Posts filed under 'Marketing & Ad Campaigns'
Extra Space has launched a new marketing partnership with Upromise, Inc., the largest private source of college funding contributions in America.
Now, Upromise members can earn college savings rewards with every qualifying purchase made at Extra Space Storage.
“Extra Space Storage is proud to offer our customers a new partnership with Upromise,” said Buck Brown, SVP Marketing at Extra Space Storage.
“Whether they’re storing with Extra Space because they’re moving, experiencing a major life change, or using storage for business purposes, the Upromise affiliation allows us to continually reward our customers, because the longer they stay, the more they earn for education.”
Extra Space Storage will contribute 2% of rental fees and supplies to Upromise members’ accounts, helping customers save for a college education. Members who make an eligible purchase with Extra Space Storage using a credit or debit card registered with Upromise will receive a 2% contribution in to their Upromise account.
Upromise members join free and can earn money for college while making everyday purchases of hundreds of products and services. Many of America’s leading brands participate in the service by contributing 1-25% of eligible purchases back to Upromise members as college savings rewards.
I like this as a marketing tool, especially in this economy. Just think about it. Folks are concerned about how they are going to pay their bills. With college costs rising, this is a way for Extra Space to show that it cares about the future of our nation.
Right now, Extra Space is the only self-storage company currently participating in Upromise. I wonder who will be next?
September 25th, 2008
The first of its kind, green self storage facility in North Carolina has begun generating its electrical needs using solar photovoltaic panels. If this isn’t a marketing opportunity, I don’t know what is.
Following in the footsteps of national businesses like Whole Foods and Toyota, Security Self Storage is addressing consumer’s growing demand for eco-friendly services. While manufactured products such as hybrid cars are now becoming common, some service businesses with no obvious connection to the environment are also at the forefront of the “green movement.”
Security Self Storage, a locally owned storage company with seven locations throughout the Triangle is passionate about alternative energy, and they wanted to use the sunny space of their self storage facilities to generate green power.
This is brilliant — and it’s great for the environment. There are a million and one ways to market this facility, get the attention of investors, and perpetuate this business model. I’d love to hear what is in store for this eco-friendly facility from a marketing standpoint. With a story line like this, it should be plastered across industries and even nations through storng marketing, promotions and public relations efforts, as well as web initiatives.
September 25th, 2008
We can all agree that rising costs and faltering economy have led some businesses to get creative in meeting their office and warehouse needs. But did you know self-storage is one of the beneficiaries?The Honolulu Star Bulletin reports:
While running a business from a self-storage unit might have seemed odd a few years back, it’s increasingly becoming the new norm. Storage units used to be used primarily for keeping residential junk, but not anymore. Now, there are operating offices, industrial warehouses and museum space tucked among the old cars, kayaks and surfing gear, and overflow junk.
The story goes on to talk about how self-storage is skyrocketing even as other sectors of Hawaii’s economy are slowing. I submit to you that this can be a trend in the lower 48, too, if self-storage operators will get on the marketing stick.
Economic challenges are really opportunities in disguise for savvy-minded operators. It’s a matter of finding your niche, spinning your self-storage web, and getting the word out. Dare to be different!
September 9th, 2008
Who says self-storage properties aren’t selling? CB Richard Ellis just arranged the sale of two self-storage facilities totaling 1,438 units in Norwalk and Virginia Beach, Va., for $14 million.
Burnette Development, the seller, was represented in by Michael Howard, Steve Hryszko and Hal Yuill of CBRE’s Norwalk office. The two Class A properties contain a combined 170,000 square feet and sold for $82.35 per square foot.
Class A properties are still in demand. Keeping a good marketing campaign running, including a website and on-site marketing, can help you portray the best image for your facility in the eyes of investors.
August 26th, 2008
You may not know this, but I’m the co-author of Web Analytics For Dummies. I am also co-owner of Conversion Press, as well as a marketing communications firm.
Can I be blunt? I think self-storage industry service providers, facilities, vendors, et. al. are losing a great opportunity to do more business through the Web. That’s because many of the web sites are old, outdated, and don’t adhere to Conversion Design principles that lead customers not just to visit the site, but also to take the action you desire to take.
I beseech you, self-storage brethren, to come talk to us about your web site needs for two good reasons: the money you are losing and the money you could be making. I don’t usually use this blog to pitch our services, but I’ve broken my own rules because this is so vital and so misunderstood, and it’s making the industry look mediocre. We have beautiful properties and not-so-beautiful web sites.
Together, we can get you a self-storage web site that looks good, that performs well, that drives revenues from self-storage Internet marketing and Internet advertising initiatives and that puts a smile on your face as you run to the bank.
March 11th, 2008
Selfstoragedeals.com launched a program to charge self-storage facilities a discounted fee for leads, and a flat “Pay Per Move In” rate when the lead results in an actual client. “Some self storage facilities were concerned about buying leads without testing the quality first,” said Colin O’Brien Lead Salesman for Selfstoragedeals.com. “So to soften the blow, we are now offering them the option to pay heavily discounted rates for leads, and then a flat fee when a lead results in a move in.”
Leveraging the Internet is the right way for the self-storage industry to go. I’m not sure why we don’t see more of it. This is clearly the future and those who become familiar with the ways of the Net today will be positioned for today and the future. I am not specifically endorsing this site as I have not used it, but many people have and it’s worth checking into.
The website creates sales leads by allowing potential customers to log on and fill out a self storage quote request form. In this form customers specify the needed self storage unit size and the storage start date. Once the potential customer has entered their contact and location information, the website instantly forwards the lead to the storage facility that services the zip code specified.
Click here to visit the site.
August 15th, 2007
There’s plenty of opportunity for self-storage facilities among the boating market. Whether it’s in the ocean or on a lake, every summer millions of boating enthusiasts take to the water for as long as daylight is available.
The opportunity arises, in part, because many cities and towns have passed ordinances saying that bulky vehicles like boats must be hidden behind a 7-foot fence so that they’re not visible in driveways or streets. However, a mandate like that leaves boat owners in a lurch. And with more people looking into the purchase of boats, the problem of storage will only get worse.
“If your facility is on the way to the lake, you’ve got a great opportunity with boat storage,” said Dean Brown, president of American Steel Buildings. “Boat owners can’t store at home. Docks are convenient, but they’re pricy and there’s limited space. A steel or metal building for boat storage could be the best of both worlds.”
According to Brown, boat storage isn’t too different from regular self-storage, and may even be easier in some cases. A nice boat can cost around $50,000 or more, so boat owners are going to be willing to pay well and on time for good storage and peace of mind.
“You can even offer little extras for the boat owners,” Brown said. “Give them easy hook-up, where all they have to do is call ahead and you’ll bring the boat out for them. Make sure you have security cameras in the facility and a guard on premises. That will help your customers feel like they’re getting more than their money’s worth.”
A boat storage facility can also offer protection from the elements, which boat owners would be unable to get at home with just a tarp to protect their investment. Although some clients might hesitate to lose the chance at an easy-access spot at the docks, Brown suggests offering 24-hour access to your storage facility so they won’t feel any inconvenience.
“Recreational boating is a big deal,” said Brown. “And as long as it continues, people will need a place to store their boats when they’re not using them. That’s a niche we can fill.”
Brown is correct. But like I always say, just because you build it doesn’t mean the boaters will come in droves. You have to get the word out about your new product in order to fill your facility with boating-related revenues.
July 31st, 2007
OB Companies/Simply Self Storage is putting INSOMNIAC kiosks in several shopping malls across the country. The kiosks have been specially designed in conjunction with Simply Self Storage and will feature eye-catching signage to draw consumers to the self-service kiosk.
Simply Self Storage’s first INSOMNIAC kiosk was installed this month at its brand new state-of-the-art facility featuring three stories of heated and cooled units at University Mall in Pensacola, Florida. The second kiosk will be installed in August inside Castleton Square mall in Indianapolis, Indiana where Simply Self Storage is just finishing up completion of its newest facility. Both self-storage facilities are located adjacent to the malls and are joint ventures with Simon Property Group, an S&P 500 company and the largest publicly-traded U.S. real estate company.
“We believe shop owners and mall visitors alike will enjoy the self-service convenience of being able to rent storage units using INSOMNIAC,” said Kerry Richard, Vice President of Operations for OB Companies/Simply Self Storage. “We see locating INSOMNIAC kiosks inside malls as a key ingredient to our success in capturing new customers for our mall storage properties. We’ve been really impressed with INSOMNIAC and the OpenTech team and look forward to using the kiosk at other properties in our ever-expanding portfolio.”
This is a brilliant marketing strategy. The kiosks are a winner, but putting them in malls is really thinking outside the box. This is the kind of thinking that will take the self-storage industry’s reputation to the next level.
July 27th, 2007
There are more than 30 million RVs on U.S. highways. Unfortunately, there are no places to store them. Many cities and towns have passed ordinances against keeping RVs in driveways or parked on streets, leaving RV enthusiasts in a lurch. And with more people looking into the purchase of RVs, the problem of storage will only get worse.Because of this, a growing number of RV owners are looking to self-storage steel and metal buildings to keep their recreational vehicle safe, sound and out of the way.
“RV storage is a huge problem for RV owners, especially if they want quick access,” said Dean Brown, president of American Steel Buildings. “Self-storage facilities that offer RV storage are tapping in to a huge market.”
Brown is correct, but just because you build it doesn’t mean they will come. I am convinced that RV storage is a great opportunity in many markets, but getting the word out to RVers is critical. Brown suggested partnering with RV dealers to get the word out. Good strategy — for new sales. You still need to, however, find a way to tap into the existing market of RVs on the road in your region. If the market conditions are right, the sky is the limit - if you market your services. So what are you waiting for?
July 25th, 2007
Divine Development LP, in alliance with the Agape Foundation and Mobile Master Trucks, has developed the first “green” business grant available to the self-storage industry. The grant offers low-cost use of clean-emissions vehicles to members of certain businesses, predominantly self-storage. It also provides a driver/employee for each vehicle (a type of moving truck), available for use six hours per day, five days per week, acording to an article in Inside Self-Storage.
Click here to read more about it. And don’t forget to check into options to advertise your business on the sides of these trucks. That’s where true self-storage promotions comes into play.
June 27th, 2007
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