Mark Simpson explains how to move short-term rental businesses away from OTA dependence. Start with platforms like Airbnb to fill vacancies and build a customer list, then shift to direct bookings through your own website and SEO as you scale. Talk to guests directly to understand what they want and push them toward booking with you.
I wouldn't say it's kind of one thing fits all. We, we obviously use the, the OTAs, which is a bit of a sore subject for a lot of people, but I think in essence, especially when you first start in your ota, your, your serviced accommodation or short term rental business, the OTAs are your best friend. You know, they're going to fill your property for you, they're going to market your property for you. They're going to do everything that you, that you, that you want really to get you started. But as you grow your business, we all know, and I'm, you know, you guys at Boost Lee as well, kind of advocate this, if you're, you're building a business on somebody else's foundations, you haven't got a business. So you've then got to implement, you know, your direct booking strategies and your socials and your SEO and everything that goes with that to get direct bookings. Now one tip that I'd give, give, give to people is when you start in a business, when you start in, use the OTAs to get their foot in the door and then just speak to your customer.
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