Brilliant Targeted Marketing

As far as I know, this kind of targeted advertising does not violate fair housing. And it's very smart

It would play well in Seattle, home of the techie-hippie demographic

HMMM... Let's see, should this be called Target marketing, Strategic marketing, or simply SMART marketing??

I think marketing efforts that put your efforts in front of those that are looking is smart. Let's talk about a very good friend of ours who has a VERY successful business largely conducted online via 5 domain names and a retail store in Orange County, CA. This particular business is for motorcycle accessories and the guy that owns it has been in the business for over 40 years, but on his own for some 10. Does he take the lion share of his marketing dollars and spend it by advertising in CAR magazines, in full color??? NO..... He spends a little money and places a business card sized ad in the motorcycle magazines, spends some more to have his websites pop up when somebody types in; for example 'Goldwing accessories' in the search box in Yahoo.... his website wingstuff.com is #3 following the sponsored site links..... He then spends the bulk of his marketing money advertising in the CLUB newsletters across the country; not just the local chapter clubs, but he also has a 2 page full color spread in the national newsletter that goes to all members; this newsletter is magazine quality and another friend of ours is the editor. He places his business marketing in front of the eyes that will spend their money with him; which has resulted in an international client base.

How do we apply this?

Let's say you are pet friendly and that is what makes you unique in your neighborhood. Smart marketing is developing a relationship with a local pet store or vet's office and ask for referrals; in exchange for an exclusive agreement allowing them to market on your property. If being pet friendly is not unique, offer to make a small donation to a local animal shelter on their behalf for each referral. Neither strategy would cost much more than the time to develop and nurture the relationship.

Another example is to cater to the military recruiters in your area; if there is no base nearby, this will take a little more work. Ask to be put in touch with the housing office responsible; and find out how to get on the preferred housing list. Speaking as someone who was in the Army, who had a friend who was a recruiter; I know that the typical recruiter's assignment is 2 years before he gets rotated back to his primary duty MOS. The recruiter is typically an NCO with 8-10 years in service. There is a program that you can get on that can be used as a convenience to the servicemember which can specify that the government can send YOU the rent amount directly before he gets his pay, which protects you.

There are other strategies that can be employed, and I apologize for getting a little long here; but the idea is to market to what makes your property unique and/or do what others in your area are not.