5 Ways to Market Your Vacation Home on Facebook

Promote Your Vacation Rental on Facebook

In our last post, we walked you through the steps to create a Facebook page for your vacation rental.

Unfortunately, merely creating a Facebook page isn't enough to get your vacation rental noticed.

The key to more Facebook inquiries and bookings is to promote your vacation rental's Facebook page.

Curious how this works?

Read on for ROVH's 5 Facebook marketing tips.

More Likes Means a Wider Reach 

Facebook works by sharing content through networks.

Your network consists of the people who "Like" your vacation rental's page. 

Whenever you share something on your vacation rental's page, your network sees your post in their news feed.

If a follower shares your post, their own Facebook network sees your post. Get enough shares through many Facebook networks and suddenly your post has gone viral.

The trick to marketing your vacation home on Facebook is creating content that will go viral.
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How to Create Content People Will Share

1. Post useful, intriguing, or fun info. Your followers will naturally want to share something interesting or helpful with their friends, whether its a relevant news story or 10% off seasonal promotion.

2. Use images and videos. Studies show that these two mediums are more widely shared than just text. If your post is mainly text, include an applicable photo. Don't forget that quality counts - use professional-grade photos whenever possible.

3. Post at 3PM EST on Wednesdays. Again, studies show that this is the time and day when people share the most with their network. If you only post 1 time per week, choose this day and time. But... 

4. Try to post at least every other day. It's important to keep your network engaged with your page. A word of caution though - your network will quickly un-Like you if you inundate them with ads. Keep to the 80/20 rule: post 80% relevant content and 20% promotions, e.g. 1 ad for every 5 posts.

5. Provide a way to connect. Include your email address or links to your availability calendar, booking calendar, or website so potential guests can get in touch with you. Your contact info should be included in your page's About section, but it never hurts to include it in posts where appropriate.

And don't forget to respond to readers who engage your posts. Whether it's a like, comment, or direct message it's worth your time to thank your readers or reply in a timely manner.

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How to Create a Facebook Page for Your Vacation Home

(1) Sign up for Facebook

What if you could promote your vacation home online for free, and reach a nearly unlimited number of potential guests?

Facebook is one of the most popular social networking services worldwide and is free for anyone to use, including businesses and in this case, Orlando vacation homes.

If you're looking for a way to advertise your vacation home online for free, follow ROVH's step-by-step directions to create a property profile for your vacation home.

How do you use Facebook to promote your vacation home?
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(2) Choose a Company Page

1. Sign up for Facebook. If you don't already have an account, go to Facebook and create a personal account. It's free to sign up and it's the first step to creating your vacation home's Facebook page.

2. Log into your new account. Once you've logged in, navigate to Facebook's Create a Page. Choose "Company, Organization, or Institution" box and select "Travel/Leisure" from the drop down menu. Enter your vacation home's name in the "Company Name" field, check the "I agree to Facebook Pages Terms" box, and click "Get Started".

3. Add a profile picture. Click "Upload From Computer" and choose a high-quality, colorful, and clear picture of your vacation home or resort. Click "Next".

4. Describe your vacation home. Include a tag line, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, special amenities, and anything else you'd like to highlight. If you have a website for your vacation home, add the URL to the website address field. Click "Yes" and "Save Info". Congrats, your page has been created!

(5) Edit Your Vacation Home's Page

5. Edit your page. Click the "Edit Page" drop down and choose "Update Info". Add information about your vacation home. TIP: Use your resort's address to protect your privacy. To change privacy settings on your page, click "Manage Permissions" on the left hand column and update settings to your preference.

Note: To edit your vacation home's page, click the settings wheel in the top right corner of your screen and choose your vacation home's page name. You have to use Facebook as your vacation home's page to make changes to the page itself.

(6) Add Pictures to Your Home's Profile 

6. Add pictures. From the Admin Panel, click on the "Photos" link under the photo icon. Click "Add New Photos" and upload photos of your vacation home and resort. TIP: To create a specific album, (for example, House Photos Album, Resort Photos Album, etc.) click on the "Albums" tab and click "Create New Album". Upload photos from your computer to complete the album. Don't forget to add a description for each photo!

7. Add a cover picture. From the Admin Panel, click on the "Add a Cover" button by the picture icon. Upload a picture, drag to change the page position, and click "Save Changes". TIP: Upload a high-quality picture of your vacation home, resort, or a Disney attraction. Don't use this space for promotions or advertising.

8. Share your vacation home's page with family, friends, and guests. From the Admin Panel, click on the "Build Audience" drop down menu and select "Invite Email Contacts". Alternatively, you can share your page's URL by copying and pasting into an email or other online communication method. Ask your contacts to "Like" your vacation home's Facebook page to increase visibility of your vacation home online.

9. Keep your vacation home's page updated! Share new photos of your vacation home, invite your guests to post on your vacation home's page, and advertise promotions and last-minute specials. Facebook is a great way to connect with guests and promote your vacation home online. Read more...

10. Email ROVH for help. We're happy to get you started and keep your page going!

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Get More Bookings with an Optimized Rental Website

Think about your last 3 guests - at least 2 of them used the internet to research and book your vacation rental.

But what about all the other potential guests who came to your site and didn't book?

If you want to increase bookings from your vacation rental's website, the key is optimizing your website.

Keep reading for some surprisingly simple tips for optimizing your site.

"Optimizing your vacation rental's website can increase your bookings with minimal or no expense for you, the homeowner." 

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10 Easy Ways to Optimize Your Vacation Rental's Website

1. Get Online! If you already have a website for your vacation home, that's great! Now it's time to take a look at how you can optimize your site for more bookings. If you don't have a website, ROVH recommends working with Strategic Business Solutions for a fully-customized and easy-to-use website.

2. Set up Simple Navigation. Separate your rental's information into different pages. Include a navigation menu with tabs for availability, rates, policies, nearby attractions, and a Contact Us page. Navigation menus located at the top of a site is the most popular placement.

3. Help Your Guests Trust You. Create an About Us page and upload a picture of yourself. You don't have to provide any personal information, but you can talk about why you love vacationing at your rental, your favorite activities or recommendations, and what guests can expect when they vacation at your rental.

4. Be Honest about Your Rental's Location. Not actually 5 minutes from the area's best attractions? Don't exaggerate or lie to your guests. Instead, manage their expectations and provide a positive point of view, too. If your rental is 30 minutes away from your city's attractions, talk about the benefits of being close enough to explore your exciting city, but far enough away from the bustle to relax at night!

5. State Your Policies. Create a page that clearly states your policies on deposits, cancellations, damages, check-in and check-out times, pets, smoking, extra guests, and any other important rental rules. Including a printable policy statement can also be helpful for your guest's reference.

6. List Your Amenities. List all the amenities your vacation rental offers. While some families may not need a high chair, it may swing the vote in your favor for another guest. If you don't offer something like Wi-Fi or a washer/dryer, go the extra step to provide an alternative for your guest. Perhaps your resort has an internet cafe or there's a nearby laundry mat?

7. Keep Your Rates & Availability Updated. Try a free, online availability calendar like Date Blocker. Using calendar software can help keep your availability organized and prevent an accidental double booking.

8.  Provide a Way for Guests to Contact You. Include a Contact Us form on your site, or use your booking calendar's software to create an inquiry page. At the very least, list your email address and phone number and be sure to promptly return messages - ideally within a few hours.

9. Check Formatting. Fix any spelling or grammar errors. Use an easy to read font like Helvetica for headings and Georgia for text; use size 14-16. Write clearly and concisely. Make your content skimmable by using headings, lists, and bold text.  

10. Offer Online Booking. Guests who find the perfect vacation rental want to book immediately. Offer a way for guests to automatically reserve your vacation rental with online payments. PayPal is a popular online payment service to use for this. TIP: If you're accepting online payments, don't forget to include the logo of your payment or SSL certificate provider.

Over 70% of your guests are using the internet to research and book vacations. If they love your rental, shouldn't you offer them the chance to book immediately? 

Absolutely! If you're looking for a low-cost solution to automatic online marketing and booking for your Orlando-area vacation rental, list with ROVH.

Members receive:

• An optimized property profile
• Live availability calendars 
• Flexible rates
• Automatic, online booking 
• And more! 

Contact ROVH for more details on memberships or list your rental now.

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How to Market Your Vacation Home: Update Your Photo Gallery in 5 Steps

You’ve posted your vacation home profile online – now how do you make it stand out from literally thousands of other properties?  

Photographs showcasing your home and property are your most valuable marketing tool.  The more pictures you have, the better your chances of securing bookings.    

But it’s not enough to just have a large photo gallery – your photos must be current and high-quality to really capture a guest’s attention.

Give your vacation home a marketing edge by updating your photo gallery.

Next2Disney's Photo Gallery

 1.    How old are your pictures? If they’re older than 1-2 years or you’ve made upgrades to your home since taking the pictures, it’s time to refresh. 

2.    Are your pictures high-quality? It’s best to have a professional photograph your house.  If you plan on DIY, use a high-speed, professional grade digital camera to avoid grainy or dim photos.

3.    How many photos are in your gallery? A good rule of thumb is at least 10 pictures showcasing the front of your house and the main rooms inside, including the bedrooms.  Be sure to include photos of special amenities or luxuries like a washer/dryer, pool, or game room.

4.    Have you rotated your main photo? Have enough photos to change your lead photo and gallery every few months.  Updating both can improve your page rankings, keeping guests interested in your home.  

5.    Do your photos convey luxury, family-friendly, or romance? Decide on an overall concept for your vacation home and ensure your photos portray this.  Ask family members or friends to review your pictures and (honestly) tell you if your theme and photos align.  If they don’t, it’s time to take new photos!

Need to take new photos of your vacation home?  Read our tips onpreparing your home for a photo shoot.  

Looking for someone to review your property profile?  Contact us for a thorough analysis and we'll suggest proven solutions to give your home's profile a marketing edge.