COVID-19 has taken all of us by surprise, exposing the cracks in many small business marketing plans and threatening to keep the doors closed long after stay-at-home orders have been lifted. But there are three things you can do right now to help give your brand a boost. Wait - What Went Wrong? For too long, small business owners have relied solely on word-of-mouth and foot traffic to carry their brand message. A reluctance to learn about the power of social media and little knowledge about PR pitching has further weakened some businesses already crushed by the coronavirus. Websites have …
PR and Reputation Management
Are You Missing Out on this Market?
We discuss Senior Living, Social Media, plus Diversity, Equity & Inclusion during this week's broadcast on "Small Talk" with Mark S. Lee. Interview starts at 15:20 Hear how teams can better use social media as a selling tool and an instrument for communicating inclusivity throughout our senior living communities - and across our teams - during this radio broadcast interview with Mark S. Lee! Ready to take your teams to the next level? See how we can help you end 2019 on a high note! …
Fine Line Between Fun & Exploitation
Can we talk? There are a lot of bad photos and videos circulating social media. Too many of them are of our residents and clients. Well-meaning team members often capture what they think are flattering photos. But instead of showing off happy, engaged seniors, the motive for posting images can get in the way. Honest intentions may even seem insincere. The worst offensives always fail to protect the dignity of those we serve. There’s a fine line between fun in the feed and exploitation. Before posting pictures to social media of the people who entrust you with their care, ask yourself the …
Meager Marketing Budget? Here’s Help.
Imagine. Your marketing budget is blown. Your hot leads are cold. And, your occupancy just took a nosedive. What do you do? Stay calm. You've got plenty of tools at your disposal. You just need to know how to use them. Chances are, your community has several sources you can use to help boost brand awareness. But if your teams aren't communicating, you'll miss opportunities to attract prospects. Here, three tips to help build buzz around your community without breaking the bank. Share your events. Take advantage of free platforms like Eventbrite and share community events with …
Posting Easter Photos on Social Media? Read This First.
Posting Easter Photos on Social Media? Did you confirm consent first? Easter Sunday is always a blast at senior living communities. Common areas and corridors come alive with the sound of laughing children, and some communities even invite the Easter Bunny over to join in the fun. It's an exciting time for residents and their families. Especially those with grandchildren and great-grands, eager to make new memories. These festive gatherings also present a wonderful picture-taking opportunity. After planning an entertaining, intergenerational Easter soiree, it makes perfect sense you'd want to …
Reputation Matters: Responding to Reviews
What do reviews reveal about your community's reputation? Once upon a time, senior living's luxury amenities and spacious floor plans were enough to lure curious prospects in for a tour. Today, it takes more than glossy brochures and well-placed ads to close the deal. Prospects are turning to the internet, sweeping up online reviews to narrow down their senior living search options. Your reputation matters. And how your community responds to reviews can be very revealing. What will they find when they search your community online? Negative feedback can be frustrating. But the right response …
Cut These Words from Your Senior Living Sales Conversations
You checked every last detail and even made sure guests had fresh-brewed coffee and those delicious raspberry-filled cookies everyone loves at the end of their tour. But you still couldn’t close the sale. Could the conversation, not your senior living community, be the cause? Senior living communities paint a beautiful picture for would-be residents of resort-style living with active, involved residents. But when prospects tour, the language used to describe the living experience is often lackluster. A quick review of your sales pitch with a team member may be beneficial when building a new …
Rules of Engagement: 3 Quick Tips to Engage Seniors on Social Media
According to the Pew Research Center, 65% of all Facebook users, 2 billion worldwide, are age 50 and older. That’s great news for marketers looking to seize the opportunity, and showcase their brand to Facebook users most likely to take interest in their product or service. But a good social media marketing strategy includes more than a content calendar filled with random posts. It should include a plan for engagement. More and more, emphasis on page growth is falling behind the goal of engagement – especially if brand loyalty is an important building block for your social strategy. Sure, …
Are You Making the Most of Your Tours – or Making Major Mistakes?
Today's senior housing designs look and feel like luxury resorts, equipped with state-of-the-art fitness centers, bistros and beauty salons, many offering premium services and amenities, plus all the comforts of home. Still, prospects expect more than a beautiful building on their tour - they're critiquing the entire experience. Avoid these major mistakes, and take your tour to the next level with these tips. Cut the Clutter (or at least hide it) Office clutter is a huge distraction, so if you're meeting your prospects in an office piled high with papers, you may be giving potential …