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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Phone showing a rental listing with a grid of interior photos, beside the title Professional Photos for Boosting Bookings

Why Professional Photos Boost Bookings for Your Vacation Property

Why is it important to include pictures of your vacation rental? According to a study by FlipKey, “Travelers are 83% ...

Keypad door lock illustration beside the title Tips for Log Cabin Owners

Marketing Tips for Log Cabin Owners

Log cabin rentals offer beautiful views and experiences. Yet vacation rental owners may have difficulty with developing ...

Host's own booking site fed by Google Vacation Rentals, local search, email and local partners

How to Get More Direct Bookings for Your Vacation Rental (2026)

Airbnb and Vrbo are good at finding you guests. The catch is that every booking comes with a platform fee: most US ...