As an STR owner, you are constantly looking for new ways to enhance your business and maximize profits. One avenue gaining popularity is the creation of direct booking sites. These personalized platforms provide you with a direct connection to your guests; as such you can offer more dynamic policies and cut-out third-party booking channel fees. While there are clear advantages of having a direct booking site, you’ll also make sure you establish proper protocols to ensure you are protected when not booking with the umbrella safety of a third party like airbnb or vrbo.
Why Consider a Direct Booking Site?
1. Cut Out the Middleman:
Embracing a direct booking site means eliminating third-party platforms and their associated fees. By establishing a direct connection with guests, you can retain a significant portion of the rental income. Guests save money too, which means you can offer more attractive rates.
2. Enhance Control:
With your own booking site, you have the power to control every aspect of the guest experience. From communication and pricing to property rules and policies, you’re not limited to simply selecting a protocol from a list of pre-formatted options. This level of control can contribute to a more seamless and tailored guest experience.
3. Build Your Brand:
A direct booking site serves as a unique platform to showcase your brand and property distinctiveness. Personalized branding helps establish a connection with your audience, fostering trust and loyalty among guests who appreciate the uniqueness of your accommodations.
4. Direct Communication:
Direct booking enables hosts to communicate with guests from the moment of inquiry to post-checkout. This direct line of communication fosters a more personalized experience, addressing guest queries promptly and ensuring a smooth booking process.
How to Create Your Direct Booking Site:
Your first step is to choose a website builder. Many of the vacation rental management softwares offer plug and play direct booking sites too. Some options are:
You can also choose to build your own site using a generic website builder like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. No matter what platform you choose, you’ll want to be sure to have the following features for your site.
Integrated Booking Software:
If your site doesn’t talk to your booking calendar, you're going to be in big trouble. Ensure that your site integrates a reliable booking engine or software. This ensures secure online transactions and provides guests with a hassle-free booking experience.
Damage Protection:
When guests book through a third party, you know you are covered by their damage protection. However, if you’re taking bookings in house you’ll need a way to ensure you’re protected against loss. Softwares such as autohost and superhog offer robust solutions for guest screening and damage liability waiver/security deposit collection.
Secure Payment System:
Build trust by incorporating a secure payment system on your site. Utilize reputable payment gateways to safeguard both guest and host financial information.
Mobile Optimization:
Ensure that your direct booking site is optimized for mobile devices. Many guests use smartphones or tablets for travel bookings, so a responsive design is crucial for a seamless user experience.
Maximize Exposure for Your STR Booking Site
Once you have your site up and running, you need to lure potential guests to your site.
Capture Guest Email Addresses
You can start by collecting email addresses from people who are already staying at your property. Then you can leverage email marketing efforts to encourage past guests to return to your property, and this time book directly with you. Stayfi is a cool product that captures the email address of everyone who logs on to the wifi at a property. This way you can capture more email addresses and target more people than just the one individual who booked the reservation.
Leverage Social Media
Begin by building a strong online presence for your STR. Create an instagram and facebook page and share attractive images, past guest reviews, and local attractions. Then start engaging with your audience, and offering unique incentives. You can even collaborate with local influencers to drive traffic to your social page and thus your direct booking site.
Establishing a direct booking site for your short term rental can be a game-changer for your business. By cutting out intermediaries, gaining more control, and building a brand that resonates with guests, you not only enhance your profitability but also create a more personalized and memorable experience for your visitors. However, it's essential to approach this venture with careful consideration of legal requirements, data protection, and a commitment to providing exceptional customer service. With the right strategy and execution, a direct booking site can propel your STR business to new heights.
