DoorLoop, a leading all-in-one property management software, empowers property managers and owners to make more money, get organized, and grow. The SaaS platform offers an array of features, including property listings, accounting tools, online rental applications, and automated tenant screening and background checks.
AJ Oberlender, Director of Customer Websites at DoorLoop, reflects, "We aimed to enhance our customer offerings," when describing what led to the inception of a website offering at DoorLoop. With a background in website development, AJ transitioned from customer support and onboarding to spearheading the integration of websites into DoorLoop’s software.
Fast forward 18 months, and DoorLoop has successfully launched over 400 customer websites without adding to its websites team.
Customers with published websites are experiencing a surge in business — seeing twice as many rental application submissions compared to those without DoorLoop-built sites.
This success is not only beneficial for customers, but also for DoorLoop. Adding websites to their portfolio has bolstered the software’s customer retention and features usage. Among customers who had published a website there has been a 50% reduction in churn, and nearly 2x greater tenant portal usage and payment processing adoption.
Moreover, DoorLoop registered a significant revenue boost coming from customers with published websites. But how was all this achieved within such a short timeframe?
When DoorLoop decided to expand its offerings to include websites for property management customers, AJ embarked on thorough research to identify the ideal website building platform.
"We evaluated various options: WordPress, Webflow, Wix, SquareSpace — you name it. Each had its pros and cons. Having experience with many systems, I was skeptical about WordPress's popularity. Then, someone recommended Duda, and after a trial, it seemed promising," AJ recounts.
AJ sought a platform offering robust customer control without sacrificing efficiency. He didn’t want a customer breaking the website if he gave them access to the editor. But, at the same time, he didn’t want to be the only one doing all the editing work, which would be really time consuming.
DoorLoop found Duda's client management feature to be the perfect solution. With client permissions, the team could allow customers to edit their sites directly, enhancing productivity while maintaining control and site security.
In addition to permissions, Duda's white-label editor allowed DoorLoop to customize the editor with their branding, ensuring a seamless experience for customers.
The majority of DoorLoop’s website customers are property managers and owners who don’t want to worry about their websites. “They already have to worry about things like broken pipes, among other crucial matters for them and their tenants,” explains AJ.
DoorLoop offers well-designed, integrated websites that showcase property listings, enable online applications, and tenant portal access — all hassle-free for their customers. "We prioritize functional, clean designs. We can have sites up in 48 hours if necessary. Our focus has always been speed over customization," AJ notes.
DoorLoop's Duda-powered websites are mobile-responsive, SEO-optimized, and provide reliability and security with AWS hosting and SSL certificates, among other features.
DoorLoop offers custom website services as part of its comprehensive suite of tools, available to all customers for an additional fee. However, for those who choose its Premium Plan, this feature is included at no extra cost. "The inclusion of a free website with the Premium Plan is often a decisive factor for our clients. Our sales team highlights this advantage, making it an attractive option for many," AJ elaborates.
The success of the website offer is evident, with around 80% of customers beginning the website creation process immediately after signing up or during onboarding.
Among those, approximately 80% already have a domain, and DoorLoop will redirect the new website to the customer’s existing domain. For the other 20%, DoorLoop will purchase a new domain on behalf of the customer – probably indicating this is the first website these customers are building for their property management business.
Getting a website with DoorLoop is straightforward. Customers receive a series of emails guiding them through the process. These emails include a link to a form where users can select from over a dozen templates, tailored by DoorLoop for various property management business needs. They detail their process and options here.
Upon selecting a template, customers provide additional business information such as contact details, logo, and social media links. The information in the form helps the team seamlessly connect the customer’s website to their data within our software, connecting the website's widgets to the customer's data on the property management software.
Once DoorLoop gathers all necessary information, they generate the website on Duda and email the customer a preview link showcasing how their site will appear on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. This email also contains a link to another form for edit requests, encompassing changes to copy or images.
DoorLoop customers can expect a website preview within seven to ten business days. For urgent requests, our Website Team is equipped to expedite this process significantly.
"I love Duda, and our customers love the platform," concludes AJ.