Choose the Right Austin Location
When deciding where to list your Austin short-term rental, location is key. Choosing a property near top attractions, with a high walkability score, and located in a trendy neighborhood will help your rental stand out.
Some of the most popular areas for short-term rentals in Austin include:
- Downtown - Close to the lively entertainment district on 6th Street, Austin Convention Center, and Lady Bird Lake. Highly walkable and central.
- South Congress - Funky, eclectic area with boutique shopping, restaurants, and music venues. Close to Congress Bridge bats.
- Clarksville - Charming historic district nestled close to downtown. Great for quaint cottages and bungalows.
- East Austin - Hip, up-and-coming area near bars, coffee shops, and food trucks. Close to Mueller development.
Consider proximity to iconic Austin locations like Zilker Park, Barton Springs, the Texas State Capitol, and top live music venues.
In the scenic Hill Country, top areas include:
- Marble Falls - On Lake Marble Falls with water activities and access to Longhorn Cavern State Park.
- Lakeway - Upscale community on Lake Travis perfect for lake houses and golf course views.
- Horseshoe Bay - Lakeside town with resorts and access to Lake LBJ.
- Kingsland - Small town charm on Lake LBJ with beautiful hill country views.
- Lago Vista - Relaxed area with golf courses and a marina on Lake Travis.
Check the walkability score to ensure your rental is convenient for guests to explore without a car.
Highlight attractions, dining, nightlife and outdoor activities that are easily accessible on foot or by using public transportation.
Focus on Great Austin Photos
Hire a professional photographer to capture high-quality images of your Austin short-term rental.
Showcase the unique architecture and decor of your property.
- For a modern downtown loft, highlight exposed brick and city skyline views.
- For a funky east side bungalow, feature colorful murals and bohemian style.
Convey the vibe and character of your neighborhood and Austin.
- Bright, spacious, and inviting photos increase bookings.
- Capture local flavor like murals, food trucks, and music venues.
Differentiate with exceptional photos that make guests say "wow!"
- Wide-angle shots showcase the entire space.
- Close-ups highlight amenities and thoughtful touches.
- Use professional lighting and composition.
Remember to:
- Refresh photos regularly to capture updates and improvements.
- Ask guests to share their own photos to build your portfolio.
Photos are critical for standing out, so invest time and money into stellar photography!
Perfect the Austin Listing Details
Include popular Austin keywords like "Austin, ATX, live music capital, BBQ, Barton Springs, South Congress" in your listing title and description.
Craft compelling, benefit-focused titles and descriptions:
- Highlight amenities like "Spacious Downtown Loft with Rooftop Pool"
- Focus on experience such as "Fun East Austin Retreat Steps from Top Bars"
Provide all the details guests need to book instantly and enjoy their stay:
- Accurate calendar and pricing
- House rules and instructions
- Directions and access instructions
- Respond quickly to guest inquiries to convert more bookings.
- Refresh listing details regularly to keep content optimized.
- Test different titles and descriptions to improve click-through-rate.
- Ensure listing is consistent across platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and your website.
- Follow best practices for listing optimization to maximize bookings.
Offer Stand-Out Austin Amenities
Include smart home technology like digital locks and home automation:
- Keyless entry allows for seamless check-in
- Control lighting, temperature, music from your phone
Provide premium entertainment amenities:
- Pool table, video games, outdoor TVs and sound system
- Keep guests engaged without leaving
Showcase local Austin art, books, guides:
- Highlight local creatives and businesses
- Help guests discover the city
Fully stock the kitchen with gourmet appliances:
- Nespresso, Vitamix, sous vide, kitchen gadgets
- Allow guests to cook upscale meals
Provide luxury toiletries from local brands:
- Beekman 1802, Fresh, Austin Soap Company
- Elevate the bath experience
Stand out by anticipating guest needs and going above-and-beyond with amenities, entertainment, and thoughtful touches. Curate your rental to provide a true local Austin experience.
Focus on 5-Star Austin Hospitality
Provide 24/7 support and excellent communication:
- Respond quickly to inquiries and requests
- Be available by phone, text, email
Make check-in seamless with lockboxes or smart locks.
Offer local recommendations for:
- Restaurants - Franklin BBQ, Uchi, Contigo
- Nightlife - Rainey Street, 6th Street, East 6th
- Attractions - Zilker Park, Barton Springs, Congress Ave
Provide above-and-beyond services:
- Grocery delivery
- Airport pickups
- Personal concierge
Quick response times and professional service create exceptional stays.
Exceed expectations with 5-star hospitality. Surprise and delight guests.
Pay attention to the entire guest journey from inquiry to checkout and beyond.
Consistent, responsive, and truly caring service helps your rental stand out.
Gather Austin Reviews and Testimonials
Follow up with guests to ask for reviews after their stay.
- Send a review request via Airbnb or VRBO.
- Personally email guests a link to leave a review.
Respond publicly to reviews to show you care.
- Thank guests for positive feedback.
- Address any concerns raised constructively.
Showcase best reviews prominently on your listing page.
- Pull out short quotes that capture your property's highlights.
Collect guest photos and testimonials to use in your listing.
- With permission, use Instagram photos guests tag you in.
- Ask for a brief video testimonial you can embed.
Reviews and word-of-mouth are critical for conversion.
- Reviews boost SEO and credibility.
- Testimonials provide social proof.
Promptly address any issues raised in reviews.
- Take feedback seriously to improve.
- Maintain professionalism always.
Utilize Other Austin Marketing Strategies
Leverage social media like Instagram and Facebook:
- Showcase your rental with professional photos
- Engage with potential guests
Run targeted digital ads on Google, Facebook, Instagram.
- Retarget website visitors
- Promote to relevant demographics and interests
Partner with local businesses:
- Offer discounts at area restaurants, shops, attractions
- Cross-promote to their audience
Focus on getting repeat guests and referrals:
- Offer discounts for return stays
- Make the first stay exceptional so guests come back
- Ask happy guests to refer friends
We also recommend that short-term rental owners:
- Diversify marketing across multiple channels for the best results.
- Always track performance to optimize strategy.
- Provide a consistent brand experience across all touchpoints.
- Leverage existing guest networks through reviews, referrals, and social media.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes your Austin short-term rentals stand out?
Our Austin vacation rentals stand out due to our focus on location, amenities, hospitality, and guest experience. All of our Austin properties are located in popular central neighborhoods like Downtown, South Congress, East Austin, and Clarksville. We offer premium amenities like smart home technology, luxury toiletries, and entertainment options. Our responsive 24/7 service and local recommendations provide 5-star hospitality. And we gather reviews, testimonials, and feedback to constantly improve.
How do you optimize listing content for maximum bookings?
We perfect listing details by including popular Austin keywords, crafting compelling titles and descriptions, providing complete details for instant booking, and regularly refreshing content. We also use professional photography and video to showcase our properties. Listings are consistent across our website, Airbnb, VRBO, and other platforms.
What kind of services and recommendations do you provide guests?
We offer personalized concierge services like grocery delivery, airport pickups, and restaurant reservations. Local recommendations are provided for top Austin restaurants like Franklin BBQ, nightlife on Rainey Street and 6th Street, and attractions such as Zilker Park, Barton Springs, Congress Avenue bats, and live music venues.
How do you get reviews and testimonials from past guests?
We follow up with guests after each stay to request reviews on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. We also personally email guests asking them to leave reviews on other sites. With permission, we use guest photos from Instagram and video testimonials in our listings. Responding publicly to feedback is key.
What other marketing strategies do you use besides online listings?
In addition to optimized listings on Airbnb, VRBO, and our website, we leverage social media marketing on Instagram and Facebook, run targeted digital ads, partner with local businesses, and focus on repeat guests and referrals. Our goal is to diversify our marketing across multiple channels for the best results.
Let us know if you have any other questions! We're happy to help provide more information about our Austin short-term rental management services.