How To Attract New And Repeat Bookings With Coupons

Did you know that the Number One search in Google lately has been the word "
Coupons"? You could take advantage of this trend and start promoting your
vacation property with this valuable tool and attract attention by using
colorful graphics.

Coupons are widely used and have become a universal marketing tool. With
today's sluggish economy, coupons can be geared for the slow and busy times,
attracting guests for every week, every season. This can also encourage
guests to commit early and pay in full sooner.

Be creative and effectively promote your vacation rental by attracting new
guests, encouraging repeat bookings, partnering with local businesses and
filling your property during slow periods.


Types of Coupons

* Common coupons offer a percentage off such as 20%, a flat fee discount such
as $10 off, or free items.
* Restrictions should be clearly stated to make them even more effective. When
people see that there are expiration dates and other terms, they have a
sense of urgency in redeeming them.
* Time limitations & Coupon expiration date - be firm and only allow coupons
with expiration dates that have not expired.
* Minimum number of nights
* Limited quantity - "First 5 customers only"
* Have to book directly on your website
* Buy three nights, get one night free
* 10% off your visit with a minimum stay of four nights
* Get 15% off each additional night after your fourth night
* $100 off your stay of one week
* Book one week by certain date and get a free boat

Increase your revenue

Be creative with what might work well with your personal vacation property.
Pay attention to what area hotels and restaurants offer and see what might
benefit your situation. Here are some suggestions. The point of any offer is
to increase your cash flow. This is particularly helpful during slow times.

* Vary offers slightly with the end goal to achieve the same purpose of
extending reservations and earning more money per reservation.
* Offer a discount with a time and quantity limit
* First five guests get $50 off of a spring season rental, with the
expiration date indicating the end of that season.
.* Save 25% during the Fall on all reservations. Valid from September 15th
through October 31st.

These types of coupons can be extremely helpful in booking your vacation
property during slow seasonal periods. They entice prospective guests to act
quickly. Coupons should work in your favor and can include20any combination
of percentage, dollar, or freebie variation to suit your needs. Coupons also
work in offering discounts to attract repeat guests.

Entice future bookings with coupons

Pique guests' interest in future stays by including a "dollars-off" coupon
for their next reservation when you mail a thank you note to them for renting
with you. Clearly state that reservations are to be booked by a certain date
prior to the season.

Be sure to make a note in guest's files stating all incentives you offer.
When you are called with inquiries, you will quickly know all the details and
won't have to count on your memory.

Follow up with a hand-written Thank You

Mail a postcard with the picture of your property to guests thanking them for
their business and for taking good care of your property. Send this thank you
card as well as an e-mail card. Coupons can be printed on the postcard or
included on a separate piece of paper and put in an envelope.

About six months after a guest has stayed with you, send a reminder email fo
them to reserve again. This gives adequate time for them to book their
nnual vacation with you for the next season.

Appeal to new prospective guests

Get the word out to new, prospective guests by promoting specials in
* Rental listings - most vacation rental websites will allow you to update
your listing 24/7 through a "members only" area. Simply20log in and add the
promotional text and coupon code. Be sure to track which web sites offer
which specials so you can track which promotions attract the type of guest
you desire;
* On your personal website;
* At the end of each e-mail include the promotion and link to your website.
This is called an email signature line and can be automated in most email
programs;
* Printed flyers and brochures;
* Local print and e-mail newsletters and community forums;
* Local vacation home catalogs and directories.

Track Your Advertising

Tracking coupon codes allows you to see where bookings are coming from and
recognize what advertisements are producing results. For example, say you
advertise the following special: "Save 20% on all reservations made between
October 1st and November 20th" and you're currently advertising on the
following:

* Vacation Listing site
* Community website property listing
* Community newspaper

To track your advertising, create three coupon codes:
* "FALL20A" - for your Vacation listing site
* "FALL20B" - for your community website
* "FALL20C" - for your community newspaper

Guests can provide you with the coupon code over the phone if you prefer. If
you are a member of Simply Like Home', redeem them online the same as when ordering from Amazon.com. Coupons redeemed online show up in the reservation order on your account so you can identify each guest's coupon and determine which advertisements are producing the most bookings.