2021 Agenda
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
2:00 PM -3:00 PM
Registration and Badge Pick-up
All participants must pick up their badges and other event materials
All workshops included in the BEST Value option
Workshop # 1: Adapt Your Social Media Strategy for a Post-Pandemic Renter
The modern renter has evolved - especially in the last year. The pandemic has shifted preferences and changed how we work, travel, communicate, shop, and more. It was a great accelerator of digital transformation and we saw social media usage explode, playing a key role in keeping people connected and engaged. It’s crucial for multifamily owners and operators to re-evaluate their social media strategies and amplify the features that post-pandemic renters are most interested in.
Join this workshop led by Erica Byrum, the assistant vice president of social media for Apartments.com and co-author of Youtility for Real Estate where she will unpack 2021 social media trends, sharing the most significant changes in consumer behavior and technology that’ll impact how your communities engage in today’s ever-evolving social media landscape.
What you’ll learn:
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How to adjust your social media strategy to meet the constantly evolving expectations and behaviors of post-pandemic renters and prospects.
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How to create an authentic, empathetic, meaningful social marketing strategy for your brand.
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How to approach your social media content strategy moving forward.
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New features released across the major social media platforms and design ideas.
Join Erica Byrum, always one of our highly rated presenters at the conference, for this lively and interactive session!
Erica is the assistant vice president of social media for Apartments.com, the leading online apartment listing website and its network of nine home rental sites powered by CoStar.
With 16 years in real estate marketing, Erica is an industry visionary whose expertise is rooted in social media and digital marketing to strengthen brand presence and increase revenue. Erica directs the business development, product marketing, sales and operations efforts for its social suite of products, a full-service offering that optimizes the online reputation and social media footprint for multifamily real estate properties.
Co-author of Youtility for Real Estate, Erica is well-known for revolutionizing social media and has become a top influencer and sought-after speaker at many marketing and industry conferences. She is a recipient of the PR News Social Media MVP award, the Sarah Malone award, a two-time President’s Club winner, and a 2nd place winner for Top Deal of The Year in 2019. An accomplished marketing professional, her contributions have made a significant impact on large brands spanning multiple industries including residential and multifamily real estate, vacation rentals, commercial truck and equipment, and sports and entertainment.
3:15PM-4:00PM
Workshop #2: Pinterest: The Hidden Gem of Social Marketing
Where your brand shows up matters more than ever. Social advertising gives us numerous opportunities and platforms to reach a targeted audience. Although social media platform giants, like Facebook and Instagram, may feel like conventional avenues, Pinterest remains a powerful underdog. With Pinterest, you can reach a growing audience where they plan for their future. With the user rate of this platform increasing as people look for inspiration, specifically related to their home, Pinterest is an especially effective way for properties to be discovered organically and through ads. Learn the best practices for utilizing Pinterest to its fullest potential to increase leads and brand awareness.
What you’ll learn:
- What makes Pinterest such a unique platform
- Why your property should be marketing through Pinterest
- How to make sure your brand is set up for success on Pinterest
- Content best practices including creative and copy
- How to analyze your success
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Workshop #3: The Impact of Influencer Marketing in the Apartment Industry
Adam Japko, Chief Executive Officer of Esteem Media, Inc, and founder of Multifamily Social Media Summit, keeps busy with magazines like Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles and New England Home, design industry events that include Design Influencers Conference and Luxury Home Design Summit, along with myriad other projects from designer showhouses to design influencer and luxury design & wine travel tours.
4:45PM - 5:30 PM
Workshop #4: How Ratings & Reviews Impact Lead Generation
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Welcome Reception at the Meritage Resort
Thursday, July 15, 2021
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Registration and Badge Pick-up
Breakfast with Exhibitors and Sponsors
9:00 AM- 9:15AM
Welcome and Introduction
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Keynote: Complaint Free Business by Will Bowen
Business executives and employees deal with hundreds of complaints on a daily basis — complaining coworkers, complaining customers.
In Will's Keynote session, you'll learn:
- What’s wrong with complaining? (Chronic complaining’s destructive effects on health, relationships, and success)
- What is (and isn’t) a complaint? (This will surprise and shock you )
- The 5 reasons people complain (Remembered by the acronym G.R.I.P.E.)
- How to get other people, and ourselves to stop complaining (Yes, it’s possible)
- Positive leadership in a negative world (Building the best business you can with the resources you have)
Everyone will leave inspired, mindful of their own complaints, and motivated to approach complaining customers and co-workers with new, simple, and effective strategies.
In 2006 Will was the minister of a small midwestern church delivering a series on prosperity and noticed that his congregation all said they wanted greater prosperity– that is: more stuff. But, they all complained about what they already had.
He suggested everyone try and break the complaining habit by going 21 days in a row without complaining. Will gave purple rubber bracelets to everyone in attendance urging them to put the bracelet on either wrist and switch it to the other wrist with every spoken complaint. Will’s idea EXPLODED around the world.
So far, more than 11 million complaint bracelets have been distributed worldwide. The six millionth Complaint Free® bracelet was personally presented by Will to the late Dr. Maya Angelou.
Will has written 5 books (so far) that have sold in excess of 3 million copies and have been translated into more than 25 languages. Will travels the world motivating businesses and organizations of every size, from conference rooms to amphitheaters. His presentation clears up the “ear pollution” of complaining in a way that is engaging, inspiring, and funny!
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Instagram for Business
Instagram remains the preferred platform for marketers and influencers. Over the last year the platform has exploded with new features and tools that enhance discoverability, rich content, engagement, and ROI for marketers. SEO, reels, messaging, chat, IGTV and more have enhanced the platform but demand more focus and management by the content creator. Kyla Herbes will walk you through much of this functionality and their specific values.
When TikTok exploded during the 2020 pandemic, and Kyla went all in on the platform. As a result, she was hired by TikTok to become a Creative Learning Partner, and her account was featured in Furniture, Lighting & Decor Magazine, Yahoo News, Southern Living, and Exhibit A as one to watch in the home decor niche.
Prior to starting her blog, she worked as the Creative Director at a boutique ad agency in downtown Chicago. Kyla lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband Thorsten and 2 children.
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Champagne Networking Break with Exhibitors and Sponsors
Creating and Managing an Online Community for Your Community of Residents
Your residents share more than their communal space: they share their experiences and day-to-day lives online. Social media has become as much a part of everyday life as your morning coffee, and communities form around anything and everything. That includes your properties. Creating a welcoming environment and keeping residents happy extends beyond the physical domain, and with a carefully laid out strategy, it can become a hugely valuable asset.
Participants in this session can expect to learn the following:
● Understanding the various media where your tenants can engage, and what the benefits might be of building communities on each
● How to leverage new media for direct resident engagement and coordination so as to improve the overall quality of life and resident satisfaction
● New ways of taking advantage of these online communities to increase occupancy and passively find new residents
Corey’s background in economics is focused largely on econometrics – economic statistics – which has allowed him to develop unique, first-of-their-kind approaches to analyzing marketing data and identifying new opportunities for t2’s clients. He has pioneered the concepts of social equity, which has provided a basis for an expansive study on new media measurability, and Responsive Branding, a proprietary concept which leverages vast amounts of market data to develop more effective strategies.
The highly in-demand nature of Corey’s expertise has led to him speaking at conferences, summits, and corporate events all over the world. He contributes regularly to a variety of online and print publications, and sits on a number of advisory boards, including the global Ampersand Advisory Board for gaming. Corey is the author of “Marketing to Millennials For Dummies” as part of the For Dummies series for Wiley, and a contributing author of Marketing All-in-One For Dummies.
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
Tips for Creating Striking Visuals of Your Listings on Your Social Feed
When you pick up your iPhone to shoot, are you thinking about composition and lighting; the two most important elements of great photography? Do you have separate strategies for indoors and outdoors? Since iPhones make it easy to look like an experienced photographer, Linda will make you comfortable with framing, cropping, rules of thirds, background awareness, symmetry and patterns, hard and soft lighting, exposure control, and more! You’ll walk away with a better understanding of what makes good interior composition, what lighting is best for interior shots, and two basic editing apps you should be using in order to create striking visuals on your social feed!
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Lunch Sponsored by Yardi
Power Panel: Marketing Trends for a Better Buyer Journey
It’s no secret that people are spending more time online. That means our digital world will continue to influence our buying decisions and will be integral to how we find our next apartment. Let's explore the marketing trends that make finding and renting an apartment home a frictionless experience. Can we let you in on a secret? These are the SAME trends that are making the bottom-line difference for top multifamily operators. Join this powerhouse panel as they discuss what’s working, what’s not, and how you should adjust accordingly.
What You’ll Learn:
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Tried and true tactics that reduce your renters’ frustration with your digital marketing channels
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Tips on ‘what’s next’ in multifamily marketing
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How the buyer’s journey has changed and how to capture their attention
Moderator: Amanda Maclin, Vice President of Sales, G5. Amanda is a seasoned Multifamily Property Management & Service Partner Executive, with 25+ years of experience. Amanda started her career straight out of college, on the operational side. Beginning as a Leasing Specialist and working her way through the ranks to VP of Marketing & Director of Property Management. Amanda then took her operations expertise to the service provider side of Multifamily, with her key focus on digital marketing, lead generation, and client experience.
Crystal Tolen, Regional Vice President, Case & Associates. Crystal began her career in the multifamily industry 25 years ago, as a Leasing Consultant for Case and Associates. She went on to work for ERC Properties, Inc, a development company in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, overseeing marketing and operations for 35 new multifamily developments across 6 states. Crystal then switched gears as the Publisher of the Tulsa Apartment Finder and launched the Apartment Finder in Northwest Arkansas. This is where she found her passion for content marketing and social media influence. She ultimately returned to Case and Associates 8 years ago as Regional Vice President and oversees social and internet marketing. Crystal has served on multiple advisory boards across the U.S. and has held positions as a Board member for local industry organizations. She is currently the President Elect for IREM Tulsa Chapter.
Courtney Smith, Marketing Director, Barrett & Stokely Management, LLC. In pursuit of her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Indianapolis, Courtney began her marketing career as an intern with Resource Commercial Real Estate. Upon graduation, she accepted a position with the Indy Chamber spearheading their digital marketing strategy for economic development in Indianapolis. Responsibilities included investor event planning, social media strategy, email marketing, budgeting and external communications. Courtney’s prior experience led her to begin her multi-family housing career in 2014 when she joined Barrett & Stokely as the Marketing Director. She now oversees all marketing efforts for the midwestern fee-managed portfolio of 6,000 units. She excels in targeted digital and traditional marketing campaign strategy, implementing new technology and new development. In 2020, she launched the unique multifamily podcast, Apartments on the Go.
Alexis Murrell, Managing Director, Bellrock RealEstate Partners. "
Alexis has over 17 years of property management experience and began her career in the multifamily vertical as a leasing professional in South Carolina. Alexis is a high-impact and data driven leader who’s known for championing innovation, growing revenues, and improving processes. She has a unique ability and proven success designing and executing marketing plans, locating efficiencies, and increasing sales and marketing effectiveness.
Alexis has overseen the strategic marketing efforts of conventional and student real estate portfolios totaling more than 33k units and valued at more than $7B as well as asset managed new construction projects through stabilization. With a background encompassing all facets of marketing, operations, corporate strategy, and client services, she has established herself as an expert in the fields of customer experience, branding, reputation, social media and digital marketing. She is responsible for the executive oversight of all daily operations for Bellrock's multifamily portfolio.
Chrissie Rivers, Director of Marketing, Topaz Asset Management. Chrissie is a dedicated leader with over 20 years’ experience in multifamily property management. Her ability to engage those around her and translate her expertise has created exceptional results both as an operator, trainer and in her current role developing and implementing marketing strategies for TAM. She spearheads all initiatives related to marketing, advertising, public relations, communications, and social media engagement, with an overall focus on TAM's brand integrity. Her passion lies in creating culture and building branding that translates to moments that matter experiences.
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
Google My Business: Why It Matters More Than Ever!
Apartment Marketing was turned upside down when the pandemic hit and suddenly you had the whole world go completely digital. Google My Business is one of the first sources found online by potential residents and will continue to play an important role in boosting your Community’s Brand Equity. Let’s get together to learn all things Google My Business, so we can ignite your communities website traffic to the best level. Get better placement in Google Maps to increase your online exposure by joining this session.
Actionable takeaways include:
- How to Maximize Your Google Knowledge Panel
- New Features of Google My Business
- Boost Your Brief Description on GMB
- Enhancing Your GMB Listing w/ Highlights and Attributes
- Utilizing GMB Products to Promote Your Floor Plans
- Google Q & A Tips
- Why Reviews Matter More on Google My Business
- How to Encourage Users to Leave Google Reviews
- How to Optimize Your Google Posts to Boost SEO
- Gain Insights Into Your Community with GMB Insights
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Networking Break with Exhibitors and Sponsors
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
How to use short videos for more impactful social media posts
Short video content has become one of the best ways to grow social media engagement. Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube have taken TikTok’s lead to capture community attention. In just 60 seconds you can gain thousands or millions of views. Companies are gaining traction and making sales faster than ever before with quick clips.
Property management companies can capitalize on this trend by showcasing real estate in attention-grabbing videos. Viewers enjoy watching and sharing housing with unique amenities, stunning locations, and beautiful design. Unlike a static image, videos can literally zoom into to show details from many angles and put properties into action. Add in the audio experience of voice-over descriptions, sound effects, and/or catchy music and you’re on track for a viral sensation!
Join Whitney Lauritsen to learn how to:
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Produce engaging and eye-catching content with any budget, equipment, and time constraint.
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Create a distribution plan for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and TikTok that takes 30 minutes (or less) total.
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Increase your chances of going viral by using hashtags, music, and content trends.
Passionate about business, Whitney advises creative entrepreneurs with digital marketing strategies that amplify their passions. She regularly coaches, consults, and presents on social media trends, influencer partnerships, and content monetization. A six-year stint teaching workshops at the Apple Store advanced her tech knowledge and experience. She has participated in business programs led by Google, Facebook, and Scripps Network. Recognized by her colleagues as a connector, Whitney has run numerous wellness industry events at YouTube Space, during the Natural Products Expo, and on Clubhouse app.
4:45 PM-5:30 PM
SOCi and Forrester Research: Top Marketing Trends for Multi-Housing Businesses
According to Forrester’s recent study commissioned by SOCi, The Localized Marketing Imperative, it’s a necessity for your marketing strategy, including social content, SEO & reputation management, to be localized. In this session with SOCi's CMO, Monica Ho, she'll dive into the top digital marketing trends for multi-location businesses. You can expect to learn:
- The secrets to building real connections with your consumers in 2021 and beyond
- What is E.A.T.?
- The rise of non-branded search
- How social is having an increasing influence on your company's SEO
- Challenges impeding your localized marketing success
Monica’s tenure in the industry includes over 20 years of marketing, advertising and research experience, including a solid foundation in sales, strategy and data analytics. Prior to SOCi, she served as Global CMO at GroundTruth (formerly xAd, Inc), where she helped grow the business from an early stage start-up to an award-winning global brand.
Well regarded in the space, Monica has received numerous accolades and awards including being ranked one of The Most Powerful Women in Mobile Advertising (3 years in a row) by Business Insider and one of the 100 most influential North American b2b tech marketers by Hot Topics. In addition to her role at SOCi, Monica serves on the advisory boards of several digital marketing and technology start-ups within NY, TX and CA.
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Networking Reception and Wine Tasting Sponsored by G5 at the Meritage Resort
Friday, July 16, 2021
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Breakfast with Exhibitors and Sponsors
The Lazy, Crazy Way People Make Decisions (And How to Use That to Your Advantage!)
As marketers fight for attention and engagement, they overlook a critical fact about their audiences: they have lazy brains!
It’s not that the people you target aren’t smart and educated – they are. It’s just that the human brain is hardwired to take the easy way out. It conserves as much mental energy as possible. Social scientists have proven that people cruise through much of their day on autopilot, defaulting to hardwired behaviors when they make many decisions. They give these behaviors little to no thought, responding automatically.
And, as behavioral economists have documented, some of these automatic responses are actually irrational -- or what we’d call crazy!
To give your marketing the best chance for success, you need to factor these decision defaults into your social media campaigns, blogposts, and other content. Often, they’re what people rely on when choosing what to read, who to trust, and when to buy.
Once you know that the human brain typically takes the path of least resistance, and that people frequently don’t make well-considered, rational decisions, you can craft social campaigns that your target market instinctively engages with.
Key session takeaways include:
- Magical words that increase readership and incite action
- The surprising effect of numbers in headlines
- Why you should feature faces in your posts – and the one mistake you must avoid when doing so
- The neuroscientific advantage that only stories provide
- The 4 emotions most likely to create viral content
The Chief Creative Officer of HBT Marketing, Harhut is known for her interesting and actionable insights that focus on the application of behavioral science to marketing. A top-ranked speaker, she's wowed audiences all over the world, including London, Sydney, Stockholm, Moscow, Madrid, Berlin, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more. Companies seeking an added advantage tap her for campaign development, consulting, and content creation. Follow her on twitter at @nharhut
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM
How to create short social media videos on your phone
Join this hands-on, interactive workshop to learn how to make videos for platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and beyond. Follow along as Whitney Lauritsen guides you through the steps to produce engaging content on your phone. Learn tips for creating with ease and speed using the equipment you already own. Hone your skills to reduce overwhelm, frustration, and procrastination. Ask questions and get answers from Whitney, plus hear what’s working for others at the summit.
Passionate about business, Whitney advises creative entrepreneurs with digital marketing strategies that amplify their passions. She regularly coaches, consults, and presents on social media trends, influencer partnerships, and content monetization. A six-year stint teaching workshops at the Apple Store advanced her tech knowledge and experience. She has participated in business programs led by Google, Facebook, and Scripps Network. Recognized by her colleagues as a connector, Whitney has run numerous wellness industry events at YouTube Space, during the Natural Products Expo, and on Clubhouse app.
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Networking break with Exhibitors and Sponsors
11:00AM - 11:20AM
Wine Tasting Sponsored by Anyone Home
11:20 AM - 12:00 PM
Five Applications of AI for Marketers
AI and machine learning are everywhere, and marketers are struggling with major questions like "What exactly is AI?" and "How will this impact my work?" John Wall of Marketing Over Coffee and Trust Insights will explain what AI is (and isn't), and how to apply machine learning to marketing programs you are already doing.
In this session you'll learn:
- How to use AI for predicting marketing trends and strategy
- How to use Machine Learning for understanding messy data like customer feedback
- How to use Attribution to determine which marketing programs are working
John has held positions specializing in Customer Relationship Management, Marketing Automation, and sales support systems at both venture-funded and privately held businesses, working with clients such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce.com. He’s spoken to audiences from 2 to 2,000 at events like Dreamforce, INBOUND, and for groups like MarketingProfs, Association of Inside Sales Professionals, PRSA, and more.
His latest book, The Marketing Over Coffee Playbook is the follow up to B2B Marketing Confessions, both available on Amazon
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
R&D: Innovating In The Changing Digital Landscape
In this industry, change is a constant and constraints are plentiful. Technology evolves, platforms emerge and develop, regulations change, and consumer behavior shifts - and that is in a typical year! Sometimes even a global pandemic can come around and catalyze change in the digital marketing landscape. How do you keep up and create a meaningful strategy that is informed by all the changes? By viewing change as an opportunity for innovation and improvement. Discuss how to integrate idea generation at every step and take a look at some of the biggest changes shaping our industry.
What You'll Learn:
- How to use change as an opportunity to grow and develop using different research methods.
- Different types of idea generation to effectively strategize, plan, and map your goals.
- How to get your team involved through the use of The Pyramid Model of Innovation Initiatives.
- Digital trends in 2021 like new privacy standards and the "new normal" of digital marketing.
12:30 PM - 12:45 PM
Closing Remarks and Announcements