Marketing a unique Airbnb before it&#x27;s built

OP

Member since 2023 · 14 posts · 13 votes

3y

Thanks @Ben Rhodin, haha it's weirdly nice to hear that it's hard to build up traction for a single AirBnb and that it's not just something stupidly wrong I am doing. I am still going to try, but maybe go easy on myself I guess if not much happens until it's finished and I can better show off the finished product. I think the story of getting here is compelling and I think the blog posts are good, but maybe like @Zach Edelman was suggesting I need to focus on cutting up those blog posts into some hopefully compelling TikTok or Reels media.

And yes it is Gilpin County, glad to hear you have seen some strong returns up there...that's what my heart needs to hear.

[email protected]330-557-3021

Sarah KensingerPro Member

Real Estate Consultant · OH · Member since 2023 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

3y

I have found The Marketing Club with Cathrine to be a HUGE help learning the ropes of Instagram marketing. She is in England, but Instagram is the same no matter where you are. If you find more accounts like hers, give them a follow and soak all the info up!

Websites/blogs can be a little tricky, but I've learned a lot from YouTube videos and making sure the SEO of my website is doing what it should be and not working against me.

OP

Member since 2023 · 14 posts · 13 votes

3y

Thanks so much for the that tip @Sarah Kensinger!

Michael BaumPro Member

Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes

3y

I wonder if you could put it on AirBNB and VRBO as a listing allowing bookings for when it is completed?

Use a bunch of artist renderings and actual photos of the views and land along with pics of the lake, the ski resort etc.

The biggest issue is that you will lose the early boost a new listing gets. Kinda. You will get the boost but people looking right now for a place will be out of luck. It could sour folks, so spell out the estimated availability in the listing title.

Brooklyn McCarty

Investor · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 754 votes

3y

Use chat gpt to help you with the blog

Gerald Pitts

Lender · Asheville NC · Member since 2016 · 469 posts · 317 votes

3y

I second this. We did this with a New construction property. We posted work in progress photos, and Pinterest photos of furniture and decor, and were able to land 20k or so in bookings before the professional pics. Listed as "Coming soon" with month eta and conservatively blocked off dates until far into the future.

Quote from @Michael Baum:

I wonder if you could put it on AirBNB and VRBO as a listing allowing bookings for when it is completed?

Use a bunch of artist renderings and actual photos of the views and land along with pics of the lake, the ski resort etc.

The biggest issue is that you will lose the early boost a new listing gets. Kinda. You will get the boost but people looking right now for a place will be out of luck. It could sour folks, so spell out the estimated availability in the listing title.

OP

Member since 2023 · 14 posts · 13 votes

3y

interesting, and you were able to do this on Airbnb @Gerald Pitts or just on your own website??

Quote from @Gerald Pitts:

I second this. We did this with a New construction property. We posted work in progress photos, and Pinterest photos of furniture and decor, and were able to land 20k or so in bookings before the professional pics. Listed as "Coming soon" with month eta and conservatively blocked off dates until far into the future.

Quote from @Michael Baum:

I wonder if you could put it on AirBNB and VRBO as a listing allowing bookings for when it is completed?

Use a bunch of artist renderings and actual photos of the views and land along with pics of the lake, the ski resort etc.

The biggest issue is that you will lose the early boost a new listing gets. Kinda. You will get the boost but people looking right now for a place will be out of luck. It could sour folks, so spell out the estimated availability in the listing title.

Mack Lengel

Smokies / Greenville, SC · Member since 2021 · 129 posts · 146 votes

3y

Quote from @Daniel Bedell:

I am building a luxury STR in the mountains outside of Denver between Nederland and Black Hawk. It's a unique modern designed home build out of shipping containers by a modular builder called Honomobo. It's at a beautiful location on a stocked lake, next to a state park, 15 min from a ski resort, 15 min from casino's an hour from Denver. The build should be completed the beginning of September. Of course as all builds seem to go it's both late and over budget and I am desperate to get it rented ASAP when it's done. I have setup an Instagram a Facebook Page and started writing a humorous blog about the journey on Medium. To be fair I haven't had these things, going for very long, about a month, but I am just not really getting any followers or views beyond family and friends. I've tried promoting my posts with Instagram and Facebook that has done nothing. I've tried to reach out to other unique Airbnb's and see about cross promotion and I got one reply. I've thought about looking into paying travel influencers to market it, I just submitted my blog to BP to see about blogging about the journey here. Of course part of the issue is I really can only promote my personal journey, the concept and the location right now since I don't have a finished product.

AM I MISSING SOMETHING OBVIOUS THAT I SHOULD BE DOING? Do you have ideas for promoting something that doesn't exist yet to make sure you hit the ground running with the rental? I don't have tons of spare time to try and become some kind of travel influencer so I need to make the most out my time and whatever promotion I am doing. I see a few short term rentals out there, even shipping container ones that have tens or hundreds of thousands of followers and I have no idea how they did that. I've even messaged them, but so far no word back.

Watch every one of Dustin Bakers' videos to start:

And then reach out to him. He has a private FB group I am in for his course students and they dive deep into this. The enrollment is closed currently but I would check with him to see what he can do. He does this for a living.

OP

Member since 2023 · 14 posts · 13 votes

3y

Thanks @Mack Lengel I will check that out. Besides his Facebook group do you most consume his stuff on YouTube or somewhere else?

Mack Lengel

Smokies / Greenville, SC · Member since 2021 · 129 posts · 146 votes

3y

Quote from @Daniel Bedell:

Thanks @Mack Lengel I will check that out. Besides his Facebook group do you most consume his stuff on YouTube or somewhere else?

No problem

Youtube, IG, and Facebook

Kurt West

Architect · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2021 · 51 posts · 12 votes

3y

@Daniel Bedell

When I visit your Instagram and Facebook pages, it is unclear to me what you are marketing. I would lean on Honomobo to get you renderings and construction drawings of the house. You can use those to help explain what you are doing. Also, it will be worth every penny to pay a legit marketing professional for an hour of their time to give you some pointers/direction.

Daniel Lioz

Houston, TX · Member since 2019 · 99 posts · 26 votes

3y

Just an idea to stand out when you are ready is may be some cross marketing to add value, since it is close to ski resorts may be have a deal with local ski rental place to get a discount if you stay there or add some casino incentives (like one round trip on Uber included)....these are things just to get it rented fast and get traction. May be buy some second hand fishing equipment if there is fishing near by. Add the luxury feeling to the luxury place.

OP

Member since 2023 · 14 posts · 13 votes

3y

Quote from @Kurt West:

@Daniel Bedell

When I visit your Instagram and Facebook pages, it is unclear to me what you are marketing. I would lean on Honomobo to get you renderings and construction drawings of the house. You can use those to help explain what you are doing. Also, it will be worth every penny to pay a legit marketing professional for an hour of their time to give you some pointers/direction.

I actually just sent an email about that today! Great minds and all. But yeah I think you are right. I have a bunch of media about the construction along the way and i was kinda trickling it out and trying to tell the story about the process but i think I need to speed up the story telling process a lot and show more of the what is done so far and the renderings to make it more clear and hopefully more interesting what is going on. Thank you for helping confirm my ideas and taking the time to check out my social.

Gerald Pitts

Lender · Asheville NC · Member since 2016 · 469 posts · 317 votes

3y

Airbnb and VRBO. No direct booking site right now.

Quote from @Daniel Bedell:

interesting, and you were able to do this on Airbnb @Gerald Pitts or just on your own website??

Quote from @Gerald Pitts:

I second this. We did this with a New construction property. We posted work in progress photos, and Pinterest photos of furniture and decor, and were able to land 20k or so in bookings before the professional pics. Listed as "Coming soon" with month eta and conservatively blocked off dates until far into the future.

Quote from @Michael Baum:

I wonder if you could put it on AirBNB and VRBO as a listing allowing bookings for when it is completed?

Use a bunch of artist renderings and actual photos of the views and land along with pics of the lake, the ski resort etc.

The biggest issue is that you will lose the early boost a new listing gets. Kinda. You will get the boost but people looking right now for a place will be out of luck. It could sour folks, so spell out the estimated availability in the listing title.

John Carbone

Realtor · Gatlinburg · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 957 votes

3y

With everyone online doing this, I think the money and time being spent is a negative expected value. Finish the project, let vrbo and Airbnb advertise for you, if you have a great product you will get bookings. Once listed possibly try to work with local attractions to promote your property if it’s worth it and set up a direct booking site. This will all take time.

The going viral self marketing thing is so overblown. I see so many people say they went viral and have virtually no bookings from it.

Eric DeNardoPro Member

Real Estate Agent · Denver · Member since 2020 · 363 posts · 151 votes

3y

Hey Daniel,
For instagram, reels is where it's at. I suggest creating 1 as many reels of the building process, area, or your experience as you can. Share your struggles, triumphs, and some funny things that happened along the way. People love to see things come together. It looks like you have a drone, create cool videos of that to show the location. Maybe create a video of Nederland and what it has to offer. DM me if you have any specific questions!

[email protected]