Self Storage- Marketing work 08 2021

Been busy on developing and construction of our two new large locations (South 35th (35th) and Railroad (RR)). Want to step back and work on their marketing. You can see earlier posts about their startup and marketing.

Right now I am concentrating on internet marketing in the following steps.

Areas of discussion:
1. Website.
2. Sparefoot
3. Google map- self storage
4. Google- YouTube

Website:
We have an SEO that works on our website. Searches increased to 748 up from around 600 the last three months. We reached a size where we could afford an SEO. Plus our last two spots in a larger Metro area it is needed. Our smaller town locations don't really need as strong an Internet presence.

Attach1 below: Views up to 748, increase from around 600 the previous 3 months. 591 are new visitors. Bounce rate 80.90%, means they are going to a second page for more information. Average duration: :52 seconds. Would like this to be higher. Either I have to put more meaningful content on the website. Such as posts or YouTube on how to store, pack, renting uhauls, etc. Or need to switch to online unit registration, so they spend more time on the website. Google uses the duration to rank "engagement" or usefulness of the website.

Attach2 : Devices used, evenly split "Mobile" phones 49.75%; Desktop or PC 49.10%. Duration on mobile phones is 56 seconds and PC 1:49 minutes/seconds which would be expected.

Attach3: Search vs map views. 5,631 searches in total. 3,752 via the google map search. This is one of the reasons I want us to be in the top three recommended on the Google map listing.

Sparefoot:

Out of the Omaha area we are ranked on Sparefoot "recommendation" list. Were actually 1st for the CB35 earlier this year. Backed off working on this, while doing the new building development.
CB 35 15th out of 92 locations.
CB RR 27th out of 92 locations.

Plan to get both of them to the 1 or 2 spot over the next two months for the Omaha market. We are in Council Bluffs, but our CB 35 location model is built to attract Downtown and South Omaha renters. In order to do that we have to "Break" through the other 90 competitors on searches.

Refresher from a prior post. Sparefoot has 4 ways they rank locations: 1. Recommended, 2. Distance, 3. Reviews, 4. Lowest price

Recommended- is based on number of types of units available, Move in versus reservation %, views.

Distance- measured from a predetermined Post Office Station location. You can't impact.

Reviews- you can impact. Use the Sparefoot review request. Most locations however spend most of their effort to get "Google" reviews.

Lowest price-


Google Map- self storage.
Hurray.

Our CB 35 location "just" got to third spot an hour ago, and is now on page one recommendation for Google Maps.

Google YouTube-
We had been at page 7 on a google search, but now we have dropped off. Having SEO research. The reason I want this, if you do a google search on any topic. The Youtubes standout more than the website listings. Even if you had the top website listing, the YouTube listing would "POP" out more when looking at a search page.

************************ 09 20 2021

Sparefoot:

Worked on them:

Moved to recommended rankings

CB 35 15th to 3rd out of 92 locations

CB RR 27th to 24th out of 92 locations.

Trying to move them up since this is the prime fall season for Storage activity. The above is for the entire Omaha area, which isn't necessarily our market since it can cover over 20 miles. In our zip codes we rank 2 and 3; or 1 and 8 in our two zip codes.

Will shoot for 1 and 2 in both of our zip codes for next month.

Again, most people now are using their phones/pcs to look up storage. Sparefoot, is the number one aggregator for Self storage. Both of our locations are running about 50% going through Sparefoot. The rest is through other means. Which is good, since we don't have to pay 1.5 months fee for each new rental.

Google Map- Self Storage:

Moved up to 2 and 8th for both of our locations.

Google Youtube:

Google moved videos to under "more" and then "Video" at the top bar. All of our videos are showing up on page one.

Bus Bench Advertising:

Have 14 out, in our two towns. Can't tell impact of them yet. They are like billboards, in the back of your mind, but you actually don't notice them every day.

Start small and Make Your Big Mistakes Early