Are you feeling overshadowed by the giants of the vacation rental industry? You're not alone. Many property managers believe they can't compete with Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo. But here's the truth: you can outshine them by adopting their best marketing tactics.

In this episode, we're joined by Uvika Wahi from Rental Scale-Up to uncover powerful insights on leveraging the advertising strategies of these industry leaders to boost your direct bookings.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Understand how Airbnb, Booking.com, and VRBO are spending their marketing budgets and why.
• Learn how to craft compelling narratives that resonate with your ideal guests, just like the industry giants do.
• Discover techniques to create marketing messages that speak to your guests’ desires and fears.
• Uncover strategies to use guest feedback as a powerful marketing tool, inspired by Airbnb’s “Guest Favourite” Label.
• Get actionable tips on how to apply these high-level strategies without breaking the bank.

“What you think is the strength of your property may not be the thing that your guests care about the most. So this is about highlighting what your guests care about and using that to attract future guests.” - Uvika Wahi

About Uvika Wahi

Uvika is the editor at Rental Scale-Up, a leading source of short-term rental news and insights. She analyzes industry trends, contextualizes them with the help of a network of short-term rental operators, and advocates for sustainability within the short-term rental industry and beyond.

Connect with Uvika and Rental Scale-Up

Uvika’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uwahi/

Rental Scale-Up’s Website: https://www.rentalscaleup.com/

Get a weekly dose of STR marketing learnings through Rental Scale-Up’s newsletter; it’s a must read every week! Subscribe: https://www.rentalscaleup.com/newsletter/

Other Resources Uvika Mentioned in the Podcast

Check out these two properties with amazing storytelling strategies:

Skol Apartments: https://www.skolapartmentsmarbella.com/

Casal dei Fichi: https://www.casaldeifichi.com/

Whether you're just starting out or looking to elevate your direct booking strategy, this episode provides valuable insights to help your short-term rental business thrive in a competitive landscape.

Ready to level up your marketing game? Tune in to learn how to apply big brand tactics on a small business budget and watch your direct bookings soar.

The key moments on this episode are:

00:00:00 Competing with Vacation Rental Giants: Leveraging Their Marketing Tactics

00:01:04 Meet Uvika Wahi: Insights from Rental Scale Up

00:03:51 Analyzing Big Brand Marketing Strategies

00:06:00 Television vs. Digital Advertising in Vacation Rentals

00:08:59 Emotional Storytelling in Vacation Rental Marketing

00:15:16 Developing a Unique Brand Identity

00:21:50 Leveraging Guest Reviews for Marketing

00:26:34 Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts

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Show notes are available at:...