STR Design Trends for 2025: The Architect’s Guide to Building Guest-First Stays If you treat your STR like a true business, your design decisions need to support growth, guest retention, and premium positioning. Here’s how STR hosts should think about design heading into 2025: 🏨 From Cozy to Branded: STRs Must Feel Intentional Generic “cozy” designs no longer cut it. In 2025, guests expect branded environments—spaces that reflect a narrative and value proposition. This doesn’t mean more throw pillows; it means color continuity, lighting strategy, curated local touches, and custom signage. Tip: Define a 3-word brand aesthetic (e.g., “desert modern luxe”) and design every detail to reinforce it. 🔗 Related: From Staged to Soulful – Why Guest‑First Design Converts Better 🌳 Outdoor Design = Booking Leverage Outdoor space often has one of the highest ROIs in STRs. A fire pit, pergola, outdoor kitchen, or even just intentional lighting can extend usable square footage, increase average stay length, and drive more photos saved to guests’ wishlist folders. Example: A host in Arizona added a desert-friendly landscape design and boosted ADR by 17% over the next quarter. 🔗 Related: How to Use Email Funnels to Drive Repeat Stays 🛠️ Renovation Smarts: Balance Cost, Quality & Time The “Iron Triangle” concept helps STR hosts approach renovations with clarity. You can have it fast, good, or cheap—pick two. In 2025, knowing when to delay upgrades for better materials, or when to fast-track essentials for peak season, will separate strategic hosts from the rest. Pro Insight: Always do ROI modeling before demoing a wall—every renovation should tie back to a pricing or conversion goal. 📸 Designed to Convert: Why Your Photos Must Work Harder Your website is your sales funnel—and your design is the hook. STRs that win direct bookings in 2025 will use spatial design, staging, and lighting to generate scroll-stopping visuals. Hosts must think in both physical and digital layout terms. Quick Win: Use symmetrical layouts and warm lighting to increase photo appeal and reduce bounce rates. 🛋️ Comfort Isn’t Basic—It’s Strategic Good design must anticipate guest behaviors. That means investing in blackout curtains, movable desks, multiple mirror angles, and tech-friendly nightstands. These functional upgrades improve reviews, extend stays, and reduce churn. 🎯 Final Thought: Design Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Lever The most successful STR hosts in 2025 won’t be the ones with the trendiest tiles or flashiest themes. They’ll be the ones who understand design as a business multiplier—a tool to increase revenue, streamline operations, and craft a brand guests trust. Whether you’re refreshing your layout or mapping a $500K renovation, the key is to design with intention. Every square foot should work for your guests and your bottom line. Because in a market where direct booking brands are winning, great design isn’t the cherry on top—it’s the strategy underneath it all. 🚀 Ready to align your guest experience with your brand goals?Explore more insights and tools at CraftedStays.co—and start building a guest-first booking experience that converts.

Most hosts focus on getting booked once. Smart hosts build a system that brings guests back. Email marketing—done right—lets you stay top of mind, deliver value, and convert happy guests into loyal, repeat bookers. This guide shows you how to use simple but powerful email funnels to build guest relationships that last long after checkout. Build Trust First, Then ConvertBefore pitching a booking, offer your guests something genuinely helpful, like a seasonal travel calendar or local guide. This positions you as their go‑to local expert. For ways to confidently capture email addresses, see our tips on email capture best practices in Direct Booking Quadrant: Foundations for OTA Independence. Segment Like a ProTo tailor future emails, ask subscribers about their trip goals—family, romantic escape, or group adventure. For advice on crafting funnels that turn guests into repeat bookers, check out our deeper insights under Funnel Essentials in the same Direct Booking Quadrant post. Deliver Value Monthly (Not Just Discounts)Keep engagement high with monthly emails featuring local events, hidden gems, and insider tips—not just promotions. For inspiration on building trust through content, check our piece on building audience connection and relevance: Building a Brand Foundation with Steph Weber. Use Drip Sequences to Stay Top of MindAn automated sequence might look like this: These drip emails keep your place in subscribers’ minds, at no OTA cost. Offer Incentives Only When Timing Is RightOnce people trust you, dial in subtle calls-to-action like early booking discounts or loyalty bonuses sent via your email list—where it costs you nothing more. Track What Works and IterateMonitor open rates, click timing, and unsubscribe trends to improve your content. These analytics help you optimize your funnel over time—see how we apply this in our Funnel Essentials strategy overview. Conclusion & Call to Action:An email funnel isn’t just marketing—it’s your guest loyalty engine. Start by offering one strong lead magnet, segment your next 10 subscribers, and schedule one monthly value email. Want help getting started? 📩 Dive deeper into direct booking systems at CraftedStays.co. Plus, for podcast listeners, check out STR Insights founder Kenny Bedwell on our Booked Solid show—discover how he’s building funnels that drive loyalty one stay at a time.

In this article, we’re getting hyper-focused on that first commonality: STORY. When you’re speaking to travelers through your direct booking website, it’s prime real estate for story. This is the space where your STR’s full story can really breathe. The Shift from Surface to Substance The short-term rental world is full of well-staged homes—but are they memorable? Today’s evolving traveler doesn’t just want clean lines and water features. They want to feel something. In a saturated market, soul is the new strategy. At The Olive Jar, we help hosts move from showroom-style setups to emotionally resonant, brand-forward spaces that lead to glowing reviews, repeat bookings, and word-of-mouth magic. Let’s talk about why that works—and how to get there. We believe details that stay with guests forever have 3 things in common:STORY, NOVELTY, INTERACTION What Is a Story-Driven Vacation Rental? A story-driven rental is more than just stylish. It’s immersive, character-rich, and aligned with a clear brand identity. These properties feel like they have a personality—because they do. From the playlist to the pantry, every element supports a narrative. Story-driven design is less about perfection and more about presence. It reflects your values, your location, your purpose. And when guests feel that intention, they connect—and that connection converts. Why It Matters: Emotion Drives Loyalty Today’s traveler chooses with their heart first, wallet second. When a space resonates on a deeper level, it becomes more than just a stay—it becomes a story they want to live in and retell. Offering your travelers more than “just a stay” demonstrates your generous spirit as a host. Over here, we believe generosity is contagious—because it nurtures relationships. So what’s the organic return on your investment?Emotional resonance is a powerful review magnet. Guests don’t remember generic—they remember meaning. When you design for connection, your travelers feel more driven to reciprocate. They’re more likely to write about it, share it, and come back for more. Now What? Start with Branding: It’s Not Just for Big Business If you’re designing a vacation rental without a brand strategy, you’re skipping a crucial step. Your space is your product, and every product needs a point of view. Start with questions like: Your design, amenities, and media should speak directly to that guest. We’ve helped hosts transform their marketing just by aligning every element to their avatar’s desires and lifestyle. Then go deeper: The answers to these questions will give you clarity and direction to execute on details like: establishing tone of voice, designing your logo (if your ideal guest is attracted to that kind of thing), and crafting signature guest touchpoints. Compelling branding isn’t about big budgets—it’s about consistent storytelling that strikes a chord with your avatar across every visual and experiential layer of your stay. Design the Guest Journey Like a Story Think about the stay as a story arc: Arrival = Act I(Welcome moments, entryway impressions, scent, music) Immersion = Act II(Interactive design, curated amenities, fun & games, guided rituals) Departure = Act III(Thoughtful farewells, take-home gifts, memory markers) Even guest portal apps like StayFi, as we featured in our blog “Impress Every Guest With StayFi”, help you extend this story throughout their stay—creating a cycle of re-engagement and brand recognition. Tell the Full Story—Online A soulful brand deserves an equally intentional digital home. That’s where your direct booking site comes in. At CraftedStays, we believe your website shouldn’t just show your space—it should tell your story. It’s your stage to connect emotionally with future guests before they even arrive. From custom layouts to immersive imagery, we help you create a site that feels like an extension of your rental: personal, purpose-driven, and built to convert. Because a story-driven space with no story-driven website?That’s a missed opportunity. Ready to turn your brand into bookings?Visit CraftedStays.co to learn how we help hosts bring their vision to life. Make It Stick: Systemizing Your Story Experience Even the best design falls flat if the service doesn’t deliver. Soulful spaces must be supported by trained teams who know how to carry the brand ethos through every guest interaction. Train your cleaning and hospitality staff to be story-keepers—not just task-doers. Equip them with the language, gestures, and mindset to elevate the experience consistently. Final Thoughts: From Decor to Devotion Guest-first design isn’t just a trend—it’s the new standard for standout hosting. When you shift from staged to soulful, you move beyond aesthetics into lasting emotional value. Want help defining your story or designing an experience your guests will rave about?Let’s create something unforgettable—together.

If you’re marketing your short-term rentals through different channels—social media, email marketing, influencer partnerships—you need to know where your traffic (and bookings) are coming from. Simply running campaigns without tracking is like driving with your eyes closed. Why Traffic Tracking Matters Understanding your traffic sources lets you: Different Traffic Channels to Track Not sure how to actually set up UTM tracking for your campaigns?👉 Check out our step-by-step guide on using UTM parameters in Google Analytics The Role of Conversion Tracking Traffic is only part of the equation—you need to know which visits actually turn into bookings. Google Analytics lets you set up conversion events that track when someone: When you map these events back to their traffic sources, you get a clear picture of what’s working and what’s not. A Real-World Example Let’s say you run an email marketing campaign with a special offer for spring bookings. In Google Analytics, you see that your email campaign drove 200 visitors, but only 5 of them actually completed a booking. Meanwhile, your Facebook ad drove 150 visitors with 10 bookings. That’s data you can act on—you’d know to allocate more budget to Facebook and rethink your email strategy. Quick Tip: If you want to go a step further, you can create conversion events in Google Analytics to see when someone visits a property page or a checkout page. This way, you’re not just tracking traffic—you’re tracking actual bookings. Understanding where your bookings are coming from gives you control over your marketing budget. You can scale what’s working and cut what isn’t, making every marketing dollar count. Want to learn how to optimize your Google Analytics setup for direct bookings? Book a demo with CraftedStays to see how we help hosts fine-tune their marketing strategies.

Understanding UTMs – How to Track Your Marketing Efforts with Precision When you’re running multiple marketing campaigns—like social media ads, email blasts, and influencer promotions—it’s crucial to know which ones are actually driving traffic to your direct booking site. That’s where UTM parameters come into play. What Are UTM Parameters? UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) parameters are short snippets of code added to the end of a URL. They help you track the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns in Google Analytics by pinpointing exactly where your traffic is coming from. For example:https://yourdomain.com/property-page?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=spring_promo When someone clicks this link, Google Analytics records: How to Create UTM Links There are two main ways to build UTM links: Google Campaign URL Builder Best Practices for Using UTM Links Where to Use UTM Links Tracking Your UTMs in Google Analytics To see your UTM data, head to: With UTMs, you get a clear view of where your marketing dollars are making the most impact. This is the first step toward optimizing your marketing efforts and maximizing direct bookings. Want to know why all this tracking actually matters?👉 Read this: Why Tracking Traffic Sources is Critical for Your Short-Term Rental Marketing Strategy

For hosts in the short-term rental and vacation rental industry, securing direct bookings is the ultimate goal. Facebook retargeting ads can help you turn casual browsers into paying guests by reconnecting with people who’ve already shown interest in your rental property. These ads are a strategic way to build relationships and maximize your direct booking potential. This guide is designed to help short-term rental hosts and vacation rental operators use Facebook retargeting ads to drive more direct bookings and reduce dependency on online travel agencies (OTAs). What Are Facebook Retargeting Ads? Facebook retargeting ads allow you to show specific ads to people who have previously visited your direct booking website, interacted with your property on social media, or engaged with your content online. For example, if someone browsed your listing, checked availability, or read your blog about local attractions but didn’t book, you can use retargeting ads to remind them of what they’re missing. For vacation rental and short-term rental hosts, retargeting ads help you stay top-of-mind with potential guests and encourage them to return to your site to book directly. How Does Retargeting Work for Short-Term and Vacation Rentals? The foundation of Facebook retargeting is the Facebook Pixel—a piece of code you embed on your website. This pixel collects data on your website visitors, tracking actions like viewing your property page, starting a booking, or abandoning a cart. With this data, you can create highly targeted ads for specific audiences, such as: Why Retargeting Ads Are Perfect for Short-Term and Vacation Rentals Running retargeting ads is an effective way to: Important Note Before You Begin Not all website creators or property management system (PMS)-provided sites allow you to add a Facebook Pixel. Before starting this process, verify whether your website supports pixel integration. CraftedStays websites fully support adding Facebook Pixels, making it easy to track visitor behavior and optimize your ad campaigns. If you’re using a platform that doesn’t support this feature, consider switching to one that does to maximize your ability to run retargeting ads effectively. How to Set Up Retargeting Ads for Direct Bookings 1. Set Up the Facebook Pixel The Facebook Pixel is essential for tracking visitor behavior. If you’re using a platform like CraftedStays to host your direct booking site, the Pixel can be easily installed to track actions like property views, booking starts, and completions. Here’s how to set it up: Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up a Facebook Pixel 2. Create Custom Audiences Custom Audiences let you segment your potential guests based on their actions. For short-term rental hosts, here are some useful audience ideas: 3. Design Engaging Ads Your ad creative should reflect the unique selling points of your short-term rental. Showcase high-quality images or videos of your property and use compelling copy to entice guests. Some ideas for ads: Use clear calls-to-action (CTAs) like “Check Availability” or “Book Directly Today.” 4. Launch and Monitor Your Campaign Once your ads are set up, launch your campaign with specific objectives like “Website Conversions” or “Traffic.” Set your budget, choose your audience, and monitor your ad performance regularly. Track key metrics such as: Adjust your ads based on performance data—if a particular offer isn’t working, tweak the creative or messaging. Tips for Effective Retargeting Ads Resources to Get Started Drive More Direct Bookings with Retargeting Ads Facebook retargeting ads are a powerful way to re-engage potential guests and maximize your direct booking revenue. By combining smart tracking, engaging ad creative, and a personalized approach, you can turn website visitors into loyal guests—all while reducing reliance on OTAs. Ready to take your direct bookings to the next level? If you’re using a platform like CraftedStays, integrating the Facebook Pixel is seamless, making it easier than ever to track and target your audience. For more tips on optimizing your direct booking strategy, check out our other resources or book a demo to see how CraftedStays can help you succeed.

Backlinks are a key factor in improving your vacation rental website’s search engine ranking. They signal to Google that your site is credible and authoritative, helping drive more organic traffic and direct bookings. This guide covers: What Are Backlinks and Why Do They Matter? A backlink is a link from another website to yours. Search engines consider backlinks as votes of confidence—if reputable sites link to your page, it improves your site’s authority and ranking. More backlinks can lead to higher search rankings, more traffic, and ultimately, more direct bookings. Not all backlinks are equal. High-quality backlinks from authoritative websites are far more valuable than low-quality links from spammy or irrelevant sites. Types of Backlinks Strategies for Earning High-Quality Backlinks 1. Get Listed in Vacation Rental Directories Many industry directories allow vacation rental hosts to list their properties and websites. Some popular options include: 2. Guest Post on Industry Blogs Writing guest articles for blogs in the vacation rental and travel space is a great way to earn backlinks. Reach out to: 3. Partner with Local Businesses Build relationships with local restaurants, tour companies, and attractions. Ask them to link to your website in their ‘Recommended Stays’ section, and offer to do the same for them. 4. Leverage Social Media & Content Marketing 5. Get Featured in Travel & News Websites Pitch your property to travel writers, journalists, and bloggers who cover unique stays. Platforms like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) can connect you with journalists looking for sources. 6. Fix Broken Links on Industry Websites Find broken links on industry-related blogs and directories, then reach out to the site owners suggesting your website as a replacement. 7. Utilize Business Listings and Review Sites Claim and optimize profiles on: These sites often allow you to link back to your direct booking website, improving visibility and credibility. Next Steps Building backlinks takes time, but focusing on quality over quantity will lead to sustainable SEO growth and more direct bookings. Need help optimizing your direct booking website? Book a demo with CraftedStays today!

A well-crafted landing page can be the difference between a homeowner choosing your cohosting services or continuing to manage their property on their own. If you’re looking to attract more homeowners and grow your short-term rental management business, your landing page needs to be clear, compelling, and conversion-driven. Using the StoryBrand framework, we’ll walk you through the key elements of a powerful cohosting landing page that speaks directly to homeowners, builds trust, and encourages them to take action. 1. Identify Your Ideal Homeowner (The Character) Every great story starts with a character. In this case, that character is the homeowner looking for a management solution. Ask Yourself: How to Implement This on Your Page: 2. Present the Problem (Why They Need Help) Homeowners visiting your page need to quickly recognize why they should hand over their property to a professional. Common Pain Points: How to Implement This on Your Page: 3. Position Yourself as the Guide (Why Choose You?) Now that you’ve shown you understand their problem, it’s time to prove you’re the best solution. Key Selling Points to Include: How to Implement This on Your Page: 4. Outline the Process (The Plan) Make it easy for homeowners to understand how your cohosting service works. A simple, structured plan removes uncertainty and encourages action. Sample 5-Step Process: How to Implement This on Your Page: 5. Create a Strong Call to Action (What’s the Next Step?) Your CTA should be clear, action-driven, and reduce hesitation. Examples of Effective CTAs: How to Implement This on Your Page: 6. Show the Transformation (What’s the Outcome?) Help homeowners envision how your service will improve their lives. Key Benefits to Highlight: How to Implement This on Your Page: CraftedStays: Powering Your Professional Cohosting Landing Page With CraftedStays, you can seamlessly create a professional landing page on the same site as your direct booking website. This means potential homeowners can see how you manage properties firsthand, boosting credibility and trust. Ready to take your cohosting business to the next level? Start building your management page with CraftedStays today!

Why AI Isn’t Giving You the Best Results (Yet) We’ve all done it—typed a quick prompt into ChatGPT, hit enter, and hoped for the best. But when the AI spits out something bland or way off the mark, it’s easy to assume the tool is the problem. The truth? It’s probably your prompt. AI tools work best when they have clear, detailed instructions to follow. If you’re using AI to help write blog posts, social media content, or guest communication, learning how to craft better prompts will save you time and frustration. But the secret isn’t just writing a better prompt—it’s giving yourself time to refine it before you even hit enter. Why You Should Stop Writing Prompts Directly in ChatGPT It’s tempting to type directly into ChatGPT and fire off a prompt as soon as you have an idea. But that approach often leads to weak results, making you spend more time tweaking and re-running prompts than necessary. A better approach? Write your prompts in a Google Doc or a notes app first. This simple shift forces you to: When you rush into writing a prompt, you risk starting off on the wrong foot—leading to a cycle of frustrating back-and-forth interactions with AI. Taking a few extra minutes to develop the prompt outside of ChatGPT reduces time wasted and improves the final content. The Google Doc Trick: A Simple Way to Get Better AI Results One of the easiest ways to improve your AI-generated content is to draft your prompt in a document first instead of typing directly into ChatGPT. Why? Think of it like writing an outline before a blog post. A little prep work leads to a smoother writing process. Instead of treating AI as an instant solution, treat it like a creative assistant. The better instructions you give, the better the output you’ll get—saving you time and effort in the long run. Better Prompts = Better Content = More Direct Bookings When you take the time to write better AI prompts, you get: But content alone isn’t enough. It’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to growing a direct booking business. A well-structured website that’s designed to convert visitors into guests plays an equally important role. That’s why at CraftedStays, we focus on making direct booking websites that work seamlessly alongside your marketing efforts. Whether you’re driving traffic with AI-generated content or optimizing guest messaging, having a site that’s built to convert ensures you’re making the most of those efforts. Want to see how a high-converting direct booking site can work for you? Explore CraftedStays Today

Creating a compelling landing page for your cohosting business can be overwhelming. You know you need to attract homeowners, showcase your expertise, and drive conversions—but where do you start? At CraftedStays, we’re always looking for ways to help hosts scale their business, and we’ve developed an AI-powered prompt that guides you through crafting a high-converting landing page using the StoryBrand framework. In this post, we’ll walk you through how to use this powerful tool, what to expect, and the potential pitfalls to be aware of when leveraging AI for landing page creation. Creating a compelling landing page for your cohosting business can be overwhelming. You know you need to attract homeowners, showcase your expertise, and drive conversions—but where do you start? At CraftedStays, we’re always looking for ways to help hosts scale their business, and we’ve developed an AI-powered prompt that guides you through crafting a high-converting landing page using the StoryBrand framework. In this post, we’ll walk you through how to use this powerful tool, what to expect, and the potential pitfalls to be aware of when leveraging AI for landing page creation. Why This Prompt Works Most cohosting landing pages fail because they are either too generic or too cluttered. The key to a great page is clarity—homeowners need to understand what you offer, why it benefits them, and how to take action. Our AI prompt ensures your messaging is: ✅ Customer-Centric – It shifts the focus from you to the homeowner’s needs and concerns.✅ Structured for Conversion – Follows the proven StoryBrand framework for a clear and compelling narrative.✅ SEO-Optimized – Ensures you naturally incorporate keywords that help your page rank on Google.✅ Easy to Implement – You answer the critical questions, and AI generates a polished, persuasive landing page. How to Use the AI Prompt to Create Your Cohosting Landing Page Step 1: Copy and Paste This Prompt into ChatGPT To generate a fully optimized landing page, start by copying and pasting the following prompt into ChatGPT: “I want to create a high-converting cohosting landing page using the StoryBrand framework. First, ask me a structured set of critical questions, categorized by each StoryBrand section, to shape clear, compelling, and conversion-driven messaging. Then, use my responses to generate the following: Once the first draft is generated, ask if I’d like any refinements or alternative versions of specific sections.” Step 2: Answer Key Questions About Your Business The first step is responding to a structured set of questions that uncover the essential details of your cohosting business. These questions guide AI in generating messaging that resonates with your target audience. 🔍 Questions You’ll Be Asked: 💡 Pro Tip: Take your time answering these! The more detailed and specific your responses, the stronger the final AI-generated copy will be. Step 3: AI Generates a Fully Written Landing Page Once you’ve provided your answers, the AI will use them to craft a structured landing page that includes: 📝 Headline & Subhead – A clear, benefit-driven statement that grabs attention.📌 Problem Statement – Why homeowners struggle with self-management and why they need a cohost.✅ Your Unique Value Proposition – What sets you apart from other property managers.🚀 Step-by-Step Plan – A simple breakdown of how easy it is to get started.🎯 Call to Action (CTA) – Encouraging homeowners to take the next step (book a consultation, get a revenue estimate, etc.).📈 Transformation Section – A before-and-after comparison of how their rental business improves with your help.📸 Imagery Suggestions – Recommended visuals to enhance credibility and engagement. Step 4: Optimize & Customize Your Page While AI can generate a solid foundation, human oversight is crucial. Here’s where you refine and tweak the content: 🔹 Ensure the tone fits your brand. AI is great at structuring copy, but small edits can make it feel more personal and aligned with your voice. 🔹 Fact-check the claims. AI pulls from your answers but may overgeneralize. Adjust any revenue claims, testimonials, or stats to match your real-world data. 🔹 Refine the CTA. AI can draft effective CTAs, but testing different wording or placement can help increase conversions. 🔹 Incorporate SEO. AI can include your core keywords, but you might want to fine-tune for search intent and add an SEO-friendly meta description. Caution: Where AI Can Go Wrong While AI is an incredible tool for accelerating the creation process, it’s not perfect. Here are some potential pitfalls: ⚠️ Generic or Overly Formal Language – AI might generate copy that feels too stiff or generic. Tweaking it to match your brand’s voice is key. ⚠️ Lack of Emotional Appeal – AI structures the logic well, but human stories and real emotions bring it to life. Add personal anecdotes or client testimonials where possible. ⚠️ Misaligned Targeting – If your responses are vague, AI may not fully capture your ideal audience. Be specific in answering the initial questions. ⚠️ Overuse of Buzzwords – AI sometimes leans into jargon like “cutting-edge” or “seamless solutions.” Replace fluff with real, concrete benefits. Final Thoughts: The Best of Both Worlds AI isn’t here to replace human marketers—it’s here to enhance what we do. By using this AI-powered StoryBrand prompt, you can: ✅ Speed up content creation without sacrificing quality.✅ Ensure clear and compelling messaging that speaks directly to homeowners.✅ Leverage data-driven storytelling to build trust and increase conversions. At CraftedStays, we’ve built our platform with hosts in mind. You can create and publish your cohosting landing page directly on the same site as your direct booking page, adding credibility when homeowners see how well you manage and market properties. 💡 Want to test it out? Try our AI-powered landing page generator today and elevate your cohosting business!