As a property manager, it may become prudent to ask yourself: Are you getting the most out of Pinterest? This new social media tool has skyrocketed in popularity over the last year, and owners and operators across the country are finding it is a great way to promote their communities. In a recent webinar called “Pinterest for Property Managers,” Charity Zierten, a consultant for Socially Engaged Marketing LLC, provided tips and tricks to integrate Pinterest into a winning social media strategy. The key aspects for a successful professional Pinterest account include being professional, being relevant, and focusing on great products, fun communities and inspiring ideas. According to Zierten, it’s important to integrate Pinterest with a property website, including adding a “Pin It” button so that people can pin directly from the site. She also suggested that property employees, such as leasing agents and people on the maintenance team, take pictures of the property using their smartphones, and pinning those pictures directly to community boards. And, while Zierten definitely recommends pinning original images to Pinterest boards, she also suggested repinning applicable images from other people’s boards. “It’s the polite thing to do, especially if they’re residents,” Zierten said. Additionally, Zierten suggested incorporating Pinterest accounts with Facebook accounts. “This is how you’re going to generate leads,” she said. One way to generate leads through Facebook is to announce Pinterest contests on Facebook feeds. Beyond being a way to increase a social media profile of a community, Zierten said that Pinterest is useful because it could increase a property’s presence online. “Google loves Pinterest!” Zierten said. It is crucial to optimize pins for online search and to get the most repins. One method is to have a call to action in the pin’s description, such as “lease...

Launched in 2010 by Ben Silbermann, Pinterest has established a world record – the fastest website to break the 10 million unique visitor mark. But this viral social site is not only about pinning pretty pictures from your interests on a virtual board. It is also a powerful and intriguing marketing tool for some businesses, including property management companies. We now have the luxury of social media platforms that can cater to specific corporate needs. When it comes to property management, there is nothing more important than branding your property. Houzz.com offers a valuable lesson in this respect – the emphasis on the aesthetic quality of a residence is king on the Internet.  Pinterest throws in great social interaction which can help mobilize products through its “look and share” approach. An important factor here is comprehension of your demographics. If your community has a target market of seniors, you probably don’t need to waste your time with Pinterest. If you’re targeting the 20-40 crowd, pin away. You’ll also need a strategic marketing strategy incorporating SEO keywords. Your content should reflect your company. Create boards for interior design and for furnishing – anything that complements your properties. As long as you produce and repin interesting content, you are bound to generate traffic and attract potential customers. In addition, a property management company should make use of the platform’s video functions. The other value of Pinterest is as a tool for tracking customer trends and preferences. One glance at the site’s main board can offer ideas for redesign and refurbishing your property. Out of touch with what staging providers should be incorporating into your look? Pinterest can bring you up to speed fast. Scouring Pinterest for property management companies that actually understand social media marketing has...