Instagram giveaway to boost direct bookings for STR?

[Jacob Moncur]

Hey everyone! 

We recently purchased and launched an STR condo in Kauai and are thinking through a few strategies to try and boost direct bookings. Our top idea right now would work like this:

1. Setup an Instagram account for the property. Instagram account links straight to direct booking site.
2. Post weekly about the property, location, activities, food, deals, last minute opportunities, etc...
3. Run a giveaway for 5 days/4 nights free at the property. Terms are you have to follow the account, tag 3 friends, and re-post. 

The theory is you get a lot of followers in a short amount of time who would then turn into direct bookings down the road. 

Has anyone run a STR giveaway like this before? Was there a good ROI on the free nights being given away? I'd love to hear investors/hosts experiences with this kind of social media marketing strategy.

Thanks!

- Jake

[Mack Lengel]

The best way to get leads from giveaways is to tap into someone else's audience rather than just relying on your own. Reach out to some popular travel accounts with more followers to partner up for things like that. More traffic to your page is a bonus there. Just make sure to vet them and make sure the followers are real.