Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !


Houfy is a unique platform with the members interest utmost in the platform’s concept and continued development. If you’ve been on-board for years or even for just one day, I will assume that that’s the most important reason you joined. As improvements and changes continue to be made to the Houfy OS, this fundamental reason for it's development remains as it's core purpose of existence !

Houfy has several other“owner friendly” advantages such as full communications to all travelers/guests from the moment of the first message which is transmitted directly to you. Houfy does not get involved or between you and your guest in any transaction of payments, reservation deposit or security/damage refunds. You, the owner, have complete control of all your payment options and “House Rules” without any edicts of who, what, where, when or whatever you decide about the management of your property.

Another of its innovative concepts is that it’s “Self-Marketing”. This is one of the most discussed and confusing aspects that has generated more angst, questions and what many Houfies have difficulties with. I’ll make another assumption too. For many members, advertising and marketing of your property was provided by some OTA or other entity which you had little to no input or control of. And that, above all else, had a determining factor for bookings and/or lack of bookings!

Houfy puts this back under your complete control!

With that in mind and realizing there are vast differences in abilities, this is written to provide guidance for a simple, direct and quick way to become your own Advertising Agency.

Stephanie Libes Cole has provided several promotional examples using WordCloud, others have suggested different programs, many have posted examples of their own marketing efforts. My background as a commercial photographer is with PhotoShop, but if you’re familiar with that software then you already have the skills beyond the scope of this Easy-Peasy "How-To."

I’ve never used a MAC so I’m not familiar with programs on that platform therefore I’ll be demonstrating some basic steps with Microsoft Paint 3D found on most Windows platforms.

Lets get started with this example of a members primary image of their Vacation Rental called “A Touch Of Luxury”

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
I created a simple transformation to it by adding a couple graphics with embedded messages that can send travelers directly to the Houfy Listin
g
Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

Let’s get started with just a few quick Easy-Peasy steps!

Step 1

Go to the folder on your computer where your photos are stored and right click on your selected image to highlight it, then choose Edit with Paint 3D in the drop-down window. See screen shot below.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

Your selected image should pop up on the screen of your PC, as shown below.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
Note there are several “Tools” along the top, each produces a different pallet of selections as shown on the right. For purposes here I chose 2D Shapes and the Rectangular Balloon, each is highlighted in blue.

Step 2

Clicking your cursor anywhere on the image will produce the “balloon” to appear at that location on the image - as below.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

Step 3

Follow the notes on the image below to adjust the Balloon to your liking. It can be moved to any location on the photo simply by placing your cursor in the center of the balloon and dragging it to where you want it.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

Step 4

After locating it and making adjustments as to how you want it, we can now embed the text inside the balloon. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

Step 5

Add your message inside balloon and adjust the text block boundaries by placing your cursor on the circle symbol to adjust the angle of the text block to match that of the balloon. The size and shape of the Text Block is managed by dragging the small squares to your desired liking and to fit inside the balloon.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

Step 6

To add another element, i.e. a 3-dimensional box. Follow instructions in the photo below

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

Step 7

Continue following instructions indicated in the photo below to make the 3D graphic the way you want it to appear in the final image.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

Step 8

Add your text message into the 3D graphic as described in Step 5

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

Step 9

Click on the screen anywhere outside of the image to save your work then click to close the window.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

Step10

Be sure to click Save before closing the window.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

One final note of importance!

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !

This is just a small example of what you can do with this basic and easy to use imaging program. Get creative! Choose other TOOLS, select different SHAPES, change and mix up the Font Types, Sizes and Colors. There are unlimited things you can do so just play around. If you don’t like what you’ve created, UNDO it.

Start with an eye-catching image and go on from there. There are no rules for what you can do, but I would suggest to keep in mind this important rule-of-thumb….

The most effective marketing, advertising, images and/or slogans are the simplest!

Below are a few examples you can easily apply using the above techniques with your own photographs, Clip Art , pics from Pixabay or a image search on Google for FREE images.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
Find images on Clip Art to promote your VR for a National Holida
y
Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
Photos from Pixabuy is a great source to find image
s
Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
Add text to a favorite photograph of your Vacation Rental
It Generates Bookings
!
Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
How about a quick photo promo to feature something new in your Vacation Rental
?
Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
Create a promotional “Holiday Special”
Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
Offer a discount to a specific grou
p
Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
Add text to an overview of your property to feature points of interes
t
Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
Even a page from your guest register can make an effective pos
t

Now that you’ve mastered creating a simple and effective marketing promotional, here’s a quick way to find Face Book Yard Sale Groups that allow vacation rental posts. Always ask the admin if vacation rental posts are allowed before joining the group.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
How to quickly find and post to your Face Book Yard Sale Groups
Many of us have joined a few or even many Face Book Yard Sale Groups in which we've been posting or VR's to. But Face Book has once again made changes and you can no longer get a complete list of our groups simply by clicking "YOUR GROUPS" . The...

Anything you create can also be posted to your Google My Business Ad to increase your visibility and SEO as well. If you don't have a GMB Ad, create one. It's easy to do and will attract more views to your Houfy Listing....more views = more chances for a booking!

This HOW-TO was written for all Houfies to get proactive in promoting and marketing their properties for three very important reasons that will get you bookings!

1. Each post a member makes to Face Book or Google increases your own VIEW COUNT, and probability for a booking.

2. Each post a member makes to Face Book or Google increases the popularity & advancement of Houfy name recognition.

3. Each post a member makes to Face Book or Google increases Houfy SEO searches for Vacation Rentals - including yours!

Other questions often asked are - “What’s the point to all this work?” "Why do I have to write Story’s, make posts to Face Book Yard Sale Groups, Instagram, Twitter, Google and also write Guidebooks for my Houfy Listing?”

The simple answer is you’ll get noticed by hundreds of people looking for a place to go for their next vacation…and here’s the proof of it.

Create Social Media Ads - Easy-Peasy !
Houfy Guidebooks, Stories and Posts - Why Make-em
But ever since I've joined Houfy I continue to read on their Face Book pages the importance of writing STORIES & GUIDEBOOKS, and that I should be making POSTS everywhere! I have no time for all this, and what good does it do? I want bookings not a journalism course!"

It is our sincerest hope that this will encourage everyone to take the leap if you haven’t done so already and start an active and regular campaign to market, promote and advertise your Houfy Listing.

Marty & Janet Lerario











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