Lead generation for filming space rentals in LA

Results summary

Monarch Studios had never sold through outbound before. In its first 5 months, the studio booked 41 appointments with LA producers and production companies, about 8 per month, beating its KPI by 54% on average.

• 41 appointments in 5 months
• 154% average KPI
• 2,507 leads researched, all in the Los Angeles market
• 633 responses from prospects
• 8% reply rate, with open rates peaking at 80%
• Most responsive industries: entertainment, media production, and marketing and advertising

Los Angeles is the center of the film industry, so studio space is a crowded market, and many production companies work with tight budgets. Results came from a clearly defined audience and a value proposition built around what producers actually need on a shoot: space, parking, and distinctive sets at an affordable price.

“We were very satisfied with Belkins’ ability to quickly understand our needs and create efficient campaigns that exceeded our KPI goals.”

— Andrew Kappas, Owner, Monarch Studios

Why they adressed to Belkins

Monarch Studios came to Belkins with three challenges:

• No sales or outbound experience. The studio had never run cold outreach campaigns.
• Limited prospect budgets. Many production companies had little to spend, so the value proposition had to reflect affordability.
• Heavy competition. Los Angeles is saturated with studios, so outreach had to speak precisely to what producers need to stand out.

The goal we had to achieve

Monarch wanted to reach only LA-based video production companies and studios in media, film, and movie production, and turn them into appointments for studio visits.

Our approach: Target LA producers and invite them to see the studio

The campaign ran on cold email. Monarch’s clear ideal customer profile (ICP) and unique value proposition let the team move fast.

Targeting the people who book studio space

The team focused on titles that influence where a production shoots. Among the 2,507 leads, producers made up 18.9% and executive producers 13.2%. The rest included marketing managers, directors of marketing, senior, associate, and creative producers, co-founders, and creative directors.

By industry, entertainment accounted for 35.5% of leads, media production for 24%, and marketing and advertising for 19.3%. Smaller segments included information technology, retail, motion pictures and film, online media, apparel and fashion, and food and beverage.

Leading with what producers care about on set

Templates highlighted Monarch’s practical advantages for large shoots: ample parking for big crews, standing sets for distinctive looks, and a white cyc wall, all at an affordable price for an LA studio. The call to action was an invitation to tour the studio, which suited a physical product that sells best in person.

Using the referral approach and testing subject lines

Every email used Belkins’ referral approach: it asked whether the prospect was the right contact or named a colleague who might be. The team tested four subject lines in the first wave. This approach exceeded the KPI benchmarks.

Here’s the first email in the sequence:

What this campaign shows about selling a physical space through email

• Sell the practical details. Parking and set options mattered more to producers than general claims about quality.
• Invite prospects to see it. A studio tour is a low-commitment ask that fits how space is chosen.
• Make it easy to redirect. “You or {{Referral_Name}}?” gave every recipient a simple way to reply.
• Plan for later demand. Positioning the studio as an “extra ace” for future projects kept the door open with prospects who weren’t booking yet.

This approach fits local businesses with a physical product, a clearly defined local market, and a team new to outbound. A company selling nationwide or remotely would need a different call to action than an in-person visit.