Augmented Reality for Apartment Marketing

Most of us are still getting use to the idea that Twitter is a marketing tool, not something that a bird does.  And already the technology market is moving on to the next newest and perhaps better idea. 

Enter the way cool new tool - Augmented Reality.  And I mean the WOW factor kind of cool tool.  First, what is Augmented Reality you ask?  I certainly asked the question and I could not find an explanation in any article that was announcing the use of AR for apartment marketing.  Everyone seemed to assume I knew all about it.  But I didn’t.  So I went looking for information.

Take a look at the following video which helps introduce the idea and how it works for apartment marketing quite well. 

So what does this new apartment marketing real time tool mean for the rental market?  It means that a new way of marketing, a new set of tools is entering the playing field.  At first, it will be expensive and only the big guys will have access to it.  Right now it is limited to Europe, probably because they have the better cell phone system and better cell phones than we do.  But as is always the case with technology, soon enough the costs will come down and AR will become accessible to the mainstream.  Of course, we have to assume AR will have to wait for the next generation of cell phones in the states or it may mean we see some modified version of this AR technology in the states before we see the full AR because of our infrastructure and cell phone limitations. 

So what does it mean in the bigger picture?

If you have not begun to adopt and adapt to the new marketing technologies, you are about to be two generations behind, not just one.  It means that the speed at which marketing is changing is speeding up even faster.  And it means that while we may not need to pay for newsprint ads any longer, the cost of effectively marketing your apartment units is actually much higher than it use to be, because the new technology while free at some levels, is actually staff-power hungry. 

To properly Tweet, FaceBook, MySpace, YouTube, and LinkedIn, you need staff who not only understand the tools and how to use them, but can make their way on their own; because right now the books are only being written.  There are few written tools to hand off to a staff member who is reponsible for your marketing. 

The bottom line, whether you are big or small, you need to develop your identity and your “brand” now more than ever.  Whether you are two units or two hundred, you must compete for chat time and room on the Internet page for your product to find your target market.  If you don’t get out there to compete, the rental market will miss you.  Prospective residents are overwhelmed with alternative options for information.  It is your job to make sure one of the rental options they locate is your available apartment unit. 

If you have not yet entered the new age of Social Media, hot maps, and alternative realities, you need to get out there and soon.   The 21st Century rental marketing train is leaving the station.  You better get on board.