Use Promotional Products to Increase Your Occupancy

As a property manager or owner you have probably wondered if promotional products have an effect on consumers. The simple answer is YES. Promotional products are items given out, usually for free, with your branding on it. This could include your logo, business name, phone number, address, etc. Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) conducted a study entitled The Effectiveness Of Promotional Products As An Advertising Medium in which they had some interesting findings:

• 83% of American consumers surveyed like receiving a promotional product with an advertising message
• 48% would like to receive promotional products more often
• 38% feel promotional products serve as a constant reminder of the advertiser
• Another good statistic from this study is 69% (688 respondents) would pick up a promotional product if they found it to be useful.

Promotional giveaways are so much more than T-shirts, key chains and pens. If you give out something the students can use every day, then your brand gets repeated exposure to your potential residents.

• 91% had at least one promotional product in their kitchen
• 74% had at least one promotional product in their work area
• 55% had at least one promotional product in their bedroom closet/ storage space

Think about what college students use in their almost-daily lives. We’ve listed just a few ideas.

College life: pens, tote-bags, notebooks, calendars, computer accessories

Apartment Living: socks, drink holders, alarm clock, hats, utensils, cutlery, oven mitts, plates, bowls, toiletries

Healthy Living: bandannas, smart phone arm/wrist bands, water bottle, water infusion bottles, pedometer, jump rope, yoga mat, shoe wallet, stress balls

Fun Living: games, puzzles, balls, sunglasses,

When you attend the local housing fair or local college event and pass out free goodies, those current and future college students will be carrying around your promotional materials. They will show off their loot to family and friends. This is where your marketing gets a little boost: word-of-mouth advertising is priceless.

Every time the attendees think back to that particular event, they’ll think about your property. Anytime they use the promotional material, they’ll be reminded of your property. Do you know what repeated exposure will do for your brand? It will increase its recall effectiveness.

Respondents were asked to think of a promotional product they’d received in the past two years and to recall the specific product, the advertiser and the message: A whopping 76.2% recalled all three key pieces of information.

This lasting impression is what will get people in the door. When students are ready to make their housing plans for the semester, they’ll refer to that tote-bag they’ve been carrying around all summer and give you a call.

There are several ways you can get your promotional products out there. We’ve already mentioned housing fairs and college-sponsored events. Perhaps you could partner with the local college and any visiting student could receive a goodie bag that includes your promotional products. Find out when senior visiting week or freshman orientation is and you could put together welcome packages to hand out. Attend sporting events and distribute noisemakers in the school colors with your apartment community’s name and phone number. There are so many possibilities.

Whatever your marketing plan is, it should include promotional products. What’s Happening Promotions has everything and anything you could possibly imagine to advertise your apartment community. We work with you to amplify your brand so you can reach unique customers wherever they are.

There is a wealth of untapped students just waiting to hear about your apartment community. Don’t wait any longer. Get your name out there and witness the quick ROI. Start generating more tenants for your student apartments now.