Rental Advice - Spanish Homeowners

Maximise Your Marketing

So you've decided to rent out your holiday home!

Marketing it to receive bookings requires a bit of effort on your part to create and it all begins with a well conceived and effective marketing plan specific to your particular needs. Try to be creative and think about where your target market would be likely to find you. For example, there is little point placing adverts for a holiday home in a computer magazine.

Below, we have listed a few ideas to get you started in your marketing campaign but remember, keep a constant eye out for any other marketing opportunity which presents itself and think on a wider scale - you want to get noticed!

Your marketing plan should include:

• placing adverts in the press:  although they have a smaller audience, local newspapers provide a way for you to meet potential renters face-to-face and 'sell' the idea of holidays in your Spanish home and maybe newspapers which are published in the area of your Spanish holiday home. You may find people moving to the area need somewhere to stay while their property is being built. Magazines can get you national coverage but will tend to cost more - it's worth it if you can recoup costs.

• pooling resources:  get together with other homeowners in your area and share excess bookings between you. Rather than miss a booking because the party is too big for your holiday home, work out a way to split the group between two or three properties. If you can do this for them, chances are they will do it for you.

• getting business cards printed:  these are a great, inexpensive way to promote your holiday home on those occasions where the person you are talking to expresses an interest in your property and can include information such as your contact details and a URL of your online advert such as http://www.rentaccomspain.com/casalejos-villamartin.

• telling people:  often forgotten is the power of word of mouth advertising. It's easy to do but best of all, it's free! Let everyone in your friends and family circle know you rent out your holiday home in Spain - ask them to pass it on to their friends.

• the internet:  this is the best way there is to market your holiday home, as there are thousands of holidaymakers from all over the world searching every day for that perfect break. A website like Rentaccomspain.com can help you tap into this market. You can find more information on using the internet as a marketing tool in our Getting Bookings article.

• email messaging:  putting a link to your online advert at the bottom of your personal emails is a quick and easy way to spread the word that you are renting in Spain. This may have a viral effect as emails sometimes get forwarded onto other people.

• brochures and flyers:  which are produced in high quality with inviting photos and clear descriptions and prices, can encourage holidaymakers to book with you when they see how great it can be. Don't forget to include contact details so that people can get in touch.

• work notice boards:  if it's allowed at your place of work. Newsletters and intranets (if you have them) are another way of getting you noticed if there is no employee notice board facility. Ask about the possibilities, you never know.

• local shop windows:  you'd be amazed at the number of people who stop and look at posters and flyers which are displayed in shop windows and street notice boards. For (usually) a small fee, you may attract the casual shopper/passer-by who will call you for more details. Keep these types of adverts simple, to the point and don't forget your contact details.

There are many other methods of marketing but it is worth remembering that part of your marketing strategy should always include asking enquirers how they heard about your holiday home to determine which of your advertising is the most effective.