This article from Time is a great read for everyone and I highly recommend adding the website to your favorites. When I was going through the list, I found some great websites that I truthfully had not even heard of before. Many of the websites have hit the World Wide Web running, whereas some of the newcomers are probably still just getting their legs under them. Either way, this list is a great read for the day and enjoy the browsing!
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
CLASS Leasing: What's Your Purpose In Social Media?
In a very brief summary of what social media was designed for, it can be said that social media was made in order to keep people connected. Pretty cut and dry description. Facebook allows users to see what friends are doing across the country on a daily basis. Twitter allows users to feel connected to celebrities and socialites without ever really talking to them in person. Obviously social media only allows you to be connected to other parties if you are in fact engaging in conversation as a user. A stagnant Facebook or Twitter account is about as useful as a car with no wheels...or is it?
This study from HubSpot may make you feel like your hard work is going to waste if you are a social media user that is only aiming to use each venue as a potential marketing tool. This study could potentially have a Catch 22 outlook to it, because although it shows that you are not necessarily guaranteed more reach by engaging more often on social media sites, you are not going to obtain ANY reach if you do not engage on these social media sites to some extent.
What is your take on these findings of the study? Are you one that engages regularly through social media and can debunk these findings? I'd be interested to see the different sides based upon these results of the study.
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
This study from HubSpot may make you feel like your hard work is going to waste if you are a social media user that is only aiming to use each venue as a potential marketing tool. This study could potentially have a Catch 22 outlook to it, because although it shows that you are not necessarily guaranteed more reach by engaging more often on social media sites, you are not going to obtain ANY reach if you do not engage on these social media sites to some extent.
What is your take on these findings of the study? Are you one that engages regularly through social media and can debunk these findings? I'd be interested to see the different sides based upon these results of the study.
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
Monday, August 15, 2011
CLASS Leasing: Craigslist Mobile App
Craigslist is without a doubt one of the more useful sites accessible on the Internet, because you can literally find just about anything possible to sell/buy at any given time. I have written quite a few blog postings about Craigslist in regards to tips to posting ads for apartments from my own personal experiences as a leasing specialist. Craigslist is definitely a site that is a major player in the multifamily industry and is really only as beneficial to the user as he, or she, makes it. Despite the fact that Craigslist has been in existence for over 15 years now, it has never been known as a site that changes, or really adapts to the advances that occur around the World Wide Web.
Case in point to this statement is the lack of a site-based mobile application for Craigslist. Accessing Craigslist.com on a mobile phone is quite the hassle, because it will lead the user directly to the website and as one can see very quickly, it is not user friendly at all. This lack of a mobile app for Craigslist led to independent developers stepping in to make things easier for those wishing to use Craigslist from their phones. There are quite a few apps that this New York Times article goes into details about, but I have found that CraigsPro+ is probably the most well put together app of those listed. These apps will make the apartment search significantly easier for potential prospects looking to move, which will only lead to more traffic and leases for apartment communities...at least for those that are taking advantage of the site and actually posting.
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
Case in point to this statement is the lack of a site-based mobile application for Craigslist. Accessing Craigslist.com on a mobile phone is quite the hassle, because it will lead the user directly to the website and as one can see very quickly, it is not user friendly at all. This lack of a mobile app for Craigslist led to independent developers stepping in to make things easier for those wishing to use Craigslist from their phones. There are quite a few apps that this New York Times article goes into details about, but I have found that CraigsPro+ is probably the most well put together app of those listed. These apps will make the apartment search significantly easier for potential prospects looking to move, which will only lead to more traffic and leases for apartment communities...at least for those that are taking advantage of the site and actually posting.
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
Friday, August 12, 2011
CLASS Leasing: QR Code Creativity
QR code usage has managed to work its way into many different venues of business as the cutting edge way to connect to customers. QR codes still have the novelty item tag working in its favor, because it is still fun to pull out your Smartphone and scan a code on a piece of marketing material directing you to additional information. I am still in the little kid phase of QR codes in that I literally want to scan every code I see even if I am not even the slightest bit interested in the product that the code is for. Scanning the codes is something fun to do, because it gets a customer actively engaged in the marketing plus the code allows the marketer the ability to choose what information the customer receives.
QR codes can be found in a broad range of places: magazines; billboards; websites; menus; coasters; etc. We had a leasing specialist create a QR code and then the code was blown up to be placed on large sidewalk stickers. The property is located in a very retail populated area, so anyone that is walking around shopping at the stores can scan a QR code for the property on the ground to receive information. Very neat idea.
QR codes do not always have to be the regular square design and can actually be just about any shape, color or design desired. Here is a great example of a multitude of different ways that a QR code can be done (thanks @mashable).
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
QR codes can be found in a broad range of places: magazines; billboards; websites; menus; coasters; etc. We had a leasing specialist create a QR code and then the code was blown up to be placed on large sidewalk stickers. The property is located in a very retail populated area, so anyone that is walking around shopping at the stores can scan a QR code for the property on the ground to receive information. Very neat idea.
QR codes do not always have to be the regular square design and can actually be just about any shape, color or design desired. Here is a great example of a multitude of different ways that a QR code can be done (thanks @mashable).
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
Thursday, August 11, 2011
CLASS Leasing: Why You Need A LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn is essentially the Facebook of the business world. Although LinkedIn has actually been around longer than Facebook (LinkedIn released in May 2003; Facebook released in February 2004), LinkedIn trails the social media giant in users by a very significant margin with 100 million users to Facebook's 750 million. Even though both websites are aspects of social media, LinkedIn has a much structured design and purpose in how the site is operated and how the users interact on the site.
LinkedIn is designed to allow business members the opportunity to connect with each other. By connecting on LinkedIn both sides are confirming that there is some level of relationship between the two parties and it is not just a random link, such as a "Friend Request" on Facebook may be. Once users establish a significant connection network, then their profile can be used to research jobs, businesses, as well as people, for positions and business related opportunities in corporate America.
LinkedIn is an individual's online business card and expands exponentially the amount of people that you are able to interact with on a daily basis in the business world. Therefore, it is absolutely pertinent that every person have a LinkedIn profile if they are working any sort of job. Having a LinkedIn profile allows the user the opportunity to:
1. Find past coworkers
2. Build an online identity
3. Get new opportunities
4. Learn something new
5. Get some credibility
6. Become an expert
7. Grow your pipeline
8. Help out a friend
9. Find a new job
10. Get found by a new job
(thanks @Insideview for the link)
LinkedIn is growing every single day with the addition of a new user every second. As this list above shows, the doors that a well-connected LinkedIn profile can open are absolutely limitless. The impossible interactions that may never be able to take place in an average day, such as sending out a quick message to the CEO of that big company you've always wanted to work for, are just a click away on LinkedIn. If the ten reasons above haven't convinced you of the importance of LinkedIn, here's 100 more.
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
LinkedIn is designed to allow business members the opportunity to connect with each other. By connecting on LinkedIn both sides are confirming that there is some level of relationship between the two parties and it is not just a random link, such as a "Friend Request" on Facebook may be. Once users establish a significant connection network, then their profile can be used to research jobs, businesses, as well as people, for positions and business related opportunities in corporate America.
LinkedIn is an individual's online business card and expands exponentially the amount of people that you are able to interact with on a daily basis in the business world. Therefore, it is absolutely pertinent that every person have a LinkedIn profile if they are working any sort of job. Having a LinkedIn profile allows the user the opportunity to:
1. Find past coworkers
2. Build an online identity
3. Get new opportunities
4. Learn something new
5. Get some credibility
6. Become an expert
7. Grow your pipeline
8. Help out a friend
9. Find a new job
10. Get found by a new job
(thanks @Insideview for the link)
LinkedIn is growing every single day with the addition of a new user every second. As this list above shows, the doors that a well-connected LinkedIn profile can open are absolutely limitless. The impossible interactions that may never be able to take place in an average day, such as sending out a quick message to the CEO of that big company you've always wanted to work for, are just a click away on LinkedIn. If the ten reasons above haven't convinced you of the importance of LinkedIn, here's 100 more.
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
CLASS Leasing: Twitter Party
So you have your apartment community or business listed now on Twitter...great...now what? Twitter is probably one of the more extreme examples of social media that is not beneficial unless you are actively engaged on the website, making your brand name known by getting it out into the stream of conversation. With roughly 200 million users on Twitter generating over 200 million tweets per day, there is quite a bit of conversation being thrown around, so it takes some work to get your brand name recognized in the Twitter world.
One such way to actively engage a Twitter audience and push your company name out there is through a Twitter party. First off, what is a Twitter party? A Twitter party is no different than say a grand opening of a store, in which it is organized to get as many people aware of the store opening as possible and gets them to come see what the store is all about. The only difference of course with a Twitter party is that it is all virtual. The same steps that are taken with a grand opening in person are still taken with a Twitter party: theme, or occasion; promotions through all social networks; sponsors; gifts; etc. Let's say your Twitter party is being thrown for an apartment community grand opening (assuming you've built an expanded following prior to opening), offer waived application fees, or discounted rent for those interested in becoming a resident from your party. This will right away show that you are not only a community that will be actively involved with its residents, but are a community that will go above and beyond the expected to have fun as well.
There are many other reasons, or occasions that a Twitter party would be perfect for and here is a brief list of some, because after all, who doesn't like a reason to have a party?!(thanks @PartyBizConnect):
"1.You are looking to launch a new product.
2.Your business wants to create some buzz with online users.
3.You need to expand your influence in social media.
4.You want to connect with a targeted group of people that care about what you do.
5.You prefer to encourage word of mouth advertising than use push marketing.
6.Your business wants to build influence in its niche.
7.You love a good party."
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
One such way to actively engage a Twitter audience and push your company name out there is through a Twitter party. First off, what is a Twitter party? A Twitter party is no different than say a grand opening of a store, in which it is organized to get as many people aware of the store opening as possible and gets them to come see what the store is all about. The only difference of course with a Twitter party is that it is all virtual. The same steps that are taken with a grand opening in person are still taken with a Twitter party: theme, or occasion; promotions through all social networks; sponsors; gifts; etc. Let's say your Twitter party is being thrown for an apartment community grand opening (assuming you've built an expanded following prior to opening), offer waived application fees, or discounted rent for those interested in becoming a resident from your party. This will right away show that you are not only a community that will be actively involved with its residents, but are a community that will go above and beyond the expected to have fun as well.
There are many other reasons, or occasions that a Twitter party would be perfect for and here is a brief list of some, because after all, who doesn't like a reason to have a party?!(thanks @PartyBizConnect):
"1.You are looking to launch a new product.
2.Your business wants to create some buzz with online users.
3.You need to expand your influence in social media.
4.You want to connect with a targeted group of people that care about what you do.
5.You prefer to encourage word of mouth advertising than use push marketing.
6.Your business wants to build influence in its niche.
7.You love a good party."
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
CLASS Leasing: World's Skinniest House
I know that I have written blogs before highlighting the obscure lack of space many individuals live in, often times to show our leasing specialists that apartment size objections could be worse. With that being said this particular example definitely takes the cake when it comes to living in an extremely small space. Currently being designed in Poland, the "wedge" house only offers a living width of 52 inches!! I understand that the living quarters are designed with the artistic resident in mind, but let's be serious here. If any person that lives in this house has the slightest inclination of claustrophobia, they are going to be absolutely miserable. There is hardly enough room for living let alone even the most conventionally sized furniture. This article blew my mind when I came across it on Twitter (via @adamsconsulting), but as much as a surprise as it seems, I am willing to bet that these "conventional" sized houses will probably have a huge demand once they are seen.
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
Enjoy!
CLASS Leasing
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