What is your purpose for using Facebook Fan Pages for apartment communities?
Do you know why you’re using a Facebook Fan Page for your community? Is it because an industry professional told you that you should? Or because your competitors are using it?
There is confusion in our industry about the use of social media tools like Facebook. If you don’t know why you’re using Facebook, you should figure it out today. Understanding WHY you are using Facebook is the first step to being successful. Once you have the WHY, you can determine the HOW.
Why is your apartment community using Facebook? Below are 3 great places to start in your search for answers:
1. Mack Collier lists 4 good reasons for using social media tools like Facebook. One of his examples is to provide greater customer service.
This is an excellent reason for creating a Facebook Fan Page for your apartment community! It can also provide you with the opportunity to connect with your residents and incrementally increase your resident retention rates.
2. Jason Falls discusses how good communication takes planning on his blog Social Media Explorer. “You don’t just start Facebook-ing or Twittering. If you do, you won’t get anywhere with them. Why? Because you don’t know where you’re going.”
All too often I see properties using Facebook to promote their next special, and this approach is obviously not working. Broadcasting to your fans will not be an effective use of your time, and you will eventually give up on using Facebook altogether.
3. Amber Naslund, of Altitude Branding, says “The social media strategy you build will be based on your answers to a pile of smart questions about your business and your tolerance for a new approach.”
This is so true, and sometimes it seems like there are more questions than answers. Why is Facebook a good idea for your apartment community? Is your community using Facebook? Why would your residents want to be your friend or your fan on Facebook? Take this opportunity to find some answers. Once you have the answers, it will be much easier for you to determine how you can use Facebook effectively.
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Charity – this series on Facebook is great! It is hard to find good articles that break down what apartment marketers should be doing on Facebook.
Thanks!
Thanks Aimee! And thank you for sharing the links. I’m new at this but I have more coming soon, so stay tuned!