4 Reasons to Name Your Vacation Rentals
February 25, 2020
Why Name Vacation Rentals?
Whether it’s Graceland, The White House, or the Winchester Mystery House, naming homes isn’t new. It is a romantic practice that has its roots in old Europe. While it seems to have lost some appeal in recent years, it is a practice that still matters, and can help you to create an impactful and memorable brand.
Naming your vacation rental is not only important, but it is also important to do it right. The right name can have a huge impact on your rental success! While naming your property is more art than science, the right name is the perfect way to make your property stand out in the minds of customers and potential guests.
Here are some reasons why naming your property is a great strategy for growing your rental business and adding value to your brand.
1. Generate Word of Mouth Marketing
Naming your vacation rental is a great way to build your brand and generate word of mouth marketing. A name makes it easier for a guest to remember your rental. There’s a good chance you’re not going to remember the address of your Aruba vacation rental on 47 Blackbird Lane a year from now, but if you stayed in the “Aruba Waves Surf Hut” you’ll remember – especially if you woke up every morning to surf behind the house!
An easy to remember name will increase word-of-mouth referrals. These recommendations made by friends, workers, or neighbors you know and trust is the most cost-effective way to attract new guests. A “name” makes it easy to remember and share your brand.
2. Names are Inviting and Engaging
Dale Carnegie once said, “Names are the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Giving your home a name gives it the air of being something important, unique, and worth knowing. A name gives an identity, expresses uniqueness, and attaches emotion and that encourages engagement.
3. Named Vacation Homes Show Up in Search Results
If a traveler has spoken with a friend who told them about this amazing vacation home in Aruba called the “Aruba Waves Surf Hut,” it’s an identifier that can easily lead them to the property. A recent survey about vacation rental marketing found that 74% of travelers looking for a rental would “Google” the name of the property outside of OTAs. Today, guests are doing more extensive research. Users doing their due diligence can find more information about a “named” property and the local area making them more likely to book direct.
4. Logistically, Home Names Make a Property Easier to Find Upon Arrival
As more guests choose online check-in, having the home’s name prominently displayed at the unit makes it easier to know they are in the right place – especially when they arrive after dark. Check local building codes about proper posting. You may need to get creative, for example, creating custom doormats or discrete welcome signs.
Include the Vacation Rental’s Name on Your Website
Because users may type your home’s name directly into a search engine like Google or Bing, as opposed to just searching an OTA, make sure you have your vacation home’s name not only on all of your OTA listings, but also display it in the title tag and headers of your website. Travelers will research your brand online so take control of your brand image.
Tips for Naming Your Property
Whether your property is a single-family home, a condo, or an apartment, it will benefit from having a name. Here are two tips for choosing the perfect name for your vacation rental:
- Make it Meaningful – Consider why you purchased the property, its family history, the view, location, amenities, or what kind of experience guests will have. When you connect the name to the home in a meaningful way, guests are more likely to share it with friends, family, and on their social networks.
- Make it Unique – One of the main benefits you’ll enjoy by naming your home is that you’re making it easier to find, so do some online research to ensure it’s a unique name. If you are using a name that isn’t exactly unique, make sure to include the location along with the name to give it an additional identifier. If you’re having a hard time thinking of a name, check out this list to get your creative juices flowing.
In the competitive vacation rental market you need a differentiator to make your properties and brand stand out. Naming your properties is the perfect way to establish your brand, create an impression for guests, and pay homage to an old school tradition that is still an effective and inexpensive way to market your vacation rentals.
