| Did you know that the Number One search in Google | | | | "dollars-off" coupon for their next reservation when |
| lately has been the word "Coupons"? You could take | | | | you mail a thank you note to them for renting with |
| advantage of this trend and start promoting your | | | | you. Clearly state that reservations are to be booked |
| vacation property with this valuable tool and attract | | | | by a certain date prior to the season. |
| attention by using colorful graphics. | | | | Be sure to make a note in guest's files stating all |
| Coupons are widely used and have become a | | | | incentives you offer. When you are called with |
| universal marketing tool. With today's sluggish | | | | inquiries, you will quickly know all the details and won't |
| economy, coupons can be geared for the slow and | | | | have to count on your memory. |
| busy times, attracting guests for every week, every | | | | Follow up with a hand-written Thank You |
| season. This can also encourage guests to commit | | | | Mail a postcard with the picture of your property to |
| early and pay in full sooner | | | | guests thanking them for their business and for |
| Be creative and effectively promote your vacation | | | | taking good care of your property. Send this thank |
| rental by attracting new guests, encouraging repeat | | | | you card as well as an e-mail card. Coupons can be |
| bookings, partnering with local businesses and filling | | | | printed on the postcard or included on a separate |
| your property during slow periods. | | | | piece of paper and put in an envelope. |
| Types of Coupons | | | | About six months after a guest has stayed with you, |
| * Common coupons offer a percentage off such as | | | | send a reminder email for them to reserve again. This |
| 20%, a flat fee discount such as $10 off, or free | | | | gives adequate time for them to book their annual |
| items. | | | | vacation with you for the next season. |
| * Restrictions should be clearly stated to make them | | | | Appeal to new prospective guests |
| even more effective. When people see that there | | | | Get the word out to new, prospective guests by |
| are expiration dates and other terms, they have a | | | | promoting specials in... |
| sense of urgency in redeeming them. | | | | * Rental listings - most vacation rental websites will |
| * Time limitations & Coupon expiration date - be | | | | allow you to update your listing 24/7 through a |
| firm and only allow coupons with expiration dates | | | | "members only" area. Simply log in and add the |
| that have not expired. | | | | promotional text and coupon code. Be sure to track |
| * Minimum number of nights | | | | which web sites offer which specials so you can |
| * Limited quantity - "First 5 customers only" | | | | track which promotions attract the type of guest |
| * Have to book directly on your website | | | | you desire; |
| * Buy three nights, get one night free | | | | * On your personal website; |
| * 10% off your visit with a minimum stay of four | | | | * At the end of each e-mail include the promotion |
| nights | | | | and link to your website. This is called an email |
| * Get 15% off each additional night after your fourth | | | | signature line and can be automated in most email |
| night | | | | programs; |
| * $100 off your stay of one week | | | | * Printed flyers and brochures; |
| * Book one week by certain date and get a free | | | | * Local print and e-mail newsletters and community |
| boat | | | | forums; |
| Increase your revenue | | | | * Local vacation home catalogs and directories. |
| Be creative with what might work well with your | | | | Track Your Advertising |
| personal vacation property. Pay attention to what | | | | Tracking coupon codes allows you to see where |
| area hotels and restaurants offer and see what | | | | bookings are coming from and recognize what |
| might benefit your situation. Here are some | | | | advertisements are producing results. For example, |
| suggestions. The point of any offer is to increase | | | | say you advertise the following special: "Save 20% |
| your cash flow. This is particularly helpful during slow | | | | on all reservations made between October 1st and |
| times. | | | | November 20th" and you're currently advertising on |
| * Vary offers slightly with the end goal to achieve | | | | the following: |
| the same purpose of extending reservations and | | | | * Vacation Listing site |
| earning more money per reservation. | | | | * Community website property listing |
| * Offer a discount with a time and quantity limit | | | | * Community newspaper |
| * First five guests get $50 off of a spring season | | | | To track your advertising, create three coupon |
| rental, with the expiration date indicating the end of | | | | codes: |
| that season. | | | | * "FALL20A" - for your Vacation listing site |
| * Save 25% during the Fall on all reservations. Valid | | | | * "FALL20B" - for your community website |
| from September 15th through October 31st. | | | | * "FALL20C" - for your community newspaper |
| These types of coupons can be extremely helpful in | | | | Guests can provide you with the coupon code over |
| booking your vacation property during slow seasonal | | | | the phone if you prefer. If you are a member of |
| periods. They entice prospective guests to act | | | | Simply Like Home (TM), redeem them online the |
| quickly. Coupons should work in your favor and can | | | | same as when ordering from Coupons redeemed |
| include any combination of percentage, dollar, or | | | | online show up in the reservation order on your |
| freebie variation to suit your needs. Coupons also | | | | account so you can identify each guest's coupon and |
| work in offering discounts to attract repeat guests. | | | | determine which advertisements are producing the |
| Entice future bookings with coupons | | | | most bookings. |
| Pique guests' interest in future stays by including a | | | | |