Practical marketing for STR owners and co-hosts. No hype, no generic advice. Just what actually matters for building a direct booking business and growing beyond the OTAs.
Most owners think a direct booking incentive means a discount. This guide covers the incentives that actually move guests off Airbnb, the ones that just cost you margin, and how to present an offer so guests act on it.
Read more →Airbnb moved the full 15.5% service fee onto the host, so listing rates are rising to absorb it. This guide covers the new math, whether your direct rate should be lower, and what to offer so booking direct is the obvious choice.
Read more →An e-mail list is the one marketing asset you actually own. This guide covers what to collect, how to grow your list without being pushy, and the handful of e-mails that turn one-time guests into repeat direct bookings.
Read more →A guest who already stayed with you is the easiest booking you will ever get. This guide covers what you can legally do to contact past Airbnb guests, when to follow up, and the incentives that actually get a second stay booked direct.
Read more →OwnerRez, Lodgify, and Hospitable each do something different well. This breakdown covers which platform fits your situation, what the fees actually look like, and why the software alone won't fill your calendar.
Read more →Most short-term rental owners have a listing. Few have a system. This guide covers the five channels that make up a real vacation rental marketing system, and the order to build them.
Read more →Airbnb and VRBO are a marketing channel, not your business. This guide covers the four-part system for getting to direct bookings: a PMS, a website, a guest email list, and a traffic source.
Read more →The website is the center of your entire direct booking system. This guide covers which platform to build on, the five pages you need, and the trust signals that close the gap with Airbnb.
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