Should I List My Vacation Rental On Google?

As you know, Google Travel has integrated vacation rentals into the Hotel Search functionality. Now both show up in both Google maps and search results alongside hotels. 

If you are looking to grow your business, you ensure a) Google knows to index it in general (learn how), and b) that your properties get included in Google Travel searches (it’s not automatic, but our Atlas platform and channel management partners like Lexicon can do this and much more for you). In this Marketing Monday, we are going to review a few benefits of being listed. 

Online Visibility: Google comprises 90% of the search engine market in the United States, so to have any shot at being discovered through search, you need to make sure they crawl your site (it doesn’t just happen). It’s worth building some basic SEO knowledge so you can optimize your site. It’s well worth your time to know the broad strokes of SEO.

Fortunately, there are plugins (e.g. WordPress) and platform-specific (e.g. Wix, Squarespace) wizards that will lead you by the hand.

Direct Bookings: We all know direct bookings are the most profitable for your business. Google currently doesn’t charge for listing your vacation rental website on their site nor do they collect any commission from bookings redirected to your website. HUGE WIN. Put the power of the world’s largest search engine to work for you!

Level Playing Field: Since Google doesn’t have any skin in the game (yet), your VR operation can occupy the same screen real estate as flag hotels. Now is the perfect time to get listed and take advantage of the fact that VR is considered a “core accommodation” now.

If you are looking to expand onto Google we would love to chat! Atlas Commerce and Digital Marketing has helped over 350 vacation rental companies, hotels, and resorts with their digital marketing needs and expansion of their business.