Should You Start a Blog for Your Outer Banks Vacation Rental?
One of the questions that many vacation rental owners have when they are first starting out is whether they should spend the time and effort to get a blog going for their property. Some will tell you that it is a waste of time, but that’s not the case. In fact, when you start a blog and do it the right way, it can provide you with some excellent benefits for you and for your guests.
You can set up a blog on your platform of choice. WordPress is a good option, and SquareSpace has good layout options for blogs that happen to be quite easy to use, as well. Paying for your own domain name is generally a good idea, as it will give the readers an easier way to remember and find the blog if they like what they see. Of course, if you want people to keep coming back and sharing your blog, you need to have good content.
What Types of Posts Should You Write?
When it comes to the content of the blog post, you have more to write about than you initially think. While there might be the temptation to have all your posts be marketing related for your Outer Banks vacation rental, you want to keep those types of posts to a minimum. Having some videos of the vacation property is nice, but again, you do not want to have all your content related to marketing your vacation rental.
Instead, you want to come up with content that will interest people who are thinking about visiting the area. This can include some of the great things there are to do in the area, for example. It can be photos and videos of some of the local attractions, the beach, and more. Your goal is to create a blog that makes the Outer Banks look like the ideal vacation spot that it is. Good content will help to get more people to come to your blog, and it will make them more likely to want to book your property for a rental.
You should have a page on your blog that is dedicated specifically to your property. This is where you can post the information from the listing, as well as photos and videos. It should be easy to see and find the link to it on any page of your blog, so when a guest says, “I’d really like to visit the Outer Banks”, they are a click away from learning more about your property.
When you are coming up with content ideas, consider some of the different events that happen in the Outer Banks, as well. Consider doing some articles that reach back into the history of the area, too. There will be plenty of interesting ideas that you can write about for your blog.
Even though you do not want to advertise too much on your blog, you do want to make sure that you use the site for promoting any specials that you might be having. This can be especially helpful when it comes to the offseason.
Get to Know the Local Businesses
One of the other things that you can do for your blog is profile some of the local businesses, such as eateries, museums, bars, and the like. Talk with the owners and let them know what you are doing and that you would like to feature them on your blog. It helps to give them some additional advertising, and it provides valuable content that your visitors can learn from.
Monetize the Blog
Now that you know more about some of the local businesses in the area, you might want to approach them to see if they want to place an ad on your site for a small fee. In fact, you might even want to forego the fee if they agree to provide you with coupons, which you can then give to the guests who come to stay with you. One of the things that you want to avoid is a “pay to play” type of blog post where you give a glowing review in exchange for money. If you want to keep readers, and convince people to visit your vacation rental, you want to be honest and transparent.
Be Consistent
One of the most important things about having a successful blog is making sure that you have a consistent posting schedule. The posts do not have to be overly long, but they should have content that is interesting and valuable to the readers. This is the way that you can grow your audience. Even though only a portion of that audience will likely book with you, continuing to grow will give you the potential for more and more visitors. In addition, they will tell others about your property in the Outer Banks, and word of mouth is just as powerful today as it has ever been.
Drive Traffic to the Blog from Social Media and Vice Versa
In addition to the blog, you should also have social media sites for your property. You will find that the traffic from your blog will often check out those social sites, and they may follow. The reverse is also true. Those who check out the social media and who see that you have a site will often visit.
Hire a Writer If Needed
You might be thinking that writing a blog and keeping up with that along with your social media is just too much for you to handle. If you can’t keep up with the blog, that is no reason to give up. You can find freelance writers who can take care of the writing and even the posting for you. They take care of the hard work and you can reap the benefits.
As you can see, having a blog still holds quite a bit of potential for you and your vacation rental in the Outer Banks. You just have to work to make it a place that has great content.