Trendy Hospitality

…empowering vacation rental owners and the hospitality industry to provide a better guest experience and boost income by combining old-fashioned hospitality and trendy technology

All products, services, or links mentioned on my website are for products and services that I have personally used and/or recommend. Some of the links are affiliate links. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Instagram stories for your vacation rental business
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Instagram Stories in your Vacation Rental Business

Are you using Instagram Stories to help market your Vacation Rental Business?  Instagram Stories have been around for a while, but many vacation rental owners aren’t using them in their marketing strategy. 

I’ll share a few tips for some interesting ways to use Instagram Stories to market your vacation rental business.

What is an Instagram Story?

Instagram Stories are an Instagram feature where you can share photos and videos that create engagement.  The Story is 10 seconds long and is only on your Instagram account for 24 hours.

The Story appears on the bar at the top of the Instagram page, not in the news feed.  As a result, being at the top of the user’s screen makes your Story even more visible to your audience.

You can only have one active Story.  As with all social media, it is important to share original content that invokes audience engagement.

For example, check out my Trendy Hospitality Instagram account for ideas on how to use Stories for your business.

How to Post an Instagram Story

The following images are a screen-shot tutorial for how to post to your Instagram Story.  Take a look at the photos in the carousel. 

Read the instructions in the caption.  Each image shows the various Instagram Story features within the Instagram app.

Instagram Story Features and Tools

There are dozens of features and tools within the Instagram Story app that will help you increase audience engagement.  You want to use these tools to interact with your followers; thus, creating relationships that will gain new customers.

Taking a Look at the Instagram Story Tools 

Hashtags

Stories are now searchable by location and by hashtag.  Consequently, anyone can find your photos, not just the Instagram users who are following your vacation rental business.

Are you using a branded hashtag?  If not, you’re missing out on getting new followers.  Begin using hashtags in your posts that create your brand and hashtags that will appeal to your ideal guests.  For example, #yourbusinessname, #yourrentalname,  #yourdestinationcity, #vrbo, and #airbnb.

Countdown

The countdown tool is useful in a variety of ways.  Use the Countdown tool to create a sense of urgency for booking using a discount code.  Or countdown to a fun event or festival that is happening in your city.  

Questions

Share a photo of your favorite restaurant.  Ask a question about what to order.  For instance, use the Question feature for asking “What is your favorite thing to do in ABC City?”

Polls

Polls are a fun tool for gathering information to learn more about what your guests enjoy.  

As an example, ask your followers, “What amenities do you appreciate the most when you book a vacation rental?  a.) coffee/tea/water   b.) shampoos/soaps   c.) extra toilet paper/trash bags    d.) snacks/welcome gift

Location

Destination marketing is one of the key strategies for vacation rental businesses.  In fact, not only are you promoting your vacation rental, but you are also generating business for your destination area.

Follow these steps to add a Location to your Story:

1: Create a photo or video

2: Tap the folded smiley icon at the top of the screen, which will bring up an assortment of stickers.

3: Tap the LOCATION sticker, then select exactly where the photo or video was taken.

Local businesses will tend to follow you and share your content – which equals FREE advertising! 

Don’t underestimate the power of local business Instagram followers.  They may not be your direct customers, but they are definitely a valued business partner!

Adding a location to your story helps followers and non-followers find your story and content they are interested in searching.  

Instagram followers by local businesses

More Social Media Tips for Vacation Rental Owners – Facebook & Instagram

In case you haven’t heard, I have a new course to help you market your vacation rental on Facebook and Instagram.

This course includes a module on Instagram Stories and Story Highlights for Vacation Rental Marketing.  In this module, you’ll learn ideas for how to archive your Stories and turn your Instagram Stories into Instagram Highlights.  It also includes examples of how to use Instagram Highlights specifically for marketing your Vacation Rental Business. 

This course also covers how to use Instagram and Facebook to generate leads.  Find out how to use these two platforms for adding potential guests to your email list and then turn them into bookings.

My Facebook & Instagram Course – Exclusively for Vacation Rental Owners is a self-paced, step-by-step course.  It includes actionable tips for getting your social media marketing set up correctly, creating a strategic social media plan, and then taking your social media marketing to the next level.

And it comes with a HUGE Bonus ($99 Value)!  Scheduled access for 30 minutes of personal consultation, by phone or email, where I will assist with course questions and/or provide a Basic Review of your Facebook and/or Instagram accounts! 

 

What are you doing to promote your Vacation Rental Business on Instagram?  Share your ideas and Instagram link in the comments below.

Learn More Vacation Rental Social Media Tips

The tips in the article you just read are only a highlight of what you can learn in my Social Media Marketing Course.  We’ll take a deep dive into these social media marketing ideas and lots more!

You’ll learn unique marketing strategies for social media that will generate more revenue for your business.

Social Media Marketing Bootcamp for Vacation Rental Owners

Social Media Marketing Bootcamp is a self-paced, 5-Part course designed exclusively for vacation rental owners.  The content will be specific to the vacation rental industry, and you’ll have access to exclusive content, worksheets, and questions/answers as you move through the course.

Learn more about how to effectively market your vacation rental on social media, in my Facebook & Instagram Course Exclusively for Vacation Rental Hosts.

Here are some of the topics included in the Social Media Marketing Bootcamp Course:

Social Media Marketing Training

Click to preview the course and see the entire list of course topics.


Take the quiz to find out how the Social Media Marketing Bootcamp course will help your vacation rental business. 

After taking the quiz, you’ll see a personalized report explaining whether you’re a good candidate for the course.

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Would you like to take Direct Bookings for your vacation rental, but you don’t know where to start? Evaluate where you are and what steps you need to take to gain back control of your vacation rental business. It’s not as hard as you might think.

Learn what Trendy Hospitality is all about.  And learn more about me and why I have such a passion for vacation rental management and marketing.

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All products, services or links mentioned on my website are for products and services that I have personally used. Some of the links are affiliate links. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

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