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STR Investing, The Podcast

Drive 60% Direct Bookings with Mark Simpson

Mar 21, 2025
41:52

Are you tired of high OTA fees eating into your short-term rental profits? In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with direct booking expert Mark Simpson, founder of Boostly, to uncover the secrets to maximizing direct bookings while keeping a balanced approach to Airbnb, Booking.com, and other platforms.

Mark shares valuable insights on:

  • The real percentage breakdown of direct vs. OTA bookings and why 65% direct is the sweet spot.
  • Why going 100% direct booking can be just as risky as relying entirely on OTAs.
  • Simple but powerful strategies to drive direct bookings—including a game-changing messaging tactic that can land you instant reservations.
  • The biggest mistakes hosts make with pricing and why some direct booking sites charge more than Airbnb (and how to fix it!).
  • The top tools and tactics for increasing direct bookings, including Get Directo and other must-have resources.
  • How to structure your OTA listings to drive traffic to your direct booking site without breaking platform rules.

Mark Simpson has helped set up over 1,000 direct booking websites, and he’s here to share his playbook on how to make your short-term rental business thrive.

Connect with Mark Simpson and get the exact template he uses to generate bookings: DM him “template” on Instagram @boostlyuk.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your fellow hosts.

Let’s take control of our bookings!

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