A robust event calendar is one of the best ways to cultivate a sense of community and build relationships with residents. Get the most out of community events with these tips to help fuel participation.
Think “outside of the apartment” when it comes to creating the best possible experience for residents. Property managers strive for community descriptors such as convenient, attentive and comfortable, but adding “fun” to that list of adjectives can be a characteristic that sets a culture apart from competitors.
A robust event calendar is one of the best ways to cultivate a sense of community and build relationships with residents. Get the most out of community events with these tips to help fuel participation.
Get Social
Use social media to get the word out. A community Facebook page can be used to promote events to residents and partners. As soon as event details are finalized, create a Facebook Event. Post it throughout the month to keep it top-of-mind. If partnering with businesses in the neighborhood, make sure to tag them to give them a shout-out, as well as enhance exposure. Incorporate a pun, if possible, and a branded hashtag that residents want to engage with, and if they use it in post-event promotion… well, that’s just icing on the cake!
Rally the Team
Teamwork makes the dream work. Make sure the entire onsite team is involved in resident event planning and promotion. Host monthly meetings with the entire team to share ideas and updates. Each team member will interact with residents at different times and for different reasons. Maintenance calls are a great opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. While fixing a leaky faucet, they can talk about Salsa Sunday. The more touches and communication, the better.
Interactive Events Sell Themselves
Residents love events that are interactive or feature DIY activities. This ice-breaker style of event doesn’t require the need for neighbor “small talk” that some residents try to avoid. Record attendance takes place for events such as Paint and Sip, Bingo, Trivia, Salsa Instruction and Craft Night. A bonus is that residents walk away with a promotional souvenir. When hosting game nights, community partners often donate prizes and give away AVE swag. At one Paint and Sip, the residents painted a landscape of our community’s sweeping views of the Great Valley.
Seriously Consider Event Series
Hosting a recurring branded event series such as Monday Movie Night, Trail Mix Tuesday, or Wine Down Wednesday, creates an event awareness for residents. It builds anticipation and can become a talking point during the sales process when describing community life to a prospective resident.
Feature the Residents
Residents are interesting people. They could be musicians, cooks and artists and more. Hire or invite them to showcase their talents. This creates a sense of community and pride, and residents are likely to show up to support their neighbors, who can become new friends.
Diane Miller, NALP, Senior Leasing Manager for PA, AVE by Korman Communities