While third-party platforms like Airbnb significantly help your rental property, it also pays to diversify your booking sources. You must step into the world of direct vacation rental bookings so that you will have an easier time managing your property and getting it rented out more often.
When it comes to direct bookings, there are several ways that you can make them happen. Read on.
Create a Great Vacation Rental Listing
One of the best ways to get more direct bookings is to make sure that your listing is up to par. It should be attractive, comprehensive, and enticing. When potential guests see your listing, they should be immediately drawn to it and be eager to read more to see if it’s the place for them.
Gather Reviews
When you get direct vacation rental bookings, it’s essential that you regularly reach out to your guests to ask them to leave reviews. You can hide this in your welcome message or personally contact them. The more positive reviews you have, the more likely it is that other vacationers will be attracted to your listing.
Mention Your Direct Bookings in Your Listing
Your guests should always have the option to book directly with you. Instead of hiding this information, include it in your listing. Ensure that your guests have all the information they need to decide to book directly with you. You can also provide a direct contact they can contact if they want to do so.
Offer Room-Only Rates
Many guests are just looking for a room for the night. If you have an empty room, give room-only rates to travelers looking for a place to stay for just one night.
Incentivize Direct Vacation Rental Bookings
If you’re concerned about losing third-party bookings, you can incentivize direct bookings by giving them a discount. You can offer to provide them with a better rate than the one that’s on your listing. Get in the habit of offering deals like these to your guests to get them to book directly with you more often.
Build Your Own Website
If you have a vacation rental website that you can manually manage on your own, you will have more control over it. It’s still important, however, that you go for a platform that is easy to use and will help you create a professional-looking site. There are a plethora of options out there, so you can be sure to find one that will work for you.
Include Social Media Links
Get in the habit of including your social media links in your rental listing. This will help you to get more direct bookings. If a guest is interested in your property and wants to know more about it, they can directly contact you through your social media platforms.
Create an Email List
If you have a direct vacation rental booking page, you can create a sign-up sheet so people can send you their email and other contact information. If a guest wants to book with you directly, they can quickly sign up to your email list, and you can contact them directly.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that vacation rental sites are excellent for turning a property into a money-making destination. They can help you in more ways than you think. On the other hand, it’s crucial that you diversify your booking sources and get more direct reservations.
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