The vacation rental market had significant growth over the recent years: only from 2020 to 2021, it experienced a 22.76% increase. At this moment, it’s extremely important for vacation rental owners and managers to keep up with the latest marketing trends and strategies to stay ahead of the competition.
In this article, we'll share ten vacation rental marketing tips for 2023 that can help you attract more customers and increase your bookings.
Make a Mobile-First Web Page for Direct Bookings
According to SaleCycle, around 31% of travelers used their mobile devices to book travel. This number has steadily increased, reaching 37% in 2020. In 2021, the mobile travel booking rate skyrocketed to 41%, indicating a significant shift towards convenient and on-the-go booking options. OTA apps are perfect for that.
But what about direct bookings?
Creating and adapting a website for mobile can cost a lot of time and money, but you can try out a much more effective and affordable solution — booklee link in bio website builder.
Booklee offers a unique and user-friendly web presence for vacation rentals. Owners can create a page in 2 minutes and put the link in the bio on their social media platforms. On the page, customers can see links both to your OTA pages and the direct booking option. The tool simplifies the decision-making process and provides the best possible experience for your potential guests.
On the link-in-bio page, potential guests can also read reviews, swipe through photos, and access all the necessary information about the rental. On booklee the information can be presented in multiple languages.
Use Professional Photos And Videos
High-quality photos and videos are essential if you want to show off your vacation rental property in the best light. They will help guests visualize their stay, increase their confidence in the property and ultimately lead to more bookings.
Not ready to spend money on professional photography yet? Take some great photos yourself. Read our article on how to create the best images for your vacation rental, and start creating your masterpieces!
Emphasize Local Experiences
Potential guests are looking for more than just a place to stay: most of them are looking for a unique local experience. If you want to reach a wider audience and differentiate your vacation rental, highlight what exactly makes the location of your rental unique. From recommending the best restaurants and activities to organizing guided tours and experiences, there are endless ways to point out your property's connection to the community.
Partner with Local Businesses
Collaboration with local businesses is a true win-win strategy for vacation rental owners. You will ensure a more comprehensive and convenient travel experience while driving more bookings for your property. Additionally, partnerships help establish your property as a valuable member of the local community, building a good brand reputation.
Focus On Instagram Reels
Being active on social media is crucial! Instagram reels right now are emerging as a powerful tool for vacation rental businesses. By creating short and engaging videos showcasing your property and unique places nearby, you can increase your brand visibility and drive more bookings. There are endless possibilities to create engaging video content resonating with your audience: organize a room tour, take a lifestyle video on the balcony, show off the places where your potential guests can eat/dance/hike. Reels can be photographed with your smartphone, but have in mind that great video quality is the key. Also, videos can be posted on Tiktok and Facebook which can drive additional traffic and bookings!
Actively Use Email Promotion
Email marketing is a cost-effective and powerful way to promote your vacation rental business. You can directly ask for the email from the guests that already choose you. Another option is creating an email newsletter and promoting it on your social media and website.
Regular newsletters, updates, and promotional offers to your email subscribers will definitely encourage repeat bookings. Also, you can personalize your messaging, making it more relevant and engaging.
Offer Flexible Booking Options
With the world being too unpredictable now, guests are looking for more flexibility and peace of mind when booking their vacations. With flexible cancellation policies and payment plans, you can definitely increase your conversions. It will also help you to establish your vacation rental as more customer-focused.
Show Your Reviews On Your Social Media Platforms
Guest reviews help to build trust and credibility for your vacation rental. They demonstrate your property's true value and quality to potential guests. Even negative reviews can be valuable if you handle them properly. Actively respond to every feedback, show your commitment, and try to solve every emerging problem as soon as possible. Creating a strong and trustful bonds with your customers is the key to success and more direct bookings.