How Multifamily Marketers Can Make the Most of Social Media Engagements

Members of Gen Z, or these born between 1996 and 2010, are amongst the most subtle demographic cohorts but. They are well-educated, extraordinarily tech-savvy, inquisitive and extra numerous than earlier generations—and are already getting into the condominium market.

READ ALSO: So Long, Geriatric Millennials. Hello, Gen Z: Meet Your New Renters

Seen as the solely true digital native technology, who has no reminiscence of life earlier than screens or smartphones, Gen Z members can’t go with out Wi-Fi entry for quite a lot of hours. Being related to the digital world is a large half of their lives.
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In truth, 94 p.c of Gen Zers surveyed by the National Apartment Association late final yr indicated that web connection inside the condominium can be a major issue when looking for a spot to name dwelling. Furthermore, youth market analysis agency YPulse’s current Social Media Behavior report discovered that Gen Z members spend a mean of 4.5 hours per day on social media. With that in thoughts, multifamily operators must know the right way to interact with this cohort to lure them into their communities.
Social media platforms are a extremely accessible strategy to captivate Gen Z renters’ curiosity, discover out their preferences and, finally, cater to their wants. Image by Gerd Altmann by way of Pixabay.com
Social media technique
Marketing consultants agree that each one social media platforms Gen Zers use are a extremely accessible strategy to captivate their curiosity, discover out their preferences and, finally, cater to their wants.
“From driving prospects to your property or your property’s web site, to complementing any type of paid advertising, a complete social media posting technique will broaden your attain. With so many extra folks being on-line throughout the pandemic, you might have direct and distinctive channels proper to prospects,” Jacqueline McGuan, advertising specialist with RENTCafé Reach at Yardi, instructed Multi-Housing News.
One of the greatest advantages of utilizing social media for multifamily is that it’s a two-way communication car. Social media doesn’t solely grant you entry to an unlimited viewers, but it surely additionally permits the viewers to share their feedback and ideas with you—with the additional benefit which you could instantly see how folks react and calibrate your messaging accordingly.
“From a advertising perspective, social media can provide a free, easy-to-use, always-on platform to achieve your goal buyer. Our telephones are all the time in our palms and we’re continuously scrolling throughout any idle time in our day,” mentioned Yanzel Daskalakis, advertising supervisor at Downtown Apartment Co., a brokerage firm specializing in luxurious residential properties in Chicago. “There is little question that social media posts generate leads, and we’ve additionally been capable of shut just a few of them at zero advertising price, so the ROI is demonstrably there.”
DAC works with greater than 200 condominium buildings, inserting 1000’s of folks in new houses annually. During the pandemic, the firm’s social media channels proved their immense worth. FaceTime condominium excursions had been significantly in style amongst Gen Z renters, as a result of they’ll schedule the excursions at their comfort and expertise them from the consolation of their sofa.
“In normal, (Gen Z renters) are extra snug with signing a lease for an condominium that they’ve solely seen on-line,” Daskalakis instructed MHN.
Are you on TikTok?
Reaching Gen Z members in ways in which resonate with them means figuring out the ins and outs of their most well-liked communication channels—and TikTok is undoubtedly the shining star of all on-line platforms. The app is especially in style amongst Gen Zers attributable to an algorithm that’s based mostly on person interplay.
One of the finest options of TikTok is that the majority branded content material is tough to differentiate from content material created by common customers, which provides manufacturers the alternative to have interaction with their viewers in enjoyable and artistic methods.
TikTok is the place corporations ought to be investing most of their efforts to seize the Gen Z market, in accordance with Jimmy Vetrano, senior social media marketing consultant with Taylor Johnson.
The technique is already paying off for Common, Real property dealer excursions, for instance, are large on TikTok lately, Raleigh Norris, supervisor of content material and social media for the firm, instructed MHN.
“We’re capable of create our personal distinctive model of these viral dealer movies by detailed excursions executed by our in-house leasing specialists, on the floor, in our 10 cities,” Norris mentioned. Insights from the platform present that this technology is certainly excited by condominium excursions, metropolis overviews and extra.

READ ALSO: Multifamily Marketing’s New Hot Tool: TikTok

TikTok is about creating movies which have the potential to go viral, so multifamily operators want to ensure they’re not off-brand when posting on this platform. Furthermore, TikTok requires a well-thought-out and executed advertising plan, as content material can come off as disingenuous, in accordance with Bekkah Doyle, advertising specialist with RENTCafé Reach at Yardi.
“For properties that don’t have the useful resource to create these varieties of movies, I’d counsel Instagram. It will nonetheless hit the Gen Z audience whereas additionally not being so demanding on the property in phrases of content material creation,” Doyle mentioned. TikTok dances, for instance—if not executed properly—would have an unintended destructive impression.
It’s essential to have interaction with Gen Z renters by way of platforms that they’re snug with, akin to TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. Image by John Schnobrich by way of Unsplash.com
Gen Z-focused content material
Gen Z spends extra time on a cell gadget than some other technology, so the best strategy to interact with them is thru Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook or Twitch. But what do you have to publish about to talk Gen Z renters’ language?
In addition to showcasing the on-line and digital choices that enchantment to youthful audiences, some corporations use social media to focus on group involvement, akin to partnerships with native companies or charity actions.
“The extra casual tone we use on social media can also be supposed to encourage communication and assist develop that customized really feel for our social media followers, exhibiting that we care about them and wish to hear from them,” Megan Davidson, advertising analyst with Pangea Properties, instructed MHN.
Social media posts focusing on Gen Zers ought to function fashionable objects in the group or neighborhood akin to native artwork pop-ups or in style eateries. Other posts may give attention to resident testimonials, in accordance with Doyle, as youthful audiences place nice worth on on-line evaluations earlier than making a purchase order. Last however not least, Gen Z members have an urge for food for behind-the-scenes content material, Norris added.
Working with well-crafted posting schedules is important for social media advertising. While the pandemic has altered the time folks sometimes scroll by their telephones—it was throughout commutes, lunch breaks or in the night—you must nonetheless ensure you publish usually with a view to keep top-of-mind with renters, even once they’re not looking for an condominium.
“We all the time inform purchasers to deal with their social media profile as if it was a brick-and-mortar retailer. For instance, in case your bodily retailer appeared uncared for and unkept … prospects would stroll proper previous it and go to a competitor’s location that appears inviting, actively maintained and fascinating. The identical precept applies to social media,” Vetrano mentioned.
In different phrases, if a possible renter sees you’re not keen to take care of your social media platforms, they’re more likely to assume: ‘What else are you not sustaining?’, Vetrano defined. “Proactively addressing this level is pivotal when selling residential models.”
Find influencers which have a follower base that’s related to your advertising targets and particular geographic market. Image by Jakob Owens on Unsplash.com
Social media influencers: Yay or Nay?
Constantly posting recent content material on social media signifies that it’s worthwhile to be artistic virtually 24/7. Some multifamily operators have taken half of this burden off their shoulders by partnering with social media influencers.
While this may make a dent in the advertising price range, it will also be an vital element of your social media technique. Influencers can encourage and educate their followers whereas selling a selected life-style, however they will even anticipate applicable compensation for the companies they supply.

READ ALSO: Powering Your Marketing Strategy With Micro-Influencers

Partnering with micro-influencers in native markets is a distinct story. Although they may have fewer followers, they are often extra related. Pangea, for instance, is simply lively in Chicago, Indianapolis and Baltimore, so it wouldn’t make sense for the firm to companion with a big influencer with thousands and thousands of followers who don’t dwell in these metros.
“I can undoubtedly see extra area of interest influencers turning into a much bigger half of multifamily social media methods over the subsequent few years as the youthful Gen Zers begin renting and the technology turns into a bigger bracket in the total audience for multifamily operators,” Davidson mentioned.
The secret’s to search out influencers which have a follower base that’s related to your advertising targets and particular geographic market, in accordance with Vetrano. These influencers ought to give you the option and keen to supply content material that reveals your model in a optimistic mild, all whereas having the ability to present metrics following a marketing campaign to correctly assess your ROI.
And whereas micro-influencers are on the rise as a result of they’re thought of reliable and genuine, it could possibly be troublesome for multifamily operators to evaluate their ROI.
A more practical advertising technique, in accordance with McGuan, is to lean on residents or people who find themselves organically associated to what you’re sharing—however take into account that Gen Z prioritizes trusted data sources they usually can simply spot advertising ploys.
Read the MHN 2021 Midyear Guide.