How Do I Grow My Self-Storage Empire Through Marketing? Moving Trucks

When you are in the self-storage business, it is critical to make sure that everyone knows you are in the self-storage business. In the last blog, we talked about how you can use Sponsorship as a way build brand awareness. In this blog, we are going to discuss how you can build brand awareness by having a moving truck that potential tenants can use. This is a way to stand out from your competition and get free advertising at the same time.

Many potential self-storage tenants do not own a truck. They are trying to figure out who they can borrow a truck from, or how much it is to rent a U-Haul truck. This is an opportunity for you to increase your income as well as advertising your facility by providing them with a means of transportation that has your company information on it.

By offering a moving truck as part of a move-in special, you can entice people to rent with you. You can offer the truck as part of a one year contract so that you know you are going to have income for a year. Or you can rent the truck out for a fee. Either way you have increased your self-storage profits by having a small moving truck.

However, you do not just want any old moving truck. You want a truck that you have wrapped so that it advertises how great your self-storage facility is. Let people know that they can use your truck for free. Or offer your first month’s rent free. Do something to get people’s attention when they see your truck. The other great thing about owning a truck is that when your tenants are driving your truck, they are advertising for you.

The wrap on your truck is important. It needs to be eye catching but it also needs to be simple enough that someone who is driving can process all the information on the truck with a quick glance. You need your self-storage facility name; you need some type of advertising/promotion that will get people to want to rent with you and you need a phone number and a simple web address. If you don’t have a web address that is easy to remember, you might want to make one that automatically redirects to your main website. Your promotion can be “Free truck rental with contract”, or “First month free with contract”, anything that gets them to want to work with you over your competition.

Make sure that you get the appropriate insurance for your vehicle. You need to talk to your insurance agent about the best liability insurance coverage for you in case of an accident. Talk to your accountant about possibly putting the truck in its own corporate entity and having your self-storage facility rent the truck from that entity to protect yourself. Make sure that you discuss a truck with your team before you buy.

Adding a truck to your self-storage business is a way to increase your profits while advertising your facility. While the truck is not being rented, it is a billboard parked in front of your property. This is another way to get good advertising. Anywhere the truck is parked, it is a moving billboard for your self-storage facility. When you are doing your marketing, think outside the box. As always, Happy Investing.