” The response from Horizon was a lawsuit! A short complaint filed in Cook County court last week accused Bonnen of libeling Horizon in 140 characters or less, and sought $50,000 in damages. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Horizon’s spokesperson responded to the situation with a quote, “We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization.”
Let’s take a look at some of the lessons we can learn from this:

• Consumers are the new media and they know it
• Embrace consumer criticism as opposed to overreacting
• Ask questions first, then maybe don’t sue at all
• Consult with your PR team or agency before the spokesman offers a statement
• Play nice in the sand box
• Use social media as a customer service tool and listen for product insights and feedback
• Build resident retention through sites such as Facebook and Twitter

As we’ve stated before in a recent blog post, Attention Property Managers: Customer Service is Still #1, companies should not fear the social media landscape. We understand that apartment communities are concerned about negative community reviews which could potentially give you a negative image or possibly deter prospective residents away. However, as advertisers we need to understand that consumers are talking about our brands on these social media platforms weather we like it or not. Did you know that according to a JC Williams Group study, 91% say consumer reviews are the #1 aid to buying decisions and Marketing Sherpa states that 87% trust a friend’s recommendation over critic’s review. Customer service is undoubtedly one of the most exciting, measurable and effective uses of social media.

Being involved on social media platforms will give you the capability to build relationships with consumers and will also give you a chance to talk to consumers about your brand. When negative comments are made about your community, instead of ignoring them or overacting, think about how you should to respond to them. Reach out to the individual and seek out more information about their complaint. Think of ways to resolve the issue and make them happy. There is no better way to get a consumer singing your praises then providing them with a positive customer service experience.

It was best stated by Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com, “If you make customers unhappy in the physical world, they might each tell six friends. If you make customers unhappy on the Internet, they can each tell 6,000 friends.” Don’t miss an opportunity to speak to 6,000+ people by not responding or responding improperly.

Mobile marketing is on the leading edge of making life easier for apartment renters on the go. Now, more than ever, marketers understand the need to integrate mobile into their multi-channel branding, customer acquisition and customer retention plans. Mobile marketing is most effective when your listings have a presence on mobile Web sites, mobile applications (i.e. iPhone® and GPhone applications), and through text messaging. Don’t limit your marketing potential! An effective mobile marketing strategy should start with a strong mobile Web site. Renters can view your listings any time, any place from the ForRent.com mobile site. In addition to receiving more than 845,000 pageviews in the last 90 days, the ForRent.com mobile site has also received more than 865,000 clicks. Be sure to reach renters through online video as well. More than 80.7% of mobile users coming to the ForRent.com mobile Web site can view video.

iPhone apps are popular; our app has been downloaded more than 40,000 times. One out of six ForRent.com mobile consumers utilize ForRent.com applications. However, the iPhone only captures 25% of the mobile phone market share. ¹   In addition, 16% of ForRent.com mobile users are using our apps and 83.7% are using our mobile Web site. Usage of mobile Web sites greatly outpaces usage of HTML sites on smartphones¹. The most popular apps are used for entertainment purposes, such as games. Apple® does not provide detailed metrics for application use. Find out the iTunes App Store Categories and the Top-Sellers here.

Over the past 90 days, more than 35,000 text messages have been sent to property managers regarding ForRent.com properties. For Rent Media Solutions^TM offers the ultimate Mobile Marketing Solution for your advertising needs by providing multiple ways for apartment seekers on the go to search for an apartment.

Find out which mobile devices and manufacturers apartment renters are using to find your listings on ForRent.com’s mobile Web site here.

ForRent.com mobile users view your listings on the mobile site through these cell phone manufacturers:

• Apple 48.3%
• RIM ( BlackBerry®) 20.5%
• T-Mobile® 8.6%
• Samsung 5.3%
• Palm 4.9
• LG 3.6
• Other 8.5%

* Apple mobile device usage increased 27.9% from June to July.

* RIM mobile device usage increased 81.7% from June to July.

* T-Mobile mobile device usage increased 80.25% from June to July. 

The following are the top mobile devices by the top three manufacturers ForRent.com mobile consumers are using to view your listings:

Apple

• Apple iPhone 38.9%
• Apple iPod® Touch 9.4%

RIM

• BlackBerry 8330 7.8%
• BlackBerry 8320 3.6%
• BlackBerry Storm 2.7%
• BlackBerry Pearl 1.2%

T-Mobile

• T-Mobile G1^TM 8.1%
• T-Mobile Dash 0.5%

The ForRent.com mobile site adjusts to the dimensions of our users’ screens, reformatting for easy viewing and use. Most consumers are viewing your listings on the following screen sizes:

• 320 x 480: 48.7% of mobile views
• 320 x 240: 17.4% of mobile views
• 480 x 320: 8.7% of mobile views
• 320 x 320: 4.3% of mobile views
• 240 x 260: 3.2% of mobile views
• Other: 17.6% of mobile views

ForRent.com mobile users view your listings through these cell phone operating systems:

• MacOS X: 48.3% 
• RIM: 20.7% 
• Unknown:16.5%
• Linux: 8.5%
• Windows: 5.9%
• Symbian: 0.1% 

Since July 2008 For Rent Media Solutions has created and sent out monthly newsletters to our clients and prospects. Our intention with doing these newsletters is to announce information about the multifamily industry and our products/services, connect with current, past and future clients and of course, generate leads.  We have seen great success with our efforts thus far and we are continuously raising the bar to do better. But we have one question for you…..is your company doing an e-newsletter?

Everyone knows the economy is tough and everyone, including your competitors, is thinking of innovative ways to reach new customers while maintaining relationships with existing customers.  An e-newsletter is a smart marketing move, and here’s why:

1. E-Newsletters are Good Sources of Information. Can you think of a better one on one way to market your company, products and services to a target rich audience? The benefit with e-newsletters is that you already have a distribution list composed of interested participants wanting to hear more about the industry and what you have to offer them.
2.  Helps You Connect Easier. With the constant workload on everyone’s plate, connecting with prospects or even clients on a regular basis is difficult. E-newsletters help you keep in touch with those prospects and clients on a scheduled time frame. They’ll be expecting your email with more industry news as well as details about a new product or service you are providing for them. It even helps create an incentive for them to contact you when they need to. An example would be if one of our clients read that ForRent.com has a new and improved IPhone Application and wants to know if their apartment property is listed. Inquiring more information about the post allows us to follow up and instill great customer service.
3. E-newsletters Help You Save. There isn’t a company I know that isn’t trying to cut back on expenses. E-newsletters help you save money in multiple ways. Using an electronic version that is emailed, you won’t need to hire a graphic designer for ads, you won’t need a printing company and you won’t pay shipping costs or buy vast amounts of paper. And because most e-newsletters are quick and easy to create, you can write your content, assemble the pieces together and send them out quicker. This allows your message to be sent out promptly and easily! This is especially beneficial should you be running a special promotion and you want to get word out.
4. Find Quantifiable Results. An E-Newsletter provides instant measurable results. As I mentioned earlier, because it’s being sent out to a list of interested participants it will also provide a higher response rate because it is being sent to a more receptive audience. That will also assist in the high delivery and open rate. You will benefit by having links inside the e-newsletter that are tracked so that you can see conversion rates from referring addresses.
5. Just Another Way to be on Their Minds. Your advertising plan probably includes print, online ads, billboards, front yard signs, etc. Your company is searching for ways to be in more places in front of your customer. Sending out e-newsletters is a reminder to current and prospective customers that you are there. You’ll keep coming back into the ‘lime light’ every month to provide them with great resources.

You may be hesitant to add yet another project on your shoulders, but remember sending e-newsletters is an effective and measurable marketing program. It will help in producing results for company during this challenging economy.