The more communication property managers and their residents have, the better, as it usually leads to better, stronger business and personal relationships between both parties. This will make everyone’s living and working experience better and make renters stay for extended periods of time and property managers attentive to their residents’ needs. As communication has gotten so much easier in recent years, using social media to connect the two parties is a logical idea. Below are some ways engaging with renters on social media can be used to create an open line of communication between property managers and their renters on a regular but casual basis.
Set Up Facebook and Twitter Accounts
Property managers should set up Facebook and Twitter accounts for their properties and promote their pages to current and prospective residents. This way, they can leave announcements and updates for renters easily on their pages, which will show up on the news feeds of those who follow the community. These announcements can range between notifications of the power being down for a short about of time during the day to property parties that will be held in the middle of the apartment complex. This can help renters and management form a better sense of community.
Update Everything Regularly
Setting up the aforementioned Facebook and Twitter accounts is only the first step in the whole social media communication process. Property managers should update their page and tweet regularly, ranging from important updates or announcements to even funny videos and sayings, making their presence a part of their residents social media lives. Be wary of doing too much – you don’t want to take over your residents news feeds, but the more you promote the easier it will be to communicate important messages via social media.
Hold Contests
Contests can be held through social media usage around a property as well, encouraging renters to use the social media pages and twitter feeds that have been set up by the property managers. These contests can range from number of times a residents has checked in to their apartment complex in a month on Foursquare or Facebook Places, or how many times they swam in the pool or used the gym. You could also hold a Facebook photo contest, where residents upload pictures of themselves around the apartment complex and the best photo is chosen by the property managers. Winners should get a prize of some kind, ranging from a month of paid bills to gift certificates for restaurants or stores that the property managers award them.
Send Individual Messages
Social media for property managers also allows a non-invasive way for them to check in with renters on a regular basis about maintenance or any questions or concerns they may have, and vice versa. Monitor your property name across all social media channels to be able to answer any questions or complaints that may come in from current or prospective residents. It becomes one more way for the parties to stay in touch beyond email, phone calls or face to face meetings.
How do you use social media to communicate with your residents?
