by threshold | Oct 20, 2016 | All, Tech/Web
Apartment marketing for mobile devices is as much about usability as it is about getting noticed. In software engineering, usability is the degree to which a software can be used by specified consumers to achieve objectives with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. Over the past 10 years, Google’s search algorithm updates have focused mainly on the “satisfaction” part of this definition. The updates that Google makes to its algorithm are usually intended to improve the experience users have browsing the web.
Quick, think of the most annoying thing that you encounter when browsing the web on a mobile device. Many of you probably thought of mobile pop-up ads, which cause slow web page loading times and delay how quickly we can access content. Google hears you, and the tech giant has updated its search algorithm to lower search rankings for websites that feature mobile pop-up ads.
This change to Google’s algorithm will have major implications for many property websites that run promotions through mobile pop-up ads. Threshold has been creating and implementing pop-up ads on desktop and mobile for quite some time, so it’s part of our job to stay on top of any changing trends in the industry. That’s why we’re going to explain how the latest Google update will affect your property’s website.
In 2014, Google made a push to make the web more mobile-friendly. Pages that were mobile-optimized—that is, they featured readable text and had well-spaced links that were easy to tap with a finger—were ranked higher in search results. That update had the intended effect, and in 2016 Google announced that 85% of mobile search results are optimized as Google intended. This prompted Google to introduce new mobile-specific ranking criteria meant to further improve the mobile browsing experience.
Enter Google’s latest update, which will now favor websites that lack “interstitials.” Interstitials are ads that force exposure to the advertisement before visitors can continue on their content path. Think mobile pop-ups, full-page ads and between-the-page ads.
The algorithmic changes will go into effect on January 10th, 2017, and Google’s official stance on the issue is as follows:
“Pages that show intrusive interstitials provide a poorer experience to users than other pages where content is immediately accessible,” Google’s official announcement states. “This can be problematic on mobile devices where screens are often smaller.”
Although Google’s new update may seem daunting because of the way it will affect your property’s website, it’s actually a good thing for the overall mobile web user experience. The easier it is for people to use the web on their mobile devices, they more often they will be able to search for your property and access your site. Instead of forcing users to view mobile-pop up ads, marketers and apartment managers must come up with new apartment marketing ideas that consider users wants and needs in creative ways. Google’s update won’t crush anyone’s business, it will just force us all to create a better user experience on mobile websites.
Staying on the first page in Google’s search results is more important that any mobile-pop up ad. Thus, the first step to conforming to Google’s algorithmic changes is to remove mobile pop-up ads and other interstitials. The second step is to create worthwhile content that draws users in without disrupting their mobile web experience. Blogs and other similar content will become more valuable than ever, as websites search for marketing ideas for apartments that get information to users without using pop-up ads. As usual, content is king.
Threshold performs blog writing services for many of our clients. If you aren’t using blogs to update your web content and boost SEO rankings, now is a great time to start. We are also already making changes to our clients’ websites to prepare for the algorithmic changes. If you’re unsure about the viability of your mobile site, contact Threshold today for an assessment.
by threshold | Oct 6, 2016 | All, Marketing
The easiest way to create momentum for your property is through a resident appreciation program. Property managers and leasing agents should always be thanking residents for spending their hard earned money with your property. After all, it’s far easier to renew leases than convince cold prospects to sign new leases. As the saying goes, a resident in hand is worth two in the bush.
Schedule your resident appreciation program for the next 6 to 12 months in order to achieve more accurate budgets for events and promotions. This also gives your staff will more time to prepare and receive resident appreciation training.
Whether you’re in student housing marketing or multifamily marketing, the keys to successful resident events are photos, pictures, and photographs. See what we did there?
But really, everyone who didn’t show up should be able to see pictures from the event on their newsfeed and wish they had attended. If you snap pictures and post them on Facebook and Instagram, your crowd will be much bigger the next time around.
It’s also important to talk to local businesses about possible co-sponsorships for your resident appreciation events. While your property has a lot to offer, pairing with local businesses can give residents more reasons to appreciate the surrounding community.
Be sure to get resident feedback during these events too. Its not often that you get a group residents in one place interacting with apartment managers and leasing agents. Take advantage of these face-to-face interactions by jotting down notes on what the residents are saying.
Are they talking about how well you’re doing or about things they think the property could improve upon? Put the positive comments in your next e-blast or newsletter for all to see. As for the negative comments, make sure each and every resident concern is addressed, then try to get in contact with whoever made the comment to let them know you handled their problem.
A recent article on apartment marketing ideas from Multifamily Pro made the point that, “Keeping your residents happy is the least expensive way to ensure your community’s success.” It’s true, word-of-mouth referrals are a natural byproduct of happy residents. Remember, satisfied residents are the single most powerful marketing tool in your arsenal. It’s your job to monitor resident satisfaction levels to ensure that marketing tool doesn’t turn against your property in the form of negative word-of-mouth.
The prospects that prove most difficult to reel in are ‘cold prospects’ that only get introduced to your property through a brochure or the website. These people have no connection to your property and no preconceived trust in your company. Prospects who come from resident referrals already have that trust and that connection because their friends told them all about your amazing property. Prospects that come from referrals are more likely to sign a lease, and do so more quickly than the “cold” prospects who came across your brochure by chance.
Promotional products are the often-overlooked marketing materials that will help you reach current residents and get referrals. Bring out the promo products at your next resident appreciation event and watch the referrals roll in.
In studies by the Ad Specialty Association, giving out promotional items to residents resulted in a 21.7% increase in referrals. In addition, 13% of people who received promotional products were more willing to give referrals than before they received the gift.
Almost all properties should be spending more marketing money on promotional products. Giving branded promotional products to current residents is a proven way to generate more referrals for your sales professionals.
While many property managers sink marketing money and resources into reaching ‘cold’ prospects, that money can often be better spent trying to reach the residents you already have and convincing them to refer their friends. Feel free to contact Threshold today for more advice on how to get more renewals and referrals, or contact Shop Threshold for more information on promotional items.
by threshold | Sep 29, 2016 | All, Culture
Name: John Wilkinson
Title: Chief Strategy Officer, CAS
John develops student housing marketing ideas like it’s his job. Oh wait it is. His extensive experience in apartment marketing helps Threshold tackle the tough projects every day.
Get to know John below!
What are 3 words you would use to describe Threshold?
Experienced. Innovative. Communicative.
If you had an office nickname, what would it be?
Yoda – cuz I’ve been around WAY TOO LONG.
What is your favorite line from a movie?
If you can’t say anything nice about anybody, come sit by me.
If you were stuck on an island, what three things would you bring?
Bug spray. Suntan Lotion. And every issue of Architectural Digest.
What is the title of your autobiography?
Against The Odds.
What is/would be your motto or slogan?
Easily Amused.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
switching topics so fast it would blow someone’s mind.
What is your hidden talent?
Juggling. So hidden, I haven’t found it.
If you were famous, what would it be for?
Singer in a boy band.
Favorite Austin eats?
Piranha Killer Sushi
by threshold | Sep 13, 2016 | All, Marketing
Digital multifamily marketing and student housing marketing are dynamic industries, and we at Threshold pride ourselves on consistently working on the cutting edge. Today we’re talking about an update to Google Adwords that will affect many of our current and future clients.
Google is doubling its ad text limit, meaning the 25-character limit on headlines will be scrapped in favor of two 30-character headlines. More text will be allowed the description too, as Adwords switches from two 35-character lines to one 80-character description line.
According to Google, “Starting October 26th, 2016, AdWords will no longer support the creation or editing of standard text ads,” meaning all ads running after that date will be in the expanded text format. There’s no reason not to take Google up on their offer to include more text, since competitors surely will be saying more in their ads as well.
Google decided to make the change after considering what an Adwords ad would look like if it was invented today, in a mobile-first world. Screen space is the big factor here. The new expanded ads have a more succinct URL display, allowing more room for relevant text and a larger presence on the mobile screen.
URL’s will only show the initial domain name, so instead of showing:
http://thresholdagncy.wpengine.com/our-solutions/branding/
The ad will only show:
http://thresholdagncy.wpengine.com
..but still take users to the specific page on the site.
So what’s the takeaway? Extended text ads will only add to the importance of strong messages and concise copy. When every advertiser can say more, what each advertiser says becomes the differentiator. Consumers will get more information about the link that they’re being asked to click, and advertisers will be able to push more relevant information to the user to entice them to click on the ad.
A larger ad with more information should mean higher click-through-rates, but monitoring CTRs is still going to be key. All the Adwords tools associated with standard text ads will be compatible with expanded ads, so the Threshold digital team will continue monitoring the variables in different campaigns to see which words and phrases are proving most effective for our clients.
Innovative apartment marketing ideas are the most successful when they’re brought to life with the right tools. As Google makes changes to their product to fit a mobile-first world, they will also be eliminating the mobile pop-up ad. Websites that use pop-up ads will soon be devalued in search results. Since Google SEO has become the guideline when creating websites, you can say goodbye to pop-up ads as Google phases them out. Threshold’s team of digital marketers has already begun implementing extended text ads with success, and will continue to stay ahead of mobile pop-up changes to create effective, measurable campaigns for our clients.
by threshold | Aug 17, 2015 | All, Tech/Web
At Threshold, the Anti-Vacancy Agency, we know that great photography is the basis of good advertising to attract your future residents. As the saying goes, “People buy with their eyes.” Even though they may not be making a decision to purchase, they will be drawn to high quality imagery of your property in their search for their next sanctuary. Great photography = fewer vacancies.
How attractive is your property “profile” photo?
If you are perusing profiles on an online dating site, besides reading clever bios, you’ll more likely be attracted to those with a lovely, current photo aren’t you? Appearances may not be everything, but it’s a good basis to begin, isn’t it? The same philosophy applies to your property “presence” on and offline. We must always have beautiful, up-to-date images to present to our potential renters. As branding and marketing experts, Threshold is ready to get you all the attention your property deserves.
How current are your photos?
When was the last time your student housing community multi-family apartment complex, senior living facility or single family home development was photographed? The last time you completed a renovation? That’s not often enough. If a client arrives on site, having seen seedling trees on your web site, yet you have mature shading oaks, you have short-changed your public image. If you’ve got it, flaunt it! Plan to photograph your community every time you have a change of season. People love coziness from the winter cold, enjoy strolls through the trees during fall color, gazing at fresh flower gardens in the spring, and will visualize themselves beating the heat in your turquoise pool in summer. Help them channel their future lifestyle!
If you do have regularly scheduled photos taken, have you positively portrayed all of the amenities you offer? …that Olympic-size pool, gleaming high-rise tower, well-appointed apartment, state-of-the-art game room, and lavish landscaping…
Why not?
Okay. So where do you begin if you are photography-challenged? Ask yourself these questions:
What is your properties’ strongest selling point? Facilities? Amenities? Location? Lifestyle? The strategy to promote each of these is very different AND each requires a different STYLE of photography. See examples below:
So, you have your strategy in place, are you ready for a photographer? Not yet.
First, make a comprehensive list of property features you wish to promote and photograph:
- Amenities (swimming pool, fitness center, cardio/yoga spaces)
- Model room interiors (flat screen TVs, kitchens, bedrooms, living areas, balconies, baths)
- Public room interiors (club houses, venues, dog parks)
- Prominent landscapes (vistas, luxurious gardens, lakes, trees)
- Notable architecture, monuments, nearby universities
- Do you want to include models in the shoot? What is your plan to recruit models (professional models or residents and/or staff members)?
Once your list is complete, we will plan a photo shoot that maximizes the best time of day to capture all on your list so that you have a gorgeous library of images at your fingertips for every marketing and advertising occasion.
What’s the secret of gorgeous images of building exteriors, interiors, landscaping and portraiture? The time of day the photos were taken.
Best times of day for great photos? Low light.
Low light is between 7am and 10am, and again from 4pm to 7pm. This is the best natural light to showcase your property. Long graceful shadows drape across architectural details, golden sunlight trace the edges of your beautiful landscaping and people will glow with warm sunlight on their shoulders. Otherwise, between 11am and 3pm, the sun beats down, creating harsh shadows on faces, bleached-looking gardens and creates a near black-and-white color spectrum. Even interior shots can be a challenge because the light through the windows is too strong. See examples below:
A word about resolution.
Even though cell phone cameras are making amazing advances, in order to use your photos for print and web, the resolution must be at least 12 megapixels. Even then, phone cameras have limited crispness. It is best to hire a professional photographer with high-resolution and light adjustment capabilities to insure your property always looks its best! And technology is only part of capturing quality images – the composition is key to capturing the best pictures. A high-resolution picture is all for not, if the composition of the picture is off.
Take a step in the direction towards a vacancy-free community, and schedule your photo shoot today with Threshold.
