Does your rental business pop up online when people search for a home in Sonoma County?
In today’s digital age, having a robust online presence is crucial for any business, including your rental business. Whether you own one house or multiple properties, adapting to the digital way of things is essential.
In a market as competitive as the one in Sonoma County and its neighboring cities, building a robust online presence for your properties can help you reach a wider audience, improve your credibility, and increase the number of bookings.
This blog discusses the power of building a robust online presence for your properties to boost your rentals.
Why Your Rental Needs an Online Presence
Online presence is the existence of an entity in digital media through different online search systems. It includes accounts, interactions, and other information about a person or business that exists online. Many businesses have found success after combining their traditional methods of operation with online strategies.
A study says that 76% of consumers look at a company’s online presence before physically visiting their business. Therefore, it is essential to have an online presence.
Building an Online Presence: What To Do?
Establishing your presence online is a multi-step process that requires you to utilize your knowledge of your services and your audience. The primary aim of your presence in the digital world is to generate awareness among people about your business.
Once people see that your property is available for rent, they will know the scope of your business. They will reach you when they feel assured that you are a reliable business.
Here is what to do to kickstart this process and build your business’s online presence:
Build a Professional Website
The first step in building a strong online presence for your properties is to create a professional website. Your website should provide all the necessary information about your properties, including:
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- Relevant pictures and videos that drive your point
- The services that you offer to your tenants
- Online tenant portals and other systems
- Rental rates and rent collection processes
- Property listings
- Available units, along with their location and amenities
- Photos of listed units that highlight their features
- Customer reviews
- Your contact information
In the current market, many people use mobile devices to browse your website. 60.67% of website traffic comes from mobile devices. So, you must ensure your website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate.
You can also consider hiring a professional web designer to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional website.
A website provides credibility and authenticity to your business.
When a potential renter wants a property in Sonoma County, they will likely compare your rates with your competitors from your website.
You can also upload blogs and articles about niche topics you specialize in related to the real estate field.
Implement Online Marketing Strategies
The next and most crucial step is solidifying your position on the digital platforms and standing out from the competition.
As you have a rental in Sonoma County, in the cities of Santa Rosa, Windsor, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Cotati, or Sonoma, you know that you are not the only rental business in these areas.
Multiple people are offering top-notch properties in the market. Therefore, you need to stand out from your competition, who are also active online.
What better to use than a well-planned online marketing strategy? Here are a few of them:
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- Know your target audience
- Have a competitive pricing strategy
- Conduct virtual property showings
- Have a professionally designed website
- Optimize your content for listings and website
Even though the online space is innovative and constantly evolving, it is essential to maintain a professional tone and approach throughout your campaigns. It can determine the success of your strategies and enable your audience to trust you.
List Your House on Online Platforms
Listing your properties on online rental platforms can help you reach a wider audience. These platforms have millions of users worldwide, making it easier for you to attract potential renters.
You must ensure your property descriptions and photos are accurate and updated to increase your chances of getting a good tenant.
Here are a few listing platforms that you can use to promote one or multiple properties in Santa Rosa or neighboring cities within Sonoma County:
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- Airbnb
- Craigslist
- Zillow
- Avail
- Realtor.com
- Trulia
- HotPads
- Apartments.com, and many more.
These platforms will provide more exposure for each of your listings. They save significant time, money, and effort compared to the traditional methods of promoting your property’s vacancy.
Since these platforms are highly analytical, they provide extensive search filters so potential tenants can browse different options.
Leverage Social Media
Social media is a dynamic tool that can help you connect with potential renters and promote your properties. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have emerged as the top ones that can help you pull tenants for your properties. Since people spend most of their scrolling through these feeds, you can share your listings here.
It is also wise to leave a clickable link to your website, blog or contact form to encourage interaction from the audience. Once you create a social media account for your business, you can post things like:
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- Regular updates about your properties
- Amenities it offers
- High-quality photos and videos
- Contact details
- Testimonials from satisfied customers
Additionally, you can also use social media analytical tools to check the reach of your listings. Consider using paid social media advertising to reach a wider audience. It makes your property a priority and displays your ad to potential users on the platform within Sonoma County.
Depending on the location of your property, it can also reach the neighboring cities of Santa Rosa, Windsor, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Cotati, and Sonoma.
Build a Positive Online Reputation
According to a recent survey in 2023, 46% of consumers say they will trust the reviews they read online at the same rate as personal recommendations. 27% of customers say they trust online reviews as much as professional ones. So, reviews and reputation are essential to building your property’s authenticity online.
Your property’s reputation and your work as an owner and a landlord can significantly impact your rental business. After all, every tenant wants to live in a home they confirm to be safe. To build a positive reputation for your business, you can encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on your website and online rental platforms.
Here are a few additional ways to build a good reputation online:
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- Be active on social media
- Address people’s queries
- Respond to negative feedback
- Simplify your content
- Be direct in your approach to not confuse the audience
You should also respond promptly and professionally to negative reviews to show that you value your customers’ feedback and are willing to address any issues. It also builds credibility as a legitimate company, ensuring people find you reliable.
Using these strategies to build an online presence for your properties can help boost the exposure your units secure in the market. It also enables you to reach a wider audience, increase your credibility, and boost your rentals.
Final Word
In a competitive market like Sonoma County, it can be difficult for property owners to gain an advantage over their competitors. However, technology has now provided similar opportunities to everyone. The success of your business ultimately depends on how effectively you leverage digital tools.
Since an online presence plays a vital role in helping you generate positive cash flow from your property, it is a must-have for every owner. But, if you find it challenging to digitize your business, you can consult an experienced property management company like Redwood Residential Property Management.
To know more about how we can help you boost your Sonoma County rental, contact us at Redwood Residential Property Management.
Marla Shaw