corporate real estate marketing ideas Archives

Tips For Corporate Real Estate Marketing

by threshold | Feb 22, 2022 | Marketing, Thought Leadership

While property management companies, developers, and ownership groups often put great care into marketing the communities in their portfolio, some approach corporate real estate marketing with hesitance and trepidation. After all, marketing a community to potential residents is a completely different ball game from marketing property management services to development partners or development services to potential investors.

As a real estate marketing agency, we’ve worked with corporate real estate brands to not only connect residents to their communities, but also to earn new business for our client partners. From brand guidelines to advertising to website design and more, here are the top takeaways that we’ve derived from years of helping our clients grow their portfolios.

Embrace Your Key Differentiators

Oftentimes, corporate real estate brands get so caught up in meeting expectations that they are afraid to break the mold and show off what really makes them different. But when you’re competing for attention among a sea of competitors, standing out is essential.

It’s understandable to be hesitant. We’ve worked with plenty of property management companies and developers who just want to make sure that potential investors and partners find them trustworthy. Sometimes that desire leads to lackluster branding, websites, and ad copy that demonstrates they are just as trustworthy as anyone else…but not very interesting or unique.

So take time to really consider what sets you apart, whether that’s the region you specialize in, the approach you take to resident experiences, the types of developments you build, or the services you provide for clients. You may have dreams of expanding beyond some of these areas (such as your regional focus), but in the meantime, embracing what makes you unique will help you find the right investors and industry partners to help grow your portfolio and put you in a better position to reach those goals down the road.

Show Your Value With Engaging Case Studies

You can talk about your methods and promises all day, but most potential partners are going to want to see some proof that you can deliver. One great way to do this is with case studies. But not all case studies are made equal.

First, whenever you add an asset to your portfolio—especially those big projects that get everyone excited—lay the groundwork early to collect the data and social proof you’ll need to show your success down the road. Select a leasing management software that makes it easy to track your leasing velocity against the market average and set up Google Analytics and ad tracking so you can accurately measure the success of your marketing through metrics like website traffic, click-through-rates, and conversions. Ask residents to leave reviews on your GMB page and follow you on social media. Even better, get video testimonials from your most loyal tenants and/or industry partners. Collect engaging visuals like renderings, photography, and video as the asset is built and marketed, including images from events like groundbreakings or resident events. Having some or all of these elements in place will help you tell the story of your success when it comes time to create your case study.

There are lots of different ways to execute a case study, so pick one that is well suited to your audience’s interests and the asset you’re showcasing. You might choose to shoot a quick video highlighting your leasing success over time or create a collage of stunning imagery and happy residents to show off the uniqueness of your development (alongside proof points like stats and testimonials). Whatever format you choose, make sure it’s engaging and that the key takeaways are easy for your audience to identify. In other words, don’t just provide a wall of text or a series of images with no context. You want your case study to be short, sweet, and to the point, digestible in five minutes or less so that your audience actually makes the effort to read it (or view it).

Develop Distinct Brand Guidelines for Tenants vs. Partners

While a playful, tongue-in-cheek brand voice may resonate with residents, it may not get the best results from investors or development partners looking for professionalism and reliability. Knowing your audience is essential to effective branding, so consider developing separate brand guidelines for tenants vs. partners and clients. You don’t necessarily have to adopt completely different brand identities for each, but attention should be paid to how your brand voice, colors, patterns, and other elements translate differently when addressing each audience.

This advice is primarily applicable to property management companies who are most often in the position of addressing both tenants and partners on behalf of their corporate real estate brand. While developers and owners are less likely to need to address tenants, the need to adjust your brand expression for different audiences may still apply. Consider the aspects of your branding that best resonate with different audiences—for example, investors, media representatives, developers, and team members may all respond to your brand identity differently, from the key differentiators you highlight to the voice you use to the patterns you incorporate into your communications.

Demonstrate Thought Leadership In Your Market

One of the primary goals of corporate real estate marketing is to inspire confidence in the potential partners who are considering working with you (as well as current partners whose loyalty you hope to inspire). One great way to show off your expertise and unique approach is to create and share content that demonstrates your knowledge of your industry.

So consider sharing articles on social media and writing your own articles on a blog on your website. Or you can create videos covering topics you’re knowledgeable about, which can earn even more engagement than written content alone. Whatever content you create, ensure that potential partners have line of sight to them by posting them on your website and sharing them over social media or emails to your growing list of leads. We also recommend using industry-specific hashtags in social posts. When sharing content made my someone else (not affiliated with your brand), be sure to include a quick commentary or even an in-depth breakdown that shows you have an informed point of view that may be advantageous for your potential clients.

How To Use Branded Swag In Your Leasing Campaigns

by threshold | Feb 8, 2022 | Creative, Design, Marketing

In the age of digital-first marketing, traditional marketing strategies sometimes become an afterthought for real estate brands. But even if a prospect’s connection with your brand begins in the digital realm, the physical realm is where it reaches its fullest form, and savvy real estate marketers are always looking for ways to bridge that gap.

Branded promotional items are one great way to connect with prospects and residents beyond the digital sphere. Whether it’s branded apparel displaying your community logo or a handy multitool featuring your community tagline, branded swag helps you make a lasting impression that residents and prospects can literally take with them as they consider where to live or whether to renew their lease.

But not all swag is created equal. In fact, most of us in our time have received some branded trinket or other gift that we found completely useless and immediately threw in the trash. How do you ensure your marketing dollars are well spent on promo that makes an impact rather than being wasted on empty gestures that go unappreciated? The following tips can help you use swag to maximum effect, earning more attention, loyalty, leases, and renewals.

Surprise & Delight With Unique Branded Items

Everyone offers T-shirts, mugs, and magnets, so try standing out from the competition with something uniquely tailored to your community. While these standbys are popular for their universal appeal and cost-effective pricing, sometimes you’ll make a bigger impact by offering something unexpected.

Consider including something that your audience will use often, whether at your community or in the surrounding neighborhood. For example, if your community is located somewhere hot, consider branded sunglasses or even sunshades for their car windshield. Or if you’re located near great golf courses, consider a branded cap clip and ball marker combo. If your community features a lot of pet-friendly amenities, a branded pet bandana or chew toy could be the perfect touch. Think about what your key differentiators are and what your audience is likely to actually use and appreciate.

Go All Out on a Giveaway Prize

There are lots of ways to run a giveaway that encourages new leases, renewals, referrals, or social engagement from residents and prospects. Branded giveaways give you the opportunity to splurge on swag that is truly special without spending all your marketing dollars trying to include everyone.

Branded messenger bags, coolers and camping gear, travel bags and tags, laptop sleeves, portable chargers, bluetooth headphones, and other items on the pricier side can become great swag for a lucky giveaway winner.

Plus, giveaways are great opportunities for social media content. Remind prospects and/or residents about giveaway deadlines and generate buzz by posting about it on your social media accounts, then showcase your winner by posing for a picture with them when they pick up their prize (with their permission, of course). You might even choose to incorporate social engagement into the giveaway rules, requiring people to share, tag, follow, or comment in order to be entered for a chance to win.

Turn New Residents Into Brand Advocates With Welcome Packages

A welcome kit with branded swag is the perfect way to wow new residents and make them feel at home in their new apartment. Marketing shouldn’t end when the lease is signed, after all. Delivering an excellent move-in experience helps turn new residents into natural brand advocates, leading them to share their experience with others in person and online. That means you get word-of-mouth marketing, a great online reputation, and maybe even direct referrals that contribute to higher occupancy rates. Of course, happy residents are more likely to renew their lease as well, and retaining residents is far more cost-effective than what you’ll spend on getting new leads in the door.

A little thoughtfulness can go a long way when putting together your welcome package. Consider what someone would enjoy receiving as a housewarming gift. It could be magnets for the fridge, a nice set of coasters, or a mug. It could even include a customized 12-month calendar featuring photos from the community (and the resident’s move-in date marked on it, for bonus points, plus any upcoming community events you may have planned). Including something for their pet too, if they’re moving in with one, can sometimes be the most heartwarming option of all! Pet toys, bandanas, bag dispensers, brushes, and food and water bowls can all be customized with your branding and included in your welcome kit.

Support a Worthy Cause Your Residents Care About

Branded swag can provide unique ways to showcase what’s important to your brand and demonstrate to prospects that you share their values. For example, a branded compost bin or plantable postcards with wildflower seeds can demonstrate your support for sustainability goals like reducing waste and supporting local bee populations. Branded reusable shopping bags and reusable straws (made of metal or bamboo) are also good options.

Start by doing some research on the causes that are important to your target audience, be it sustainability, supporting local artists, animal rights, education, or other causes. Some causes are more challenging than others to show your support for through branded swag, but this can also become useful inspiration for future resident events and partnerships with local organizations.

Boost Brand Awareness With Swag for Employees

Residents and prospects are typically the first priority when it comes to swag, but don’t forget that employees can be your best brand advocates! Giving your employees branded apparel can be a great way to boost brand awareness in your community, especially when worn at events like housing fairs, grand openings, or bring-a-friend resident events.

Plus, the more you reward your management and maintenance staff, the better your resident experience will typically become. That’s because employees who feel appreciated are more passionate about the communities they serve and better equipped to create positive resident experiences that lead to great online reviews and referrals. Plus, their interactions with prospects will be marked by genuine enthusiasm that becomes infectious, leading more prospects to begin an application.