In today’s competitive online marketplace, a strong presence on search engines can make all the difference for short-term rental owners. When prospective guests are searching for unique stays, having a well-optimized website can be the key to showing up at the top of their results. One often-overlooked part of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is something called URL structure—a foundational element that helps search engines (and your guests) understand what each page on your website is about. What Is a URL Structure, and Why Does It Matter? Every webpage has a URL, or web address, and the way it’s structured affects how easily it can be found by search engines. When a URL includes descriptive words that reflect the content of the page, search engines are more likely to recognize it as relevant. This relevance can lead to higher rankings in search results, which means more visibility for your listing and ultimately, more bookings. For example, let’s say you have a beautiful seaside property in Malibu. Which URL do you think would be more enticing (and informative) for both guests and search engines? • Option A: www.yourwebsite.com/property/123 • Option B: www.yourwebsite.com/property/malibubeachhouse Clearly, Option B offers more context and is much easier to remember. The descriptive URL doesn’t just look better—it signals to search engines that your page is all about “Malibu Beach House,” helping boost your relevance for that term. What Is a “Slug”? For those who aren’t familiar, a slug is simply the part of a URL that comes after the main website address and usually refers to a specific page or post. For example, in the URL “www.yourwebsite.com/property/malibubeachhouse,” the “malibubeachhouse” part is the slug. Setting custom slugs allows you to use keywords that align with your property’s unique appeal, making your listing more searchable and memorable. Why Custom Slugs Improve SEO Custom slugs benefit your website’s SEO in several ways: 1. Increased Relevance: Slugs with relevant keywords (like “malibubeachhouse”) make your page more likely to match search queries. 2. Better User Experience: Custom URLs are clean, easy to read, and memorable. Guests are more likely to trust a URL with recognizable words, which translates into better click-through rates. 3. Higher Rankings: Search engines often prioritize pages with descriptive URLs, so having a well-named slug can improve your chances of ranking higher for specific terms. Introducing Custom URL Slugs with CraftedStays At CraftedStays, we believe in empowering short-term rental hosts with the right tools to boost their online visibility. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our new feature that allows you to set custom slugs for your property pages. With this tool, you can now create clear, descriptive URLs for each listing—making it easier for potential guests to find you online. Instead of the default ID-based URLs, you can now personalize your URLs, creating a stronger SEO foundation without needing technical expertise. Whether it’s “/property/malibubeachhouse” or “/property/mountainchalet,” you now have control over your listing’s URL. By taking advantage of this feature, you’re not just giving your website a cleaner look—you’re giving search engines the information they need to connect you with guests who are searching for the perfect stay.

At CraftedStays, we’re constantly innovating to give you the best tools to engage guests and showcase your properties beautifully. Our latest updates bring more flexibility, ease of use, and enhanced design to your websites—perfect for attracting bookings! Here’s a closer look at what’s new: 1. Pinned “Book Now” Button for Mobile Navigation To make booking seamless, we’ve just added a pinned “Book Now” button on mobile. Now, as guests scroll through your property page, the “Book Now” button remains at the top of their screen, making it easy for them to start the booking process from anywhere on the page. This feature builds on last week’s enhancements for desktop, giving guests a smoother experience across devices. 2. Improved Mobile Search Experience Searching for availability is easier than ever on mobile! We’ve redesigned the search functionality, so guests can quickly enter dates and view availability. This new layout is available across all templates, providing a streamlined booking process that’s both intuitive and guest-friendly. 3. Customizable URL Slugs In our latest SEO-focused update, you can now set custom URL slugs for your property pages, creating descriptive and memorable URLs that help guests find you more easily. Instead of automatically generated links, you can now customize your URL to make it more search-engine-friendly and specific to your listing. Not sure what a slug is or how to use it? Check out our help article here for step-by-step instructions. 4. Expanded Hero Image Styling Options The Crafted, Timber, and Sand templates now have additional styling options for hero images. You can apply color overlays and blurs to create the perfect look that complements your brand and property photos. These new design options give you even more control over the look and feel of your site. 5. Small Improvements and Bug Fixes We’re always working behind the scenes to enhance your site’s performance. This update includes various styling improvements and bug fixes across our pages to ensure a smooth, polished experience for both you and your guests. Each of these features was crafted with you and your guests in mind, helping you create a seamless, visually appealing experience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to build the best tools for showcasing your properties!