So you have a website—great! But are you happy with the amount of leads it’s producing? Don’t fret, you’re already off to a great start. Whether you’re just beginning to craft your webpage or have had your site for a while, there are certain features every great website should have. Continue reading 4 Crucial Items your Website is Missing
Now a days, it takes more than a “For Rent” sign out front to capture the attention of renters. We’ve entered an age where smartphones are king and access to information is almost instantaneous. Reaching mobile consumers has never been as important as it is today. More and more people have come to rely on their mobile device for information gathering and purchasing decisions and apartment communities have to keep up with the times.
According to a 2015 Forrent.com survey, 84% of consumers said they use a mobile device to search for apartment listings. But it doesn’t end there—they’re using their handy mobiles to view floorplan images, contact communities and even read property reviews.
So what does all of this mean for your property? How can you get a piece of the pie? Well, for starters, you can try these three things:
The first step to ensuring your property is seen on a mobile device is to first make sure it is responsive. This means your website loads quickly, easily adjusts to various screen sizes, provides quick and easy navigation, and offers minimal scrolling for users on a mobile device. When designing your site, be sure to incorporate large headlines and HD photos, create a clear call-to-action and always utilize keywords when you can. Remember, functionality and accessibility are key to ensuring you capture your prospects’ attention in the right way. Not to mention, you’ll get more love on the search engines with a responsive, mobile friendly site.
You’ll also want to integrate some mobile tactics throughout your advertising portfolio. Some tactics you may want to incorporate include text messaging, QR codes, Click to Call, Google AdWords and targeted Facebook ads. You’ll also want to review your current advertising channels, like your ILS listings and even Facebook, to ensure your phone numbers and links are both correct and clickable.
Your main goal is to make it as simple as possible for your prospects to contact you should they be interested in your property. So—do just that! Add live mobile chat features to your site or try out a click-to-text option. You can even take it a step further by offering live video apartment tours or information sessions. No matter which option you choose, just remember—convenience is key!
Not sure where to start with your site? Don’t worry, we have your mobile covered. Each Rentbot site is already designed with mobile in mind. With fast-loading pages, search engine optimization and well-formatted, custom designs with floorplans and HD photos, your Rentbot site will be able to handle any device. Throw in our HD photos, online rent payments and resident maintenance portal, and you’ll be well on your way to renting in no time.
Times are changing, and fast. Make sure you keep up with your renters and reach them right where they want it. Let Rentbot help you capture your mobile searchers and secure more leads in the process—we guarantee!
Jonsette Calloway joined the Rentbot team in 2015. With a background in public relations, advertising and copywriting, she has helped a multitude of clients achieve their marketing and communications goals within various fields, but she particularly enjoys working with the apartment industry.
Spring is here and you know what that means—renting season is upon us! Spring isn’t just birds singing, warm sunshine and buttercups, it’s also one of the most popular times to move. And with the warm-weather season upon us, it becomes even more important to ensure your property’s marketing is up to par—from your ILS postings right down to your website.
It’s no secret. Our society is evolving into one in which smart phones, tablets and every other digital device pretty much dominates our lives. It is also not hard to believe that, over the year, mobile marketing has advanced to the point where users can now click to call a business right in their search engine results. While this has previously been a Google mobile campaign feature for advertisers only, the mega search engine was recently found testing this “click to call” concept in organic search engine results pages as well. So, what does all of this mean for your property?
So you have a website—good. But, is it responsive? A responsive website design not only makes your site adaptable on pretty much all devices, but creates an overall optimal viewing experience with easy reading, navigation and optimal speed. And with the advent of smart phones and tablets, the need for responsive website design is key to your property’s success. Nearly 40% of websites are viewed from mobile devices. Not to mention, in the apartment industry, more visitors will view a property’s website on a mobile website than a non-mobile device. If your website provides a less than optimal viewing experience, that’s a huge chunk of visitors you’re missing out on already. Continue reading It May Be Time to Say Goodbye
Every property manager and landlord alike wants to ultimately have happy tenants. Happier tenants not only make your life easier, but are just overall better for business. They are more likely to refer other renters, leave more pleasant reviews, and, of course, stay longer. Not sure how you can make your tenants happy? Here’s what you can do…
You’ve done it. After days or even weeks of promoting the “awesomeness” of your property to a prospect, they’ve finally sealed the deal. It may have been a long journey, but the work isn’t done just yet. Aside from the tour and the run down of amenities, you’ll need to take the proactive approach to ensure your new tenant is fully aware of your community’s rules and policies before signing on the dotted line.
Maintenance teams can be the lifeline of a property. They not only set the property’s physical image, but have a hand in customer service as well. So much so that they directly impact resident satisfaction scores. One of the top reasons great renters jump ship, aside from soaring rents and poor customer service, is bad maintenance. And with poor service comes bad reviews. There’s no point ramping up on your advertising if you lack a solid property maintenance strategy.
December brings us Santa, carols, presents, hot cocoa and endless fruitcakes. But, fruitcake isn’t the only thing landlords are dreading during the holiday season. The November and December months tend to be some of the slowest rental periods out of the year, and oftentimes landlords and property managers alike are left to slash rental prices to see any type of peak in traffic.
A website is an important staple for any property. It not only sets the tone of your community, but is your primary marketing tool. Considering its importance, you want to ensure it’s done right. Here are the top web design mistakes many make when creating their first website and how to avoid them.
