Melissa Stiles, Chief Marketing Officer of Storage Asset Management (SAM), shares her journey from answering a blind ad to leading one of the largest third-party management companies in self-storage. Overseeing marketing, revenue management, business development, and communications, Melissa has helped SAM grow from 32 stores to nearly 600.

In this conversation, she explains how her team evolved into a full-service, agency-style structure with specialists in SEO, paid ads, social, and local marketing. Melissa dives into strategies that drive lease-ups, from influencer partnerships and community events to data-driven revenue management models. She also discusses how AI is reshaping SEO, what makes local marketing still matter, and why reputation and relationships remain central to SAM’s success.

Key Takeaways:

(2:47 ) Melissa’s Journey to become CMO and the growth of SAM

(6:11 ) Developing the marketing team

(9:45 ) Key questions to making a great hire

(11:42 ) Case study for building a marketing strategy for a self storage facility

(14:28 ) Strategies for a successful for lease up

(17:24 ) When should you expect stabilization

(18:27 ) Getting found with AI in the lease up process

(21:32 ) The advantages of scaling up for a brand

(23:50 ) Using data to impact operations

(26:18 ) Revenue management tactics

(27:53 ) The pride of making a real world impact

Resources Mentioned:

Melissa Stiles | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissastiles/

Storage Asset Management | Website

https://www.storageassetmanagement.com

Storage Sense | Website

https://www.storagesense.com

Cubby | Website

https://www.cubbystorage.com/

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