I wanted to clarify Robs example he provided to Ed from Lake Havasus; it is only showing how thorough his site is indexed by Google and not how it compares/ranks against other sites. Using the "site:" before a website address in a Google search will bring up all indexed pages of the particular website.

I also discourage anyone from using a SEO (Search Engine Optimization) service to increase their rankings at Google and other sites. The fees are outrageous ($1,000's/mo) and there are not guarantees that it will work.

__________________
Michael T. Bishop
StorageLand - Management and Consulting Services
www.storageland.com
sales@storageland.com
208-919-0771 (Local)
877-630-0075 (Toll Free)

Buzz and Jen: Terrific!

__________________
RK Kliebenstein
Leader,
Coast-To-Coast Storage
P: 561.963.4004x81
U: www.askrk.com or www.HowToInvestInSelfStorage.com
E: rk@askrk.com

I too, am spending money for both SEO and Pay per Click consulting, and am happy with the results. One thing I have found, doing it on the cheap can be much more expensive. Sometimes, you have to pay to play. PpC is an investment as much as an expense, both in paying the consultant and in proper bidding. A lot of the success in the natural rankings comes from proper indexing and how the home page is worded. There are many suggestions for increasing your position. I have been burned by several firms that did nothing, and it was a waste of money. When you find a firm you are happy with, STICK WITH THEM!

__________________
RK Kliebenstein
Leader,
Coast-To-Coast Storage
P: 561.963.4004x81
U: www.askrk.com or www.HowToInvestInSelfStorage.com
E: rk@askrk.com

I think the polka band is a great idea. I used to have a local band that stored with us and we used to let them practice on site. They sure did draw a crowd. One of the benefits is that they brought their friends around and we would hand out coupons to the theim for discount rentals. We got several new customers that way. Another thing we did was sponser a community "Garage Sale" and anyone wanting a space would rent the storage unit for a month and each weekend we opened the sale to the general public. That was a big success.

Rose I have been pondering for a while how a Garage sale at a facility would work out. How did you set it up. Did you let current tenants sell stuff as well? Did you market it at all, if so how?

The garage sale idea is an interesting one. I have a tenant that has about 7 unit here. he's hooked on auctions, and he is hosting yard sales out of a 10x20 on sundays. not sure how he's making out yet but i'd be interested to see how you do it as a facility and any ideas that you could offer

I've been reluctant to even have my OWN garage sale near my facility, let alone host one for tenants. I think that many might get the wrong idea as they arrived on site and saw me selling items that looked very much like the ones they are storing....

Although I have room in the street on weekends to allow many tables and parking for a yard sale, I haven't wanted to give people the means to get rid of their stuff and downsize or move out, in addition to how I think it looks to prospective tenants.

I too had a tenant that used 2 very large units to store items that he sold at the flea market on weekends, he was with me for many years. At some point he stopped paying his bill and never came back. We opened 2 units absolutely filled to the 10.5' ceiling with junk that would not sell even at the flea market. Slowly the junk overtook the saleable stuff, to the point the he just walked away and left it all for us to deal with. Now I'm very suspect of flea market types.

We did advertise and put flyers on the storage units doors. For Advertising, we used the local paper, put up signs at grocery stores, put flyers on windsheilds. The whole event lasted 4 weeks, so people also rented units so they had a "home base" from which to sell thier wares. It worked out so well!!!

Opening your property up to the public for yard/garage sales can be very risky. First you have a liability issue if anyone was to get hurt and then it could expose you to future break-ins. It's a great opportunity for anyone to check out your facility and see what is inside other peoples storage units before they come back to cut locks.

In addition I wouldn't want my facility looking like Sanford & Son's rummage store.

__________________
Michael T. Bishop
StorageLand - Management and Consulting Services
www.storageland.com
sales@storageland.com
208-919-0771 (Local)
877-630-0075 (Toll Free)

I guess that is definately a possibility, but then, if someone wants to break in to storage units, their gonna get in no matter what you do to stop them. So, for the exposure to more possible business, we felt the risk was worth it. As well, if someone wanted to "case" the joint, basically, they just have to come in an rent a unit. So either way, the possible new business was what we were looking for and got. But thanks for your input.

Rose