Boost Your Vacation Rental Bookings with Social Media

Owning a vacation rental can be an exciting way to generate income, but managing it remotely comes with its own set of challenges—especially when it comes to marketing. Social media is one of the best ways to attract guests, sh

owcase your property, and build trust, but what if you’re not physically there to take new photos and videos regularly?

Many vacation rental owners only visit their properties a few times a year, or sometimes even less. Maybe your Airbnb is in a different country, or you only use it for personal vacations once a year. This makes it difficult to keep your social media fresh with high-quality content. But the good news is that there are plenty of ways to keep your accounts active and engaging, even when you’re miles away.

In this article, we’ll explore how to get social media content for your vacation rental without being there, using smart strategies to keep your Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms full of stunning visuals and engaging posts.

1. Batch Content When You Visit

One of the easiest ways to ensure you have enough social media content is to plan ahead and batch-create content when you visit your vacation rental.

Take a variety of photos and videos: Capture wide-angle shots of every room, close-ups of special details, and different lighting conditions.
Film walkthroughs and reels: Create short video tours for Instagram and TikTok.
Plan seasonal content in advance: If you only visit once a year but want to promote holiday bookings, take festive photos during your stay so you can post them at the right time.
Use different angles and perspectives: This will help you make each post feel fresh, even if it’s from the same shoot.

By dedicating a full day to capturing content while you’re there, you’ll have a stockpile of material to use for months.

2. Encourage Guests to Share Their Photos

Your guests are already taking photos during their stay—so why not use them? User-generated content (UGC) is one of the most authentic ways to showcase your vacation rental and attract new guests.

Here’s how to encourage guests to share content without making it feel forced:

Add a friendly note in your welcome book: Mention that you’d love to see their photos and invite them to tag your Instagram handle.
Send a follow-up message: After their stay, send a thank-you message and politely ask if they’d be willing to share any photos.
Offer a small incentive: Some owners provide a discount on a future stay or a small freebie in exchange for photos.
Feature guests on your social media: Let them know you’ll credit their account if you share their content, which can make them more likely to participate.

3. Ask Your Property Manager or Cleaner to Send Photos

If you have a property manager, cleaner, or on-site staff, they can be a valuable source of fresh content.

Ask them to snap photos after cleaning: A simple shot of a freshly made bed or a sunset view can make great social media content.
Create a simple system: Let them know what types of photos you need (e.g., “A few shots of the pool area on a sunny day”) and how they can easily send them to you.
Offer a small tip or bonus: If your cleaner or manager consistently provides quality images, consider offering a small financial incentive.

4. Collaborate with UGC Creators and Influencers

If you want high-quality content without visiting your property, working with UGC creators or influencers is a great option. These creators specialize in taking professional-looking photos and videos that you can use in your marketing.

Hire a UGC creator: They’ll visit your property, create stunning visuals, and deliver edited photos and videos. Many UGC creators also specialize in lifestyle content, meaning they’ll take photos and videos of themselves enjoying the space.
Partner with travel influencers: Offer a free stay in exchange for social media coverage. Make sure you’ll also receive the content for your own accounts.
Set clear expectations: If you’re offering a free stay, be clear about the type of content you expect in return.
Check their previous work: Make sure their content style matches your brand.

5. Repurpose and Reuse Old Content

You don’t always need brand-new content to keep your social media active. Look through your archives and repurpose older photos and videos.

Post past guest photos with permission
Use different captions and angles from old shoots
Turn photos into carousel posts, reels, or stories
Add text overlays or short clips to refresh existing content

Conclusion

Keeping your vacation rental’s social media fresh and engaging doesn’t have to mean visiting the property constantly. By batching content when you visit, encouraging guests to share their photos, involving your cleaner or property manager, collaborating with UGC creators, repurposing content, you can consistently create high-quality content without being there in person.

Now that you know how to get social media content for your vacation rental without being there, it’s time to put these strategies into action. The more engaging and professional your social media presence, the more bookings and revenue you can generate.