Get Social

You have heard about Social Media, but what does that cover, and how can you take advantage of it? Here are some of the most popular social media tools, and tips for using them to your advantage. With all social media, the most important thing for you to do is take part in the conversation.

Facebook
The most popular social site, Facebook allows its users to build networks with friends, family, coworkers, and even brands (entertainment, products, and services). Facebookers can share status updates, event invites, photos, videos, play games, and more.
Hints and Tips
-    give updates such as events, anniversaries, maintenance issues
-    invite friends to events (resident parties, open houses, clubs)
-    share photos and videos from around the property
-    create discussions to get feedback
-    promote referral and renewal offers
-    share “What’s Happening” from around town

Apartment Ratings
Love it or (mostly) hate it, it is here and not going away any time soon. This site allows users to share their experiences and opinions about a specific property.
Hints and Tips
-    address negative reviews; try to get information on what happened, what can be done to fix the problem. This shows readers that you do pay attention to residents, and helps to weed out fake/untrue reviews.
-    take action to correct issues, and post the follow-up. To give even more power to the review, if you can get the initial review to follow-up that is even better.
-    make sure to thank those who leave good reviews, do not ignore them. Make sure they know they are appreciated!

Yelp!
A rating site for consumer businesses of all types. Allows users to rate establishments they have visited and share experiences, favorites, promote events, and build networks. Businesses are allowed to take part in the conversation addressing patrons, promoting events and specials.
Hints and Tips
-    claim your property, this allows you to make updates to your listing
-    interact with your residents, similar to Apartment Ratings above, address negative reviews and thank those for positive reviews. More than other rating sites, Yelpers will come back and update their reviews.

Blogs
Widely used platform for sharing experiences, opinions, reviews, and everyday happenings. The best blogs also have very active comment sections in which readers and writes banter about the topic.
Hints and Tips
-    great way to talk about your property in a more conversational tone
-    allows residents to have a voice as guest posters
-    think of it as combining Facebook and a newsletter into one

Twitter
Also referred to as “micro-blogging”, this is a popular way to share updates such as location, articles found, blog postings, and the like. The life of a Twitter update is very short because of the large amounts of connections and updates.
Hints and Tips
-    share event information
-    promote content posted to your other websites
-    address residents and prospects
-    share your outreach activities

FourSquare
Location based mobile application, allows you to let your friends know where you are, and where they should go and what they should do there.
Hints and Tips
-    enter in your location into the database so that people can check in at the property
-    add to-do’s at your property
-    run specials for mayorship and number of check-ins

MySpace
Has been surpassed by Facebook in general popularity, but still widely used by musicians and young teens, at least at the moment.
Hints and Tips
-    Some new restrictions to the music player, which helped MySpace hold onto users, have been recently updated.
-    Offers much of the same functionality for the apartment industry, but may miss the target market (mostly used by those under 18)

Hoot Suite/Tweet Deck
A tool for managing some social networks: Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, Wordpress blogs.
Hints and Tips
-    allows you to manage multiple social media tools
-    time your postings, write multiple postings, and set a time for them to be posted

Email
The original and still most used social media tool. Allows you to reach out to your residents and prospects, and allows them to digest information and respond at their convenience.

RentWiki
Site that allows people to comment and make recommendations about the town/city that apartments are located in.

Ning/Forums/Social Sites
These are sites that build a community were members build reputations, share information, and more. These networks can be private, and can have strong relationships.

Linked In
Facebook for professionals. Profile is generally a resume, and very little personal information is shared.