Ideas for Marketing Rental Properties Online | Real Estate ...

These days, it seems everyone is online, and you?re really missing out on a great marketing opportunity if your rental listing isn?t. Even if renters first find a real estate listing through other means, they?ll often run a search for it on the Internet to check up on the details. But sometimes, it takes more than a simply two-line Craigslist ad to get the property you?re marketing to stand out. Here are 4 great ideas for drawing in renters for your listings online.

1) Develop a Social Media Presence

These days, especially in an industry like real estate that depends so much on networking, you?ve just got to have a social presence. About half of Americans use Facebook, and that?s just one of the many social media networks available. They?re a great place to show listings and get them shared by friends and followers. However, to make the most of a social presence, you need to do more than just post about vacancies. Only create a social profile if you have time to actually use it, posting news and information that will be helpful to your target market. They?ll follow you for what you give them, and may give back in the form of sharing your listings with their networks, both in person and online.

2) Create Facebook Pages or Ads

And speaking of Facebook?s potential in particular, it can go way beyond using your own personal or business profile. You can go so far as to create a Facebook page specifically for your property listing. This can be especially useful if you are marketing vacancies at a large apartment complex. With so many units, you?re likely to be able to use the same page again and again and develop some real history on it. Facebook ads are another great option. You can target them to your specific target market by location, age, occupation and many other factors.

3) Try Out QR Codes

QR codes are those odd-looking, square barcodes that are beginning to show up just about everywhere. The ?QR? stands for ?Quick Response,? and by scanning these codes with a smart phone, people can quickly pull up all sorts of information. How can you make use of them for marketing rental properties? One great idea is to put them on ?For Rent? signs. Then when curious passersby scan them, they can pull up the information you choose. That could be a list of vacancies, a video tour, info about the local area, photos or an F.A.Q. Check out this post on how 6 different real estate companies use QR codes.

4) Improve Your Vacancy Listings

Seems like a no-brainer, right? Of course you need to make sure that your ads have compelling copy, list all the important features of the property and have plenty of ways to contact you. But what kinds of things can you do to really make your ads stand out? Today?s technology provides plenty of options. First, you?ll want to make sure you have gorgeous photos?make sure to stage the property so potential renters get a feel for what it would be like to live there. Or better yet, why not include video tours in your online ads? These can really make your listings stand out from the crowd. Another great idea is to include floor plans to give a much better idea of the layout than a simple numbering of bedrooms and bathrooms. Finally, don?t forget to include a link to an online rental application to encourage quick follow-through.

Once you?ve got your marketing taken care of, it?s time to think about how you?re going to show your property. New to being a landlord? Then don?t miss these tips on building a strong lease and relationship with your tenant, either.

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Guest post by AppFolio, your complete property management software solution.

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