Classified ads are one of the most effective ways to sell anything, including vacation rentals. A nicely written ad with a photo is a sure fire way to snag some renters. Often times, however, classifieds will only allow text, and not photos. In these instances, you must rely solely on your words. Learning to paint the perfect mental picture with your ads will definitely boost your business. Follow the tips below, and you will have your rental booked up in no time!
• Write a compelling headline. The headline will be the first thing that interested renters will see when they are browsing through vacation rental ads. A great headline needs to include words that would catch someone's eye. Be sure to include great adjectives such as peaceful, quiet, delightful, beautiful, and luxurious. Placing the city and state in the headline is not necessary because ads are usually categorized by those already. Don't go into details about number of bedrooms or bathrooms in your headline, as this will be included elsewhere. You only have a few words available, so use them wisely.
• Keep it simple with good grammar. You ad needs to be very easy to read. Write in complete sentences and stay away from large words. Do not use any abbreviations or local lingo, as this may confuse the reader and have them moving on to the other ads. Also, keep in mind that people from other nationalities may read your ad, so it needs to be simple enough for them to understand.
• Highlight the most sought amenities. As renters are looking through the ads, many of them will be looking for the same things, such as a swimming pool, mountain views, restaurant, and wireless Internet. Renters that wish to have these things are more likely to contact you if they already know they are available. You should not list every single quality; just the ones you think will make your rental stand out.
• Briefly discuss location. It's good to let interested people know where you are located, but don't dote too much on the area. People who are looking at your ad are already interested in staying in the area...you just need to provide them with a sense of where in that area your rental property is located. Be sure to include if the property is near any local landmarks, restaurants, or attractions...things the renters may want to experience while they are staying at your rental property.
• Create the vision. In your ad, talk to potential renters as if they are already at your property. Using very descriptive sentences will have them imagining themselves spending a great vacation at your property. Use the words "you" and "your" often, as if they had already rented the place. The feeling of ownership just may have them booking your place!
As you can see, a good, convincing classified ad can bring a good amount of business to your rental property, if written correctly. Be sure to have a persuasive headline that will stand out in the crowd, as well as a description of your property that will give the renter a sense of what they would enjoy if they vacationed there. Doing these few things will definitely have people wanting to stay at your vacation rental!
