Gabfocus Self Storage Podcast

Melissa Stiles from Storage Asset Management brings her expertise managing marketing for over 600 self storage locations to the group as we dive into digital marketing. What tactics work for lease up, large stores, small stores, or stable properties? When is it time to change things up? What should your budget look like? We explore social media, Google Ads, Analytics, Business Profiles, and competing with other operators in your market. Plus, we reveal the most underutilized marketing tactic in self storage.

This is a re-broadcast of the 11/21 webinar.

Guest: Melissa Stiles, Storage Asset Management 

Hosts: Tommy Nguyen & Melissa Huff

Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Lighthouse Storage Solutions

What's obvious to you might not be so obvious to others. We swim in the self-storage world, so things like month-to-month leases, drive-up access, online rentals, and pest control might not seem like amazing amenities to highlight. However, the average customer doesn't know the standard self-storage package. Handicap access or the fact that they are the only ones with a key to their unit might be the selling point that brings you the rental over your competitor. Your competitor has those things too, but if you're the only one advertising that you don't require a security deposit, maybe customers will start think that you have the edge over your competition.

Today we take a deep dive into all things obvious, plus share some holiday themed recommendations.

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Welcome to Episode 3 of Legal Chat. This virtual "Power Hour" covers a variety of topics and questions sent in from self storage owners and operators around the country. Today it's all about disasters. With the recent hurricanes hitting the southeast, it's important to understand the legal challenges. Here are a few of the topics covered:

• Tenant Communication During and After Disaster
• Allowing Access After a Disaster
• Handling Tenants' Property During Clean-Up
• What if you don't have flood coverage?
• Remedies for Tenants Who Won't Vacate
• Ability to Create a Contract Without a Signature
• Using Units for Non-Storage Needs

You can watch this episode over on the YouTube channel- Watch Episode 3 on YouTube

Make sure to subscribe to watch future episodes.

Hosts: Carlos Kaslow & Scott Zucker with the Self Storage Legal Network

Brought to you by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Your Google Business Profile accounts for almost 50% of the ranking factors that impact when you'll show up in Google's search results. This free tool is constantly updated and is often the first intro customers have to your business. This profile is a free tool available to every self storage business owner. Are you making the most of every feature? Every box you check on this profile sends positive signals to the most powerful search engine on the planet.

Today, we cover some of the newer features you should look into. Parking, online hours, videos, and social profiles are just a few of the updates we touch on. Plus, we highlight a few things to avoid when making your updates.

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Are you tired of hearing "Well, I'm not an attorney, but..."? Worry no more- we have one of the best self storage attorneys in the country joining the webinar today. Scott Zucker has decades of experience in the industry. Today, he updates us on the top changes in 2024, laws from other industries that are impacting self storage, and what's coming in 2025. From pricing strategies, to evictions, to non-monetary defaults, we cover a wide range of legal best practices. Plus, several questions for our amazing audience.

This is a re-broadcast of the 10/17 webinar.

Guest: Scott Zucker, Self Storage Legal Network 

Hosts: Tommy Nguyen & Melissa Huff

Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Lighthouse Storage Solutions

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, many self storage owners across the southeast experienced one of the D's that drive rentals in our industry- Disaster. Whether it's a hurricane, tornado, fire, burglary, or some other form, disaster hits us all. Are you prepared? The best plan is one that's in place before disaster strikes, but even in the midst of a tragic event like Hurricane Helene there are positive things you can do both for your business and community.

How can you be prepared? What should that plan look like? What are some wise (and some unwise) decisions to consider when the power is out, internet is down, flooding is coming, and tenants need their goods? We cover all of this as we look ahead to whatever disaster may be coming next.

Resources:

• SSA Emergency Preparedness Manual
• Force of Nature MSM Article

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Customer service makes all the difference. You can have a fantastic self storage facility with a great location that is beautifully clean, but if your customer service is terrible you won't rent a unit. Lee Creech joins the webinar today to share his tips, tricks, and basic principles from his years of experience working in the hotel industry as well as self storage.

He explores the art of simply talking with people and the importance of learning about your customers. From difficult conversations, to dealing with deliquent payments, to enforcing the rules, we cover all the elements it takes to provide exceptional customer service.

Guests: Lee Creech, Northshore Pellissippi Storage

Hosts: Tommy Nguyen & Melissa Huff

Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Lighthouse Storage Solutions

There is a question in the self storage industry that brings to light just about everything you need to know about a tenant. Will they rent long term? Will they pay their bill? Are they a business owner? Are they a security risk? Do they need climate control storage? One simple question unlocks the door to all of these answers. This question changes the dynamic of a conversation and shifts the control from potential tenant to the manager. 

So what is this all important question? You'll have to listen to find out.

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Are you even doing trade shows right? There's a right way to do a trade show, and then there's just wasting your time and money. This is just one of many topics we cover as we return to the mics and gab all about the recent Self Storage Association Fall Conference in Las Vegas a few weeks back. We learned alot, from Google updates, to data analytics, to AI do's and don'ts.

Plus, we share some of our tips for vendors looking to get more people visiting their booths. We've got some praises as well as pet peeves to hand out. We hope you find our insights... insightful, and that you make plans to head to a trade show in the near future. And if you do plan on going to one, make sure you do it right.

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

The Fall Conference season officially kicks off this week with the SSA Fall Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. With more shows than a person possibly attend over the next few months, how to do you know what is the right show for you? How do you get the most out of your trade show? And should you even attend one?

We discuss a few of our tips and tricks for navigating show season, a few things to consider as you think about going to a show, and a few essentials to pack while you travel. This episode is short and sweet, because it's show time.

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions