The usual practice in the self storage industry has been to create a basic self storage website to generate leads and convert them into paying tenants.
According to Rentech Digital, North America has 53,399 self storage facilities. 45,622 of these facilities have a website. This means it’s important to have a modern self storage website to effectively compete.
So, what makes a great self storage website?
- Functionality
- Mobile-friendliness
- Search engine optimization
- Page speed and website security
- Social media integration
Before we take a closer look at these 5 elements, here is a list of 8 excellent self storage websites.
Great Self Storage Websites for Inspiration
1. Click 4 Storage
We built the Click 4 Storage website on WordPress and ESS in 2022. It has a HTTPS configuration to secure users’ information.
We like this site for several reasons (and not just because we built it). Its SEO efforts include well built pages for each location as well as pages for each city. The website’s design is responsive on mobile and allows for easy scrolling with no parts cut off. This helps keep mobile users on the site longer.
It has important functionality aspects such as easy navigation, live chat, contact form, email address, phone number, and online payment option. The dedicated login or payment page allows new and existing renters to log in and pay online easily.
The site also contains conversion elements such as size guide, detailed facility features, and brightly colored call-to-action buttons. Additional elements like unit sizes and prices can be seen when you open a location page.
2. StorageHQ
We have worked with Storage HQ when we did on-page SEO for them and we were able to rank the website on the first page of Google for its market’s primary keywords.
While we didn’t build this site, we think it’s a great example of a DIY self storage website. It has search-engine-friendly aspects like customer reviews, storage services, unit features and CTA buttons that stand out, which help with conversions.
The key functionality features include the business phone number, email address, and the easy-to-use top menu.
The website has HTTPS enabled to ensure the information security of potential and existing renters. It is also responsive on mobile devices with different screen orientations and sizes.
3. US Storage Centers
The US Storage Centers website is another excellent site with functionality features such as interactive live chat, a filter or search bar, and a well placed phone number.
You can see the site’s SEO efforts with the how-to-rent video, listings for facilities in different locations, and services page showing its storage solutions. When you open the link to any facility, you can see conversion elements like pricing, good CTA buttons, unit sizes, and a countdown of the remaining units.
The business includes an enticing discount of two months on select units. This is prominently displayed on the homepage and can help increase conversion rates.
The website has an HTTPS configuration and impressive page speeds of 2.1 on mobile and 0.5 seconds on desktop. Fast-loading pages attract visitors and keep them on your site because they save time without annoying delays.
You’ll also notice the website has a responsive, mobile-friendly design. In particular, we like the menu on mobile.
This is exactly what you would expect out of one of the bigger players in the self storage market.
4. Creekside Storage
We have worked with Creekside Storage and built their website to unite all the business’ facilities under a single brand.
The package included Google Ads, building the website, and running SEO once the website was ready on WordPress and ESS. The website is responsive on mobile, which helps reduce bounce rate.
The detailed homepage features functionality and conversion elements including contact information, a payment system, a storage size guide, and distinct CTAs.
For SEO, the website has FAQs, service pages for different facilities and Google reviews.
5. Nationwide Self Storage
The Nationwide Self Storage website is built on WordPress.
This highly functional website has a large scrollable section on the right where visitors can choose their preferred storage size. Each size listing includes the unit’s features and a prominent “Reserve Now” CTA button.
Using bright-colored CTA buttons with relevant text increases conversions. Showing the most popular storage unit sizes and their dimensions from the smallest to the largest also helps with conversions.
To make the site both user friendly and search friendly, it includes online reviews, FAQs, and videos showing unit dimensions and how sample items would fit inside. It also lists all the self storage solutions offered, pages for different facilities, and a regularly updated blog.
Another important functionality aspect of the website is its storage calculator. The calculator allows you to determine the unit size you will need using different item-based filters. These items, such as furniture and wall art, apply to spaces like living rooms, offices, and kitchens.
Nationwide Self Storage also uses social media in its marketing strategy. The website has social icons linking it to their Facebook and Instagram accounts. These accounts also link to their website where potential visitors from social media can book and pay for a unit using the site’s online payment system.
6. Storage Warehouse
Storage Warehouse is a facility that uses Tenant Inc. While that is not my platform of choice due to its lack of flexibility, and though it does create relatively nice websites, it will look almost identical to every other website that uses Tenant Inc.’s platform.
We have worked with Storage Warehouse on Google Ads and an SEO campaign to market their climate-controlled storage facility in Tyler, Texas.
The website uses HTTPS configuration for security to protect the information of tenants, such as their financial details in the online pay bill system.
What I love about this website is its fast page speed. The ideal page speed is 2-3 seconds on mobile devices, and 1 second for desktop devices. Their website stands out with a page speed of 2.3 seconds on mobile and 1.0 seconds on desktop devices. Faster page speeds ensure a smoother user experience because visitors do not experience delays. This in turn reduces bounce rates and shows Google your website is helpful.
The website’s homepage includes a pay bill, pricing, phone number, unit selection and size guide page which makes the site functional. Online reviews, service pages, and FAQs make the site search-engine friendly.
There are clear facility photos on the page, size guide videos, and an elaborate listing of the units available. Each listing comes with a lower price for customers who book online.
Another effective marketing tactic this website uses is a sense of urgency and limited availability. It shows how many units are available in each size category and an accompanying “Rent Soon” CTA. It also offers the option of joining their waitlist on fully booked units.
7. Beverly 24 Hour Self Storage
Also built on WordPress, the Beverly 24 Hour Self Storage website is a mobile-friendly website. It has good SEO including facility pages for various locations, storage solutions, FAQs, and online reviews.
The website functions well as it is easy to navigate – get a quote, and contact the business using the displayed email address and phone number. Its CTA buttons are bright-colored, which can help increase conversion rates because users can spot them easily.
Another noteworthy conversion element is the website’s Space Estimator. It lets you select how much space you need and shows you an image of the items that would fit inside.
The business uses social proof as a marketing tactic. This can increase conversions because visitors are more likely to trust a company trusted by other people.
Its social proof includes various awards and recognitions by third-party industry players.
8. Lifestorage
The Lifestorage website is built on WordPress, which makes SEO easy. The site’s SEO practices include detailed FAQs, storage services pages, storage solutions, and service pages for facilities in various states and cities
You can easily find what you want on the site. It has key functionality features like a search bar and phone numbers for new and current customers.
The site has a filters section that allows you to refine your search by size, type, and distance. This helps you find exactly what you are looking for.
After opening a location page, you can see conversion elements like unit sizes, size guide, prices, and the number of remaining units. Other important elements are outstanding CTA buttons, unit features, and discounts for online rentals.
The business has a lot of content on social media platforms like Twitter and YouTube. It links to these platforms, which also connect back to the website. This helps boost social media traffic numbers.
Elements That Make a Self Storage Website Great
1. Functionality
You’ll want your self storage website to be as helpful and user-friendly as possible for potential customers and existing tenants.
For a self storage website, functionality involves the following:
- Easy navigation
- Easy to rent a storage unit
- Online payment system
- Conversion elements like pricing, unit sizes, and the number of units left.
- Ease of contacting you and communicating with new customers and current tenants
Easy Navigation
Your website is easy to navigate if visitors can find their way around easily when looking for information. You want to make sure users can quickly find the facility they are looking for, rent a unit, or make a payment. 
Make your top menu easy to use. It should have only the most important pages. These include your contact page, storage locations, size guide page, bill pay page, and tenant login page.
Easy to Rent a Storage Unit
Your self storage website’s main purpose is to convert visitors to paying customers. Make it easy for clients to rent a storage unit and make it easy for clients to pay you.
According to statistics by Experience Dynamics, two-thirds of mobile Internet users are willing to buy something the same day they perform a search.
Your website should make renting a storage unit easy for potential clients and existing tenants.
Customers can make online rentals from a general page at the top of the website. Use a simple label for the page, such as “Select a Unit”.
Alternatively, have easy-to-see call-to-action (CTA) buttons with labels such as “Rent a Unit” or “Book Now”. You can place CTAs across the website, especially on the homepage and service pages.
Here are Sample CTAs on a Self Storage Website:
Your online booking mechanism provides a self-service option for new and existing customers. It saves them time because they don’t have to come to your facility to book in person.
Online bookings increase conversions. Customers can make reservations online on their own time or even before and after your business working hours. This can potentially generate business and income 24/7.
Including filters is another way to make the booking process easier. You can let the user filter options by unit size and the unit’s location on the facility.
Online Payment System
Once you have captured the details of the prospect, it’s time for them to pay for the unit they have selected.
It’s ideal to have multiple payment options to make it easy for the prospect to choose the one most convenient for them. You can use the credit card option, which is accessible to most people.
Another crucial aspect of the online pay system is to enroll prospects and customers for autopay.
When clients agree to this option, you’ll automatically charge them monthly rent. They won’t have to log in to your system to make a payment, and you won’t have to remind them. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Lastly, offer promotions and discounts as incentives to new and current self storage tenants to book units. For example, provide a discount to those who order online.
Ease of Checking Availability of Units
Your self storage website should make it easy for renters to check the availability of rental units.
For example, if you have ten 5′ x 10′ units, show your website visitors how many units are unoccupied and their features, such as climate control, interior or exterior access, the floor they are on, and 24/7 video surveillance. This can be done through an external link using ESS or through an API integration with Sitelink or StorEDGE.
You can convert potential customers into tenants sooner by showing urgency and limited availability on your website.
Create the notion of limited availability using terms like “Only 2 units left” with a CTA button labeled “Rent Now”.
If all your rental spaces are fully booked, encourage your website users to join the waitlist for their preferred units. For example, a potential client looking to move to your town might want to book a unit before they move into town.
Ease of Contacting You and Communicating with Clients
It should be easy for potential and current renters to contact you from your website.
Display your contact information on your contact page. This can be your phone number and email address. The contact page can also include a contact form for capturing the user’s information and reason for contacting you.
It’s also a good idea to display your phone number on your menu at the top of every page on the website.
If you are a prominent self storage facility owner with multiple locations or a considerable demand, use a more interactive communication method to connect with website users. You can use a live chat to talk to visitors in real time.
2. Mobile-Friendly
With 63% of organic traffic to Google coming from mobile, you’ll want your self storage website to be as mobile-friendly as possible to convert mobile traffic.
This calls for a modern, professionally built self storage website. Most self storage business websites are either built directly on a self storage CMS like ESS, StorEDGE, or Tenant Inc., or on WordPress and integrated with ESS, storEDGE, or Sitelink. This can be done either through external links or through an API.
WordPress remains the best website platform for content management and small business search engine optimization.
Your website’s interface should adjust seamlessly to the screen size of the user’s tablet or mobile phone.
The interface should also adjust to the user’s device orientation and platform. The platform here refers to the user’s Internet browser or whether their mobile device is an Android or IOS.
Your website can function, feel, and look different across browsers and mobile operating systems. You want a website compatible across different devices, browsers, and operating systems.
Most mobile devices use portrait orientation, while most desktops use landscape or horizontal orientation. The orientation determines how your website displays its content. If it’s too wide for mobile devices, some parts will be cut out.
Here’s how Creekside Storage’s minimalist website looks on mobile:
Your website features should be accessible regardless of the user’s device. If you have sections of the site cut out on mobile, your visitors will bounce back and take their business elsewhere.
Your website’s design should be aesthetically appealing to attract organic traffic. This requires a unique brand identity, including your business name, colors, theme, imagery, and logo.
Lastly, ensure your website includes appropriate widgets to make it easier for users.
Here are some you can add:
- Third-party Google reviews widget
- Google Maps widget
- Social media widgets
- Pop-up ads widget
- Live chat widget
3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
High-quality self storage SEO improves your website’s ranking potential on search engines. You will want to optimize your website with the following:
- Proper self storage keyword research and competitor research
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on self storage
- Listing out each service you offer, such as RV storage, portable locker rentals, commercial storage, mobile storage, and boat storage
- About Us page with relevant keywords
- Pages for each facility you operate
- Complete Google Business Profile listing.
- General information about the size, accurate prices, and features of your units
- Facility map or virtual tours
- Online reviews and tenant testimonials
- Citations and backlinks from local and business directories like Yelp
- Meta descriptions, simple URLs, SEO titles, and heading tags
4. Page Speed and Website Security
Your website’s speed is important because it affects conversion rates. If it is slow, potential renters will return to the search results to look for another self storage facility with a fast website.
You’ll want your site’s page speed to be 2-3 seconds on mobile and even lower on desktop devices.
You can optimize your website’s performance to reduce the loading time and improve visitor engagement. One important way to do this is to optimize and compress your images.
Below are sample ideal page speed metrics.
Sample Page Speed Metrics on Mobile Devices
Sample Page Speed Metrics on Desktop Devices
When it comes to security, both existing and new renters will want to know that the personal information they provide you with in the rental agreement is safe.
Use an HTTPS configuration to make your self storage website safe and protect the personal and financial data of your tenants.
5. Social Media Integration
Including links on your website to your self storage facility’s social media accounts can help you build social proof and gain more site visitors.
Increase social traffic to your website by sharing your website content on different social media accounts to update your current tenants.
These posts are also an excellent way for new users to find your business when they search on social platforms like Facebook and TikTok.
Interested in a New Website for your Self Storage Business?
Our self storage digital marketing includes building high-quality self storage websites, PPC to increase paid traffic, and SEO to improve organic traffic.
Give us a no-obligation free consultation call today.
