The first 14 key days for holiday hosts

Tips to increase efficiency in the first 14 days
As mentioned before, the first 14 days are crucial to evaluating the effectiveness of your listing. Early reviews will determine whether your property ranks higher or lower; receiving positive reviews during this period will improve the ranking and visibility of your property. Here are some recommendations:

1. Initial discounts. Discounts are essential to attract more bookings. Offer seasonal promotions. During the off-season, applying discounts on initial bookings, reducing prices, or targeting specific audiences such as remote workers or off-season travellers can be a good strategy. These incentives, like discounts, can be seen as an investment to attract early customers who leave reviews, generating more bookings.
2. Flexible policies. Set a clear and as flexible cancellation policy as possible. According to data from platforms like Airbnb, flexible policies can increase bookings by 7% and revenue by 10%, becoming a key factor for holiday rental ranking.
3. Know your customers. Understanding your target audience is essential for an effective advertising strategy. Together with platforms like Holidu, identify ideal customers based on factors like age, origin, family or solo travel, interests, and booking behaviour. This allows you to target ads to those most likely to be interested in your services.
4. Booking accelerators. Offering a simple and clear booking system is crucial. With Holidu, you can manage an updated calendar of prices and availability transparently, allowing guests to calculate the nightly cost and book any time of the day directly through the platform. Additionally, Holidu offers instant bookings, a feature that can attract a wider audience. These options are designed to maximize occupancy and facilitate home management.
5. Competitive prices and open calendars. Your prices must align with the market. A price out of sync with the competition can drive guests away and harm your listing’s ranking. Initially, it is advisable to set prices slightly below direct competitors to attract more bookings, receive positive reviews, and improve your position. Also, keeping your calendar open as much as possible, at least the next 12 months, will positively influence the ranking.
6. Professional photographs. A picture is worth a thousand words. Hiring a professional photographer to capture the best angles of your property can make a difference. Ensure the photos accurately reflect what guests can expect upon arrival, as “what you see is what you get” is key to building trust and avoiding negative reviews. Moreover, companies like Holidu offer this service as part of the benefits of publishing your property on their platform.

Reputation increases self-demand
Holiday rental portals tend to prioritize properties that they believe travellers are more likely to book. Most platforms operate under a reputational ranking system. User evaluations of homes and the treatment received are fundamental. Therefore, it is very important to impress your guests with quality service. This way, you will receive positive reviews and, consequently, secure more bookings. A tip: avoid cancelling your first booking, as this negatively affects the visibility of your listings.

In summary, if you are entering the holiday rental business, you must pay close attention to your first listings and monitor the days following their publication. Once you achieve good positioning, everything will become easier. You already know that Holidu provides its hosts with all its technology to help their holiday rental businesses thrive. We are waiting for you!

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