In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Isaac French, founder of the iconic Live Oak Lake, to discuss how he built a unique hospitality experience that caught the attention of guests and influencers alike. From design tips to marketing strategies, Isaac shares actionable advice for anyone looking to turn their property into a must-book destination. Summary & Highlights We break down the key lessons from Isaac’s journey and share simple, actionable advice that anyone new to the hospitality industry can use to succeed. 1. Start with a Unique Experience Isaac’s first piece of advice is simple but powerful: the key to standing out is creating a truly unique experience.When Isaac started building Live Oak Lake, he didn’t just want to create another vacation rental. He wanted to create a place that guests would remember forever—a place that felt special and different from anything they’d ever experienced. For Isaac, the focus was on designing a memorable experience. He made sure every detail—from the decor to the activities available—was carefully thought out to make the property stand out. The takeaway? If you’re starting in hospitality, think about how you can make your property unique. What can you offer that other places can’t? Whether it’s the design, the location, or special activities, make sure your guests feel like they’re getting something special. 2. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment Isaac didn’t have formal marketing training, but he made up for it by being willing to try new things. Instead of following the same old marketing strategies, he took a bold, experimental approach. This included using tools and strategies that were common in other industries, like pop-up forms on websites to collect emails, and remarketing ads to stay in front of potential guests. Isaac says that his curiosity and willingness to experiment helped him discover what worked for his business. He learned from other industries, like e-commerce, and adapted those strategies to the hospitality world. If you’re new to marketing your property, don’t be afraid to try different things. Use your website, social media, and email marketing in creative ways. Test what works for you, and learn from your results. 3. Tell a Story and Build a Community One of the things that helped Isaac’s property grow was his ability to share his story on social media. People love following the process of building something new, and Isaac shared everything—his design choices, challenges, and wins—along the way. This built a loyal following even before the property was open for bookings. Isaac also used storytelling to connect with potential guests. He shared the unique aspects of his property and the vision behind it, making people feel like they were part of something special. If you’re starting a new hospitality business, think about how you can tell your story. Share the process of building your property, talk about why it’s different, and connect with people on social media. People love to follow along and support businesses they believe in. 4. Passion and Dedication Will Drive Your Success Isaac believes that one of the biggest keys to his success was his passion. He was genuinely excited about creating something special and making sure everything was perfect. He says that when you’re passionate about your business, it attracts people—whether that’s guests, investors, or collaborators. Isaac shared two key quotes that drive his mindset: Passion is contagious. If you’re excited and dedicated to your property, it will show in everything you do—and that will help you attract guests and grow your business. 5. Don’t Be Afraid to Change Course if Needed Sometimes, the best way to improve your business is to be willing to make changes. Isaac stressed that it’s important to regularly assess your property and business. If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to pivot or even start over. Sometimes, the best opportunities come from reimagining your property or business model. Isaac mentioned that he could have chosen to scale his business quickly, but he took his time, refining the experience before moving forward. He encourages entrepreneurs to evaluate their businesses honestly and be open to making changes if needed. If you’re just starting, it’s okay if things aren’t perfect from the beginning. Be willing to make adjustments as you learn what works best for your guests. 6. The Future of Hospitality Is About Experiences Isaac believes that the future of hospitality is all about offering unique, memorable experiences. People are moving away from traditional luxury hotels and looking for places that offer something different—whether that’s a beautiful design, a cool location, or fun activities. Isaac believes this trend is just beginning, and there’s huge potential for businesses that can offer unique stays. If you’re just starting out, think about how you can create an experience that stands out. Focus on the experience your guests will have, not just the place they’re staying. This could mean designing a unique space, offering personalized services, or creating an unforgettable atmosphere. Key Takeaways for Beginners in Hospitality Isaac’s story proves that when you combine passion, creativity, and a focus on unique experiences, you can turn your ideas into something truly special. Want to learn more from Isaac? Transcript Isaac: The way you do one thing is the way you do everything. And so you really have to care, and you have to pursue excellence, and that’s part of like going back to that initial vision of like every single detail, every single aspect of this, even the parts people aren’t going to see matter. And if you have that attitude, that will put you in very good stead to create something that truly is word of mouth worthy and one of a kind. Isaac: And then, Number two, there’s this great quote by this gentleman named John Wesley, who was like an English preacher 300 years ago, but I just love this quote. He said, light yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles around to watch you burn. So I feel like you have to be energetic. You have to have like, believe in whatever you’re going to do. Isaac: And then you will become a magnet. When you have that dream that turns into a conviction,

In this episode of Direct Booking Simplified, we discuss Niche Marketing Strategies for Short-Term Rental Hosts with marketing expert Nihal Salah. Together, we brainstorm how to elevate your property by targeting specific guest segments, from dog lovers, digital nomads, unique guest needs, and personalized experiences. Key Takeaways In a recent podcast episode, we spoke with Nihal Salah, a seasoned marketer with experience across various industries including short-term vacation rentals. The discussion focused on the power of niche marketing for STR hosts. Key Takeaways: The top advice from Nihal was to consistently talk to your guests – through reviews, data, and direct conversations – to deeply understand their needs and adapt your property and marketing accordingly. Embracing discomfort and a “get to” vs “have to” mindset were also highlighted as key mindset shifts. Overall, the episode provided a compelling case for short-term rental hosts to identify and cater to a specific niche, rather than trying to be everything to everyone. Careful segmentation and personalization can lead to outsized results. Connect with Nihal here: Transcript Nihal: I think good marketing is simple. The principles are the same. The principles are almost timeless. So I know everyone’s talking a lot about AI and stuff with marketing content. And, but when you start looking at the principles of solid marketing, They are the same across industries. It’s about understanding who your best audience is to serve, how you articulate what you offer your value proposition, how we articulate what you do in the most clear and succinct way to that audience and what channels you use to reach them. You do all, you do those three things and you know your audience really well and you build a strong brand around all of that. That’s marketing. It’s not complicated. Gil: Hey folks, welcome back to direct booking simplified on today’s show. I have Nihal. Nihal, welcome to the show. Nihal: Thank you for having me. Gil: Yeah. Do you mind giving folks a quick introduction on yourself first, before we get started? Nihal: Sure. Um, well, let’s start at the very beginning. Um, I’m half Egyptian, half English. Um, I live between Spain and, uh, Wales in the UK. Um, and I am a marketer by trade. I have been doing marketing for, um, For about 17 years now, across a number of different sectors, and I’ve worked with organizations all the way from Fortune 500 to tiny early stage startups, so, and everything in between and across the A number of sectors, um, from education technology, learning technology, blockchain, um, cybersecurity, did auction tech once, which was incredibly boring. And I recently fell into the wonderful world of short term vacation rentals, which I absolutely love. And at the moment I work with a payment processing company called Yapstone, um, who specialize in payment processing for short term vacation rent. Gil: And yep. So it has different variations depending on kind of where you live. Right. So we might not be familiar with the app stone parent company. What’s the two subsidiaries. Nihal: We’ve got vacation rent payment in the U S. And we have holiday rent payment in the UK and Europe so that yeah different products because finance is so regulated lots of compliance and stuff so you need to make sure that you’re adhering to all of the rules and regulations in each of the markets. Gil: Yeah. What was your, um, your first experience in, in short term rentals? Like how did you Nihal: Um, like everyone I speak to in this industry by accident, I’ve not spoken to anyone who intended to come into short term rentals. And so when I, I was speaking to said something to me that made me laugh, he’s like, no one grows up thing saying, Oh, when I grew up, I want to be a property manager. I’m like, that’s a good point. But, um, I have a friend who I’ve worked with before who started working with, Um, And he reached out to me and said, I need some help with product and content marketing, would you be interested in, in joining me? And I said, you know what? I know nothing about short term rentals from, um, from the business side. I know a lot from the guest side, because I probably stay at about 15. Short term rentals a year because I travel a lot. Um, so yes, let’s do it. And here we are. Gil: Yeah. Yeah. And from what I hear, and this is probably across many different industries and like verticals, but the marketing that you put into. Short term rentals is not all that different than possibly other industries. There’s a lot of the same foundational pieces. Would you agree with that? Nihal: I completely agree with that. I think good marketing is simple. The principles are the same. The principles are almost timeless. Um, so I know everyone’s talking a lot about AI and stuff with, with marketing content and, but when you start looking at the principles of solid marketing, They are the same across industries. It’s about understanding, you know, who, who your best audience is to serve, you know, how, how you articulate what you offer your value proposition, how we articulate what you do in the most. Clear and succinct way to that audience and what channels you use to reach them. You do all, you do those three things and you know your audience really well and you, and you build a strong brand around all of that. That’s marketing. It’s not, it’s not complicated. It’s simple. It’s difficult. Um, So yeah, Gil: Yeah. Yeah. And you have, um, you have a specific passion or a passion topic that you’d like to talk about specifically within short term rentals around niche marketing. Can you tell folks a little bit more about what is niche marketing to begin with? Silence. Nihal: you will, you, I guarantee you, and if you

Marketing expert Scott Quesnell shares his data-driven frameworks for supercharging your online presence and booking conversions. Let’s discover Scott’s strategies on how to leverage powerful tools like Google Analytics and SEM Rush to uncover insights about your customers, systematically test and optimize your marketing tactics, and build a flywheel of sustainable growth. Whether it’s fine-tuning your website content, refining your Facebook ad creatives, or mastering local SEO, Scott’s actionable strategies will give you a serious competitive edge. If you’re ready to start outsmarting the competition and taking your direct booking game to new heights, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Highlights and Summary In the competitive short-term rental market, being visible online is essential to attract guests. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is key to improving your property’s online presence, helping your website appear higher in search results and meet what users are looking for. This guide outlines important SEO strategies specifically for short-term rental operators, focusing on a data-driven and customer-focused approach to marketing. Highlights: Summary: This guide provides essential SEO strategies for short-term rental operators to improve their websites and content for search engines. It focuses on three main areas: This approach helps drive growth and engagement in the short-term rental industry. Follow Scott Here Transcription Scott: SEO is marketing where you tailor your website to what people are searching for. So when people are searching for websites like yours, they are using specific terms. And the job of someone who’s doing SEO is to put those specific terms and language And answers to the questions that people are looking for on their website. So you can tell Google, Hey, this is a one stop shop for anybody who is looking for websites like me. And then if Google likes that, they will give it to the people looking for you. And that’s kind of the, the flywheel of SEO is just consistently figuring out what people, what terms people use to find companies like yours, optimizing your website to Rank for those terms. And then just making sure that you’re making that content better, answering all the questions that might come up and have something for every type of searcher that uses those terms. Gil: Hey folks, welcome back to direct booking simplified. We break down the strategies and tactics to win in direct bookings. On today’s show, I have Scott Quesnell. Scott, welcome to the show. Scott: Thanks for having me, Gil. Gil: Yeah. You’re one of the few folks I know in our space specifically that knows. So I’m really happy to have you on the show. I know a lot of folks kind of outside of our industry, but there’s not a lot of folks kind of within the industry that is, uh, well versed in this topic, um, to kind of kick us off, do you mind kind of giving an introduction to our listeners? Silence. Scott: um, talking to other Airbnb owners, like just trying to figure out what the day in the life is like for them, uh, specifically around the financial operations and marketing aspect of things. But then once we started talking about marketing, I Started to realize that they, they were a little confused on the topic, you know, so financials, they didn’t give away that much because they’re just like, who’s this random guy asking, like, to see how much money I make operations. They, they all had it nailed down on their operations, but marketing, I sort of realized that there was, um, a need for knowledge in the space. And so this year in January, I started the STRLF newsletter, and it’s a newsletter, uh, that talks, that gives away marketing tactics, tips that I’ve learned in my marketing career. For short term rental house, hotel, uh, hotel owners and property managers. Um, and ever since I started that, I, it’s been growing really well. I’ve been able to talk to even more short term rental entrepreneurs and really understand where their biggest pain points are in marketing. So that someday soon I’ll be able to, uh, solve that with some sort of service. Gil: Nice. Nice. And you’re getting into hosting yourself as well, too. Is that right? Scott: That’s right. So that that’s kind of what kicked off my my whole Airbnb tour campaign that I did Because I just wanted to learn like, you know What are the permits and like what are all the legal stuff I have to worry about but then my marketing brain automatically went to Asking them questions about that and realize that there’s actually a need in the marketplace and something that I could, I could easily solve. Gil: Yeah. Yeah. Do you feel that our space is much different from a tactical or even strategic level than other industries that you have done marketing for? Scott: Uh, the only difference I would say, I guess there’s, there’s two differences. So one is, you know, all short term rentals, they’re local. So they’re in a specific location and, you know, More times than not, they attract people from that surrounding area. So that’s one difference, um, that I’ve, that I’ve seen because in my last agency, I worked with a lot of companies that would service the entire U S so their market was specific age groups or like interests versus where they actually live. And then the second one is when you. Advertise for a short term rental. It’s not like if you were selling soap or something to where it’s an impulse buy, there’s a lot of people that will see your ad and not do anything. And then come back days, weeks, months later and book, but it’s hard to attribute that when you start to advertise. And so I think that discourages a lot of short term rental entrepreneurs when they start to advertise because they think, oh, my ads aren’t working. But in reality, The ads are solving the problem

” Making A Difference, One Stay at a Time! “ In this episode of Direct Booking Simplified, we sit down with Debbie Todd, a Hospitable Host and a STR Impact Expert who’s redefining success in the industry. Discover how Debbie transformed her family getaway into a thriving business that gives back to the community. From involving her kids in operations to donating 5% of each booking to charity, Debbie shares her unique approach to creating a purpose-driven vacation home rental. Learn about her transition to self-management, marketing strategies, and the tools she uses for success. Debbie also reveals how her giving-back model has become a powerful branding tool that sets her properties apart from others Summary & Highlights Debbie’s approach to vacation rental management is a powerful blend of business savvy, community focus, and personal development. Here’s a concise overview of her strategies: Meet Debbie Todd: She is a mother of three, a physical therapist, and a Hospitable Host with a passion for giving back. She began her mission to make a difference through her rental properties in 2021 and expanded her efforts to the local community by launching Hocking Hills Gives Back in July campaign. Involving her children, guests, and community, Debbie’s initiative has raised nearly $53,000 and their volunteer hours continue to grow.  She has also partnered with Hospitable Hosts to create the Hospitable Hosts Impact Community, aiming for a greater global impact. Her dedication is unwavering: to make a difference, one stay at a time. Purpose-Driven Business:Debbie’s vacation rental journey began as a family getaway and evolved into a purpose-driven enterprise. Her clear “why” guides business decisions and creates a meaningful foundation for operations. Continuous Learning and Adaptation:Embracing a growth mindset, Debbie consistently learns and adapts to industry changes. This approach allows her to improve operations and stay ahead in the competitive vacation rental market. Family Involvement:By integrating her children into various aspects of the business, Debbie provides them with valuable life lessons and a sense of ownership. This family involvement strengthens both the business and family bonds. Giving Back:Central to Debbie’s business model is a commitment to giving back. By donating 5% of each stay to charities and involving guests in the process, she creates a unique and impactful vacation experience. Unique Branding:Debbie’s focus on social responsibility and community impact sets her rentals apart. This unique branding attracts like-minded guests and creates a strong, positive reputation in the market. Expanding Influence:Through the Hospitable Host impact community, Debbie is spreading her giving-back model to other hosts. This initiative amplifies her impact and inspires industry-wide change. Operational Excellence:Utilizing tools like Hostfully, PriceLabs, and StayFi, Debbie ensures efficient management of her properties. This tech-savvy approach optimizes operations and enhances guest experiences. Strong Guest Communication:Debbie prioritizes consistent, automated communication throughout the guest journey. This approach improves guest satisfaction and helps build lasting relationships with customers. Multi-Faceted Marketing:Leveraging social media, blogging, and newsletters, Debbie engages her audience and shares her journey. This comprehensive marketing strategy builds brand awareness and fosters community. Community Engagement:Initiatives like “Hocking Hills Gives Back” demonstrate Debbie’s commitment to local community involvement. These efforts strengthen ties with local tourism associations and enhance her business’s positive impact. Legacy Building:Debbie views her business as more than just a source of income. It’s a vehicle for imparting life lessons and creating a lasting, positive impact on future generations. Encouraging Action:By sharing her story and strategies, Debbie inspires other vacation rental owners to incorporate giving back into their businesses. This call to action has the potential to transform the industry. Through these strategies, Debbie demonstrates how vacation rental owners can achieve success while aligning their businesses with personal values and benefiting their communities. Learn More From Debbie Here: Transcription Gil: What’s that one piece of mindset advice that you would give to someone that’s starting something completely new?  Debbie: Why are you doing it? That is a huge, and there’s not a right or wrong answer to that, but I think, and it may change your answer may change and evolve over time, which is awesome. But I think it took us a little while for me to figure out why. And once I got a, why I’m like, Oh my goodness. Like it just made decisions easier. It made purchasing easier things that when they don’t go, right. I kind of go back to my why and say, all right, we can do this. But with that comes time. You got to sit and kind of soak in it a little bit of, you know, it’s not like, Oh, it’s my why. And let me move on. It’s something that you really want to like hone in on and think about, ask your, your family about it. Like, why are we doing this? You know, and get their input. I think that would be, yeah, that would be my biggest. 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 Debbie. Welcome to the show, Debbie.  Debbie: Hey there. Thanks for having me.  Gil: Yeah. It’s so good to have you on the show. I’m, I’m really excited. There’s, there’s so much to talk about. I always feel very happy when I have a conversation with you. So I was  Debbie: going to say the same thing about you.  Gil: I don’t know what, I don’t know what it is. You have absolutely one of the most, what’s that contagious energy? I would say in a good way, in a very good way. Um, I, yeah,  Debbie: I try. Yeah.  Gil: Yeah. Yeah. So maybe to kick things off to mind, giving folks a kind of an introduction on who you are. Debbie: Absolutely. Yes. My name is Debbie Todd. Um, I live in Columbus, Ohio with my husband and three kiddos. They’re 16, 15 and 12. So we are busy, busy, but it’s, it’s awesome. Um, we have two vacation rentals in Hocking Hills,

From having no real estate background, to scaling up and managing 22 properties in just two years. In this episode, we dive into the incredible and inspiring journey of Victor Solano, a short-term rental expert who built a thriving business from scratch. Summary & Highlights Victor Solano’s Journey to Success in Short-Term Rental Management Victor shares how he took calculated risks, invested in the right education, and learned to build powerful, trust-based partnerships with property owners. From overcoming financial pressures to leveraging upgrades that boosted revenues by thousands of dollars, he reveals the strategies that took his business to the next level Path to Success: Victor Solano’s journey into the short-term rental industry began in January 2022 with no real estate background. Determined to succeed, he invested in education through The Real System mentorship program, even maxing out a credit card to make it happen. Starting with co-hosting properties allowed him to gain experience without the upfront costs of ownership. Within two years, Victor had grown his portfolio from managing just two properties to 22, proving that with the right mindset and dedication, rapid growth is possible in the short-term rental business. Challenges & Mindset: The first year of Victor’s business was filled with challenges, including financial pressures and self-doubt. However, he leaned on the support of his family, especially his wife, and maintained a positive mindset to overcome these obstacles. Despite the uncertainty, Victor took calculated risks that ultimately helped push the business forward. His perseverance, paired with a strong belief in his abilities, helped him stay focused even when the future felt uncertain. Growth Strategies: Victor’s approach to growing his business revolves around building trust with property owners, whom he views as partners. This collaborative mindset has been key to his success. He also made strategic investments in property upgrades, like adding a jacuzzi and games, which significantly boosted his monthly revenue by $3,000. For his best-performing property, these upgrades helped increase its annual revenue from $80,000 to $125,000. His focus on quality over quantity in property selection and a strong emphasis on guest experience have helped fuel the growth of his business. Additionally, he built a team of experts to handle key areas such as pricing and listing optimization, further enhancing the performance of his portfolio. Direct Booking Strategy: One of Victor’s primary goals is to reduce reliance on online travel agencies (OTAs), and he’s making significant strides in that direction. Currently, around 20% of his bookings are direct, but he’s aiming to increase that to 50%. He plans to invest in a professional direct booking website to help achieve this. Direct bookings not only offer more control over pricing and customer relationships but also contribute to building his brand and reducing the business’s dependency on third-party platforms. Advice for Newcomers: Victor advises newcomers to the short-term rental industry to prioritize education and networking. He believes that ongoing learning and connecting with others in the field are essential for success. Additionally, taking calculated risks and investing in self-confidence are key components of building a strong foundation. Victor emphasizes that passion for the process and maintaining a positive mindset are vital in overcoming the inevitable challenges of growing a business. Future Plans: Looking ahead, Victor plans to explore opportunities in subleasing and property purchasing as he continues to scale his business. He’s focused on acquiring properties that are not just high in quantity, but are profit-generating, to ensure long-term growth. Another area of focus is further enhancing his direct booking strategy and continuing to build his brand, as these efforts are essential to achieving his broader business goals. Key Takeaways: Victor’s success can be attributed to a combination of education, calculated risks, and a strong support system. His focus on quality property management, trust-building with owners, and strategic investments in upgrades has fueled his growth. Above all, his story highlights the importance of adaptability, perseverance, and a growth mindset in achieving success in the competitive short-term rental market. Follow Victor on Instagram Transcription Gil: Hey folks, welcome back to direct booking simplified. We break down the strategies and tactics to win in direct bookings. On today’s show, I have Victor Solano. Victor, welcome to the show. Victor: so much for having me. Appreciate it. Gil: Yeah, it’s, it’s really good to have you on, uh, and kind of have you talk about your hosting journey and dig a little bit deeper into, uh, direct bookings, um, to kind of kick us off folks. Uh, do you mind giving folks a introduction on who you are? Victor: Yeah, of course. So my name is Victor Solano. I’m a local here in Southern California by the Los Angeles area. And we have a STR management business that has rentals, mostly in the Southern California area, also in a couple of other states. So we 100 percent focus on management of Airbnbs, church room rentals in this area. Uh, we have created a, significant portfolio in the past 2 years and have generated almost over a 1, 000, 000 in revenue for our partners. So, uh. It’s been a, it’s been a long and a hard journey that we have to kind of really work hard to get to this point. But, um, yeah, it’s we started about April of 2022 and then slowly started, uh. Networking and getting more partners up to over 22 properties that we have now that we’re managing and, you know, we offer full management service services to our partners. So excited to be on. Gil: Yeah. Talk to me about kind of the journey there. You mentioned like there was a long kind of hard road there. What was like some of the most challenging parts? I guess like what was it? I was the most challenging part of growing your coasting service. Victor: Just because there’s so much competition in the beginning, you know, I, I kind of started with no funding available to, moving to a purchase or like a sub strategy. So,