Those of us who watch black and white classic films produced back in the days when people walked quickly, may recall Chico Marx, in the classic film Duck Soup, mischievously asking “Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?” The implication was clear – a snippet from a friend is deemed to be so true it can even outweigh common sense.
Research has consistently corroborated what the owners of most holiday homes – and Chico – know instinctively: That recommendations on places to stay on holiday are most likely to be followed if the holiday rental is recommended by friends.
Nielsen Research questioned over 28,000 internet users in almost 60 countries and found that over 92% of users place a much higher level of trust in recommendations made by word of mouth from friends. In addition, we can see how vacation rental review sites are frequently consulted to verify details on a holiday home owner’s website.
In addition, Flipto have calculated that, on average, each guest has 130 friends on facebook, 300 followers on twitter and 60 connections on linkedin… all potential ambassadors for your holiday rental.
In order to have your friends help promote your property, Getaway Earth Holiday Rentals gives holiday home owners the opportunity to feature their twitter feeds, facebook pages and reviews, as well as their own cottage or rental website on their accommodation listing. Steering your friends to like or tweet your listing page on Getaway Earth can help in spreading the word about the holidays you offer.
Of course, we are fully aware that, for the majority of holiday home owners listing on Getaway Earth, the overwhelming focus is on taking care of their guests, and we are aware how time consuming this is. Holiday home owners need to be a jack of all trades – arranging transportation, answering emails, cleaning, decorating and maintaining their holiday home, keeping up with local activities and opening times, preparing unique welcome packs or freshly cooked meals, tending to their gardens and grounds and private pools, and much, much more. This dedication to exceeding guest expectations will of course, in itself, generate positive word of mouth – but may well relegate updating social media sites to a secondary level. Owners, share your thoughts on Chico’s words in the comments box below. If you are a potential guest looking for a holiday home to rent, we’d love to hear from you about how you decide to pick one holiday home over another!
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