AUSTIN, Texas – Nov. 11, 2011 – SpareFoot, provider of leading web marketing tools to the self-storage industry, has launched a social media contest for storage operators though its SelfStorage.com partner social media accounts. The Best Self-Storage Marketing Idea Contest aims to encourage operators to share their most creative marketing ideas and get inspired by other entries from industry peers. The entrant with the most-voted idea will win Amazon’s highly anticipated new Kindle Fire tablet.

The contest is deliberately open-ended, to invite a wide range of marketing ideas or strategies that self-storage owners and managers could use to drive more tenants to their facilities. Operators are invited to contribute anything from a crazy concept they’re tossing around in the back of their minds, to a tried-and-true effort that’s been successful in the past.

The public has access to read and comment on entries, which are being accepted through the Self Storage Inc. Facebook page and through an openly accessible micro-site from now until November 28. At that point, a jury of SpareFoot marketing experts will review all entries and select five finalist ideas. On December 1, finalists will be announced and public voting will open up. Anyone may vote for any idea once per voting period, which concludes December 21.

“The goal is to inspire storage operators to recognize social media as not only a consumer marketing channel, but also as an ideal platform for sharing ideas and learning from peers in the industry,” said Rachel Greenfield, SpareFoot Marketing Analyst and coordinator of the contest.

The idea with the most votes wins on December 22, and the entrant behind it will score the Kindle Fire, an exciting new tablet that officially hits shelves next week. SpareFoot pre-ordered one specifically for the Best Self-Storage Marketing Idea Contest winner, so he or she may use it to execute their next great self-storage marketing idea, or just to play Angry Birds.

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage, making it easy for consumers nationwide to find, compare and reserve storage units online. The company also offers a suite of leading web marketing tools for storage facility operators. SpareFoot is an Austin-based start-up backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory. For more information, please visit http://www.sparefoot.com.

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AUSTIN, Texas – Aug. 23, 2011 – To celebrate the growing numbers of self-storage professionals active on Twitter, two social media mavens are joining forces to host the first ever industry Twitter chat, known as #StorChat. Twitter chats are online conversations in which relevant users gather at a specified time to discuss certain topics related to an industry or hobby. Chats are held weekly, with a new topic of discussion set each week. #StorChat will be held Wednesdays from 3-3:30 CST, starting Sept. 7.

#StorChat is hosted by Kenny Pratt (@SellingStorage), President of Crescendo Properties and Editor-In-Chief of Selling Storage, along with Rachel Greenfield (@SpareFoot), Marketing Analyst at SpareFoot and Editor-In-Chief of the Storage Facilitator. The hosts will ask three questions relating to the topic at hand over the course of thirty minutes, and everyone participating is encouraged to answer, discuss and exchange ideas and opinions via tweets.

“The great thing about a Twitter chat is it brings users together from all over country or world to a place where they can interact in real time, rather than communicate in a delayed manner as they might through email or forums,” Pratt said.

Many self-storage operators currently use Twitter as a promotional tool to reach potential customers, but #StorChat hopes to demonstrate there’s more to the platform. It presents a progressive opportunity to meet new connections and learn from knowledgeable peers on anything and everything self-storage business. Twitter chats have been popular and successful in a variety of niche industries, from real estate to multi-family housing to blogging.

Social networks like Twitter can feel overwhelming, so #StorChat offers self-storage professionals the chance to cut their teeth with a group of supportive people they can relate to. Everyone in the industry is encouraged to join in, learn and socialize with their fellow smart and creative storage owners, investors, managers and employees.

The first #StorChat on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 3-3:30 CST will cover the use of social media marketing in self-storage. To participate, simply sign up for a free Twitter account on Twitter.com (or log in to your current account), then follow the hash tag #StorChat by searching for it in the Twitter search box. Be sure to type the hash tag “#StorChat” at the end of every tweet you send during the chat. Get more tips, advice and details about #StorChat here: http://sellingstorage.com/self-storage-twitter-chat-unleashed-september-7th/

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage, making it easy for consumers nationwide to find, compare and reserve storage units online. The company also offers a suite of leading web marketing tools for facility operators. Across multiple properties including SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and others, the SpareFoot Ad Network helps facility owners and managers find new tenants— all through an entirely pay-for-performance model. SpareFoot is backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory. For more information, please visit http://www.sparefoot.com.

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AUSTIN, Texas – Aug. 8, 2011 – Self-storage auctions are more than just reality show fodder, they’re an actual reality in the $22B self-storage industry. SpareFoot, the online self-storage marketplace, launched a new nationwide auction directory website that lists more upcoming auctions than any other free service of its kind.

SpareFoot observed that people had little choice but to check local print newspaper listings to discover upcoming auctions. A disruptive three-year-old start-up company that aims to make self-storage easy for consumers, SpareFoot built a live searchable database of auctions. Users can sort local search results by distance from zip code or by how many days away auctions are.

The immense recent popularity of storage auctions, sparked by hit TV shows Storage Wars and Auction Hunters, helped inspire the project. Customers frequently call and email SpareFoot’s support team with questions about auctions. Tony Emerson, SpareFoot’s SEO Analyst, found search volume for the phrase “storage auctions” rivals that of broad search terms like “self storage” and “storage units.”

With all this growth, SpareFoot isn’t the first to enter the auctions directory space. Competing sites either require facilities to pay a fee to be listed, or feature limited functionality and limited inventory for free. SpareFoot Auctions is the most comprehensive free storage auction list available. A major benefit of the effort is that it will help drive web traffic to the company’s website and make a branded impression on these visitors.

Of the approximately 10,000 abandoned storage units auctioned off nationally every month, SpareFoot Auctions lists between 35-50% of these, and that reach will only expand. Plans include adding a Notes section to provide unit descriptions and number of units up for sale. SpareFoot will also integrate back-end functionality so facility owners and managers can easily add and promote their auctions on the site.

“We’re going to keep building this and making it more functional,” Emerson said. “We eventually want to serve as a resource to help facility operators improve the auctions process to the point that they look forward to having one.”

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage, making it easy for consumers nationwide to find, compare and reserve storage units online. The company also offers a suite of leading web marketing tools for facility operators. Across multiple properties including SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and others, the SpareFoot Ad Network helps facility owners and managers find new tenants— all through an entirely pay-for-performance model. SpareFoot is backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory. For more information, please visit http://www.sparefoot.com.

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You may have come across an article last week proposing that traditional mass media advertising is the solution to your self-storage marketing problems. “Stop Whining and Start Acting (Literally): An Open Letter to Self-Storage Professionals,” by Randy A. Smith, was distributed widely in an email blast to industry professionals and published by Inside Self Storage in the On The OpSide blog.

We won’t completely disagree – TV and radio advertising may be effective in some instances. Saying mass media ads never work would only be myopic. However, the majority of evidence points to their decline. Look at the TV industry as a whole– stations are suffering because major companies continually slash their TV ad budget. Growth rates in TV advertising are less than 1% across the board, and in many cases, even hit negative percentages.

At the Storage Facilitator, we encourage self-storage operators to take advantage of marketing tools that work for modern audiences. So we want to explain why mass media might not be the singular answer. Using the power of the Internet to brand your company is a much more potent, flexible and affordable strategy.

It’s no secret that self-storage falls behind other industries in adopting technologies and adapting to changes in consumer trends. Smith’s broadly sweeping, all-or-nothing claim falls into the same traditionalist mindset that causes our industry to lag. The “Mass media always works” mentality is a slippery slope to backward sentiments like “Web marketing will never work for me” or “I don’t need to list my prices online, because customers always call.”

With even faster changes on the horizon, your self-storage company can only survive if you tout a philosophy of open-mindedness. Something we preach frequently on this blog deserves more emphasis now– your best bet is to experiment with different techniques and choose what works for you. If TV and radio ads fill all your units, then you’ve found your answer. If they don’t (or if you can’t afford those pricey ad spots), look to web marketing channels and reach potential tenants on their turf, on their terms.

Smith’s article argues that social media, facility events, SEO and search marketing have no branding power. But handled correctly, each of these is a powerful marketing tool. Dell makes millions using their Twitter account. California start-up Sevenly rose to success almost exclusively by blowing up social media channels. REITs like Public Storage succeed partly because they rank first for self-storage keywords in search results on engines like Google, where most consumers begin searches for local businesses. Our partner site SpareFoot hosted a party at an Austin storage facility during the South by Southwest festival, landing both the facility and SpareFoot a barrage of local media coverage.

Company executives recognize that mass media ad exposure is decreasing. People can easily skip advertisements while watching their favorite shows. They fast-forward through them using TiVo, and increasingly stream shows online through Netflix and Hulu. People also tune in to the radio less often now— they download music or stream it through free services like Pandora and Spotify. Most radio programming is also available for download through apps like iTunes.

Compare that to Internet exposure: A 2010 Forrester Research study showed that Americans spend just as much time on the Internet as they do watching TV. With a growth rate of121%, time spent on the Internet has since surpassed time spent watching TV. The gap only continues to widen.

Perhaps most crucially, online branding techniques are cheaper. Logistically speaking, low costs make it easier to optimize your advertising strategy through trial and error. Conversely, you really shouldn’t advertise on TV or radio unless you’re sure you’ll receive a good return on investment. Since buying TV and radio ads is incredibly expensive, you’re dealing with huge sunk costs. While popular storage auction show Storage Wars powerfully and easily shaped public perception of our industry, a huge margin exists between TV shows and TV advertising. For starters, shows like Storage Wars can fit within the pattern of increased Internet usage— many viewers stream episodes on the A&E website and Hulu.

In addition, consumers are simply getting smarter. They’re becoming harder to persuade with direct sales messages. Storage Wars’ primary purpose is to entertain, not to sell a product or service. What we can learn from the show is not that we desperately need to advertise on TV, but that we need to get smarter about marketing. Consumers more easily digest ads when they’re packaged with other messages of value. For example, you could start a unique storage blog or shoot campy YouTube videos starring your staff— if they’re fun to watch, they could go viral. Look at how Manhattan Ministorage has captivated a broad audience with its witty, topical, local-centric ads.

What about Smith’s personal success using mass media broadcast? After all, TV and radio ads work for his facility, even though it operates “in one of the poorest areas” of the state. But the fact that McAllen, TX is an impoverished small town is precisely what makes his facility an exception.

Geographically, McAllen’s broadcast area overlaps perfectly with Another Closet’s target audience. In a municipality as small as McAllen, viewers might see a local ad for a facility across town, and not mind the drive over to store their belongings. In any larger city, this becomes less of a possibility. Imagine living in Queens, and seeing an ad for a Manhattan facility on an NYC local news station. No matter how catchy the jingle might be, the customer will not make the hour-long trip. In larger metropolitan areas, broadcast audience and your target consumer group overlap less, diluting the effectiveness of TV and radio ads.

Furthermore, consumer behavior evolves less rapidly in smaller towns, so traditional mass media can work well here for the time being. But even in these places, consumers will eventually adopt behaviors that render traditional broadcasting near-obsolete. A simple, functional, search-optimized website, and claimed listings on Google Places and other directories are the “right now” of marketing.

We agree with Smith’s point that capturing “tomorrow’s customer” should be every owner’s long-term vision. But a single-minded strategy isn’t prudent— consumers have changed enough over the past ten years, so who knows how they will in ten more? The best way to modernize your branding approach is to be open-minded, forward-thinking and creative. Then, take action and show the world how essential and compelling self-storage can be.

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Guest blogger: Abby Bramski

It is a common fact that as long as there are possessions in this world, there will be a desire to store them. The concept of self storage may seem like a modern concept, but it goes over 6,000 years to ancient Xian China. The ancient Chinese used clay pots of various sizes to store their belongings, and stored them in public underground storage pits which all had access to. The tradition continued throughout history. The first storage business was created in the 1850s, when moving and storage pioneers devised the first warehouse specifically designed for household goods and treasured personal items. This was the beginning of an industry waiting to boom.

The first official self storage facility as we know it was in Odessa, Texas and was called “ A1 U-Store-It, U-Lock-It, U-Carry the Key” . Although this was almost 100 years ago, the basic concept has stayed the same. Then other states caught on; two moving companies, Minneapolis Van Lines and Weimer Storage in Elizabeth, New Jersey, began offering personal storage during the 1920s. Storage facilities became interconnected when Arthur Trachte, of Trachte Building Systems, built interconnected metal garages for what he called “ cars without homes” in 1928. Commercial storage facilities became extremely common in the 1960s.

Demand for storage units increased dramatically in the 1990s, and companies began to pick up the pace. During 2000-2005, over 3,000 new facilities were built each year. Now, there is more than 2.35 billion square feet of self storage in the U.S. alone. This is equivalent to three times Manhattan Island under a roof! Storage facilities are about 32% urban, 52% suburban and 16% rural, so everyone can find units near them. There are many varieties of modern storage units—climate controlled, secure storage, and any size from a small locker to an entire garage. In the United States, 1 in every 10 households rents a storage unit, and that number is on an upward trend. Although modern storage units are not exactly underground clay pots, the concept is the same: I need someplace to put my stuff!

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The Storage Facilitator blog is for self-storage operators seeking to understand and master web marketing strategies and new technologies to better their businesses. The blog boasts some of the highest-quality writing in the industry, and features original content from leading self-storage experts.

As consumer habits evolve in our Internet-driven world, new opportunities to market self-storage facilities abound. SelfStorage.com launched a new blog that empowers storage operators to learn and embrace these opportunities. The Storage Facilitator is positioned as an educational resource on web marketing and other topics. Managed by the SpareFoot editorial team, the blog features high-quality writing and original guest posts from well-known industry experts like R.K. Kliebenstein, Carol Krendl, Kenny Pratt, Matt Van Horn and M. Anne Ballard.

Since its soft-launch in late March 2011, the Storage Facilitator has covered topics including social media marketing basics, search engine optimization, and website best practices. Now publishing two new posts weekly, coverage is designed to be approachable and accessible to all users, regardless of web experience or comfort level.

“Keeping up with Internet and technology trends can be overwhelming,” said Rachel Greenfield, the blog’s editor-in-chief. “Our goal is to demystify the most useful tools and strategies available, to help self-storage operators pursue smart marketing efforts that grow their bottom line.”

Another goal is to foster an open forum for sharing ideas and connecting with peers through the Storage Facilitator. Readers throughout the self-storage community are invited to contribute guest blog posts on any topic of expertise. Editors also accept nominations for the Manager of the Month feature, which spotlights a facility manager’s exceptional customer service skills or creative marketing prowess. Of course, feedback and questions are always welcome in the comments section of each post.

The Storage Facilitator is for everyone who touches the storage industry— owners, managers, investors and staff. To contribute, suggest a blog post idea or nominate a manager, email blogs@sparefoot.com or tweet @SelfStorageInc. You can also find the Storage Facilitator on Facebook.

About SelfStorage.com:
As “the first name in self-storage,” SelfStorage.com is more than a leading online consumer marketplace that lists thousands of storage units nationwide. The site also provides resources for storage operators, including the most prominent “online trade show” community in the industry. Vendors are invited to list their product and service offerings in the community to reach thousands of facility owners. The Storage Facilitator blog is an authoritative educational resource, covering web marketing topics and more for modern operators. SelfStorage.com is now powered by SpareFoot.

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AUSTIN, Texas – Jun. 21, 2011 – SpareFoot, the online self-storage marketplace, launched a unique project and blog series called Adventures In Storage, designed to familiarize employees with their product in the most entertaining way possible. The new mixed-media “reality series” documents the start-up’s 18 employees as they experience the process of renting and moving into and out of self-storage units.

CEO Chuck Gordon coordinated the nine-week project, in which duos of employees moved a growing pile of possessions from one storage facility to the next around Austin, adding their own creative items for the next teams to discover and move. Each duo was responsible for finding storage near one teammate’s home, with or without the help of the company’s own self-storage finder site.

All employees – from developers to salespeople to marketers – booked units, signed leases, obtained locks and optionally rented trucks to cart the pile around town. Moving forward, every new employee to join the SpareFoot team will pick up where things left off and complete the task themselves.

The idea sprang from Gordon’s realization that most SpareFoot team members had never personally used self-storage, but he wanted them to understand the challenges storage customers face. He hopes Adventures In Storage inspires improvements to SpareFoot’s website that will make finding, reserving and executing self-storage easier than ever for everyone.

“To speak intelligently about anything related to the consumer experience, everyone at SpareFoot should have personal experience renting a storage unit,” Gordon said. “Everyone will learn what it really means to rent storage, and see how much of a pain it is. This should help guide everything we do to make the process easier for consumers.”

The project was documented through filmed interviews with each duo at SpareFoot’s office, and some scrappy video footage taken at the storage facilities. Weekly blog posts will unfold the story in a narrative style similar to that of a typical TV reality series. A short video, featuring interviews and photos, will accompany each written post. New blog “episodes” are released every Monday for nine weeks at 6 p.m. CST, starting June 20.

In tandem with the June 1 release of a teaser trailer for Adventures In Storage, SpareFoot is running a social media contest whereby the first three people to correctly guess one item in the final storage unit win $100. All in all, the series should reveal a lot about how a fun high-tech start-up staffed by a team of smart, nerdy personalities operates. It will also be an experiment in pushing the social media reach of a niche industry. Follow along on Twitter @SpareFoot with hash tag #adventuresinstorage.

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the leading online marketplace for self-storage. With more than 5,000 self-storage facilities listed nationwide, SpareFoot offers consumers the most complete comparison shopping experience in the storage industry. Across multiple properties including SpareFoot.com, SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and many others, SpareFoot helps storage facility operators find new tenants— all through an entirely pay-for-performance model. SpareFoot is backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory. For more information, please visit http://www.sparefoot.com

Sparefoot Adventures In Storage Teaser.

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A number of years ago, a film hit dedicated to the working man (or in this case woman) hit theaters.  It was called “9 to 5” and it told the unusual story of three woman working very mundane office jobs.  The title comes from the stereotype that a “normal” job begins at nine in the morning and finishes at five in the afternoon.  Now most stereotypes derive from some measure of truth.  Many people do work jobs that primarily (or exclusively) involved working day time hours during week days.  However, many people also work on a less traditional schedule.  For them the business day doesn’t coincide with the rising and setting of the sun.  If this more accurately describes your lifestyle, you might consider the benefits of renting storage from a facility that allows customers to access their storage units 24 hours a day.

Not all storage facilities allow for 24-hour access (not even every StorageMart facility features 24-hour access), so you might have to do some calling around to find a facility that does and is also conveniently located for you.  Could you make do with a storage unit you can only access during those 9 to 5 hours?  Sure you could, but consider the alternative.

There isn’t any hidden meaning to the term 24-hour access.  It means simply that; you can access your storage facility at any point during the day.  If you work the graveyard shift at a factory and want to grab something from your storage unit on the way to work…you can.  If operate a business like a night club or a hotel that caters to customers at night and you need to access stored stock items immediately…it’s not a problem.  Even if you do operate under a more traditional schedule, you may not want to rush over to your storage unit before or after work (or even on your lunch break).  Renting a storage unit you can access at any time is simply more convenient in every way.

One fear you might have accessing your storage unit at night is the lack of natural protection provided by daylight.  Statistically, more crimes take place at night.  If you rent from a StorageMart facility you need not be worried.  Our facilities with 24-hour access provide the same network of security available for customers who access our property during the day.  Perimeter fencing and PIN controlled gate access restrict our properties to our clientele only.  Renting drive-up storage allows you to pull your car right up to your unit, preventing you from carrying your belongings across an empty lot.  Video surveillance is 24 hours a day at our properties, providing yet another layer of security.  As for the natural protection of daylight…well our lots are so well lit you’d be forgiven for thinking the sun never sets on a StorageMart facility. 

It seems like every day, week, month and year our lives get a little more busy, everything moves just a little bit faster.  We need convenience where we can find it.  If you’re renting a storage unit, finding one you can access 24 hours a day will provide a nice little bit of relief. 

A number of years ago, a film hit dedicated to the working man (or in this case woman) hit theaters. It was called “9 to 5” and it told the unusual story of three woman working very mundane office jobs. The title comes from the stereotype that a “normal” job begins at nine in the morning and finishes at five in the afternoon. Now most stereotypes derive from some measure of truth. Many people do work jobs that primarily (or exclusively) involved working day time hours during week days.However, many people also work on a less traditional schedule. For them the business day doesn’t coincide with the rising and setting of the sun. If this more accurately describes your lifestyle, you might consider the benefits of renting storage from a facility that allows customers to access their storage units 24 hours a day.

Not all storage facilities allow for 24-hour access (not even every StorageMart facility features 24-hour access), so you might have to do some calling around to find a facility that does and is also conveniently located for you. Could you make do with a storage unit you can only access during those 9 to 5 hours?

There isn’t any hidden meaning to the term 24-hour access. It means simply that; you can access your storage facility at any point during the day. If you work the graveyard shift at a factory and want to grab something from your storage unit on the way to work…you can. If you operate a business like a night club or a hotel that caters to customers at night and you need to access stored stock items immediately…it’s not a problem. Even if you do operate under a more traditional schedule, you may not want to rush over to your storage unit before or after work (or even on your lunch break).

Renting a storage unit you can access at any time is simply more convenient in every way. One fear you might have accessing your storage unit at night is the lack of natural protection provided by daylight. Statistically, more crimes take place at night. If you rent from a StorageMart facility you need not be worried.  Our facilities with 24-hour access provide the same network of security available for customers who access our property during the day.  Perimeter fencing and PIN controlled gate access restrict our properties to our clientele only.  Renting drive-up storage allows you to pull your car right up to your unit, preventing you from carrying your belongings across an empty lot.  Video surveillance is 24 hours a day at our properties, providing yet another layer of security.  As for the natural protection of daylight…well our lots are so well lit you’d be forgiven for thinking the sun never sets on a StorageMart facilityIt seems like every day, week, month and year our lives get a little more busy, everything moves just a little bit faster.  We need convenience where we can find it. If you’re renting a storage unit, finding one you can access 24 hours a day will provide a nice little bit of relief. 

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AUSTIN, Texas – May 3, 2011 – SpareFoot, the online self-storage marketplace and industry solution provider, announced it now boasts the largest advertising network in the industry— larger than all of its competitors’ combined (Compete.com, March 2011). This benchmark follows SpareFoot’s recent agreement to power SelfStorageFinders.com.

The partnership with SelfStorageFinders.com was finalized earlier this month, effecting a major change in the way the site serves both facilities and consumers. It previously utilized a subscription model, whereby self-storage facilities paid monthly for listings without any guarantee of performance. On the SpareFoot Network, there are no monthly fees, and listed facilities only pay when a new tenant moves in— guaranteeing ROI.

SelfStorageFinders.com will benefit from an improved user experience to drive more transactions, and a much larger database of storage facilities. The overhead spent on managing facility advertising subscriptions will also be eliminated, simplifying their business overall.

“As key players in this milestone for SpareFoot, we’re excited to be a part of what is now the largest online marketplace for self-storage, said Matt Price, owner of SelfStorageFinders.com. “Through this partnership, we will generate even more exposure for our listed storage facilities. Meanwhile, it’s easier than ever for our consumer visitors to find and compare all of the best storage options in one convenient place online.”

SelfStorageFinders.com joins SpareFoot’s rapidly growing list of partners, which already includes leading sites like SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and uShip.com. Sites in the SpareFoot Network enjoy more web traffic than all other independent storage directory and listing sites combined. The three-year-old company, led by CEO Chuck Gordon, is committed to developing a diverse suite of products that offer the most straightforward, effective online marketing solutions for self-storage operators.

“This milestone is incredibly exciting, and we’re eager to take our ideas and products even further in the self-storage industry,” Gordon said. “As self-storage consumers increasingly turn to the web to research their options, our goal is to help make their search for storage as simple as possible. And in doing so, we can help storage facilities improve their online visibility and generate more tenants through smart online marketing.”

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the leading online marketplace for self-storage. With more than 5,000 self-storage facilities listed nationwide, SpareFoot offers consumers the most complete comparison shopping experience in the storage industry. Across multiple properties including SpareFoot.com, SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and many others, SpareFoot helps storage facility operators find new tenants— all through an entirely pay-for-performance model. SpareFoot is backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory. For more information, please visit http://www.sparefoot.com.

About Self Storage Finders:
SelfStorageFinders.com is committed to aiding customers in finding self-storage quickly and easily. The site provides location and contact information for facilities nationwide. Prospective tenants can search through listings on the site to find the best storage solution for their needs. The company offers unique opportunities to storage owners in addition to prospective renters. SelfStorageFinders.com generates exposure for its facility clients by offering premier visibility on major search engines. For more information, please visit http://www.selfstoragefinders.com.

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SpareFoot, the online self-storage marketplace and industry solution provider, announced it has incorporated another leading self-storage web property into its network. SelfStorageDeals.com is now utilizing the SpareFoot Network, an extensive database listing thousands of storage facilities nationwide. Its user-friendly functionality helps consumers easily find, compare and reserve storage units online. SpareFoot is also managing conversion and SEO efforts for SelfStorageDeals.com.

SpareFoot began powering the site in November 2010, and it has since garnered significant increases in traffic and conversion. A longstanding industry entity, the site was suffering a drop-off in traffic prior to the deal with SpareFoot. It now enjoys nearly 10,000 additional monthly visits over previous numbers. Matthew Watson, founder of SelfStorageDeals.com, said the partnership has exceeded expectations so far.

“We partnered with SpareFoot because their platform is the best in the industry at converting traffic. They provide a user-friendly experience for customers, while generating more tenants for our facility clients,” Watson said. “Our business is growing month over month, and they’ve been amazing partners to work with.”

The rapidly growing SpareFoot Network lists more facilities than any other pay-for-performance storage marketplace, across a range of well-known partner sites including SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and uShip.com. SpareFoot.com and its partners currently serve the most self-storage web traffic in the industry. For storage facilities, there are no monthly fees to be listed. They only pay when a new tenant moves in after reserving a storage unit through a site in the network.

Led by CEO Chuck Gordon, SpareFoot is committed to making consumers’ search for storage as simple as possible, while developing a diverse suite of products that offer the most straightforward, effective online marketing solutions to self-storage operators.

“SelfStorageDeals.com is a great addition to our growing list of partner sites. As their traffic continues to grow, facilities listed in the SpareFoot Network enjoy more exposure across the web,” Gordon said. “We’re excited about this chance to provide our thousands of facility clients with even more opportunities to generate new tenants online.”

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the leading online marketplace for self-storage. With more than 5,000 self-storage facilities listed nationwide, SpareFoot offers consumers the most complete comparison shopping experience in the storage industry. Across multiple properties including SpareFoot.com, SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and many others, SpareFoot helps storage facility operators find new tenants— all through an entirely pay-for-performance model. SpareFoot is backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory. For more information, please visit http://www.sparefoot.com.

About SelfStorageDeals.com:

SelfStorageDeals.com is one of the most well-known aggregators of self-storage listings in the industry, with an emphasis on helping consumers locate cost-effective storage solutions. The site was founded to meet the needs of both consumers and storage owners. Originally operating as a lead-generation service, SelfStorageDeals.com is now powered by the SpareFoot Network to coordinate online bookings at thousands of facilities nationwide. For more information, please visit http://www.selfstoragedeals.com.

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