As a vacation rental property manager, your days are a whirlwind of tasks – from guest check-ins and maintenance issues to a never-ending stream of emails. It’s no wonder marketing often falls by the wayside, even though you know it’s crucial for driving those coveted direct bookings. You’ve tried creating content, but the hours spent crafting clever captions and curating visuals rarely translate into meaningful engagement or bookings. The constant juggling act leaves you feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and burnt out.
But what if you could streamline your marketing efforts, freeing up precious time while still boosting your direct booking numbers? In this insightful episode of the Direct Booking Success podcast, host Jenn Boyles shares her favorite powerful time-saving techniques that will transform how you approach marketing for your vacation rental business.
The key to Direct Booking Successful marketing is not about working harder, but working smarter. – Jenn Boyles
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Reclaim control of your schedule through effective time blocking and project management tools.
- Maximize your content’s impact by repurposing and refreshing existing materials.
- Embrace simplicity with captivating visuals and compelling captions that resonate with guests.
- Follow a proven, step-by-step framework for direct booking success, eliminating guesswork.
Hear from Ben, a lighthouse property owner, who doubled her bookings and profits by implementing these strategies. Ben shares her journey from an “expensive hobby” to a thriving, profitable business through the Direct Booking Success program.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode offers actionable insights to help you work smarter, not harder, and achieve the direct booking success you deserve.
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:00 Struggling with Marketing as a Vacation Rental Property Manager
00:01:17 Introduction to Direct Booking Success Podcast
00:01:40 Time Management Techniques for Efficient Marketing
00:03:42 Reusing and Refreshing Content
00:07:50 Simplicity in Content Creation
00:11:05 Following a Proven Marketing Process
The Ultimate All-in-One Marketing Platform for Short-term Rentals is finally HERE! Be the first to try Book Direct Pro. Sign up now and be the first to try it: https://bookdirectpro.com/
Direct Booking Success is back for 2024 and this year has gotten even BETTER!
In this 3-day FREE virtual and global summit, you’ll learn how to stop relying on OTAs like Airbnb and make more money with more control. Learn how to increase your direct bookings from industry experts and your fellow property managers.
This summit is completely FREE, Virtual and Global, reserve your seats today: https://directbookingsuccesssummit.com/
Work with Jenn and have one-on-one coaching to maintain consistency in your marketing and boost your direct bookings without spending so much money on it: https://directbookingsuccess.com/apply/
FREE GUIDE: 10 Ways to Drive Guests to your Website instead of Airbnb: https://directbookingsuccess.com/10-ways-to-drive-guests-to-your-website-instead-of-airbnb/
Show notes are available at: https://directbookingsuccess.com/podcast/
Follow Jenn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directbookingsuccess
Join Jenn’s free Facebook group – the Marketing Hub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strmarketinghub
Transcript
Are you a vacation rental property manager struggling to find enough hours in the day to market your properties effectively? Does it feel like no matter how hard you try, you just can't keep up with the demand for fresh, engaging content to drive those coveted direct bookings? I know your calendar is jam packed with guest check ins, maintenance tasks and endless emails that your marketing always seems to get pushed to the bottom of the list. And when you do get on it, you spend hours creating content only to see minimal engagement and few if any, direct bookings. The stress of juggling it all is overwhelming, leaving you feeling frustrated and burnt out.
You know you need to market your properties, but finding the time with the right strategy feels impossible. So what if I told you there's a way to streamline your marketing efforts, save precious time and still boost those direct bookings? In today's episode of Direct Booking Success Booking Booking Success Podcast, I'm going to do exactly that. I'm going to dive into my favorite powerful time saving techniques that will transform the way you approach marketing for your vacation rental business.
You are listening to the Direct Booking Success Booking Success podcast, bringing you all the information you need for your short term rental to stand out from the crowd. I'm your host, Jenn Boyles. As an owner and manager myself, I know how hard it can be to navigate the hospitality industry. I'm here to help so you too can have Direct Booking Succes. Hello and welcome to another episode of Direct Booking Success Podcast.
I'm Jenn Boyles, your host. Thank you for making me part of your day. I'm so happy to be here with you today. You get me and only me, and this is a very important episode. As the complaint that I hear most from clients is, I just don't have enough time.
And if you're wanting to use organic marketing techniques like the ones I teach inside my Direct Booking Success Program, then you do need to have some time to do the work. There's nothing passive about it. Marketing takes work, but it doesn't have to take all your time. So here are my favorite time savers. First up, let's talk about time blocking and project management.
These techniques are absolute game changers when it comes to staying organized and productive. Now, time blocking is a technique where you reserve specific blocks of time in your calendar dedicated to particular tasks. Okay, imagine your calendar like a puzzle, and each piece represents a task. By scheduling these pieces of the puzzle, these blocks, you ensure that you're giving adequate time and attention to your most important tasks. Having dedicated time slots for marketing tasks ensures you're consistently working towards your goals without distractions.
It helps you focus on one task at a time, reducing the stress of multitasking when you have a busy schedule, making marketing a priority can be challenging. Time blocking makes it easier to commit to your marketing efforts because it's right there in your calendar. So look through your week, find time for your marketing, block it out each week so you can sit down, turn off your phone, close down any open tab on your computer, and get to work. Another aspect of time management is batching content creation. Now, batching is the process of grouping similar tasks together and completing them all in one go.
For example, instead of creating social posts daily, use the time you set aside each week to create and schedule your posts together. Don't post live every day. Get those posts scheduled so you don't have to stress over it. Now let's talk tools tools like ChatGPT can help you generate content ideas quickly. Need to write a blog post or social media caption?
ChatGPT can help you brainstorm and draft content ideas in minutes. Trello, now Trello is another fantastic tool for organizing your content calendar and tracking progress. It's a free tool. I use it every day. I've had clients tell me the life changing effect using this powerful tool has had on them another tool which is brand new to the market.
In fact, I don't even know when this episode airs, if it's going to be out there yet or not, or if there's still a waitlist. You'll have to check it out. It's called Book Direct Pro. It's an all in one marketing platform created for short term and vacation rentals. So think social media scheduling, email marketing, website landing page building, etcetera.
This is a paid tool, but it will probably make the biggest difference in your life. Check it out bookdirectpro.com. I'll put all the links in the show notes, too. So to recap number one, reserve time in your calendar for marketing tasks.
Batch your content creation and scheduling, and use the great tools out there that can really help you. Number two, let's talk about reusing content. This is a fantastic way to save time and make the most of the content that you've already created. If you've created valuable content in the past that's still relevant, don't hesitate to use it again. It not only saves time, but will also ensure your audience continues to Jennefit from your insight.
Why reinvent the wheel when you've already got great content? When reusing content, make sure it feels fresh. Update any outdated information. Add visuals. Tweak the headline to give it a new spin.
For example, let's say you had a blog post about the best local attraction a year after you published it. Go through that blog post and see if there's any new attractions that have opened up, or if existing ones have special events coming up, or goodness that they've closed. Update the post with this new information and republish it. You can also then take snippets from the blog post and use them as social media captions. Creating multiple pieces of content from one source.
Now I think that's working smarter, not harder, isn't it? Number three, lets get you don't always need complex content to engage your audience. Sometimes simple is best. If creating reels or videos is overwhelming, stick to images and captions. A high quality image with a compelling caption can be just as effective as a video.
Simple content can be powerful and impactful. For example, if you feel you have to be spending hours creating intricate videos, try switching to photos with engaging captions. Share a beautiful image of your property or local attraction and write a caption that tells a story or provides valuable information. This approach can save you time and still capture your audience's attention. Adopt a mindset that values simplicity and efficiency.
This shift can free you from the pressure of constantly creating complex content and help you focus on consistency and quality. Remember, your audience appreciates regular, high quality content, even if it's simple. Now, I'm not saying to throw all those reels and all those videos. They're really important. But if you're finding this a burden on your time and your schedule, take a step back, take a deep breath and just simplify it for a while.
Number four, the best way to save time and boost your marketing effort is to follow a proven process. Why spend the time and energy trying to figure it out yourself when you could just follow the process that someone else has already spent the time and energy needed and has gotten the results that you want to have. I've created a process called Direct Booking Success Four Step Profitable Bookings Framework and this is what I use with clients inside the Direct Booking Success Program. The program is designed to provide you with a step by step guide to increase your Direct Booking Success booking. It includes everything you need from content creation to SEO strategies, ensuring you're not wasting time figuring things out on your own.
Now, many property managers have found Direct Booking Success by following this program and I want to share one of those stories with you. Let me introduce you to Jenn. She has the most amazing location for her vacation rental. It's a lighthouse in the north of Scotland and I'll put her website in the show notes if you'd like to check it out. This is what Jenn has had to say about her own Direct Booking Success.
She said, since doing the course, I have gone from having an expensive hobby to running a profitable business. Since the pandemic, I was making a loss year on year. Now I'm making a significant profit. Bookings, nights, booked and income have all doubled compared with a year ago. I have gone from below average occupancy to well above average occupancy and I have not dropped my prices.
With only one unit, Jenn's course represented a significant investment and it's hard to spend money when you're making a loss. So I put off the decision for a couple of years while I took various free courses and implemented their training. Some were excellent. They all made small differences, but they were not transformative. By contrast, since starting Jenn's training, bookings have doubled compared to the same time last year and so have the number of nights booked.
This is almost all Direct Booking Success sales, which now account for 75% of my bookings. My ongoing overheads have stayed the same, so profit has just jumped. In fact, I could see more savings ahead because I won't have to renew my scattergun spend on random advertising websites. There are so many reasons the Direct Booking Success Program is so successful. Jenn provides worksheets to make it easy to implement her training.
She provides tracking tools and encourages accountability so you maintain momentum. She gives feedback on your marketing channels like your website, social media and emails. Do you know what you are doing right and how to do even better? And of course, her training is specific to hospitality and her advice is backed by years of experience in this industry. My main challenge was the consistent commitment of time and sometimes this was a struggle for me.
But after that investment of effort, I am truly working smarter, not harder, and keep everything moving along with just one or two days work at my desk, where I previously spent three or four. I love my cottage and so do my guests, and for the first time since the pandemic, I'm excited about its success. Wow. Just wow. Thank you Jenn.
If you're looking to streamline your own marketing and see real results like Jenn outlined, head to my website, directbookingsuccess.com/apply. So that wraps up today's episode of Direct Booking Success Podcast. I hope you found these four time saving techniques helpful and that you're excited to start implementing them in your own vacation rental business. Remember the key to successful marketing is not about working harder, but working smarter. Just like what Ben said, by time blocking and managing your projects efficiently, reusing and refreshing your existing content, simplifying your content creation process, and following a proven process like Direct Booking Success Four Step Profitable Bookings Framework, you can save precious time and still see a significant increase in your direct bookings.
Consistency and efficiency are your best friends when it comes to marketing. Don't let the pressure of perfection hold you back. Sometimes the simplest strategies are the most effective. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more property managers and owners who are looking for ways to boost their direct bookings.
And if you are ready to take your marketing to the next level, I encourage you to join the Direct Booking Success Program where you'll get access to all the tools and support you need. Just head to my website, directbookingsuccess.com/apply all the links will be in the show notes now, are you struggling to create authentic content that connects with your ideal guests? In next week's episode of Direct Booking Success Podcast, I'm going to be chatting with Megan Castor, a former teacher turned copywriter, who reveals how to overcome this challenge. Discover how to use AI to save time on content creation while keeping that genuine humanity touch intact. Don't miss Megan's expert tips.
Tune in now and transform your marketing strategy. And until then, go out and take action for your own direct booking success. Hey, thanks for listening to the Direct Booking Success Podcast. For more information about this episode and others, head to the website directbookingsuccess.com/podcast. See you next time.