10 Easy Ways To Start The Best Apartment Blog For Your Residents
April 27, 2022 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsThe importance of having an apartment blog is more apparent than ever. There are so many reasons you should start an apartment blog as soon as possible. Reports indicate companies that blog get 55% more website visitors. From better SEO rankings to important information for your residents, it can be precisely what your property needs to go to the next level. If you’re hesitant to start a blog, remember that it’s an investment that pays off in increased engagement and better SEO rankings.
You may be wondering where your community should start when blogging. If you’ve never blogged before, it can seem like a lot. Don’t let the idea of an apartment blog intimidate you. With the right tools and resources, you can create a powerful and beneficial blog for your community.
1 – Hire Professional Writers
If you’re wondering how to start an apartment blog, the first step is to identify your target audience and the topics that will resonate with them. The number one most important thing to keep in mind for your apartment blog is that you need to have professional writers. People who don’t write regularly might craft blogs with spelling errors, bad grammar, and incorrect information. You can spend a lot of time on a blog post, but if you don’t catch those errors, people will bounce.
Good grammar and factual information show you are taking the time to write well. It sounds silly, but good grammar builds trust. If your blog isn’t professional, it will do more damage than good. The art of good writing is more about editing than it is about writing. Skilled writers will make sure that your text is not only engaging, but free of grammatical and spelling errors.
You have to realize that not everyone is a writer, and you need someone who has experience writing influential blogs. Find the right professional writers for your community that can highlight everything great about it. Quality content with good writing will bring more traffic to your site and help convert those leads into leases!
2 – Work with SEO Experts
Search Engine Optimization of the pages on your site is important so that you rank in search results and your prospects can find you. That’s nothing new. But what you might not know is that one of the main benefits of having an apartment blog is the way it boosts your SEO. The better the keywords and content you have, the better your ranking will be.
Having a blog lets you target more keywords than you could otherwise. On an apartment website, there isn’t a lot of room for content, so you’re left targeting only a few keywords. You can still get good results, but a blog is even better. Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness) guidelines are becoming increasingly important for SEO, making it crucial to have authoritative content.
You can highlight local events and attractions, talk about the kind of lifestyle people can expect in your city and neighborhood, and include keywords around those things that give you a broader reach.
For companies like apartments, whose business is all conducted locally, local search marketing is so important. To stand out with local SEO, you need to include the keywords prospects are searching for in your specific area. Find apartment SEO specialists that can help you land on the front page of Google by focusing on those quality, local keywords! If you don’t have writers with SEO experience and strategy, you will miss out on the benefits.
3 – Get Authentic Engagement with User-Generated Content
User-generated content (UGC) is something you may not have heard of before, but it’s one of the best ways to build your community and build trust with your prospects. Consumers trust user-generated content more than traditional advertising. UGC is any form of content (videos, photos, text, audio, etc.), that has been posted by users on online platforms and social media sites, rather than by the business, a content creator, or other professional.
It’s a way for everyday individuals to share their perspectives and experiences of your property with a broader audience. It’s a great way to enhance community engagement in an authentic way and most of all, it helps prospects trust you. They love seeing the experience of your residents and will often base their decision to rent or not on what they say.
How does that apply to a blog? Well, there are a few ways you can get your residents involved in your content creation process. You can host monthly contests that feature photos, videos, or writing about your community or neighborhood. You can encourage residents to share their stories and then feature the best ones on your blog. When residents write reviews or post about how much they love living where they do, see if you can highlight that content on the blog.
On top of that, you can encourage your residents to read and comment on the blog. It’s a great way to increase long-tail keywords that your renters will use naturally, add more depth to the content, and show search engines that your content is fresh and engaging.
4 – Discover Your Niches
Before you dive into blogging, you need to think a bit more about what you want to focus on. Your mind may be racing with a gazillion ideas. Or perhaps you’re having trouble coming up with just one. Maybe your residents will love local lifestyle blogs about restaurants and attractions. On the other hand, your blog could center around resident events or highlights of your community. Maybe they are looking for apartment living tips and how to make the most of where they call home.
Your apartment community will thrive when you use your blog to spotlight the unique amenities and experiences your property offers. Think about what has engaged your residents before. Do they love attending events? What do they respond to on social media? Is there a huge local scene for a certain activity? What’s the general demographic around the neighborhood? Think about your ideal customer, your usual prospects, and your actual renters. What would help them or interest them most?
Don’t worry too much about getting it right immediately. If you’re not getting a huge response, you can always change direction. But, it’s a good idea to start with a plan in mind. Regardless of what you choose, you can be successful with the right team of bloggers behind you.
5 – Get Hyperlocal
Hyperlocal content targets a very specific audience and can really improve your local SEO. It’s a strategy that isn’t used as often, but is super effective. Especially if you’re property is in a big city, targeting keywords about the city and state is probably not enough for you to get noticed.
Getting hyperlocal means you can blog about neighborhood-specific content. You’ll be able to reach an audience that wants to live right where you are. Plus, it’s a really great way to engage with the community around you and build that with other local businesses.
Some great things to write about as you get hyperlocal:
- Review a local cafe that just opened
- Highlight seasonal activities nearby
- Interview a local community leader
- Write about how to get around construction or road closures
- Mention local theatre productions and concerts
These are just a few ideas to get you started, but there are so many more. Think about your favorite things about the neighborhood and what makes you and your residents feel a part of the local lifestyle. Focus on those.
6 – Partner With Local Businesses
This one takes that hyperlocal approach a little further. A blog is a great way to spotlight local businesses in your community while providing your residents with local information and sometimes fun little perks.
Consider reaching out to local businesses who may want to be highlighted on your blog. Try restaurants, coffee shops, yoga studios, art galleries, boutiques, theaters, gyms, vintage shops, amusement parks, and even grocery stores. You get a chance to showcase local businesses that your residents will love, and that local business gets more business! They may even provide your residents with a special discount or offer. It’s a win-win for everyone involved!
7 – Create A Schedule
One of the most important aspects of blogging is to be consistent. It’s nearly impossible to stay on top of blogging without a schedule! If you’ve never written a blog or managed one before, it can be really easy to fall behind. There are countless businesses and people who work hard to start a blog but never follow through.
Before you begin implementing regular posts, define a precise schedule. Brainstorm content ideas and figure out the amount of time you can put into your blog. Plan what content you want to post and when. You can even test which times and days your blogs will get the most traffic, and build a schedule that takes advantage of that. When planning your blog content, make sure to include a mix of articles, how-to guides, and resident testimonials to keep your audience engaged.
Choose to post at intervals that are actually doable. Don’t pressure yourself to get several blogs out a month if that isn’t possible for your team. Consistency is more important than burning out quickly and never posting again. You can always adjust your plan later, but start off with something thoughtful and manageable as you build your blog.
8 – Keep it seasonal
For community engagement, timing is everything. When you plan your community events, you do it seasonally, so why not your blogs?
Seasonal and event-driven content is really timely. It’s highly engaging because it focuses on what is already on your residents’ minds. They are much more likely to read blog posts that offer something valuable that satisfies what they are looking for right now.
Each quarter, make a list of holidays and local events that are happening. Decide what you can highlight or what your residents might be looking for when that time comes. You can write a blog about summer activities in your area or put together a summer leasing guide for apartments. Talk about how to change up apartment decor for the fall or where kids can learn to swim in summer.
The most important thing with seasonal content is making sure you’ve planned ahead and researched the topic or event. You want to post BEFORE they start asking the question, but not so early that the answer isn’t needed. Again, think about what your residents will be interested in each season and focus on that. S
9 – Promote Your Blog
Once your blog is ready to go, let everyone know about it! You can post about it often on your social media and add the link to your social bios. Not to mention, you can also promote the link on local neighborhood pages. Get creative with how you can continually bring more traffic to your blog. The more traffic you have, the more your blog will continue to grow.
10 – Rely On Apartment Marketers
Blogging can be tricky, and you need to have the right experts on your side. Professional apartment marketers can help you find the strategy that works for your property. Every community is different and what your blog needs to be successful might be different from other apartments in your area. You need a team behind you with SEO training that can work to get your blog ranking in search results and being read by renters as soon as possible.
Key Facts and Statistics
The Significance of In-Depth Articles: Research from Backlinko shows that Google’s first-page results average around 1,890 words per article. For blogs focused on apartment living, long-form content isn’t just an SEO booster—it’s an opportunity to delve deep into guides and tips that genuinely benefit your audience. The average time spent writing a blog post has increased to 3.5 hours, emphasizing the need for quality over quantity.
The Power of Local SEO: According to a BrightLocal survey, a staggering 97% of consumers turned to the internet to find local businesses in 2017. With 12% of people doing this daily, honing in on local SEO tactics like hyperlocal content becomes crucial for attracting prospective renters in your region.
The Authenticity of User-Created Content: A Stackla study reveals that consumers consider user-generated content 2.4 times more authentic than brand-produced material. For apartment blogs looking to establish credibility and foster community, integrating resident testimonials or narratives can be a transformative approach.
Publishing Frequency Matters: HubSpot data indicates that businesses churning out over 16 blog posts monthly witness nearly 3.5 times the web traffic compared to those that post between zero to four times a month. Consistency doesn’t mean compromising on quality, but rather it amplifies your blog’s reach and subsequently, your apartment’s online profile.
Why Mobile-Friendliness Is Essential: Google’s mobile-first indexing has become an integral part of today’s SEO game plan. A Statista research highlights that, as of Q2 2020, mobile devices accounted for 51.53% of all web traffic, not including tablets. Therefore, optimizing your apartment blog for mobile use is not just a good practice—it’s a necessity for maximum reach and impact.
Mistakes to Avoid When Starting an Apartment Blog
Over-Promoting Your Amenities
Indeed, your facilities are impressive, but if all you discuss is your cutting-edge gym or the rooftop garden, your audience will disengage. The secret lies in moderation. Incorporate content that enhances your residents’ day-to-day lives, such as community updates, safety recommendations, or simple recipes. By doing so, you contribute more than just a sales pitch; you offer genuine value.
Ignoring Resident Contributions
You may believe you understand your residents’ needs, yet have you ever actually consulted them? Overlooking their feedback is bypassing a chance for real connection. Think about launching a brief survey or implementing a suggestion box on your blog to collect ideas for upcoming posts. This creates a mutually beneficial scenario: you gain insights into content, and your residents feel acknowledged. A strong management-tenant relationship is vital for fostering a sense of community and ensuring prompt responses to maintenance and other resident needs
Inconsistent Branding
Your blog isn’t just an isolated endeavor; it’s an integral part of your apartment community. Inconsistencies in branding elements, such as tone or visuals, can muddle your message and weaken your brand. Ensure that your community blog seamlessly integrates with your existing branding guidelines, whether it’s the color palette or the style of language.
Not Addressing Local Issues
Your blog is an excellent channel for discussing local matters that affect your residents, such as forthcoming construction projects or updates to local laws. Neglecting these subjects means missing the chance to make your blog a trusted source for community-focused information.
Lack of Crisis Communication Plan
In the event of emergencies like a building fire or an unexpected water shutdown, your blog can act as a dependable source of information. The absence of a crisis communication strategy could leave your residents uninformed at critical times.
Work with apartment blog experts today!
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Categorised in: Apartment Marketing
This post was written by Isabella Housel
Isabella Housel is a passionate and versatile professional writer with a deep love for words and a commitment to crafting compelling content that engages, informs, and inspires. With many years of experience in the industry, she has honed her skills across various genres, from creative storytelling to informative articles and technical documentation.