What is the best way to advertise to students for off campus housing?

From my latest survey of 31 students, 70% found their housing by word of mouth, 16% on places4students and 10% on Facebook.

So, assuming Word-of Mouth is key to reaching students, it seems good to improve that. Any ideas how to do it?

My company name is Brunswick Student Housing, and if you google the exact name it comes up, but not if you google the university name and “off campus housing”. I’m wondering if it’s worth it to try and get move on-line visibility. What do you think? Thanks - Bill

Random data point: when I google for "Rutgers University off campus housing", my first results, in order, are--

(ad) rentcollegepads

(ad) ruliving

(ad) thestandardnewbrunswick.landmark-properties.

ruoffcampus.rutgers (which refers to places4students)

places4students

rentcollegepads

ruliving

adobo

apartments

forrentuniversity

homes

apartmentfinder

thestandardnewbrunswick.landmark-properties.

Going to the second page of results, it's not too useful.

(ad) ruliving

(ad) thestandardnewbrunswick.landmark-properties.

apartmentlist

rucampus

FB (Rutgers Off Campus Housing)

afito

2 Killed, 6 Hurt in Shooting At Home Near Rutgers Off-Campus

verve

perchn

ratemyapartments

collegestudentapartments

rutgers.uloop.

(ad) afito

Thanks for that Robert J, I’ve been meaning to get in touch with a teaching hospital down the block from my rental, and now is the time.

Good idea still learning. The college has an off-campus housing office. It wouldn’t hurt to give them a call. And also the clubs. I live close to the school of the arts and I get a lot of performers living at my houses. I never gave an effort though, so I’m gona give it a try.

Yes, Nicole, my 19 year old son does well studying computer science, so this would be a nice hands on project for him. His class ends in two minutes and we're gona have a talk :-)

BillW,

I don't have student housing but I did pay for a lot of it with 3 kids over their 15 years of college.

Your answer is in the stats. Your best investment is promoting what works easiest: word of mouth. Offer them referral fees, discounts, whatever to bring their friends.

Online presence is a given, expected, and should ALWAYS be there, Basic Business 101. Even the word of mouth people want to see what their friends are talking about.

AND Mom and Dad want to see too.

AND it gives you a tool to receive applications and deposits.

Online is soooo easy and free now. Get one of those students to set you up.

Thanks, BRAD, for sharing your thoughts. I never did, but I’m gona see how I can implement some of those word of mouth incentives.

Just the other day a student was telling me how she and her parents were looking at my website and had a good feeling reading one of the testimonials of a previous parent and seeing the home’s amenities. But as Deanna pointed out, if you search on a common search term for off campus housing, my website is nowhere to be found. I’m at a loss how to find someone I trust to work on my website and get me up in the searches. My son is smart and capable, but not experienced in this area. Actually, my son and daughter made my website, but I don’t think they were thinking of optimizing for search engines.

Well, thanks again and hope you have a great holiday, safe with your family. - Bill

Do you know if Open Houses will be happening next year?

Maybe you can get a schedule, come and give a parents some of your flyers?

Libi, I think in my area, landlords do open houses when they want, I don't believe there's any city wide day for that.