How to Link HomeAway to Your WordPress Site
The vacation rental market is growing rapidly, reaching $162 billion in projected sales by next year.
With more travelers having to look for accommodations while away from home, Airbnb and similar platforms have opened up a world of possibilities for those who want to run a hotel or vacation rental property. But setting up a vacation rental can be quite the process — it typically takes a lot of research and planning to ensure you’re getting the best price and quality for your vacation rental.
For those who want to rent their property on airbnb or similar platforms, there are a number of steps they can take to ensure the process goes smoothly. The more you do the better, so here’s a guide to help you get started.
Create A Profitable, Travel-Friendly Web Presence
Your web presence — whether you have a website or blog — is one of the most important aspects of your operation. Not only will it communicate with potential guests what you have to offer, but it will also form the basis of your interaction with them. This is why it’s so important to have a reliable, quality website or blog that is easy to use and profitable.
The most important thing to consider when creating a website or blog is converting visitors into paying customers. This can be quite the task, especially if you’re unsure of how to go about doing so. Luckily, you can follow a series of steps to ensure your visitors leave you with an easy way to pay when their stay is over. This way, you’ll be able to hit the ground running when you start accepting reservations.
Pick A Niche
There are many different niches in the vacation rental market. You might decide to specialize in family vacations, for example, or even luxury getaways. What you choose will depend on your goals and what you are comfortable with. As long as you pick something that is both profitable and familiar to you, the rest will take care of itself.
This is also the reason why it’s important to establish the purpose of your website or blog before you begin. Do you want to simply have a fun or educational website, or do you envision yourself as an expert in your chosen field? Once you’ve decided, you can begin to establish content that will satisfy your target audience.
Curate A Database Of Traveler Profiles
As the owner of a vacation rental, you’ll be in the unique position of having a full database of profiles for guests who have stayed at your property. You can use this database to curate content that will entice future visitors to your website or blog.
Establishing a relationship with a travel agency that handles content marketing for a large hotel chain may be the best route to go if you want to become a professional blogger and make money online. However, you can also go the extra mile and reach out to guests directly via email to establish brand awareness and make money.
Create Unique Selling Points
Every hotel and vacation rental has something special that makes it stand out from the crowd, whether it is the location, the views, or the vibe. By discovering and communicating these unique selling points, you can help potential guests understand what it is you offer that is so special. When establishing your destination, consider carefully what appeals to your target audience and make sure to highlight these points throughout your marketing efforts.
Location is always a key consideration when picking a vacation rental. If you are in the heart of a bustling city, it’s an advantage to have a location that is close to the attractions people want to see while on holiday. If you are in a more rural area, close proximity to good cafes and bistros may be all the attraction you need to draw in potential guests.
Link HomeAway To Your Website
There are several ways you can integrate HomeAway into your website or blog. You can use their handy widget to display their latest listings on your social media channels, you can add a link to their site from your blog, and you can even create an online booking form directly on your site. When establishing your vacation rental, consider which method may be the most effective for you and your website.
As you can see, there are many different ways you can integrate HomeAway into your website or blog. Linking your travel agency’s or hotel’s website to HomeAway is also a great way to generate more bookings, as there will be many more options for potential travelers to choose from.
Establishing Your Own Blog
If you’re looking to delve deeper into the intricacies of establishing a successful blog, you can check out our guide to becoming a travel or lifestyle blogger. It contains everything from how to choose a niche to setting up your blog with a few of the best WordPress plugins for content strategy and SEO.