Whether you’re a guest or a villa owner, reviews matter. The more positive reviews a place has, the more likely it is to be booked.
The importance of reviews
Reviews are one of the most important aspects of vacation rentals. They provide potential renters with an insight into what previous guests have thought of the property and the experience they had. This can be invaluable when making a decision on which rental to choose.
Good reviews can mean the difference between a property being booked up months in advance, or sitting vacant. They provide an important source of marketing and can help improve search engine ranking. Most importantly, good reviews build trust with potential renters.
Bad reviews can be just as damaging as no reviews at all. They can put people off renting a property, even if the issues raised have since been addressed. It’s important to take feedback from guests seriously and work to resolve any issues that are raised.
In short, reviews are essential for vacation rentals. They provide potential guests with valuable information and can make or break a booking.
Why do reviews matter?
When it comes to booking a vacation rental, reviews matter. A lot.
In fact, according to a recent study by PhoCusWright, 72% of travelers say that user-generated reviews are either “extremely” or “very” important when choosing a place to stay.
And it makes sense – when you’re entrusting your hard-earned vacation to a stranger, reading what others have said about their experience can be incredibly helpful in making a decision.
But beyond just being helpful, reviews can also be incredibly powerful marketing tools.
Think about it – when someone is searching for a vacation rental, they’re going to come across dozens, if not hundreds, of options. How are they going to choose?
More and more, the answer is reviews. A listing with lots of positive reviews is going to stand out from the crowd and look much more appealing than one with no reviews at all.
And not only do reviews help you attract guests, but they can also help you keep them – happy guests are more likely to leave positive reviews, which in turn helps you attract even more guests! It’s a Feedback Loop of Happiness™!
How to get reviews
If you’re like most vacation rental owners, you know how important reviews are. You also know how hard it can be to get them.
Here are a few tips to help you get more reviews:
1. Make it easy for guests to leave a review.
Send an email after their stay with a link to your listing on a review site. Or, if you use a property management software like Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO), they have a built-in review system that makes it easy for guests to leave a review.
2. Give guests an incentive to leave a review.
Send them a discount code for their next stay or offer a small gift. Something like, “We’d love it if you could leave us a review on VRBO and we’ll send you a $25 credit for your next stay.”
3. Ask family and friends to leave reviews.
If you’re just getting started with vacation rentals, ask your family and friends to leave you some positive reviews. This will help build up your reputation and get the ball rolling. Just make sure they’re honest!
What are some benefits of a good review?
Reviews are important for a number of reasons. They help potential guests learn about your rental property and what others have thought of it. Good reviews can also help improve your ranking on vacation rental sites, making it more likely that people will find and book your rental.
In addition to all of that, studies have shown that properties with good reviews tend to command higher nightly rates. So not only can reviews help you attract more guests, but they can also help you increase your profits!
Tips for building a good review base
If you’re running a vacation rental business, then you already know how important reviews are. Reviews can make or break your business, and it’s important to do everything you can to get good reviews.
Here are some tips for building a good review base:
1. Make sure you’re providing excellent service. This is the most important thing you can do to get good reviews. If your guests have a great experience, they’re much more likely to leave a positive review.
2. Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative. This shows that you care about what your guests think of your business.
3. Use an automated review system. This makes it easy for guests to leave reviews, and it also ensures that all reviews are posted in a timely manner.
4. Offer incentives for leaving reviews. This could be anything from a discount on future stays to a freebie for leaving a review. Just make sure the incentive is something that will resonate with your target audience.
5. Make it easy to leave reviews. Include links to popular review sites in your email communications and on your website.
By following these tips, you can build up a strong base of positive reviews that will help attract new guests and keep existing ones coming back!
Casasol Holiday will help your to get awsome reviews and repeat happy clients!