If you’re a vacation rental property owner, then you know that the short-term rental slow season can be a bit of a challenge. Your prices are lower, and your properties are less likely to get booked. But don’t worry – finding guests during the offseason doesn’t have to be complicated! In this blog post, we will discuss some effective marketing techniques that will help you find renters during the Airbnb slow season.
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Marketing Tips to Combat the Airbnb Slow Season
The first step to finding guests during the offseason is to change your approach. You can’t just rely on listing your property on sites like Airbnb and VRBO and hoping for the best. You need to be proactive and market your property in a way that will attract guests even when prices are lower.
Advertise discounts and promotions
One way to do this is by offering discounts and promotions. This could be anything from a percentage off your nightly rate to a free extra guest or cleaning fee. Whatever you decide to offer, make sure it’s something that will appeal to guests.
Another way to attract guests with discounts is by offering longer stay discounts. This could be a weekly or monthly rate that is lower than your usual nightly rate. This is an excellent option for guests who are looking for a longer-term rental.
A great way to capture a guest’s browsing eye is to add the word “Discount” to your listing title. Everyone loves a good deal!
Market to a Different Audience
An effective marketing technique is to market to a different audience. This could be anything from families to business travelers.
Families are often looking for longer-term rentals, so consider marketing your property as a family-friendly vacation rental. Business travelers are often looking for short-term rentals, so consider marketing your property as a business-friendly vacation rental.
Reduce your minimum night requirement
We often set minimum night requirements to prevent parties, but this could also deter potential guests during the off-season. Consider reducing your minimum night requirement to attract more guests. This is especially effective during the week when most people are working and can’t stay for a full week.
Allow pets
A strong way to attract guests during the Airbnb slow season is by allowing pets. This is an excellent option for pet owners who are looking for a pet-friendly vacation rental.
You don’t need to offer this year-round, but during the off-season, it can boost where you appear on the SEO rank. Allowing pets at your rental is considered a unique amenity and could be the perfect way to sway a guest to your listing over another.
Reach out with an email
If you have a direct booking site (as you should!) then you have access to past guests’ email addresses. You can use these email addresses to reach out and promote your listing during the off-season.
This is a great way to stay top of mind with past guests and give them a reason to book with you again. Plus, it’s an excellent place to promote a discount and share what is going on in your community that may attract them.
Offer a unique experience with a free upsell
Make your rental stand out by offering a unique experience with a free upsell. This could be anything from a free bottle of wine upon arrival to a discount on local activities.
Advertise in local publications or websites as a staycation
With people spending more time at home during the winter months, there has been an uptick in the search for staycation options. This is a great opportunity to market your rental as a staycation option for locals.
Turn on Instant Book
By turning on Instant Book, you are making it easier for guests to book your property. This is a great option for last-minute bookings and can help fill gaps in your calendar.
Work with an influencer
A great way to market your rental during the off-season is by working with an influencer. This could be a local blogger or Instagrammer who has a large following in your area.
They can help promote your listing and attract guests to your property. Generally, you can offer them a complimentary stay in exchange for creating content highlighting your property.
It is often a good idea to include some of your special experiences or upsells for them to promote. While you won’t earn an income for this stay, your listing will reach a different and broader audience than usual.
Final Thoughts
By following these tips, you can effectively market your vacation rental during the Airbnb slow season and fill your calendar with guests. By attracting a mix of different types of guests and offering unique experiences, you can make your listing stand out from the rest. With a little effort, you can ensure that your vacation rental is booked year-round.
Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!
