Should I Use a Vacation Rental Blog to Market My Properties?
Discover the benefits of a vacation rental blog to market your properties. Learn how engaging content can attract guests and enhance your vacation rental business.
To blog or not to blog? Does anyone read blog posts anyway? These are some common questions of vacation rental hosts contemplating starting a blog.
A short-term rental business isn't just about check-ins and booking forms. Your guests want to see the human behind the campaigns and connect with you. While you might be looking for guests to trust with your home, they're looking for owners to trust with their family and memories.
In other words, they want proof that you care about their stay and are willing to help them have a great holiday. That's why a vacation rental blog is a prime opportunity to add personality to your business and stand out from the competition. At the same time, it boosts your website rankings on top of Google and gives you something to post on social media. Win-win!
Why Should I Create a Vacation Rental Blog for My Business?
Check out 6 reasons why vacation rental blogs are vital for your business:
1. Build Your Authority and Community
Become the voice of authority in your area and the top resource for potential guests. Think of what you search for when visiting a new place. Know any family restaurants in the area? Got any tips on skipping large queues at popular attractions? Maybe hidden gems worth exploring? Blog about it!
Considering you're from the area, it'll be easier than you think. You could also share travel tips with guests, such as what to pack for their upcoming holidays or any rental information they should know. This will gradually establish you as an expert in guests' eyes, adding an extra flare of value to their upcoming trip.
2. Keep Guests Updated
An active blog is a sign of an active business. Guests won't be impressed to find out that the latest blog post you published was two years ago. That's why it's vital to maintain a consistent presence and tailor content to each season. For instance, during Christmas, post about winter activities, nearby markets, ice skating spots, and where to see Santa.
During summer, write about beautiful beaches, picturesque taverns, or open-air concerts that might interest guests. You can go as far as publishing a calendar of year-round events. In the meantime, don't forget to update guests regarding your vacation rental business. Did you recently renovate your apartment? Perhaps you established eco-friendly systems for a more sustainable home? Let guests know!
3. Improve Your Website's SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for the longevity and trustworthiness of your website. It offers continuous visitors and passive income without spending more on marketing campaigns. Additionally, organic visitors are more likely to convert (warm leads) since they discover your rentals while actively searching for them.
A vacation rental blog can help you enrich your website with keywords your potential guests might be searching for. This indicates to Google what your website's focus is about and boosts your rankings for related searches. Both readers and search engines love fresh content, so it's up to you to establish a consistent SEO content strategy for your short-term rental business.
4. Increase Bookings
Short-term rental blogs are the fastest way to convert lookers into bookers. By sharing little details about your area, property, attractions, and local events, you infuse readers with the travel bag. As a result, they're more likely to book through your website.
Moreover, blog posts increase user engagement through likes, comments, or direct messages. They encourage people to ask questions and explore more about a destination before they make travel plans. The more you blog, the higher your chances of catching users' attention and generating more bookings.
5. Answer Guests' FAQs
As a short-term rental host, your hands are already full. Having to answer the same questions multiple times to new guests can take away from other important business tasks. That's where a vacation rental blog comes into play, helping you address repetitive concerns once and for all.
Not only do you save time, but also guests appreciate the attentive thought and know where to find all the information they'll need. So think of all the questions inquirers might ask and add them into a concise blog post:
- What are the check-in/check-out hours?
- Do you accept pets in your vacation home?
- Where can I find high-quality restaurants in the area?
- Is there kid-friendly equipment in the house?
- Where's the nearest supermarket?
6. Reach a Broader Audience
Businesses that blog have 55% more website traffic than the ones that don't. If you've listed your house in large OTAs, you already pay hefty booking fees. Spending more budget on vacation rental marketing might not always be feasible. With blogging, you have a free advertising channel for your business that promotes your rentals passively.
There are no costs to creativity, and blog posts are no exception. Having multiple topic categories lets you touch on different subjects that might interest guests and increase your visibility. For example, you can create categories for:
- Things to do in the area
- Travel tips
- Seasonal activities and events
- About us
- Latest news
Create Your Vacation Rental Blog With Houfy!
To sum up, vacation rental blogs are valuable assets that allow guests to get to know your brand, build trust, and eventually generate more bookings. Don't worry; you don't have to be a stellar writer to get started. Begin by writing about what you know, and readers will appreciate your point of view.
At Houfy, we offer hosts a free blog writing feature to help them build authority and promote their short-term rental business. We also share inspiring rental blog ideas that encourage you to lift your pen. If you don't have a direct booking website yet, join Houfy's community of over 15,000 hosts who save on booking fees and ultimately control their income. Get started today!
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