Blogger Apartment Tips:
Social Gaming as an Apartment Marketing Tool

There are multiple ways to leverage applications such as Facebook Places and Foursquare to advertize your community, flaunt property traffic, and ultimately increase your property’s bottom line.  One of the best parts about these social gaming sites is that little to no managing needs to be done by the location for visitors to check-in and share your community virally.  By getting involved and knowing how to maximize your property’s Foursquare potential, you can truly get the most out of this valuable social tool.  Listed below are a few simple steps to follow to gain Apartment Marketing bliss on Foursquare.

About Foursquare:

Foursquare is an online “Geo-Location Tool” that uses the GPS on users’ smart phones to identify their location and the surrounding area.  The user is then able to virtually “check-in” to locations that are registered on Foursquare.  Along with numerous other accolades awarded for the frequency and popularity of check-ins, the member that checks-in most frequently at one place becomes the “Mayor” of that particular location.  Businesses subsequently offer incentives for the Mayor, hoping to promote repeat business.

Since 2009, Foursquare’s membership has grown from 200,000 members to nearly 8 million.  Today, Foursquare is currently adding an average of 35,000 new members a day and experiencing roughly 2 million “check-ins” per day.

Foursquare, previously considered merely another social media platform can now function as a utility for apartment marketing.  Foursquare, a geo-location tool, offers practical features that can help communities market their vacant units and consequently close more leases at little to no cost.  In addition, with the minimal time it takes Property Managers to invest in Foursquare marketing, the ROI it offers is unparalleled.

1. Add Your Business

If your property hasn’t already been added by one of your current or previous renters, simply sign in to Foursquare and select “Add This Place“.  Then add in your property’s details including your address, phone number, etc.  If your property has already been added, be sure that all of the information is accurate.  Following that, name yourself as the manager and “Claim the Venue” to be able to see who and when people are checking-in. Adding your property will ensure that Foursquare users in the area will see your business, providing added exposure.

2. Add Your Current Renters and Neighboring Businesses

Similar to other social networking sites, users, and even locations can add friends.  As an apartment complex, be sure to add your renters.  Renters are one of a property’s most valuable assets in regards to apartment leasing tools.

3. Add Tips to Your Property

Assigning a “tip” to your property can function as a marketing tool by informing potential renters who check in or view your community’s Foursquare page about your property.  These tips could be anything from deadline driven move-in promotions to reminders that residents can pay rent online, by phone, or by text at your community using RentPayment!

4. Encourage Residents to Check-In and Reward Those Who Do

Let residents know they can check in and remind them to do so by requesting a Foursquare window cling for your leasing office window.  Also, by rewarding those who check-in regularly, users will be encouraged to continue to do so.  An example would be to award a special prize or credit to the Mayor of your property on the first of every month.   Residents are your biggest marketing tool, let them market the property for you.

5. Host Deals Through Foursquare

As more Foursquare users begin to check-in to your property (renters, prospective renters, guest of renters, etc.) begin to offer Foursquare deals for those who check in.  An example would be to offer prospective residents who check-in access to certain move-in specials like a waived application fee or discounts on upgrades.