It’s no secret that the need for effective digital marketing for self-storage businesses is on the rise. Living in a digitally led world, social media continues to drive tremendous change in the way companies interact with their customers.
Digital marketing is huge, and for good reason. Recent studies show that there are around 4.89 billion social media users worldwide in 2023 – a whopping 6.5% increase from a year ago.
Providing infinite opportunities for growth and revenue, businesses are reaching their target audience via various social media platforms quicker than ever before. And it doesn’t look like digital marketing is slowing down anytime soon!
So how does this relate to your self-storage business?
Well, the proof is in the pudding. Over 76% of consumers are turning to their mobile devices and searching for an online presence before physically visiting a business. Providing immediate access to information, the need to ensure your business is easily visible (and digitally ahead of your competition) is more important than ever.
Today, we dive into our 10 easy digital marketing methods for your self-storage business.
User-Friendly Website Design & Build
According to statistics, over 28% of small businesses don’t have a website. But with a massive 69% of enquiries coming via the web, there’s bound to be an unthinkable number of businesses losing out on potential customers.
The ‘Welcome Mat’ to your business, your website is the very first impression that will be made on your customers and will certainly determine whether they will continue to engage with your business.
With the average self-storage customer being between 40 and 70 years old, there are many factors you need to consider when designing your website. Is your existing website user-friendly and easy to navigate? Does your landing page contain all the relevant information to ensure your customers are fully engaged from the get-go? Are the pages loading at an acceptable speed?
A well-thought-out website should be at the top of your digital marketing strategy for your self-storage business. How else are you going to shout about your existence? And, more importantly, stand out from your competitors.
Building your Brand’s Identity
Your brand design is the first thing that consumers see when they find your business. What impression is your branding leaving your consumers with and is it easy to spot from within a crowded marketplace?
Improving your overall recognition to the general public, brand design is a long-term investment and serves as an important tool for the future of your business. Effective branding allows you to build long-standing relationships with your audience and powerfully impact your marketing messages and visual identity.
Your branding should keep in line with your self-storage business’ values. Are you a modern business looking to provide fresh contemporary services? Or are you an old-school, been-around-the-block self-storage business with a vision of instilling a homely trust in your consumers?
Whatever your vision is, effective brand design should be ranking high in your digital marketing priority list!
User-Friendly Online Booking Tools
This one really does speak for itself. Recent statistics show that a huge 75% of all self-storage bookings come via the web.
In line with your website design and build, providing user-friendly and easy-to-use online booking tools is more important than ever before. Think about it: If a consumer has turned online to search for their ideal self-storage service, are they going to choose a business without a user-friendly, cutting-edge website or a business with a well-thought-out site that comes with an online booking tool?
This isn’t to say that the consumer won’t choose you, but if you are a new small business competing with major self-storage companies, it’s important that you provide users with a smooth and trustworthy booking process.
Build a Social Media Presence
With infinite opportunities to grow your business and increase organic leads, implementing an effective social media strategy should be ranking high in your self-storage marketing plan!
Earlier on we covered the statistics of the many billion users who are currently active on social media. While you probably aren’t looking to reach a billion people in your local self-storage business, the endless possibilities of implementing a social media presence are huge.
Without a social media strategy, you run the risk of posting irrelevant content and reaching an audience who have no interest in your self-storage business. What are your competitors doing? and how can you do it better?
Your social media strategy should include regular posting of captivating content including handy tips, small wins for your business, customer advocacy, and clear and concise information, all while staying true to your brand identity and values.
So, how exactly do you target your ideal audience?
SEO
It’s no secret that the need for SEO (search engine optimisation) has dramatically risen over the past couple of years.
SEO isn’t a quick process. Battling against many other self-storage businesses on the web, gaining full visibility online and ranking high on search engines most likely won’t happen overnight.
Implementing an SEO strategy is super important for your business’s online visibility and overall growth. Most consumers don’t scroll past page one on Google – they want fast, easily accessible results with the touch of a button.
Here are some quick and simple ways to start optimising SEO today:
- Research niche keywords relating to your self-storage business
- Optimise your website with keywords, but don’t overdo it!
- Optimise your social media profiles – add locations and niche keywords in your bio
- Create content relating to your researched keywords and optimise your hashtags (yes, they actually matter!)
Ranking high on Google search results is another battle. Here at Amax, we specialise in effectively optimising your website to help you gain the traction and growth your self-storage business deserves.
Ensure Pricing Transparency
Pricing transparency is a biggie. A whopping 73% of online businesses do not showcase their prices online.
Because we live in a fast-paced, digitally led world, consumers want fast and clear access to information. If your website doesn’t clearly state your fees, you run the risk of losing potential customers! Plus, establishing your prices from the get-go instils an automatic level of trust and transparency making consumers more likely to make an enquiry.
Mobile App Development
So, you have your brand new shiny website and all is going well. The leads are flowing in nicely and your overall visibility has dramatically increased.
But how are you staying ahead of the big-timers within the self-storage industry? Are you providing your loyal customers with the latest technology for staying updated with your business, potential bookings, and their purchases?
The need for mobile app development is entirely dependent on your budget, and although it is not essential for your business, a feature like this could drastically put you ahead of the competition. Introducing a mobile app is an effective way to modernise your services and bring your community together.
Creation of Blogs and Articles
Let’s face it, gone are the days of going to the library. With access to infinite information available at the click of a button, crafting well-thought-out blogs and articles are a highly effective way to reach your target audience.
Factors to consider when producing articles for your self-storage business include which types of information you are looking to provide. Perhaps you want to educate or entertain your readers or provide useful information for free.
Blogs are a great way to get your business’s name out there in a non-sales way. Not only is the potential reach huge, but producing captivating blogs including your niche keywords can highly benefit your SEO strategy.
PPC
Helping small businesses reach more people and target specific audiences, PPC (pay-per-click) campaigns are an effective way to scale your digital presence.
A good PPC campaign will help drive sales by raising brand awareness across various sites and platforms. It will also allow you to measure ROI (return on investment) which you can’t easily do via many traditional, organic marketing methods. Each PPC campaign is completely unique to your business needs and budget – the more you have available to spend, the greater the reach.
Content Marketing
Social proof and rankings – the ultimate concoction for successfully driving your digital marketing plan.
To drive effective content marketing, you must consider which platforms and sites are most suited to your business. There is no use in producing content via TikTok if your target audience are avid Facebook users.
You must do your research on your audience including factors such as their demographics, age, and where they are most active online.
It’s also important to note that content marketing shouldn’t feel like an ad.
Have fun and produce content that resonates with your audience by way of stimulating their interest in your business and services. It’s the type of marketing that involves the creation of social media posts, informative videos, light-hearted content, and educational blogs. All of this done at the right time and on the right platforms, bounds endless opportunities for your self-storage business and its all-important growth.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. Our top 10 digital marketing methods for your self-storage business.
Are you looking for a Digital Marketing Agency to help boost your online presence? Amax Marketing specialises in all things digital and we’re here to help you grow your business no matter its size.
Get in touch with us today for a free consultation.
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