When you own a vacation rental, your ultimate goal is to make money off of it. But some people find themselves in a rut, with nobody booking and no money being earned. What’s the deal? Well, if you don’t know how to make money on your vacation rental, then you aren’t going to see any revenue. 

How do you make money on a vacation rental? Here are seven ideas for making your vacation rental profitable, 

1. Start with the right vacation home

2. Make the place look incredible

3. Offer amenities to your guests

4. Make a stellar listing 

5. Decide on the right rate

6. Market yourself

7. Take advantage of last-minute bookings

If you are wondering how to make money on a vacation rental, you have come to the right place. Learn how to get off on the right foot with your vacation rental and see a spike in reservations, as well as in the amount of money in your wallet! Keep reading for must-know tips and tricks for vacation rental success.

Start With the Right Vacation Home

Those who haven’t purchased their vacation home yet but are looking to purchase should know that finding the right vacation home makes all the difference. But how can you be sure that you’re finding the ‘right’ vacation home? Well, here are a few major things to consider when buying:

• The location of the home. Have you ever heard the saying ‘location, location, location?’ It’s not just a trendy or fun phrase to say. Location really does matter. People want to see a beautiful view out of their window. They also want to be close to all the cool and fun activities such as ski slopes or beaches. Take this heavily into consideration.
• Find a year-round vacation rental. If you’re only going to see revenue in the summertime or in the winter, why waste your time? Find a vacation rental that is going to be booked around the clock, no matter what time of year it is. For instance, Hawaii has sensational weather year-round, so you know you will get the best bang for your buck.
• Consider the size. If you are looking to maximize your investment, then it is highly recommended to get a place with several rooms and bathrooms. Since the vacation rental will be larger with more space for guests, you can charge more per night. 
• Check for any type of regulation. Something a lot of people may skip or forget about completely is checking for regulations. Some locations may have a cap on how many guests are allowed to stay or where they are allowed to park. 

Make the Place Look Incredible

This is your vacation rental. People are using this spot as a place to escape from it all and have the time of their lives — and your vacation rental should look like a retreat that they can really indulge in. That being said, you need to make sure that your vacation rental looks magnificent. Here are a few easy ways to make your place stand out from the rest:

• Make sure it shines. This might seem like it goes without saying, but someone who is new to the vacation rental realm might overlook it. Your place should be pristinely clean and thoroughly sanitized in between your guests. And we don’t mean just picking up — the floors should be clean enough to eat off! 
• Fluff up the pillows. There is nothing more inviting than a bed with fluffed up pillows, That being said, make sure that you fluff up the pillows for your guests. There should be at least four pillows on the bed. This looks luxurious and will give your renters the most restful sleep possible.
• Put some extras in the kitchen. When you’re in a vacation rental, it can be hard to figure out how to cook a meal. Sure, you can go to the local grocery store and grab the food, but what about plates? Measuring cups? Forks? Stock the shelves with some basics to make things easy for your guests and keep them happy.
• Stay neutral and keep it simple. Remember that not everyone is going to have the same style preferences as you. If you think you can toss a bright pink comforter on the King-sized bed and call it a day, you might be in trouble. Opt for neutral colors and keep it on the simpler side to appease all of your guests.
• Spend extra for comfort. Again, the goal is to make your guests as comfortable in the rental as possible. That being said, don’t be afraid to splurge on pricier furniture options that allow for more stability and comfort. Trust us – your guests will thank you for it.
• Have the place professionally decorated. Okay, for the decorating enthusiasts out there, you might not need to hire someone. But most of the time, hiring a professional is going to give you the best results. Hire a local decorator to come in and make your vacation rental look picture-perfect.

Offer Amenities To Your Guests

The more amenities you offer to your guests, the more likely they are going to stay there. This is simply because people want to get the most out of their vacation. If you are offering some great extras and the competition is not, then who do you think is going to end up with the reservations? You guessed it!

A few simple amenities that you can offer your guests include:

• Always welcome pets. A lot of people have pets, but the majority of rentals say NO to furry best friends. While it may take a little bit of extra cleaning on your behalf after they have left, it’s well worth it for the revenue. After all, people have a hard time leaving their pets behind — why not be the valuable vacation rental that says, ‘Bring them along!’?
• Consider purchasing a hot tub. Again, the vacation rental’s sole purpose is to offer a place for people to indulge and relax. There is no better place to feel luxurious and at ease than in a hot tub. Having a hot tub can make the difference between a reservation and staying at a hotel. 
• Always offer WiFi. In this day and age, I would think it is almost impossible to rent a vacation home without WiFi. Everybody uses WiFi, whether it’s for social media, work, or play, and offering it to your customers is a major plus. 
• Streaming service. Make it easy for your guests to have a movie night. At the very least, have a Smart TV so they can access their own account.
• Consider purchasing a washer and dryer. You might not think this is essential, but it kind of is — especially for those who are staying for long periods of time. Even those who are there for only short stays can find the washer and dryer as a bonus. Sudden mishaps, like spilling wine on your favorite shirt, need instant repair — and it’s your washer and dryer to the rescue!

Make a Stellar Listing 

If you have ever booked a room or vacation rental, you know how heavily you rely on the pictures. So, therefore, a set of sub-par photographs is going to land you in the slumps with little to no reservations. Make your vacation rental listing a knockout, and you will see more people coming to your location. Here’s how:

• Hire a professional photographer. With the importance of photographs in mind, it might be best to leave it in the hands of a professional. Professionals will know how to stage rooms properly and get the best shots, something the average photo-taker simply wouldn’t understand.
• Add a virtual tour to the listing. Why settle for just photographs? People want to know what they are getting into. Adding a virtual tour to your listing can increase sales as people will know exactly what the vacation rental is going to look like – and they can start to picture themselves there. 
• Pay attention to the description. Potential renters don’t want to read a book about your rental. The key here is to keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Your listing should have valuable information, though, and some descriptive words that highlight the property and all you have to offer. Also, share amenities and nearby hot spots to seal the deal. 

Decide on the Right Rate

Now that you have the vacation rental decorated and a stellar listing in place, it’s time to set the rate. Rates are important because you don’t want to sell yourself short. You also don’t want to be vastly more overpriced than the competition, or people simply won’t choose you for their getaway. 

Now, there are two different ways that you can decide on a nightly rate. First and foremost, you can check similar properties to see how much they are charging per night. This is called ‘comping’ and is valuable to anyone who is struggling with deciding on the perfect nightly rate. 

On the other hand, you can also have your vacation rental analyzed by a professional company or website such as MashVisor. MashVisor’s claim to fame is that they “Use analytics to find lucrative traditional or Airbnb properties in a matter of minutes.” This provides more accurate information as it also includes the expenses that will incur while the home is rented.

Market Yourself

At this point, everything is ready, and your vacation rental is good to be booked. Only one problem remains — nobody is noticing your listing. Getting lost in the crowd is probably the biggest obstacle vacation rental owners face when trying to rent out their rental. 

You have to market yourself properly to ensure that renters are seeing your rental and are enticed to book.

• Hire a pro. Promotion can be a lot easier if you hire someone to manage your rental. They will take the guesswork out of everything and ensure that your rental is getting maximum exposure. The company will also ensure that your listing is in tip-top condition with the proper photographs and listings to bring more renters. 
• DIY. If you’re doing it on your own, though, you will need to start by finding a quality website to place your vacation rental. TravelAway actually shares 27 Best Vacation Rental Sites to Advertise Your Property, including Airbnb, Clickstay, Wimdu, and Perfect Places. Each has its own positives and negatives, so do ample research before deciding on a website to place an ad.

Keep in mind that some websites may be geared to certain destinations rather than others. For instance, Airbnb is great for city stays, while a houseboat might work best on Glamping Hub. There is a seemingly endless supply of quality websites to place an ad, so make sure you are finding one that is best suited for your vacation rental. 

Work on Your SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

In this day and age, everyone has likely heard of SEO and its utter importance when being recognized and even found on the internet. When it comes to SEO, it’s all about keywords. Use the right keywords throughout your listing to ensure it reaches the top of the charts in search engines, both on Google and the website chosen for placing an ad.

To ensure you’re using the right keywords, you will want to use an SEO keyword optimization tool. BackLinkO shares the 15 BEST Keyword Research Tools for SEO [2020 Reviews], including Soovle, Jaaxy, Google Search Console, and many more.

Get On Social Media

Social media is probably the best way to optimize your listing and get more bookings. You should have a page on Facebook that showcases your vacation rental as well as an Instagram profile that shares fun news, updates, and, most importantly — pictures! It’s important to keep your social media up-to-date and remain active, responding to anyone commenting.

Ask For Five Star Reviews

We can’t tell you how immensely important it is to have positive feedback on your vacation rental. These reviews are looked at by potential renters, as they want to hear the good and the bad from individuals who have actually stayed there. But how can you make sure that your guests are leaving reviews?

• People love giving their opinion online. The good news is a lot of people will leave a review automatically. But after three or four days, if there is still no feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to your guests to request a quick review of your property. And don’t worry — that does not come across as pushy or unprofessional. Guests know the importance of reviews.

• Don’t panic over negative reviews. Let’s face it — you can’t please everyone, and you will drive yourself crazy trying to do so. As long as it’s minor things, like ‘I didn’t care for the yellow cabinets’ instead of ‘I saw a mouse in the kitchen — never going back’ then you shouldn’t worry too much.

• Learn from negative feedback.  Instead of getting down on yourself about them, use them to make any necessary changes. You may also want to respond to the feedback if allowed and apologize for any inconvenience or disturbance that may have happened to upset them. This shows future guests that you care and are actively trying to resolve the situation.

The Secret to Getting Positive Reviews

The best way to make sure you get positive reviews is to offer a five-star rental. If you want to get five stars on your listing, then it should be shown through the rental. Make sure that everything is cleaned up and ready to go. It should be an inviting, warm, yet appropriately decorated space with plenty of amenities and help from the owner (you).

Make Money on Last-Minute Bookings

One easy way to earn more money from your vacation rental is to simply offer deals on last-minute bookings.  Let’s say that you have had consistent bookings for the past few weeks, but all of a sudden, you notice that this upcoming weekend is empty. That’s not good! But what can you, the vacation rental owner, do?

You can offer as little or as much as you would like to do in order to get guests in. Offer deals to potential guests, such as 50% off on a 3-night stay. The point is to make sure that your property is booked up as much as it can. Any days where the vacation rental isn’t booked is basically a wasted day with no revenue. 

Make sure to add these deals to your listing — just be sure to remove the ad when the offer expires, or you might end up with some angry vacationers. Also, you will want to showcase the ad on your social media profiles to help spread the word. Some vacation rentals may also want to set up some type of email campaign that goes to past guests to see if they would be interested in a great discount.

Conclusion to making money on your vacation rental

Making money on your vacation rental property doesn’t have to be an overwhelming challenge. As long as you ensure the place is in a good location, looks nice and inviting, and you have the proper marketing tools on your side, you can easily be successful at renting out your vacation property.

Everything you do to create a top-notch listing and get it in front of potential guests helps move your listing closer to first choice. And that means more money in your pocket.

Sources:

There is no denying the power of social media. It has been estimated that as of 2019, 2.95 billion people globally have been hooked to social media platforms. The penetration is supposed to increase manifold in the coming years. The statistics presented in January 2020 shows that the worldwide penetration of social media stands at 49%. If you are planning to promote your vacation rental offerings to a large customer base, then social media should be your next stop.

You have amazing vacation offerings to provide to your customers in picturesque locales. Beautiful destinations are a hit on social media where the customers scroll through the pictures and express their desire to visit that place. You can tap into this sentiment and make social media a portent tool to show your value proposition to the world. This article will guide you on how to promote vacation rental on social media.

You will find a detailed discussion in this article on the following topics:

• How to craft an effective social media approach for your vacation rental business?
• How best to implement social media strategies for your vacation rental business?
• Which social media platforms will be most effective to convey your value proposition?

How To Craft An Effective Social Media Approach For Your Vacation Rental Business?

You need to maintain a very strategic approach while creating your social media plan. The virtual platforms invite a huge number of viewers. So you need to make sure that whatever you put out there should be accurate, effective, and methodical.

Here are some of the effective social media strategies you can implement:

• Create a separate profile and account for your business

The first thing you need to do is create a separate profile or a social media account for your business. It looks professional and shows to the world that you are in a serious business mode. It also shows that you have a host of value propositions to offer and hence you need a separate account. Your personal account will have stories that are irrelevant to your vacation rental business. Your followers or potential customers will not appreciate getting updates about your private life amidst vacation pictures.

Hence, you must create a separate business page and promote it. This way you can directly connect with your target audience who can follow your page and ask their queries.

• Create a Social Media Calendar

You need to have a proper plan in place about when to post what. You simply cannot post anything and everything during any time of the day. Each social media platform has its own algorithm to search for effective posts based on good content and its relevancy. The algorithm helps in giving reach to that post.

You should create a social media calendar for your vacation rental business that is tailor-made according to the various platforms. 

Here is an example of a social media calendar that you can create. You can also get an idea about how to make the posts more effective.

Ideally, a business account should put up 1 post per day on Facebook for maximum engagement. 

• Put up a beautiful high-resolution image of your property or place.
• Provide some useful information about your business.
• Provide a call-to-action button.
• Provide a link where your customers can know more about your vacation rental business.

Instagram is a picture-friendly platform. It is advisable to put up a minimum of 2 to 3 posts per day to get maximum reach as pictures are sharable. (How to make perfect vacation rental pictures)

• Use relevant hashtags with your posts like #travelgram, #vacation, #travel, #wanderlust, #vacationrental, to name a few.
• Location-based hashtags can improve traffic. What hashtags to use for your vacation rental.
• The pictures should be of high quality and high resolution.
• Reduce the text on the image. 

Many other effective platforms will be discussed in detail in the upcoming segments.

• Create a Set Of Goals

Having a set of goals in mind makes the social media campaign for your business more effective. You need to be realistic and set measurable goals for your vacation rental business. Measuring the goals regularly will help you understand whether your vacation rental business is generating interest on social media. 

Here are a certain set of measurable goals that you can fulfill while operating your social media platforms:

• Increase your page followers by 100 within a month
• Have over 60 likes per post
• Increase the engagement on Facebook by 100 within a month
• Aim for 150 views for your Instagram Story
• Create 2 Group Boards related to your vacation rental on Pinterest
• Write 1 blog related to various vacation places per month

You can create your goals based on your business needs and feasibility.

• Post more about the experience rather than your vacation rental business

Traveling is a beautiful experience where people get to take a break and experience a new culture. Your customers should feel the energetic vibe of mesmerizing travel destinations through your posts. Try to sell the experience rather than your property. Apart from the amazing selling points of your property, try to convey to your audience how you can enhance their stay. The spacious balcony in your property will give them an imposing view of the mountains. The long glass-paneled windows will make you feel closer to the waves on the beach.

This way you can make your customers feel the experience of staying in that destination. You can also add valuable information about the locality. This way the customers will refer to your post as a guide which will increase the traffic to your business account. This constant reinforcement in the minds of your customers will increase your brand recall. So next time they travel to any destination, your property will be the first on their mind to enhance their stay.

More about how to write the perfect description for your vacation rental property.

• Try to Show more About the Place Rather than Your Property in the Posts

People wouldn't exactly come searching for your property. They will tend to search more about their favorite destination and what it has to offer. Your post can have more about the place rather than your property. Maybe a balcony view overlooking the vast expanse of white sandy beach can trigger wow factors about your property. A patio opening to the picturesque view of the valley would make the customers flock to your property just to get the view.

People pay for the experience and thrill when they travel to a place. Promoting your property by showing how it can give them the best of that place, will make them more interested. 

You can write about the famous features or landmarks of different places in your posts. This will make your customers refer to it again and again to know more about the location.

• Be Natural in your Posts while Projecting your Business

Pushing your vacation rental business by barraging the value propositions on your viewers is not a good move. Nobody responds to a post well if it is purely about business or what rates are you offering. Infuse natural elements into your posts. Maybe a beautiful picture of a busy street, a crazy selfie in a good location, a warm picture of a good eatery, will help in attracting more audiences. It will catch the eye of your customers who will yearn to create such moments of their own.

Content and pictures are driven by their ability to tell a story. Let your pictures say a lot of stories and encourage potential customers to create their own.

How Best To Implement Social Media Strategies For Your Vacation Rental Business?

• Try to ask open-ended questions in your posts

You can post a series of pictures of various locations where you have your properties and ask the viewers to choose the best one. Maybe you can also ask your viewers about their favorite aspect of a particular location. You should try to interact with your viewers and encourage responses from their side. Any sort of fun question encourages people to participate in social media posts.

• Encourage your customers to leave feedback on your social media page

Word to mouth feedback plays a very important role in convincing potential customers about your valuable services. You should encourage your customers to leave a review on your Facebook page or other social media pages. This will help in reassuring your viewers about your properties and services. Once they go through positive feedback, they will want to find out more about your value offerings. This will drive them towards your social media pages and posts.

• Request your customers to tag your company name in their social media posts

People tend to be on a picture posting spree on social media when they travel to new destinations. You can request your customers to tag your company in their posts so that you can get a wider reach. If your services and properties are good, your customers would happily tag you and leave a nice review. 

This move will help you gain a wider reach and increased traffic. Your customer's connections will look at your property in a favorable light. They will have confidence in your services as some of their known have vouched for your value offerings.

• Try Geotagging your posts and use relevant hashtags

The potential customers always research their travel destinations before zeroing on the location. Hence, whenever you put up a post make sure you tag your location, town, or city. This way, people searching for holiday destinations will come across your account.

Make sure you link your posts and profile with your properties. People will get a chance to glance through them when they research the location through your profile. Even if the customer does not book your property, this engagement will help in increasing the reach and ranking of your posts.

Which Social Media Platforms Will Be Most Effective To Convey Your Value Proposition?

You need to choose your platforms carefully. Every social media platform is unique for the type of crowd it attracts. All the platforms have their own way of expressions and styles which we need to follow to get maximum reach. You also have to keep in mind that not all social media platforms will be suitable for your vacation rental business.

Let's take an example. If you put up a post on LinkedIn about your beautiful property it will not serve your purpose. LinkedIn is about finding corporate connections. Nobody comes looking for holiday destinations on LinkedIn. So you need to choose your social media platforms carefully.

Here is a list of most effective social media platforms which will further your vacation rental business:

• Facebook

Facebook flaunts to have 2.6 billion monthly active users. This platform gives its users the opportunity to create events page. It also allows its users to invest in increasing the reach of the page. You can create Facebook groups of travel communities where enthusiastic travellers can share their experiences.

Creating an events page is a great way to gain visibility. Many locations have different famous cultural festivals and events. You can entice your customers to attend the event and offer special discounts or complimentary services. Are you attending the La Tomatina festival in Spain?' Such notifications will go to all your connections that might prompt them towards a holiday trip. They can always go through your page and book your property.

• Instagram

Instagram is completely picture-oriented. People love to scroll through the good quality pictures, drop a like, or share them as stories on Instagram. This platform is an excellent option for a vacation rental business which has beautiful properties to flaunt in picturesque locations. You can take permission from your customers and post fun pictures of their stay on your property. This will add authenticity to your business. Always research for relevant and trending hashtags related to travel, location, and stays. Your post should be followed by a good set of relevant hashtags to get more reach.

• YouTube

You can cultivate connections with social media influencers and utilize their followers to further your business. There is nothing better than a video depiction, like a travel vlog, to show the beauty of a place. You can have social media influencers create travel vlogs about their stay in an awesome location and their experience of staying at your property.

You can keep up the tempo through Twitter and Pinterest. You will get an option to put up a lot of pins on group boards about your properties. For example, you can post pins of ´Top 5 Places To Visit This Year'. This will create a good engagement and interest in the group boards.

This article aims to provide you the ultimate guide for promoting your vacation rental business on social media platforms. Once you start your stint with social media and go about it methodically, you will see that a lot of interest generated around your properties and business.

Are you keen on promoting vacation rental but would like to stay away from the likes of Airbnb? If yes, then you are in the right place. We believe that this article will be able to answer many questions that people might have with regard to other alternatives to Airbnb to promote your vacation rental.

Though the movement of people across the world from one country to another, one region to another and one state to another may have come to a grinding halt because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it will not be long before things start getting back to normal. It is just matter a matter of time because people do not like to be tied down and be locked in their homes.

Though the hotel business and vacation rental businesses may have taken a massive downturn, it will get back to normal steadily over the next few months and years. 

Traditionally, if you ask any person or entity that has a rental place to offer for vacation and holiday makers, they would most probably depend on the likes of Airbnb listing for getting access to customers. They generally display their homes on sites like Airbnb. They make it as attractive and inviting as possible making using of stunning photographs and smart and captivating write-ups. While this has worked for many vacation rental companies and also for customers, the reach of entities like Airbnb platform is limited. If you are keen on moving ahead and spreading your reach to a wider audience, it makes sense for you to look beyond Airbnb platforms. 

If you look at some of the massive success stories of various small, medium and big sized hotels, you will be able to come across various other proven, time-tested and successful ways to promote your vacation rental homes beyond Airbnb and other such service providers. We will share some of the best ways to promote your vacation rental without having to depend fully on service providers like Airbnb. 

What Are The Downsides of Choosing Airbnb-Like Platforms

While there are some obvious advantages associated with Airbnb and other such platforms, they also come with their own share of problems and shortcomings. We are sharing a few of the common problems associated with Airbnb so that our readers are able to have a reasonably correct idea about the same. 

Do You Know There Could Be A Difference Between What You See And What You Get

When you decide to avail the services of Airbnb and other such platforms, it is almost the same as booking a room with a major hotel chain. As a vacation rental home owner, you can be reasonably well assured that the property will be advertised. Some individual hosts do create their own listings while some others may be honest than others. However, some guests often have negative stories to tell about Airbnb platforms and the like. They complain that what they have been promised on the Airbnb sites and what they get on the ground has quite a bit difference in quite a few cases.

What About Damage To Properties?

As a service provider who rents out his/her/their properties, using Airbnb services, quite often then find that the properties are damaged by the guests. While Airbnb does have a guarantee program, it may not cover all damages. These include damage to rare artwork, pets, jewelry, cash and other such things. The hosts may also be put to some inconvenience and also may have to face complaints from neighbors because of bad behavior by the guests. Those who use their own sites and other resources to market their vacation rental homes, may be better equipped to deal with such situations. 

How Added Fees & Taxes Could Shock All The Stakeholders 

There have been many instances where Airbnb has some harsh surprises for the hosts. They suddenly find that Airbnb has imposed some additional fees. Guests are also on the wrong side as far as these added fees are concerned. They are made to pay even up to 20% as reservation fee. This is seemingly for covering the customer service support and other such services that they provide to the hosts. Further, the banks and credit card service providers also add some surprising fees and other such charges. Therefore all these add extra burden to the hosts and also the guests. 

Both the guests and hosts from various countries of the EU and other countries across the world also have to pay VAT and other taxes. In some countries there are also elements of rental income taxes that could push the costs up as far as the guests are concerned. While superfluously, it may look that Airbnb is not charging anything these sudden taxes and other such levies could come as a nasty surprise. 

Question of Legalities

There are some serious questions regarding the legality of services offered by Airbnb in some countries. Hence, the would be hosts would be better advised to have a closer look at the local zoning rules and regulations and find out if it is legal to rent our properties. Further, there may be an obligation as per the local rules to take special permit from the concerned authorities and only then should the hosts offer their properties for hire on platforms such as Airbnb.

We are sure that the above would have given our readers a reasonably good idea about the possible reasons as to why it makes sense to find out other ways and means to try and answer the question how to promote vacation rental. 

We are listing down a few tips and suggestions that may help in getting the right answer to the above question:

Do You Have A Clear Cut Action Plan

If you want to promote your vacation rental bypassing the intermediaries like Airbnb, you should move ahead only when you have a right plan of action in mind. You may be using the services of these intermediaries right now and it may not be possible to move away from them immediately. In such situations, the best way forward would be to slowly migrate from the likes of Airbnb. You need to have a firm time table in mind.

Once this is in place you must come out with a clear cut action plan that ensures migration from a third party intermediary to having a website of your own. You must take professional help to have a good website in place and then put other things in place. Having a website is just one part of the story. You must know how to drive traffic and be sure that it has enough vacation rentals for customers to choose. 

Are You Aware of The Importance of Going Social?

Instagram and Facebook are the most preferred social media options when it comes to lifestyle space. In fact Airbnb makes extensive use of these two social media sites. Therefore, if you wish to be on your own and move away from the clutches of Airbnb and others, you must ensure that your listing is represented well on social media. You should know how to have a reasonably strong online presence on the above platforms. The listing must be done effectively, quickly and reliably. Also please keep a tab on comments and likes because these are important to ensure that your property moves into the spotlight within a short period of time. 

You must understand the various benefits of having your listing available on powerful social media sites. When you have the right online presence on these platforms and when you use the right location tags and hashtags, you will be able to ensure that the listing is viewed by people who have travel plans. It makes lot of sense to give your potential customers a reasonably good idea and impression of the property based on which they can take a commercial decision. It may help viewers to try you out instead of going through the Airbnb route. 

Pay attention to follow and like as far as your social media pages are concerned. This will ensure that you will be able to build a positive and beneficial connection with them. It is important to stay regularly in touch with guest on social media and also must understand the importance of sharing their queries efficiently using Instagram and Facebook pages. This will also increase the possibilities of repeat bookings quite significantly. 

Do You Know The Importance of Content?

Content is King. This is an old saying and it continues to be as important as it was many decades ago. Content is what helps you to make your social media presence strong and also helps in getting your listing to the people who are planning to go on holiday or are looking for vacation rental out of Airbnb. The content should be relevant, to the point and of course interesting.

You must understand the important of interesting reading. Lifestyle space offers you the luxury, liberty and flexibility of coming out with many different types of content keeping in mind the profile of the prospective customers and viewers. You must have a judicious mix of text content and graphics, pictures and videos.

The youngsters in particular are happy going through graphics, videos and images whereas the older groups of viewers and readers may be more attuned to reading interesting and meaningful content. The content should keep changing regularly to avoid monotony and boredom. 

Along with your listing, you must share impressive and attractive pictures of your vacation rental properties. Pay attention to details of each room and ensure that it covers the overall features. You also could talk a bit about the neighborhood and also share information about the important places to visit in the neighborhood. A combination of content and pictorial representation is a must and you must know how to strike a reasonably good balance between the two. 

What About A Dedicated Property Website?

While being present on social media like Facebook and Instagram is a good idea, you must not undermine the importance of having a dedicated property website. This is critical if you wish to leverage and make use of the power of SEO or Search Engine Optimization.

You also must ensure that the website has localized content and this should cover neighborhood guides, recommendations for the right restaurants and other such things. You also must find out ways to market these contents on social media using an outbound link on Facebook or Instagram. It also would be a good idea to ensure that the site has a booking calendar to the site. 

Importance of More Reviews – How Relevant Are They?

When customer reviews can do the job for you, why should you spend big money on marketing campaigns and other such activities? Positive and genuine reviews from satisfied customers are perhaps the biggest advertisement and endorsement of your vacation rental service offerings. You must find out ways and means by which you can make this possible. You must persuade the clients and hosts to submit their review and perhaps could also incentivize those who post reviews. Negative reviews should not be hidden but they should be used as a tool to ensure that you try and overcome the shortcomings and take care of the areas where you may be having a problem. 

How To Make Use of Local Event & Happenings

There also is the need to make effective and intelligent use of local happening and events. This will make sure that you are in tune with the happenings going on in your market. You must be on the lookout for some special events and festivals in the neighborhood. Make a note of such events and make your presence felt strongly.

You could update your listing and offer special perks that are in tune with such events and occasions. This can be done even in cities and towns and even in countries where you are not physically present, but where you have vacation rental properties to offer on rent or lease. 

Did You Know Past Renters Can Give You Repeated Business

Always remember the old adage that keeping an existing customer happy is always an easier task than finding ten new ones. Therefore, you must be in regular touch with past renters. Many of them will be on the lookout for the right rental accommodations for their vacations, business trips and other such requirements. If the renters are satisfied with their previous experience, it will not take much of an effort to ask them to go for your vacation rental homes. 

The Final Word

Though there is no doubt that service providers like Airbnb add value both to hosts and customers, there are areas where they may not be able to give the right value for money. Hence, it does make sense to promote your vacation rental through your own efforts. There are many cost effective ways of moving out of the clutches of the likes of Airbnb. It does take some time but there is no doubt that it is worth the effort. There are many who have been able to build success stories out of platforms like Airbnb and it makes sense to follow the same. 

Read more about why it is important to not rely on Online Travel Agencies too much

You have an amazing rental but you're not getting the bookings you want. And despite your efforts, it seems not to be getting any better. 

So, how can I increase my vacation rental booking? Well, you can make some minor tweaks such that when someone looks at your property, they don't head to the other. Here are a few things you can do to increase the bookings quickly.

Get inside your visitors' mind

There are many reasons why people come to your website without making any bookings. For instance, the process can be complex or you may have unclear information on your website. 

Your website should be mobile responsive

Did you know that most travelers make their last-minute bookings via mobile devices? So, if your website isn't mobile-optimized, you could be losing out on potential clients. You should check whether your website is responsive by trying to drag the corners and see how the content adapts. 

Work on the about us page of the booking website

The `about us' section should highlight your name, logo, tagline, and who you are. 

Encourage more testimonials and bookings

Many vacation rentals fall short of their bookings when they don't get enough reviews. As you maintain your vacation rentals website, you should use the right strategies to attract new visitors. In a recent study, 83% of travelers look at reviews before they make their decision. More specifically, about 80% read 8-12 testimonials before they make their booking. 

If you want to capture the attention of travelers, you should showcase all the reviews and ensure they are up-to-date. If your website is not credible, you'll have a rough time securing the bookings. Once travelers confide into your business, they will feel at ease making their reservations. 

Reviews also help to evaluate your rental performance. Whether they are positive or negative, they will highlight what works and what doesn't work. If a traveler complains about a certain trait, you should make the necessary adjustments. 

So, how can you make the most out of your vacation rental reviews? If you want your vacation rentals to stack up above the competition, you should have someone who speaks well about your business. And because reputation management is a full-time gig, you should always be aware of what your visitors are talking about. Think about it- a guest who wants to book your vacation rental may be turned off by a review that was posted three years ago. 

Positive reviews convince buyers to choose your services rather than what your competitors offer. You can pin positive reviews on your homepage or highlight them in the newsletter. Needless to say, you can post them on your social media platforms too. 

When visitors give a negative review, you should be polite and address their needs appropriately. This also means that you can turn a negative review into a positive experience. You can also send the guest an email and assure them that you're doing the best to improve your rental. Let them know that you're always ready to listen to their concerns. Finally, when a visitor sends an email, you should respond immediately. Always remember to give them a simple `thank you'. 

Read more on how to encourage guests to leave reviews here!

Take professional photographs

The images that you showcase on your property will reflect the services that you offer – they could make or break the booking opportunities. While hiring a photographer may look expensive, an increase in bookings will help to cover the expenses. 

People are visual creatures, so you should never skimp the effort on your photos. Great photos ensure the visitors don't get overwhelmed by what they see on the website. The photos should capture what is important in your property. More specifically, they should highlight the stunning location, bedrooms, how pet-friendly the area is, etc. 

When taking photos, the angles matter a lot. Because guests want to envisage where you stay, you should showcase everything in your rental. Also, if you want the photos to look professional, you should use the lighting to your advantage. You should simply open the curtain and take the photos during the day. 

During the holidays, you should take photos of the charming décor with heaps of blankets. Don't forget to edit them to adjust the brightness, shadows, and increase the highlights. You may want to avoid going overboard. 

When posting the photos, you should highlight why your property is unique. Maybe your vacation rental is located in the heart of the downtown area or you have a great pouch. 

Read more on how to take perfect pictures of your vacation rental here!

Be accurate in your description

Captivating headlines will not only pique guest curiosity but also influences the booking decision of visitors. To ensure the writing pack a punch, you should focus on the unique selling proposition. You should highlight important details like the number of beds/baths, the number of parking spots, Wi-Fi, etc. 

Do your competitors have modern kitchens as you do? Do you offer flat-screen television in every room? The idea is to give people a unique reason to book you. 

When writing a description, you should keep the audience in mind. As you show the key features, you should get into their minds. Do you have games that keep the little one's mind engaged? If you're targeting honeymooners or couples, you may want to describe the cozy nights around the fireplace. Still, you can describe that little intimate restaurant. 

The description you use should cater to the needs and wants of the core demographic. If you want to inspire bookings, you should create a rich image in the minds of customers. Don't overdo the descriptions – you should only engage your audience to create a compelling look. 

How about being honest about your services? By all means, you should make the property sound desirable. Keep in mind that some sugar-coated descriptions can ruin your reputation. While that `heart-stopping panoramic view' may bring in more bookings, the last thing you should do is to make the victors feel misled. 

Your description of your vacation rentals should capture the right tone. While it's okay to write in a formal tone to sound professional, you should also be friendly. If you want to develop a rapport with the travelers, you may want to use a more conversational tone. Remember, you're selling the experience, not the property. Think about how you can sell the attractions face-to-face. It's worth mentioning that when writing the descriptions, you should use a tone that resonates. 

Read more on how to write a perfect description for your vacation rental here!

Special offer in your bookings

Offering discounts during the low season is a good idea. This will improve business reputation and may result in more bookings. By taking into consideration the quality of property and location, you can use dynamic pricing. 

If you want to get more bookings, you should ensure the rates for your property are better represented. You can even use the word `discount'. When you offer discounts, the customers feel that they get a special price. During a difficult-to-book season, a discount could make the visitors come again. 

Use blogs to drive traffic

Owning a vacation property is all about building relationships- you want to create memories during their vacation. A blog will help you show expertise and build authority. You're not just like any other vacation rental. A blog should be a top resource for your vacation guests. 

For instance, you can use a blog to give travel tips and any other information the renters may need for a great vacation. There's a lot to write about the location of your property. How can travelers get to theme parks? What are the coolest hiking trails in the area? Where are the best places to go with your kids? A blog that provides in-depth information will help you become the voice of authority. 

A blog will allow potential guests to give their views. This is also a chance to make other people see your website. Of course, you can share the blogs on your social media accounts like Facebook. 

While you can answer the concerns for your guest via email, a blog will provide more in-depth information. Think about the common questions guests look for. What happens when it rains in the area? What is the distance to the nearest store? 

When you update your blogs regularly, that is a sign that you care about them. You can tailor it around winter activities. Where can the visitors go for ice skating? You can also mention the things they can do at night. If you produce high-quality content, you will show your guests that you're committed to the business. When you blog more, you increase the chances of generating more bookings. 

Provide instant bookings

If you provide a platform for instant bookings, you'll be surprised. However, many property owners are not sure whether they are doing it right. In a nutshell, an instant booking doesn't require some kind of approval before the actual booking.

Guests just choose a travel date, agree to the house rules, and then make a payment. Modern travelers want something instantaneous. They want to book their flights with a simple press of a button, so booking for accommodation shouldn't be anything different. 

What makes instant booking unique is the fact that travelers don't have to wait around for you to accept them. 

Offer more amenities

Whether you're looking to increase the price of your property or potentially raise the bookings, vacation amenities are an absolute must. So, what amenities can make potential clients book your vacation rental instead of the competition? 

What is it that your travelers are looking for? The newest trend in vacation rentals is offering entertainment devices. If your travelers love music, a smart TV is a definite plus. Be sure to equip it with Netflix if your guests want to enjoy movies all night long. You could also have a sound system that allows guests to choose their favorite music. 

Small things like kitchen luxuries could make a difference. You can include extras like beautiful sharp knives, a nutria-bullet juicer, or even a kitchen robot. If your guests want to get around, you can provide bicycles. 

Outdoor space 

During the summer season, some guests may like something to swing with. A hammock or rocking chair could make a big difference. If your vacation rental doesn't have all the amenities, you could find out that the vacancies exceed the bookings. 

Most travelers will look for a place they can chill with their friends, so fabulous outdoor space is a must. And to ensure the visitors enjoy those cold nights, you can build a fire pit. Most kids will love to candle up next to the fire. 

Bedrooms

While you may not be able to change the number of bookings in your vacation rental, you can increase the number of guests who can comfortably fit into your property. As a bonus point, you can provide a master en suite for travelers who like privacy. Your goal is to create a sleeping arrangement that can make guests comfortable during their stay. 

Provide Saunas, Spas, and Hot tubs

Vacation is all about unwinding and relaxing. You should think about those things you want to offer during your stay. Most vacation rental houses will provide spas to make their property stand out. 

Walkable attractions

You can't change where your vacation rental is located but you can recommend the nearby attractions. This could be hiking trails, playgrounds, parks, restaurants, shopping areas, etc. 

Pet friendly

Nowadays, people are choosing to travel with their pets. This can be a plus if your vacation home allows for this. You should ensure that your yard is well fenced and provide directions to the nearby parks. 

Make the experience memorable

When you give your guests a memorable experience, you expect repeat bookings and great guest reviews. You should offer local suggestions, print clear rental instructions, and even leave a small welcome gift. 

Don't shrug off interior design

Your vacation rentals may give a nice view but if there're no accents around it, you should not expect more bookings. To enhance the appeal of your room, you can place a bold bookcase at the corner, a unique lamp on the coffee table, or even image an elegant chaise lounge. The interior design is all about finding the right balance. Don't add too many personal effects that can put visitors off. 

Wrapping it up

As a vacation rental property owner, your ultimate goal is to have no vacancy. If you follow the above tips, you'll minimize vacancies and increase profits. Take a step back and think about your financial goals. It's time you gain more exposure for your property and reap the rewards.