We never stop learning. Even once we master a skill, we have to continue to hone it. That's why, in business and in life, we should seek out educational opportunities whenever and wherever possible. In the self-storage industry, theres a once-a-year opportunity to absorb a massive amount of knowledge in a single setting: the Inside Self-Storage World Expo.
This years event, March 30 to April 2 at the Paris Hotel & Resort in Las Vegas, packs in the schooling for investors, developers, managers and owners. With multiple seminar tracks, five workshops, more than a hundred exhibitors and new events, the 2014 Expo promises an instructive smorgasbord. This limited print space cannot do justice to the all-encompassing agenda planned for this years event, so well just hit some of the highlights. To view a complete agenda and register, visit www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com.
Facility Operation
With competition fierce in just about every market, self-storage owners and managers have to be at the top of their gameevery day. This includes everything from creating fantastic curb appeal and offering excellent customer service to overseeing expenses and being present on the Web and in social media. Theres no such thing as good enough when it comes to being the market leader.
If youre new to the industry, a handful of seminars will help guide you to becoming a pro. You'll get tips on facility maintenance, how to master your sales approach, and easy ways to create a collection program that gets results. Managers and owners with industry experience will find useful information on pricing strategies, facility auditing, using management software to create valuable reports and much more.
Marketing
Hand in hand with facility management is marketing. With the Web becoming the place to be to attract new tenants and retain existing ones, both self-storage veterans and newbies need to keep up-to-date on the ever-changing online landscape. Lets not forget how often the search engines like to reconfigure their analytics and the explosion of social media. Needless to say, were all spending a lot more time on the Internet these days.
To help operators engage their online audience, the ISS Expo will include marketing seminars focused on maximizing and maintaining a Web presence. Learn about the all-important topics of search engine marketing and optimization, the costs and value, and why your websites content truly matters. Just having a website is no longer enough. Operators need to dig deeper if they want to compete.
Offline marketing is still valuable, too. One of the best marketing avenuesand a feel-good approachis community marketing. If youre not developing your community ties, come find out why its critical and how to do it.
Development and Investment
If youre a first-time developer or investor, a number of seminars will get you up to speed on the feasibility process, site selection, balancing form with function, and where to find the capital to fund your dream project.
Speaking of money, industry finance experts say nows the time to refinance an existing loan or seek a new one for business expansions. First, you need to understand the state of the debt market, the current loan products available to self-storage owners and investors, and how to determine your facilitys value. Next is assembling your loan package to ensure it attracts lenders. Youll learn about these topics and more in a variety of seminars.
Workshops
This years workshops, which require separate registration, offer something for everyone. The Developers Workshop, a favorite in years past, is back with a whole new angle. After nearly five years of little to no new construction, the industry is once again seeing activity. Whether youre looking to build from the ground up, convert a structure or add to an existing property, youll gain insight on whats new in this information-packed workshop.
Another attendee favorite, the Legal Learning Live Workshop, is also getting a makeover this year. With many states updating their lien laws, its imperative that operators be current on whats going on in their region. In addition to lien-sale requirements, processes and risks, this workshop will address the latest trend, online auctions. This cant-miss workshop is for everyone in charge of a self-storage business.
Think youre managing your social media in the most effective manner? These days it takes more than just having an online presence to make a difference. Learn what SERP means and how to do it in the Social Media Mastery Workshop.
This years show will also include separate workshops for owners and managers. The informative workshop for owners walks through the hiring and training process, how to build successful marketing programs, revenue management and much more. The Management Workshop will cover the A to Z of facility management, including customer service, delinquencies, time management and other issues critical to the daily operation of a facility.
Whether the 2014 ISS Expo will be your first or fifth, there will be numerous ways to learn new skills and explore innovative ideas and concepts. Its an enlightening opportunity you cant miss.
For the complete agenda and details regarding events, exhibits, seminars, speakers, workshops and more, visit www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com .
