The Multifamily Collective

Coffee and industry conversation, led by Mike Brewer

Apartment marketing

Inspiration – Who or what do you look to?

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I have been wondering aloud as of late about inspiration and motivation. I believe everyone has a thing, person or practice they look to in a time of need. What/Who is yours?

Have you called, text’d or emailed that person lately. Have you been true to the practice?

GIS – Time to get familiar with it

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What are you reading about these days is a question I hear often. Anyone who knows me knows that I read non-stop and the topics are all over the board.

As of late I am reading about GIS (geographic information systems).

Here is the Wikipedia definition:

A geographic information system (GIS), also known as a geographical information system,
is an information system for capturing, storing, analyzing, managing
and presenting data which are spatially referenced (linked to location).

I will be sharing some more in depth thought about this topic in the coming months and thought it would be cool if we could start a community discussion on the subject. I think it has far reaching implications for our business and how cool would it be if we were a part of shaping the uses.

Just a thought…

Trust Marketing

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At the end of the day all of our marketing efforts should be grounded in gaining the trust of those we wish to attract. Every message we send needs to not only imply trust but outwardly demonstrate it.

That said, what if we embedded a feedback score in our advertising? What if we based it on one question, a question we published in a strategic position on our websites and print media. The question would be; Would you recommend us to your friends? It could be demonstrated in percentage form and also list the number of respondents.

Thoughts?

Over One Million Apartment Searches

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Found this story on MarketWatch.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug 12, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —

Realty DataTrust, makers of VaultWare(TM), the apartment industry’s leading online check-availability and
reservation system, today announced that for the first time the monthly total
for consumers checking specific apartment unit availability online exceeded
the one million mark. The VaultWare reservation system logged the usage from
July 1 – July 31, 2008.

Representing a historic milestone for the multifamily industry, this
volume confirms that providing availability information online is now viewed
as more than just a convenience; consumers today expect to find reliable and
comprehensive information online that helps them make decisions on where to
lease and live.

Apartment community forums

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Forums allow you to be fleet of foot when it comes to dealing with concerns, issues or highlights that your communities might be involved in. In lieu of looking at criticisms, even the harshest ones, as potential business busters, look at them as potential business builders. You see it first and you handle it in public with authenticity, efficiency and grace. In my mind you foster opportunity for building a fan base or evangelists as some would call them.

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