The journey to establish a senior living community is undoubtedly challenging yet rewarding. The path to success requires navigating many aspects of the business, but one of the most critical is marketing. Effective marketing, especially in the early stages, can set the stage for lasting success. Surprisingly, the best time to start marketing your community is even before the doors officially open. By laying a solid foundation of your brand in the early stages, you set your community up for recognition, resonance, and ultimately, high occupancy rates.
As leaders in senior living marketing, we want to help make this process as simple as possible for you. So, we created an easy-to-follow roadmap to help you get started on this journey:
How to Begin Marketing Your Community
1. Establish a WordPress Website
WordPress is a versatile and user-friendly platform ideal for creating a professional and engaging website for your community. Having an online presence is non-negotiable in today’s digital age. Get started with WordPress.
2. Optimize Your Website for SearchÂ
Search engine optimization (SEO) ensures your website ranks high in search results, making it more likely for potential residents and their families to find you. This involves using the right keywords, creating quality content, and improving website speed among other things. Learn more about SEO here.
3. Create Valuable Content
Your website should be more than just a digital brochure of your community. It should provide valuable information that answers questions, addresses concerns, and educates your target audience. This not only builds trust but also positions your community as a credible and reliable resource.
4. Claim/Create Your Google Business Profile Listing
This is a free tool that allows you to promote your Business Profile and business website on Google Search and Maps. It’s like the Yellow Pages for the digital age. Claim your GBP listing here.
5. Optimize Your GBP Profile
After claiming your listing, ensure all information is complete and accurate. Upload high-quality photos of your community, keep your operating hours up-to-date, and encourage reviews to enhance your online presence.
6. Identify Your Ideal Resident
This involves understanding their challenges, preferences, and needs. If you need a detailed guide on crafting this persona, refer to our article, “Understand the Senior Living Decision Journey & Crafting Your Dream Resident“.
7. Create a Step-by-Step Plan
Detail how your community can help your ideal resident achieve their desires. This helps create a transparent and trustworthy image of your community, and will help you tremendously in understanding how you can best approach crafting your marketing strategy based around your ideal resident.
8. Offer Something Valuable
To turn complete strangers into leads (and eventually your newest resident), offer something of value for free. This could be a guide on transitioning to senior living, a virtual tour of your community, or – best of all – personalized and engaging quizzes that answer some of their most pressing questions. The aim is to provide something beneficial that also gives them a taste of what your community offers.
Conclusion
Starting marketing efforts as early as possible is integral to building a strong and successful senior living community. The task might seem daunting, but remember, you’re not alone in this journey. ConversionFormula, an industry leader in senior living marketing, is here to provide the guidance and expertise you need. From identifying your ideal resident to crafting effective marketing strategies, we’re here to help.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to transform your marketing efforts. Schedule a free consultation with us today and let’s start laying the groundwork for your community’s success.