Thread: Marketing in the neighborhood

I've been out marketing to local businesses, apartment complexes, etc., but we are a small community. I've run out of new places to go and try not to be a pest in re-visiting my contacts too often.

Any ideas?

thx

Can you branch out into neighboring towns?

Good idea, thanks. But we're pretty rural here and the neighboring towns are not actually in our market. Maybe there just isn't an answer for this and I've done what I can do....

I did the same thing. We are in a very small town and I visited each real estate office and apartment complex. Our nearest town is in a different county and certainly not in our market. I too hate to 'bug' them so I've instead made my presence well known at our chamber meetings. I get to see all the same folks anyway and my goal is to make my friendy face the one they think of when one of their customers need storage. I usually take tic tacs or suckers or something with our discount cards attached. This way I don't have to bug them but they still can't forget me!

Thanks, Melissa. In a way, it's good to know I'm not the only one with this problem! I like your idea and think that's what is going to work for me. Thanks again.

We are, also, in a very small town. We have found that the best marketing tool is us. We take part in everything that happens here that we are able to attend. We are in Chamber (a waste of time, actually), and the Cashiers Valley Merchants Association. We shop locally, and go to the local restaurants. We try to support all of the local businesses and organizations. We donate to Rotary, Blue Ridge School, and anything else that we can. The point of all of this is that the town knows us, knows this facility, and knows the service we provide to the community. In a town of 1400, this seems to be the best way to market.

Don't forget to advertise for seasonal storage needs (ie. winter equipment, summer landscaping equipment and toys) Also, think of unique uses for the storage and push that. I had a friend advertise his storage units as places for bands to practice!

Wow, some great ideas, thanks. I do a lot of the community involvement, but I can work on that more, instead of just getting out and marketing. A place for bands to practice...hm-m. I can run with that, just need to "think outside the box." I'll let you know how things go!

We are located in an industrial area south of the town proper and have lots of competition and coming up with new marketing ideas can be frustrating!

At the ISS Vegas show, Tom Litton had a very clever idea of using a small box and putting a flyer on it as a free gift from (insert company name here) and when the potential customer called to find out why they had received a free gift, Tom said that his manager told them to fill the box up and when they ran out of storage space, to call them for storage. I thought this was a clever idea and am planning on canvasing a local neighborhood once it warms up!
I also had a tenant flea market today, invited all the tenants to participate and had a local Lions Club do a pancake breakfast. We had close to 200 people here throughout the day and rented 6 new units!
I also do a lot in the community. I volunteer for Chamber Events and am co-hosting an after-hours. Started a networking group that meets at my facility.
Sorry if I'm rambling! Been here since 5AM!
The point I think I'm trying to make is, Never give up! Just try a new direction!

Michelle:

I love the tie in with the Lions Club breakfast and your flea market. Anytime you can rent 6 units in a single day is a Winning Promotion. Way to go. Starting a networking club may not be for everyone, but it does get folks to see your storage facility as a part of the business community.

MisterJim444