Coworking locations have become increasingly popular as more professionals and freelancers seek flexible and collaborative work environments. To thrive in this competitive landscape, it’s essential to attract more members to your coworking space. In this blog, we will explore five effective strategies to achieve just that and share tips along the way.
Optimising Your Coworking Website for AI
With the rise of ChatGPT, Google Bard and other AI-powered search tools, more people are looking toward AI to give them quick answers to questions/searches. According to an article by SellCell, ChatGPT has an estimated 13 million daily users. With this growth, AI has the potential to revolutionise traditional search engines by excelling in understanding precise questions or prompts from human users and delivering specific answers using vast data sets. For instance, consider the image below, where we asked Google Bard to recommend the ideal office space for a particular company type in a specific location, while also enquiring about the response criteria.
As AI becomes more widespread, such interactions will become increasingly common when making significant purchases. By incorporating AI-driven tools, businesses can greatly enhance the user experience and increase their chances of attracting new customers and members. Embracing AI technology empowers users with tailored and accurate information, transforming the way we interact with search platforms and, ultimately, improving decision-making processes.
Localised Social Campaigns for Coworking
People are currently in the throes of flexible working and in some cases working completely remotely. For people who want to change their work-from-home situation – going into a work environment to speak to peers from other businesses, working from a different location or just reliable Wi-Fi can seem extremely attractive. To connect with these nomads would mean an increase in day pass bookings and building a wider community. Social media platforms offer excellent opportunities for targeted marketing and engagement. Consider the following tips for launching localised social campaigns:
Targeted Content: Craft engaging content that resonates with your local audience. Showcase how your coworking space caters to the unique needs and preferences of professionals in the area. Highlight and share local events and collaborations to demonstrate your involvement in the community through social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Influencer Partnerships: Collaborate with local influencers, entrepreneurs, or business leaders to promote your coworking space. Their endorsements can carry significant weight in the community and attract potential members who value their opinions.
Geotargeting and Location-Based Ads: Use social media advertising tools to create geotargeted ads that specifically target individuals within a certain radius of your coworking location. This will help you reach out to potential new members who are most likely to consider joining your coworking space.
Customer Referrals and Costing
Word-of-mouth marketing is a powerful tool for attracting new members to your coworking space. Happy and satisfied members can become your most effective brand ambassadors. To encourage customer referrals, consider the following:
Incentivised Referral Programme: Offer existing members incentives, such as discounts on their membership fees or additional perks, for referring new members to your coworking space. This will not only increase customer satisfaction but will encourage them to spread the word.
Tracking Referral Costs: It’s crucial to track the costs associated with your referral programme to ensure its effectiveness. Keep a record of the incentives given and calculate the average cost per acquisition to gauge your return on investment (ROI).
Ring Local Businesses
Don’t underestimate the power of personal connections. Reach out to local businesses in your area and offer them exclusive deals or packages for their employees. By forming strategic partnerships with businesses, you can expand your coworking space’s reach and attract members in a more targeted manner.
Tailored Corporate Memberships: Design flexible membership plans tailored to the needs of businesses. Consider offering team-specific amenities, custom office setups, or access to meeting spaces for companies looking to provide their employees with a coworking option.
Hosting Local Events: Collaborate with local businesses to host networking events, workshops, or seminars at your coworking space. This can help increase footfall/traffic and create opportunities for potential members to experience your space firsthand.
Out-of-Home Advertising
While digital marketing is essential, traditional advertising methods can still be effective, especially in attracting local members. Zoe Ellis-Moore, CEO and founder of Spaces to Places, recently shared on social media, “Outdoor advertising is becoming increasingly popular in the flex office sector.” The world of work is changing and companies are searching for more flexible options, therefore greater awareness is needed to drive growth – consider investing in out-of-home advertising options such as:
Bus Wrap Advertising: Utilise the exterior of local buses to display eye-catching ads showcasing your coworking environment’s unique selling points. Choose routes that pass through commercial areas or near businesses to target your desired audience effectively.
Billboards in High-Traffic Areas: Strategically place billboards in high-traffic areas, such as near busy intersections, tube stations or shopping centres. A well-designed billboard with a clear message can pique the interest of passersby and prompt them to visit your coworking space.
Drive Growth in Your Coworking Space with Yardi Kube Space Management
Members want a simple and easy experience and with Yardi Kube, you and your members can benefit from a cloud based, all-in-one solution designed for flex space management.
Yardi Kube provides one platform, including a member app, for everything from member management, meeting room bookings and access control to accounting, security, maintenance and procurement. It helps simplify daily operations for coworking locations and flexible workspaces.