While at the Small Business Marketing Unleashed Conference in Columbus OH, one thing we heard over and over by some of the top bloggers and small business marketers was the effective use of a YouTube site and flickr sites, for photos and videos, but also to start creating Community.
Over the last three years Urbane Apartments have ceased traditional marketing efforts in exchange for a MySpace site, a facebook site, YouTube and flickr sites. We also use twitter regularly. To further integrate we started a Social Network site on Ning.com, the Urbane Lobby
What really give all of these various Social Media sites punch are pictures and videos. It has never been easier. Most folks have a digital camera these days, and with the advent of the Flip, videos are a breeze. All this takes is some time and effort. A savvy property manager could easily make his/her property stand out from their own portfolio (and perhaps foster a promotion or raise) and the competitors by embracing some of these concepts. Don’t think you have the time or talent for photos and videos, tap into the talent base of some residents at your community that would help promote and foster an on line community.
After all, isn’t that what apartment living is about, community?
Eric’s background is rooted in the rental and real estate industries. He founded metro Detroit’s Urbane Apartments in 2003, after serving as senior vice president for a major Midwest apartment developer. He established a proven track record of effectively repositioning existing rental properties in a way that added value for investors while enhancing the resident experience.
He also established The Urbane Way, a social media marketing and PR laboratory, where innovative marketing ideas are tested. Eric has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine and Business Week Magazine.
You can connect with Eric_Urbane on Twitter.
Eric also writes regular articles for the following publications;
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