Marketing Your French Holiday Property in a Challenging Market

With every challenge come opportunities. When the market is uncertain, you may not be able to change the bigger forces at work but you can take well considered – even innovative - action wherever possible.

Get Clever with Marketing Your Holiday Rental

Your fundamental need is to sell as many weeks of the season as possible and get a return. Even when money is tight, holidaymakers are not all looking for rock bottom prices – but they do want the best deal and value for their money, so you need to make sure you’re competitive.

When it comes to marketing your holiday property, now is the time to wise up and get creative. Firstly, remember that if you introduce an offer or incentive, it should be relevant and sufficiently attractive to grab peoples’ attention. For instance, offering a bottle of wine is simply not enough so the challenge is to be more inventive and relevant to holidaymakers’ concerns.

You may be looking at ways to cut outgoings – but advertising and marketing is one area where you really can’t afford to do this. In the past, we have seen holiday rentals responding negatively in economic downturns but this time there seems to be a much greater understanding of the importance of continuing to be noticed, especially online.

It is essential to be businesslike – to think and plan carefully and to spend your marketing budget wisely. Bear in mind that with the advent of widespread – almost total – internet use in this market, holiday rental advertising is actually much cheaper today than it was ten years ago, when the main means of getting noticed was a printed brochure. Most holiday rental properties can be advertised on at least two specialist host sites for less than the equivalent of one week’s rent.

Explore New Holiday Markets and Try New Marketing Ideas

You might also widen your reach with the type of visitor you attract. If you have been marketing mainly to families with children, then try aiming for couples or groups outside school holiday times – perhaps with the added attraction of local sports or activities. It’s always good to make contact with previous clients and encourage recommendations – but you still need to market to replenish the supply of new business.

Bookings are made later when people are unsure or want the best value, so don’t panic if you still have August availability in June or even July. However, this is where judicious use of a special marketing offer could be a wise move to get you noticed.

Finally, remember that prospective guests don’t have to take only your word for it. If you have glowing testimonials in your guest book, then post some in your advertising listing. Such comments are usually lively and immediate, so they grab attention. Personal recommendation by independent visitors who have had a great holiday is a compelling and powerful tool in meeting the challenge of the modern market.

Advertise Your Holiday Property on French Connections

If you own a holiday home, gite, bed and breakfast, or rental property in France, then you should advertise on www.frenchconnections.co.uk. Our site was one of the original French holiday websites, and our low cost Advertising rates start from the equivalent of just £12.50 a month!