Apartment Blog

Mobile media is quickly becoming essential to the technologically advanced marketing plan. According to a report by marketing researcher Nielsen, mobile audiences are indeed big. There are 145 million mobile media consumers, with 127 million using text messaging, 70 million downloading mobile content, 48 million using the mobile Internet and 12 million using mobile video. Marketers will also be interested to know that mobile content revenue grew from $5.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007 to $7.9 billion in the fourth quarter of last year, representing year-on-year growth 60 percent greater than the Internet. Fifty-four percent of that revenue was generated by messaging.As a property manager, you might be interested to know apartment shoppers can search ForRent.com listings any time, any place with the mobile Web site from For Rent Media Solutions. Perfect for the apartment seeker on the go, the ForRent.com mobile Web site provides most of the same great features as our full Web site but in the palm of your hand.  When consumers access http://www.forrent.com/ from their Web-enabled mobile device they are automatically directed to the mobile Web site. The mobile Web site will provide the option for the user to see the full Web site from a link.

Below you will find a few mobile Web site features.

1. Easy to use interface for your Web-enabled mobile device
2. Multiple ways to  browse including an Advanced Search option to search by price, bedrooms and baths
3. Apartment seekers can contact the property via one-click call or an email
4. Mobile listings include unlimited photos, full description, amenities, bullet points, floor plans with photos, office hours, and contact information updated daily from the apartment properties profile page on ForRent.com
5. Community Theater^® online videos will play on video capable phones
6. Driving directions are available to the property location powered by Microsoft Virtual Earth

Let apartment seekers find you any time, any place on the ForRent.com mobile Web site!

New technology combined with traditional marketing methods
generate more leads for property managers

Finding a home is a big decision for potential renters. Property managers should be interested in making this process as seamless as possible. With the emergence of new media putting properties in front of prospective renters quicker than ever, it is important for property managers to take advantage of new, technologically-savvy marketing techniques. While maintaining traditional efforts, to continue generating leads you can utilize all of your offline and online marketing tools and create synergy between mediums. By adding mobile marketing, streaming video and social media to marketing initiatives, property managers have the potential to increase their reach, better identify with the apartment market’s target demographic, and generate more leads from potential renters.

Mobile marketing, such as text messaging, and streaming video can assist your marketing endeavors in many ways. Maximize print advertising with text messaging to create an opportunity for property managers to interact more with their residents—increasing the residents’ brand loyalty in the community and the property management company. Mobile marketing expands marketing reach to all types of media and results in more online conversions. As a marketing tool, streaming video can generate more exposure for property managers and encourage conversation between properties and their potential residents. According to comScore, U.S. Internet users viewed over 11.4 billion online videos during July and 75% of the total U.S. Internet audience viewed online video. Read the full comScore report here.

Social media personalizes the apartment searching process, allowing seekers to become more connected with a property. It offers a variety of marketing avenues for property managers. They can communicate with residents and prospective residents through social networks, blogs, instant messaging, and podcasts. According to the findings of the 2008 Cone Business in Social Media Study, almost 60% of Americans interact with companies on a social media Web site, and one in four interact more than once per week. The survey found that 93% of Americans believe a company should have a presence in social media, while 85% believe a company should not only be present, but should also interact with its consumers via social media.

With the advances made to communication through technology, it is not only important for property managers to deliver their message to potential renters, but to also actively participate in the conversation. Today, that conversation is taking place on social networking sites, blogs and video-sharing sites. These new forms of new media personalize the apartment searching process, allowing seekers to become more connected with a property.