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DEC
1

ForRent.com embraces virtual communication through new Layar mobile application

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                            Contact:                                                                                                                            
Meredith Mobley                                                                                 
Marketing Communications Coordinator
meredith.mobley@forrent.com
Phone: 757-351-7366
Fax: 757-961-4827

ForRent.com embraces virtual communication through new Layar mobile application
Apartment seekers can search thousands of ForRent.com apartment listings through the world’s first augmented reality browser

 

NORFOLK, Va.-(Dec. 1, 2009) -ForRent.com, anchor Web site of For Rent Media SolutionsTM, a division of Dominion Enterprises, has launched an augmented reality Layar mobile application. The application lets apartment seekers view their current location through the camera of their iPhone® 3G S or Google Android mobile phone with a “layer” that shows them all the available apartments on ForRent.com within a 10-mile radius.

As a free mobile application, available from the iTunes Store or from Android Markets, Layar shows users their surroundings by displaying real-time digital information on top of reality through the camera of their cell phone. Once the apartment seeker selects the property of their choice, phone and email contact information appears at the bottom of the screen. Through the Layar application, they can also access the ForRent.com mobile site for even more property information.

“Mobile media is a leading method of communication among consumers,” says Terry Slattery, president of For Rent Media Solutions. “According to comScore Media Metrix, 80.1 million mobile users browse or use mobile applications. While an additional 31 percent use text messaging. The Layar application has been well received worldwide. As the first Internet listing service to use this application, we are proud to be connected to the next step in mobile technology and look forward to the future of mobile media.”

To find ForRent.com listings through Layar, apartment seekers must download the Layar application. Next, they search for the term “apartments” or “ForRent.com” to find the ForRent.com mobile application icon. From there, they simply point their phone in any direction and all available apartments on ForRent.com within a 10-mile radius will appear on the screen as colored pins.

The new mobile application is the latest addition to For Rent Media Solutions’ comprehensive mobile marketing suite of products that cater to the apartment seeker on the go, including the ForRent.com text messaging product, mobile Web site, and two additional mobile applications available through the iPhoneTM and T-Mobile G1TM (GPhone).

To learn more about Layar and the ForRent.com application, please contact Mike D’Alba, director of mobile marketing at dalba@forrent.com.  

About For Rent Media SolutionsTM

Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., For Rent Media Solutions is a division of Dominion Enterprises and a leading resource for choosing your next apartment for rent. As the multi-family housing solution for apartment seekers and property managers, For Rent Media Solutions operates For Rent Magazine® and publishes 99 magazines covering more than 190 markets nationwide. In addition, For Rent Media Solutions operates four addition Web sites, including ForRent.com. For Rent Media Solutions is a company dedicated to the needs of the apartment industry, bringing prospective residents and apartment communities together.

About Dominion Enterprises

Dominion Enterprises is a leading marketing services company serving the automotive, enthusiast and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, and employment industries. The company’s businesses provide a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, Web site design and hosting, and data management services. The company has more than 45 market-leading Web sites reaching more than 16.7 million unique visitors, and more than 450 magazines with a weekly circulation of 4.3 million. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., the company has 5,400 employees in more than 200 offices nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.dominionenterprises.com/.

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Posted: December 1st, 2009

SEP
23

Online video reaches major milestone and continues to gain popularity in the multi-housing industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:  
Meredith Mobley
Marketing Communications Coordinator
meredith.mobley@forrent.com
Phone: 757-351-7366
Fax: 757-961-4827

 

Online video reaches major milestone and continues to gain popularity in the multi-housing industry

NORFOLK, Va.-(September 21, 2009)- A record 81 percent of U.S. Internet users watched online video in July 2009, according to an August 2009 study from comScore Media Metrix, a leader in digital measurement. The 158 million viewers was the largest audience ever recorded. At the same time, For Rent Media Solutions, a division of Dominion Enterprises, launched its 2000th Community Theater® online video. Both records point to the expanding role of online video in the multi-housing industry.

“For Rent Media Solutions understands why it’s important for multi-housing professionals to incorporate video into online marketing efforts,” says Terry Slattery, president of For Rent Media Solutions. “Combined, top social media and video sharing sites like YouTubeTM and MySpaceTM attracted nearly 170 million viewers in the U.S. alone who viewed more than 9 billion videos in July. These record-breaking numbers serve as proof of online video’s effectiveness and support the appeal of online video amongst consumers.”

Online video is growing as a cost-effective, dynamic form of media for multi-housing professionals to reach potential renters. For Rent Media SolutionsTM distributes its online video product, Community Theater, through a comprehensive syndicated video network. This network includes MySpace, Twitter and video sharing sites like YouTube. In August 2009, these videos were viewed more than 914,000 times.

In the multi-housing industry, online videos create an opportunity for property managers to expand their reach, frequency, impact and interactivity to a vast and diverse audience.  The launch of For Rent Media Solutions’ 2,000th live video re-emphasizes the company’s support of online marketing backed by traditional print advertising. Each listing in For Rent Magazine® has a unique URL that guides apartment seekers directly to that listing’s ad on ForRent.com, the main location where Community Theater videos are housed.

Visit comScore.com to view additional collected data on the U.S. online video market. To learn more about online video and For Rent Media Solutions’ online video strategy, contact Mike D’Alba, director of mobile media.

About For Rent Media SolutionsTM

Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., For Rent Media Solutions is a division of Dominion Enterprises and a leading resource for choosing your next apartment for rent. As the multi-family housing solution for apartment seekers and property managers, For Rent Media Solutions operates For Rent Magazine® and publishes 99 magazines covering more than 190 markets nationwide. In addition, For Rent Media Solutions operates four addition websites, including ForRent.com. For Rent Media Solutions is a company dedicated to the needs of the apartment industry, bringing prospective residents and apartment communities together.

 

About Dominion Enterprises

Dominion Enterprises is a leading marketing services company serving the automotive, enthusiast and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, and employment industries. The company’s businesses provide a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, Web site design and hosting, and data management services. The company has more than 45 market-leading Web sites reaching more than 16.7 million unique visitors, and more than 450 magazines with a weekly circulation of 4.3 million. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., the company has 5,400 employees in more than 200 offices nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.dominionenterprises.com/.

 

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Posted: September 23rd, 2009

SEP
23

Natalie Cariola promoted to southern California regional manager of For Rent Media Solutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:
Meredith Mobley
Marketing Communications Coordinator
meredith.mobley@forrent.com
Phone: 757-351-7366
Fax: 757-961-4827

 

Natalie Cariola promoted to southern California regional manager of For Rent Media Solutions

Former general manager transitions into her new role as regional manager

Natalie Cariola

NORFOLK, Va.-(September 17, 2009)-For Rent Media Solutions, a leading apartment resource for searching apartments nationwide, and a division of Dominion Enterprises, is proud to announce Natalie Cariola’s promotion to regional manager of the company’s southern California region. In addition to Las Vegas, this new region includes the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego markets in California.

 ”Over the past several years, Natalie has demonstrated tremendous sales and management leadership in Los Angeles,” says Terry Slattery, president of For Rent Media Solutions. “In 2008, she received the Ernie Martin Outstanding Operations of the Year award, named after the company’s first president. This highly coveted award honors the best overall market in the nation. With her drive and determination, Natalie will lead the southern California region into an even more successful new year.”

Cariola joined For Rent Media Solutions in 2004 as a general manager. Since she joined, Cariola is a three-time winner of the President’s Club award, an award that recognizes the company’s top selling account executives in the nation for their efforts. Under her leadership, the For Rent Media Solutions Los Angeles market has been recognized for its outstanding sales and operation efforts. Before joining the company, Cariola worked with Homestore, Inc. as a national account director and then as regional sales manager, overseeing both inside and outside sales.

“I am honored to step into the role of regional manager for the For Rent Media Solutions southern California market,” said Cariola. “I am proud of the success our company continues to experience and look forward to finding more innovative ways to promote our clients and their properties.”

As regional manager, Cariola will oversee sales and operations for southern California.

About For Rent Media SolutionsTM

Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., For Rent Media Solutions is a division of Dominion Enterprises and a leading resource for choosing your next apartment for rent. As the multi-family housing solution for apartment seekers and property managers, For Rent Media Solutions operates For Rent Magazine® and publishes 99 magazines covering more than 190 markets nationwide. In addition, For Rent Media Solutions operates four addition websites, including ForRent.com. For Rent Media Solutions is a company dedicated to the needs of the apartment industry, bringing prospective residents and apartment communities together.

About Dominion Enterprises

Dominion Enterprises is a leading marketing services company serving the automotive, enthusiast and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, and employment industries. The company’s businesses provide a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, Web site design and hosting, and data management services. The company has more than 45 market-leading Web sites reaching more than 16.7 million unique visitors, and more than 450 magazines with a weekly circulation of 4.3 million. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., the company has 5,400 employees in more than 200 offices nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.dominionenterprises.com/.

 

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Posted: September 23rd, 2009

SEP
14

Baby boomer capital of America welcomes a new targeted publication

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           

Contact:
Meredith Mobley                                                                                 
Marketing Communications Coordinator
meredith.mobley@forrent.com
Phone: 757-351-7366
Fax: 757-961-4827

 

Baby boomer capital of America welcomes a new targeted publication

After 55TM Housing and Resource Guide expands to Denver

 

NORFOLK, Va.-(September 14, 2009)-Denver baby boomers have a new resource to help meet their housing needs. For Rent Media SolutionsTM, a leading apartment resource for searching apartments nationwide, and a division of Dominion Enterprises, has expanded its publication, After 55 Housing and Resource Guide, to Denver. The magazine provides available housing options for local baby boomers and beyond.

“Denver has been called the baby boomer capital of America,” said Robyn Epps, national director of sales and development for After 55 Housing and Resource Guide. “The Denver Metropolitan area understands how to cater to this demographic that makes up nearly one-third of its population, according to ColoradoBoomers.com. I believe Denver baby boomers and beyond will find After 55 Housing and Resource Guide to be a valuable resource.

Denver boasts the highest percentage of boomers of any major U.S. city, currently at 32.8 percent according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The total projected population in the Denver metropolitan area for 2009 is nearly 2.5 million and, by 2010, it is projected that the number of seniors in Denver will increase to 39 percent.

After 55 Housing and Resource Guide is a niche publication that targets baby boomers planning their retirement, aging adults, and adult children who are researching housing options for their parents. The magazine powers SeniorOutlook.com, For Rent Media Solutions’ online housing and resource guide, and offers a variety of housing options in the six counties which comprise the Denver Metropolitan Area, as well as El Paso County, ranging from apartments and independent living to assisted living and continuing care retirement communities.

The publication will be distributed to key locations including Denny’s, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Sunflower Markets, and Whole Foods as well as doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, libraries, pet stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and senior centers.

More information about After 55 Housing and Resource Guide and housing options for adults 55 and older, including apartments, independent and assisted living and continuing care retirement communities, is available at http://www.senioroutlook.com/.

About After 55TM Housing & Resource Guide

After 55 Housing & Resource Guide is owned and operated by For Rent Media Solutions, a division of Dominion Enterprises. As a one-stop source for the adult age 55 and beyond, After 55 Housing & Resource Guide serves all the housing needs of this vast demographic. The publication is geared towards Baby Boomers planning their retirement, aging adults, and adult children who are researching housing options for their parents. The publication complements SeniorOutlook.com, the online housing and resource guide, and can be found in major markets, including Atlanta, Columbus, Denver, Minneapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, South Florida and Tampa.

About For Rent Media SolutionsTM

Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., For Rent Media Solutions is a division of Dominion Enterprises and a leading resource for choosing your next apartment for rent. As the multi-family housing solution for apartment seekers and property managers, For Rent Media Solutions operates For Rent Magazine® and publishes 99 magazines covering more than 190 markets nationwide. In addition, For Rent Media Solutions operates four addition websites, including ForRent.com. For Rent Media Solutions is a company dedicated to the needs of the apartment industry, bringing prospective residents and apartment communities together.

About Dominion Enterprises

Dominion Enterprises is a leading marketing services company serving the automotive, enthusiast and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, and employment industries. The company’s businesses provide a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, Web site design and hosting, and data management services. The company has more than 45 market-leading Web sites reaching more than 16.7 million unique visitors, and more than 450 magazines with a weekly circulation of 4.3 million. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., the company has 5,400 employees in more than 200 offices nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.dominionenterprises.com/.

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Posted: September 14th, 2009

AUG
25

Online video increases lead generation by 30 percent for multi-housing advertisers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                            Contact:                                                                                                                             Meredith Mobley                                                                                 
Marketing Communications Coordinator
meredith.mobley@forrent.com
Phone: 757-351-7366
Fax: 757-961-4827

 

Online video increases lead generation by 30 percent for multi-housing advertisers

For Rent Media Solutions advertisers who use video in their marketing initiatives reap the benefits

NORFOLK, Va.-(August 25, 2009)- Property managers who incorporate video into their marketing initiatives see a significant increase in lead generation, according to For Rent Media Solutions, a leading apartment resource for searching apartments nationwide, and a division of Dominion Enterprises. By monitoring marketing activity in its LEADSTM Dashboard, For Rent has observed that advertisers who add online video to their marketing initiatives increase lead generation by an average of 30 percent and by as much as 309 percent in some markets.

In Denver, two For Rent Media Solutions properties that incorporated the Community Theater® video product into their advertising efforts saw an increase in LEADS of more than 309 percent. Community Theater allows property managers to put their communities on display through an online video commercial. Through Community Theater, potential renters get an inside look at the property of their choice. The jump in LEADS that advertisers are experiencing nationwide has been credited to these videos.

“Audiences across the nation are attracted to online video,” noted Terry Slattery, president of For Rent Media Solutions. “With LEADS increasing by more than 200 percent in some markets, it is evident our online video product Community Theater is generating the LEADS that deliver leases for property managers.”

More than 80.7 percent of mobile users coming to the ForRent.com mobile Web site can view video, according to Omniture SiteCatalyst®, a Web analytic resource. comScore Media Metrix shows that  81.2 percent of the total U.S. Internet audience viewed online video in June 2009. The average online video viewer watched 453 minutes of video, or nearly 7.6 hours.

A recent survey of more than 400 senior-level decision makers, conducted by PermissionTV, shows online video is the top priority for digital marketing budgets. Nearly 64 percent use online video for branded content and video destination and more than two thirds of respondents reported that strengthening relationships with existing customers and prospects is the primary goal of online video initiatives.

To learn more about Community Theater, please email community.theater@forrent.com.

About For Rent Media SolutionsTM

Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., For Rent Media Solutions is a division of Dominion Enterprises and a leading resource for choosing your next apartment for rent. As the multi-family housing solution for apartment seekers and property managers, For Rent Media Solutions operates For Rent Magazine® and publishes 99 magazines covering more than 190 markets nationwide. In addition, For Rent Media Solutions operates four addition websites, including ForRent.com. For Rent Media Solutions is a company dedicated to the needs of the apartment industry, bringing prospective residents and apartment communities together.

About Dominion Enterprises

Dominion Enterprises is a leading marketing services company serving the automotive, enthusiast and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, and employment industries. The company’s businesses provide a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, Web site design and hosting, and data management services. The company has more than 45 market-leading Web sites reaching more than 16.7 million unique visitors, and more than 450 magazines with a weekly circulation of 4.3 million. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., the company has 5,400 employees in more than 200 offices nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.dominionenterprises.com/.

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Posted: August 25th, 2009

JUL
1

ForRent.com’s “Ready2Move?” video contest awards $10,000 to Dallas apartment renter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                            Contact:                                                                                                                             Meredith Mobley                                                                                 
Marketing Communications Coordinator
meredith.mobley@forrent.com
Phone: 757-351-7366
Fax: 757-961-4827

 

ForRent.com’s “Ready2Move?” video contest awards $10,000 to Dallas apartment renter

NORFOLK, Va.-(July 1, 2009)-Justin Spence got the call of a lifetime on Friday from ForRent.com®. He entered his video in the apartment listing service’s nationwide online video contest and after months of anticipation, found out he was the $10,000 grand prize winner.

Spence, who works for his family’s radiator manufacturing business, is also a part time videographer. Under the weather and in the process of moving, Friday’s call could not have come at a better time. When asked how he felt about winning the $10,000 grand prize, he yelled, “Holy Moly! I think I just got a better kick than any kind of medicine could give me!”

ForRent.com launched the “Ready2Move?” nationwide video contest on April 1. The contest asked apartment seekers to create a short video and tell ForRent.com why they were ready to move for a chance to win $10,000.

Spence did just that. He and his wife created and starred in the one-minute video “$1,200 a month and No Pool?” The video depicts a conversation between Spence and a buddy, who is living lavishly in a Dallas apartment community, while Spence is desperately searching the classified listings for an apartment. The friend recommends ForRent.com as an apartment searching resource. When speaking about the benefit of the site’s functionality he boasts, “…you’re not gonna find that from some dude’s Web site in San Francisco.”

“This year’s contest was even more popular than last year. With the number of submissions more than doubling, the judges had a challenging time selecting the winners,” said Terry Slattery, president of For Rent Media Solutions.

In addition to the grand prize winner, three finalists were selected to receive an iPod Touch®:

ForRent.com even rewarded viewers just for voting. Patrick Freise, a rising senior at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York, is $1,500 richer after being selected in a random drawing from 4,798 voters as the voting sweepstakes winner. With his earnings, Freise says he plans to buy his girlfriend a nice birthday gift.

Spence credits the popularity of his video to promoting it on social media Web sites like Facebook and Myspace, “I personally use Facebook and MySpace a lot. I’m a strong believer that social networking is the new media to advertise your products.”

ForRent.com worked with Vitrue, a social media company, to launch its second annual nationwide video contest. A panel of judges watched all 123 videos and selected the grand prize winner and the three finalists based on five criteria: creativity/originality, overall quality/appearance, relevance to the contest theme, promotion of the ForRent.com and or For Rent Magazine® brand, as well as the total number of user generated Internet votes received. In total, more than 24,000 votes were received.

To see all videos submitted for the “Ready2Move?” video contest, visit http://contest.forrent.com/.

About For Rent Media SolutionsTM

Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., For Rent Media Solutions is a division of Dominion Enterprises. As the multi-family housing solution for apartment seekers, property/apartment managers and owners, For Rent Media Solutions provides superior products, outstanding customer service, and tangible results.  For Rent Media Solutions is a leading resource for choosing your next apartment for rent, townhouse, condo, duplex, efficiency, studio or loft and provides a free customizable apartment search from more than 50,000 apartment listings nationwide.  For Rent Media Solutions operates For Rent Magazine®, as well as ForRent.comTM-The Magazine, and publishes 98 magazines covering more than 190 markets nationwide, including After 55TM Housing & Resource Guide, and Apartamentos Para Rentar®. For Rent Media Solutions operates four additional Web sites: ForRent.com®, SeniorOutlook.comTM, CorporateHousing.com®, and ParaRentar.comTM.  For Rent Media Solutions is a company dedicated to the needs of the apartment industry, bringing prospective residents and apartment communities together.

About Dominion Enterprises

Dominion Enterprises is a leading marketing services company serving the automotive, enthusiast and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, and employment industries. The company’s businesses provide a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, Web site design and hosting, and data management services. The company has more than 45 market-leading Web sites reaching more than 16.7 million unique visitors, and more than 450 magazines with a weekly circulation of 4.3 million. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., the company has 5,400 employees in more than 200 offices nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.dominionenterprises.com/.

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Posted: July 1st, 2009