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For nearly two years, a decrease in occupancy levels at parking facilities across the globe has become an unfortunate reality as we continue to navigate our newfound normal. If anything has made itself apparent over the last 18 months, customers desire convenience, and are willing to go the extra mile to seek out services that offer it—and this includes parking.

So what can you do to position your parking program for success in 2022 and for many years to come? Below are six quick and easy ways to improve occupancy levels throughout your parking lots.   

1. Offer flexible, pay-as-you-go parking permit options.

With flexible return to work schedules becoming the new norm, offering pay-as-you-go parking permits to staff and tenants is an effective way to regain a loyal customer base and restore recurring revenue.

2. Leverage search marketing to attract customers to your parking lot.  

With Google being the world’s most-used search engine, search marketing campaigns ensuring your parking lot locations appear in top google search results should form a significant part of your parking management strategy.

3. Pin your parking lots on a variety of online maps and in-car navigation systems to capture a larger audience.

Whether it’s our in-car navigation, Waze, Google or Apple Maps—we all have a preferred GPS that we use for guidance to a parking lot nearby our final destination. Ensure your parking lot locations are listed on a variety of maps, including in-car navigation systems to increase the number of drivers who request directions to your parking facility—thus boosting occupancy levels.

4. Offer incentivized pricing.

The early bird does get the worm. Incentivize parking in your lots by offering special rates for arriving early in the morning. Although this may seem like a small gesture, it will build facility loyalty and repertoire for your customers—and with that comes positive word of mouth. It's a win, win for everyone.

5. Strategically place signage for location awareness.

Although digitization is imminent, there is nothing quite like signage in the right place to get customers into your lot. When it comes to maximizing your location awareness, onsite parking signage plays a key role. Ensuring your signage is strategically placed outside your facility, is easily legible and up to date will attract customers to your location.

6. Prioritize facility maintenance.

Let's face it; most customers prefer not to park in a dark and dingy parking lot—that is why it's vital to ensure your parking facility is well-maintained at all times. Attract (and retain) customers by keeping your facility looking clean, well lit, and safe. It is essential to conduct frequent onsite walk-throughs or monitor your parking facility remotely to ensure your parking experience remains pleasant. 

As customers begin to re-enter their everyday routines, parking trends will only continue to normalize. In the meantime it is imperative for property managers and parking operators to continue to ensure their parking facilities are fully optimized and parking occupancy rates will follow.

Reference

Parking management services - precise ParkLink: Parking management services. Precise ParkLink | Parking Management Services. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2021, from /gw-parking-management-services.

Bosco Tse
Client Relations Manager, Precise ParkLink