As time has (quickly) progressed, technology has completely shifted the way we live our lives today. With virtually everyone today having a smartphone, QR codes have been tried and tested in almost every industry. They continue to pop-up (pun intended) all the time, and then after a bit of hype, seem to go back to the abyss.

They continue to be used in marketing and customer service, with the idea that consumers will use an app on their smartphone as the scanner as a quick way to access information about a specific product or service.

With the ongoing debate of the “usefulness of the QR code”, the fault is probably mostly with the application it’s being used for and how it’s being used, rather than whether or not they are a useful tool.

There are most definitely useful applications for QR codes and which consumers can find extremely helpful and useful, starting with them actually being used in useful places to begin with – and NOT on sources which almost defeat the whole purpose of their usefulness i.e. billboards, television commercials, or in e-mail signatures (all locations which make a QR code almost impossible to utilize).

So our team here at RentSeeker.ca has decided to put together a list of what we titled:

How To PROPERLY Use QR Codes for Real Estate Marketing

*(this list can be used for areas outside of Real Estate as well – as long as it has the right applications and is used in a way that is useful to consumers).

Let’s begin with the “types” of Quick Response codes you can generate. QR codes can either provide information or direct users to a specific URL, phone number or e-mail address.

Here is a list of some very useful information you can embed into a QR code:

Website URL 

When scanned, the QR code directs users to a website URL

*your website will NEED to already be optimized for mobile devices  – since if your website is not responsive or mobile-friendly, it will defeat the whole purpose of the code, given that they can only be scanned with a mobile device!

Property / Corporate Video

When scanned, the QR code can direct users to a property or corporate video of your property or company providing a great way for users to learn more information in an engaging and entertaining way.

Contact Information

When scanned, the QR code adds your information as a contact in someone’s phone or tablet, including phone, address, email, web site, and memo.

Email Address

When scanned, the QR code opens the smartphone email application with the e-mail address auto-inputted, allowing users to just type and send.

Phone Number

When scanned, the QR code auto-dials a phone number.

SMS

When scanned, the QR code sends a text message to the user. The user can then click a link that was pre-setup within the SMS or reply to the text message.

Calendar Event

Great for open houses and scheduling viewings for apartment owners/property managers or building superintendents, when scanned, the QR code generates an entry to be added to the calendar of the users’ smart device.

Geographic location

When scanned, the QR code loads the property listing’s location into a map to display on the phone or tablet.

Promotion

When scanned, the QR code will provide users information on a promotion you have going on – from offering free perks – to providing some kind of discount – this can really be engaging for users, especially if marketed well with providing a sense of curiosity.

If you find that any of these applications could work well for your business, which in Real Estate – they do! The next steps are branding and placement.

Let’s start with branding. Savvy marketing companies have come up with all sort of ways of custom branding QR codes, check out this GIF showing some custom branded QR codes RentSeeker.ca has done for  our clients:

Now that you’ve seen how QR codes can be used, making sure they are well – placed is a key factor in their successful implementation.

And of course, our team here at RentSeeker.ca is here to help ????

So here are 3 great locations for useful implementation of a QR for apartment managers and real estate brokers:

Top 3 Places to use QR Codes for Real Estate Marketing

1. Property Signs

When you put a QR code on a property sign, you provide walk-by traffic the ability to instantly:

• view the house or apartment using a mobile link with images and floor plans;
• contact the appropriate person via e-mail or phone – to schedule a viewing;
• view a property or corporate video providing great information for users in a visually appealing style;
• see any promotions you have available at the property;

2. Printed Brochures and Flyers

This is the most obvious way to use QR codes. When you put a QR code on flyers and brochures, you make it easy for potential renters or buyers to access information about the listing or contact the appropriate person instantly. And if you have an open house scheduled, include a calendar-event QR code.

3. Print Ads

While print advertising has been declining over the last decade with over 90% of renters starting to search for their new home or apartment online, some property owners struggling with higher than average vacancy rates will sometimes add a limited print campaign to increase visibility for anyone still picking up the traditional print magazine.

Given that space in a print AD comes at a huge premium to advertising online, consider including a QR code. You will have to trade in some of your valuable ad space to use the QR code. But in return, you can send readers to your property’s website, where they can find much more information.

Let us know what you think about QR codes and other ways they can be used for Real Estate and Apartment Marketing or industries by joining the conversation with us on Social Media. Get Social with The RentSeeker Team!

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With many university students in this millennial demographic who are carrying debt as they make their way through university preparing for a career, renting an apartment with one of more roommates is a more popular choice for many.

Rob Carrick offers great financial tips for millennials, also known as the Gen Y generation, with advice for paying down debt, renting vs. buying, and more great tips worth reading.

The RentSeeker.ca Team looked at what millennials are looking for when apartment hunting and here is some information about the “millennial market”  and some of the features most-in-demand for Gen Y’ers when searching for rentals –   presented in another great INFOGRAPHIC by RentSeeker.ca:

There’s nothing worse than being treated as though you’re something that you’re not. It’s like being back in high school and getting scolded when you’re not the one doing the talking. That is why it is important you take close care when marketing to seniors.

For baby boomers, it’s being marketing to as though the deathbed is behind the next door.

There is a common misconception among rental market advertising that seniors are out of touch, that they’re not as actively involved online and that they’re not nearly as important an audience as their kids and grandkids.

On the contrary, the baby boomer demographic is the fastest-growing group to jump on the computer technology bandwagon, spending a whopping $7-billion annually online. In other words, much like 18-34 year olds, this generation is completely open-minded when it comes to new products, lifestyles and marketing.

Marketing to Seniors

When it comes to marketing your available apartments for rent, you would be wise to allocate a fair amount of resources targeting this demographic, providing your property can cater to some very high expectations. Throughout your campaign, though, keep in mind that you’re not advertising to a sleepy audience, but rather, a lively, virile group with discerning tastes and extensive wish lists.

Marketing Professor Tom Barry of SMU’s Cox School of Business urges companies to focus the message on feel age as opposed to real age, explaining, “Use models that are cognitively younger; they don’t have to look younger, but have a persona that is psychologically younger.” In other words, he says, the content of advertising, sales, and marketing messages should be based on the cognitive state of the audience.

Age, after all, is nothing but a number, so if you’re marketing rental suites to this demographic as old or elderly, you’ve alienated the majority of your audience.

The key to advertising rental units to seniors is research, in addition to knowing what, exactly, your building has to offer that might be attractive to someone in this demographic.

If you’re feeling slightly out of touch, here are some tips on how to engage baby boomers, capture their attention and get them in for an apartment showing.

Go Live

Did you know that the largest percentage increase in Internet use has been credited to the 70-75 age group? And they’re not just checking into an email account that stays open all day. Rather, they’re on Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites. Don’t believe us? Take it from the pros then: Kinesis Inc., a Portland, Oregon, web design and branding firm, found that more than 60 percent of baby boomers actively consume socially created content like blogs, videos, and podcasts. So next time you’re posting, tweeting or liking, don’t forget to consider whether grandma or auntie would find your content interesting.

Advertise with Intelligence

We all know that advertising apartments for rent are becoming more and more of a web-based phenomenon. This is not to say, however, that print ads have become obsolete.

Baby boomers are still heavily reliant upon magazines and newspapers to get their information, meaning that certain dailies and monthlies could have a positive impact on getting traffic to your property.

When targeting seniors, in particular, it’s important to take several technical items into account, namely font size. Simply put, the font should never be smaller than 11-point and colour ads always attract more attention. Also, keep ads un-cluttered with a clearly marked call to action that includes both email, address and phone number.

The photos should do the talking—but keep them honest. We’ve seen enough old people playing tennis and laughing by a pool. Get creative by promoting what your company can do to enhance their lives. Do you offer a shuttle bus for errands? Is your rental property near a fitness facility? Tell the story, but do it in a way that isn’t patronizing or alienating. This means abandoning labels like “golden years” and “elderly”.

Don’t forget to ask advertisers if they’ll give you editorial space alongside the ad to showcase the property in greater depth.

Build Trust with Customer Service

The baby boomer generation has been around a while. They’ve had more experiences than most of us, meaning you’ll be hard-pressed to pull the wool over their eyes. The truth is, the best thing your leasing agent can be is his/herself, to sell the property and the surrounding neighbourhood as a “package deal” that caters directly to the prospect. This means adding a personal touch by doing some legwork to find out about the appealing features of the area and promote them.

Build rapport by letting the individual know that their landlord is just a phone call away should any concerns in their rental unit arise. Another way of doing this is by having honest testimonials by like-minded individuals ready to share at some point during the viewing process.

You might even host a baby boomer event and invite some prospects to come along. This is a great opportunity for current residents to speak to their experiences with the property, the management and what the community has to offer.

Finally, always follow up with a note. Handwritten is a unique way of engaging, but again, this is a demographic that’s heavily involved online—email is just as acceptable.

Sell Gently

Hard sales rarely work with this group. Again, they’ve been around awhile and have seen it all. One of the most effective tools of persuasion is honesty and compassion.

If a person of this age group is moving into your rental property, chances are, they’re downsizing from a house. This could be a giant lifestyle change whereby moving means culling decades of possessions in order to accommodate a smaller space.

Perhaps your leasing agent has gone through a similar experience and can empathize as a way to reassure the individual that your property is the right move. If you have storage units available for rent, promote them (and perhaps offer a deal on the monthly fee).

Cut a Deal

Everyone likes a bargain—and many landlords are offering deals to all demographics as a way to fill available apartment units.

Purveyors of apartments that cater to baby boomers have jumped on the bandwagon, offering a range of bonuses and incentives to make prospects feel as though they’ve made the right choice by signing with your company.

These incentives include rent reduction, waiving of move-in fees, gift cards, fitness memberships, and the list goes on.

Put in the work and make the extra effort to get this age group into your apartment building. In the long run, they make loyal residents who are with you for the long haul and care for your property just as much as you do.

Read more posts about Rental Apartment Marketing

The RentSeeker.ca Team