Everyone knows that the vacation rental industry has grown exponentially over the past few years – and with consumers booking their trips online through sites like AirBnb and Vrbo – it’s no surprise that many hosts don’t recognize the many advantages in having a direct booking site.
Why settle for high fees and commissions when you can be in control of your own business? Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of your very own direct booking website.
1. Increased Profit
Online booking sites like VRBO and AirBnb charge high fees to property owners, including high commissions, annual and monthly fees, fees per booking, and more.
By having a direct booking site, you can avoid these fees – and in turn, reinvest some of that money back into your property. Some things that are worth investing in include:
- Upgraded appliances
- Improved technology, such as TV, games, and internet packages
- Updated interior design
- A fresh coat of paint
All of these investments can lead to greater experiences for guests – which, in turn, leads to greater reviews and higher long-term gain.
2. Offering “Deals and Discounts” to Guests
What some people don’t know, is that a guest’s price on sites like AirBNB is actually higher than your payout; they’re charged a service fee on top of their rate.
In fact, you can offer clients deals by getting rid of the “middleman”. Everyone shops around for the best bargain – and if they can get a better price on their vacation by booking directly through you, why wouldn’t they?
This means more bookings, a better relationship with your guests (READ: long-term relationships – and yes, more bookings!), and greater customer satisfaction – which, after all, is what it’s all about.
3. Better Protection from Cancellations
COVID-19 lockdowns across the globe resulted in tons of vacation cancellations, which most booking sites couldn’t handle efficiently.
Owners with direct booking sites are better equipped to handle those cancellations in the future by offering guests the chance to postpone their trip and take their vacation at a later date – which, of course, still results in profit for you!
4. One Centralized Site
With your own site, you can list every property you own in one centralized location. You can create a customized site, featuring your top destinations. This will make it easier for guests to book a location of their choice and ensures that every option your guest sees is one of your own!
5. Greater Ability to Make Your Property Stand Out
Having a brand and your own booking site for listings can ensure that you make a good impression on potential guests visiting your site. You control how to market your listing(s) – and you control how guests see it. While it isn’t easy to do, here are some helpful tips to make sure you’re on the right track:
Ask for Positive Reviews
The more the better! Guests often base their booking decision on past reviews, so make sure to do everything you can to ensure a 5-star experience.
- Have open communication with your guests and ask for feedback on making their stay better.
- Send review reminders after their stay.
- Offer discounts on future stays in exchange for a 5-star review.
An added bonus is that it’ll likely improve on guest retention as well!
Utilize Social Media and Advertising
Use social media sites like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to boost visitors to your site by targeting other travelers and vacation-goers. Investing in advertising through social media ads will drive more potential guests to your listing(s). You can also invest in targeting ads that will market to people who are looking for a potential place to go.
Optimize for SEO
Everything you put on your booking site should be checked for optimization. Keywords and website content are super important, as they’ll determine whether or not your site is featured on Google and other search engines.
Create a Professional Gallery
Hire a professional to take photos of the listing(s) and be sure to highlight any of the updates you made (with the extra money you saved by having your own booking site, of course!). You might also want to include some photos of the surrounding area as well.
For best results, make sure that each area is professionally cleaned, decluttered, and organized before taking the photos!
Start a Blog
This can help boost your SEO and drive more traffic to your side! A good idea is to include information on the surrounding area such as events, local shopping centers, top restaurants, and different sites to see nearby.
The Bottom Line
While it’s true that using booking sites can get your property in front of a huge volume of potential clients, having your own direct booking site can increase your profits and grow your own brand!
Hopefully the tips above will help you maximize your earnings with direct booking. Become less dependent on other sites by taking advantage of your own booking site – and watch your business grow!
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