This post was originally written by Brandon Hollembeak, Product Manager – Advertising Products & Services

In 2007, one third of mobile subscribers were texting, mobile browsing was practically non-existent, and the iPhone had just been released.  Apartments.com responded with the product Text4Info Messaging, including a customizable keyword that auto-responded with basic property information and a link to the listing on the Apartments.com mobile site. Read More

This post was originally written by Kerry Sugrue, former Social Media Specialist at Apartments.com. 

Earlier today Mark Zuckerberg was joined by Tony Bates, CEO of Skype, for their most recent product announcement.  As I’m sure you can guess from this partnership, Facebook is launching video calling today powered by Skype.  During the Q&A sessions following their live announcement, both Bates and Zuckerberg avoided questions about what’s in it for Skype?  But Bates assured listeners that the long-term partnership outweighs the possibility of losing Skype users to Facebook. Read More

At NAA this year there was a, let’s just say, interesting session on apartment ratings sites that was facilitated by a group of attorneys and featured a mock trial. What was interesting was that while the trial simulated a disgruntled former resident being sued by a wrongfully defamed property, the real indictment was against the rating sites themselves (in particular, ApartmentRatings.com, not-so-cleverly disguised as “ApartmentDestroyer.com” in the mock trial), and, in a larger – and more discouraging – sense, the entire concept of online reviews and ratings.

Last week Google released a free e-book called  Winning the Zero Moment of Truth. I haven’t read it yet (I’m a pretty fast reader, but not that fast), but will, and recommend that you do, too. Because the “ZMOT,” a concept that has actually been around for a few years now, and that Google has a commercial interest in educating you on, is one that very much applies to the multifamily housing industry. The basic premise goes something like this: There are three stages in a typical buying process, starting with the Stimulus (e.g. advertising), followed by the First Moment of Truth, and finally making the purchase. In our industry, the First Moment of Truth (or “FMOT,” a term coined by Proctor & Gamble referring to the first time you see the actual product, usually on a “shelf” next to other competing products) takes place when the prospective renter first visits your leasing office and tours your property. Read More

This post was originally written by Kerry Sugrue, former Social Media Specialist at Apartments.com. 

Here is a behind the scenes look at our trip to Las Vegas for the National Apartment Association Education Conference and Expo. See anyone you know? Read More

This post was originally written by Kerry Sugrue, former Social Media Specialist at Apartments.com. 

What happens in Vegas is SUPPOSED to stay in Vegas, but we had such a great time at the National Apartment Association Conference and Exposition (NAA) last week, we just couldn’t help but share some of it with you all. Read More

If you haven’t had a chance to grab this week’s issue of Crain’s Chicago Business from your local newsstand, be sure to read Rental Boom Sparks Another Boom: Online Listings right here . Featured with Chicago-based Domu, Apartments.com Senior Vice President and General Manager Kevin Doyle weighs in on the future of online rental listings, noting the challenges with driving traffic to a great website.

This post was originally written by Kerry Sugrue, former Social Media Specialist at Apartments.com. 

Walking into the exhibit hall at NAA is like walking into a Home Depot.  It is such a huge, loud space with numbered aisles and busy people running all over the place.  With so much happening, exhibitors have to find a way to grab people’s attention, and they have gotten creative!  Companies have karaoke, video games, signature cocktails, full bars, matching outfits…and even kitties! Read More

This post was originally written by Kerry Sugrue, former Social Media Specialist at Apartments.com. 

We arrived at the National Apartment Association Education Conference and Expo yesterday in the very hot Las Vegas!  This is my first time in Sin City so I was afraid that the lights and spectacles would distract me from really absorbing this whole experience, but I can honestly tell you that they have not.  It has been quite the opposite!  All of the industry experts, booths and events have distracted me from Vegas! Read More

Hailing from coast to coast, the nation’s most fabulous roommates have each made a case for why they are America’s best in the 3rd annual Roommate of the Year Contest! Now that all the entries have been reviewed and the finalists have been selected, Apartments.com is asking America to help weigh in on which lucky roommate will win the Grand Prize of FREE Rent for a Year plus $10,000!

Help decide who will be named the next Roommate of the Year! Check out who is competing for the ultimate roommate glory and remember to read the judging criteria before casting your vote. Read More

This post was originally written by Brandon Hollembeak, Product Manager – Advertising Products & Services

I’ve written before about the importance of having an overall mobile strategy, not just individual campaigns. However, through many conversations regarding how to actually execute that, I feel there’s a clarification that needs to be made to that post that might seem contradictory at first, but will help explain the best way to accomplish it. Read More