By Travis M. Morrow

One of the most often forgotten target markets for a marketing campaign is your existing tenants. You may be asking yourself, “Why would we focus on them? We’ve already got them. We need to focus on getting the new tenants to move in so we can increase occupancy.” The answer is very simple, providing your existing customers with excellent customer service is not only good for your customer, but it is also a very powerful marketing tool. The good news in this economy is that marketing to this target market is inexpensive and highly effective.

The way a company treats its customers goes a long way towards defining that company in general. A friendly smile, handshake, or bottle of water on a hot day tells your customers that you appreciate them for storing with you. That simple act makes your customer happy they decided to store their valuables with such a nice, friendly business. Word about that pleasant experience they had at your facility will spread, when they talk to friends and neighbors about your facility and how your facility cares for its customers.

Those friends and neighbors could be your next customers and are more likely to rent at your facility without researching others based on the recommendation of a friend or family member. That is the best marketing that you can get for a facility and it can be purchased for a smile. Simply put, and check my math if you don’t believe me, if every tenant brought only one friend to your facility, your occupancy will double.

So remember when that next customer comes through your door, how you treat this person today, may have a direct effect on how many units you rent this week, this month, or this year. So smile, be polite and helpful, let your customer leave happy with their experience and service, and leave your facility to go do the marketing for you.