It may seem easier to take advantage of the free website option that comes with your FMS provider or marketing agency, but much like the cheap, free tools that come with your IKEA furniture, they often don’t work as well as your own reliable tools you can count on. With so much riding on the success of your online presence, it’s best to lean on professionals when your business wants one of the best self storage websites.
A well-designed self storage website should be your hardest working employee, providing 24/7 conversions with an optimized rental system and flawless web design. There are many features that storage websites should include to support your storage unit business, including calls to action, informative landing pages, location pages, accurate unit size availability, and storage unit size calculators, and so much more.
What do we mean by “more”? Join us as Storagely explores the top 3 things the best storage websites have in common.
1. A Conversion-First Storage Website
There are many beautiful web and content templates available, but nothing can compare to a design specifically tailored to your needs. Whether you choose a template or a custom design, Storagely knows how to create conversion-first websites that increase your rentals.
Effective web design isn’t just about looking pretty. Websites must be built with conversion in mind, providing support and resources during every step of the buyer’s journey.
Here’s what the self storage buyer’s journey may look like:
- A lead needs extra space during an upcoming move. They search Google for “storage units” in their city.
- Your storage facility website is one of the first listed in Google, thanks to built-in SEO, so the lead clicks on your site.
- Your web design is simple, easy to navigate, and aesthetically pleasing. The potential tenant starts clicking on tabs to find out more about your facility. They may have questions about their storage needs, so they visit the FAQ page or explore a storage unit size page if they’re wondering which storage units are recommended for the number and type of items they need to store. They may even glance at your blog to answer a specific inquiry or learn more about your business.
- The lead uses a handy storage locator on your website to find the closest facility.
- Now that they’ve found the location page, they look through available sizes and amenities and use the storage size unit calculator to input their belongings to get an accurate unit size suggestion. They click on the recommendation and presto! They’re on the checkout page.
- With Storagely’s streamlined one-page checkout, the tenant can now fill out the information, pay quickly, and confirm their rental with an online e-signature lease—all within just 30 seconds!
Your website must be ready to facilitate every step of the potential renter’s journey. From the start, your website has to make a fantastic first impression within .05 seconds to keep visitors interested. Resources such as landing pages, FAQs, and blogs can help reassure them during a research stage, and once they’re ready to rent, it’s crucial that your rental system is frustration-free, fast, and trustworthy to seal the deal.
How do we know what a conversion-first website looks like? Our Case Studies consistently show an increase in rentals and conversion rates after storage businesses switch to a Storagely website.
For example, Client D achieved a 143% increase in online rentals and a 212% boost in conversions after switching to Storagely. The incredible growth we’ve seen underscores the importance of a storage website. With the right design and features, storage unit websites can transform your business.
Here’s what Client D had to say about their Storagely experience:
“We ended up dramatically increasing the conversions and also moving more of our traffic to renting online. Our online share of total rentals increased probably from 10% to almost 25% pretty quickly. Being able to convert something like twice as many online customers. So many fewer customers were bouncing from our site…So for folks that know that they need more rental activity, a better website, and an online rental system, I would just encourage them to talk to Storagely.”
2. The Best Self Storage Websites Are Future-Ready
AI isn’t going anywhere, and technology continues to improve by leaps and bounds. The best self storage websites will stay relevant by leveraging the latest self storage technology to provide the best possible renter experience that facilitates conversions.
There is a range of self storage AI applications operators can use. The exciting part? This is just the beginning. With constant technical advances emerging on the market, storage facility owners can leverage these new findings to improve their self storage websites and convert more leads.
Here’s a list of some current AI applications in the self storage industry:
- 24/7 Chat
- Storage Unit Calculators
- Automated Inventory Tracking
- Smart Pricing Adjustments
- Predictive Maintenance
- Access Control Automation
- Marketing Campaign Personalization
- Content Creation
- Space Utilization Insights
- Customer Feedback Analysis
- Billing and Payment Automation
- Tenant Behavior Analysis
- Built-In Website SEO
- And more!
At Storagely, we partner with companies that are paving the way for the storage industry.
Our swivl integration provides an innovative AI-powered chat that gives 24/7 help to tenants, while Calcumate brings storage unit size guides to the next level with the Unit Connect and CalcumateGEO features. Both of these integrations were designed by swivl and Caclumate with self storage in mind, conveniently supplying storage unit recommendations and sending leads directly to the checkout page with prepopulated information.
Are you worried about your storage website being found by Large Language Models like Chat GPT and Gemini? No worries. Storagely websites come equipped with built-in SEO to make sure your self storage business is ranking on Google AND AI search.
Storagely doesn’t stop there. We also offer Wingman, a 24/7 assistant on the Storagely Dashboard, to help our customers navigate the Storagely Platform.
Technology is all about convenience, and with the right tech incorporated into your website, you can expedite your rental process and improve ROI for your storage company in no time.
Modern Customers Demand a Modern Experience
Renting a unit online shouldn’t feel like doing your taxes. Streamlined checkout, mobile‑friendly design and smart follow‑ups are non‑negotiable for today’s self storage shoppers.
Today’s self storage tenants expect everything to be fast and easy, including finding and renting storage space. Long forms, confusing navigation, and clunky interfaces drive people away. A modern storage website needs to offer a seamless, intuitive experience that allows renters to reserve, pay, and move in—all from their phone or computer in just a few clicks.
To meet these expectations, your website must be built on the very latest self-storage technology. AI-powered solutions—like instant chat support, smart storage unit recommendations, and automated follow-ups—are quickly becoming the industry standard. Embracing technology such as predictive pricing, digital lease management, and automated reminders doesn’t just impress tenants; it streamlines your operations and maximizes occupancy.
Storagely understands that technology moves fast. That’s why we make continuous updates to every Storagely website, ensuring your platform is always current with the newest tools, trends, and innovations—like AI self-storage solutions and emerging digital features. This commitment keeps your business ahead of the curve and allows you to deliver the modern, effortless rental experience customers expect.
Features like one-page checkout, real-time unit availability, and instant lease signing cut out the friction and make life easier for renters. Automated follow‑ups, reminders, and digital communication channels show customers you value their time and business.
Investing in a user-friendly site is about building trust, increasing satisfaction, and capturing more rentals. When the rental process is as smooth and efficient as possible, your website delivers on what modern customers demand: convenience at every step.
3. Beef Up Your Storage Unit Website With Innovative Features
Having a good-looking website isn’t enough. You’ll need more than just a pretty face if you want to compete in the 21st-century economy. The best self storage websites have a few things in common that make them stand out from the rest.
Here are some of the most important features to look for to rent online:
- Mobile-Friendliness: In today’s world, more people are using their phones and tablets to browse the internet than ever before. This means that your website needs to be designed with mobile users in mind. Storagely can help you create a responsive design that looks great on any device.
- Online Reservations: The best storage websites don’t just look good. They close deals. Integrated online rentals make it easy for customers to reserve a unit in under half a minute. No hoops to jump through, no reasons to hesitate: just smooth, secure self-service that fills your units, day or night.
- Payment Processing: If you want to make money from your storage website, you’ll need to be able to accept payments online. Storagely includes a payment processor that’s secure and easy to use.
- Blazing Fast Load Times: Let’s face it—no one waits for slow websites anymore. A lightning-fast site not only keeps potential tenants from bouncing to your competition, but it also gives Google exactly what it wants to boost your rankings. Fast load times mean more eyeballs, longer visits, and more rentals
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Self storage is a competitive industry, and you need to ensure your storage website is visible to potential customers. SEO practices can help you optimize your site for the search engines, so you’ll rank higher on results pages and get more visitors.
- Real-Time Storage Unit Availability (FMS Sync): There’s nothing more frustrating for a customer than seeing a unit online, only to find out it’s unavailable. Live inventory syncing with your facility management software makes sure what’s shown on your website is always accurate.
- Security & Compliance: Your tenants trust you with their belongings and their data. Storage websites should be SSL-secured and ADA-compliant, ensuring your operation protects tenant data, builds trust, and remains accessible to all.
- Value-Based Pricing: Upsell and bundle features like climate-controlled storage units, 24/7 accessibility, security features, and more to increase your revenue and give tenants more options.
These are just a few features that will elevate your website to the next level. If you want your storage unit website to be successful, you’ll need to make sure it has all of these features and more. Work with the Storagely platform, and you’ll be sure to create a site that’s head and shoulders above the rest.
Core Storagely websites come with all of the features listed above, but we also offer Add-On Bundles with even more features to help increase rentals. Abandoned rental recovery emails, Automated Google review requests, and swivl chat integration are all available with our Convert & Engage Bundle.
FAQs About Storage Facility Websites
What website design companies specialize in self storage?
When your business is on the line, partner with a specialist. Companies like Storagely, StoragePug, and Go Local Interactive offer website options. At Storagely, we craft storage websites that aren’t just visually appealing; they’re conversion machines, designed to turn every visitor into a paying tenant.
Is self storage still profitable?
Absolutely. The self storage industry remains a profitable sector, with a total market value of $44.3 billion in the U.S. alone. Demand is steady, with 11.1% of U.S. households—around 14.6 million—renting storage units. Industry occupancy rates also reflect strong performance, averaging 85.29% nationwide as of mid-2024. These numbers show that, even as markets evolve, self storage continues to provide reliable returns for owners who invest in effective operations and online visibility.
What’s the difference between run-of-the-mill websites and the best self storage websites?
Think of a basic website as just another face in the crowd, while the best self storage websites know how to get attention (and more results). Features like mobile responsiveness, fast load times, easy online rentals, accurate inventory, and strong security are what separate successful sites from the rest.
What makes a Storagely website different?
With Storagely, it’s not just a website—it’s a high-converting member of your team. You get ultra-fast load times, a streamlined rental experience, always-updated availability, and smart integrations like AI-driven chat and storage calculators. Everything works together, so renting a unit is easier than ever for your tenants. And when renting a unit is easy, your revenue goes up.
What features should you look for in storage websites?
There’s a lot on the list, but at the very least: fast load speeds, mobile-friendly design, online reservations and payments, live unit availability, strong security (SSL and ADA compliance), built-in SEO, and easy options to update your site as you grow. When your website ticks all those boxes, you’re setting your storage facility up for success.
Stop settling for a digital brochure. With Storagely, you get a website that rents. Faster. Experience a diffeRENT way to website and start capturing every lead with a true growth engine built for self storage operators. Ready to have one of the best self storage websites? Schedule a demo today!
Read more about the power of a conversion-first websites below!