A few days ago Facebook announced that they would be stepping into the search engine arena by releasing an experience that delivers personalized answers to your questions. It’s called Facebook Graph Search, and I want to point out immediately that Facebook Graph Search is not entirely a search engine the way Google is. However, Graph Search will incorporate Bing search results when relevant – more on that later.

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This fall, Apartments.com is again raising awareness and taking action with a Campaign to Help End Homelessness and renters across the country are helping. Throughout the month of November, we will donate $1 for every new Like on our Facebook page, in an effort to raise up to $25,000 equally benefiting People Serving People of Minneapolis, MN and Vogel Alcove of Dallas, TX.

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We hear it all the time – I just don’t have the time or energy to stay current with Google or I don’t know the first thing about Facebook marketing, or worst yet, I have a website, that’s all I need to do.

While my post will touch on the latter two points, I am not here to endorse Facebook or scold you for abandoning your website like a bad habit. My goal is to provide you with easy-to-implement pointers on how to build a solid yet simple website that is both search-engine and user friendly without making your web developer burn the midnight oil. Let’s dive right in. Read More

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

With social media constantly changing, it can seem like the options are endless, so where do you start?  Look no further!  Here are 25 things you should be doing with social media right now: Read More

The social media panel discussion I participated in at the 2012 TransUnion Property Management Summit last week in Denver was astonishing for what did and didn’t happen.  What did happen: The audience of multifamily professionals seemed surprisingly – if not a tiny bit begrudgingly – accepting of property ratings and reviews. They’re here to stay and there’s nothing we can do to stop it, was the prevailing attitude.  Begrudging acceptance will never be confused with warm embrace, but what I witnessed was a giant leap from the outright resistance prevalent in the industry up until now.

And that’s a good thing.  There’s plenty of research indicating how important reviews are in making a big purchasing decision, and there’s none bigger than deciding where to live. Read More

This week the staff at Apartments.com paid a visit to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless to present them with a check for $15,000 to culminate “Raising Awareness.  Taking Action: A Campaign to Help End Homelessness.”  During the two-month campaign, kicking off in November to coincide with National Homeless Awareness Month, Apartments.com promised to donate $1 to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless for every Like we received on our Facebook page.  While we are so pleased to announce over 6,000 Facebook Likes were earned in response to this important initiative, the team at Apartments.com wanted to go above and beyond the number of Likes and present this well-deserving organization with a check for $15,000.

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

Back in January 2011, Facebook introduced their newest advertising product; Sponsored Stories.  These ads, which live on the right hand column of Facebook, use people’s friends to endorse a brand and encourage them to engage as well.  For example, let’s say I Like Apartments.com on Facebook and then I write a status update that says “Searching for my new apartment on Apartments.com!”  If Apartments.com has purchased Sponsored Story advertising, my status update, along with the brand, can be promoted to my friends. Essentially, Apartments.com would be using me as their brand advocate to my network on Facebook. Read More

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

They have been talking about it for a while, but Facebook Timeline is officially launching.  This new view for profiles takes your life and puts it into; you guessed it, a timeline layout.  There are a lot of people asking why all the changes and can’t Facebook leave good enough alone?  It’s about providing a more user-friendly experience, said Kate Aronowitz, director of user experience and design for Facebook, in an interview yesterday morning.  Using the right hand control, users can quickly scroll through events, friends, photos, wall posts and more from any year in their life.  Although Facebook wasn’t around in 1970 (come to think of it, Zuckerberg wasn’t even around then), users can upload photos from that year to truly create a timeline of their life. Read More

During a special Thanksgiving episode of Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers, Apartments.com is recognized as an official life changer for donating Free Rent for a Year to the King family.  Burdened by financial hardships, the family of four (with a baby on the way) have been living out of a motel for almost four years.  Watch now  to see how the King’s lives will change for the better by receiving a  gift from an Apartments.com representative, Dick Burke, in this touching segment, sure to tug on the heart strings. 

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Although it’s not always top of mind, homelessness is everywhere.  On my morning run, I pass the man singing My Girl.  On my way out the door, I see the woman selling newspapers outside the grocery store and then the man who sits just outside of the train station every morning, wishing everyone who passes by a wonderful day.  That’s already three people affected by homelessness and I’ve only gone a few blocks from my apartment. 

Volunteering is a passion of mine but what can I possibly do for someone living on the street?  Lucky for me, I work at one of the greatest companies;  Apartments.com.   From helping families in need through the Ellen DeGeneres Show, to the Campaign to Help End Homelessness, I’m thankful to work for a company that gives back and really cares.  You can join us in the fight against homelessness.  Here are some ways you can replicate the efforts and make a difference in your community:  Read More