It's no surprise that high interest rates over the last few years have driven plenty of opportunity for property managers. With plenty of homeowners carrying mortgages at comparatively low rates, they're less likely to sell and are instead renting out their properties. There's a high demand for skilled property managers, and lots of opportunity to get more property management leads from those entering the rental market.
And that's exactly what we're talking about in today's article: property management lead generation. We're exploring 20 effective strategies to tap into this market potential, from leveraging referrals and business networks to harnessing the power of digital marketing.
1. Referrals
Referrals can be a great step for new businesses. You can get referrals to new clients from friends and family, local business groups, realtors, and other clients. Leverage your existing network and ask for referrals.
Satisfied clients and professional contacts can often provide recommendations to potential leads, which is why it's so important to keep a high level of client satisfaction. The happier an investor is, the more likely they'll be to recommend your services to other property owners they know.
2. LinkedIn
Another great starting point for new business is to use LinkedIn to connect with potential clients, join industry groups, and share valuable content. It's a powerful platform for B2B lead generation.
You can either sponsor posts and advertisements targeting people in your ideal client profile, or directly message individuals that you know are looking for property management services. Even more powerful, though, are LinkedIn's networking groups, where you can find and connect with property investors. Just be cautious when joining groups, as they may each have their own unique rules that limit or prohibit self-promotion within the group.
3. Event marketing
If you're looking to grow your door count, you should also consider attending industry events to network with potential property management clients. These can range from local real estate meetups to larger industry conferences.
If you're willing to invest the funds, you can also look into hosting your own networking events for real estate investors. Make sure the events are accessible and informational, not just a sales pitch for your company. That way attendees feel like they're getting real value, while also building a positive association with your brand.
4. Cold calling
While it may seem old-fashioned, cold calling can still be effective, especially if you’re just getting started. The key is to ensure that you're targeting the right property owners and investors in your local market. Make the value of your offering clear and be prepared to get a lot of rejections, but know that even just signing a couple of new clients can make the time investment worth it.
5. Facebook
Facebook, and other social media marketing, is effective for new and growing companies. Use targeted Facebook advertising or post in local groups to reach potential clients. Consider running ads targeting landlords or real estate investors.
For growing companies, use advanced targeting options in Facebook Ads to reach a more curated audience. Consider retargeting ads, which can serve ads directly to people who have previously visited your website interacted with your content. Those users already know who you are and may have been interested in your services, so advertising to them tends to have a better ROI than serving ads to entirely new individuals.
6. Podcasts
Yes, we know, it seems like everyone has a podcast these days. But the truth is, podcasts can work well as an early foray into property management marketing. Whether you run a company that's just getting started, or a growing company that has plateaued, a podcast can help get your name out there.
The challenge with podcasts is that they do take some time to build momentum. You're not going to get thousands of listeners on your very first episode. If you're intimidated by trying to run your own, consider reaching out to existing podcasts (like our Triple Win Podcast) to ask about being a guest. That will help get you more accustomed to the process while also getting some eyes on your brand. You'll want to discuss relevant industry topics—not just pitch your business—to establish your expertise and reach a larger audience.
7. Local businesses & strategic partnerships
When you’re just getting started, it’s a great idea to partner with local businesses that serve the same market. For example, a local moving company might recommend your services to property owners who are moving out, but putting their house up for rent. Similarly, local contractors, painters, plumbers, and other local vendors may have the inside scoop on self-managing landlords who are doing turnover maintenance or other upkeep on rental properties.
You can also join local clubs and the Chamber of Commerce and attend meet-ups to build a network that refers high quality leads and clients.
8. Direct mailing
New companies should also consider sending targeted direct mail campaigns to potential leads. This could include newsletters, postcards, or informational brochures about your services.
The biggest benefit of direct mail is that you can be confident that it's reaching the right geographic areas. While Facebook or LinkedIn could end up serving up your ads to people too far away for you to effectively manage, physical mail gives you more control.
9. Niche forums
Launching a new business requires support and community. Participate in online forums related to property management or real estate. Answering questions and sharing insights can help attract potential clients.
10. Read local listing reviews
Looking for your first few clients? Monitor local listing reviews such as on Google and Yelp. People love to complain on the internet, and you may just find landlords who are having trouble with their current management company. This is an opportunity to tactfully reach out to better understand their challenges, and see if you may be able to help them by offering your services.
11. Browse newspaper ads
Another great way to find those early clients is to look for rental listings or properties for sale. Reach out to the owners to offer your property management services.
A surprising number of people still use newspaper classifies, but don't be afraid to look toward the modern equivalents, like Craigslist. Be diligent to avoid spam ads that may just be a waste of your time, but there can be some real diamonds in the rough if you're willing to do some digging.
12. Content marketing
If you have a more established company and a bit more capacity to experiment, content marketing might be for you. Start by creating valuable content on your website and social media channels. The key is to make sure that your content is educational and entertaining, but not just a promotion of your services. Your readers and viewers need to feel like they're getting real value from your content, or they're not going to come back.
You'll want to try a mix of content types, including blog posts, infographics, or eBooks that provide insights to property owners. A good example of content marketing for lead generation is Realty Medics. Another, run by our Triple Win Mentor Jennifer Ruelens, is Hold It with PM Jen, which is all about educating investors on how to be successful buying and holding rental properties.
While we recommend looking at examples like these for inspiration, make sure that your content brings your own unique voice and perspective.
13. Google Ads (PPC)
Pay-per-click (PPC) is the backbone of Google advertising. Whether you're well established or still new, you can build campaigns on Google to appear in search results for relevant keywords. For example, you can target "property managers in Cleveland" so that your ads appear for users searching that term.
This can help attract landlords or property owners searching for management services. This is one of the best online marketing strategies, in part because of its flexibility. You can set firm budgets for how much you're willing to spend, and see an estimate of how many views your ad is likely to get for that price. You can also select related keywords to capture a wider range of searches and build visibility that way.
14. Search engine optimization (SEO)
A great step for companies looking to keep growing is to optimize your website for SEO. SEO is a strategic approach to writing content with relevant keywords to rank higher in search results, increasing visibility and attracting organic traffic. There are plenty of tools—both free and paid—to help optimize for search engines, and many small businesses also opt to hire SEO agencies to provide guidance on strategy and produce optimized content.
15. Email marketing
Worried about your company’s growth plateauing? Nurture your existing email list with regular newsletters or updates, providing valuable information and promoting your services to encourage conversions.
Email marketing often works well in tandem with content marketing, because you can use your newsletter to promote the new content you're creating and drive more visitors to your site. Make sure your newsletter is relevant and informational. Focus on giving readers content that they want, rather than just using it to advertise your company.
16. YouTube (videos and ads)
YouTube is an interesting hybrid of content marketing and social media marketing. Creating educational videos on property management topics can help build your brand, but also make sure to reply to comments and show appreciation for your followers in your videos. YouTube needs to be treated as a social media platform, not just a one-way street for your content.
You can also advertise on relevant channels to reach a wider audience on YouTube. Because Google owns YouTube, many of their advertising features work similarly to Google PPC ads. You can target viewers based on channels that they follow, YouTube searches they've done, or previous Google search terms they've looked up.
17. Webinars
If you have an audience established, ideally through other informational content and your newsletter, host a webinar on a relevant topic to provide value to your audience. Webinars are particularly good for lead generation because users typically have to provide contact information in order to register. That means that, not only can a webinar help position your company as an industry expert, it can also provide a list of contacts that you can follow up with, either by phone or email.
18. TV ads
Depending on your budget, consider TV advertisements. Although more costly, they can reach a wide audience and increase your brand visibility, while still being targeted to your geographic markets. These are ideal for large companies, but there are options available for smaller companies, too.
Streaming platforms like Hulu offer advertisement spots, and because they're connected to the viewer's email address, you can often get more specific in your targeting, meaning you're not spending precious dollars advertising to contacts that aren't relevant to your business.
19. Billboard ads
Like TV ads, billboard advertising can be pricey, but some property managers have seen success with it. Outdoor advertising, like billboards, can help increase local visibility for companies that already have an established reputation. It’s well suited to companies targeting property owners in specific geographical areas, and is especially helpful if you're expanding your territory or opening an office in a new city.
Because of the high price, getting the messaging and design right is a little bit higher stakes. Don't hesitate to consult a design agency if you don't have the necessary skillset in-house.
20. Pay-per-lead services
There are websites and services specifically designed to provide qualified property management leads. One of the most popular is All Property Management, but a quick web search will reveal plenty of options. These services typically charge a flat rate per lead, and can provide a stream of potential clients who are actively seeking property management services. They provide the contact details and background information that you need to have a successful exploratory sales call.
Final Thoughts
For more insights about lead generation strategies, check out our Triple Win Podcast for residential property managers. Or, consider some of our other resources for growing your PMC:
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May 6, 2025
