As an entrepreneur managing your own vacation rental website, planning for success means also preparing for challenges like low or off-seasons.

If you're concerned about maintaining bookings during these slower periods, the following tips will help you grow your business efficiently and keep your direct bookings strong.

In this blog post, we'll explore 15 proven strategies to boost bookings on your vacation rental marketplace by using both technology and business insights.

15 Tips to Get More Bookings in Low Season

1. Identify the Customers Who Book During the Low Season

Learn who books your property during the off-season. For example, large families might not book during slower months, but smaller groups or couples often do.

Understand these off-season travelers to adjust your marketing, property features, and pricing to better suit their needs. This way, you can attract more of the right guests during slower times.

2. Retarget Your Website Visitors with Ads

People who know about your business are more likely to convert than others. You can run retargeting ad campaigns on Google and Facebook targeting your website visitors.

Here are some tips:

  • Use highly-attractive images of your rental in ads.
  • Provide a description emphasizing why they should book a stay.
  • Use a clear call to action.

3. Lessen the Minimum Stay Days

Travelers often look for quick getaways during off-seasons. By lowering the minimum stay requirements on your property listings, you can attract these short-term visitors and increase direct bookings.

Make sure to communicate this idea to your hosts, as they set the minimum stay rules. Let them know that shorter stays can lead to more bookings and help them attract more guests.

4. Come Up with Attractive Weekday Offers

As we already discussed above, people take short breaks for themselves during the off-season.

To cover such people you’ll have to give attractive weekday offers to keep them interested (this is called seasonal pricing).

You can even extend the check-out time for 2 hours more than your usual time to make their vacation experience more enjoyable.

5. Target Previous Guests using Email Marketing

You might have the emails of your previous customer and leads in your CRM.

Take that information and use it to produce an awe-inspiring email that highlights your rental offers. You may also add images, GIFs, or even a video of a customer testimonial.

This will make them aware of your offer. If they do not wish to take a vacation, they might decide to share it with their friends and families.

6. Update the Listings

Updating the listings can be crucial when it comes to gaining customers during an off-season.

Some people would have wishlist’ed your property listing and check regularly to find something new about the property that would make them come visit.

Be sure to communicate this to your hosts. Let them know that regular updates can make a big difference in drawing attention and increasing bookings.

7. Revise the Customer Reviews

Regularly update your property reviews to keep them current. Off-season travelers may be more cautious and rely heavily on recent reviews to assess the quality of your property.

Ensure that all reviews, whether positive or negative, are visible on your listing. Even during the off-season, potential guests want to see up-to-date feedback to make informed decisions, which can help build trust and encourage bookings.

8. Leverage Influencer Partnerships

Work with influencers or travel bloggers to expand your reach. They can feature your properties and highlight what makes them special during the off-season to create buzz around your properties and attract potential guests.

Pick influencers who connect with your target audience. Have them produce engaging content like blog posts, social media updates, or video reviews that showcase your vacation rental's off-season charm.

9. Offer Flexible Booking Policies

Allow guests to easily change or cancel their bookings. Flexible policies make travelers feel more secure, especially during the off-season when plans can be uncertain.

Promote these flexible options clearly on your website. This reassurance can boost booking confidence and help you maintain higher occupancy rates even when travel demand is low.

10. Promote Local Off-Season Attractions

Showcase local attractions available during the off-season. Highlight events like festivals and markets or outdoor activities such as hiking or skiing, depending on what’s available in your area.

Share information about these attractions on your website and social media. By showcasing these unique experiences, you can make your destination more attractive to off-season travelers.

Wrapping up

Navigating the off-season can be challenging for online vacation rental business owners, but with the right strategies, you can turn these quieter periods into opportunities for growth.

By focusing on website performance, targeted marketing, and engaging content, you'll be better positioned to attract and retain guests throughout the year.

Stay proactive, implement these tips, and continuously adapt your approach to stay ahead of the competition. Your efforts will pave the way for a thriving vacation rental business, regardless of the season.