“@mfguide We are not using any paid ads, no paid Internet or print. We use CL, and Rent.com, which we only pay if we get the rental.”

(http://twitter.com/Eric_Urbane/statuses/1375684817)

Thanks for mentioning our resident promotion. We made a conscious decision to focus our marketing dollars on our current customers (residents) in lieu of print advertising for 2009. When studying our marketing data for the last 3 years we found print leads declining while Internet and referrals were increasing. Thus, “The Year of the Resident” and a focus on online marketing. Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks again for sharing it on your blog.

Mark – The Marketing/Apartment Nerd

I also agree that things like search engine optimization (SEO) and using online marketing dollars effectively is essential. I’ve been online since ’94 in some form or another and there’s so much to learn about reach prospects and interacting with residents.

I remember when it was first proposed that my company (at that time) move more dollars online. We were still battling the perception that LIHTC residents did not have Internet access but we eventually won out in ’04 and the results have been astonishing.

Thanks again for the comments!

We have been using community blogs since early 04′ and find them to be a huge value add for not only the resident base but the management teams as well. That is not to mention the amplified effects with regard to SEO. One item of note – unlike the amazing blog team over at Urbane, all of our writers are strictly volunteer receiving no compensation whatsoever. Right, wrong or indifferent – we think it is much more authentic that way.

I do struggle with creating yet another social network for our resident base as it seems like you can accomplish just as much if not more with a Facebook Fan Page. There might be some unique experiences out there, like Urbane’s, but I think as more and more of social networks pop up – users will ultimately choose one space to hang out. That is unless someone comes along that can truly be the one stop shop for posting everything – “me” – for lack of a better way to put it – to every site I have a profile on.

Again, great post – thank you for taking the time.

M

We are working hard to Break From the Pack of Apartment Commodity. The more we market within, at and toward our existing resident base, the stronger we become. It is a fascinating journey, Good Luck on your endeavors as we all traverse this crazy economy,