Image Is Everything: Apartment Marketing Visuals

A1. Interior visuals are definitely expected. We experimented with video but found photos worked better for users #aptchat

— RentLingo (@Rentlingo) February 9, 2016

@Rentlingo @AptChat when I was more directly involved with leasing, I wanted to create a YouTube channel with our agents giving tours.

— MeghanJG (@MeghanJG) February 9, 2016

@MeghanJG @AptChat @MeghanJG We first had tour videos but after testing saw that pics generally lead to more conversions. #aptchat

— RentLingo (@Rentlingo) February 9, 2016

@AptChat How about CURRENT Interior Shots?

— Mindy Sharp (@MsMin) February 9, 2016

A1:Would love to see more visuals w/maps & apt availability – so the customer can see where their unit would be on the property. #aptchat

— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 9, 2016

A1: Amenity spaces have wow factor, but interiors are the bread & butter. Still see sites w/out interior apt pics! #aptchat

— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 9, 2016

@Marketing_Mommy Do prospects want to see the apartment they’ll be in (even if it’s empty), or should those be model shots? #AptChat

— Apartment Chat (@AptChat) February 9, 2016

@AptChat There is something to be said for letting them view “their” unit. Same thing happens on tours – why not allow it online? #aptchat

— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 9, 2016

The surrounding community is becoming increasingly more important to show in visuals from what we’ve seen #aptchat

— NAA (Natl Apt Assn) (@NAAhq) February 9, 2016

@NAAhq So more prospects want to see the neighborhood, as well as the apartments? #AptChat

— Apartment Chat (@AptChat) February 9, 2016

@AptChat I think the trend is heading that way. You’re not only selling your apartment community but the community as a whole #aptchat

— NAA (Natl Apt Assn) (@NAAhq) February 9, 2016

@NAAhq It’s been a big issue for a while.Neighborhood is hugely important in both city/suburban. #aptchat

— Lisa Trosien (@LisaTrosien) February 9, 2016

I see visuals that are ‘same old’ in ads on ILS’s, like pools and for some reason, pics of the sign. Stand out/be memorable! #aptchat

— Lisa Trosien (@LisaTrosien) February 9, 2016

@LisaTrosien I agree pics of the sign isn’t a wow factor but it helps me as a visual marker when driving to visit a property #AptChat

— RokitNow (@RokitNowInc) February 9, 2016

@RokitNowInc @LisaTrosien So maybe this gets incorporated into their “directions” pages online – where it’s more relevant? #aptchat

— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 9, 2016

@LisaTrosien Do you think properties should include photos of their on-site team? #AptChat

— Apartment Chat (@AptChat) February 9, 2016

@AptChat I like pics of onsite teams.Everytime I’ve used it, the prospect loves seeing the person ‘in person’ when they arrive. #aptchat

— Lisa Trosien (@LisaTrosien) February 9, 2016

@LisaTrosien I think on-site team photos do add a personal touch, but commit to keeping them updated if turnover. #aptchat

— Jackie Koehler (@jackiekoehler) February 9, 2016

Q2: We think maps are huge for standing out. Renters often want to know how close they are to the town/restaurants/etc. #aptchat

— RentLingo (@Rentlingo) February 9, 2016

I suspect that expectations change when a prospect is on craigslist looking for a specific unit vs. scoping the property website #aptchat

— Holli Beckman (@Apartmentalist) February 9, 2016

Plz stop using bathroom pics with the shower curtain pulled closed. What are you hiding behind that thing?!? Pink & blue tile? 🙂 #aptchat

— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 9, 2016

Maybe this is just my experience, but onsite teams hardly ever are involved in the website pics, posts, updates! #AptChat

— Mindy Sharp (@MsMin) February 9, 2016

@MsMin I think it depends on who their website provider is. If it’s templated/easy to make changes, I’ve seen site staff updating #aptchat

— Lisa Trosien (@LisaTrosien) February 9, 2016

@AptChat Re: photography, look at EQR’s videos. All shot with iPhones. No professionally shot videos. And getting 1000’s of views. #aptchat

— Lisa Trosien (@LisaTrosien) February 9, 2016

A3: If on-site teams are taking photos – is anyone training them or giving best practices to follow? #AptChat

— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 9, 2016

@Marketing_Mommy That’s the next step, especially for social photos – visual style guide, editing apps, recommended filters, etc. #AptChat

— Apartment Chat (@AptChat) February 9, 2016

@AptChat @Marketing_Mommy we are always dealing with the site teams posting to blogs & social, they need to be aware of copyright #aptchat

— Jackie Koehler (@jackiekoehler) February 9, 2016

@jackiekoehler @Marketing_Mommy Do you provide any resources to help them find or purchase licensed images? #AptChat

— Apartment Chat (@AptChat) February 9, 2016

@AptChat here’s an example of tips we provide: https://t.co/uqQ4x5onx7. We also monitor and bring to attention issues as we seem. #aptchat

— Jackie Koehler (@jackiekoehler) February 9, 2016

@AptChat yes!! Give them the tools to be creative and show ownership of their community. #aptchat

— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) February 9, 2016

@AptChat A3: If they are trained properly and given strong guidelines,yes. #aptchat

— Lisa Trosien (@LisaTrosien) February 9, 2016

A3: They are the front lines. We have 2 involve them. May have 2 proof/edit first. Mktg Teams are spread thin & not always on site #AptChat

— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 9, 2016

@Marketing_Mommy A3: And if we finally start empowering some of these people, turnover may slow down in those positions. #aptchat

— Lisa Trosien (@LisaTrosien) February 9, 2016

@LisaTrosien A3: Gotta have #Training & #Trust. There is some talent to be mined out of these folks. Time to let them shine. #AptChat

— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 9, 2016

Wondering if properties are getting photo releases to use residents in any images they post? #aptchat

— Jackie Koehler (@jackiekoehler) February 9, 2016

@jackiekoehler I know for sure @village_green does this – it’s part of their community policies all residents sign. #AptChat

— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 9, 2016

A4: I might not put it into collateral or a website but retweeting and regraming resident content helps build community #aptchat

— NAA (Natl Apt Assn) (@NAAhq) February 9, 2016

@NAAhq Old School newsletters should feature pics of Residents!!!! Posting that online used to help my former property! #AptChat

— Mindy Sharp (@MsMin) February 9, 2016

@AptChat I wonder if animated gifs or “live” photos have any place on apartment websites. It might be annoying though #AptChat

— RokitNow (@RokitNowInc) February 9, 2016

@RokitNowInc @AptChat Am I the only one who thinks the Resident Page is under utilized? Gifs would be fun there. #AptChat

— Mindy Sharp (@MsMin) February 9, 2016

Tip: I invested $200 for photo staging supplies (think mini-model). Split cost b/t sites & used to jazz up vacant pics #AptChat

— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 9, 2016