NORFOLK, Va.—(June 15, 2010) — According to a recent study conducted by Nielsen and Facebook, consumers trust their friends and peers more than anyone else in making a purchase decision. With more than 58,000 apartment listings “shared” through ForRent.com’s social media “share” tool since October 2009, it is evident this research proves useful in the multi-housing industry as well. ForRent.com is a leading resource for searching apartments for rent and a division of Dominion Enterprises.

When it comes to the purchasing process, consumers trust the opinions of others. According to a previous report from Nielsen, 90 percent of respondents said they would trust recommendations from people they know and 70 percent would trust consumer opinions posted online.

Social media is also playing a significant role in the purchasing process of the tech-savvy consumer. According to the Nielsen and Facebook study, "Advertising Effectiveness: Understanding the Value of a Social Media Impression," respondents who view organic ads, such as newsfeed stories on the Facebook home page, were three times more likely to remember the ad versus those who viewed a regular, non-organic ad.

“Implementing the social media ‘share’ tool on ForRent.com has proven to be beneficial to property managers,” noted Brock MacLean, senior vice president of national sales and development. “In April alone, nearly 9,000 apartment listings on ForRent.com were shared on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter™ and MySpace™. Since the tool’s launch, more than 58,000 listings have been shared.”

When selecting their next apartment, prospective renters who visit ForRent.com are using the “share” tool to get feedback from people they know and trust. Prospects can also ease the apartment decision-making process by using the compare feature on ForRent.com. They can compare up to four properties at the same time and share those listings with friends to find one that best fits their needs. In May, more than 78,000 apartments were compared on ForRent.com.

To learn more about these social media features, watch the compare and share video.

About For Rent Media Solutions™
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.  For Rent Media Solutions operates For Rent Magazine®, as well as ForRent.com™-The Magazine, and publishes over 100 magazines covering more than 190 markets nationwide, including After 55™ Housing & Resource Guide, and Apartamentos Para Rentar®. For Rent Media Solutions operates four additional Web sites: ForRent.com®, SeniorOutlook.com™, CorporateHousing.com®, and ParaRentar.com™.  With ForRent.com’s Mobile suite of products, apartment shoppers can easily find their next apartment on their mobile phone and share property listings on social media websites like Facebook and Twitter™.  For Rent Media Solutions is a company dedicated to the needs of the apartment industry, bringing prospective residents and apartment communities together any time, any place.