Worth it to utilize storage.com/ sparefoot?

Question

We have about 1/4 of the units vacant and wondering people utilize either of these two. We are doing Sparefoot but I hear a lot less about

www.Storage.com, www.USstoragesearch.com, & www.StorageUnit.com.

I guess the big question is whether we would be paying for customers we might already get through Google anyways.

Any thoughts appreciated

Michael Wagner · Answer

I'm of the opinion that those aggregator sites are worth using ESPECIALLY when in ramp up (or below stabilized occupancy).  Your biggest expense is an empty unit.  As such, it doesn't really matter "if you would have got that customer anyways"...if they can get you that customer faster, then its worth paying the premium (to a point!).  Once stabilized around 85-90% occupied, you can then eliminate the sources that "cost the most per lead" one at a time.  Eventually you will find the "cheapest" way to stay full.

Henry Clark · Answer

Hello, sounds like you moved forward.

Will help you answer your question two ways:

a.  Go to google and type in Self Storage and your town or zip code.  See which of the above storage softwares show up both the most and the earliest.  Some of these softwares are actually the same company and system.  That is the Best one.

b.  Would you get them through Google anyways.  Go to google and type in self storage for your town or zip code.  1.  On google maps, hit the see all and see what rank you are.  If your the top three and show on the first page great.  If your number 50, then Google maps is not helping you.  Your SEO power is not strong enough.; 2.  Same on Google, look and see what page you show up.  This is a reflection of your SEO power.  Sparefoot will always win against a single company or location.  Same for the large national accounts.  Plus it will take you $1,500 per month and several months or years to work your way up.  Versus if your on Sparefoot, your immediately at the top.; 3.  At the bottom are you in the "other people searches"?  If not, your google ranking isn't high enough, so your not getting Google tenants through Sparefoot.

Your real question is why are you at 1/4 vacant.

a.  Analyze by size.

b.  By size do comparisons to your local competitors within 3 miles.  Price, discounts, physical appearance, security, etc.  Are you priced correctly for Value.

c.  Obvious.  Do you have a road sign.

d.  What are your competitors vacancy rate.  If all of you are at 25% vacate then the market is saturated.  You then need to either lower your price, which I don't recommend.  Or change your product/configurations or purpose.