In line with Mikes recent posts and ramblings, here are some thoughts….. Based on the success of Craig’s List, MySpace, FaceBook, and others and now maybe Twitter to produce an actual rental, why are we paying for online lease advertisements, let alone leads. The Free Sites really aren’t free; because you have to employ someone who can write good copy, take great pictures, and is tech savvy. It seems as though most Craig’s List ads may be pushed off to the Property Manager to do, which may be a mistake. Great copy that makes your ad stand out against the other 400-500 ads placed that day should be done by an experienced copy writer. You likely have a blogger or creative type living in your complex that you could freelance farm this task out too and also create some additional resident connection.

Think about this, what if a company did such a good job with Digital Marketing and Brand Awareness , and got their url out there so much that they popped up high on any search list, and worked the free sites and dropped ALL paid ads, and redeployed all or part of their ad budget on cementing their brand or on a special digital marketing idea. Some would say that may be a disaster, will not work, and on and on.

Perhaps a bit radical, but that is exactly what we intend to do at Urbane; we are dropping all paid advertising. We have never really done any print ads, but we are on multiple internet sites, but we intend to experiment with this idea. We plan to redeploy the advertising funds used on internet ads to create a completely digital leasing agent and centralized leasing center. More to follow on this idea if you have interest. We will keep you posted on our experience, traffic fluctuations (what if there weren’t any?) and the success or failure of these new and innovative ideas. The ideas and details of our proposed Digital Leasing Consultant to follow……., stay tuned!

This is one of two posts I am putting up. Disclosure: I worked for EQR for 9 years and love the company like no other. If not for personal reasons and provided my performance did not trail off I would still be there today.

I say that to say this, I believe in Sam and his efforts in real estate. He knocked several home runs in several segments of the market place and is now expanding his empire overseas.

But this newspaper thing. I have to say, it boggles me. Now we are turning to radio to revive newspaper.

We live in consumer controlled media environment with options and controls growing everyday and in every way. Guess what if I want to ignore you, I TIVO, I read RSS feeds, I listen to Satellite radio.

How is radio going to solve the newspaper problem.

Here is my suggestion. Get your Clear Channel execs to go live with 1000 Gen Y consumers and study how they interact with media.

By all means listen to what they have to say, watch what they do and by further means do what they say. Guess why. They are your consumer.

Consumers are not idiots anymore Sam, they are your fellow Zell’s Angels children and grandchildren and they don’t read newspapers.

Hey but that is just one man’s opinion.

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