Need ideas to promote my self-storage business.?

Question

I manage a self-storage facility with 500 units. Only 330 of the rooms are occupied. How can I promote my business without spending a lot of money? I've been trying to come up with something unique like an "open house" with food and games for the children, giveaway items, etc. but I would like to get other ideas. Storage seems to have more appeal than it used to and can be a lucrative business. I just need good, new, unique ideas for promoting my location.

Answer 1

WOW,
What an opportunity. You have the answer right there. You have 330 units already rented with people who would love to save on their space. Make flyers, self or have kinkos or someone else do it. Say something like, Bring me a person who signs a contract for a place and receive a week or month free. depends how you normally charge. If you charge 100 a month x1200 a year , and let's say 100 units take you up on this offer you loose $10,000 in free months or week of rent. The up- side, the lost is only once(one month of free rent.). and of course you now have 100 more units rented. 100 times $100 a month = you guessed it $10,000. You really lost nothing and gained 100 more units rented. Suppose only 50 units remained after the month 50 x $100 a month =$5,000, additional money than your current situation and very little expense from you. I would sweeten the deal and offer those that are referred a free week or free month,but of course only if the sign a longer lease. Your customers are always looking for ways to save, they are motivated. Business cards, cheap and cheap to print on the back , 10% discount off of 1st month rent etc, with this card. Give them out to everybody,everybody. Leave them when you pay for dinner or at the cashier at the gas station, post them in apt buildings laundry mats, etc

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Self Storage Marketing Ideas

Answer 4

After hurricane Katrina the number one thing I have seen in new orleans is thos cheap signs all over the place. They are like the "FOR SALE" signs you see in front of peoples' homes. Also, try the newspaper Classifieds. I'm sure there are places there to post your ad. I think a open house will be hard. Probably most of you friends will come out, but not many people will go out of their way to your place of business. no offense. I just think people will come if they need the storage and know about you. Try putting your ad in the back of High School year books ( those kids WIll be moving out), use a simple door magnet for your personal vehicle (not too many words, short and sweet), even promoting at a local fair or community event could be lucrative. Think of who may be a good target demographic. What type of people will use a storage; ie. construction contractors, graduating students, ebay sellers

Answer 5

Think outside the box. What are some benefits of having a storage unit that people don't always realize... I'm sure you've thought of things... I don't know that an open house would be very effective, not too many people would be enraptured by storage units - and you'll spend a lot of energy putting together an event and there are probably few returns. But you can always juice up your advertising efforts: join up with related businesses, moving companies, packing/shipping, real estate, and come up with a joint ad campaign. TV really isn't THAT expensive - especially if you join up with other businesses for a package venture. A joint promotional booklet distributed to the storage-unit-seeking public (i.e., apartment management/rental office and storage units) can direct the flow of traffic to you without blowing your advertising budget.
Call an advertising rep at a marketing firm or from a tv station - they will want to meet with you and even if you don't choose to buy from them right now, they may brainstorm with you and come up with great ideas.
Good luck!

Answer 6

Have managed storage facilities with 1200 units and and small as 50 units. A clean facility always shows well, not having litter on the grounds, doors and paint in good repair, overall a nice looking facility will help draw customers. Monthly specials work out nice, 10% off for the 1st six months, pay for twelve months and get one month free, free lock with rental, 50% off for 1 month for a good referral.
Have a annual flea market or garage sale where the tenants can set up and sell stuff they have been storing and want to get rid of.
Have a little move-in package for people who are moving or down sizing(A roll of packing tape and a Magic Marker).
Never have a dollar move-in special, it is cheaper than the dump and some people will deposit their garbage and leave you stuck with it.

Answer 7

In my area it's hard to find a storage unit. I believe one of the answerers had a good suggestion on the low price if the people would sign up for over two months. I'm not sure about the $1 price though. I thought back on when I had a unit and my memory landed in the month of December and Christmas when I was talking to a friend who also had a unit and who was on a fixed income and they wished that just for December they didn't have to pay due to the holiday. So I would give the month of December free to any new renters who sign a lease or contract. G-Luck.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Well storage facilities usually sell them selves. People either need it or not. The people who need it maybe don't realize it but their garage is filled to the brim.
Fliers with the question, 'Need more storage space?' is a good one with a free, first month fee waived will make them less P.O.'d that you put it on their windshield. You might lose a one month rent but at least you would have a very good percentage stay for the next month garanteed.
Also... a lot of people are having yard sales or thinking about it and are looking in the papers to research yard sale ads. Put your add there. They have a garage full of stuff.

Answer 10

Fliers with information about unit sizes, prices, a/c availability, security, address, phone number, a contact person's name, and a small driving map on the back. Minimal investment if you get a high school student who's handy in graphic design to make them up for you. Make sure you have a picture of yourself or whoever they'll be talking to on the front as well. Order them in bulk and pepper your town with them. Pay a couple kids to ride around on their bikes and put them on people's front doors, hand them out at pta meetings, local sporting events, etc. Strategically placed flier's are very effective at capturing local interest for a business. How many times have you just crumpled up a flier on the windshieild of your car without at least looking at it first, to see if it was a ticket or not? For some reason people give fliers a chance, unlike TV commercials or email; and nobody reads newspapers anymore.