Believe it or not, the best marketing tools don’t always carry a heavy price tag. There are lots of inexpensive or free tools, tactics and techniques that can help you accomplish a variety of goals, from generating traffic to creating quality images.
In fact, they were the focus of our latest #AptChat; these are the highlights. (Click on the links to jump straight to a specific question.)
- Q1: What are your favorite “go-to” inexpensive techniques and tactics when you need to generate traffic on a minimum budget?
- Q2: What are some inexpensive ways to promote your resident referral program? How can you get more residents to participate?
- Q3: Let’s talk online. What are your favorite low-cost tools to help you create content, make great images, manage social/email?
- Q4: What are some other inexpensive tools you’ve used? Are there tools you wish you/your team could use more?
- Q5: What are the paid tools that have been worth the investment? When do you decide to pay for a tool and add it to the budget?
What are your favorite “go-to” inexpensive techniques and tactics when you need to generate traffic on a minimum budget?
A1: Hit up the popular local watering holes with flyers. Being visible in a tight market is key. #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) June 28, 2016
@AptChat It can be strangely effective! The key is being VISIBLE; flyers may not be super effective, but people remember the name. #AptChat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) June 28, 2016
@leftnwrite08 Outreach never gets old. But I bet there are new ways to connect those efforts (digitally) so we can track them #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) June 28, 2016
@Marketing_Mommy Exactly. Also important to know your market. Small towns may deal with digital versus physical differently. #AptChat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) June 28, 2016
A1: guerrilla marketing, preferred employer specials, extra referral incentives #AptChat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@daniellecnoel with preferred employer specials you have to be careful.There have been some FH issues raised around those recently #aptchat
— Heather Blume (@artchickhb) June 28, 2016
@AptChat @daniellecnoel I was reading cases that are in lit/going into lit Soon. Can’t remember the argument tho, but it was PEP #aptchat
— Heather Blume (@artchickhb) June 28, 2016
@artchickhb @AptChat @daniellecnoel I imagine it may have something to do with source of income and/or disparate impact … #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) June 28, 2016
@artchickhb interesting!! Though these days everything is FH and/or racist it feels like. Good records need to be kept! #AptChat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@daniellecnoel @artchickhb People now let Fair Housing fear drive their marketing. #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) June 28, 2016
@Marketing_Mommy @daniellecnoel some of it is fear. But some of it is also equality offering based. #aptchat
— Heather Blume (@artchickhb) June 28, 2016
@AptChat yes! Offer incentives for their applicants. Make it easy for HR to pass on your info. Also deliver cookies to Res at work #AptChat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@AptChat flyers everywhere. But kit black and white. Good flyers that are eye catching. Matches/coasters for bars. #AptChat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@AptChat hand out Popsicles at bus stops, ask retail store to put flyer up for employee bulletin board, put coupons in grocery cart #aptchat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@daniellecnoel @AptChat It cannot be drop & run outreach. You have to actually talk to someone – make a connection. Don’#AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) June 28, 2016
@Marketing_Mommy @AptChat yes!! And keep a log. Plus ask what they need. If a bar needs cups, supply branded cups. #AptChat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@daniellecnoel @Marketing_Mommy @AptChat the average # of people who see a coffee sleeve is something like 7 in 49 minutes. #aptchat
— Heather Blume (@artchickhb) June 28, 2016
@artchickhb @daniellecnoel @AptChat Gets your name out there but what % of them are qualified renters looking to move NOW? #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) June 28, 2016
@Marketing_Mommy @daniellecnoel @AptChat not sure, but at the cost, just one lease gets you well over 300% ROI #aptchat
— Heather Blume (@artchickhb) June 28, 2016
@Marketing_Mommy @artchickhb but coffee sleeves are so cheap! Plus if it’s interactive “draw xyz and tag us on IG”…#AptChat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@daniellecnoel @Marketing_Mommy great place to utilize a QR code #aptchat #coffeFTW
— Heather Blume (@artchickhb) June 28, 2016
@30lines @daniellecnoel @Marketing_Mommy people use them.if we use them the right way. It’s not for junk mail. #aptchat
— Heather Blume (@artchickhb) June 28, 2016
@AptChat and I’m sure there’s more digital guerrilla marketing but I haven’t done that in a while! #AptChat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@daniellecnoel @AptChat Simple way to go digital:“like” area FB biz page from your biz pg Then tag them in cross-promotional posts #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) June 28, 2016
@Marketing_Mommy @AptChat we used to do this with all Res events. Tagged anyone that provided food even if we paid for it. #aptchat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@daniellecnoel @AptChat I love it! Easy and FREE and gets that biz & their employees watching you/your community. #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) June 28, 2016
@daniellecnoel @AptChat My #1 rule for outreach marketing: It’s not about selling YOU, it’s about helping them! The sales will come.#AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) June 28, 2016
A1. When we’re looking for a quick bump in traffic we usually focus on resident referrals first. #aptchat
— Holli Beckman (@Apartmentalist) June 28, 2016
@AptChat outreach doesn’t have to be expensive if you know how to make and maintain the right contacts. Relationship mgmt is key #aptchat
— Heather Blume (@artchickhb) June 28, 2016
What are some inexpensive ways to promote your resident referral program? How can you get more residents to participate?
@AptChat they have to know a/b it. Too often we assume that they do. And that they read our notices. Tell em’. Frequently. #aptchat
— Heather Blume (@artchickhb) June 28, 2016
@AptChat make it fun and competitive. and a big deal when there is a referral #aptchat
— Lia Nichole Smith (@SatisFactsLia) June 28, 2016
@AptChat own experience-pics of both parties in newslette, bonuses for both the referrer and referee.Competition for most referrals #aptchat
— Lia Nichole Smith (@SatisFactsLia) June 28, 2016
@AptChat Tiered rewards for each referral #aptchat
— Lia Nichole Smith (@SatisFactsLia) June 28, 2016
@SatisFactsLia @AptChat THIS. Why don’t more companies do this?! #aptchat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@AptChat Agreed @daniellecnoel work up to a larger bonus or reward. Shared incentives worked great for us too. #aptchat
— Lia Nichole Smith (@SatisFactsLia) June 28, 2016
People love earning their way up and having a goal – good idea #aptchat https://t.co/XqY4ysf0uJ
— Heather Blume (@artchickhb) June 28, 2016
@AptChat @SatisFactsLia Deliver their referral $/check at work – let their co-workers see what they’re getting & who it’s from. #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) June 28, 2016
Let’s talk online. What are your favorite low-cost tools to help you create content, make great images, manage social/email?
A3. We are HUGE fans of @WordSwagApp and @canva #aptchat
— Fresh Apartments (@apartminty) June 28, 2016
@AptChat #aptchat Studio is a great app for social media images and flyers!
— Grow Learning (@GrowLMS) June 28, 2016
@AptChat canva is prob my fav at the moment. #AptChat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@AptChat canva is a good one for design and searching creative commons in flickr is good for unique images #aptchat
— Lia Nichole Smith (@SatisFactsLia) June 28, 2016
A3: https://t.co/qKc0ppmq8O = fav image edit app. Gimp: free Photobucket-type PC app to edit/add text. Sxc.hu for free images … #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) June 28, 2016
A3. ALL of our favorite tools–@apartminty‘s Ultimate Marketing Toolbox https://t.co/tDJulhFjvd via @Apartminty #aptchat
— Holli Beckman (@Apartmentalist) June 28, 2016
@AptChat Have you used tools like intercom or zopim for instant msg for everyone visiting your site?
This helps, in our experience. #AptChat— MoveAssistOnline (@ZunaSol) June 28, 2016
@ZunaSol Definitely see that live chat can be very beneficial to help move viewers toward a conversion. #AptChat
— 30 Lines (@30lines) June 28, 2016
What are some other inexpensive tools you’ve used? Are there tools you wish you/your team could use more?
@AptChat give residents bus. cards-put their names on them & hand them out. resident got credit and was listed as source #aptchat
— Lia Nichole Smith (@SatisFactsLia) June 28, 2016
A4: Not sure if it’s a marketing tool but Google Forms can be used to create custom surveys and gather responses in a spreadsheet #AptChat
— RokitNow (@RokitNowInc) June 28, 2016
@RokitNowInc Great example! There are lots of *those* kinds of things that more marketers need to know about. #AptChat
— 30 Lines (@30lines) June 28, 2016
What are the paid tools that have been worth the investment? When do you decide to pay for a tool and add it to the budget?
@AptChat if I were onsite or OM, I would lobby for Modern Message and of course Chatter Insights. #AptChat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
@AptChat brand advocates and responding to reviews are the best form of word of mouth marketing! #aptchat
— Danielle C. Noel (@daniellecnoel) June 28, 2016
Our next #AptChat is slated for Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at 12 pm Eastern. In the meantime, be sure to sign up for #AptChat updates to get these recaps and more delivered straight to your inbox!
