Guestbook Gains

Content for the profit and optimization focused host.

Illustration of an open book with fanned pink and purple marbled pages, the banner art for the Guestbook Gains blog
Diagram of a vacation rental on Google linking to the host's own booking site

Google Vacation Rentals: The Complete Guide for Hosts (2026)

If you run one or two vacation rentals, or up to five, Google Vacation Rentals is a free way to show them to travelers ...

Do I Need a PMS for Vacation Rentals?

Do I Need a PMS for Vacation Rental? (The 2026 "Stacked Fee" Guide)

Pressure and FOMO drives many short-term rental (STR) hosts to buy and adopt a property management system (PMS), often ...

Title graphic for Co-Hosting: How to Start Managing STRs Without Owning Property

Co-Hosting: How to Start Managing STRs Without Owning Property

The short-term rental (STR) industry has transformed dramatically over the past decade. What started as a way for ...

Title graphic reading Pet-Friendly Vacation Rental Property, for hosts deciding whether to allow pets

Should Your Rental Be Pet-Friendly?

Deciding whether to make your rental pet-friendly is a big decision. While it opens your property to a wider audience, ...

Title graphic reading Leveraging Instagram To Market Your Property

Leveraging Instagram To Market Your Property

Looking to boost your vacation rental bookings and reduce those hefty OTA commission fees? Instagram might just be your ...

Blue and pink graphic with the text 'Airbnb Market Analysis for 2025,' featuring abstract curves and dots, representing data trends and insights in the short-term rental market.

How to Do an Airbnb Market Analysis (2026 Guide)

If you’re a short-term rental host, understanding your market is the cornerstone of building a successful business. ...

22 Quick and Easy Ways to Optimize Your Short-Term Rental Listing

22 Quick and Easy Ways to Optimize Your Short-Term Rental Listing in 2024

With over 2.5 million short-term rental listings available in the US alone in 2024, the competition for guests remains ...

Title graphic for the guide Enhancing Your Vacation Rental Strategy with Mid-Term Rentals

Enhancing Your Vacation Rental Strategy with Mid-Term Rentals

Including mid-term rentals in your vacation home rental strategy can be a game-changer. By targeting guests who need ...

The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Welcome Book for Airbnb Hosts

The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Stunning Welcome Book for Airbnb Hosts

As an Airbnb host or short-term rental owner, you’ve likely experienced the barrage of questions from guests. Whether ...

Open door with a pink marbled finish beside the title How to Finance Your Short-Term Rental Property

How to Finance Your Short-Term Rental Property

Who wouldn’t want to make more money faster and achieve financial independence sooner rather than later? For many, ...

Keypad door lock illustration beside the title Vacation Rental Industry Part 1

Everything You Need to Know About the Vacation Rental Industry | Part 1

Part of being a vacation rental owner is knowing the history of the industry and how it can change. The vacation rental ...

How to Write a Vacation Rental Property Description

How to Write a Successful Vacation Rental Property Description

Are you starting a vacation rental business? Is your business established and you want to increase your bookings? ...

Title graphic reading Vacation Rental Reviews, for a guide to earning more guest reviews

How to Get Vacation Rental Reviews for Higher Bookings

Vacation rental reviews have the potential to impact your bookings. For 9 in 10 consumers, an online review is equally ...

Push-button desk phone with a heart-shaped line beside the title Handling a Negative Review

How Vacation Rental Owners Should Handle a Negative Review

Reading a negative review about your vacation rental property is shocking. Especially if you try your best to create a ...

Title graphic Identifying Vacation Rental Target Audience, with a modern rental home and a host profile card

How to Identify Your Vacation Rental Target Audience

Why is it important to identify your target audience? Renters searching for a property look for specific details. Such ...