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!

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!

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!