This document provides marketing ideas and strategies for apartment communities on a limited budget. It discusses using free platforms like Craigslist, Google Places, and Instagram to promote vacant units. Specific low-cost tactics mentioned include including business cards with laundry detergent samples, mailing flip flops to local businesses, and distributing candy or snacks with property information to target audiences. The document emphasizes that resident and employee referrals can be one of the most effective marketing tools and encourages property managers to engage creatively with their local community.

1. Affordable Marketing
For Your Distressed
Property
“The aim of marketing is to get customers to know,
like and trust you.” ~ Unknown

2. Marketing On a
Shoe String Budget
It is no secret that our apartment
communities are distressed properties
with very little money for out reach
marketing.
Which is why today our webinar is all
about affordable marketing ideas on a
shoe string marketing budget.

3. What is
marketing?
Marketing is getting the product out to
the general public.
Our product is Apartments.
Our job as a management company is
to maintain a high occupancy. On of
the ways we will achieve this is by
attracting new residents.
How are we going to do this with very
little money?

4. How do we market our
Apartments?
There are several ways we can
market our communities from
Craigslist to Business 2 Business
Marketing.
Over the next 45 minutes we are
going to give you marketing ideas to
help you market your community
affordably.

5. Craigslist
Since December our portfolio has
recorded 64 leads and 22 applications
from Craigslist.
Craigslist is FREE to use!
-Post two to three times a day
-Renew the post every two days
-Always attach a picture to the post
-Post both text and Appfolio
Template

6. Google Places
It is no secret that Google is one of
the largest search engines in the
world.
Google Places is FREE for businesses
to list .
97% of consumers search for local
businesses online
Being on Google helps people find,
share, rate, and recommend your
business to their friends, and people
across the web.

7. Instagram
Instagram is a photo sharing social
site that is own by Facebook.
People can post photos to their
Instagram account and share on
Facebook, Twitter and their friends
on Instagram.
Communities can do the same thing
by posting pictures of your
units, resident events and local places
nearby.

8. Bounce On Into Beverly
Forrest Apartments
Laundry Facilities are a great place to
reach a large group of people at
once.
Purchase a case of bounce fabric
softener sheets around $55.00.
Create a label with your community
name and info on it.
Give these to the laundry facilities to
place in their vending machines.

9. Flip for Cedar
Springs Apartments
Last summer Sprout Marketing
Boutique shared the idea of mailing
a flip flop with a special message.
My team and I mailed 25 flip flops to
HR departments and previous guest.
We leased three apartments from
this idea.

10. Bellaire Apartments
Is BURSTING with
New Management
Ziploc Bag+ Starburst+ Business Card=
AWESOMENESS
There are tons of FREE Printables that
you can use for this marketing idea.
Distribute these to local businesses and
at community events.

11. 100 Ways To Burn
Calories at Garden
Lake Apartments
For $3.45 you can get a box of 100
Calorie Pack Snacks .
Create a business card or flyer that
list how someone can burn 100
Calories at your community.
In Mindy Williams of Rent & Retain book
Breakthrough Ideas has a section dedicated
Take them to fitness centers, dance
to 100 Calorie Packs for Marketing. studios, doctors’ offices or anywhere
that you think your targeted
demographics will see them.

12. Xtreme Quality at
Camelot Apartments
“Roll Out The Carpet…Xtreme Service,
Quality & Satisfaction Awaits You”
Purchase some Xtreme Airheads and
attach a business card or small flyer.
Source Baskets by Jill
Take these to local businesses

13. Sweet for Baldwin
Apartments
Fill little buckets with candy, brochurers
and business cards.
Take these to the businesses that have
HR departments.
Make sure you place a note at the
bottom of the bucket that says “Call Us
For a Refill-888-789-0000”
Follow up with them every two to four
weeks.

14. Become the Center of
Brickwood Apartments
“How many residents does it take to
become the center of this
community” “ONE - No matter how
many people there are there is only
ONE you!” Join America’s Favorite
Community”
source Baskets by Jill Lollipops + business card=AWESOME

15. Go Bananas for
Tampa Pine
Apartments
Fruit messages are a great icebreaker
for when you are going to visit local
businesses and housing agencies.
“ You will go Bananas for our closets”
“ Our Apartments are plum perfect”
“Why wait? Become the apple of our
community”

16. 25 Reasons To Live at
Spanish Villas Apartments
Gather your team together and think
of 25 reasons for someone to live at
your community.
Purchase bags of round candy that a
small round can be placed on.
Each candy will have a reason to live at
your community.
Take these to places that will have your
target demographics.

17. Mars
Apartments Are
Immaculate
Go to the dollar store and purchase $20
worth of hand sanitizers.
Create a label that says “ Proudly donated
by Mars Apartments.”
Make sure your contact information is on
there.
Deliver to doctor offices, schools and day
cares.
In the five years I have been doing this I
have leased 10 apartments.

18. Keep Calm
&
Drink Tea at Jasmine
Garden Apartments
Tea and coffee are great give away
for local businesses.
Purchase some $1 mugs and place tea
bags or coffee in it.
Attach your business card & write a
personal message.
Deliver to local businesses

19. Mars Apartments
Living Rooms Out
Of This World
Sponsor a youth sports team or
community club
Make sure your business card or
label has your contact information.
This is a great way to get your local
community talking about you.

20. Summer Fun at
Corona Apartments
in 2013
Beach toys are very in expensive and
can be used at the beach, pools, and
day cares.
“Make a splash at Corona
Apartments this summer”
Each toy has a ¼ page flyer attached.
Take these to the beach, pools and
day cares

21. Living at Coliseum
Apartments is as
easy as eating a
cupcake.
“ Enjoy this sweet treat from
Coliseum Apartments”
Purchase some cupcakes from Publix
bakery, put in individual cups and in
a clear plastic bag.
Picture from The Preserve Southwind
Take these to businesses that your
target demographic will be at.

22. Scotland Oaks
Needs S’more
Referrals
It is no secret that resident referrals
are one of the best marketing tools
out there.
When you have a small property
these are often the best marketing
that a property can do.
Host a S’more resident referral
party!

23. The best
marketing tool
in your tool
box is YOU!
No one is going to know your
community like you are. Always smile
and remember that you are the face of
your community.

24. Remember
Marketing is Fun
Marketing is about getting
your product out there to
the public.
These 23 ideas can work for
every community.
Visit Facebook Pages like: RPM
National Solutions, Creating
Home, Lisa Trosien The Apartment
Expert, Targeted Marketing and FLY
Apartment Leasing Ideas for
marketing tips

25. Email Contest
Our first contest for 2013 is all about
Email.
Our challenge to you is to get as
many email addresses from your
residents and future residents.
Rules:
Must be valid
Enter into Appfolio
Send a follow up email for future
residents
Starts 3/7 Ends 4/7
The property that collects the most
valid email addresses will win $100.