Hey stranger!
After a bit of a hiatus, we’re beyond excited about the return of the Apartment Chat. A quick housekeeping note: Going forward, we’re moving the chat to Tuesdays at 12pm Eastern … hopefully this will allow more people to participate (or just follow along over their lunch break, whatever works).
In this latest edition of #AptChat, we wanted to ride the momentum of the 2015 Multifamily Social Media Summit and discuss some of the latest trends in social media. (We’ll be diving deeper into a few of these topics in upcoming chats.)
So without further buildup, here’s what you had to say about social media for apartments this week. (Hit the links to jump straight to a specific question.)
- Q1: What are the biggest social media trends you’re focused on for your company right now?
- Q2: Who is responsible for social media at your company? Is the strategy set by corporate or the individual properties?
- Q3: How much of a role do photos and videos play in your social media efforts? Who is creating that content?
- Q4: Besides posting to social media sites, are you doing any kind of blogging or content marketing for your property?
- Q5: What are the topics you want to learn more about to improve your social media results?
What are the biggest social media trends you’re focused on for your company right now?
@AptChat we've been focusing more on @Instagram than anything else. Surprisingly popular at our student AND conventional properties #aptchat
— Emily Prevost (@emilyprevost) February 3, 2015
@AptChat also just started doing Twitter ads that have been HUGE for our student properties. Would rec these to anyone in student. #aptchat
— Emily Prevost (@emilyprevost) February 3, 2015
@AptChat Facebook paid advertising, thinking about other paid social advertising with well defined demographic targets
— Eric Dainton (@EricDainton) February 3, 2015
#aptchat http://t.co/TfS6lfWzAG, promoting a specific unit we want to rent right now
— Eric Dainton (@EricDainton) February 3, 2015
Q1. We are really focused on sideways market+the power of eventually->creating evergreen content on our blog & Pinterest account. #aptchat
— Holli Beckman (@Apartmentalist) February 3, 2015
Several of my clients are working on driving residents from FB to Pinterest and getting them engaged to themed boards and sharing #aptchat
— Doug Chasick (@aptdoctor) February 3, 2015
@Apartmentalist community events. We always ask for people's handle so we can tag them and bring them into the conversation! #aptchat
— Emily Prevost (@emilyprevost) February 3, 2015
Who is responsible for social media at your company? Is the strategy set by corporate or the individual properties?
@AptChat Our property FB for the most part is run by us. For the development the Twitter & two other properties are by a agency.#AptChat
— Jolene Sopalski (@JoleneSopalski) February 3, 2015
@StephanieOehler absolutely a concern and something we work hard to preserve. Sites send us mkt/event calendars and pics. #aptchat
— Emily Prevost (@emilyprevost) February 3, 2015
It's currently 1 individual it was previously handled by a marketing team Q2:@AptChat #aptchat
— Corp. Suites Network (@csnhousing) February 3, 2015
@Apartmentalist See who are the ones that love and understand social media. Then make the ambassadors for the property. #aptchat
— Jolene Sopalski (@JoleneSopalski) February 3, 2015
@StephanieOehler topline: post people, neighborhood places, events, property. NO memes, puppies, or irrelevant/uneccessary content. #aptchat
— Emily Prevost (@emilyprevost) February 3, 2015
@apartminty @Apartmentalist LOL-ing over here. @2Mpup is awesome, what i don't want is this: http://t.co/heEabh9Xtv #aptchat
— Emily Prevost (@emilyprevost) February 3, 2015
@AptChat Myself, and recently I started creating social media ambassadors at each site to help monitor and utilize it.
— Lindsay Mayo (@McHaleMayo) February 4, 2015
How much of a role do photos and videos play in your social media efforts? Who is creating that content?
@AptChat Video has become huge, something we're working on doing more of. FB engagement with video has been off the charts. #aptchat
— Emily Prevost (@emilyprevost) February 3, 2015
@csnhousing @IIIWoodD @emilyprevost We are exp. with in house using our smart phones.It kind of gives it an authentic feel. #aptchat
— Jolene Sopalski (@JoleneSopalski) February 3, 2015
@AptChat @Apartmentalist @emilyprevost We engagement with food, residents and staff photos are shared.Especially the food reviews. #aptchat
— Jolene Sopalski (@JoleneSopalski) February 3, 2015
@MichelleWood06 @AptChat I like how @AllResCo has their YouTube channel set up. Currious to know how much traffic goes to the prop.#aptchat
— Jolene Sopalski (@JoleneSopalski) February 3, 2015
@Apartmentalist #aptchat new plan is subtle music, text on screen, and tour will feel natural, like you are actually walking through a unit
— Eric Dainton (@EricDainton) February 3, 2015
Besides posting to social media sites, are you doing any kind of blogging or content marketing for your property?
@AptChat A4 can't beat blogging..fresh content still continues to make Google happy #aptchat
— Jonathan Saar (@JonathanSaar) February 3, 2015
@AptChat blogging is a big part of our SEO strategy, but I'd like for it to integrate more into our content strategy for social #aptchat
— Emily Prevost (@emilyprevost) February 3, 2015
@AptChat It has actually become a bit simpler. Integrate content from across channels. Short attention spans out there #aptchat
— Jonathan Saar (@JonathanSaar) February 3, 2015
@JoleneSopalski @AptChat @emilyprevost We have an in-house research analyst who gathers topics and writes for us #aptchat
— LandlordsNY (@LandlordsNY) February 3, 2015
A4: It's a must! Create helpful, relevant & approachable content & your followers will share it for you! http://t.co/36eHAOeuo3 #aptchat
— Fresh Apartments (@apartminty) February 3, 2015
@AptChat #aptchat we're small company, 700 units, I write all of our blogs currently
— Eric Dainton (@EricDainton) February 3, 2015
What are the topics you want to learn more about to improve your social media results?
@AptChat Clients are always asking "What is best way to survey residents to find out what they want to see on social pages?" #aptchat
— Doug Chasick (@aptdoctor) February 3, 2015
For more, check out the biggest takeaways from the Summit, as shared by the Apartments.com team.
Now it’s your turn. What are the social media efforts that are working best for you right now? What are you focused on improving this year?
Ready for more? Good, because we’re just getting started. Our next #AptChat will be Tuesday, February 10th at 12pm Eastern. We’ll see you then … be sure to sign up for updates so you won’t miss a thing in the meantime!
