It doesn’t take a marketing pro to succeed on social media. It doesn’t even cost money or take a lot of time, only about 10-30 minutes a week. Learn more about how these powerful channels can help you reach travelers and drive traffic to your listing.
Social media strategies to drive bookings
Social media can be an effective way to drive traffic and bookings. Even with exposure across our network, social media can offer opportunities to connect with new travelers. More people than ever are scrolling social media to share vacation photos and get travel ideas — in fact, 60% of travelers post travel photos on social media. Social media can also be used to collect reviews, encourage word of mouth, and develop relationships with guests.
How to connect with more travelers on Facebook
Facebook is probably the best place to start promoting your vacation rental because most people are already there. Setting up a Facebook page for your property should only take about ten minutes.
Use the name of your property to name your Facebook page, and include key information that makes your property stand out in the description. Add a “Book Now” button that links to your listing on our platform. For your profile and cover photos, choose high-quality photos that show off your property.
After your Facebook page is published — and you have invited friends to like your page — it’s time to start posting! You only need to post a few times a month. Strive for quality over quantity. Pro tip: Posts with photos and videos usually perform better, so always try to include them. Here are some more ideas:
- Highlight activities and events in your area. Where is the best beach or ski run? What’s the most popular burger joint or trampoline park? Share travel tips to get followers excited about booking.
- Promote special deals and offers. Get travelers excited —and persuade them to book — by giving them inside information about discounts or deals.
- Share updates or stories about your property. Attract travelers with regular posts about the home’s unique features, its history, or a recent positive guest experience.
- Post fun photos and videos from your area. “Tag” local businesses in your posts, like visitors' bureaus or restaurants. It gives guests a glimpse of your community, creates a stronger connection with local businesses, and expands your network.
How to show off your vacation rental on Instagram
Instagram is a great place to share your property photos and expand your network. Get noticed by travelers who are scrolling through photos and videos, searching for vacation inspiration. In fact, many travelers consider how “Instagrammable” a destination is before booking.
Instagram is easy to set up and takes only a few minutes. If you already have a Facebook account, it’s even easier. Be sure to use the same account name for brand consistency.
Always post high-quality images that show off each room of your vacation rental. If you don’t have the time — or the eye — to capture and edit quality photos, hire a photographer. Interior and exterior shots, as well as photos of local attractions, make a bigger impact on travelers.
Pro-tip: Search Instagram for photos in your area posted by other users. Liking and commenting on other people’s photos can help spread the word about your property.
How to use photo tagging to expand your vacation rental reach
Photo tagging is a two-way street and can be used to expand your network. If you feel comfortable, ask guests to use the “@” symbol to tag your account in their posts for more reach.
Tagging increases your exposure by connecting your social media profile with your guests’ followers. And if you have their permission, you can also return the favor by resharing and tagging their posts.
How to use hashtags to attract more travelers
Use hashtags both online and offline to promote your property. Hashtags (the symbol “#” followed by descriptive text) help travelers find you on social media when they’re searching for vacation rentals.
You can even put place cards around your home featuring your listing’s or area’s hashtags to inspire guests to share — and hashtag — their experiences on social media.
When your guests post images of your vacation rental on social media, get their consent to use their photos on your account, and always ask special permission if minors are involved.
Pro tip: Look at your vacation rental competitors’ or local businesses’ social media to get ideas of relevant hashtags for your property social media posts.
How to enhance your social media content
When it comes to booking vacation rentals, a picture is worth a thousand words. Sharing great images of your vacation rental is critical if you want to capture people’s attention online.
Facebook posts with images get 2.3X more engagements than posts without a photo. And the most liked images on Facebook tend to possess four qualities: brightness, clarity, liveliness, and ingenuity.
Prep your space before taking any photos. Stage your home, clean surfaces, adjust lighting, hide electrical cords, and use your best camera. To edit photos, apps like Canva or VSCO can help brighten, sharpen, and straighten photos.
Example of high quality social media photos
- Images that capture the view from your vacation rental, can catch a viewer’s eye in an instant.
- Bright images that accentuate the character of your vacation rental can entice viewers to click to see more of your home.
- Images that show unique features or amenities without people in the photo help travelers picture themselves enjoying your vacation rental.
If you’ve taken the time to ensure you have high-quality photos of your property, add them to your listing. Your listing can hold up to 50 photos and we recommend adding a minimum of 25. We also recommend uploading photos that are 3840 x 2160 pixels or higher for the best quality.
