For those of us who don't think that social media is "complete B.S. and a waste" it's time to give you another chance to check in with your Twitter, Facebook (professional) and/or LinkedIn accounts.

For ISS:
Twitter: @selfstoragemag
Facebook

OK, your turn!

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John Carlisle
Community Manager, Self-Storage Talk
Virgo Publishing LLC
jcarlisle at vpico dot com
312-623-9395

I'll redo FB after attending Derek's seminar at the Vegas Expo, so until then it's just Twitter.

Twitter @CochraneStorage

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Gina 6k
CochraneStorage dot com
Morgan Hill, California
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!

@FairbornStorage

Well I did it! I changed my FB page and disconnected from my personal. Thank you Gina for being one of our first friends!

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Michelle Dye
Affordable Storage Solutions
www.pueblostoragesolutions.com
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Woops forgot to add the link!

http://www.facebook.com/PuebloStorageSolutions?ref=name

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Michelle Dye
Affordable Storage Solutions
www.pueblostoragesolutions.com
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here is our information:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/selfstoragefind

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/selfstoragefinders?ref=name

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Brian Barwig
Marketing Executive
Self Storage Finders
marketing@selfstoragefinders.com
913-499-8727

We are vendors - not storage facility operators - but our Twitter is @abrusa for anyone interested.

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Burt Abreu
ABRUSA
ABR on Twitter

How do you guys go about getting facebook fans? I set up a Facebook page for us, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. My regional doesn't want to pay for ads. We are a new property (opened one year ago) with only 35% occupancy, and I am new to self storage (hired last month). I am willing to try just about anything but after a year of no profits the company is not willing to invest much. HELP!!!

Hi, astorage. Great question.

I think you'll find your situation is not unique. Many businesses struggle with how to grow their Facebook fans.

Here are my suggestions. They don't cost anything except a few minutes:
- Make sure you display prominently in your lobby that your business is on Facebook (and Twitter or any other social network).
- Taking it a step further, offer small discounts or special offers to people who walk into your office and verify that they are fans of yours on Facebook. Perhaps mention this to some of your existing customers (the good ones) as they come in.
- Mail or e-mail your existing customers and announce that you are on Facebook. Include directions on how to add you as a Fan page. Then, offer some kind of incentive (discount, etc.) Perhaps you can partner with another local business -- restaurant, grocery store or something -- to get discounts from them.
- Make it known that you will announce your specials first on Facebook and Twitter and that they only last for a limited time.

No offense meant because I'm sure your facility is wonderful, but people don't usually just become fans of a business like they would a sports team, a university, a city, or a politician. They will become fans, however, if they have an incentive to do so beyond merely to display it on their profiles.

Sure, you might hand out plenty of discounts, but the return comes when your Facebook fan page spreads virally. Achieving that viral spread of your information is the key.

__________________
John Carlisle
Community Manager, Self-Storage Talk
Virgo Publishing LLC
jcarlisle at vpico dot com
312-623-9395

We are still evaluating Twitter but here is our FaceBook!

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Joel Michalec, IT Manager
Reybold Group of Companies
http://www.ReyboldSelfStorage.com