Looking for a way to advertise really affordable rentals to new residents.

Seeing the direction that things are going in SL, I have decided to try to help new residents out by creating a new sim with VERY affordable residential rentals.

Condo - $200L per week with 100Prims
Small Stand alone Houses - $200L per week with 100Prims
Mid size stand alone houses - $400Lper week with 275 Prims

These residences are part of a larger "community" model centered around the LGBT community in SL.

Now the question is where to promote and advertise it? Among the many diverse things lacking in SL. I believe one of the biggest voids is in advertising, especially to new residents. Has anyone discussed this, worked out the metrics for effective advertising, done something other than throw money at an ad board that hardly ever gets looked at? I am very interested in all opinions.

Bump.

I'd be interested in people's ideas on this also, as a landlord offering inexpensive 1024 plots.

People who know where to advertise to get the best results aren't going to tell you, at least thats my guess.

I see lots of people spam the forums constantly with rental stuff, I guess that must work, although personally I hate it.

My own places are constantly full, and I don't really advertise or do marketing.

In the past I have used XStreetSL real estate listings and that has worked pretty well.

If you have the Apez rental system you get listed on their website, although I don't know how good that is as a marketing method.

the correct option is not up there.... word of mouth.

seriously, I've watched it happen... one person has a good experience, likes the prices, all their friends show up and get the bonus of having neighbors they like...

conversely, when one of these people leaves, especially over bad blood, it's like the start of a wave that takes most of the neighbors with them...

Try the commerce blogs for marketing tips

Listen to Void, she is usually pretty good with her mouth.

Missing option:

advertise in RA

I see my ex gfs have been talking again... but they never tell the whole story hmm?

Classifieds isn't one of the poll choices and it hasn't been mentioned in a post, but I'd say that it's the best in-world place to advertise.

I did it that way and paid only a low amount each week but it caused gradual expansion to ~60 skyboxes rented out. On the other hand, a customer bought 20 skyboxes from me, paid much more for a classified than I did, and had them all rented within 2 days. She went on to buy a *lot* more skyboxes from me and she put homes on the ground too. She built a large, successful business in a short space of time by using Classifieds.

If I were going to do that business again, I'd still use Classifieds.

QFT

It might bother me that people let you get away with this, except that I know it won't work, so I can just laugh. People are here doing the same thing you are: working for pennies per hour because other people keep telling vague stories of success and opportunity. But so few are actually going to pay money for anything that anything you advertise here is just part of the sub-sub-minimum wage plan. You'll work long hours thinking up ways to advertise where you don't have to pay for it and you'll make no sales. It won't be worth your time.

I can take satisfaction in that, at least.

Phil is right. You have to out-spend your competitors, or find a way of cheating that they haven't already thought of. Free RA ads ain't gonna do it.