We're going to try an incentive at J.C. Hart  to get our onsite teams to really focus on their Craigslist posts and see what comes of it.  Watch the video for details, and please share with the online community what you've done to improve your Craigslist postings.

As seen @ MarkJuleen.com

As more and more online tools compound the complexity of what you're doing, I'd like to start a discussion about what your biggest pain point is right now.  For some it might be training, people, knowledge, money, or just plain time, but I'd like to see if there is something that is consistent with the majority that we can help each other tackle.  Maybe it's not really an "online" issue exactly either, but  I hate to see people spinning their wheels so let's collaborate.

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Our 3 most recent developments did not include a model apartment for our marketing efforts.  We’re leasing just fine without them, but I’m curious what you experience is.  Do or do not?

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OK, I'm a fan of the #fail on Twitter, and I do enjoy posting things to my status when I'm not happy with a brand. However, I typically do that when I'm looking for some answers or if I've exhausted all the other options I can find. I don't write a manifesto about it, but do use these channels to seek answers.

However, it seems that many people are just taking advantage of fb or other online platforms just to air their dirty laundry. They're not exhausting all their options, but almost trying to just get attention with their rant. I think it's kind of sad (regardless of the company or business that did something wrong).

To error human, no? Let's give businesses a chance to fix the issue before quickly turning to fb, etc. What do you think?

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For those of you managing multiple sites with multiple facebook, twitter, etc. profiles, check out Postling.com. There are many other reasons to do so, but here's my official plug for them.

For older episodes not featured here on Multifamily Insiders (and some other fun stuff), check out MarkJuleen.com.

It's always fun to hear about new things going on in the multifamily world.  What are you looking for during your trip to New Orleans?  And winning an iPad doesn't count.  Let me know what you think of the Kodak Zi8 as well if you have an opinion.  Thanks!

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Apparently it pays to optimize your Google Local listings.  I received a letter from Google this week advising me that J.C. Hart Company, Inc. is one of the most popular local businesses on Google.  This was measured by how many times people found our business listings and clicked on them for more information.  According to the letter less than 1% of all U.S. businesses receive this recognition.  So this is pretty cool.  We got a nifty window sticker and everything.  Have you claimed your listings on Google for all your properties?  Create a Google account for your business today and start claiming your locations and updating the information.  You’ll be shocked at how many people search for your property by name directly on Google, and how claiming these can be huge for you.

As seen @ MarkJuleen.com

As a part of our new Resident Hub websites we've built we are also beginning an initiative to rally our residents around green/sustainable living as well as local charitable giving. There is power in numbers and I'm sure there are people at every property that would want to be a part of something that your property or management company are behind. What have you done off or online to help these efforts? Others would love to know.

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I think their is a huge opportunity to help out other local businesses and partner with them for a summer theme.  What are you doing to take advantage of that?

As seen @ MarkJuleen.com

As technology evolves with DVRs and streaming on demand video taking over our TVs, iPods taking over for DJs, and Twitter, Facebook, RSS feeds, and websites becoming the preferred place for news, I ask the question: Is traditional advertising just PR now?  With all these technology tools we use today, as consumers, it seems we avoid advertising more and more.  We’ve unanimously adopted the “do not call list” (not that people even have land lines anymore), we fast forward through commercials, if we do listen to the radio we’ll make a phone call during commercials, and we’re so saturated with things to read today we don’t have time to be distracted by ads.

That all said, what is the value of “traditional advertising” at this point?  I’m suggesting that it’s now just a PR play.  (One could argue this has been the case all along I suppose.)  Now, it may not be PR in the sense that you’re pitching to the local news to get a featured article, but in a reputation management sense.  Yes, reputation management.

If you think about the products you hear/see in ads I think you would agree that it is extremely rare that you immediately jump up out of your seat and go buy what you’ve seen.  Yes, it’s about awareness, but we know that the more and more we are aware of something the more it solidifies itself as a legitimate product we would consider.  The ads say (and multiple ads work best): “We’re kind of a big deal.”