The $900 Influencer Campaign That Generated $12K Direct Bookings

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.

KayeWe 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.

EricWhen 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.

KayeWe 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.

KayeWe 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.

EricThat is the lesson: the best collaborations are with hyper-local creators who speak directly to your ideal guest avatar.

KayeTo 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.

KayeI 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.

EricSo it is not just inviting them and hoping for the best, you are directing the outcome.

KayeExactly. 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.

EricSo, what happened with this campaign?

KayeThe 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.

EricThat is huge. Those inquiries go into nurture campaigns, which means even more future bookings.

KayeExactly. And when you compare costs, the $900 we spent on one creator brought more ROI than $3,500 in equivalent ad spend.

EricSo the lesson is clear. This is not just about content, it is about aligning with the right audiences to generate direct bookings.

KayeYes. 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.

EricThat 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.