Traditional property marketing, such as property signage and email blasts to your broker network, may not be enough to generate the leads you need to lease a commercial space. Based on our own success, we have pulled together a list of online marketing strategies to consider, when looking for new ways to drive exposure to our properties.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
More and more businesses are using the internet as a tool in their search for commercial space. Google is the number one tool used by businesses who are conducting their search online. It is important as a landlord, broker, or property manager to make sure that tenants who are searching for your property specifically (i.e. 185 Berry Street, San Francisco), or generically looking for office space can find their way to your listings. For tips and further information on SEO click here.

Paid Search Marketing
Paid search marketing, is a process of gaining traffic by purchasing ads on search engines like Google. Also known as pay per click (PPC) advertising, PPC search listings allow landlords/property managers to bid for placement within the search results users select. For example, if you have office space listings in Seattle, you can bid for placement on search terms such as Seattle office space for lease, attracting those businesses that are searching for office space in Seattle to your listings.

Mobile Search
Many businesses are using their smart phones as a way to find commercial properties while on the go. There are some interesting mobile tools, which allow a property searcher to access complete building information when physically near the property. As a broker, landlord or property manager, making your listings accessible via mobile applications is a great way to reach prospective tenants who are conducting a live search. Check out our Augmented Reality mobile tool.

Classified Sites
Marketing your properties on classified sites such as Craigslist, is a low cost, effective way to reach prospective tenants online. While the list of classified sites is long, we find that the two most prominent sites are Craigslist and Oodle. It is our suggestion to work with a site that can create a good presentational flyer of your listings, making distribution of your listings to these classified sites professional and simple.

Social Networking
It’s important to get your available listing in the hands of as many potential customers as possible. The 3 most common social media networks include: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Publishing your listings to these sites can be effective, but remember not to spam your connections or followers.

Keep an eye out for a more detailed blog post from the Rofo team on Search Engine Optimization and Paid Search Marketing.