From listing to loving: How to capture hearts and bookings

Welcome to part two of sojo's vacation rental marketing playbook

Your vacation rental listing is your digital storefront, so it’s important to ensure your listings meet minimum requirements for third-party channels, showcase your unique offerings, and attract a steady stream of happy guests. Optimizing it can mean the difference between a booked calendar and empty nights. Not only do accurate photos and descriptions matter, but they’re also requirements on major online travel agencies like Airbnb, and VRBO. These platforms offer incredible reach, especially when it comes to getting positive reviews and building a strong brand that can drive more direct bookings. Let's dive into how to create listings that captivate and convert.

Headlines & Descriptions That Hook

First impressions are everything, and your listing's title and description are your digital handshake. Craft a headline that entices viewers. Think location, unique features, or a captivating benefit. Instead of "Cozy Beach House," try "Oceanfront Escape with Private Balcony!" Incorporate relevant keywords to improve search visibility. Your listing description is your chance to sell your property. Keywords matter, so be sure to integrate relevant keywords, including nearby tourist destinations, restaurants, and attractions. This not only enhances your listing's searchability, but also helps guests plan their itinerary.

Highlight amenities and unique features, whether it's a stunning ocean view, a private pool, or a cozy fireplace. Paint a picture by using vivid and descriptive language to create a sense of place and the experience guests can expect during their stay. Make sure it’s engaging, informative, persuasive and above all, accurate. Life happens—it’s okay if an amenity is out of order, but be sure to note it in the listing. It’s important to be transparent and describe the property accurately to avoid negative reviews.

Do you go above and beyond with providing extra amenities, curated gifts, or welcome bundles? Emphasize what sets your property apart from the competition in your descriptions and photos.

Show and tell!

Lights, Camera, Booked

High-quality photos showcasing every aspect of your property are crucial for capturing guests' attention, setting guest expectations, and confirming accuracy. Include bright, well-lit pictures of bedrooms, bathrooms, living spaces, as well as outdoor areas. Invest in high-quality, professional photos that showcase your property's best angles, and optimize photos for mobile devices, as most guests browse on their phones.

Don’t forget to set the vibe for what the guests can expect. Showcase how guests can enjoy the property, and highlight unique features, spaces, and amenities—especially highlighting desirable amenities like a pool, hot tub, or outdoor grill. Do you provide essential bathroom, kitchen, and pantry amenities? Amenities are a major draw for guests. Clearly list all amenities, from basic to luxurious, from Wi-Fi and cable TV to on-site laundry and a fully-equipped kitchen. Make your brand the hero by standing out from other listings with extra perks and comforts that your vacation rental provides, over what competitors offer.

Need ideas? Reach out to request a free sample and experience sojo's premium amenities that elevate the guest experience.

Amenities that Wow

Some amenities are essential, which include toilet paper, soap, towels, linens, and pillows. Stock your rental with essential items like coffee, tea, filtered water, and basic toiletries. Amenities that cater to both leisure and digital nomads go the extra mile and impress guests. Remote work and traveling for business is still universally prevalent, so offering amenities like dedicated workspaces, strong Wi-Fi, and printers can help your listing stand out to traveling professionals.

Aside from listing accuracy, guest communication, cleanliness, and guest check-in/check-out experience, amenities can play a big part in what’s most memorable or notable in guest reviews. Small touches like fresh flowers or a welcome bundle can make a big impact! The more amenities and delightful guest experiences you provide, the more they will reflect in positive reviews.

Consider also including:

Easy Check-In: Provide a convenient check-in method like a lockbox or digital keypad.
Plush Bedding: Invest in comfortable beds with soft linens and luxury pillows.
Safety First: Ensure your property has working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Aside from amenities and comforts, don’t forget that cleanliness is always in! Maintaining a spotless and well-maintained property should be top-priority for all property managers as lower clean scores can impact listing ratings, and hurt your brand.

Leveraging Guest Reviews to Build Trust

Positive reviews are are invaluable social proof, which is gold in the vacation rental industry. Not only are they critical for high rankings, but they are important for the overall health of your listing. They also build trust with potential guests and influence booking decisions, so leverage them by showcasing them on your website or social media. They are instrumental in marketing your vacation rental, brand, and can be especially influential when it comes to attracting new guests who use reviews to make more informed decisions on where to stay.

Encourage guests to leave reviews after their stay to help boost your ranking, maintain listing health, and respond thoughtfully to any feedback received—both positive and negative. Bad reviews hurt your listing performance and visibility on OTAs like Airbnb, as too many bad reviews can result in having your listing suspended or removed.

As you build or optimize your listings, remember that meeting minimum requirements is only the beginning. By effectively showcasing all your vacation home has to offer, you can elevate your listings and establish a thriving vacation rental brand.

Ready to take your amenities and listings to the next level?

sojo makes it easy to provide a variety of high-quality, custom-branded amenities for every room to help you create a memorable guest experience, on autopilot to streamline operations. Already have sojo products in your rentals? Showcase them as a value add for guests who stay at a home that has sojo products, in your listing descriptions and photos!

Not sure what the hospitality hype is all about? Request a free sample and experience brighter turn days today.