Today having a brand name to recognize and trust is crucial in capturing the storage customer. The millennial generation is fueling this drive and becoming the most popular demographic in the moving and storage industry. This article will go over ways that you can brand your business in order to appeal and attract to all potential storage customers.
Online Presence: The first thing consumers are doing when searching for any business is going on the internet. Getting customers in the door and renting at your facility is the ultimate goal. How can you take advantage of the World Wide Web and fill your rooms online? There are many different marketing opportunities that can be utilized within the U-Haul network; such as advertising your business on Uhaul.com. Utilizing your uhaul.com page to its full potential can help fill your rooms and increase your brand awareness. Uhaul.com is the most widely searched website in the moving industry, with over 6 million hits per year! As a storage affiliate, you are able to market your facility online and increase your occupancy, all from uhaul.com. It is also important to have your own website to advertise so customers can find you locally. WebSelfStorage Business Platform offers a free API to integrate your real time inventory right into your website. The best of both worlds!
Truck Rentals: Become the all in one moving solution that customers can go to and trust during their time of need. Having truck rentals at your facility is a great supplement to your business while accommodating your customers needs. Not only can a storage facility become a U-Haul dealer to rent out trucks, Dealer Affiliates utilizing WebSelfStorage gain access to our unique advertising vans to market their business. Through the program, Affiliates receive a brand-new van that is imaged on three or four sides with their business’ name, logo, web address and/or location address, phone number and any promotional specials. This acts as a rolling billboard that helps Affiliates promote their self-storage brand within the local community. In the meantime, the van, like any other U-Haul vehicle, earns a rental commission each time that it’s used.
Social media: Since 2004, social media has been growing exponentially and it hasn’t reached the peak of its popularity yet. There’s no denying that social media platforms are now a major source of news and information. But that’s not all. Social media platforms are unique in the way they interact with customers. Not only do they provide a platform for users to communicate beyond local and social boundaries, but they also offer countless possibilities to share user-generated content, like photos and videos. 49% of consumers claim that they depend on influencer recommendations on social media to inform their purchasing decision (Fourcommunications, 2018). This means that if consumers feel confident in the recommendation from an influencer, they’ll be more likely to store at your business.
Ask for Reviews: There is a reason why reviews are valued by businesses everywhere. They can be the difference between gaining and losing potential customers. On Average, 8/10 consumers look at the reviews before doing business somewhere. Millennials especially, are review driven through social media and other online platforms. On uhaul.com, your customers can share their experience with other customers. Remind customers that they can review their move-in and move-out experiences after completing either. This will help create a trustworthy reputation for your business.
Customer Service. This starts with your manager and or alternative way for customers to be able to interact with your facility. Creating positive relationships and experiences with your customers is paramount in earning their long term business. If you are unmanned or have limited staff, the U-Haul Self-Storage Affiliate Network offers a contact center where you will have hundreds of full time employees 24/7! Never miss a call or potential rental. Online account management on uhaul.com gives customers the ability to manage their unit from any device, anywhere. This will enable them to remotely manage their unit which ultimately creates a more convenient experience for your customers.
At times, executing all the correct methodologies to create a brand for your business can be timely and costly. That is why partnering with a brand name like U-Haul will only help your credibility and exposure. Having access to “Big Business” resources enables you to create an ultimate brand for your facility and help build your reputation. Using these methods in this article can help give you a leg up on the competition in this brand driven market.