by threshold | Sep 14, 2023 | Digital Marketing, General, Marketing, Tech/Web, Thought Leadership
Michael Pratt
How do you stand out in a sea of competition? By guiding your audience through a killer experience.
Effective UI/UX design is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of successful digital marketing endeavors. And within the real estate industry, where visual appeal and user engagement are paramount, crafting immersive digital experiences is crucial.
We’re sharing the secret sauce to engaging your audience below, so don’t click away just yet!
first impressions. they’re kind of a big deal.
UI, the visual layout and aesthetics, and UX, the overall user experience, profoundly impact initial impressions.
In real estate marketing, where potential residents will turn away if properties aren’t presented in the best light, a well-designed and intuitive website fosters trust and encourages visitors to go down a rabbit hole of site exploring.
make every visitor a navigator pro.
In real estate marketing, streamlined navigation is, well, kind of essential. Intuitive UI/UX design ensures potential buyers can effortlessly browse listings, view property details, and access contact information.
A seamless navigation experience enhances user satisfaction and encourages conversion. Cha-ching!
tap into those emotions.
Effective UI/UX evokes emotional connections. High-quality imagery, immersive virtual tours, and engaging property descriptions amplify the emotional resonance of a property. What does this do? Lots.
Emotional engagement strengthens branding and increases the likelihood of prospective buyers reaching out.
not local? not a problem.
Navigating a real estate website should mirror the ease of visiting a property in person. Effective UI/UX ensures intuitive property categorization, filtering, and detailed property information presentation.
So even if your prospects aren’t local to the property location, this seamless exploration process enhances their satisfaction and encourages extended engagement.
get people inquiring about you.
UI/UX design influences users’ interaction with contact forms, chatbots, and other communication channels. Streamlined interfaces facilitate inquiries and foster trust, ultimately translating into increased lead generation.
to wrap it all up.
The potency of UI/UX design in real estate marketing cannot be underestimated. As online interactions increasingly shape buyers’ decisions, a strategic focus on immersive, user-centric experiences is paramount.
Don’t be discouraged! Threshold is an expert in this domain, employing innovative UI/UX strategies that truly transform real estate marketing.
By cultivating emotional engagement, streamlining interactions, and delivering personalized experiences, we underscore the potential of UI/UX to redefine success in the dynamic landscape of real estate marketing.
by threshold | Aug 24, 2023 | Creative, Digital Marketing, General, Marketing
Ava Page
In this digital era, your brand’s reputation isn’t just built through word of mouth – it’s crafted through pixels and keystrokes. In a time where every click and comment can shape your brand’s destiny, it’s time to take control of your online narrative like a true champion.
As your ultimate partner for every marketing need, Threshold is here to unveil the secrets of online reputation management (ORM) that will not only protect your brand, but elevate it to new heights.
the power of first impressions.
Did you know that 91% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase decision? Your potential customers are just a click away from forming their opinions about your brand. At Threshold, we understand the importance of making that first online impression count.
Our expert team carefully crafts your online narrative, ensuring your brand’s values and uniqueness shine through every review, comment, and mention.
turning negatives into positives.
Negative reviews can feel like a storm cloud over your brand’s sky, but fear not – they present an opportunity in disguise!
Studies show that 95% of customers return if a company handles their issues well. With our strategic approach, we transform disgruntled customers into loyal advocates, showcasing your brand’s dedication to customer satisfaction.
staying ahead in the digital landscape.
In a world where information travels faster than light, staying ahead of the game is crucial. Over 80% of consumers lose trust in a brand if they find incorrect information online.
Our proactive ORM strategies ensure that accurate information about your brand takes precedence, mitigating potential misinformation and enhancing your credibility.
the social proof phenomenon.
Social proof is the modern-day magic wand for brands. We’ve adopted the best practices in leveraging this phenomenon to curate a vibrant online community that resonates with your brand’s message.
From engaging social media content to fostering authentic customer interactions, we bring your brand to life in the digital sphere.
a holistic approach to orm.
Your online reputation isn’t just built on reviews and comments – it’s an intricate tapestry of various factors. At Threshold, we adopt a holistic approach to ORM, encompassing SEO optimization, content creation, social media management, and PR strategies.
Our multi-faceted techniques ensure that every aspect of your online presence aligns seamlessly, reinforcing your brand’s identity.
to conclude.
In the dynamic world of digital interactions, your brand’s reputation is the compass guiding customers to your doorstep – or inbox. With Threshold by your side, your online reputation isn’t just managed; it’s elevated to a whole new level.
before you go.
Remember, your reputation is your digital legacy – make it count with our THeam by your side. Your brand deserves nothing less than the best, and we’re here to deliver just that! Get in touch with one of our marketing experts today to embark on the journey of mastering your online reputation.
For more tips and information about marketing your everything, take a look at the rest of our blogs, right here on our website! You can also subscribe to our email newsletter (it’s got some great stuff), and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn!
about the author.
Ava is the Content Marketing Specialist at Threshold.
In her role, she is responsible for the content creation and management of all Threshold and PromoShak social channels, blog content, and SEO maintenance, and aids in digital marketing strategies both internal and client-facing.
When she’s not busy creating content, you can usually find her picking out new plants, island-hopping, watching Duke basketball, or spending time with her fur babies.
by Alex Pullen | May 28, 2023 | Digital Marketing, General, Marketing
Ava Page
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, success hinges on making data-driven decisions. Monitoring and measuring your marketing efforts through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is crucial to understanding the effectiveness of your strategies and optimizing your campaigns.
By keeping a close eye on the right metrics, you can gain valuable insights and take proactive steps to achieve your marketing goals.
conversion rate.
Your conversion rate is a fundamental KPI that measures the percentage of website visitors who take the desired action, such as making a purchase, filling out a form, or making a phone call.
By tracking your conversion rate, you can gauge the effectiveness of your website’s design, user experience, and call-to-action elements, and marketing campaigns.
Analyzing your conversion points on your website and keeping track of where users fall off of your website can help you make data-driven decisions that can help you improve your website’s performance, increase sales, and ultimately enhance your overall marketing efforts.
return on investment (ROI).
ROI is a crucial KPI that assesses the profitability of your marketing campaigns. It measures the amount of revenue generated compared to the amount spent on marketing efforts. Tracking ROI allows you to determine which marketing channels and strategies are delivering the highest returns, enabling you to allocate your budget effectively.
Optimizing your marketing activities based on ROI allows you to maximize your profits and ensure long-term business success.
cost per acquisition (CPA).
Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) is a metric that calculates the average amount of money you spend to acquire a new customer. By tracking CPA, you can determine the efficiency of your marketing campaigns and evaluate the ROI for each customer acquired.
Monitoring this KPI allows you to identify areas where you can reduce costs, optimize your marketing channels, and increase profitability.
website traffic.
Monitoring your website traffic is vital to understanding the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and the popularity of your brand. Analyzing the number of visitors, their demographics, and their behavior on your website can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.
By leveraging this data, you can make data-driven decisions to optimize your content, enhance user experience, and attract more qualified traffic.
social media engagement.
With the growing influence of social media, tracking social media engagement metrics is crucial to assess your brand’s online presence and customer interaction. Metrics such as likes, shares, comments, and followers can help you measure the effectiveness of your social media strategies.
By analyzing engagement metrics, you can identify the type of content that resonates with your audience, refine your social media campaigns, and build stronger connections with your target market.
email marketing performance.
Email marketing remains a powerful tool for driving conversions and nurturing customer relationships. Tracking metrics like open rates, click-through rates (CTRs), and conversion rates for your email campaigns can provide insights into the effectiveness of your messaging and email strategy.
Using this data, you have the ability to enhance the performance of your email campaigns, improve customer engagement, and boost your overall marketing results.
to conclude.
By consistently tracking and analyzing these essential marketing KPIs, you can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of your marketing strategies and make data-driven decisions to optimize your campaigns.
Understanding conversion rates, CPA, ROI, website traffic, social media engagement, and email marketing performance allows you to fine-tune your marketing efforts and drive meaningful results.
Remember, monitoring and adapting your KPIs based on changing trends and customer behavior is crucial for staying ahead in the competitive digital landscape. Start tracking these KPIs today to elevate your marketing game and achieve long-term success.
before you go.
Don’t forget, we’re experts when it comes to crafting marketing strategies that drive leasing results and building high-ranking SEO-friendly custom websites! Need help? Reach out to a CSM or any of our team members to get started on taking your marketing and SEO to the next level, see an increase in traffic, and watch the leads roll in.
For more tips and information about digital and real estate marketing, take a look at the rest of our blogs, right here on our website! You can also subscribe to our email newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn!
about the author.
Ava is the content marketing specialist at Threshold and is responsible for the content creation and management of all Threshold and PromoShak social channels, blog content, and SEO maintenance, and aids in digital marketing strategies both internal and client-facing. When she’s not busy creating content, you can usually find her in a coffee shop, picking out new plants, island-hopping, or spending time with her fur babies.
by threshold | Apr 20, 2023 | General
Ava Page
Sure, you’ve probably heard about keyword research in digital marketing before, but what does it really entail? At Threshold, we pride ourselves on our SEO success in websites, social media, ads, and more – and we couldn’t do it without successful keyword research.
So, whether you’re interested in stepping up your own keyword research, or seeing some of what we’re doing in our free SEO services on custom websites (yes, FREE – you read that right), this blog’s for you.
What are keywords?
It wouldn’t make any sense to explain the importance of keyword research without ensuring everyone’s on the same page with what keywords really are, so we’ll get this out of the way quickly.
Keywords are the words and phrases that will bring up your content based on search engine searches (say that 10 times fast).
For example, if someone searches “Austin luxury apartments” in Google, that’s the keyword that will bring up your blog posts, website, social media, etc. that include the same phrase. It’s all about establishing your relevance on the topic that users are searching for.
That’s where keyword research comes in.
What is keyword research?
Keyword research is how you discover which keywords are the most relevant and appropriate for your content to rank and perform at its highest in search engines. This is done through researching and analyzing your target audience, and seeing what topics, phrases, and search queries are trending around them.
Make no mistake, this isn’t as simple as saying, “We’re in the marketing area, so our biggest keyword is going to be ‘marketing’” – there’s much more to it than that.
Lucky for you, we’ve got this process down solid, so you don’t have to deal with the nitty gritty.
Why should you care about keyword research?
SEO
Above all else, when it comes to any online content from social media to websites and everything in between, SEO is king. With that being said, one of the easiest ways to boost your SEO success is with keywords, and the research that goes into choosing successful keywords for your content.
As we mentioned earlier, this is the easiest and most recognizable way for users to organically discover your content.
To go a step further and show you the numbers, over 90% of websites receive no organic traffic from search engine results – and we’ll let you in on the why: poor SEO strategies, and no keyword research.
If you want to become a part of the <10% that’s receiving sustainable organic traffic from search engines and social media, we’ve got the tools to get you there. Let’s do it together.
Creating content strategies
Keyword research should always be the first step in your content marketing strategies and plans. This ensures that you’re always focusing on the best topic for your content, and including just enough (not too little, not too many) keywords for the size of your campaign. Learn what your target audience is most drawn to, and what’s going to get your content the attention it deserves.
After all, why would you put so much time and energy into creating something without doing all you can to make sure it’s seen by as many people as possible?
Before you go
Don’t forget, we’re experts when it comes to crafting marketing strategies that drive leasing results and building high-ranking SEO-friendly custom websites! Need help? Reach out to a CSM or any of our team members to get started on taking your marketing and SEO to the next level, see an increase in traffic, and watch the leads roll in.
For more tips and information about digital and real estate marketing, take a look at the rest of our blogs, right here on our website! You can also subscribe to our email newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn!
About the author
Ava is the content marketing specialist at Threshold, and is responsible for the content creation and management of all Threshold and PromoShak social channels, blog content, SEO maintenance, and aids in digital marketing strategies both internal, and client-facing.
When she’s not busy creating content, you can usually find her in a coffee shop, picking out new plants, island-hopping, or spending time with her two dogs, Miska and Noodle, and two cats, T’Challa and Ada.
by threshold | Apr 15, 2023 | General
Zac Rittberg
As Gen Z continues to dominate the student housing market and transitions into first-time renters within the multifamily market, it is increasingly important to understand their social media habits. We’ve compiled some of the key social media trends and patterns among Gen Z that student housing and multifamily property management companies should use to better connect with their Gen Z target audience.
Short-Form Video Content
Gen Z is well-known for their love of short-form video content, like TikTok and Instagram Reels. Short, digestible content that they can consume on the go will resonate best with this demographic. We recommend incorporating short-form videos on your social channels, and if you haven’t created a TikTok for your community, what are you waiting for? Showcasing a tour of your community, highlighting your amenities, or walk-throughs of your models in a quick, engaging video can help capture the attention of your Gen Z prospects.
If you’re not convinced, look at what the data is telling us. YouTube (88%), Instagram (76%), TikTok (68%), and Snapchat (67%) dominate Gen Z’s social media usage.
Authenticity
Gen Z values authenticity and transparency in the content they consume. They want to see real people and real experiences, rather than overly polished and curated posts. Posting user-generated content from current residents highlighting real-life experiences or testimonials is an authentic way to showcase the diversity and unique personalities of not only your residents, but of your community.
Personalized Content
Don’t think that authenticity is enough, Gen Z expects a personalized experience from the brands they interact and engage with. They crave content that is tailored to their interests and needs. Think of it this way. You’re not selling just an apartment, you’re selling a lifestyle.
You’re selling the place where a first-time Gen Z renter is coming into adulthood for the first time. Highlight the community where your property is located that will give them the lifestyle they’re looking for.
For the adventurer, talk about proximity to hiking and biking trails. For the health nut, showcase healthy eateries and wellness amenities (like yoga & meditation studios). For the foodie, recommend restaurants with instagrammable moments.
Social Causes
Gen Z is not the generation to sit quietly. They are actively involved in social causes and they value companies and brands that align with their values. Sustainability ranks highest among social causes most important to Gen Z. If your apartment is LEED certified, you offer a recycling program, have a bike share program, or other initiatives, showcase your commitment to sustainability by highlighting these features in your socials or through short-form video content.
Have you thought about organizing a community-wide clean-up or some other volunteer event to encourage resident engagement while also promoting a social cause?
Direct Communication
The days of phone calls are long gone. Gen Z prefers direct communication through messaging apps as opposed to traditional communication methods. If you want to reach this audience, make sure that you have someone on your team monitoring social comments and messages through the social apps you use.
If those messages go unanswered, you may have just lost a lead. If those public comments go unanswered, your perception to others is that you don’t value this direct communication with your prospects and residents.
Local Micro Influencers
Last, but not least, Gen Z is highly influenced by their peers and social media influencers. However, influencers with a large national or global reach may not resonate as well with Gen Z like a local micro-influencer. These influencers have smaller but highly engaged followings with a specific region which makes them more relatable and trustworthy (or authentic!) to Gen Z.
We recommend leveraging the power of a micro-influencer in your markets by partnering with them to showcase and promote your property. Student housing communities could consider partnering with a well-known student athlete that may already be living at your property. Multi family communities could consider lifestyle influencers. Whichever micro-local influencer is the right fit for your community and your residents/prospects, your collaboration with them for social content is necessary.
Host events or meet-and-greets, offer exclusive discounts of promotions. Tapping into the influence of local micro-influencers will help you increase brand awareness and attract new residents.
By understanding these social media trends and patterns among Gen Z, you can better connect with and engage your Gen Z prospects. Incorporating these trends into your social media strategy can help you build a strong, authentic relationship with your target audience, resulting in increased resident satisfaction and retention.
Before you go
For more tips and information about digital and real estate marketing, take a look at the rest of our blogs, right here on our website! You can also subscribe to our email newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!
About the author
Zac is the Digital Client Success Manager at Threshold. His role is vital to our operation as he helps our clients to develop and launch paid digital strategies, and strategize for short and long term success. When he’s not on the clock, you can catch him at the gym… pretty much always.
by threshold | Mar 20, 2023 | General
Ava Page
When designing (or redesigning) a custom website, there’s no denying that copywriting and design are going to be the two elements at the forefront of your mind during the creative process – but what really means more in the long run of your website’s success to gain traffic and enhance leads?
Lucky for you, we already broke it down.
What to expect from the design
It’s no secret that the main focus of website design is to accurately represent your brand’s message and image. You want to target your clients’ current and potential goals and desires – but how do you truly execute those ideas? Here are a few of our methods:
- Find the middle ground between your aesthetic, and the overall purpose of your brand
- Embrace minimalism – trying to incorporate too much in a single space will turn users away
- Create a design that speaks for itself, so your copy can focus on the product
- Tease brand design ideas by using shapes, lines, and colors that represent your overall tone
What to expect from copywriting
Although it may seem like a no-brainer, website copywriting is something that only some can do with the proper knowledge of on-site copywriting. While it’s true you want to focus your copywriting on the product(s) you’re looking to promote or sell, there’s more to it than just, “Here’s our product and what it can do.”
Here are a few of our methods:
- Keep the main focus on your products and services
- That’s what brought them there in the first place, right?
- Stick to one objective
- Bouncing around from topic to topic across your page is going to come off as scattered and unorganized
- Begin with benefits, close with features
- Research to get the best understanding of your topic
- It’s easier to break down the basics for clients and consumers when you have a full understanding
- Don’t abandon emotion for logic
- Combine both ideas into one compelling copy set
What brings the most conversions?
Data has shown that while a well-designed website is appealing to consumers, copywriting is what is really going to bring your work home and result in higher conversion rates. So, while you should never skimp on your website design, your copy should be the driving force.
Why you may ask? Website copywriting is where you’re going to be able to heighten your SEO capabilities. Don’t worry – we’ve got another blog that breaks it all down for you.
What comes first?
It’s not an uncommon practice to design a website first, and use that design to fill and create your copy. At the same time, it’s not at all uncommon to see the inverse of this process as well, which begs the question – is one more effective than the other? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of each process.
Copy-First
When you choose the copy-first approach, you’re able to ultimately shape your website around your brand’s message, tone, and highlights, rather than having to write those copy points around a certain design space. Knowing what copy needs to be allocated during the design process will create a much more cohesive feel to your website. While there are many upsides to this process, there are some who see this as a downside in the overall creative process as it can add in some extra time that you may or may not have to allocate.
This isn’t to say that you can’t still create a high-conversion, visually appealing website by not following this process, whether it be for saving time or simply because it’s not the way your project management works.
Design-First
Looking in the opposite direction toward choosing a design-first approach, this process is often picked over its competitor due to its time-saving abilities. Rather than crafting around previously written copy lines, this process gives your design team full creative authority to design a stunning website that embodies exactly what your brand is about.
A downside of this process is that it can prevent you and your creative team from being able to design your website around what you’re wanting to express most in your copywriting, and would instead have to add in your copy later.
An easy way around this process would be to have your copywriter and design team work together in the creation of your site to ensure the proper areas would be included in the most efficient way for both departments.
So… is copywriting or design more important?
In terms of measuring conversions, copywriting will always be king over design when SEO strategies are correctly implemented. Luckily, we’re kind of experts in the matter.
However, this isn’t to say that you shouldn’t put the same amount of time and effort into your designs, as an attractive website will always be seen as a plus to clients, and can add a level of enjoyment when scrolling through all your (equally amazing) copy lines.
Before you go
Don’t forget, we’re experts when it comes to crafting marketing strategies that drive leasing results and building high-ranking SEO-friendly custom websites! Need help? Reach out to a CSM or any of our team members to get started on taking your marketing and SEO to the next level, see an increase in traffic, and watch the leads roll in.
For more tips and information about digital and real estate marketing, take a look at the rest of our blogs, right here on our website! You can also subscribe to our email newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!
