Gabfocus Self Storage Podcast

What is SEO, why does it matter, and how does it work for self-storage specifically? Today we tackle search engine optimization basics and discuss the impacts of the REITs, AI, and changes to expect in the coming year. Do you need to still be on page 1 of Google? What metrics should you pay attention to? Who and how do you target your ideal customer? David, the SEO expert from StoragePug, joins th...

When is the last time you looked through your self storage operations manual, assuming you have one in place? Is it still fully applicable and relevant? Are you using it to train new employees or is it so out of date it just collects dust on the shelf? Today we talk best practices for optimizing your operations manual. These documents should be regularly used tools to run your business. If they ar...

A new year is here and change is in the wind! Is it time to get into TikTok? Do you need to pivot to AI search? Maybe a billboard strategy or having a manager available 24/7 is what you need. As more and more options for doing self storage become available, what do you need to be doing as a business owner or operator? As with most things, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Self s...

Welcome to Episode 4 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 costs, data protection, and un-signed leases. Is it okay to pass along costs to your tenants? How long should you hold on to your tenants information once they vacate their unit? What if your tenants refuse to...

"The sky is not the limit, demand is the limit for what we can do in self storage." This is just one of the nuggest from our end of the year review. What was your toughest challenge this year? What are the weaknesses you identified in your business? What worked? What didn't? What trends are you expecting in 2025 for self storage? We look back on 2024 and peak ahead at 2025 with our special owner,...

You're paying hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to get website visitors, walk-in traffic, and phone calls to rent self storage units. But what if you're not there to answer the phone? Too many voicemails and missed calls turn into missed opportunities if you aren't connecting with customers in the moment. But is a call center the right solution? Sherry Miller from XPS Solutions joins us as we...

Cameras and gates and wasp spray, oh my! Yes, these are all great ways to keep the trash off your property and to give your security a boost. Security is top of mind for most self storage tenants. It consistently ranks in the top 3 for what is most important to our customers. What security do you need for your facility? Do you really need a gate? What about cameras and lighting? From locks to acce...

Happy Thanksgiving! As 2024 begins to wrap, we reflect on what makes us most thankful in the self storage industry. From trade shows to business opportunities to our crazy travel schedule, there's a lot to think back on. Yes, we give several specific shout-outs to vendors and individuals who have impacted us, plus some bonus content about our favorite Thanksgiving foods. We hope you have a wonderf...

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 compet...

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...

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 Acc...

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 posit...

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...

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 ar...

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...

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 con...

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 o...

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 consi...

Matt Enger, co-founder of Cubby Storage, joins us to talk about his journey into self storage. From his beginnings storing artwork, to the development of Cubby, he has used his tech background to increase efficiency and enhance the customer experience in a variety of industries. We also dive into self storage software, which has become integral to running just about every facility in the country....

Experts from 6Storage, Storable, Storage Commander, and Storeganise join us to talk all about software. Good self storage software can make all the difference for both the customer experience and the manager/owner. What functionality should software have? How should it interact with security, call centers, and payment portals? What are the pain points operators are trying to overcome? And of cours...

Tommy Nguyen, founder of StoragePug, shares his origins both in the US and in self storage. From his humble beginnings coming to America from Vietnam, to his early days in tech after UT, to the beginnings of his company StoragePug, we hear all about his amazing journey. He discusses his personal story, the heart behind StoragePug, and his thoughts on the self storage industry's past and future. Gu...

What data matters in self storage? Where do you get it? James McLean from Radius+ joins Tommy and Melissa to discuss all the analytics you can handle. It can be hard to sort through all the available data out there from your website to your online profiles to your management software. We discuss the tools that are available and the key data to keep track of to keep your business competitive and su...

Welcome to Episode 2 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 we cover the recently passed legislation regarding non-monetary defaults, the ability to enforce unsigned leases, properly disclosing fees, force-placing tenant insurance, laws against junk fees, legal tips for taking over a...

In this special 100th episode, we revisit our very first topic from two years ago- work life balance. Whether you own a business or just work for one, the motivation behind your work ethic drives everything you do, from the amount of time you spend with your family to the effort you put into your job. We discuss our own work life balance, the "Why" behind Lighthouse Storage Solutions, and some thi...

The future of tenant communication is video. Face time, snaps, zoom, google meet, and a host of other options have grown this tech in person to person communication, but we haven't seen it hit its stride in the self storage space... that is until Live Switch decided to enter our industry. It's not often we're blown away by a new piece of tech that enters the self storage space, but today is an exc...