With over 3.8 billion people in the world engaging with social media platforms—it is now more important than ever for your business or brand to have a social presence. Statistics show that nearly 90% of 18-29-year-olds use social media; almost 80% of 30-49-year-olds and about 65% of middle-aged people 50-64 have a social media presence.

It may also surprise you to learn that almost 40% of seniors 65 and older are also on one or more social platforms. With these kinds of numbers, you'd be remiss not to advertise your short-term vacation rental on the available social media. That is why we’re sharing our top social media platform choices to maximize exposure and ramp up-selling potential for your short-term luxury rental. 

As a property owner, you probably already know how important it is to have an online presence. While your listing on AirBnB or VRBO is advertised for those searching on for a rental in your area, social media allows you to showcase your property to those who still haven’t finalized travel plans and help influence their decision to book your stay. And a strong social presence pays.

Most people report an 80% increase in bookings and inquiries into their vacation rental properties within months of developing a strong social media presence. So, which social media platforms offer the best opportunities to promote and expose your luxury properties? Our top picks are Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. 

Facebook, The Biggest Social Platform with an Effective Marketing Interface 

With over 2.8 billion active users reported in 2020, Facebook is the most widely used social media platform globally. More people from across diverse demographics are likely to use Facebook, which increases your chances of reaching a broader consumer base. Creating a business page on Facebook to promote your brand is the perfect place to start with social media promotion. In addition to being user-friendly and business-oriented, Facebook also links directly to other social media sites like Instagram, which allows you to post and run ads simultaneously across platforms.

Instagram, The Most Visually Appealing Platform

Though Instagram, with about 1 billion users, has only a little over a third of the users that Facebook has, it has a unique edge. Instagram's visual aesthetic and platform structure foregrounds pictures while downplaying text. It is perfect for showing off the beautiful décor in your luxury rental and displaying your property and travel brand's uniqueness. Instagram's users tend to be younger and are also more likely to decide on vacation and travel based on social media interaction. 

Pinterest, More Than Just an Engine for Visual Discovery

Though Pinterest’s 322 million users pale compared to Instagram and Facebook, it has a crucial advantage. Over 70% of all Pinterest users are in the 30 to 65 age bracket. And hey, let's face it, these are the people who have more disposable income to be able to travel, and statistics show that 34% of Pinterest users earn between $50,000 and $74,999 per year. This demographic has typically settled into their careers and is more likely to have the disposable income to book your short-term luxury rental for their next vacation.

Unsure where to start? We’ve got the only plug & play social media guide curated for the hospitality industry.

You’ll learn how to…

• pivot post pandemic supported by the latest data in the travel and leisure industry.

• uncover your areas of success and need by benchmarking your social analytics & set strategic growth goals.

• have a condensed focus on social media, and why it is better than the “wet noodle” approach. We share the top 3 social platforms for hotels & vacation rentals and the BEST strategy for each.

• craft social content that converts with the science behind SUCCESSFUL social media marketing.

• identify your most qualified leads from social media & OPTIMIZE your social funnel to boost qualified engagement.

• connect with guests before they search for their next vacation by leveraging seasonal celebrations.

• captivate your followers by creating desire with ALLURING photography.

• speak to your guests most pressing needs with four proven content strategies.