Why Do Rental Owners Need a Community?

If you are a lone wolf in a rental business, you may miss out on great lessons that could be learned by examining other business owners’ experiences.

When we say community, we refer to social media groups, forums, or associations & alliances that gather rental owners in one place to facilitate conversation among them.

Although such groups can exist offline, it would be easier to find them online.

3 Places to Find Rental Communities Online.

1. Facebook.

Facebook has millions of groups, and I am sure there are ones relevant to your niche.

For example, I did a small experiment assuming myself as a trailer rental business.

First, I searched “Trailer Rental” on Facebook.

Then, I selected “Groups” that match my interest.

As you can see, some of those groups are private, so you need to get approved to join them.

However, the approval process is simple and quick for most of them.

2. Reddit

Reddit has communities for almost all niches. And they organize them nicely with subreddits.

This time, I went after RV rental communities.

I searched the “RV rental” keyword on the main search bar, refined my search by clicking the “Communities” tab, and selected the communities that matched my preference.

Please note: The groups I found are not only for RV rental owners; they are for everyone interested in RVing. Such communities kill two birds with one stone by allowing you to interact with potential customers and other rental business owners.

3. Rental Associations & Alliances.

Each country has rental associations that provide resources and a board for rental business owners to come together and discuss their business activities.

For example, in the United States, there are many of them. Some of them include:

• American Rental Association
• Short-Term Rental Association
• California Rental Association
• Florida Alliance for Vacation Rentals

Please note: Each State may have a rental association. You can easily find them by searching keywords like “Rental Associations in [State]”, “Rental Alliances in [State]”, etc.

Global associations also exist for international businesses. The biggest one is the Global Rental Alliance.

If your business is based in Europe, you may check out The European Rental Association.

Joining rental communities can help…

1. To solve rental challenges with collective knowledge.

Let’s be realistic.

You probably faced rental challenges such as customer conflicts, last-minute cancelations, payment issues, damaged items, etc.

Sharing them with the community will allow you to find better solutions.

2. To exchange growth strategies.

Networking with other rental businesses can teach you new strategies you have never seen in marketing books.

Marketing strategies tested in real life by genuine rental businesses will be more impactful than the generic marketing tips you learn online.

3. To increase business visibility.

When you are active in a community, your business is exposed to other companies and potential customers from your area.

Whatever you post on the community becomes a free advertisement because social media posts are visible to everyone (unless the group is private).

4. To find better deals.

Sometimes, rental businesses put their assets up for sale for reasonably low prices.

It is a great opportunity to procure something you need at the lowest price.

For example,

We are members of several rental groups on Facebook, and we keep seeing ads like the following in the community.

5. To have fun.

Networking and engaging with other business owners is fun in itself.

Rental owners can share their daily experiences, funniest moments, or unusual instances with people who are in the same field as they are.

As a rental business owner, you can relate to those stories and retain valuable lessons from others’ experiences.

6. To obtain referrals from other members.

When you are in a group, you are constantly in connection with other businesses.

Sometimes, businesses refer their clients to other companies if they do not have what their clients need.

Let’s assume, you specialize in Arabian-style wedding decor and everybody in a rental community knows about that.

In this case, businesses will refer their clients to your business, if they do not have the specific decor, furniture, and other settings needed for Arabian-style weddings.

7. To discover your weaknesses and strengths.

Community can help you to analyze your business since business owners, who have been in the industry longer than you are, can provide better feedback.

Constructive feedback is a great growth potion that will lead to sustainable growth.

8. To improve your credibility.

It is reputable to be part of a respected community or a member of an established association.

For instance, you can earn recognition by becoming a member of associations, which you can display on your website.

9. To be informed about the industry’s latest news.

Knowing the current trends, policy changes, or anything new in your industry can help you run your business accordingly.

For instance, if researchers published survey results that state the majority of people prefer online bookings to in-person, you know it is time to add an online booking system to your website.

10. To gain early access to industry events and resources.

Some communities organize offline meet-ups, events, seminars, and other activities to reinforce their connections.

You will be invited and given access to those events as a community member. In addition, you will have access to the latest marketing tactics or other insider materials.