Happy New Year. The big Holiday season is over and we have apartments to rent! It's the slow season, between the holidays and folks waiting to receive their tax returns!

You have a lot on you plate! With so many responsibilities to juggle, you might resist the idea of putting time into posting to Instagram & Facebook.

More than half of the world's population uses social media, according to a study by Backlinko. With approximately 2.6 billion users, Facebook is the world's most popular social media platform. The sheer volume of people on social media means that any business — including your property — can find the customers (or, in this case, residents) you are looking for!

The three biggest benefits of using social media include:

1. Engaging with and retaining residents: By connecting with your residents on social media, you can establish a tight-knit community where residents feel appreciated and welcomed. Happy residents lead to renewed leases & less vacant units.
2. Enticing prospective residents: Studies have shown that prospects will check out properties in their area before visiting them.Today's renters turn to social media to find photos, reviews, & other information about potential new homes. Having a strong social media presence can sway them to schedule that tour & sign that lease.
3. Building your brand: Your branding — which is more than just your logo and your color scheme — can go a long way in attracting new residents & retaining existing ones. People are increasingly looking to do business with companies they feel connected to. Social media gives you the tools to establish & promote what makes your property & community unique.

Just posting available units isn't enough—you've got to draw an audience. Make your content relevant to your current residents by posting announcements, reminders, and social events. You can even arrange an event for the entire neighborhood that gets people talking. A well-publicized barbecue, concert, snowman building contests, or other events can draw in prospective residents and get them following your page. 
Knowing what & when to post for your area & demographic is so important. Responding to EVERY comment is also important. Social Media is supposed to be 'SOCIAL'! Utilizing social media for your community can help inform residents, improve communication, and generate prospects & valuable feedback.