If you think outreach marketing is a waste of time, you’re not alone — but you're also probably doing it wrong. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the proven strategy we used to generate real results through outreach marketing blitzes, including one campaign that led to 45 leases in 90 days. I’ll walk you through how to set goals, prepare the right materials, pick your blitz date, approach local businesses without feeling awkward, and actually make a lasting impact in your neighborhood. Plus, get insider tips on the kinds of goodies, flyers, and messaging that open doors (literally and figuratively). Spark members — don’t forget to download your exclusive Blitz Checklist and customizable flyer in the resource library!

Join Spark for $7 (less than a #1 meal at Chickfila): sparkbysprout.com

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

This quick, no-fluff pep talk is for the overwhelmed property manager who’s still showing up - tired, under pressure, and doing her best. If you work in multifamily, manage a leasing office, or support residents day in and day out, this is your reminder that your work matters—even on the hard days. Grab a coffee, press play, and breathe. You’ve got this.

Get Your Spark Back: sparkbysprout.com

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

In the first 2025 episode of The Multifamily Mix, we tackle burnout in property management and multifamily marketing with simple, actionable strategies to help you rediscover your spark. Join Barbara Savona as she shares a step-by-step approach to apartment marketing, resident retention, social media, and communication—designed for busy property managers and onsite teams. Get ready to streamline your efforts, achieve your goals, and reignite your passion for multifamily success!

Join SPARK by Sprout: https://www.watchyourbusinesssprout.com/spark-by-sprout

EPISODE AT A GLANCE:

00:00 Introduction: The Spark of Inspiration

01:05 Welcome to the Multifamily Mix

01:55 Challenges in Multifamily Management

06:40 Introducing Spark by Sprout

06:59 The 10-Step Strategy for Success

08:29 Personal Focus and Burnout Prevention

09:02 Join the Spark Membership

10:50 Conclusion: Simplify and Shine in 2025

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

What you will learn in this video:

Why you should layer your tour information to address pain points for your prospects.

How to focus on your prospect’s lifestyle and tailor your presentation to them.

When to feature your staff, neighborhood, and amenities in a way that serves your prospects.

Get your own guidebook to build your leasing skills.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

What you will learn in this podcast:

- What you need to do to grow in the multifamily industry - valuable advice!

- The biggest challenges property managers face - you are not alone!

- Tips to manage a property that’s a larger asset with more residents. What you should automate and what you should make sure you do yourself.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

There is a leasing technique and skill set that once mastered, drives leases waaaay up. It helps you feel more comfortable leasing and still serves me today. What am I talking about? Closing techniques!

This podcast shares several closing ideas for you to choose from and make your own. Please consider them as a jumping-off point, not a one-size-fits-all, and tailor them to your personality.

If you like what you hear/read/see, it’s a small sample from our Leasing Blueprint Handbook. This is the book I wished I had when I was a leasing professional and why we made it just for you.

Let’s get comfortable closing all those sales!

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

What you get in this episode:

- Find out which videos you NEED in your marketing.

- How to get done-for-you videos. (We make great videos!)

- A complete guide to DIY your own videos, and our favorite apps to use!

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Opt-ins are a strategy where you give away something small to encourage someone to join or "opt-in" to your email list. This opt-in lives on your website where they submit their email and then go to a page or receive an email with whatever giveaway you have. Then you continually nurture that email list by sharing details about your community, whether that be a hot floor plan, benefits of your amenities or location, or your latest special.

Opt-ins can be a special or discount, but they don't have to be. Information is also a very valuable and coveted item that people want. Below you will find some opt-in ideas that you can utilize today!

Full Episode Info HERE.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

- Get the answers to your most common questions about social media.

- The 2 goal outcomes for social media posts. What are they? And how do you achieve them?

- The secret weapon hundreds of multifamily professionals partner with to shortcut their social media planning and execution.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

LEARN:

How 2020 changed our habits 

2 Pillars of Building a Community 

3 Marketing Ideas that Support you and your Local Community

3 Retention Ideas to Create A Corner Of Happiness

3 Event Ideas to Give People An Outlet

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Listen for the FULL list!

1. Drill down on what makes you unique.

2. Talk to people everywhere you go. 

3. Get to work 15 minutes early and establish a start-up routine.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Get your Instagram Story (ready to use!) at watchyourbusinesssprout.com/sprout-marketing-blog/love-where-you-live-location-marketing

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

- Learn what a micro-event is along with how and why you need to host them.

- Get the resources and instructions to host a killer virtual event that everyone will love. We PROMISE. Download them here: watchyourbusinesssprout.com/sprout-marketing-blog/8-heartwarming-events-to-boost-retention

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

In this episode of The Multifamily Mix, Barbara Savona of Sprout Marketing shares creative ideas for resident events to kick off January 2025, focusing on their dual purpose: resident retention and marketing opportunities. She introduces engaging event concepts like a soup tasting extravaganza, a grab-and-go soup bar, a virtual "Guess the Soup" restaurant challenge, and highlights unique activities like a polar bear plunge with warm drinks, a houseplant pop-up workshop, and a calligraphy and cocktails class. Barbara emphasizes the importance of refreshing multifamily professionals' motivation amidst industry challenges and hints at an exciting 2025 initiative to help reignite their spark. With detailed tips and Sprout resources, she encourages multifamily teams to plan events that connect residents, support outreach, and drive positive engagement.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

see the full blog & resources https://www.watchyourbusinesssprout.com/sprout-marketing-blog/marketing-in-the-new-year.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

In this session you will learn:

Why easing up on your team might be counterproductive

What your leadership style is - dominator or protector

How to offer the right amount of challenge and support

How to have weekly one-on-ones with your team to drive the results you want

How to progressively escalate conversations (without emotion) to address barriers

Go to episode webpage here.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

The first one is to define the IMPACT you want to have. If you have people that are excited about being in the multifamily housing industry and want to have a similar impact as you, your ability to clearly define what that impact is and what that purpose is is really critical.

The example that I use is I would never really be a good team member if Coca-Cola or Pepsi hired me. I'm trying to stop drinking Coca-Cola and Pepsi because I think it's terrible for you and I think it's contributing to a lot of health issues in our country. So I wouldn't have a passion. It’s not the impact I want to have on the world.

So the first question is what is the passion, what are we trying to go build? I want to go find people that have a similar passion. The only way that I can do that is to try to unpack it from my own brain and then recognize if other people have it as well.

People are the most powerful resource a business has, and people are not being tapped into at the level they should be so that they can create impact. And a lot of that is because they're not passionate about what they do or the impact of their work; whether they're with the wrong company or if they're in the wrong industry or if they're just with the wrong team.

The key, as a hiring manager, is to get clear on how I define passion first, so that I can invite people on the journey to go create that impact.

Next you have to define your core values. So often we look at the capabilities or abilities that somebody needs in order to do their role, but just because somebody is proficient at the technical aspect doesn't mean that we're going to work well together. And those core values are really important. Our core values are how we approach the work.

My core values are humble, hungry, and sharp. I just don't work well with people that aren't humble, people that come in with a lot of bravado, boisterous and bragging. They're not bad people; I just don't get them. I don't understand where they're coming from. So subconsciously my trust in them goes down. People that aren't hungry and aren't willing to come in to the office early if we've got some stuff to get done. If I'm coming in at 7:00 and they're coming in at 8:30, I don't trust that we're going to be able to get the work done.

There should be a common thread of beliefs that we have in terms of how we approach our work that increases trust. Like Lencioni says on the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: when we have high trust, that's the foundational point of every high performing and high functioning team out there.

Lastly, define the capabilities needed. This is where you can make your bullet-pointed list of: needs to be proficient in this, needs to be able to do this, needs to be able to do that. Go ahead and get that knocked out. It's important, but I see it as the third most important part because if I can find somebody who is passionate about the work and what we're trying to do, someone who is aligned from a core value perspective, I can teach them a lot of the capabilities that they need to a certain extent. If they're really good on the capability side but we're not aligned on a core value and what we're passionate about? I can't train them on that. I can't teach them that.

So those are your three areas: passion for what we're doing, core values, and capabilities.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

To my property management friends, I rounded up 7 FUN events for you to finish 2020 strong. I know, I know…we are ready for 2020 to be over but you know what?

We are the type of people that don’t stop when it gets hard. We regroup and get. it. done. And we do it in style.

There is something for everyone - budget-friendly, simple, glam…we got it all!

And guess what?

I have a special offer for you. If you’ve been on the fence about joining the Sprout Membership where you can access EVERYTHING you see on the blog and hear about on the podcast-THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.

>> Use code DECEMBER 25 to sign up and get $25 off your membership. Pay by credit card here or request invoicing here.

1. Sparkle Event: Grab-N-Go

2. Recipe Swap

3. Sweet Treats on the Go

4. Hot Chocolate on the Run

5. Milk & Cookies

6. Card Bar

7. Charity Drive

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Visit MarketingHomeMarketingYou.com for all the resources mentioned in this episode. Click on episode #42.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

We are always looking for ways to add amenities to our communities and if there is an opportunity for ancillary income, even better!

That’s why I was so excited to virtually “sit down” with STRATIS CEO, Felicite Moorman to talk all things Smart Apartments and Intelligent Buildings. She shares how technology is shaping the landscape of multifamily housing and opening up opportunities that we’ve never had before.

Worried your community is too outdated to implement smart technology? Don’t be! Felicite is sharing how implementing small options can save you thousands in the long haul.

This isn’t just for luxury communities or for Gen Z renters! There is a place for smart technology on all assets and across all demographics. Tune in to see how your community can leverage the benefits and start making the SMART move (see what I did there 😉).

Resources mentioned:

Blog & digital graphic.

Marketing your smart tech graphic bundle.

Connect with Felicite Moorman.

Learn more about STRATIS.

Learn more about Sprout Marketing.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Whether you choose to do these events and gifts as a Resident Appreciation Week or sprinkle them throughout the month is up to you!

These ideas are simple and fun. We’ve incorporated some of the Creative Holidays from November. Grab your free calendar to start planning!

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

>> Who can benefit from Facebook ads?

>>Should individual communities set up Facebook ads or should it be tackled at the management company level?

>>Where to start?

>> How important are digital graphics and messaging to the success of your FB ads strategy?

>> How to pick the right ad agency or partner?

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

In this episode of The Multifamily Mix, Barbara Savona dives into essential strategies for multifamily marketing, focusing on creative resident events designed to boost resident retention and end the year on a high note. Property managers and leasing teams will discover 12 actionable ideas, including a Winter Regency Gala, Bark and Biscuits for pet-friendly fun, Frosty Frenzy games, and grab-and-go treat stations. Barbara also shares insights on navigating challenging seasons and how these unique apartment community events can build connections, drive engagement, and foster loyalty among residents. Perfect for property management teams looking to enhance their event planning, this episode highlights valuable resources from Sprout Marketing to make your holiday programming seamless and impactful.

Get the visuals for the podcast here: http://www.watchyourbusinesssprout.com/sprout-marketing-blog/mix-podcast/december-resident-event-ideas

EPISODE AT A GLANCE:

00:00 Introduction to the Multifamily Mix

00:21 Personal Updates and Encouragement

00:43 Embracing Challenges and Hard Times

02:17 12 Events for December Overview

03:22 Event 1: Winter Regency Frosted Gala

04:36 Event 2: Grab and Go Treats

05:27 Event 3: Virtual Caption Contest

06:14 Event 4: Bark and Biscuits

06:46 Event 5: Gingerbread House Decorating

07:16 Event 6: Frost and Frosting Cookie Decorating

08:22 Event 7: Winter Warm Up Brownie Bar

09:10 Event 8: Winter Wonderland Workshop

09:55 Event 9: Frosty Frenzy Games

10:57 Event 10: Peppermint Puffs Creation

11:26 Event 11: Ugly Sweater or Sock Contest

12:05 Event 12: Shake It Up Cocktail and Mocktail Class

12:48 Event 13: Champagne and Confections

13:40 Conclusion and Wrap-Up

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

>>Clifton’s connection to multifamily

>>Why is anxiety on the rise?

>>When does normal anxiety turn into anxiety disorder?

>>What are the symptoms?

>>What practical steps can someone take to alleviate anxiety?

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

This is a little bit of a unique episode because I’m sharing a personal journey I’ve taken to lose weight over the last six months. Many commented and sent direct messages on social media, asking what I did to lose weight, so I thought I’d share my experience in a podcast episode.

Let’s rewind for a sec…

When COVID and quarantine first started, I found myself going between two reactions involving food. On days where I had time on my hands and was unsure of what productive thing to do, I was eating all the things (and watching the news way too much). And then, on the other days, I was working long hours with my team to make necessary changes to the business to meet the rapidly changing needs of our clients. Since we provide all the flyers and notices that apartment communities use to correspond with residents, we found ourselves swamped with requests from property managers bombarded with change and uncertainty. On those days, I would go to five o'clock and realized I hadn't eaten.

On both days, I wasn’t feeling good. I would either feel overstuffed and restless OR have a pounding headache from too much caffeine and no food. That went on for a good 30 days.

And then I talked with myself. (I hope I’m not alone in talking to myself?)

I said to myself, "You know, Barbara, you don't know how long this is going to be; it's obviously more than just a few weeks. And since this time is going to pass anyway, it's up to you on how you'll come out on the other side."

And I knew that if I kept going down the path that was going, I would not feel good, six, eight months later.

And so I thought, "Okay. When else am I going to have this opportunity to put a little bit more of a focus on my health and on what I'm eating and on moving my body?" I decided to work with a health coach. And today, I'm sharing our interview.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

One of the biggest lies that we’ve been taught to believe is that bigger is better. That in order to have a thriving community we have to have the latest amenities, the most over-the-top giveaways, and host events to rival a Kardashian bash.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

We answer these questions and talk about:

How do we know what our culture is really like?

How can you change it around?

Setting rules actually handicaps your employees.

How to let someone go (and how it can actually be a good thing!)

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

This podcast episode will help anyone in multifamily - whether onsite or on the supplier-side- to dream big, and get to your goals! Elizabeth Francisco, President of ResMan, shares how she got funding for ResMan, how to utilize apartment association events to build your career, and when to know if you need to move on to another opportunity. Tune in.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Elizabeth Francisco is the President and Co-Founder of ResMan, a property management software for multifamily. With over 25 years experience in multifamily, she shares knowledge and experience of a career in multifamily. ResMan is a hugely successful company and Elizabeth Francisco has been at the center since the beginning. Property managers and leasing agents in multifamily will benefit!

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Join me and Dr. Nadia Bening as she shares what stress actually does to our bodies, and techniques to take care of ourselves. Just like our marketing strategy of “small steps create huge impacts”, Dr. Nadia shares our mentality of going back to basics when building foundations of health. Take these tips and transform your life. Bottom line: This pandemic is a stressful time! We know it. Making an effort to care for your mental and physical health will make you feel so much better. Reducing stress with practical steps and advice is timely and readily available to most of us. Use this time to reset and take on life the way YOU want to take it on.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Feel like you’ve been on a Coronacoaster? Feeling fatigued with little inspiration for marketing? I get it. Our goal is to get back to create meaningful MOMENTS for our residents and prospects. We have a huge impact in the lives of our residents. So let’s put a little extra effort to make life special for our residents.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Nothing is off-limits in this conversation! Kate shares her journey, some foundational principles that have shaped her career, and how she ultimately landed her dream role as an apartment developer - combining her many passions and talents!

I know you will benefit from the conversation! Listen to the audio below or check out the video for a full experience and SO many more laughs.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Moms have taken on new jobs during quarantine for their family - becoming teachers, full-time caregivers, some are sole providers - all the while balancing their anxieties and stress during an unpredictable time and still keeping up with a demanding career in multifamily housing.

How are they meeting the challenges?

I wanted to know, so I reached out to a few of my friends and colleagues in our industry and I’m so excited to share insights from each of them about handling challenges and overcoming obstacles.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

This blog, How to Maximize Resident Events: Making Every Moment Count , offers valuable insights for property managers aiming to boost apartment marketing and enhance resident appreciation through impactful resident events. By focusing on meaningful resident interactions, these events become more than gatherings—they’re key opportunities to create a vibrant community atmosphere, engage residents, and strengthen marketing efforts.

Episode At A Glance:

00:00 Welcome to the Multifamily Mix

00:21 Maximizing Resident Events

00:41 A Message From Barbara ❤️

04:38 Strategies for Successful Resident Events

06:56 Capturing and Utilizing Event Moments

11:20 Post-Event Strategies and Community Engagement

16:07 Conclusion and Upcoming Topics

Join the Sprout Community with a marketing and retention membership that will help you save 15+ hours per month. Learn More

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

We’re passing the mic!! This time it’s from our Sprout Fam. Rebecca Ross-Gilinsky is the Creative Director at Sprout Marketing and has a brilliant and creative mind that we loveeee her for. She’s based out of Chicago, so we enjoy all the pics of snow she sends our #watercooler Slack channel, and her quarantine TikToks are not to be underestimated. Rebecca is a pro.

Learn from her today on the topic of HASHTAGS. She’ll cover:

What are hashtags?

Why do you need to use them in your post captions?

How do you do it?

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

We are learning that we need to love where we live…now more than ever. Remind your residents and show your prospects that your apartment community is a place they can make that a reality!

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Take the time to craft the prospect’s experience from start to finish, Beyonce-style. By paying attention to the details, putting yourself in their shoes, and going through the process to uncover any frustrations, you will have a high-converting, self-guided tour program in place in no time.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

If you are an apartment property manager that has been struggling to keep up with it all at your community (and heck, at life) the last couple of months, you are not alone, my friend! I have been thinking about you. I know how challenging it has been to deal with quarantine, social distancing and now for many, reopening their leasing office doors. (Are we ready?)

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

I launched Sprout Marketing having zero ideas of what it would turn into. I am grateful for the success it’s had, but If I were starting over, I would tackle things a little differently and I’m giving you the insider info you need to start a business successfully. Here are some practical steps and tips you can use when turning your side hustle into your main hustle.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

As this COVID-19 situation unfolded we were all glued to social media watching how individuals and companies were impacted and how they would respond. From an outsider’s perspective I watched as RedPeak jumped into action very early on.

The way they lead and communicate with residents and team members was so impressive, I wanted to visit with COO, Jared Miller, to learn more about what was happening behind-the-scenes to foster such a united front. I think you’ll benefit greatly from his insights as I know I did.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

A good leader is a combo of being intentional and being consistent. And it may feel impossible during this time when things are changing literally from hour-to-hour. Lauren and I hired a business coach. And it was probably the best business decision to date that we’ve made. Here are some things we learned from our business coach.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Social media in times of crisis can be difficult to navigate as a property manager and realtor, but it doesn't have to be. Pivot your approaches to reach your goals of being a voice of authority, value, and one that people are eager to listen to! Barbara Savona breaks down how you can still "sell" on social media with minor adjustments.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Amy K Dilisio, Rommel Anacan, Heather Blume, and Barbara Savona share an uplifting message with an actionable plan. You’ll find out how to cope, how to deal, why it’s ok to not be ok, and how to come out of this even better.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Here are TEN TIPS for how you can work from home and be as productive as possible during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

When it comes to apartment marketing, a consistent and effective social media presence is essential. But for many property management professionals, keeping up with regular posts while juggling other tasks can be challenging. In this episode of The Multifamily Mix, Barbara Savona dives into a game-changing strategy: batching. Learn how batching can simplify your social media process and make posting stress-free. 

Episode At A Glance:

00:00 Intro - Welcome Friends!

00:21 Struggles with Social Media Consistency

00:45 Special Announcement for Sprout Members

01:30 The Importance of Systems in Social Media

02:33 Batching: The Key to Social Media Success

03:29 Practical Tips for Effective Batching

05:06 Content Creation and Organization Strategies

08:52 Advanced Batching Techniques

13:40 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Under the current challenging landscape for multifamily leasing and operations, Allison’s insights for implementing a self-guided tour program are timely, relevant, and refreshingly simple.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

As operators of apartment communities, we impact so many lives. After all, we are talking about people’s homes. This is our opportunity to step up.  While we don’t want to panic, it would be foolish not to prepare. 

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

You have about 600 things you’re trying to juggle as a multifamily professional or realtor, and social media marketing can be a daunting, time consuming task. We’re spilling the beans on 11 of our FAVORITE tools that help us have a consistent and effective presence on social media.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com