| The third and final part of this series on marketing | | | | keep costs down by listing your website URL |
| your vacation rental home will focus on using | | | | rather than a long description of your vacation |
| printed materials and on finding unique ways to | | | | rental. Your URL can contain all of the important |
| get the word out about your rental property. | | | | details, and the ad can just state the location of |
| While the Internet has become an important tool | | | | your home and some basic contact information. |
| in marketing vacation homes, real-world options | | | | Additionally, you can advertise your vacation |
| are still valuable and can help you find potential | | | | rental home in both standard and more unusual |
| renters both locally and globally. | | | | spots. Run an ad in the paper that is local to your |
| Brochures and Flyers | | | | rental home for sure, but also seek out |
| Full-color brochures and flyers can be extremely | | | | publications that cover topics that are related to |
| effective tools for marketing vacation homes. | | | | your home. For example, if your home is located |
| They are inexpensive and easy to produce on | | | | near a golf course, run an ad in a golf magazine |
| your own by using your home computer and a | | | | enticing golfers to come and stay. If your home is |
| simple publishing program. You can also spend a | | | | near the beach, a surfing or fishing magazine |
| little more and have a graphic designer create | | | | might work well for you. Try to stay ahead of |
| some for you. Start with a small run rather than | | | | your competition and reach as many potential |
| thousands. | | | | renters as you possibly can. |
| It is important to include quality pictures of your | | | | Additional Options |
| home, including not only the front of the house | | | | Another approach to marketing vacation homes is |
| but also a few things that make it stand out, such | | | | to offer up a weekend as a prize in a local raffle. |
| as your extra-large bathroom, your swimming | | | | There are fundraisers going on all the time for |
| pool, or your beautiful view. You should also | | | | various causes, and they would probably be |
| include your name, phone number, email address, | | | | thrilled to receive this as a prize to give out. At |
| the location of the vacation rental home (if space | | | | the same time, you benefit because it gets your |
| permits) and, ideally, the URL for your own | | | | vacation rental home noticed and even those that |
| personal website. | | | | do not win will be made aware of your existence. |
| Check around the town in which your vacation | | | | You should also create a signature for your emails |
| rental is located for spots to place your brochures | | | | that includes some basic information about your |
| or flyers. Ask local businesses to hang them in | | | | home. You never know who will see your |
| windows or place them for patrons to take. | | | | message, and your friends and family will always |
| Churches and schools may have bulletin boards on | | | | have your contact information at their fingertips |
| which you can post your flyers as well. You can | | | | to share with those that they know as well. |
| also expand the scope of your efforts by keeping | | | | Above all, the personal touches that one puts into |
| brochures or flyers with you at all times when | | | | marketing vacation homes are what helps the |
| you travel or in your hometown and placing them | | | | owner close the deal. Capitalize on the fact that |
| strategically for people to take. | | | | you are a real person with a real home for rent |
| Postcards | | | | rather than a corporation with an anonymous |
| Postcards are another great way to go about | | | | hotel room. People are more likely to choose your |
| marketing vacation homes. They are practical, | | | | vacation rental home if they feel comfortable with |
| useful, and inexpensive. Again, include pictures of | | | | you, so take the time to be available to answer |
| your home as well as contact information and | | | | questions or meet with people in the community. |
| your website URL. Not only can you place these | | | | Conclusion |
| postcards around town, but you can also leave a | | | | When you are involved with marketing vacation |
| stack of them in the home itself. Renters will use | | | | homes, you need to make sure you cover all of |
| the postcards to send notes to their friends and | | | | your bases. There are many homes out there |
| family, who may then see what a great time is | | | | competing for renters, so you need to stand out. |
| had at your vacation rental and contact you | | | | Make sure you create a website for your |
| directly for their own trip. You can also use these | | | | vacation rental home, and then add your home |
| postcards to send notes to friends and family, or | | | | and its URL to reputable listing sites for additional |
| to thank your renters for staying with you. | | | | traffic. Use word of mouth and referrals from |
| Print Advertising | | | | friends and family to your best advantage. And |
| Running advertisements in print publications is the | | | | never forget that print advertising still has its |
| traditional way to go about marketing vacation | | | | place, even in today's online world. Savvy owners |
| homes, but you can put a spin on this approach. | | | | know that with a strong strategy in place for |
| First, ads can get expensive as most publications | | | | marketing their homes, they'll be sure to book |
| charge by the word or column inch, but you can | | | | their rentals year round with ease. |