Hook Your Guests Before They Even Search
What if you could triple your booking growth without spending years building your own audience from scratch? Most short-term rental owners make the mistake of trying to build everything themselves. They create social media accounts, post consistently, and wonder why their reach stays frustratingly small.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this guide: how to tap into audiences that already exist, get featured on TV shows and podcasts, and partner with influencers who can deliver thousands of qualified guests to your properties. This strategy has helped us achieve a 50% direct booking rate and generated over $12,000 in immediate revenue from a single collaboration.
The OPA Strategy: Your Shortcut to Massive Reach
OPA stands for “Other People’s Audiences.” Instead of spending months or years building your own following, you partner with people who already have the exact guests you want to reach.
Think about it this way. A travel podcast with 10,000 engaged listeners took years to build. A TV show with a million viewers required massive investment and time. But you can access those audiences in a single conversation or collaboration.
The beauty of OPA is that you’re not just borrowing their reach. You’re borrowing their credibility and trust. When a respected travel influencer recommends your property, their audience trusts that recommendation more than any advertisement you could create.
Eric and Kaye from Freewyld Foundry discovered this when they were approached by an Emmy-winning TV show called Staycation. What started as an unexpected email became a masterclass in leveraging other people’s audiences for business growth.
The TV Show Strategy: Turning Media Coverage Into Marketing Gold
When Staycation reached out to feature Freewyld’s unique cabin, the initial excitement was obvious. An Emmy-winning show wanted to showcase their property. But the reality of TV production was different than expected.
This wasn’t traditional TV where all costs are covered and you simply show up. Staycation operates on a pay-to-play model where featured properties invest in professional video production. The fee covers a full production crew and creates content that properties can use long after the episode airs.
The decision process was strategic. They calculated the cost of hiring professional videographers independently and realized the TV show offered similar value with the added benefit of broadcast distribution. The investment made sense when viewed as content creation plus media exposure.
Real-World Results From TV Exposure
The week after their Staycation episode aired, Freewyld saw a 30% increase in website traffic above their baseline. More importantly, their direct bookings doubled, jumping from their typical 50% to 76% that week.
While the immediate traffic bump wasn’t overwhelming, the long-term benefits proved more valuable. The professional video content continues generating value months later. They now have an Emmy-winning show feature to reference in all marketing materials, creating powerful social proof.
The episode is permanently available on Roku, providing ongoing exposure as people discover the show over time. Unlike traditional advertising that stops working when you stop paying, this content asset continues delivering value indefinitely.
Real-World Example: Seth and Tori from Bolt Farm Tree House exemplify consistent OPA execution. They regularly appear on podcasts and shows, constantly sharing their story across different audiences. When Eric mentions them, he notes they’re “always on podcasts” and recently traveled to San Diego and Vegas specifically for podcast recordings. This consistent visibility keeps their brand top-of-mind across the short-term rental industry.
The Podcast Circuit: Your Gateway to Industry Authority
Podcasts represent the most accessible entry point into OPA strategy. The short-term rental industry has relatively few podcasts, making it easier to get featured. Most hosts actively seek compelling founder stories and unique property concepts.
The key to podcast success lies in developing your signature story. For Freewyld, everything centers around “Wild Mode” – their mission to help guests disconnect from technology in beautiful natural settings. This story resonates universally because it addresses a problem most people experience.
Every podcast appearance reinforces this central narrative. Instead of discussing generic vacation rental topics, Eric consistently shares how they help people escape technology addiction and reconnect with nature. This focused messaging builds brand recognition across different audiences.
Finding Your Signature Story
If you don’t have a clear brand story yet, start with this question: “If I could change anything about the world, what would I change?” The negative framing helps your brain identify problems you’re passionate about solving.
Maybe you’re frustrated by how hard it is to travel with pets, so you create pet-friendly properties with custom amenities. Perhaps you’re tired of corporate travelers having nowhere comfortable to work remotely, so you design properties with dedicated office spaces.
Your enemy becomes your story. What is your property the antidote to? Boredom? Stress? Disconnection from nature? Corporate burnout? Once you identify this, you have the foundation for compelling podcast interviews and media coverage.
Tools and Systems for Podcast Outreach
PodPitch offers an AI-driven approach to podcast pitching. The tool finds relevant podcasts based on your keywords and automatically generates customized pitches using your bio and experience. While it requires monitoring to ensure the AI doesn’t sound robotic, it can significantly scale your outreach efforts.
The manual approach works well too. Research podcasts in your niche by searching terms your ideal guests would use: “unique stays,” “weekend getaways,” or location-specific travel content. Listen to episodes to understand their format and audience, then craft personalized pitches explaining why your story would resonate with their listeners.
Consistency matters more than perfection. Successful brands maintain regular podcast appearances rather than doing one interview and expecting permanent results. This builds compound awareness where each appearance reinforces previous exposure.
The SEO Goldmine Hidden in OPA
Every podcast appearance and media mention creates valuable backlinks to your direct booking website. Search engines treat these links as votes of confidence, improving your rankings for relevant keywords.
This compounds over time. As you appear on more shows and publications, your website authority grows. Potential guests searching for accommodations in your area become more likely to find your property organically. Freewyld now sees significant traffic from people who discover them through search rather than paid advertising.
The beauty of this approach is that it works whether we’re talking about traditional SEO or AI-powered search. Creating valuable content and getting mentioned by authoritative sources remains the foundation of search visibility across all platforms.
Press and Tourism Partnerships: The Authority Accelerator
Local and regional press offers another OPA avenue. Tourism boards, chamber of commerce organizations, and local publications constantly need content about unique accommodations and experiences.
Visit California featured Freewyld in their Idlewild travel guide early in the business journey. This single mention continues driving qualified traffic years later. The high authority of tourism websites means these backlinks carry significant SEO weight while connecting you with travelers actively planning trips to your area.
The pitch process is straightforward. Research tourism publications and boards in your region. Identify specific content that would benefit from including your property. Instead of generic outreach, propose specific value: “best cabins for Christmas gatherings” or “unique bachelorette accommodations.”
Influencer Collaborations: Quality Over Quantity
Not all influencers are created equal for vacation rental marketing. A globally-focused lifestyle influencer with millions of followers might seem attractive, but they often deliver poor results for location-based businesses.
The winning approach focuses on local or regional travel creators with engaged audiences in your target markets. For Freewyld’s California locations, they prioritize creators who specifically cover Southern California travel, day trips from LA, or unique stays within driving distance of major population centers.
Their recent collaboration with a Southern California travel curator generated 220,000 views, over $12,000 in direct bookings, and 5,000 new Instagram followers. The alignment between the creator’s audience and Freewyld’s target market made this partnership exceptionally effective.
Finding the Right Content Creators
The process doesn’t require expensive software tools. Think like your ideal guest and search Instagram or TikTok for terms they would use: “weekend trips from LA,” “unique stays,” or “things to do in [your location].”
Review creators who appear in these searches. Check their engagement rates, content quality, and audience alignment. Do their followers engage meaningfully with travel content? Do they create the style of content you’d want for your property?
Once you identify good matches, reach out directly via DM or email. Most creators are open to collaboration discussions, especially if you’ve done your homework and can explain why the partnership makes sense for their audience.
Making OPA Your Daily Practice
The most successful vacation rental brands treat audience development as a daily priority. Eric recommends dedicating one to two hours daily to OPA activities, whether that’s pitching podcasts, reaching out to creators, or developing relationships with local media.
This isn’t about perfection or having a full marketing team. It’s about consistency. One podcast appearance might reach a few thousand people. But 50 podcast appearances over time create compound awareness that transforms your business visibility.
The key is choosing channels that align with your strengths and interests. If you consume YouTube content daily, focus on getting featured on travel YouTube channels. If you love writing, pitch guest articles to travel blogs. If you’re comfortable on camera, pursue TV opportunities.
Building Your OPA Network: The Relationship Strategy
The most overlooked aspect of OPA strategy is treating it as relationship building rather than transactional exchanges. Successful vacation rental operators understand that each podcast appearance, media mention, or influencer collaboration should plant seeds for future opportunities.
When Eric appears on a podcast, he doesn’t just share his story and move on. He connects with the host on LinkedIn, engages with their future content, and looks for ways to add value to their audience over time. This approach transforms single interactions into ongoing relationships that compound in unexpected ways.
One podcast host might recommend Eric for another show six months later. A travel blogger who featured Freewyld might reach out when they’re planning content about digital detox destinations. These second and third-degree connections often prove more valuable than the original collaboration.
The relationship mindset also applies to influencer partnerships. Instead of one-off collaborations, focus on building genuine connections with creators whose values align with your brand. They become authentic advocates who mention your property organically in future content, creating unpaid exposure that feels more credible to their audience.
Consider creating a simple spreadsheet to track your OPA relationships. Include contact information, collaboration details, follow-up dates, and notes about their audience and content style. This system helps you maintain connections and identify opportunities for deeper partnerships.
The networking effect accelerates over time. Travel creators often know other creators. Podcast hosts frequently guest on other shows. Media contacts move between publications. Your investment in relationships creates a web of connections that can generate opportunities for years.
Remember that adding value should flow both directions. Share their content with your audience. Make introductions when appropriate. Recommend them for opportunities that align with their goals. This reciprocal approach builds stronger relationships and increases the likelihood of future collaborations.
The goal isn’t just borrowing their audience once. It’s becoming part of their extended network, where opportunities flow naturally because you’ve established trust and mutual value over time.
Summary & Key Takeaways
OPA accelerates growth by leveraging existing audiences instead of building from scratch
Quality beats quantity – target creators whose audiences align with your ideal guests
Consistency compounds – regular appearances build stronger brand recognition than one-off features.
Your story matters – develop a clear narrative about the problem your property solves
SEO benefits multiply – each mention creates valuable backlinks that improve search rankings
Take Action Now
Ready to implement OPA in your vacation rental business? Start by identifying your signature story using the framework above. What problem does your property solve that keeps you passionate about hospitality?
Next, block out one hour daily for OPA activities. Search for podcasts in your niche and start crafting personalized pitches. Research local tourism boards and identify collaboration opportunities. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see compound results.
Which OPA strategy resonates most with your business goals? Are you more excited about podcast appearances, influencer partnerships, or traditional press coverage? Share your thoughts and let’s discuss how to adapt these strategies for your unique market and property type.
Internal Links: • [Influencer Partnership Strategies]: /influencer-collaborations-guide • [Direct Booking Optimization]: /increase-direct-bookings • [Brand Storytelling for Vacation Rentals]: /vacation-rental-branding
External Links: • [Visit California Tourism Resources]: https://www.visitcalifornia.com/places-to-visit/ • [PodPitch Podcast Outreach Tool]: https://www.podpitch.com/ • [Staycation TV Show on Roku]: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/
