When most people think about real estate agents, they picture the transaction — the showing, the contract, the close. But for Tyler Coon, it’s just the beginning. On this episode of Booked Solid, Gil sits down with Tyler, founder of Savvy Realty, a nationwide real estate team laser-focused on helping investors buy (and succeed with) short-term rentals. What sets Tyler apart isn’t just his knowledge of STR markets or his deep portfolio of investor clients — it’s how he turns a real estate purchase into a launchpad for long-term profitability. This conversation goes beyond the sale — into operations, trust-building, design strategy, and the critical role of direct bookings from day one. Summary and Highlights 👤 Meet Tyler Coon Tyler Coon is the founder and CEO of Savvy Realty, a nationwide team of short-term rental agents known as Savvy STR Agents. Based in Asheville, NC, Tyler has specialized in short-term rental investment real estate since 2019. What started as a solo passion quickly scaled into a full-service operation helping investors acquire high-performing STRs across the country. Now with a presence in over 20 markets nationwide, Tyler continues to expand Savvy’s footprint — aligning clients with smart, profitable opportunities and supporting them long after the sale. 🧠 Key Takeaways from This Episode 1. Treat the Purchase as the Starting Line, Not the Finish Tyler doesn’t just help clients “buy a house.” He helps them understand if they’re ready to operate an STR successfully. That means: 2. The Best STR Agents Know the Whole Game With access to real-time revenue data, local vendor networks, and design professionals, Tyler ensures his clients aren’t flying blind. 3. Direct Bookings Should Start From the First Stay Whether it’s capturing emails with StayFi or hiring influencers to drive traffic to a direct booking site, Tyler believes in planting the seeds for independence early. “Guests are making core memories at your property. Why wouldn’t you want them to come back — directly?” 🔁 Direct Bookings in a Changing OTA Landscape Tyler doesn’t mince words about what’s coming: “If you’re not building a direct booking strategy now, you’re going to be behind. Airbnb’s algorithm will be pay-to-play before long.” Tyler’s long-term vision? Market-level direct booking sites — collaborative platforms that bring the top listings in each region together, owned and promoted by the operators. (Spoiler alert: we may be partnering on that very thing in Asheville soon.) ⚡ Rapid Fire with Tyler What’s one mindset shift you’d share with someone new? “You’re going to screw it up. Forgive yourself early and often. Make the repair, then move forward.” What’s one book that changed your life? Rocket Fuel – “It helped me understand that I’m a visionary. I need integrators around me to execute.” What’s one tactical move to grow direct bookings? “Collect every guest’s email — StayFi, emails at checkout, whatever it takes. Then send a video after their stay with a discount code and your direct booking site.” 🎯 Final Thoughts: It’s More Than Real Estate Tyler’s approach is a masterclass in long-term thinking. It’s not about the closing table. It’s about helping investors build something that works — not just today, but years down the road. If you’re ready to get serious about your STR portfolio, this episode is a must-listen. 👉 Listen to the full episode here 🔧 Built to Book? We’ve Got You Covered If you’re building a direct booking strategy, check out how CraftedStays can help: 🌐 Connect with Tyler Coon Transcription Tyler: Collecting email addresses, right? Something like stay fi to make sure that you’re truly collecting email addresses from everybody you possibly can in that group. Because at the end of the day, those folks are gonna know someone else. So the more email addresses you’re collecting, the more you can market to these people and try different tactics, right? Don’t just send some bland newsletters, something like that. You know, Bill Faeth preaches this a lot about his new bookings. He sends them a video. Send everybody after they check out, send them a video, email all CC’d together and say, Hey, we loved having you guys. Thank you for leaving the place so clean. We’d love to have you back. I’m gonna send you a little discount code for if you guys want to come back next time. Here’s my direct booking site. Nothing’s stopping you from sending that email nowadays, and I guarantee. 0.001% of reservations are getting something like that. If anyone. Gil: Hey folks. Welcome back to Book Solid, the podcast where top operators share the strategies to maximize bookings, scale your rentals, and get ahead of the short term rental game. On today’s show, I have Tyler Kon. Tyler Kon is the founder of Savvy Real Estate. He has many agencies throughout the Nation to help folks get into short term rentals. I’m bringing him onto the show mainly because. I found his tactics, his way of approaching acquisitions of rentals. Very different than a lot of other brokerages, and I wanted him to share kind of how he thought about. Getting people into short-term rentals, how he thinks about that relationship between an agent or the brokerage and the client themselves. And really how does he think about long-term success to really make sure that they’re, they have what they need to be successful. Um, we dive into a lot of meaty topics. I’m really happy to have him on the show and really just have him share some of the vision, some of the values that him and his team has. Gil: Hey Tyler, welcome to the show. Tyler: Thanks Gil. Good to be here, man. Gil: Yeah. On the show today we have Tyler Kon from Savvy. Um, Tyler, before we get get started, do you mind giving a quick introduction on who you are? Tyler: Yeah, absolutely. Uh, my name is Tyler Coon. I’m the founder and CEO of Savvy, STR agents, a nationwide, uh, real estate team that specializes in helping investors buy and sell short-term rentals. Gil: Yeah. You’ve been, you’ve been in this industry for a little while

In this week’s episode of Booked Solid Show, formerly Direct Booking Simplified, we sat down with Paul Anderson—also known as The Social Media Hotelier. Paul is a marketing strategist specializing in leveraging Instagram to drive direct bookings for short-term accommodation businesses. As a retired guest house owner, international bestselling author, and expert in consumer psychology, Paul transforms complex marketing concepts into actionable strategies tailored for hosts. Known for his practical insights and engaging delivery (and yes—his now-iconic orange beanie), Paul helps hosts cut through the noise and turn lookers into bookers with ease. Paul’s journey—and his proven framework—offers a timely reminder: social media isn’t about going viral. It’s about showing up, consistently, for the guest you actually want to host. Summary and Highlights We covered a lot in this conversation, but here are the takeaways that really stood out: 🎯 Post Less. Measure More. Paul doesn’t believe in endless posting. In fact, it almost broke him. Instead, he came back with structure. Three posts a week. Same time, every time. And most importantly: a system for tracking performance, so he could double down on what worked and ditch what didn’t. “I was halfway through a 30-day content challenge, and I found myself tossing and turning at 2 AM trying to come up with something to post. I realized the content was rubbish—and it was hurting my mental health.” 📊 Track What Actually Matters Paul is not impressed by follower counts or vanity metrics. What does he look for? He teaches his students to measure profile conversion rates—how many visitors hit ‘Follow’—and link clicks, because that’s where bookings begin. Not likes. Not reach. Just action. “Link clicks as a proportion of profile visits is the holy grail. There is no target. What we want is everyone who visits our profile to hit the link in bio and come off the platform… and ask three things: Do they have vacancies? Can I afford them? Where’s the book now button?” Paul’s 3 Quick Wins for Better Instagram Performance Before wrapping up, Paul shared three specific, actionable tactics that every host can implement today to improve their Instagram strategy: 1. Optimize your Instagram name fieldThe name field (that bold line right under your profile photo) is keyword gold. It’s one of the first things Instagram’s algorithm scans when users search. Instead of repeating your handle, use keywords your guests are likely searching—like “Smoky Mountain Cabin” or “Pet Friendly Rental Lake Tahoe.” It’s simple SEO that most people miss. 2. Always post in 4:5 portrait formatTall images (1080×1350) take up more screen space, helping your content stand out in the feed. Square or horizontal content gives away real estate to other posts—and can reduce visibility. For reels and feed posts alike, fill the screen. 3. Don’t stress about trends. Focus on fundamentals.Forget the trending audios and the perfect posting time. Instead, get clear on who your ideal guest is, what they care about, and how you can communicate that consistently. Nail the basics. Everything else is just noise. “If you haven’t got the fundamentals down, you’re literally doing the proverbial in the wind and hoping something sticks. It’s a complete waste of time.” These aren’t hacks—they’re habits. And they compound when practiced consistently. Want to Go Deeper with Paul? Paul’s coaching program, Instabooked, is packed with practical tools for hosts who want to stop posting aimlessly and start building momentum. It’s not a content template library or a done-for-you service. It’s a system you can own—built from trial, error, and a whole lot of spreadsheets. And Paul is offering 30% off Instabooked exclusively for our listeners and subscribers.🎁 Use code CRAFTED at checkout:👉 thesocialmediahotelier.com/instabooked Rapid Fire with Paul Anderson As always, we wrapped up the episode with a few quick questions: 📚 One book everyone should read?Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh (for laughs), and Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller (for clarity). ⚡️ One piece of tactical advice to take action on today? Connect with Paul Want to reach out or follow along with Paul’s latest content? Final Thoughts This episode wasn’t about hacks or algorithms. It was about getting back to the fundamentals—knowing your guest, telling your story well, and building trust at every touchpoint. And if you’re looking to build a website that reflects those same principles—clear messaging, fast performance, mobile-optimized for bookings—our team at CraftedStays is here to help. We believe great hosting deserves a great online presence.🧡 craftedstays.com Transcript Paul: And so the journey from the piece of content to the profile and onto the website need that, that slide as such needs to be as smooth as possible. Link clicks is a proportion of profile visits, is the holy grail. There is no target for that. What we want is everyone who visits our profile to hit the link in bio and come off the platform, see our beautiful website, and essentially within the hope that they would have only three questions. Paul: Does this host have vacancies? When I want to travel, can I afford them? And where is the book now button? Gil: Hey folks. Welcome back to direct booking simplified, where we break down the strategies and tactics to win in direct bookings on today’s show. I have Paul Anderson, Paul, welcome to the show. Gil: Yeah, Paul: spoke last time. Very, very excited to share direct booking tips with your Gil: yeah. I’m, I’m glad to see the, the orange beanie again, uh, the very on brand. Paul: Yeah, it’s also very, very cold here, so it is keeping my head warm at the moment. The United Kingdom is kind of frosty and snowy and floody at the minute, so yeah. Gil: Do you, uh, do you wear the beanie in the summers as well too? Paul: Ordinarily, no. So, the beanie was bought, um, when My firstborn was very, very young and we lost him very briefly in a crowd. And I’m sure as most parents would remember, if you lose a child, even for five seconds, it feels like an hour. Totally freaked out. Um, and so I thought, well, what

In our latest Booked Solid podcast episode, we sat down with Zachary Humphrey, a registered nurse who turned his passion for real estate into a thriving short-term rental business. Zach isn’t just any investor—he’s built his portfolio from the ground up, balancing a demanding W2 job with his growing STR empire, and learning some hard but valuable lessons along the way. From rental arbitrage to ground-up A-frame construction in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, Zach’s journey is packed with insights—especially when it comes to why direct bookings are the key to long-term success. Summary & Highlights The Airbnb Nightmare That Changed Everything At first, Zach followed the standard STR playbook, listing his properties on Airbnb and VRBO. But a Thanksgiving weekend disaster made him rethink his approach. A guest violated house rules, caused property damage, then falsely reported a gas leak—leading Airbnb to suspend his listing for three days. Not only did he lose thousands in peak-season revenue, but he also had to fight to clear his name. “I don’t have control over this like I think I do. If I had a direct booking site, I could have handled the situation myself without relying on Airbnb.” That’s when Zach realized that depending on OTAs meant giving up control. Since then, he’s prioritized building his own booking channel, collecting guest emails, and taking ownership of his STR business. Direct Bookings = Higher Profits + Better Guests One of Zach’s biggest takeaways? Direct bookings don’t just save hosts money—they attract better guests. As a travel nurse, Zach himself books short-term stays every week. His experience taught him that frequent travelers prefer to book direct, skipping platform fees while still enjoying a trusted experience. “If we’re doing this to make money, then direct booking is the way to go. Guests feel like they’re saving money while, in reality, I’m making more by bypassing platform fees.” This insight shaped Zach’s direct booking strategy: By controlling the guest relationship, Zach ensures more repeat bookings, fewer platform headaches, and higher profit margins. Rebuilding After a $100,000 Loss Zach’s path to success hasn’t been easy. In fact, his biggest learning moment came from a devastating $100K loss on his first A-frame build in Red River Gorge. After trusting the wrong contractor, he found himself entangled in a fraud case with zero recourse to recover his money. Instead of giving up, Zach pivoted. He doubled down on building better partnerships, thoroughly vetting contractors, and diversifying his revenue streams through flips and joint ventures. His story is a raw, real reminder that setbacks are inevitable—but resilience separates successful investors from the rest. Rapid Fire Questions with Zach To wrap up the episode, we put Zach through our signature Rapid Fire Round. Here’s what he had to say: 1. What’s one piece of mindset advice for someone starting something new? “Know who you are first. Your investments shouldn’t define you. Money and real estate are temporary—don’t let them consume your identity.” 2. Any books that have shaped your investment philosophy? “Fake by Robert Kiyosaki. It opened my eyes to how the system is rigged and why you need to take control of your own financial future.” 3. What’s your #1 tip for hosts looking to start or grow their direct bookings? “Don’t overthink it. Start by capturing guest emails with StayFi. Once you have that list, marketing to them is easier than you think.” Listen to the Full Episode Zach’s journey is one of resilience, smart investing, and taking control of your business. Whether you’re an experienced host or just getting started, this episode is full of valuable lessons to help you maximize profits and minimize platform dependency. 🎧 [Listen to the full episode of Booked Solid here] . And if you’re ready to build a direct booking strategy that works, join our CraftedStays community—where top operators share insights, strategies, and tools to help you scale. And if you’re looking for an easier way to build a high-converting direct booking website, check out CraftedStays—the platform built for STR hosts who are serious about owning their bookings. 🔗 [Learn More About CraftedStays Here Follow Zach’s Journey Transcription Zachary: And I also make more profit margin when you book direct. And so that’s what I do. If we’re doing this to make money, then direct booking is the way to go. And it also benefits and incentivizes your future guests or guests you have now, if you know how to approach that correctly to save money too, in their minds, they’re saving money while you as the host are actually making more money by going on a direct booking platform. And when I use Airbnb every week as a travel nurse, I have to go direct booking because I cannot afford all those fees all year long. When you’re really using Airbnb frequently, and guests that are well affiliated with Airbnb, and usually, or short term rental stays, those are usually good guests. They want to book direct, so booking direct also can tend to bring you, I think, a better guest quality, because these people are more savvy. They’re looking for that stay. They’re familiar with short term rentals. Of course, our presentation of that’s got to be a decently good looking website. They’ve got to have confidence when they’re looking at your website. And things like that, things have to flow to give them that confidence that Airbnb gives as a multi billion dollar industry. Hey folks, welcome back to book solid the podcast where top operators share their strategies to help you maximize your bookings, scale your revenue and stay ahead of your short term rentals on today’s show. I have Zachary Humphrey. He’s a W2 nurse in his day job and has done multiple investment strategies. He’s actually going to walk us through a few different learnings that he’s done. I’ve actually really enjoyed the show because we had a chance to talk through what he’s gone through, through his investing journey. He’s done everything from arbitrage. To new ground developments, fix and flips, and all the different things that he’s learned along the way. And I just really love the way that he’s approached it. The mindset, some of the challenges, you’ll be

“Most people never let a goal become an obsession. They have an idea, it becomes a want, and when the first plan doesn’t work, they abandon it instead of adjusting the plan.” Emanuele Pani, known as “E” in the short-term rental community, is the co-host of the STR Secrets Podcast and a coach specializing in co-hosting and boutique hotels. He shared how shifting his mindset allowed him to build a highly successful direct booking strategy. While many hosts rely on Airbnb and other OTAs, E emphasized that true financial freedom comes from owning your own booking channels. The key? Building long-term relationships and serving others first. His philosophy? Your mindset dictates your success, and achieving financial growth starts with internal transformation. Summary and Highlights Why Most Hosts Struggle with Direct Bookings Many hosts fail to scale their direct booking efforts because they get stuck in cycles of hesitation, fear, and inconsistency. The biggest challenges include: Fixing the Direct Booking Struggle: Mindset, Strategy & Execution 1. The Power of Obsession Hosts who win at direct bookings don’t just try—they commit fully. Our guest emphasizes that obsession is the fuel that drives success. The most successful hosts are relentless in testing, iterating, and learning. They don’t let setbacks define them; they adjust and push forward. Takeaway: Stop treating direct bookings as an optional side project. Make it your primary focus, refine your approach, and stay committed. 2. Build Strong Partnerships One game-changing strategy is partnering with real estate agents and local businesses. Agents have a constant stream of clients needing temporary stays—buyers waiting for a home, sellers in transition, or investors exploring the market. Takeaway: Develop relationships with real estate professionals and position your rentals as their go-to solution for housing needs. 3. Set Higher Standards for Your Business Many hosts settle for whatever bookings come their way, rather than actively shaping their guest pipeline. The key is setting standards: “People get stuck because they set a goal, hit an obstacle, and then change the goal instead of adjusting the plan.” Takeaway: If you want to see different results, you need to change how you think, act, and set expectations for your business. 4. Consistency Wins—Automation & Marketing Matter Direct bookings don’t happen overnight. A clear, repeatable strategy is necessary. Takeaway: Treat direct bookings like a long-term investment. Small, consistent actions compound over time. Ready to Elevate Your Direct Bookings? 🚀 CraftedStays—the all-in-one direct booking platform built for professional hosts. Create a high-converting website, optimize for SEO, and leverage automation to maximize revenue. Follow E Here ⤵️ Transcription E: The biggest epidemic we have as a country is we don’t know how to make decisions, right? We have an idea, the idea becomes a want, the want becomes a goal, but then the moment the goal doesn’t go to plan, instead of going to plan B but still pursuing the same goal, we go back to idea, and we go back to want, and then we go into a new goal. E: And so we never let a goal become an obsession. Every time anybody that has listened to this, and it’s true for me, it’s probably true for you as well, anytime I’ve become obsessed with anything, I have it. Gil: Hey folks on today’s show. I have Emanuele Pani. You might know of him from the STR secrets podcast. I had a chance to be on his show a little while ago and I had a blast talking to him and I’m finding out that he’s actually pretty deep in the mindset game. Um, and he’s attributed a lot of his own personal growth and the growth of a lot of his mentees really around mindset. Gil: So I’m thrilled to bring him onto the show. This is a dense show. It’s a bit different than some of the other episodes that we’ve had on our show, but. I’ve actually quite enjoy it because at least for me, I’ve grew a lot through the years through really tuning in and understanding my mindset. So I thought it was super important for, uh, E to join the show and really talk about how he thinks about things, how he coaches folks through mindset, why he thinks it’s important in the first place. Gil: So without further ado, let’s bring him on. E: Yeah, man. Thank you so much for having me on. It’s been, uh, it’s been a long time coming. And I remember having a blast when you came on our show. And so I’m super excited to, uh, be here with your people now. Gil: Yeah, I’ve been wanting you on my show for a little while now. It’s been hard to get time on your busy calendar. Um, but I’m glad you’re here. Um, one of the main reasons and we’ll, we’ll get into this, but like I, out of like the space, I think there’s, there’s a lot of folks more recently that Is being aware of your mindset and how, how much of a contribution that has towards your growth. Gil: So definitely want to kind of dive into that deeper into the show. And I know you’ve done quite well on the direct booking side. So for you to share some of those as well too, but maybe to kick us off, I’m sure a lot of folks may have heard your voice before, maybe they’re thinking, did they log onto the wrong podcast, but do you mind giving a brief introduction to who you are? E: Yeah, I would love that. So my name is Emanuele Pani. I go by E. I was born and raised in Sardinia, Italy, but I’ve been in the States now for the better part of the last 15, 16 years. And the short term rental community knows me as the co host of the STR secret podcast. And I also have the honor and privilege of being one of the coaches within our community STR secret. E: Uh, we coach people on co hosting and we coach people on boutique