BLOG TOPICS

Vacation Rental Host Mistake: Relying Solely on Online Travel Agencies for Marketing & Bookings

October 20, 2023

Using an Online Travel Agency (OTA) is a popular way to earn extra income, especially if you have extra space to rent out. However, as a host, you need to ensure that your property stands out to attract potential guests. One common mistake that most hosts make is relying solely on OTAs for marketing and bookings. In this blog post, we will explore why this is not an effective approach and what you can do instead.

‍

Want to know more host mistakes? Check out our list here.

Limited Exposure

Airbnb is undoubtedly a popular platform for booking. However, if you only rely on the platform to advertise your property, you limit the exposure of your listing. There are potential guests who might be looking for properties using other platforms, and if they cannot find your listing on these platforms, they will be less likely to book your property. It is essential to advertise your listing on multiple platforms to reach a broader audience and increase the chance of getting more bookings.

‍

Difficult to Stand Out

With over 7 million listings worldwide, the competition is stiff. When you rely solely on OTAs to market your property, it is difficult to stand out from the crowd. You will be competing with other hosts who are trying to attract the same audience, and if your property is not unique or attractive enough, it can be challenging to gain traction. By advertising your listing on multiple platforms, you increase the chances of standing out and attracting a diverse audience.

‍

Control Over Your Branding

Airbnb has specific branding guidelines that every host must follow when listing their property on the platform. While this is beneficial in some ways, it limits your creativity and control over your branding message. You might have a particular brand image that you want to communicate to potential guests that might not necessarily align with their branding guidelines. By advertising on other platforms, you can have more control over your branding message. You can customize the images and descriptions of your property to align with your branding message.

‍

Sudden Changes

OTAs has the discretion to make sudden changes to their terms and conditions, algorithms, and services. As a host, you must be aware of these changes to adapt and adjust your strategy accordingly. However, if you rely solely on OTAs for bookings, sudden changes in the platform's policies or algorithms can significantly affect your business. By advertising your listing on multiple platforms, you reduce the risk of a sudden dip in bookings in case of policy changes.

‍

Nurture Loyalty

If you rely solely on OTAs for bookings, you miss out on the opportunity to nurture loyalty from guests who have already stayed on your property. By advertising on multiple platforms, you can interact and connect with previous guests and build relationships with them. Guest loyalty is essential to any vacation rentalbusiness, and it is necessary to provide excellent customer service and build positive relationships with your guests to make them return.

‍

As a host, it is essential to generate bookings to make your business grow. While OTAs are an excellent platforms for getting bookings, relying solely on it can limit your exposure, branding, and customer loyalty opportunities. To get the most out of your listing, it is necessary to advertise on multiple platforms and expand your reach. Don't make the mistake of only relying on OTAs for marketing and bookings. Take control of your business's growth today and reach a broader audience.

‍