It’s been a difficult year for many business sectors, but self storage has fared well. The virus has changed the way some business operates (at least temporarily), and It’s time to look at some of the most effective marketing strategies for the New Year. 

The intent of digital marketing is to direct traffic to your website and social media pages, engage and retain prospective customers, and convert leads to rentals. To make this happen, you have to consider the impact that 2020 had on key digital marketing trends and update your strategies to keep moving forward.

The following areas are where you should invest your time and marketing dollars to reach your audience and achieve your desired outcome in the coming year.

Trends to Watch

Social Media is More Relevant than Ever

Customer retention has always been vital, and in 2021 marketers are increasingly making it a priority. Though there are varying attitudes toward the pandemic, people have been spending more time online researching products and brands. According to Marketing Charts, Q2 2020 social media budgets accounted for 24% of total marketing budgets, up 13% from the same time last year. As this consumer trend continues into 2021, marketers will be able to reach new prospects and re-engage with loyal customers. If your business has been delaying the addition of social media to your marketing toolbox, now’s the time. 

Omnichannel Marketing is Vital to Connect with Customers on Digital Touchpoints

Seventy percent of customers say connected processes are very important to winning their business. As brand channels multiply, companies question which touch points to prioritize. Typically, 67% of millennials and Gen Zers use voice activation to connect; this is 1.7 times more than traditionalists and baby boomers (salesforce).  

Self storage demographic research indicates that 88% of consumers are between the ages of 21 and 55. That means that your consumers are predominantly Gen X, Gen Y, and Gen Z with a few Baby Boomers (age 56 – 74) thrown in for good measure. Your touch points have to span everything from mobile apps to voice activation. 

The chart below shows the generational span of digital channels.

Salesforce’s State of the Connected Customer report 

Interactive Content to Engage

If you want to learn more about your visitors and get them to engage with your brand, add interactive content to your website or social media. For example, as a self-storage operator, add a simple self-storage size guide to your website or, better yet, to a social media post. This adds value to your content, and gives you information about prospects based on the information that they share. Data like this helps you to further understand personas and your target audience. Another way to get your brand in front of potential customers is by using your referral program as a social media post, not only rewarding current customers, but adding new business.

Moving Forward

To stay competitive in the current landscape, your marketing agency or in-house marketing team has to stay on top of the newest digital marketing strategies and tactics. Keep moving forward, and make 2021 your best year yet.