How to Use Instagram to Promote Your Listing

As the short-term rental (STR) space gets more and more competitive, hosts are looking to promote their listings beyond Airbnb. Joshua Hittinger leverages Instagram to generate buzz around his vacation rental and engage with potential guests. So, how can YOU use social media to market your listing?Joshua is a new Airbnb host in northwest Arkansas. He and his wife relocated to the area near the Ozark Mountains 14 months ago and purchased an A-frame cabin with the intention of listing on Airbnb. After a year spent renovating the space and documenting the journey on Instagram, they are enjoying 85-90% occupancy just two months into their hosting career—in the off season!On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Joshua joins me to explain how he is using Instagram to promote his listing, turning followers into guests and growing his audience organically. He walks us through the process of finding and renovating the cabin and documenting the journey on social media. Listen in for insight around telling the story of your listing in the first five photos and learn how you might promote your vacation rental outside the Airbnb platform.Topics CoveredThe story behind The Lost HausRelocated to NW Arkansas (potential for Airbnb)Found A-frame cabin for $140KMoved in and spent year doing renovationsHow Instagram has helped Joshua’s listingTurns followers into guestsRank quickly on Airbnb front page85-90% booked in off-seasonThe process Joshua followed to host on AirbnbUsed FHA loan for first home ($6K down)Renovate room by room + document journeyPut up listing 2 months before finishedHow Joshua made interior design choices for the listingDifferent theme for each roomChoose things WE loveHow often Joshua posts on Instagram2X per day to keep engagement highTake pics at turnover, post through weekHow guests help grow Joshua’s following on InstagramAsk to tag @thelosthaus, use # in postsIntroduces listing to guest’s followersHow hosting on Airbnb has changed over timeUnderstanding search algorithm used to be enoughProvide unique experience, promote beyond AirbnbWhat Joshua might do to improve his listingInclude photos of nearby lake, historic townPictures of people EXPERIENCING listingMost attractive pic of each room in first 5Use quotes from reviews as photo captionsConnect with JoshuaThe Lost Haus on InstagramJoshua’s Airbnb ListingResourcesGet Paid for Your Pad: How to Maximize Profit from Your Airbnb Listing by Jasper Ribbers and Huzefa KapadiaOzark on NetflixTo subscribe to the podcast, please use the links belowClick Here to Subscribe via iTunesClick here to Subscribe via Stitcher (Android users)If you like the show, please consider leaving the show a review in iTunesor Stitcher. A couple minutes of your time can help the show immensely! Thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.