Branding for Short Term Rental Hosts

Standing out in crowded STR markets can be difficult. With new rental properties cropping up in desirable locations every day, developing a brand for your STR business is key to long-term success in a short-term market. Branding is one of the best ways to beat out competition.Airbnb Superhost, model, and musician Sharon Middendorf founded GO-Cottage, an STR business in Lake Placid, New York. Long before Airbnb existed, Sharon bought, renovated, and restored two 1920s bungalows on the same piece of property. Over the course of 17 years she’s successfully marketed her short-term rentals as modern-style, California-esque lodging for adventure seekers. Sharon’s property has been featured in Country Living, Domino, and on HGTV’s Small Space, Big Living.On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Sharon describes the importance of branding and how it can give rental owners the control they crave in a market dominated by listing platforms. Sharon explains how diversifying her rentals and capitalizing on their uniqueness helped her stand out amongst more than 700 STR listings in a small village. Listen in for Sharon’s insight on how Airbnb Plus has affected her listing and whether she would recommend the program to other property owners.Topics CoveredSharon’s STR storyLoved vacationing in Lake PlacidTook 4-5 years to find the right property to purchaseRenovated two bungalows on propertyStarted booking short-term renters in 2003Why Sharon focuses on brandingDifferentiates her rental from all the restBranding lasts longer than an STR platform like AirbnbHow Sharon developed a brandBuilt website and began tracking it using Google AnalyticsStarted creating on-brand content for social media like Facebook and InstagramHow Sharon marketed her listing before AirbnbUsed local listing sites and craigslistRelied on word-of-mouthWhy Sharon releases a quarterly newsletterHelps her stay in touch with former guestsReleasing a newsletter quarterly avoids overwhelming subscribersWhat Sharon includes in her newsletterLocal upcoming eventsInformation on availability and costHow Sharon got national exposure for her propertyNetworking and reaching out to media organizationsKnowing someone at Country Living helped her listing get featuredSharon’s insight on creating a brandName the property to give it an identityHire outside help if neededSharon’s take on Airbnb PlusGood experience working with professional photographerMeeting Airbnb Plus requirements can take time and effortAirbnb Plus doesn’t necessarily enable you to raise ratesLess control over Airbnb Plus listingConnect with SharonGO-CottageEmail: [email protected] InstagramGO-Cottage FacebookGO-Cottage YouTubeGO-Cottage on AirbnbResourcesAirbnb IPOAirbnb PlusFairbnbSTR Profit AcademySTR Legends MastermindGet Paid for Your Pad: How to Maximize Profit from Your Airbnb Listing by Jasper Ribbers and Huzefa KapadiaSTR Legends MastermindEmail [email protected] subscribe to the podcast, please use the links belowClick Here to Subscribe via iTunesClick here to Subscribe via Stitcher (Android users)If you like the show, please consider leaving the show a review in iTunesor Stitcher. A couple minutes of your time can help the show immensely! Thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.