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

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

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

You’re not alone.  However, adoption of smart phones is rapidly growing.  But don’t take my word for it, these numbers speak for themselves: Read More

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

Congratulations to the following Apartments.com customers who were selected as the winners of our March Live Chat contest to receive a new iPad 2! Read More

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

Ok, so it’s not such a shocker, but it’s definitely true that the more you’re online and available with Live Chat, the more renters will start chatting with you to get their questions answered, and hopefully set an appointment to take a tour! Read More

Yesterday, I paid for my coffee with my iPhone.

So you’re thinking, whoop-de-doo for you. I didn’t even think much of it myself. I simply downloaded the latest Starbucks app, coupled it to a gift card I had registered earlier online, and, voila, the $14 left on that gift card was now at my disposal on my phone. The barista scanned the QR-like barcode directly from my phone, which debited the balance on my card. What convenience — other than no longer having to carry a slim gift card in my pocket — did this advance grant me? I can check my balance anytime, which is nice, but, otherwise, not much.

So why is this a bigger deal than even I thought? Read More

While I would like to believe my recent post inspired our friends at Archstone to up their investment in their mobile presence, clearly they have been all over this for a long time.

As the release of their new mobile website and iPhone app for residents demonstrates, Archstone understands that mobility is key to reaching its audience. I tried out the site (to use the app you must prove you’re a resident, which, unfortunately, I am not) and was truly impressed by how fast and easy the site is to use. I was even more impressed by Archstone’s motivation to invest in mobile, as Donald Davidoff explains in his recent blog post: 1. Prospective and current residents are mobile, 2. It improves efficiency and 3. It improves communication. Read More

Are you investing in mobile advertising? Well, someone sure is.

According to an eMarketer study released yesterday, mobile ad spending will be up nearly 80 percent in 2010, to $743 million (which is revised from a $593 million estimate released earlier this year), and in 2011 will top $1 billion. Therefore, says eMarketer, “Mobile has broken through to reach the mainstream of digital advertising.”

This growth is driven by the explosion in smartphone usage. At Apartments.com, visits to our mobile sites have more than doubled year over year and the trend can be traced back to the 2009 holiday season when the proliferation of Android-powered handsets and iPhones, not to mention the steady sales of Blackberries, caused an unmistakable hockey stick-style spike in traffic. Those trends have continued through 2010, and throw in the expected surge in mobile-enabled tablet sales this holiday season, and it’s safe to agree with eMarketer’s assertion that ad spending – which, let’s face it, always follows consumers – in mobile is going mainstream. Read More

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

Part 3 of 3  Read More

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

Part 2 of 3 Read More