The winter months signal a slow down throughout the multifamily industry. For marketers and site staff, however, the slow season is a great opportunity to get ahead for the spring. Below are 9 tips for a productive winter that will jumpstart your spring. Marketing Refresh Collaborate with sales and operations. The slow season is the perfect time for marketers to strategize with other departments. Assure that your spring goals have the budget to support them. Share insights that you’ve received from residents’ surveys, prospect feedback, and other sources that may influence changes at the properties. Now is the time to mention any needed site updates or value-add software for residents and staff. Maintain your online presence. All leases come to an end. When they do, you want to be on the forefront of prospects’ minds. Even if you dial back on spend, maintain a strong presence on your highest quality lead sources. Yardi RentCafe makes it easy to manage your marketing spend while optimizing your exposure. Get a head start on your spring campaigns. The early bird gets the worm, so don’t wait until the snow melts to plan your local campaigns. Use the quiet times in the office to brainstorm new ideas. Create a content calendar for the blog and social media. Impromptu posting is a great way to take advantage of relevant, timely material. Content calendars, however, ensure that you always have a plan for keeping your social media up-to-date. RENTCafé makes it easy to create and schedule posts to your blog and social media platforms. Resident Retention Build loyalty with residents. With fewer prospects consuming your time, take this opportunity to pamper your existing residents and build loyalty. Issue resident surveys to understand what residents love about your property—and what can...

You spend your marketing dollars attracting leads, but then what? How do you know if valuable emails and calls are slipping through the cracks? Maximize your conversions by cementing a follow-up strategy at your properties to make sure you’re getting the best return for your advertising spend. “We should not lose sight of the fact that through apartment leasing, we are providing homes to our customers, and a home is very personal and dear to many. There is nothing like that personal engagement and touch with the customer,” asserts EPMS, a leading multifamily consulting agency, in an article sharing leasing tips for apartment communities. Optimize your follow-up strategy by checking in with prospects and residents at these four critical times: First Contact Don’t miss a chance to convert a lead because you didn’t follow up fast enough! After a prospect has reached out to you over the phone, through email, or even via live chat, your team should be ready to respond and move the prospect to the next step – whether that’s scheduling a tour, completing an application, or something else. Remember, if you don’t respond quickly, your competitors will. After a Tour You’ve talked, you’ve walked, and now… well you’re not going to just shake hands and say goodbye, are you? Follow up with a call or email within 24 hours after any site visit to let prospects know that they’re important to you and that you represent a property that not only cares but also takes action. Post Move-In Let your new resident know that your relationship with them doesn’t end the day they move in. You’re not just trying to get people through the door, you’re working to cultivate happy residents who will become ambassadors for your community. Check in...