Key Takeaways:

• Social media is a powerful booking tool. Instagram, TikTok and Facebook are key channels for short-term rentals to attract guests and increase bookings, especially with younger travellers.

• Use short-form videos to promote your shortlet. Videos are more effective in highlighting a property’s best features. It allows potential guests to visualise their stay, making it easier to make a booking decision.

• Leverage social media tools. Instagram Shopping and Facebook Marketplace are examples of social media features that you can use to offer exclusive deals and increase bookings.

• Opt for user-generated content and personalised marketing. Authenticity is key to building trust. Encourage guests to share their experience and use personalised campaigns to turn inquiries into confirmed bookings.

• Partner with a reputable property management company. These companies have existing social media accounts with a sizable following. They can help increase social media visibility so you can secure more bookings.

Social Media Bookings and Short-Term Rental Success

Social media bookings will redefine short-term rental success, as long as you know how to use them to your advantage.

Social media is no longer just a platform for sharing photos and posting life updates. It can also be a tool for short-term rentals to attract guests and encourage more bookings.

Different generations have admitted to using social media to make travel decisions.

• 9 in 10 Gen Z travellers are influenced by social media when making International travel choices, with 36% choosing their vacation spot after seeing a destination posted on social media.
• 1 in 10 Boomers is influenced by social media when planning their next vacation, specifically ads with informative and practical content combined with attractive visuals of travel destinations.
• Millennials are also influenced by social media, but they are also swayed by traditional advertising.

Hotel statistics show that guests use Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to browse accommodations. Short-term rentals can use the same platforms to secure more bookings. After all, hotels and shortlets target the same market. If you can create an engaging online precious, you can use social media to connect to potential guests and boost both occupancy rates and rental income.

How to Use Social Media to Get More Bookings

The role of social media in securing more bookings should be a huge part of your marketing strategy. It’s a powerful tool that should be approached with a plan. Just as you can connect to millions of potential guests, you also have to contend with a multitude of property owners and hosts trying to advertise their own properties.

How can you make your short-term rental property stand out so you can attract more guests and encourage them to book a stay? Here are 5 ways you can use social media effectively.

Use Short-Form Video to Showcase Your Property

A short-form video is a 15 to 30-second video clip about your property. Since it’s short, make sure it shows your property’s best features. Think about what’s important to your guests. If your target market includes business travellers, your video should feature a home office space. Or if you’re after tourists, include stunning views from your property. In case you’re trying to attract eco-conscious guests, show the sustainable features of your property. Families would want a fully functional kitchen, so if that’s your target, your video should highlight a modern kitchen.

You don’t have to prepare just one short-form video. Create several. Some might show the interior of the property. Others could show the unique design details and the views. You can also create a video to show the local highlights that your guests might want to include in their itinerary.

The bottom line is to position your property as part of the experience when they visit London.

Leverage Social Media Commerce Tools

Social media platforms have commerce tools you can use to promote your property. You can choose between Instagram Shopping, TikTok Shop or Facebook Marketplace.

Explore the features of these commerce tools, specifically the shoppable posts, so you can show your property’s best features. You can use this to offer exclusive deals, pricing discounts and other limited-time promos that will encourage bookings.

If you can partner with local establishments, you can offer vouchers and discounts to guests. You can promote both the local business and your property. These partnerships will also open opportunities for add-on services that can increase your rental income and make your guests’ stay more convenient and comfortable.

Create Personalised Marketing Campaigns

Don’t just develop a generic social media campaign. Create targeted marketing campaigns that speak directly to the specific guest profile you want to stay in your property. For instance, if you designed your short-term rental to be sustainable and eco-friendly, create a marketing campaign that appeals to eco-conscious travellers.

You can also look at previous engagements in your social media account. Check out visitors who engaged with your posts but didn’t book. Send them a message and offer tailored packages. Use these personal touches to transform engagements into actual bookings.

Encourage User-Generated Content

It’s a common practice to encourage guests to leave feedback about their stay. Encourage these guests to share their experience on social media as well. Ask them to tag you to use a special hashtag that can be linked to your property. These authentic guest posts build trust and social proof.

With guests looking at reviews before making booking decisions, these guest reviews will increase the chances of getting more guests to book a stay.

Partner with a Reputable Property Management Company

Another way to use social media to boost your short-term rental’s performance is by leveraging someone else’s. Partner with a reputable property management company with an existing online audience. Companies like City Relay offer a full package of property management services that include guest communications, housekeeping and maintenance, compliance checks, pricing strategies and marketing across different platforms.

Since these companies manage several properties, they invest in their marketing tools, including social media platforms. Reputable companies already come with a huge following that would open booking opportunities for your property. They can help create content that features your property, increasing its visibility faster.

About Social Media Bookings in London

Use social media to increase your bookings, occupancy rates and rental income. Learn more about optimising social media bookings.

How can social media help my London short-term rental?

Social media is the perfect platform to show your property and highlight its visual appeal. With London being a top destination for years, many people are looking for the best accommodations in the city. Whether it’s international or domestic, take advantage of this demand by setting up your social media account to accept bookings.

Most platforms provide tools to help you target specific audiences. You can get guest inquiries and instant bookings through your social media account. As long as you can respond promptly, you can secure bookings and enjoy short-term rental success.

Which social media platform is best for promoting my London rental?

Instagram is a great platform to show your property’s visuals. Take professional pictures and post the best angles and views online. Create short videos and post them as well. Focus on doing walk-throughs and make sure you capture the best features of the property. You can also post these on TikTok.

Facebook is the best platform to build a community and engage potential guests. You can also do targeted ads for specific London hotspots.

Can I get direct bookings from social media?

Yes, you can get direct bookings from social media. People who like your posts or videos can send direct messages. If you can respond promptly, you can turn inquiries and secure bookings. When a potential guest feels like you’re giving them personal attention, they feel special, thus increasing your conversion rate.

Even if they don’t book immediately, their experience communicating with you will keep your property top of mind.

Should I use paid social ads to promote my London property?

If you have a budget for it, why not? Paid ads can help you target travellers based on their age, gender, location, etc. This ensures your post or ad is visible to the right audience. Posting for the right travellers increases the chances of securing a booking.

When creating paid ads, make sure they’re compelling and highly attractive. You don’t have to limit yourself to just photos of your property. Feature what the location has to offer. This will appeal to the sense of adventure of your target audience.

Turn Followers Into Guests

Social media bookings can be a great strategy to achieve short-term rental success.  You’ll be putting your property in front of 5.42 billion social media users. If you learn how to use the ecommerce tools of social media platforms, you can send targeted marketing campaigns and ads so your property will be visible to the right audience.

From Facebook posts to Instagram photos and TikTok videos, take advantage of the wide marketing reach that social media can bring.

Once you start creating visually engaging content and personalising guest interactions, you can easily secure bookings and get rave reviews at the same time.

Do you want to know how you can increase your social media bookings? Get a free rental estimate and enjoy the high-trust rating and thousands of followers on City Relay social media accounts.