The Complete Direct Stay Marketing Guide

Written By Jayson Balilo

Last updated 5 months ago

The Direct Stay Marketing Guide and Checklist functions as a guide to help hosts shift away from the dependence of third-party online travel agencies (OTAs) and empower them to achieve greater control and ownership of their businesses. By following the steps in this guide, hosts will continue to receive bookings from third-party OTAs while at the same time leveraging the traffic and demand built into web2 OTAs as a way to convert guests interested in taking advantage of all the benefits that come with direct bookings.

In order to grow your direct booking business, not only will you be branding your portfolio of properties, youโ€™ll also be learning how to increase the visibility of your new brand and convert more guests into direct stays. Aside from a property management system (PMS), the tips outlined below will either be low cost or free to implement. Weโ€™ll be with you every step throughout your journey and are here to answer any questions you may have.

Use this handy checklist to go through step-by-step the process of optimizing your direct booking business.

  • Create a free direct booking website or listing with Dtravel

  • Select a brand name

  • Create a brand logo

  • Purchase brand domain name

  • Create brand email

  • Optimize Dtravel listing photos

  • Set up Google Business Profile

  • Optimize OTA listings

  • Edit PMS email templates

  • Adjust Booking Channel Pricing in PMS

  • Create a LinkedIn Business Page

  • Create a Facebook Business Page

  • Create an Instagram Business Account

  • Create a Pinterest Business account

  • Start growing your email list

  • Setup email automations

  • Use email to drive returning guests

Direct Marketing Guide Topics

๐Ÿ‘‘Branding

๐Ÿ“ทDtravel Listing Photos

โ˜Ž๏ธGoogle Business Profile

๐Ÿ”งOptimize Third-Party Booking Platforms for Direct Stays

๐Ÿ”€Leverage Your PMS to Convert an OTA Booking Into a Direct Stay

โ™ฅ๏ธUse Social Profiles to Take Over Google Search Results

โœ‰๏ธConvert Returning Guests into Direct Stays

โœ…Final Checklist