Press Room

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 2000^th 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 YouTube^TM and MySpace^TM 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 Solutions^TM 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 Solutions^TM

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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

For Rent Media Solutions^TM launches unique intuitive search function exclusively on ForRent.com

New search function brings “smarter search” experience to leading apartment Web site

NORFOLK, Va.-(May 26, 2009)-For Rent Media Solutions, a leading apartment resource for searching apartments nationwide, and a division of Dominion Enterprises, announces the launch of the all new intuitive search functionality and enhanced search results pages. These features are exclusive to ForRent.com, the company’s anchor Web site. The intuitive search and enhanced search results pages give apartment seekers more control and more relevant results to help them have a “smarter search” experience.

Intuitive search provides both “Exact” and “Close” matches, based on the user’s search criteria. These features give apartment shoppers more choices, intuitively providing them with results that are relevant to their needs. This means more exposure for the property manager’s listing and a better experience for potential renters.

 ”According to a July 2008 study by MarketingSherpa.com, highly engaged visitors have a conversion rate of about 5 percent, compared to about 0.2 percent of poorly engaged visitors,” notes Terry Slattery, president of For Rent Media Solutions. “In 2008, we performed a robust series of usability tests with real apartment seekers on eight different apartment Internet listing Web sites, including ForRent.com. From those results, we learned that apartment shoppers felt they had very little control, could not maneuver through the sites and felt the sites did not produce relevant results. We listened to users and redesigned our search functionality to eliminate their complaints and bring a smarter search experience for all.”

Smarter Search: Home Page

The ForRent.com search process has been enhanced in two areas essential to the apartment searching process: the home page and search results pages. The home page is more user-friendly. The prominently displayed search feature includes fields for criteria that most apartment shoppers know before they begin looking for an apartment, making it easy to use with a more natural way of narrowing down what they want. The home page requires users to specify location to search for property listings using city, state or zip code. Auto-complete suggestions will be made available to the user after they have inserted at least three letters. In addition to the required location information, the user can provide optimal search criteria such as price, beds and baths.

Apartment seekers can also access the Advanced Search option from the home page. When an apartment seeker enters a city and state, the site will return any property as an exact match that is within that city’s limits according to the U.S. Postal Service, and any additional properties that fall within the radius entered from the center of that city. The default radius is “Exact”, but users can expand their radius to 10, 20, or 30 miles. The Advanced Search offers users the ability to search by geography, interactive map, property name, and college or military base.   

Smarter Search: Search Results Page

The apartment seeker has more control over their search results in the enhanced search results pages. The seeker can customize the number of results that appear on a page and sort those results according to what is most relevant to them. Video has also been integrated into the search results listings. The “Exact Match” and “Close Match” are features that allow the apartment seeker to view listings that fit their exact search criteria as well as those that almost match. This gives more control to the apartment shopper making them more likely to find a property of interest, which in turn means more LEADS^TM for advertisers. In the search results, users can toggle properties through three view points: list view, photo view or map view. Apartment seekers can also filter listings by video, neighborhood, pets and multiple photos. Because of these enhanced options, property managers have more opportunity to be seen by apartment seekers.

For more information on ForRent.com’s new intuitive search, view the video found here.

About For Rent Media Solutions^TM

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 30,000 apartment listings nationwide.  For Rent Media Solutions operates For Rent Magazine^®, as well as ForRent.com^TM-The Magazine, and publishes 99 magazines covering more than 190 markets nationwide, including After 55^TM Housing & Resource Guide, and Apartamentos Para Rentar^®. For Rent Media Solutions operates four additional Web sites: ForRent.com^®, SeniorOutlook.com^TM, CorporateHousing.com^®, and ParaRentar.com^TM.  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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact: 
Meredith Mobley 
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Meredith.Mobley@forrent.com
Phone: 757-961-4735
Fax: 757-961-4827

Terry Slattery promoted to Vice President/General Manager of For Rent^®

Norfolk, VA-(July 21, 2006) - For Rent announces the promotion of Terry Slattery as Vice President/General Manager. In his new role, Slattery will oversee all aspects of print, internet, production and operations for all magazine titles and websites, including: For Rent Magazine^®, ForRent.com^® Para Rentar^TM and Senior Outlook^TM.

“Terry has made numerous valuable contributions to the division over his career,” says Jack Ross, Senior Vice President of United Advertising Media, a division of Trader Publishing Company. “This promotion is the culmination of fourteen years of outstanding performance. His experience in the industry is sure to lead the organization toward greater success.”

Terry has been with For Rent since 1993. During this time, he was responsible for initiating and overseeing ForRent.com^TM, now one of the nation’s most successful multi-family Internet Listing Services, as well as the launches of ForRent.com^®-The Magazine^TM. Since starting with Trader, Terry has served on various National and local apartment industry boards and is currently the Vice Chair for the National Apartment Association’s National Suppliers Council and incoming chairman for next year’s National Suppliers Council as well as an active Board member of the National Multi Housing Council.

“It is an honor to be chosen to lead such a talented group of people,” says Slattery. “My years with For Rent have taught me that our employees are without a doubt our strongest asset. I am confident that together we will continue to move this great organization forward.”

Slattery, the former Vice President of National Sales and Marketing for ForRent.com, transitioned into his new role on July 1^st. He and his family have relocated to the Virginia Beach area.

ABOUT FOR RENT^®

Headquartered in Norfolk, VA, For Rent^® is a part of United Advertising Media, a division of Trader Publishing Company. As the multi-family housing solution for apartment seekers, property/apartment managers and owners, For Rent provides superior products, outstanding customer service, and tangible results. For Rent is your apartment guide to help you find your next apartment for rent, townhouse, condo, duplex, efficiency, studio or loft and provides a free customizable search from over 50,000 apartment listings nationwide. For Rent operates For Rent Magazine, as well as ForRent.com^®-The Magazine^TM, and publishes 63 titles covering more than 190 markets nationwide, as well as Senior Outlook^TM and Para Rentar^TM. For Rent operates four additional websites: ForRent.com^TM, SeniorOutlook.com^TM, CorporateHousing.com^® and ParaRentar.com^TM. We are a company dedicated to the needs of the apartment industry, bringing prospective residents and apartment communities together.

ABOUT TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY

Formed in 1991, Trader Publishing Company is the nation’s leading publisher of specialty classified advertising publications, including over 750 paid and free magazines such as Auto Trader, For Rent, Harmon Homes and The Employment Guide. The company is divided into five major divisions: Trader Electronic Media, United Advertising Media, Trader Publications, Trader National Publications and Trader Venture. With a weekly circulation exceeding 8.7 million, Trader’s publications have a significant audience among buyers and sellers nationwide. With over 335,000 outlets and more than 185 markets nationwide, it boasts the largest paid and free distribution publication network across the U.S.; and it operates 11 regional printing plants.

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         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Judy Gogol
 For Rent Vice President of Sales,
Eastern Region
 Judy.Gogol@forrent.com
Phone: 770-434-6347

                        
For Rent® opens office in Philadelphia and debuts For Rent Magazine®

 For Rent Magazine gives apartment seekers another opportunity to find apartments for rent in Philadelphia

Norfolk, VA-(June 12, 2006) - Trader Publishing Company and For Rent Media Solutions are excited to announce the new For Rent Magazine office in Philadelphia, introducing a product that will provide a powerful combination of print and internet. For Rent representatives are currently in the market preparing clients for the July 24^th arrival of For Rent Magazine.

“For Rent offers a complete marketing solution with verifiable results to the apartment industry,” says Amy Barricelli, General Sales Manager of For Rent Magazine in Philadelphia. “Our marketing package is pertinent to the marketing needs of our clients by combining a level of print and Internet advertising our competitors do not offer.”

The new office and magazine will create a plethora of opportunity for residents in the Greater Philadelphia area offering a wider selection of housing options and amenities to suit their personal needs. For Rent Magazine will be distributed in targeted locations including Genuardi’s, Wal-Mart, Giant, Pathmark, Shop Rite, Sam’s Club, Regal Cinemas and other high traffic locations. Apartment seekers can also find listings on http://www.forrent.com/default.asp?cmp=OTC-PR as well as through major search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN. For Rent.com offers a variety of apartments for rent in Philadelphia and the Center City area.

“The initial response from the marketplace has been outstanding,” says Judy Gogol, For Rent Vice President of Sales for the Eastern Region. “Our LEADS^TM Management System offers a unique toll free number which verifies to our customers that For Rent provides the leads that generate the leases. The magazine highlights the property’s best selling features and provides apartment prospects with the community’s link to the ForRent.com^TM website if they are interested in learning more. ForRent.com offers unlimited photos and floor plans, interactive room planners, larger ads, premium placement, virtual tours and much more. Our powerful combination of print and internet is sure to drive verifiable results for our customers. All of this in one package at a value and price unmatched in the Philadelphia area!”

The free magazine will be published every four weeks and combined with ForRent.com, it will allow apartment seekers to find detailed multi-family housing options in their area. Philadelphia will soon have the best in both print and internet to serve the Multi-family Industry.

ABOUT FOR RENT^®

Headquartered in Norfolk, VA, For Rent^® is a division of Trader Publishing Company. As the multi-family housing solution for apartment seekers, property/apartment managers and owners, For Rent provides superior products, outstanding customer service, and tangible results. For Rent is your apartment guide to help you find your next apartment for rent, townhouse, condo, duplex, efficiency, studio or loft and provides a free customizable search from over 50,000 apartment listings nationwide. For Rent operates For Rent Magazine, as well as ForRent.com^®-The Magazine^TM, and publishes 63 titles covering more than 190 markets nationwide, as well as Senior Outlook^TM and Para Rentar^TM. For Rent operates four additional websites: ForRent.com^TM, SeniorOutlook.com^TM, CorporateHousing.com^® and ParaRentar.com^TM. We are a company dedicated to the needs of the apartment industry, bringing prospective residents and apartment communities together.

ABOUT TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY

Formed in 1991, Trader Publishing Company is the nation’s leading publisher of specialty classified advertising publications, including over 750 paid and free magazines such as Auto Trader, For Rent, Harmon Homes and The Employment Guide. With a weekly circulation exceeding 8.7 million, Trader’s publications have a significant audience among buyers and sellers nationwide. Trader Publishing Company’s publications reach 80 percent of the population in the United States. Dedicated to satisfying consumer demand for efficient targeted advertising, these magazines are complemented by Trader’s over 40 market leading Internet sites (Traderonline.com, ForRent.com, Homes.com and EmploymentGuide.com), each designed to serve a specific category like the automotive, specialty vehicle, apartment rental, homes for sale, employment, and lodging segments.

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