One of the major trends in the self storage industry is going digital. With over 90% of online interaction starting with a search engine query, self storage SEO is one aspect of your business that you must get right when developing your website.
At Storefriendly, we recently relaunched our website, giving us a first-hand experience of how creating a new website for a self storage business can be daunting.
To enjoy a seamless process—as we did in our 2024 site refresh—we recommend adhering to the top 5 tips we’ll be sharing in this post.
Launch Your Self Storage Website Using These 5 Tips
Here is what you must do when launching your website:
- Do competitor research.
- Work with an experienced web developer.
- Prioritise simplicity.
- Optimise for SEO.
- Plan long-term.
Tip 1: Competitor Research: Beating Your Top Rival
When launching your self storage website, analyzing your biggest competitors is key to gaining an edge. Take note of your strengths, unique selling points (USP), and weaknesses; compare them to your competitors’ offerings to determine what you can do better than them. This will be the focus of your website.
Learning from the best.
When we initially planned our website design, we focused on our industry and also analyzed larger, successful booking websites in adjacent sectors, like aviation. These websites have spent millions developing their brand, studied user behavior, and aligned their design choices with available data. Such experience is invaluable to our branding — they have done the hard work, and following their footsteps earlier means we could have saved hundreds of hours in research and thousands in cost. In a nutshell, you should include successful industries in your competitor research, even if they are not a direct competitor.
Ensuring continuous monitoring.
But that’s not all; continue monitoring your competitors to see how they’re evolving. Check their website and social media regularly for changes in their offerings, branding, or messaging. Make sure you match or beat new features they roll out.
For example, if they start offering storage unit insurance or smart locks, you’ll want to provide the same options to remain competitive. Following trends in the self storage industry overall will also help you anticipate what your competitors may do next.
Tip 2. Work With the Right Web Developer: Ensuring Your Vision Comes Through
When launching your self storage website, partnering with a reputable web developer is key. They have the experience, which is invaluable in ensuring you do what’s best.
As the client, stay involved in the process. Provide examples of websites you like, discuss competitors, share your brand guidelines, and talk through how you want users to interact with and navigate the site. The more details you can give, the better. Don’t assume anything is implied or that the developer will just “figure it out.”
Also, do your research ahead of time to understand what features and functionality are must-haves for your site to achieve your goals. Come prepared with data, statistics, and content that will need to be incorporated. The web developer can then determine the best way to organize and optimize the site based on your research and priorities. Above all, maintain consistent communication.
A good web developer will appreciate your input and guidance. They want to create a site you’ll be happy with — one that will achieve results. An open line of communication, especially in those early stages of development, is the best way to ensure your vision comes through in the end.
Tip 3. Keep It Simple: Prioritizing a Clear, Intuitive Site Structure
As a self storage company, your top priorities are helping customers find a storage unit, get a quote, and book online — these should be as easy to do as possible. Everything else—company info, extra features, blog posts—should be organized under separate menu items. Keeping the most important info up front and center will improve your site’s user-friendliness.
In addition to simplicity, a clear, logical site structure is vital. Group related content and pages, starting from the broadest categories down to the most specific. Your top-level menu can include “Find Storage,” “Get a Quote,” “Book Now,” “Size Guide,” and “About Us.” Under “Find Storage,” you can have location-based submenus, then facility pages, and finally available storage units. This intuitive hierarchy helps users easily find what they need.
Lastly, maintain a consistent layout and navigation across pages to create a seamless user experience. When relaunching our site to reflect our status as the leading provider of self storage space in Singapore, we used the same template for all location and facility pages, with menus, images, and info in the same spots — all pages also share a common style guide to keep fonts, colors, and branding consistent. Little details like these make a site feel cohesive and high-quality.
While you aren’t likely the designer, ensure these principles are adhered to by your designer to achieve the best results when following best practices for a booking website.
Tip 4. Optimise for SEO: Choosing Target Keywords and Optimizing Content
To optimize your self storage website for search engines like Google, you need to determine the main/target keywords and phrases potential customers will use to find your business.
Work with an SEO agency like ROUGH WATER MEDIA to research the top keywords in your area and industry. For example, “self storage” and “storage units” are broad terms, while “climate controlled storage [city name]” is more targeted. We recommend choosing 3 to 5 primary keywords to focus on.
Once you know your target keywords, share them with the web developer to naturally introduce them into your page titles, headings, and content. Your homepage title should include your most important keyword, e.g., “Affordable Self Storage Units in Phoenix.” Also, use your keywords in H1 headings, subheadings, and bolded text within the content. This signals to search engines that your site is relevant for those search terms.
While SEO is a long-term game, this is your first step toward online visibility. Ensure your web developer adheres to the best SEO principles, and after that, plan a long-term strategy with your SEO agency to keep your website ranking high.
Tip 5. Plan Long-term: Ensuring Success for the Future
SEO is a long game, so work closely with a reputable SEO agency to continue optimizing your site and building your search ranking over time.
Self storage customers today expect a seamless digital experience. Integrate tools like contactless booking, online payments, and a customer management dashboard to streamline operations and provide the intuitive experience your customers want. Solutions like those offered by Storeganise can handle much of the technical work for you.
In addition, blog regularly. A blog is a great way to establish your website as an authority in the self storage industry, build brand awareness, and attract new customers. Other strategies include building backlinks and setting up your Google My Business (GMB) profile.
With the right long-term planning and strategy, you can build a successful self storage website that ranks well in search results and keeps customers coming back. Focus on providing the best experience for your customers, and your business will continue growing well into the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the forecast for the self storage industry?
The self storage industry is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 7.53% between 2022 and 2027, to hit $83.6 billion in 2027.
Are storage sites profitable?
Yes, storage sites can be profitable, with up to a 92% success rate and average annual profits of $184,500 when managed correctly.
Why is the self storage industry booming?
The self storage industry is booming due to the increasing need for space by e-commerce businesses, increasing urbanization, and a rapidly growing population.
Conclusion
You’ve come this far in launching your self storage business, so don’t let the final stretch trip you up. When it comes to launching a website for your self storage business, keeping things simple, structured, and focused on your goals is key. Work closely with web developers to communicate your vision clearly, do your research, and plan for the long term while staying true to your brand identity. While launching a self storage site in 2024 can prove demanding, following the tips we shared in this post allows you to position yourself for success in this fast-growing industry.