(#656) TEN "NO-TOUCH" IDEAS FOR RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT
LOOKING FOR SOME IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR RESIDENTS TO STAY BUSY AND ENTERTAINED? You’ve come to the right place.
First of all, you’re doing great, friend!
We’ve seen the craziness that you’ve had to deal with as a property manager and then also everything that you’re probably juggling at home, and you’re all doing it with such grace. So, give yourself a pat on the back and take a breather.
Make use of social media to keep communication open with your residents
We’ve pulled together 10 ideas for your apartment community to post about on social media and some unique virtual resident events.
Read on for all the ideas and ways to pull them off!
1. Food.
We all love it, we’re all probably eating a lot of it during the quarantine. Make a post with a picture of your dinner and ask residents to comment on what they’re having.
You can post a recipe for one of your favorite dinners and ask residents to drop their favorite recipe in the comments.
Find some yummy recipes on Pinterest or even your favorite personal cookbook and post it on social for your residents to cook for breakfast, dinner, or lunch.
Here’s a website I like for recipe inspo: Magnolia Recipe Collection
“If you’re sitting at home, you might as well eat well! Here’s one of our favorite recipes that’s oh so easy and always a crowd-pleaser. Drop your favorite recipe in the comments and if you try this one, let us know how it turns out!”
Start a community food drive. Leave some baskets in a public spot (like the mailroom).
“We have a food drive happening! Check out the baskets in the mailroom to help out our community together. If you have something, leave something. If you need something, take something.”
Social Squares
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2. give residents a reason to talk about their pets
Use pet-friendly themed social media posts
Everyone loves their pets and loves to talk about them. Here’s some posts you can make to encourage residents to comment on social media.
Post a picture of what your pet is doing right now
What’s the most mischievous thing your pet has done
How did you get your pet?
How did your pet get their name?
3. stay active while safe at home
Highlight fitness opportunities around your community. Maybe you have a park nearby for them to go on a walk or run.
Share some Apps your residents can use. Here’s a few that I’ve seen having promotions during this time.
FitBody App with Anna Victoria - Use code 30DAYSFREE at checkout
Consider hosting a virtual live class for your residents if you, a team member, or one of your residents is into fitness and feels comfortable hosting a class.
IG Stories
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4. Spring Cleaning challenge on social media
Ask residents to post a before and after picture of a junk drawer, or closet, or bedroom that they cleaned out.
While residents are cooped up inside their apartments, encourage them to use this time to get a jump start on their Spring cleaning. Every day you can post a different room or area of a home for your residents to clean.
“Take this time to jump-start your Spring Cleaning and clean out all those junk drawers and closets you’ve been meaning to get to. Where do you usually start when you do your spring cleaning? Let us know in the comments!”
Social Square Graphics
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5. host a Netflix Watch Party with your residents
Share url for residents to join and have a chat room where residents can talk about the movie. Check out the full Daily Dose below. Complete with graphics and instructions!
6. Encourage Your Residents to Learn a New Skill
There’s probably something your residents have always wanted to learn but never had the time to. Now is the chance to encourage that!
“Have you always wanted to learn how to crochet? Maybe how to speak another language? Now is the perfect chance to do that! Let us know what you’re learning in the comments!”
Make a poll on social media to see what your residents are interested in learning about and post resources about the things they chose.
Eventbright.com is a website that has some great training events for free right now.
Reach out to residents or team members that they could host a live event based on a topic or skill that they are talented at. This is a great bonding experience for your community!
Ask residents to record mini-tutorial teaching their skill and you can share to your social media.
Social Square Graphics
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7. help give Homeschooling resources to all those stressed out parents
Ask if you have residents who are teachers that could be virtual tutors for your community.
Check the school website for resources you can share.
Find a schedule. - Share these printable schedules!
Use free educational websites. Scholastic is offering 20 days of lessons completely free.
Play some Read-Alouds. Many authors, illustrators and publishing companies are having daily or weekly read aloud. Kids can listen to their favorite authors read their favorite books!
Check out E-Books. The Epic! reading app announced Monday that it would be free to parents for the rest of the school year.
Get physical. With kids kept indoors more than usual, don't forget to provide plenty of wiggle time.
Watch documentaries. Turn on Netflix so you can chill (or get some work done). And there are plenty of quality films to get you through quarantine. Commonsense media keeps a list of the best documentaries for kids.
Head over to this blog for more Sprout inspo: 13 Tips from a Teacher of 30 Years - How to Homeschool
Social Graphics
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8. Have a virtual book club
If you have a resident Facebook page, or even just through your social media channels, you can have residents vote on a book to read and then invite them to chat about it through social media.
“Consider this your invite to our virtual book club. We’ll be picking a book for anyone to join in and read, and then once a week we’ll join the chat on social media to talk about what we thought about it. Drop your book suggestions in the comments!”
Check out this Daily Dose for more Sprout Inspo, Graphics and a How-to!
9. Best Balcony/Door Decoration contest
You could have a theme or just have a free-for-all, but this is a great way to get residents in a creative mood and feel connected, while still practicing social distancing.
“CONTEST TIME! We’re having a “Spring themed” balcony decorating contest over the next week so get to brainstorming and crafting! We’ll announce the winner on social media, so be watching for it!”
Social Squares
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10. Share music that makes you happy
Share a Spotify Playlist
Invite residents to send in songs that make them happy and make a community playlist. Share it once it’s complete!
TIP: You can do this a couple of times and have a monthly playlist for your community. This will show a history of community to new prospects, too.
Social Squares
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