5 reasons to create a website for your holiday rental in 2021

Advertising your holiday rental on platforms like Airbnb or HomeAway is important to reach a wider audience and increase international visibility. However, what should you do if you're tired of paying fees and commissions, or have regular clients who want to book directly with you? The answer is simple: create your own website for your holiday rental. A dedicated website will allow you to increase your bookings and take greater control of your business's online presence. However, not just any website will do! You should create an attractive and optimised page for property rentals, which includes functionalities such as a booking engine and a payment platform, among others. Below, we give you 5 reasons why you should create a website for your holiday rental. Keep reading!

1. Accept direct bookings

One of the main reasons to create your own website for your holiday rental is to be able to accept direct bookings. A recent study on hotel occupancy showed that 65% of users prefer to make their hotel bookings directly through the provider's website rather than through tourism agencies, such as Booking.com, or intermediary platforms. On the other hand, accepting direct bookings will save you from paying host fees and will save your guests the commissions that many agencies impose. A win-win in every sense!

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2. Generate online credibility

Currently, any company with a minimum reputation has a website. If not, wouldn't it seem suspicious to you? Well, the same mentality could be applied to your holiday rental. While OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) are perfect showcases, having your own website will help you differentiate yourself from your competitors and increase your online credibility. In addition, your own website will also allow you to position yourself on the Internet independently and appear in direct Google searches, which will contribute to improving your credibility. Think of a website as a business card: if someone is interested in your property, what URL would you give them? Do you think it's beneficial for your business to direct them to an external platform's website? The answer is: no; and for that reason, a dedicated page is fundamental for any owner.

3. Strengthen your own brand

Creating a website is the first step to building a solid brand presence on the Internet. However, to achieve this purpose, consistency is essential and must be present in each of your sections and communications online. Always use the same corporate colours, the same tone of voice, and the same photographic style so that users associate them with your brand. Precisely, your brand will be what allows you to stand out from your competitors and will help your guests associate your business with something more than just “another holiday rental”. Platforms like Airbnb have thousands of listings: turn your brand into that differentiating factor that attracts hesitant guests!

4. Enjoy total freedom

Having your own website will allow you to control 100% of the content published on it. Want more photos on the homepage? No problem. Want to add a new section with instructions on how to get to your property? Go ahead! Holiday rental portals and OTAs impose certain restrictions on the content that hosts can publish, from the number of characters to the number of photos allowed. On your website, you set the rules. Customise your site to offer the content you consider relevant to your guests, without limits or restrictions.

5. It's very simple!

Creating your own website doesn't have to be a headache. In fact, companies like Lodgify offer website templates for holiday rentals, fully customisable, and including all the necessary functionalities to promote your property online: booking engine, payment platform, and optimisation for mobile devices and SEO, among others. Setting up your own website will only take a few minutes, and sooner than expected, you'll be receiving your first direct bookings through the Internet.

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