6 Tips to Help You Grow Direct to Be 65% of Your Bookings

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, we welcome back Mark Simpson, a hospitality coach and the founder of Boostly. It's a comprehensive platform specializing in online training and website design, helping short-term rental hosts increase direct bookings and become less dependent on OTAs.

The conversation in the episode focuses on a direct booking strategy that allows hosts to reduce overreliance on online booking platforms and diversify income streams. Being an expert in the hospitality industry, Mark shares actionable advice to empower you with practical strategies for boosting direct bookings that will help you build a successful business on your terms.

Press Play now to discover why you should drive 65% of your bookings via direct and how you can do it.

Do you prefer to read the highlights? We've got a summary of the key takeaways below.

Why Should Hosts Drive 65 % of Their Bookings via Direct?

Mark explains that it's just a nice, eye-catching number. He believes getting 100% direct bookings is as risky as being 100% reliant on Vrbo or Airbnb because relying on one booking channel is always risky.

"But the main reason for that number would be that it is over 50%. It's balanced when you've got over 50% coming in direct. Then it means you are in control of your business," Mark underlines.

"I think the main thing is to ensure you have a nice balanced portfolio and marketing channels. And you've got revenue coming in from multiple resources," he clarifies.

If you automate your daily operations using vacation rental software like Hospitable, you can manage listings on multiple channels, including your direct booking website, simultaneously without worrying about juggling calendars, guest messages, and cleaners across bookings.

How to Grow Direct Bookings

As the conversation continues, Mark shares tips on increasing your direct bookings and illustrates them with suitable examples. These tips can be helpful for hosts who are just at the beginning of their direct booking journey.

Know your guests

Mark emphasizes that it's essential to understand your audience well because you need to know "who you want to sell to." He explains that "knowing your guests falls into three categories":

• Who is coming to your area?
• What type of guests will prefer your property?
• Where are your target guests hanging out online? What social media platform do they use?

Understanding these things is very important because it will guide your marketing efforts.

Know your properties

Mark points out that running a short-term rental could be a second job or a side hustle for many people who start hosting. As their business grows, they suddenly realize it's their main thing.

"The problem is that you've accompanied or acquired these properties in your portfolio without paying attention to what you're taking on. And this will be important for moving forward," he underlines.

Mark explains that you need to build a brand of properties that are very alike, which means you need to create a niche and make sure that all your properties fit around your brand.

Become the go-to person in your niche

Mark encourages hosts to join local business groups on social media and provide help, support, and advice when people ask for it. Sharing your expertise and insights with others will help you build credibility and network in your niche and beyond.

You'll become a valuable information resource for other people, and they may start recommending you to others. "When you do become the go-to, literally, people will do your marketing for you," Mark underlines.

Have your tech stack behind the scenes

Mark explains that when you use multiple channels to market your property, such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo and want to get started with direct bookings, it's essential to use a property management software solution like Hospitable because "it opens the doors to so many other things."

You can connect it to a dynamic pricing tool and tools that will help with the operational side of your business." And obviously, the cool thing about having a PMS is that you can then go out and create a free website with the PMS. Or, if you want to go a bit fancier, you would come to a company like Boostly, and it all gets connected. The main thing is to have a solid tech stack behind the scenes," Mark emphasizes.

Mark also shares how Boostly helps hosts create user-friendly websites that showcase their brand and "convert lookers into bookers," and offers some tips on how to get started with social media marketing.

Listen to the full episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast to find out how to boost direct bookings and successfully grow your short-term rental business.