Heads In Beds Show

In this episode Conrad and Paul try on a fun new idea for size: what if you ran your vacation rental business like a poker player? EV, bets, investment, bankroll, the whole nine yards? Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul bring up an idea: what if you charged *more* on your direct booking website compared to what you charged on the OTAs? It sounds counter-intuitive, but there's an argument to me made. Tune in, will ya? Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul dive into the world of AI search / LLM tools and ask a key question: are these going to kill direct bookings. Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul give an update on the ever-changing landscape of Google Ads and how we set them up (both homeowner and guest) into 2026 to get excellent results.Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul talk all about the death of the standard 60 day or 90 day booking windows and instead tell you what you need to work on inside of your vacation rental business to drive more demand and appropriately market your properties for maximum revenue and occupancy. Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul break down building marketing opportunities with events. The duo specifically focuses on how to leverage landing pages, search volume trends, and other signals in your local community to take advantage of people traveling for these events. Drive more bookings with these tips.Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul talk about the realities of AI slop, how you know if you’re making real progress or fake progress, being fooled by hallucinations in AI data, and a lot more! Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

Welcome to our second-ever guest episode! We're joined by Arthur Colker to chat all things direct bookings, OTAs vs direct booking "sourcing", what percent of Airbnb listings are direct bookable and a LOT more topics.A special thanks to Arthur for reaching out and joining us.Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101Arthur ColkerStayFi🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul talk "All About Attribution" including how ads platforms track "bookings made", limits of pixels, how to proceed when you get conflicting data, Meta vs Google and a LOT more... Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul take a crack at defining what a LLM / GEO / AEO whatever ya wanna call it audit should look like. Want a copy of the audit? Email [email protected] with subject line "LLM Audit doc" and you'll get it! Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul break down ALL of the sections you need to build a killer, lead-generating machine of a homeowner landing page.From the episode: 1. Hero The first thing a homeowner sees. A bold, benefit-driven headline, a subheadline with your USP, a compelling property photo, and a CTA (form or button). The entire job of this section is to get them to keep scrolling — or fill out the form immediately.2. Trust Bar A slim strip of logos and proof points directly below the hero: Google rating, Airbnb/VRBO partner badges, VRMA membership, BBB, years in business, properties managed. Builds instant credibility before the homeowner has read a single word of copy.3. Pain Point / Problem Agitation Addresses the homeowner's frustration before pitching solutions. Speaks to the stress of self-managing, the underwhelming results from big-box managers, or the fear of leaving money on the table. Creates emotional resonance and makes everything that follows feel relevant.4. Earnings Estimator / Revenue Calculator An interactive tool where the owner enters their address or property details and gets a projected annual income range. One of the highest-converting elements on any owner page — makes the value immediately personal and tangible.5. What Makes Us Different / USP Explains the core differentiators vs. competitors and self-managing. Boutique vs. national, local vs. generic, hands-on vs. automated. Should answer "why you specifically?" not just "why a manager?"6. How It Works / Onboarding Process A 3–5 step visual walkthrough of what happens after a homeowner signs up — from evaluation to first booking. Reduces fear of the unknown and lowers the psychological friction of committing.7. Full-Service Checklist / Everything Included An exhaustive breakdown of every service covered under management: dynamic pricing, professional photography, guest screening, 24/7 support, maintenance coordination, tax remittance, owner reporting, etc. Homeowners need to feel like every detail is handled.8. Channel Distribution / Where You'll Be Listed A logo wall showing all the platforms their property will appear on — Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, direct site, Google Vacation Rentals. Reassures owners their home gets maximum market exposure.9. Technology & Tools Showcases the software stack: PMS, dynamic pricing tool, channel manager, housekeeping platform, owner portal. Signals that you run a modern, professional operation — not a spreadsheet-based mom-and-pop.10. Owner Portal Preview A screenshot or short UI demo of the owner dashboard. "See your bookings, earnings, and maintenance requests anytime." Transparency about visibility is one of the top concerns prospective owners have.11. Explainer Video A 60–90 second video walking through the owner value prop — ideally featuring the founder or a real owner story. Vintory's research shows this alone can lift conversions by ~34%.12. Owner Testimonials Full-name quotes from real homeowners, ideally with photo, property type, and location. Best if mixed between long-form narrative quotes and short punchy pull-quotes. Video testimonials are even better.13. Owner Success Story / Case Study A single deep-dive narrative: one real owner, specific numbers, before/after comparison. "Sarah had a 2BR in Pacific Beach. Year one with us: $58,000 — 37% more than she earned solo." Makes results feel concrete and achievable.14. Star Ratings & Review Count A standalone visual callout of your aggregate Google/Airbnb rating and review volume. Deserves its own moment rather than being buried in the trust bar.15. Side-by-Side Comparison Table Self-managing vs. big national manager vs. you. One of the most persuasive conversion tools on the page. Directly neutralizes the "why not just list it myself?" objection with a visual, scannable answer.16. Risk Reversals / Guarantees Placed near CTAs to eliminate commitment fear. No long-term contracts, no startup fees, satisfaction guarantee, 30-day out clause, performance guarantee — whatever you actually offer. Reduces the perceived risk of saying yes.17. Local Market Expertise / Market Data Average nightly rates, occupancy benchmarks, peak season data, demand trends for your specific market. Positions your company as the local authority, not just a vendor. Especially powerful against national competitors.18. About the Team / Company Story A brief, human section with founder photo and origin story. Builds emotional connection and trust — particularly important for boutique operators competing against faceless national brands.19. FAQ / Objection Crusher An accordion of the real questions homeowners ask during the sales process: fees, personal use, damage protection, revenue reporting, how long to get started. Each answer should resolve a specific objection.20. Press / Awards / Recognition Any local media coverage, industry awards, or "As Featured In" mentions. Even modest recognition adds a layer of legitimacy that social proof alone doesn't cover.21. Property Types We Manage A visual grid showing the range of properties in your portfolio — condos, single-family homes, beach cottages, luxury homes. Helps different owner types self-identify and feel like you can handle their specific situation.22. Final Lead Capture Form / CTA Section The conversion close at the bottom of the page. Mirrors the hero but with a softer, benefit-forward framing: "Discover Your Property's True Potential." Should include risk reversals nearby ("No obligation. No contracts.").23. Sticky / Floating CTA A persistent bar or button that follows the user as they scroll — "Get Your Free Rental Estimate →". Critical on mobile where the hero form scrolls out of view almost immediately.Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul flip the script and break down WHY a hotel often is a better stay than a vacation rental. Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul dive into a 2026 trend: your website traffic is up, but your bookings are down - why? Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul give their regular update on AI: what tools they're using, what's changing, and how you can use it to grow and scale your vacation rental business. They talk ClawdBot (aka OpenClaw), traffic from LLMs going down month over month, prompt tracking value (it's useless?!), and what tools they're using MORE and LESS of... Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellOpenClawNEW Research: AIs are highly inconsistent when recommending brands or products; marketers should take care when tracking AI visibilityChatGPT vs Google Traffic DataConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul take a (not too far back) look into memory lane and see what's changed from 2020 to 2025 in marketing, brand, the Covid boom and bust and a LOT more. A casual chat! Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul talk all about how much it actually costs to get direct bookings and scale your bookings with paid ads. Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul talk about when and how to consider expanding your marketing and advertising into new channels you may not have used before like TikTok, Pinterest, native, Digital TV ads and more...Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul finish in part two their chat on how to best spend budget if you have between $3k and $10k a month in marketing budget. Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul break into 2026 with a two-part podcast series on what to spend if you have between $3k and $10k a month in marketing budget. Part two next week!Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul talk about all of the different ways you can run promos that are not just "cutting rates lower" to drive more bookings.Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteBook A Call With Us🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul break down why targeting many markets at the same time is HARD (but not impossible) and explaining why this can be a harder path to success. Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagramTwitter🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad and Paul go back to an "old" topic that we often ignore: mobile vs desktop traffic, how the site works on mobile, data on Google Analytics conversions and more...Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagramTwitter🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode Conrad goes solo on this audio-only version of a LIVE training on "The 4 Hour Vacation Rental Marketing Workweek".Want to get the video too? Tap the link below.Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellRecording Video: YouTubeConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagramTwitter🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we break down a recent VRM Intel article from Conrad O'Connell talking all about messaging and what homeowners act on vs ignore. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101Jamie Lane Airdna LinkedIn Post On ChurnMarketing Messaging That Actually Converts Vacation Rental Homeowners - VRM Intel🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we break down the questions to ask when building a vacation rental website in 2025 and beyond. Scope, pricing, vendors to work with and a LOT more...⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we come back and talk the four-part marketing for guest focused campaigns. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we talk about the youth and how they are the strategy to getting more bookings by catering and designing your properties along with what Paul and Conrad look for when booking for their family. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101Link To The Report🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we recap the VRMA 2025 show! We talk all things about The Hot Seat Session, industry trends, marketing ideas and more...⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we share our four-part framework to get a homeowner marketing plan in place. We discuss: TargetingPositioningMessagingChannelsAnd how you can build a winning strategy in each area.⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode, we dive into AI at a deep level: how SHOULD you use it and NOT use it to market your vacation rental business?Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagramTwitter🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

Note: this is a replay of an episode from last year! In this episode Conrad goes solo on this audio-only version of a LIVE training on "Building Your Vacation Rental Marketing Fundamentals".Want to get the video too? Tap the link below.Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellRecording: Building Your Vacation Rental Marketing FundamentalsConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagramTwitter🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we dive into 10 actionable steps you can take now to get more homes for 2026!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we revisit our chat on Meta Ads vs Google Ads: what we're using them now to get more bookings and more homeowners. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we chat on Conrad's LinkedIn post "can you really compete with Airbnb" to talk strategy, marketing, goals, profits and a LOT more...NOTE: this was recorded BEFORE the Airbnb 15.5% price increase move -> non-PMS connected price increase for hosts. So we didn't mention that... ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101Conrad's LinkedIn Post🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we break down the Key Data Dashboard report on trends of market share by direct vs major OTAs, trends of marketing for direct bookings and a LOT more...⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101KDD Report - Download Here🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we're talking all things TRUST and what stakeholders can do in the industry to build or destroy that trust. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we're inspired by the list from Xavier Helgesen on "what to look for when buying a business" and adapt it to the vacation rental industry. Full list credit: via Xavier HelgesenOwner operated businesses are super efficient. Owner does six jobs. You will probably spend more to professionalize.Only buy from people who have demonstrated values of honesty and integrity throughout the process.Stock purchases should be at least 25 % cheaper than asset purchases. You can’t write off the acquisition price plus you assume historical liabilities.Adjusted EBITDA ≠ EBITDA ≠ cash flow. Look for cash flow.Look for rich owners.Look for businesses that have survived multiple economic cycles.Make sure you are not in a commodity business.Everything is negotiable. We have done 90 % seller financing three times.Everyone wants a raise after you take over.Make sure management only gets paid bonuses when they distribute cash flow to owners.Pay for a really good, but very efficient, lawyer.Pay for Quality of Earnings even on small deals.The best way to find a CEO for a business is to ask the seller who has asked about buying it in the past.Look for the smallest, weirdest niches. Less competition, greater margins.If you find a good enough deal, the capital will find you.Don’t underestimate how little you know about any given industry. Find an expert to help you.Businesses with real estate offer lots of creative financing opportunities.An owner who works “10 hours a week” is still doing five people’s jobs. They are the world expert in their business.Professionalizing a business with no management in place is probably too hard unless you are running it.Understand the working capital situation deeply and as a first order of business. The working capital adjustment can be a huge adjustment in price.Don’t incentivize anyone to close deals. You want them more excited to kill a deal – this means they will speak up if something feels wrong.Look at duration of employment of employees. Lots of turnover indicates a toxic environment.Don’t take single-channel risk (e.g., Meta marketing).Share customer concentration risk with the seller through revenue shares or forgiveable notes.Underwrite your downside like a lender. Could you sell the business or its assets to at least pay back the debt if you need to?Don’t fall too in love with the business. You’ve always got to be ready to walk away.Honor your word even if it costs you money. Once trust is lost with a seller, it’s over.Honor the owner/founder’s legacy after you close.⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, the duo asks this question: what is the #1 thing holding my vacation rental company back from growth? Part II of this episode series. Go back 1 episode to find part I!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, the duo asks this question: what is the #1 thing holding my vacation rental company back from growth? ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, the guys DEBATE the content creation benefits. With AI overviews stealing a ton of your traffic, does it even make sense to take the crumbs of clicks that are left?⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we ask what most don't: why in the world do guests even CHOOSE to book a vacation rental over a hotel in the first place? How can you use this information to your advantage and let guests pick your property (and pay a premium to do it)? ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we replay a webinar between Conrad and Ben Day of Jetstream to talk all things direct bookings vs new OTA listings for bookings, launching, how to fix dead/zombie listings and a LOT more.⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101YouTube Webinar Replay VideoBen DayJetstream🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we dive into the factors that drive DEMAND in your markets and attempt to break apart what creates and drives demand. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we dive into the "new world" of AI Search trends and all of the new terms popping up. Is there a shift ongoing with your SEO efforts to nail down AI powered LLM searches? If so, listen in for all of the details. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101Rand Fishkin Podcast🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we replay a webinar between Conrad and Steve Trover - CEO of Better Talent - of all things hiring, agency vs freelancer, marketing teams, margins of your business and more. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101YouTube Webinar Replay VideoBetter Talent🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, Paul and Conrad recap build the "Success Framework" for vacation rental properties to KNOW if a property will be successful. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, Paul and Conrad recap Google Marketing Live from May of 2025. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101Googleblog RecapMartech - Everything You Need To KnowYouTube Recap🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, Paul and Conrad dive into tips and tricks on getting more bookings this summer, driving last-minute demand and boosting the number of bookings you get to fill in open dates.⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, Paul and Conrad give a TON of ideas on photo and video assets that you need to build your vacation rental brand.⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101Short-Term Rental Photography Secrets with Andrew KellerISOneedphotos🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.Video ideas: 📍 Property Showcase Videos (25 Ideas)Core Property Tours60-Second Property Highlight Reel – Wide-angle shots of living areas, bedrooms, kitchen, outdoor spaces ending with dramatic drone pullbackPOV Guest Arrival Experience – GoPro-style journey from parking to front door to best view in the houseFollow-Me Guided Tour – Host-led walkthrough highlighting unique features and amenitiesBefore & After Renovation Reveal – Split-screen transformation showcasing property improvementsRoom-by-Room Flash Tour – 3-second clips of each space with text overlays (Master Suite, Chef's Kitchen, Game Room)Amenity SpotlightsUnique Feature Deep Dive – 30-second focus on standout amenities (infinity pool, wine cellar, home theater)Chef's Kitchen in Action – Professional cooking demonstration showcasing high-end appliancesOutdoor Living Paradise – Pool, hot tub, fire pit, BBQ area montage with lifestyle shotsMaster Suite Experience – Morning coffee in bed with sunrise view through floor-to-ceiling windowsSmart Home Technology – Voice-controlled lighting, automated blinds, keyless entry demonstrationAdvanced Visual ContentAerial Property Overview – Drone 360° orbit at golden hour with distance markers to beaches/attractionsDay-to-Night Transformation – Time-lapse showing property from sunrise to illuminated eveningSeasonal Property Evolution – Same view across all four seasons (great for year-round bookings)Virtual Tour Teaser – 360° bedroom pan encouraging full Matterport tour viewingCinematic Property Film – Slow motion, professional lighting, and music telling the property's storyPractical DemonstrationsGuest Arrival Guide – Step-by-step check-in process from parking to settling inAmenity How-To Series – Hot tub operation, smart TV setup, grill instructionsProperty Navigation Map – Animated overlay showing routes to beach, downtown, parkingWi-Fi Speed Test – Real-time demonstration for remote workersStorage & Space Solutions – Closet space, luggage storage, family organization tipsMaintenance & UpdatesTurnover Time-Lapse – Professional cleaning team preparing property in fast-forwardRecent Upgrades Showcase – New furniture, technology, or amenity additionsQuality Assurance Check – Host's pre-arrival inspection ensuring everything is perfectSeasonal Maintenance – HVAC service, pool opening, landscape updatesAccessibility Features – Ramps, grab bars, accessible bathrooms for inclusive marketing🎯 Lifestyle & Guest Experience (15 Ideas)Daily ExperiencesPerfect Morning Routine – Coffee brewing, sunrise yoga on deck, fresh pastriesCozy Evening Ritual – Fireplace crackling, wine pour, city lights twinklingFamily Fun Montage – Game night laughter, pool splashing, movie night setupCouples Retreat Moments – Hot tub under stars, breakfast in bed, sunset dinnerRemote Work Paradise – Home office setup, video call with beach backdropEntertainment & RecreationGame Room Championships – Pool table trick shots, arcade game highlights, competition laughsOutdoor Adventure Prep – Packing beach bags, loading kayaks, hiking gear organizationSpa Day at Home – Bubble bath setup, face masks by the pool, massage table readyCelebration Central – Birthday party setup, anniversary dinner, graduation toastPet-Friendly Features – Dog bed setup, fenced yard, nearby dog park walkthroughCulinary ExperiencesGourmet Cooking Experience – Using high-end appliances to create restaurant-quality mealsLocal Grocery Haul – Shopping at nearby markets, unpacking fresh ingredientsBBQ Master Class – Grilling techniques, outdoor dining setup, sunset feastCoffee Connoisseur Corner – Espresso machine tutorial, morning coffee ritualWine & Dine Experience – Cellar selection, proper glassware, tasting notes🗺️ Local Area & Activities (10 Ideas)Attraction ShowcasesTop 5 Local Attractions Countdown – Quick-cut tour of must-visit spots with distancesHidden Gems Revealed – Secret beaches, local favorite restaurants, insider tipsSeasonal Activity Guide – Skiing in winter, beach days in summer, foliage tours in fallFoodie Adventure Map – Farmers markets, food trucks, fine dining recommendationsFamily-Friendly Itinerary – Zoo, adventure parks, kid-friendly restaurantsExperience DocumentationDay Trip Inspiration – POV drive to wine country, mountain hikes, city explorationLocal Event Calendar – Festivals, concerts, seasonal celebrations nearbyWeather-Proof Activities – Rainy day museums, indoor entertainment, covered marketsTransportation Options – Rental car pickup, public transit, ride-share availabilityShopping & Services – Grocery stores, pharmacies, urgent care locations⭐ Social Proof & Reviews (8 Ideas)<...

In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, Paul and Conrad cover all things Foundational Planning for a vacation rental management company to thrive and grow.  We cover:Strategy & Foundational Planning • Mission, Vision & Values statements • Company origin story • Unique Value Proposition (UVP) — guests & owners • Geographic focus / service‑territory map • Ideal guest personas • Ideal property‑owner personas • SMART business goals & high‑level KPIs • SWOT & competitive analysis report • Growth & expansion strategy + market‑entry playbook • Succession / leadership‑transition plan • Service scope & business‑model definition • Market‑research repository (demand, seasonality, ADR benchmarks)⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.