Instagram’s recent figures climbed to a whopping one billion users in 2021. Nowadays, everyone (and their dog) has an Instagram account, so why shouldn’t your vacation rental? Unsurprisingly, travel photos are a big hit on the image-sharing platform, and some popular hashtags such as #travel and #wanderlust have 293 million and 72 million tagged posts, respectively. With one billion users and huge potential in the travel sphere, you’ve got a major opportunity to attract guests if you manage to use this platform right.
Although there are many reasons why property owners need Instagram, there aren’t many guides to show you how to use it for your vacation rental business. That’s what we’re here for! Our full guide of 55 marketing tips for Instagram will get you started. In the meantime, we’re ready to dish out some awe-inspiring accounts for you to follow.
Besides setting up your account and finding followers, there are steps to take for your property before you even upload your first picture. In this article, you’ll gain inspiration from some of the top ten vacation rental owners using this platform to their advantage. You’ll also discover our top tips for creating an instagrammable vacation rental that will be a visual success both on and offline.
Top 10 killer vacation rental Instagram accounts
Some vacation rental owners make the mistake of casting too wide of a net when it comes to Instagram inspiration. While interior design and generic travel accounts are useful, they’re not going to be what really attracts your clientele. See what other owners in your industry are doing to get a feel for what your feed should look like.
Don’t lose sight of the goal! Maintaining a vacation rental Instagram account can be a lot of work, so you want to make sure everything you post on your feed has the capabilities of attracting new guests. See what others are doing to get their guests off the app and onto their direct booking website.
Yes Croatia
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Less is more
Browse quickly through interior design hashtags such as #interiorinspo and you’ll notice a key trend: clutter has no place on Instagram. Instagram users favor cleanliness and organization over ornaments and trinkets – and the same applies to your vacation rental.
While your property may be your own vacation home, too, it’s important to remember that when guests stay, they will need space to unpack their own belongings. So declutter any surfaces, organize shelves neatly and keep wardrobes free of possessions.
Nkanyi House
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Throw some light on it
Natural light not only makes for the best photos but also the best guest experience. Bright, airy rooms can instantly make guests feel relaxed – and they translate really well into photographs.
Sadly, no amount of editing will save a photo if it’s poorly lit to begin with. You can encourage guests to Instagram your property, however, by ensuring it’s well lit – either naturally or artificially. Remember, industrial lamps and hanging light bulbs can also turn a dull space into an interesting, snapshot-worthy setup.
Hudson Carriage House
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Hygge is the word
The Danish concept of hygge has taken both interiors and Instagram to the next level. Having a hygge home is all about coziness, warmth and well-being. There are currently around 3.5 million posts under the hashtag #hygge on the social network and common themes run throughout.
These images capture comfort, craft, color and nature. Make your vacation rental that little bit more hygge with plenty of plush cushions, soft furnishings and blankets, plus handmade details such as local artists’ work, candles and fresh flowers.
La Blatiere
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Be bold with color choices
Before you stock up on paint to change the entire color scheme of your home, think about how a small (but bold) change could be more effective. You can instantly update a simple palette of neutral colors (i.e., beiges, naturals and whites) with an accent wall, a few statement accessories or even original artworks.
This will make your rental more interesting visually and, as a result, more instagrammable. Take it from La Blatiere, who throws in a splash of color with a few cute accents as shown in the post above. Color will grab the attention of your followers and, in turn, make them more likely to book.
8 Villas
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Bring it to life with plants
As well as providing benefits such as reducing stress, creating a feeling of well-being and improving overall air quality, there is no denying that houseplants are a highly attractive addition to any property or property’s Instagram.
In addition to this, there are plenty of Instagram accounts and posts exclusively dedicated to plants and their place in interiors. Top tip: if your guests tend to stay for a week or two at a time, opt for lower maintenance greenery that doesn’t require frequent watering.
Yellow Block BnB
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Convey your personality
Whether or not travelers will see your property on Instagram before they book their stay will depend on each particular guest. As a vacation rental owner, one of the key pieces of advice you’ll hear from agents and other professionals is to make your property unique. If your interior looks just like your next-door neighbor’s, but your rates are twice as high – where is a guest more likely to stay?
Adding touches of your personality and your brand’s personality will make it much more memorable and photograph-worthy. It can be tempting to borrow ideas from others – and that’s totally ok (Pinterest is your friend)! Just don’t lose sight of the fact that your property has its own special qualities that should shine for any incoming guests.
Euphoric Leisure
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It’s not all about photos
Instagram is really good at keeping up with the shifting needs of social media. Now, more than ever, vacation rental videos get more engagement than photos and they’re actually favored by the Instagram algorithm. Your content is far more likely to get seen if it’s in a video format rather than still shots.
With that said, photos aren’t obsolete by any means. Many vacation rental businesses, like Euphoric Leisure, are curating a mix of photos and videos to appeal to multiple guests. Instagram gives you a number of options to upload moving content, from reels to video posts to IGTV; you’ve got many options for adding a cinematic experience to your profile.
Boho Dunham
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Show off your guests
Your Instagram followers aren’t going to keep up with your content if it comes across like an ad. The best thing you can do is create content that’s interesting for your audience and subtly shows off your property and what better way to do that than with user-generated content?
Chances are, your guests are going to take pictures while they’re on holiday. Ask them to share what they’ve taken and repost it to your own page. This creates a form of social proof that your property is a desirable place to stay, as confirmed by other travelers.
ATL Artist Loft
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Stick with a theme
Travelers, especially those who turn to Instagram, are seeking unique experiences when they book a vacation rental. They want something indistinguishable from the rest of the holiday homes on the market. What better way to do that than with a theme?
Having a theme for your property helps to give your space a personality. Communicate this style through social media. Whether your theme is family fun or city artsy, like the ATL Artistic Loft, make sure you’re consistent with your theme on and offline.
Treetop Cozumel
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Let your amenities shine
On your vacation rental website, you might have your amenities listed in a bullet format or a couple of paragraphs describing what you have on offer, but Instagram gives you the chance to really sell your amenities. On Instagram, you’re not just selling a pool; you’re showing your guests doing a cannonball into the pool during your off-season sale.
If you have unique amenities, Instagram is a perfect place to show them off. Treetop Cozumel does this perfectly by showing one of their guests taking the complimentary bikes out for a cruise near the coast. It’s more than just bikes. It’s an experience that potential guests can picture themselves doing.
Summary
If you’ve been looking for new ways to get inspired, Instagram will be a great place to let your imagination run wild. We’ve linked ten professionals who have used this platform to successfully attract new guests, so feel free to take notes.
Don’t forget to link your vacation rental website to your Instagram account, so when you’ve fully convinced visitors to book a stay, they’ll know where to go. Having a website just as stunning as your Instagram feed will help you secure bookings and fill in your reservation calendar. Lodgify helps you to create a beautiful page with an easy-to-follow website builder. Try it for free today with our 7-day trial.
