The vacation rental marketing that works best is simple: great photos on every booking site, a direct booking website, short videos on Instagram and TikTok every week, and a way to bring past guests back. Every one of these runs on content. If you can make photos and videos quickly, you can do all fifteen ideas below without hiring an agency.
Why market beyond Airbnb and Vrbo?
Platforms are great for discovery but take a fee on every booking and own the guest relationship. Direct bookings save fees and let you build repeat business. Most successful hosts use both: platforms for new guests, direct for returning ones.
Listing ideas
1. Refresh your photos every season
A summer listing in January looks wrong. Swap the cover and first five photos for each season. Use day to dusk and lights-on shots for winter.
2. List on more than one platform
Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and local sites reach different guests. Use the same edited photos everywhere.
3. Lead with who it is for
"Dog-friendly cottage with fenced garden" or "Remote-work flat with fibre and desk" wins the guests who search for exactly that.
Website ideas
4. Build a simple direct booking site
One page with photos, a video, availability, reviews and a book button. Many property management tools include one.
5. Put a video at the top
A 30 to 60 second video tour is the fastest way to build trust with someone who has never heard of you.
6. Write local guides
"Best beaches near [town]" or "Rainy day ideas in [area]" bring search traffic from people planning a trip.
Social media ideas
7. Post one reel a week
Rotate between the property, the area and the guest experience. Consistency matters more than polish.
- Week 1Reel
Video tour: best feature first, booking link at the end
- Week 2Reel
"Lights on" dusk clip of the exterior: "Your Friday night"
- Week 3Carousel
5 things to do within 10 minutes
- Week 4Reel
Room by room: "Where you'll sleep"
8. Use effects a camera cannot do
A day-to-dusk or lights-on clip stops the scroll better than another daytime photo, and it takes one click.
9. Post in local and traveller groups
Facebook groups for your town or region often allow holiday let posts on certain days. Check the rules first.
10. Work with local businesses
Swap content with a café, surf school or restaurant nearby. Tag each other.
Guest ideas
11. Collect emails from direct guests
Ask direct guests if you can send them seasonal offers. Follow the platform's rules for guests who booked through it.
12. Send a "come back" video
Email past guests a short video of the place in a different season with a returning-guest discount.
13. Make reviewing easy
Leave a thank-you card with a QR code. More reviews means better ranking.
14. Ask for user content
Guests post their stay. Ask them to tag you and share the best ones.
Pricing idea
15. Fill gaps with last-minute offers
Post a reel on Monday with "Two nights free this weekend, 20% off" and a link. Video makes last-minute deals feel real.
How do you keep all of this going?
The ideas are easy. Making the content every week is what stops most hosts. With Splatr you upload your photos once and:
- Upload oncePhone or pro photos
- EditLight, sky, declutter, dusk
- Make reelsCamera moves, effects, music
- Post weeklyInstagram, TikTok, website
Related: Instagram for Airbnb hosts, Airbnb video tour and how to get more Airbnb bookings.
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