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Guiding vacation rental hosts with savvy strategies, insights, and action steps to increase bookings from guests they love to host.

Hey there!

Here’s the deal Reader, in 2025, your future guests are overwhelmed with options. They’re scrolling through properties faster than Taylor Swift can write a breakup song (fingers crossed for her and Travis, though).

They find your listing and it meets their availability and price point needs — the photos pop, and the amenities are just what they are looking for. Your property is on point. They've narrowed their stay down to 2-3 final options and yours is one of them. Yippee!

So now, how can you ensure you are THE choice? IMO, one of the easiest ways to differentiate is to show them the "you" behind your brand.

People NEED to trust who they do business with. You trust people that you like. And you like people (and companies) who are genuine, who have a personality, values, and a life and a story you can relate to.

How do you build that like, know and trust factor? It's all in how you brand and market yourself.

I 100% believe that creating a standout vacation rental isn't just about creating a fantastic experience, having beautiful photos, well-appointed amenities or more competitive rates—it’s about building trust and emotional connections with your future guests. (not to mention your current and previous guests.)

Here are a few ideas to add to your listing description, host profile page, website's about page, social media and email marketing content, and guest communications.

• Give to a local charity and share in your listing description that 2% of every stay supports the local beach cleanup, band boosters, or volunteer fire department.
• Share photos of your dogs, kids or grandkids enjoying your property or destination. I had a client whose puppy was "hidden" in half of her professional listing photos.
• Share heartfelt, personal guest reviews in the caption of photos and within the body of your listing description.
• Use your website's about page to tell your story, introduce your team, or share your values.

If you need ideas that work for you, feel free to reach out for a free chat with me, and we can talk about creating a brand message, story, and values that showcase you as the host with the most!

So you aren't just A choice, you are THE choice.

Happy hosting,

👋🏻 Jodi

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View on the web → ​

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In this issue: ​

Toolbox About Page/Brand Message Blueprint Resource Book Direct Day Toolkit Don't Miss! 2025 STR Virtual Summit For Women! Insights Podcast Episode with Jenn Boyles Client Spotlight Avanti Vacations Website Launch Favorites My Mexican Hot Chocolate recipe!

Top Tools For Savvy Hosts!

Build Trust With The About Page & Brand Message Blueprint

Designed to help vacation rental hosts and hospitality professionals craft an engaging, professional, and guest-focused brand message for their About page, host profile and guest communications. With this step-by-step guide, copy prompts and examples from my clients, you'll create a brand message highlighting your unique story, mission and values to develop trust and connections with future guests that drive bookings. Get The Guide →

More Tips For You

Savvy Host Roadmap Podcast

Values Matter, Building A Heart Centered Vacation Rental Brand This is one of my first podcast episodes and one of my most listened to. Give it a listen, then figure out your brand values, add them to your website and host profile. LISTEN HERE

Don't Miss!

Bring On More Direct Bookings:
Book Direct Day Is Feb 5th!

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Book Direct Day Resources & Social Media Templates! Coming up on Wednesday, February 5th, Book Direct Day is a day to educate future guests on why they should choose to book direct rather than through an OTA. This toolkit has several ideas and templates for social media, emails, press releases, blogs and more to educate your followers about why they should book directly with you. Get it for free! Grab The Toolkit

Are You REady to elevate your Brand, Website Or Marketing?

Let's Chat

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TODAY'S ISSUE SPONSORED BY: 2025 STR Virtual Summit For Women

One of the BEST events I participated in last year was the STR Virtual Summit For Women, hosted by Stacey St. John. Join this fantastic, 3-day event and watch workshops by industry leaders like Julie George, Tyann Marcink Hammond, Natalie Palmer, Avery Carl, Stacey St. John, Jenn Boyles, (yours truly...) and many others!

Last year's event was packed with so much info, and the networking at the event was like no other online or in-person event I've attended.

And here’s the BEST part: right now you can save —$100 off your summit ticket. Plus, you’ll have two full weeks after the event to watch session replays.

FYI - my session, Direct Booking Domination: Steps to Build a Thriving Direct Booking Business, will be on Friday, Feb. 7th.

Get Your Ticket Today! 👉🏼

STR VIRTUAL SUMMIT FOR WOMEN ​ PS - Use my affiliate link to purchase your ticket, and you'll get FREE access to my Content Marketing Toolkit, usually $69.

Industry Insights

Unlock the Power of Your Vacation Rental Website

Do you know Jenn? I call her the other JB, and that's what she calls me! Last week, she had me as a guest, sharing my insights on the Direct Booking Success Podcast. In this episode, I share my tips for creating a compelling digital front door (website) that appeals to your guest avatar, builds trust and creates FOMO. This episode will help you if you already have a website and want to optimize it or if you are plan to build a website soon and want to make sure you are doing it right!

Listen Here →

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JoJo's Mexican Hot Chocolate! ​

I am a connoisseur of hot cocoa! I love it in all forms, but I especially love making homemade hot chocolate (no packets of chalky powder for me!) This photo was taken in Taos a couple of years ago at a yummy little breakfast place with AMAZING Mexican Hot Cocoa. I created my version of the recipe, which I'm sipping this morning as I write this email. It's DELISH, if I do say so myself. If you try it, let me know what you think. (PS, bourbon makes everything better) Mix the first four ingredients in a saucepan and whisk until smooth and hot. Add baking chocolate and cream and whisk until melted. (don't boil). Add remaining ingredients except vanilla. Heat through. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla. Top with homemade whipped cream and ground cinnamon! Makes two extra large mugs (or about four small mugs) 1/2 cups Pet milk 1/2 cups water 3 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder 3 TBS sugar 1-2 ounce dark baking chocolate or chocolate chips 1/2 cup whole cream 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp chili powder 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (if ya like it spicy) 2 cups whole milk 1/2 tsp Mexican Vanilla Extract (if you can find it) ​

Follow & Connect! ​ ​​​​​ ​ Listen to the Savvy Host Podcast Join The Community Get My Help! See ya Later, Alligator!

Hey there, you Savvy Host you! Lucky you, you are getting some rockin' tips, tools and advice to help you build a kick-ass vacation rental, boutique hotel or glamping business. You've received this email because you signed up for one of my freebies, like the Perfect Guest Avatar Toolkit or Book Direct Roadmap, this fabulous newsletter or maybe we’ve worked together in the past. Either way, it’s great to have you here! But if you’re ready to make like Willie and get back on the road again, you can hit that unsubscribe button below. But really, why would you? I’ve got everything you need to help you build a professional vacation rental brand and increase bookings from guests you love to host - plus, Jolene, Oscar, and I love having you here!

I'd love to know more about what kind of help you are looking for.... hit reply and tell me more about what you would love to see in my newsletters, blogs, podcasts or social media.