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What if you could triple your direct bookings in six weeks?
In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Kaye Putnam sits down with Eric Moeller to unpack the exact influencer giveaway strategy that took Freewyld from 17 percent direct bookings to just shy of 50 percent. You will hear how two Southern California creators generated 233,000 views, thousands of engaged prospects, and over 12,000 dollars in direct bookings, all while spending only 900 dollars on one campaign.
This is a step-by-step case study for STR operators who want fewer OTAs and more direct revenue using local influencer collaborations, smart giveaways, and frictionless landing pages.
You’ll learn:
- 🎯 How to pick creators who actually convert for STR direct bookings
- 🧭 The targeting rules that matter most, including local audience fit
- 📈 The giveaway structure that drives virality, follows, and inquiries
- 💸 Budget ranges, what to trade, and how to evaluate ROI
- 🧩 The content rights, model release, and simple contract you need
- 🔁 How to turn giveaway attention into nurture, leads, and repeat guests
We also cover:
- Why global or personality-only accounts failed to convert
- The view benchmarks to check on Reels before you commit
- Weekday hosting, excluding high value nights, and timeline expectations
- The case for single-property landing pages during promos
- Tools for fair winner selection and how to announce results
🎯 Favorite Takeaway:
“Other people’s audiences are the fastest path to direct bookings when the audience fit is local, the content is on brand, and the offer is designed to spread.”
📍 Ready to build direct bookings with intention?
Apply for your free Revenue Review here → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report
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Kaye Putnam | Freewyld
What if you could triple the percentage of bookings that come direct in just six weeks? That is exactly what we did at Freewyld, and in this episode, we are going to break it down.
Eric Moeller | Freewyld
We have run this strategy a few times, but this last one was the most successful yet. It grew our Instagram following, generated direct inquiries, and drove bookings. For me, it confirmed this is the path to scaling direct bookings. So Kaye, walk us through what we did, the strategy behind it, and then the results.
Kaye
We collaborated with two local travel influencers, one with 300,000 followers and another with 150,000. They came to stay at Freewyld, created content, and then hosted a joint giveaway for a two-night stay. The giveaway built virality, with entries earned by tagging friends and sharing posts. That is where the magic happens.
Eric
When we launched Freewyld, we made mistakes in choosing influencers. First, we worked with a personality-driven account. Great content, but no bookings. Then we worked with professional creators from Nashville. Again, great content, but little impact on bookings because their audience was East Coast focused.
Kaye
We learned that audience alignment is critical. Growing your own audience is slow, but if you tap into an existing audience that overlaps with yours, you can get powerful results. The key is finding creators whose followers are actually interested in staying where you operate.
Kaye
We shifted to local creators in Southern California, since Freewyld is a drive-to destination. We specifically looked for accounts focused on travel, nature, and unique stays, not family blogs or food journeys. We also avoided corporate-level influencers who charge $30,000 or more per post. Instead, we sought out individuals with highly engaged local audiences.
Eric
That is the lesson: the best collaborations are with hyper-local creators who speak directly to your ideal guest avatar.
Kaye
To find them, I searched like a consumer: terms like “things to do in San Diego” or “visiting Idyllwild.” I checked engagement levels on reels, not just follower counts, and built a database of qualified accounts.
Kaye
I usually start with a DM on Instagram, short, open, and inviting. If they do not respond, I follow up via email, which many list in their bios. Once they are interested, I hop on a call to qualify them further. Do they align with our brand values? Will they showcase “Wild Mode,” our brand ethos?
We also provide a creator guide: brand overview, recommended local activities, cabin details, and even swipe copy for their giveaway post.
Eric
So it is not just inviting them and hoping for the best, you are directing the outcome.
Kaye
Exactly. We also set contracts that outline deliverables, timelines, and rights to content. Some creators let us repurpose their content at no extra cost, which is ideal.
Eric
So, what happened with this campaign?
Kaye
The joint giveaway reached 233,000 views and drove thousands of engagements. More importantly, it resulted in $12,000 in direct bookings within two weeks. Our direct booking share jumped from 17 percent last quarter to nearly 50 percent. On top of that, we gained about 5,000 new Instagram followers and over 100 direct inquiries.
Eric
That is huge. Those inquiries go into nurture campaigns, which means even more future bookings.
Kaye
Exactly. And when you compare costs, the $900 we spent on one creator brought more ROI than $3,500 in equivalent ad spend.
Eric
So the lesson is clear. This is not just about content, it is about aligning with the right audiences to generate direct bookings.
Kaye
Yes. And to maximize impact, consider building property-specific landing pages. Sending giveaway traffic to a single, story-driven page performs better than overwhelming guests with a large portfolio. It reduces friction and increases conversions.
Eric
That is the future. STR hosts must combine strong branding, intentional design, and influencer collaborations that truly move the needle.
Influencer collaborations, when done with the right local creators, can transform your STR business. It is not about chasing followers. It is about creating aligned partnerships that drive direct bookings, build brand equity, and nurture long-term guest relationships.
