Student housing communities need more than pretty pictures to stand out online.
If you want to connect with students—and convert them into leases—you need content that feels like them.
We helped The Alpine in Fort Collins increase engagement by 110%, grow their follower count by over 400%, and 10x their video views… without chasing trends or throwing gimmicks at the wall.
In this post, we’ll show you the real strategy behind those results.
Keep reading to learn exactly how our student housing social media approach worked—plus what content types performed best.
The Challenge — Getting Attention in a Student-Heavy Market
The Alpine is a student-focused apartment community in Fort Collins, Colorado, just minutes from CSU.
Like many in the student housing space, their goal wasn’t just “posting consistently.” They needed:
- More qualified leads through organic content
- A social presence that felt authentic to CSU students
- Content that stood out against national property management brands and local competitors
We took over their student housing social media management and content strategy in Q1 of 2025. By Q2, their growth spoke for itself.
The Strategy Behind Our Student Housing Social Media Results
We built our student housing social media strategy with:
- 3x weekly Instagram + Facebook posts
- 3x weekly Instagram Stories
- Branded social graphics
- Ongoing video + Reels creation
- Paid ads across Facebook + Instagram
- Quarterly content captures
Want to know exactly how we got there?
We didn’t guess what students wanted to see.
We built a strategy aligned with CSU’s academic calendar, local student culture, and the leasing team’s boots-on-the-ground insights.
Here’s what that looked like:
- Quarterly on-site content days — We captured content every 3 months: iPhone Reels, professional photos, community shots, and leasing team cameos.
- Content that aligned with student rhythms — Think: move-in hype, midterm memes, and local events like CSU game days.
- Original Reels > Static Posts — Our Reels consistently outperformed other post types—doubling reach and capturing non-followers.
- Collaborating with the leasing team — We involved them directly, helping boost authenticity and trust (plus they’re great on camera).
The Results — Real Numbers from Q1 to Q2 of 2025
After just one quarter of focused strategy, here’s what happened:
➡️ 700% increase in reach
➡️ 110% increase in engagement
➡️ 900% increase in video views
➡️ 421% increase in followers
We didn’t pay for most of that growth. It came from real content made for real students.
That said, when we layered on targeted paid social ads, it amplified everything.
What Actually Performed Best (And Why)
Let’s get specific. Here’s the type of content that crushed it:
CSU-Centric Content
We leaned into local pride, especially anything that featured Cam the Ram or life on and around campus.
Posts that referenced CSU events, culture, or jokes felt instantly relevant. Students shared these Reels without us asking.
Relatable Student Humor
We created Reels that tapped into finals week panic, roommate chaos, and campus life struggles.
Why it worked: This made the Alpine brand feel like a fellow student, not a corporate landlord.
Leasing Team Cameos
Quick chats with leasing agents, walk-throughs, and casual interviews humanized the brand.
These videos helped build trust and connection with prospective residents.
On-Site Real-Life Content
Every on-site visit gave us a quarter’s worth of material:
- Casual iPhone videos
- Seasonal highlights (snow days, spring move-outs)
- Day-in-the-life student features
- Apartment walk-throughs and amenity showcases
These weren’t just entertaining—they were strategic. If you’re looking for marketing ideas for student apartment communities, focus on what feels familiar, funny, and hyper-local to your audience. That’s what earns attention—and engagement.
Social Media Tips for Student Apartment Marketing
Here’s the deal: If you manage social media for student housing, generic content won’t cut it.
You need a strategy that’s:
- Student-first
- Location-specific
- Built for video-first platforms like Instagram Reels
Our biggest takeaway? Students can tell when you’re faking it.
The more we leaned into their world (not student housing marketing trends), the better the results.
Want These Results for Your Community?
We help multifamily brands of all sizes—especially student housing properties—grow through smart, creative content.
We’re not a churn-and-burn social agency. We partner with our clients to build custom, engaging strategies that reflect their real brand and target audience.
If you’re looking to drive results with your student housing social media or want help with apartment social media marketing across platforms, we’re ready.
👉 Let’s talk multifamily social media
👉 Explore social ads for apartments
Conclusion: Social Media Marketing That Students Actually Engage With
You don’t need gimmicks to get students’ attention.
You need to understand their world—and show up with content that mirrors it.
This case study proves that when your student housing social media strategy is grounded in relevance, authenticity, and the rhythms of student life, the results follow.