Pads for Students is one of the UK’s largest dedicated student property listing sites. Every year, we connect delighted property owners with student tenants. We are successful at what we do, but landlords such as you can help spread the word about our fabulous service by engaging in some social media promotion of your own. Here are some simple tips.

Are You Using the Right Platforms?

Do you only promote your Pads for Students listing on Facebook because that’s what you’ve always done? If so, you could be limiting your reach and missing out on some great tenants. In 2018, Instagram began a meteoric rise in popularity that is yet to show signs of a slowdown. It has around half the number of registered users of Facebook, but users are more interactive.

Since Twitter doubled the number of characters from 140 to 280 in 2017, that too has experienced a surge in popularity. What’s more, tweets with images are seeing far more responses than those with text only. A link to your Pads for Students listing is quick and easy to post, expanding your reach.

Over the coming year or two, Snapchat and WhatsApp are expecting surges in popularity for business and promotional use too.

Don’t Forget the Hashtags

Although popularised by Twitter, the hashtag has become ubiquitous on the major platforms of social media. Facebook, Instagram and even LinkedIn have all adopted the practice, making it easier for your business post to reach out to relevant people. When linking to your Pads for Students listing on any of these sites, don’t forget to use relevant hashtags such as #StudentAccommodation #studentHMO and don’t forget to include tags with a location too #StudentDigsBristol.

Get Creative with Banners and Videos

Your Pads for Students listing naturally requires standardised photographs of the property – both interiors and exteriors. It follows a typical format because of how the site is set out. But when promoting your listing on social media, there is no reason why you can’t get creative. Put banners and interesting text over some of your images to draw the eye on Instagram and Twitter. If you feel confident in your web design skills, create slideshows or even videos. A video of your property posted to Twitter or Instagram will certainly get your property noticed.

Ask Friends and Colleagues to Share

Social media is social and it’s all about sharing – so engage your friends, family, contacts, colleagues and even former students if you’re still in touch. It’s free advertising and using the platforms in the very manner they were designed. Plus, when a respected contact shares your post, it’s as good as an endorsement. At the very least it will gain more traffic for your Pads for Students listing and people who see it will keep it in mind.