Hi, everyone!
We recently hosted the sixth episode of our ‘Unlock and Learn’ series, and it was a blast! This time, our host, Talia Lockard sat down with the amazing Kristin Goulet from The 100 Collection to discuss essential strategies to elevate your vacation rental listings. Fun fact: this was our second take because I forgot to hit record the first time! 😅 But Kristin and I were so excited to dive into this topic again that we didn’t mind at all.
Why Are We Here?
Whether you’re a professional homeowner, property manager, or someone looking to break into Airbnb, there’s always a lot to learn about standing out in today’s vacation rental market. In this episode, we explored several key areas:
- Beyond Aesthetics: It’s not just about having a pretty listing. We discussed the importance of providing exceptional service and meeting high standards of operation and guest expectations.
- SEO vs. OTA Distribution:Should you focus on direct bookings through SEO, or leverage Online Travel Agencies? We shared insights on balancing both strategies.
- Visibility in a Crowded Market: Practical tips on improving your listing’s visibility and why first-page placement matters.
Our Personal Booking Experiences
Kristin shared a story about her family’s summer vacation in Maine, where she ended up booking through Airbnb due to the lack of local property managers providing essential amenities like linens. Similarly, Talia talked about my Mother’s Day trip to Crystal Beach, Texas, where I found the perfect property on Airbnb that met all my needs, despite usually being a direct booking evangelist. These experiences highlighted the evolving needs of travelers and the importance of understanding what your guests truly want.
Branding and Safety
One of the crucial topics we delved into was branding. It’s vital to ensure that your guests know who they’re booking with, whether they find you on an OTA or through your direct booking site. We also discussed the significance of safety in vacation rentals. Guests need to feel secure, and properties should meet high safety standards. This includes regular inspections of items like high-chairs and pack-and-plays, ensuring they’re clean and in good condition.
To help you enhance the safety of your listings, we are offering a free downloadable safety checklist provided by Eric Thibodeaux from Safer VR’s. This checklist covers everything from grill safety to carbon monoxide detectors, ensuring your property is as safe as possible.
Download the Safety Checklist
Looking Ahead
Stay tuned for our next episode, where we’ll give you a sneak peek of what we plan to discuss at the IMN Conference in Austin on June 24-25th. Still need to register? We got you – Limited time 20% discount for *new registrations* with code “SP20” – see you in Austin!
Final Thoughts
Thank you for joining us! If you want to delve deeper into listing optimization, standing out in a crowded market, SEO, branding, or safety, feel free to reach out. We are here to help small businesses grow, especially in the vacation rental industry.
See you next time!
