Why a Strong AI Prompt Matters When using AI to help draft content for your vacation rental blog, the quality of the output is only as good as the prompt you provide. AI isn’t a mind reader—it generates content based on the details you give it. If you’re vague, you’ll get generic results. If you provide context, structure, and clear instructions, you’ll get engaging, well-targeted content that resonates with your audience. A well-crafted prompt ensures that: Let’s break down an effective prompt structure and how to apply it to your vacation rental blog. The Key Components of a Strong AI Prompt 1. Context: Set the Scene Before asking AI to generate a blog, give it some background on who you are and what you’re trying to achieve. This ensures the AI tailors the writing to your business and audience. Example: “I run a short-term rental blog aimed at travelers looking for unique stays and travel tips.” This small addition instantly frames the content, so AI knows it’s writing for a travel audience, not just any generic topic. 2. Objective: What’s the Goal? Clearly define what you want the blog post to accomplish. Example: “I need an engaging blog post that helps travelers make the most of their stay and explore local attractions.” This guides AI to focus on useful information rather than a generic vacation rental sales pitch. 3. Specific Requirements: Fine-Tune the Details This is where you dial in exactly what you want. The more details you provide, the more targeted your AI-generated blog will be. Example: By specifying these elements, you make sure the blog is written in the right style and optimized for search engines. 4. Examples or References: Show, Don’t Just Tell If you want the content to match a particular style, point AI in the right direction by referencing blogs or publications you admire. Example: “Write in a style similar to travel blogs like Nomadic Matt or The Blonde Abroad.” This tells AI to adopt a storytelling, first-person approach, rather than something stiff or corporate. 5. Format: Guide the Structure A clear structure ensures your blog is easy to read and flows well. Instead of getting a long block of text, provide formatting instructions. Example: “Write in sections with clear headings. End with a call to action encouraging readers to book a stay or share their own experiences.” This keeps the post organized and drives reader engagement. Tailored AI Prompt for a Vacation Rental Blog Now that you understand the framework, here’s a ready-to-use prompt you can copy, tweak, and use: Prompt Template I run a short-term rental blog aimed at travelers looking for unique stays and travel tips. I need an engaging blog post that helps travelers make the most of their stay and explore local attractions. The target audience includes couples, families, and solo travelers. The tone should be friendly, informative, and inspiring. The post should be between 800-1,200 words and include local recommendations, travel tips, and a call to action. Optimize for SEO using keywords like ‘direct booking websites,’ ‘short-term rentals,’ and ‘vacation rentals.’ Write in a style similar to travel blogs like Nomadic Matt or The Blonde Abroad. Structure the post with clear headings and end with a call to action encouraging readers to book a stay or share their own experiences. Final Thoughts: Make AI Work for You AI is a powerful tool, but it needs clear direction to produce high-quality content. By using this structured approachto prompt writing, you’ll generate vacation rental blogs that are more engaging, well-organized, and SEO-friendly. And if you’re driving traffic to your vacation rental business, having a well-optimized direct booking website is key. CraftedStays helps property owners create high-converting websites that turn blog readers into paying guests. If you’re looking for a seamless way to showcase your rentals, we’ve got you covered. Want to see how your blog and booking site can work together? Check out CraftedStays today.

At CraftedStays, we’re always working to improve how short-term rental hosts get more direct bookings. Our latest update enhances the guest booking experience by replacing third-party booking widgets with a fully integrated booking system. While this update benefits OwnerRez users, it’s part of a larger effort to optimize direct bookings across multiple property management system (PMS) integrations. A Smarter Booking Flow We’ve removed the old OwnerRez booking widgets and built a custom booking component that blends seamlessly into your website. What This Means for You For OwnerRez Users: How to Enable the Update If you use OwnerRez, switching to the new system is quick and easy: Once enabled, the system automatically updates to provide a more streamlined booking flow. More Product Improvements Coming Soon This update is part of our ongoing mission to make CraftedStays the best direct booking website builder for vacation rental hosts. Some of our upcoming enhancements include: We’re committed to helping you increase direct bookings, reduce OTA dependency, and improve the guest experience. Turn on the new CraftedStays booking component today and start converting more visitors into booked guests!

Launching a direct booking site is a smart move for building a stronger business. You own the guest relationship, control your marketing, and keep more of your revenue. But if you’re serious about doing it right, you need to have a Property Management System (PMS) in place. A PMS isn’t just helpful. It’s essential for making sure your direct booking site runs smoothly, stays accurate, and gives guests a professional experience. What Goes Wrong Without a PMS? Skipping a PMS causes real problems that hurt your site’s performance: Incorrect Rates and AvailabilityGuests might see prices that are wrong or dates that are already booked. This leads to frustration, missed bookings, and support issues. Double BookingsWithout automatic calendar blocking, you risk getting booked on your site and on Airbnb or Vrbo at the same time. Double bookings damage your reputation fast. Messy PaymentsHandling payments manually means more risk of missed charges, poor tracking, and messy accounting. It’s harder to reconcile payments and easier to make costly mistakes. Outdated Property InformationIf you update your property details in one place but forget to update your direct site, guests might book based on old information — setting up disappointment before they even arrive. When your systems aren’t connected, mistakes happen. Mistakes cost you money, time, and trust. What a PMS Enables for Your Direct Booking Site If you want your direct booking site to perform the right way, a PMS provides the backbone: Accurate Rates and Availability Your PMS connects your calendar directly to your site. Guests see real-time pricing and availability without you needing to manually update anything. Calendar Syncing and Booking Protection Once a booking is made, the PMS blocks off those dates everywhere. You protect yourself from double bookings and avoid the scramble of moving guests around. Seamless Payment Collection With a PMS, payment processing is built-in. You collect payments securely, manage deposits, and easily track financials through your reporting tools. Dynamic Property Content Updates to your property — new photos, amenities, rules — can automatically push to your site. You avoid showing guests outdated or incorrect details. Extra Benefits That Help You Grow Some PMS platforms even help with: Tax RemittanceAutomating tax collection and filing. Guest Identity VerificationAdding a layer of protection before confirming bookings. Damage ProtectionOffering coverage options that safeguard your property and simplify claims. These features aren’t required to launch, but they can make managing direct bookings easier and safer long-term. Build Your Site on the Right Foundation If you’re thinking about building a direct booking site, make sure you start with the right structure. A PMS connects all the pieces so your site reflects your real-time availability, pricing, property details, and payment flow — without manual work or risk. At CraftedStays, we help hosts set up high-performing direct booking sites that work seamlessly with their PMS. If you need help getting started, book a call with our team. We’re ready to lend a hand.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is critical for increasing direct bookings and reducing reliance on OTAs. A well-optimized site ranks higher on Google, attracting more potential guests. There are three main types of SEO: Each plays a vital role in improving your website’s visibility. Let’s break them down with actionable steps. 1. On-Site SEO: Optimizing Your Website for Search On-site SEO involves making improvements directly on your website to enhance rankings and user experience. Key On-Site SEO Strategies: Action Step: Review your website’s key pages and optimize them with relevant keywords and structured formatting. 2. Off-Site SEO: Building Authority & Backlinks Off-site SEO focuses on increasing your website’s credibility and trustworthiness by earning links from other sites. Key Off-Site SEO Strategies: Action Step: Start a backlink-building strategy by identifying five industry websites where you can request a link or guest post feature. 3. Technical SEO: Optimizing Your Site for Search Engines Technical SEO ensures search engines can effectively crawl, index, and understand your website. Key Technical SEO Strategies: Action Step: Use tools like Google Search Console to identify and fix technical SEO issues on your site. Next Steps: Strengthening Your SEO Strategy To build a strong SEO foundation, explore these topics in future blog posts: A well-rounded SEO approach helps you attract more guests, increase bookings, and establish your website as a trusted resource in the vacation rental industry. Need help optimizing your direct booking site? Book a demo with CraftedStays today!

Email marketing is one of the most effective tools for driving direct bookings for short-term vacation rentals. In fact, email marketing boasts a staggering return on investment (ROI) of up to 4,200%, generating $42 for every $1 spent, according to a 2021 HubSpot report. For vacation rental owners, a well-executed email strategy can lead to significant increases in bookings and revenue by promoting exclusive offers and engaging past and prospective guests. As the short-term rental market continues to grow, leveraging email to nurture relationships and drive loyalty has never been more critical. Selecting the right email service provider for direct bookings is key to making the most of this powerful channel. Key Features to Consider in an Email Service Provider 1. Seamless Integration with Booking Systems Your email service provider for direct bookings should integrate effortlessly with your property management system (PMS), short-term rental website, and email capture channels like pop-ups and lead magnets. Integration enables you to automate data flow between systems, helping you personalize and automate emails based on real-time guest actions. 2. Event-Driven ESP Capabilities A strong email service provider for direct bookings should allow you to trigger emails based on specific guest actions. Whether it’s a booking confirmation, an abandoned inquiry, or a post-checkout thank-you, event-driven automation ensures guests receive timely, relevant messages. Example: Learn more about the difference between sequence emails and broadcast emails in our guide on Mastering Email Communications for Your Vacation Rental Business. 3. Segmentation for Better Engagement Successful email marketing for vacation rentals relies on segmentation. Your email service provider should let you group contacts by: Guest type (first-time vs. repeat guests) Properties they’ve stayed at Geographic location Travel preferences or behaviors 4. Compliance with Email Marketing Regulations Compliance is non-negotiable. Your ESP for direct bookings should handle global email regulations like GDPR, CAN-SPAM, and CCPA. Features to look for include: Automated opt-out management Consent tracking Easy implementation of subscription preferences 5. Reporting and Analytics for ESP Success Reporting tools are essential for measuring the performance of your email campaigns. Look for an email service provider for direct bookings that tracks open rates, click-through rates, and engagement metrics. Analytics help identify what works and what doesn’t in your campaigns, so you can refine your strategy to attract more bookings. 6. Broadcast vs. Sequence Emails Broadcast Emails: Great for promotions, newsletters, or announcements to all contacts. Sequence Emails (Drip Campaigns): Automate a series of emails, such as post-check-in reminders or upsell opportunities during their stay. Example: For strategic insights, explore our blog post on Unlocking the Power of Email Collection. 7. Scalability and Ease of Use As your portfolio of short-term vacation rentals grows, your email service provider should grow with you. Evaluate how easy it is to onboard new team members, expand email campaigns, and manage larger guest lists. Why It Matters for Short-Term Vacation Rentals Email marketing is a powerful way to drive direct bookings and reduce reliance on OTAs. By choosing an ESP with these features, you can enhance your marketing strategy, nurture relationships with guests, and grow your vacation rental business. Discover how CraftedStays integrates with leading ESPs to optimize your direct booking website and capture more leads. Book a demo today.

What is Facebook Retargeting? Facebook (Meta) retargeting allows you to show ads to people who have already visited your website. If a homeowner lands on your property management page but doesn’t take action, you can remind them with targeted ads to encourage them to inquire about your services. How Does Facebook Retargeting Work? How to Implement Facebook Retargeting on Your CraftedStays Site Step 1: Set Up the Meta Pixel Step 2: Create a Custom Audience Step 3: Launch a Retargeting Ad Campaign Take Action Now If you’re using CraftedStays, adding the Meta Pixel to your site is quick and easy. Retargeting helps you bring back homeowners who showed interest in your management services. Need help? Sign up for a CraftedStays account or book a call with our team to get started.

What Are Long-Tail Keywords? Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific search phrases that target niche audiences. Unlike broad keywords like “vacation rentals” or “Airbnb”, long-tail keywords include details that match what potential guests are searching for. Examples include: These keywords may have lower search volume, but they attract highly qualified traffic—people actively looking for what you offer. Why Long-Tail Keywords Work Better for Vacation Rental Hosts Big platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo dominate short-tail keywords. They spend millions optimizing for searches like “vacation rentals” or “short-term rentals”. Competing directly is nearly impossible. Long-tail keywords give you a way to rank higher in search results without spending a fortune. Here’s why they work: How to Use Long-Tail Keywords for Your Direct Booking Website To make the most of long-tail SEO, focus on: 1. Location-Based Keywords 2. Niche-Specific Keywords 3. Type of Stay Keywords 4. Content That Answers Guest Questions Google prioritizes helpful content. Create pages and blog posts that answer specific guest searches: 5. SEO-Optimized Direct Booking Website Your direct booking website should be optimized for long-tail searches. CraftedStays makes this easy with: Start Ranking for the Right Keywords Optimizing for long-tail SEO helps you attract more qualified guests and increase direct bookings. Instead of competing with big OTAs, you focus on guests actively looking for tools and strategies to enhance their direct booking success. Need help optimizing your direct booking site? CraftedStays makes it easy. Book a demo today and start ranking for the keywords that bring real bookings.

When potential guests search for a vacation rental, they often start on large Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb or Vrbo. But many don’t book right away. Instead, they do additional research—often landing on the property’s direct booking site before making a reservation. This phenomenon is known as the billboard effect, and savvy hosts can use it to increase direct bookings and reduce reliance on OTAs. What Is the Billboard Effect? The billboard effect refers to how OTAs act as advertising platforms for your rental. Guests discover your listing on a major OTA, but instead of booking immediately, they search for your property elsewhere—often leading them to your direct booking site. Studies show that travelers who find a property on an OTA frequently visit the host’s own website before making a final decision. If your direct booking site is optimized and trustworthy, you can capture these bookings and avoid OTA commissions. Why Is the Billboard Effect Important? How to Take Advantage of the Billboard Effect If potential guests are already searching for you outside of OTAs, you need to make sure they can find your site and feel confident booking directly. 1. Have a Professional Direct Booking Website A polished website with high-quality photos, clear pricing, and a seamless booking process makes a strong first impression. Platforms like CraftedStays help you create a mobile-optimized site that builds trust and encourages bookings. 2. Match Your Branding Across Platforms Ensure your OTA listings have the same name, description, and high-quality images as your direct site. This consistency makes it easier for guests to recognize your brand when they search for you elsewhere. 3. Optimize for Search Engines (SEO) Guests often Google your property’s name after seeing it on an OTA. Make sure your direct booking site ranks high by optimizing for relevant keywords like vacation rental direct booking and short-term rental near [your location]. Adding a blog with local travel tips also helps attract organic traffic. 4. Leverage Guest Reviews If a guest finds you on an OTA but sees few or no reviews on your direct booking site, they may hesitate to book. Ask past guests to leave reviews on your website and integrate testimonials from Google or social media. 5. Offer Exclusive Perks for Direct Bookings Encourage guests to book directly by offering incentives like: 6. Use Retargeting Ads If a potential guest visits your direct site but doesn’t book, retargeting ads on Facebook, Instagram, and Google can remind them to come back and complete their reservation. Final Thoughts The billboard effect is a powerful tool for short-term rental hosts. Instead of seeing OTAs as the only way to get bookings, use them as a marketing channel to drive traffic to your direct booking site. With the right strategy, you can increase your revenue, build stronger guest relationships, and take control of your bookings. Want to ensure your direct booking site is optimized for maximum conversions? CraftedStays helps hosts build beautiful, high-converting websites designed to capture direct bookings. Book a demo today to see how we can help!

Book Direct Day, celebrated annually on the first Wednesday of February, is a global movement aimed at encouraging travelers to book directly with property managers, owners, and hosts. The goal is to highlight the many benefits of bypassing third-party booking platforms, not just for guests, but for property managers as well. When guests choose to book directly, they save money, gain access to exclusive perks, and enjoy a more customized experience. For property managers, this means keeping a larger share of their revenue rather than paying hefty fees to online travel agencies (OTAs). Book Direct Day is the perfect opportunity for you to showcase your properties, engage with your audience, and boost direct bookings—empowering you to take control of your business without relying on third-party platforms. Feel free to send us an email at hello@craftedstays.co if you need help along your journey of direct bookings. Why would you want to go Direct? How to make the most out of Direct Booking Day? If you’re interested in more tips on how to drive more bookings by targeting past guests and other tactics, download our free ebook. HAPPY BOOK DIRECT DAY! 💜 Start crafting personalized sequences and impactful broadcasts today to enhance guest experiences and boost your vacation home rental property’s success. Send customers directly to your own direct booking site rather than the OTA when crafting these emails. 

Why Updating the Copyright Year on Your Website Matters Your website is often the first impression guests or clients have of your business. Every detail counts—especially the ones that might seem minor, like the copyright year in the footer. What the Copyright Year Represents The copyright year is more than a formality. It tells visitors when your site was last updated and signals whether your business is active and professional. A current year in your footer reinforces: What Happens When It’s Outdated An outdated copyright year can have unintended consequences. It might make your site feel abandoned, even if that’s far from the truth. Visitors could question whether your business is still operational or if your services are outdated. There’s also an SEO component. While the copyright date itself may not directly impact rankings, a perception of neglect can reduce user engagement—something search engines measure closely. What a Copyright Statement Represents Best Practices for Displaying Copyright Common Misunderstandings CraftedStays: Leading by Example At CraftedStays, we believe your website should reflect the vibrancy of your business. That’s why we ensure the copyright year is always current as part of our continuous site improvements. While some competitors may only update their copyright year when their website was first built, we take a more proactive approach. Constant updates ensure our users’ sites stay relevant and professional. Take Action If your website’s copyright year is outdated, it’s time to make a change. A small detail like this can make a big difference in how guests perceive your business. Want to ensure your website reflects the professionalism your brand deserves? Book a demo with CraftedStays today.