Increasing Resident Participation on Facebook

What methods or techniques does everyone use to increase their "likes" on their property's Facebook page and to encourage and increase participation on your posts?

I've done the e-blasts and the flyer in the move in packet, I need some new ideas!!

I put my pictures up on facebook. I don't have a demo unit, and we pre-lease so we do not have vacant units to show prospects. But by keeping community and unit pictures on our facebook page, prospects are forced to go there to see what our apartments look like.

Hi dear. Try some contests to get residents involved. Throw in a few pets (pet pic contest etc) and you will start to hook em. Consistency and uniqueness is key:) Once you have them hooked, your golden and keep up the good work!

Why are you focusing on likes? Social media is best when authentic and organic. And the research I've read shows no correlation between likes and sales results. I tell my clients to put their time and money where the leads are and let residents do on Facebook what they want to do--not what we wish they would do.

I also put our Facebook information in the move in folder, and mention it during the move in process. We post more than just photos. I also use it to post lost and found items, early closings, holiday hours and resident events, and encourage people to like the page for that reason.
I have attached our sheet to this reply, please use it as template if you like!
Facebook is also a great tool to find your demographic. Using the detailed tabs I know that of the people who like our page, 30% of them are ages 25-35. Knowing your demographic can help you adjust your marketing methods, among other things.

Thank you Christine, this information was helpful.

Donald Davidoff wrote: Why are you focusing on likes? Social media is best when authentic and organic. And the research I've read shows no correlation between likes and sales results. I tell my clients to put their time and money where the leads are and let residents do on Facebook what they want to do--not what we wish they would do.

That is a SUPER Answer! I work with quite a few restaurants & retailers in my business and they think likes are great.. I mention the same thing Donald said, and it is true, there is no correlation between likes and sales.

(I know its and Overly old Post )

Focus on building/growing a Facebook Group for your community, versus a company page. Changes to Facebook last year have given group posts significantly higher news fed visibility than posts by Company Pages. You can also moderate posts, invite/remove residents, etc.

This also helps foster a better sense of community because residents can posts questions, items for sale, etc.

I am currently sending out email blasts, and putting "like" contests on line.