Sunday, October 6, 2013

Vacation Rental Owners Blog

Vacation Rental Owners Blog

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Tools That Help Make DIY Video Clips Easy

Posted: 05 Oct 2013 09:00 AM PDT

"iPad and iPhone" by Sean MacEntee (CC BY 2.0)If you caught MyVR's presentation at the HomeAway Summit earlier this year, you’ll know I’m a fan of video; we included it on our list of minimal-effort activities that can have a medium-to-high impact on your marketing efforts.

I believe video can be quick, engaging and memorable. While professional video can be well worth the investment, even brief “home videos” can inspire wistful desire in would-be guests.

More than half of Americans own smartphones and chances are good that you have a video camera nearby — if not on your phone, then a digital camera with video capability.

Devices and tablets make working with digital video much more accessible than it has been in the past, from complex tools to basic apps that all but walk you through the process from start to finish. Here are a few of the more popular options.

Instagram, Vine and Viddy

Instagram (free; available on Android and iOS) and Vine (free; available on Android and iOS) are similar apps that are best used for creating short 'teasers' that highlight your space. As this comparison by TechCrunch highlights, Vine provides basic options while Instagram offers easy enhancements.

Both apps require you to use your smartphone to take the video. While Instagram allows 15-second videos with filters and image stabilization, Vine videos are limited to six seconds with no features for fancy editing. However, Vine videos replay automatically and can easily be embedded into your website.

Viddy (free; available on Android and iOS) is another smartphone app that's comparable to Instagram, with 15-second videos and filters. But it also offers a few more features–like the ability to add a soundtrack, or import videos from your photo album (which means you don't need to use the app itself to capture video).

These clips aren't long, but can still be used to give people a taste of what to expect. You could

iMovie and Magisto

For videos that stretch longer than just a few seconds, apps like iMovie ($4.99; available for iOS) and Magisto (free with paid options available; available on Android and iOS) give you a broader range of editing options: soundtracks and special effects, titles and transitions. If you're creating a longer video, you may find it helpful to review these video tips and best practices.

Prezi

When it comes to creating video, animated slideshows generally aren’t your best option; it’s easy for them to be too long, static and unengaging. However, Prezi (free with paid options available; cloud based) is a popular option that lets you add life to still photos and graphics through an interactive interface that's part diagram and part slideshow.

You can also add video to your Prezi, like this example from Telluride Vacation Rentals, or music, as in this presentation highlighting travel options in Maine.

These are just a selection of the many different options and applications available. Do you have a favorite? Have a presentation you'd like to share? Tell us about it in the comments below.

What Are Your Guests Celebrating?

Posted: 28 Sep 2013 09:00 AM PDT

People travel because they want to experience life, and a significant number of people travel to celebrate it: more than 7 in 10 leisure travelers have gone on vacation to celebrate a milestone like an anniversary, birthday or wedding.

What are your vacation rental guests celebrating during their stay, and what are you doing to make their visit memorable? The MMGY Global /Harrison Group 2012 Portrait of American Travelers found that more than nine in 10 travelers agree, “The memories I get from my vacations make the trip worth it."

Welcome baskets are thoughtful gifts that take a bit of effort to coordinate but make a great first impression. Plus, they can be customized to suit the occasion.

Helping your guests celebrate these milestones doesn’t have to be so hands on, however. In fact, you may be able to do some activities once and practically forget about them while others will take just a few minutes when it's appropriate.

"After the Party", by Derek Lee on flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Create a local event guide

Organizing an event of any kind involves a lot of details, and when you're coordinating things at a distance, every detail ends in a question mark: Who is a good photographer? Where can you buy a customized cake? What's the best flower shop? Who would be an effective DJ?

A one or two page directory of local service providers can be invaluable, saving your guests hours of stress and research — something they'll undoubtedly thank you for.

For ideas, have a look at these lists:

Adding this directory to your website can also be an effective draw for traffic, especially if you live in an area where nobody else has thought to compile such a handy reference.

Make a note of it in your calendar

If you hosted a newly married couple this summer, imagine their delight when — a year from their special day — they receive a card from you wishing them a happy anniversary?

It’s a simple act that has very little cost and take just moments to schedule in your calendar, but it carries tremendous personal attention that's all but guaranteed to make an impression.

Don't forget the little people

Milestone events are often multi-generational, which may include kids and teenagers; group travel is a quickly growing travel niche.

Whether your vacation rental is kid-friendly or not, the people renting your property may be vacationing with others who have children. Why not help them out with a few ideas to keep the kids entertained?

Travelers value good customer service; providing a smooth vacation will make people happy, but ensuring a memorable vacation can create a fan for life.

Have you had a lot of guests who book your home for celebrations? What do you do to help them out? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

photo by Derek Lee
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