How to Advertise Your Off-Campus Housing to Students

By Tamiera Vandegrift on February 21, 2017

Students will always be seeking off-campus housing once they find themselves sick of dorm life, which happens more often than you may think. As you probably know, students seek out apartments closer to campus, apartments with affordable rent costs, pet friendly apartments, and apartments that offer a variety of features for students (like recreation centers, gyms, study rooms, swimming pools, etc.)

If your complex offers one or more of those things, then congratulations! You are ahead of the game. If not, that’s totally fine too. Every apartment complex offers something different to students seeking off-campus housing.

With that being said, let’s get one thing straight here. Your apartment complex is definitely the best of the best, but how can we tell students that?

Read on to find out some of the best ways to reach out to students and let them know how sweet their pad will be if they decide to call your complex home.

Image via: www.pexels.com

Social Media

All of the kids use social media these days, so if you can’t beat them, go on and join them! Create social media accounts for your apartment complex and update them regularly with pictures, details about events, and more. This will give your apartment complex a ton of coverage and attention. The residents who already live there will want to spread the word via social media. When they do, be sure to “like,” “share,” and/or comment on what they post. You will likely gain more followers, and residents will be even more likely to share information with their friends.

Some of the best social media websites to use are Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as they each have millions upon millions of users. There are bound to be users who are students seeking a snazzy new apartment to live in.

Image via: www.pexels.com

Easily Accessible Websites

So, here is a true story. I attend Florida State University and I was briefly looking for an apartment to live in near campus. The websites for almost every apartment I looked at were so frustrating. All I wanted to see were pictures of the rooms, but for some reason they could not be found. The websites were almost impossible to navigate and featured very little information. As a result, I ultimately decided to continue living on campus. With that being said, I do not think I’m alone.

Students want to know what they are getting themselves into before signing their name on any apartment complex. Keep your websites updated, easy to use, and visually interesting. Make them colorful and nice to look at! You want your students to think that your complex is fun and great to live in.

You must remember that the first impression students will get will most likely be based off of your website. If your website is unattractive, difficult to navigate, or lacking in pictures, it will be in your best interest to change and update those things for students to explore.

Image via: www.pexels.com

Campus Fairs

It probably goes without saying that one of the best ways to get the attention of college students is to literally visit campuses and spread the word. College campuses are often an excellent forum for advertising of all sorts. Send some ambassadors to table at a well-populated place on campus. Some good locations to think about are spots in front of libraries, near dining halls, and near the student union.

You will have extra brownie points if you choose an animal mascot to sit with you at your table. Students will be more than willing to stop by and say hello if a puppy or kitten is present. Make sure that you obtain a permit from the university to advertise on campus so that your event will not get shut down for any reason (especially if you plan to have an animal mascot). This brings me to my next point.

Image via: www.pixabay.com

Free Swag

You have probably heard the phrase “broke college student” more than once. Well, that is because it is 100 percent accurate. After paying for tuition, textbooks, and other expenses, students’ wallets will be particularly slim.

Do you want to know what will attract them to you? Free stuff! Design t-shirts, water bottles, pens, and more with your brand and logo. You will spread the word to other students and prove that you are a pretty dope apartment complex, as well as will have also encouraged students to spread the word to their friends by having them advertise for you just by wearing or using your product. Every college student will accept free things, so develop your brand and get to dispersing it!

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