Photo credit: Orin Zebest (Flickr)
The rental industry is a localized business. There really is no point to advertising your rental properties hundreds of miles away because there’s a higher likelihood that your next tenant is going to be a locally-based.
In order to reach locals, you need to get on a local-level to advertise and grab their attention.
Tip #1: Advertise on the building.
Yes, this is the “old school” way of advertising. Use those bulletin boards in the lobby or outside of the building. Often times, there are guests visiting the property who may casually glance at the postings pinned to the corkboard while waiting outside the building’s front door. Those guests may pass word along to another friend looking for an apartment. Don’t underestimate the power of word-of-mouth – it can get you your next renter.
Keep these advertisements very simple and only include the need-to-know information. That is, post the cost of rent, square footage, number of bedrooms and layout, some of the most important property information to a renter.
TIp #2: Post on online newspapers.
The newspaper is an extremely localized medium of communication. While readership of paper newspapers is dwindling, online newspaper engagement has increased. According to the Newspaper Association of America, “Newspaper publishers attracted 20 percent more visits by adults 18-plus to their websites in September [2011].” This means you shouldn’t give up on posting property listings in newspapers, just move to the online version.
TIp #3: Register your business under Google Places.
This tip is about getting more attention to your rental business. We’ve already taught you how to improve your SEO for rental websites, but this helps add localization. Register your business in Google Places, so that when local residents google for “available apartments for rent,” you’ll be more likely to show up on their search results.
