Promoting Short-Term Rentals on Pinterest: Tips for Maximum Exposure

Boost your short-term rental's visibility with effective Pinterest strategies. Discover tips for creating eye-catching pins and driving maximum exposure.

Pinterest might not be the first platform that comes to mind when promoting your short-term rentals, but it's definitely a hidden gem. Yes, Instagram and Facebook might be more popular marketing options, but Pinterest is the platform where potential guests actively search and plan. Think about it. People pin things they love and want to come back to later. What if your property was one of those things?

The platform has long grown from DIY hacks and dream weddings. If you know how to use it, it can prove a goldmine for your vacation rental business. And if you're sitting there thinking, "Great, another platform I need to figure out," don't sweat it. In this article, we'll break it down into easy steps so you can start pinning your way to more guests in no time.

What is Pinterest and How Does it Work?

Pinterest is often called a "visual discovery engine." Unlike social media platforms, where people primarily engage with friends or influencers, Pinterest is about finding ideas, saving them, and using them later. It's where people go for inspiration, whether planning a vacation, redecorating their living room, or looking for the best pancake recipe.

Users create virtual pinboards where they save (or "pin") images and videos that catch their eye. Each pin is a gateway to more information, be it an article, a website, or, in your case, a short-term rental listing. The channel boasts more than 518 million users, mostly women (around 60%), who tend to be decision-makers when it comes to planning vacations.

How to promote your vacation rental business on Pinterest

9 Pinterest Tips for Vacation Rental Owners

1. Set Up a Pinterest Business Account

Let's get the basics out of the way first. If you're still using a personal Pinterest account to promote your rental, switch it up! A business account gives you access to analytics, which is crucial to track what's working and what's not. Plus, it just looks more professional. Make sure to fill in all the required fields in your profile. If you don't have a logo, use a beautiful image of your rental.

2. Create Pinterest Boards

Create boards dedicated to your rental. Start with something like "Cozy Getaway in [Your City]" or "Beachfront Retreats." Make it specific and appealing. But don't stop there. You can add boards for local attractions, restaurants, or activities. The goal is to create a lifestyle around your rental. You're not just selling a place to sleep—you're selling an experience.

3. Pin Stunning Photos

Pinterest is a visual platform, so your photos need to be scroll-stopping. I'm talking about the kind of image that makes someone pause mid-scroll and think, "I need to stay there." If your pictures don't do that, then we've got a problem. If you don't have professional photos, now's the time to invest in them.

Your potential guests need to see every detail that makes your property special—the cozy reading nook, the killer view, or that cute breakfast set up on the patio. And don't forget to include vertical images. Pinterest loves tall pins, and they take up more real estate on the page, which increases your chances of being noticed.

Market your vacation rental property on Pinterest

4. Pin Regularly, But Strategically

You can't just pin a few times and forget about it. Pinterest loves fresh content. That doesn't mean you have to spend hours on it every day. Instead, you can schedule pins to post automatically throughout the week without lifting a finger. The key is consistency. Pinning just a few times each day is better than pinning 50 things at once and then going dark for a month.

When pinning, think about what time of year it is. If you have a cozy winter cabin, start pinning your holiday and winter photos months in advance. The same goes for summer rentals. You want to stay ahead of the trends and ride those seasonal waves.

5. Use Rich Pins for Extra Info

Rich Pins add more context to a pin by pulling data from your website. There are different types—product, article, and app. For short-term rentals, article pins can work well if you have a blog or share helpful content about travel. Users who click on a Rich Pin get more information directly on Pinterest without leaving the platform. It builds trust, which is key when deciding where to stay.

6. Optimize Your Descriptions

Your pin descriptions are just as important as your images. Pinterest is also a search engine, so you want to include keywords that people are likely to search for when looking for a rental. Think about phrases like "charming cabin getaway," "luxury short-term rental," or "family-friendly vacation spot." Use hashtags, too, but don't go wild with them. Stick to three to five relevant hashtags like #shorttermrental, #vacationrental, or #beachfrontescape.

Promote your vacation rental website on Pinterest

7. Link Back to Your Website

Every pin should lead somewhere, and ideally, that somewhere should be your website or listing. If you're only sending people to third-party booking sites, you're missing out on direct bookings—and losing money. Houfy can help you create your own direct bookings website to increase vacation rental profits without service fees.

8. Use Promoted Pins

Promoting Pins is the way to go if you're looking for a little extra push to get your property noticed. Think of them as Pinterest's version of ads, but they blend in so well with organic content that users hardly realize they're promoted. When you promote a pin, it appears in more users' feeds and search results, dramatically increasing its reach.

9. Track Your Performance

Pinterest gives you insights into how your pins are performing. Pay attention to which pins are getting the most saves and clicks. This tells you what your audience loves, and you can double down on that. If certain pins aren't getting much traction, switch them up. Try different descriptions, or pin at different times.

Vacation rental businesses on Pinterest

Boost Your Pinterest Marketing With a Direct Booking Website

Promoting short-term rentals on Pinterest is like planting seeds. It takes a little time and effort, but the more you nurture it, the more it grows. The best part? Unlike Instagram, where posts have a short life, Pinterest pins can continue driving traffic months or even years after you post them. I know adding another platform to your marketing mix can feel like a hassle, but the results are worth it.

Of course, you'll need your own direct bookings website to promote your vacation rentals efficiently. That's where Houfy comes in. While Pinterest drives traffic to your site, Houfy ensures you can book those guests directly without paying any commissions. Get started today and say goodbye to third-party OTAs.