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Welcome back to Self Storage Lab, the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape—and what it means for the future of the industry.

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This episode features Amanda DiGaspari and Austin Simmons, CEO and COO of Storagely, a company rethinking what a self storage website should actually do. What started as a digital marketing agency turned into a SaaS platform after one pivotal moment: fixing a broken checkout flow and tripling online rentals. That shift pulled Amanda and Austin out of agency work and into building a conversion-first, revenue-driven website platform purpose-built for how renters behave today—and where AI-driven discovery is headed next.

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In this conversation, Mason and Rodolfo dig into Storagely’s evolution from services to product, the hard lessons learned along the way, and why websites should be treated as full-time digital managers, not static brochures. The episode spans branding, data, UX, AI, and leadership, with plenty of practical insight for operators navigating changing renter expectations.

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If you’re thinking about online rentals, checkout optimization, AI search, or how to build product with discipline in a noisy market, this episode is a must-listen.

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In This Episode We Discussed

(00:00:00) Introductions, banter, and how Storagely found self storage
(00:00:40) From marketing agency to storage tech
(00:03:10) The leap from services to SaaS
(00:05:38) Early mistakes, false starts, and lessons learned
(00:07:50) Why vision and mission became guardrails
(00:10:39) Rebranding and what it signaled internally and externally
(00:12:59) Current challenges and future direction
(00:21:45) Building renter personas to improve UX
(00:23:25) What truly differentiates storage websites
(00:26:06) Using data, not opinions, to guide product decisions
(00:29:28) How renter expectations and online behavior are changing
(00:34:39) Balancing operator feedback with behavioral data
(00:37:59) Storagely’s framework for product development and iteration
(00:45:36) Architecture-first thinking and faster innovation
(00:51:54) AI, generative search, and the future of discovery
(00:57:26) Morning routines, chaos, and staying grounded
(01:03:06) Finding inspiration outside self storage
(01:10:55) Alternate universes and creative paths not taken

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Key Themes & Takeaways

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Websites Are Revenue Engines
Storagely treats the website as a 24/7 manager, not a brochure. Every design and feature decision ladders back to conversion and lifetime value.

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Data Over Guesswork
From checkout flows to feature prioritization, decisions are driven by renter behavior, not assumptions or “in case” thinking.

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Focus Wins
Learning to say no—to features, distractions, and edge cases—has been critical to building a product that scales without losing clarity.

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AI Is an Extension, Not a Shortcut
SEO and generative search are converging, but the foundation remains the same: structured, local, trustworthy content built to serve real users.

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Favorite Nuggets

• “Designing a website in case someone rents online vs because they will.”
• Why a 30-second checkout changed everything
• Treating your website like a digital team member
• The power of showing the work with real data
• Why being embarrassed by what you shipped six months ago is a good sign

🔗 Learn more about Storagely
https://storagely.io

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🔗 Connect with the guests
Amanda DiGaspari
Austin Simmons

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