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Get Fully Booked

Get Fully Booked

Written by: Sarah Orchard
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Get Fully Booked is for Airbnb hosts, holiday cottage and glampsite owners who are ready to master their marketing so they can ditch their reliance on online agents and grow their direct bookings. Your host Sarah Orchard, an award-winning marketing strategist, #1 Amazon best-selling author, and fellow host; will share with you exactly what it takes to grow your direct bookings and the simple marketing steps to get more profit in your pocket! She shares her proven marketing strategies and interviews fellow hosts to find out what has worked for them and how they have achieved more direct bookings.Copyright 2025 Sarah Orchard Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • I Don't Think TikTok is for Me. Or is it?
    Nov 17 2025

    Think TikTok's just for teenagers doing dance challenges? Think again. In this episode, I'm chatting with Paige McNeil, a social media whizz who specialises in helping accommodation businesses crack TikTok marketing.

    We're talking about why you can't afford to write off this platform – especially when guests in their 30s and 40s are actively using it to find their next getaway. Paige shares the truth about what actually works on TikTok (spoiler: forget the polished perfection), why authentic content beats professional shots every time, and how to turn those viral views into actual bookings through your email list and website.

    I'll admit, I was sceptical about TikTok. But with over 1,000 new email subscribers in six weeks and actual bookings coming through? I'm a convert. If you've been sitting on the fence about TikTok, this episode might just change your mind.

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    Key Takeaways

    • TikTok's audience has matured – 25-50 year olds with disposable income are actively searching for accommodation on the platform
    • Authentic, UGC-style content significantly outperforms polished professional photography for engagement and conversions
    • TikTok works as top-of-funnel marketing – focus on driving traffic to your website and email list rather than expecting immediate bookings
    • SEO matters on TikTok – use conversational search phrases in captions and specific hashtags to appear in search results
    • Create a seamless booking path by connecting Instagram (with link in bio)

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    Find out more about Paige McNeil

    See Paige's website

    Paige McNeil LinkedIn

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    **GET MORE BOOKINGS CHALLENGE 2026**

    This FREE challenge will show you how to boost your bookings and put more profit in your pocket in 2026!

    Sign up here

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    What would you do with an extra £20k+ in your holiday business?

    I've saved £100k in commission in 5 years by taking 100% direct bookings and now I show Airbnb hosts, holiday cottage and glampsite owners how to do the same.

    It is easier than you think to move to 70%+ direct bookings.

    If you currently rely on Airbnb or another online agent (OTA), take Sarah's FREE quiz here - it's time to give them the boot!

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    Connect with Sarah:

    Website

    Instagram

    LinkedIn

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    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Should You Give That Influencer A Free Stay?
    Nov 10 2025

    Got another DM asking for a free stay? Me too, my inbox is groaning with them right now! Someone with 500,000 followers wants to stay at your property - sounds flattering, but will it actually get you any bookings? Probably not. And that's because most hosts don't understand the massive difference between an influencer and a content creator. They're not the same thing, and getting this wrong can be a costly mistake.

    In this episode, I break down exactly how to spot the difference and avoid getting burned. Influencers promote your stay to their audience - that's it. One feature, maybe some stories, then nothing. Content creators give you professional photos and videos YOU can use in YOUR marketing for months or years. We're talking 100-200 images and 50-100 video clips. When someone approaches you, check their audience demographics, look at engagement (not follower count), and get everything in writing. If you're serious about making influencer collaborations work for your business, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you make smart decisions that actually drive bookings.

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    Key Takeaways

    • Influencers and content creators are completely different - one promotes to their audience, the other gives you marketing assets you can use forever.
    • Reach doesn't equal results - someone with 500,000 followers but low engagement is less valuable than 3,000 engaged followers who match your ideal guests.
    • Always ask for audience demographics before agreeing to anything - where are their followers based, what age, what interests?
    • Get your agreement in writing upfront - how many posts, what content, what rights do you have to use it afterwards?
    • Think long-term relationships, not one-offs - when you find a creator who gets your brand, keep working with them.
    • Brief them properly with a shoot list so you get the specific assets you need for your marketing.

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    How To Find The Right Influencer - The Fully Booked Business Club™

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    **GET MORE BOOKINGS CHALLENGE 2026**

    This FREE challenge will show you how to boost your bookings and put more profit in your pocket in 2026!

    Sign up here

    ---

    What would you do with an extra £20k+ in your holiday business?

    I've saved £100k in commission in 5 years by taking 100% direct bookings and now I show Airbnb hosts, holiday cottage and glampsite owners how to do the same.

    It is easier than you think to move to 70%+ direct bookings.

    If you currently rely on Airbnb or another online agent (OTA), take Sarah's FREE quiz here - it's time to give them the boot!

    ---

    Connect with Sarah:

    Website

    Instagram

    LinkedIn

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    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • The Market has Changed...Winging Your Marketing is No Longer an Option
    Nov 3 2025

    OK, let's talk about the elephant in the room - the market has changed, and winging your marketing just doesn't cut it anymore.

    You've probably noticed that guests are booking later than ever, there's more competition than you can shake a stick at, and your usual marketing tactics aren't working like they used to. Well, you're not imagining things.

    In this episode, I'm sharing the hard truth about what's shifted in the short-term rental market, backed by real data. But don't panic, I'm also walking you through exactly what you need to do differently to stay fully booked in 2026 and beyond.

    You'll discover why that "I'll post something when I remember" approach is leaving you invisible when it matters most, and why you need an always-on marketing system instead of scrambling to fill gaps in your calendar at the last minute. I'm talking about email marketing that builds relationships year-round, SEO-friendly blog posts that drive steady traffic, and consistent social content.

    The truth is, the hosts who launched during the post-Covid staycation boom didn't need polished brands or marketing plans—bookings just flew in. But those days are over. The hosts who'll thrive now are the ones treating their business like a proper business, with a marketing strategy, an action plan, and tracking what's actually working.

    Because here's the thing, you don't need to do MORE marketing. You just need to do the RIGHT marketing consistently. And that's the exciting part!

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    Key Takeaways

    • Booking windows have shrunk by nearly 30% since 2019. Guests are now booking 1 to 3 weeks out instead of 2 months in advance.
    • More competition means pickier guests. There's been massive growth in accommodation supply, so guests are taking their time, comparing options, and waiting for deals before they book.
    • If you're only posting when you panic about calendar gaps, you've already missed the boat because your ideal guests have booked with someone else.
    • The hosts who'll thrive now are the ones treating their business like a proper business with a marketing plan and a brand that stands out.
    • You don't need MORE marketing, you need the RIGHT marketing. It's about having a strategy, being consistent, tracking what works, and ditching what doesn't.

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    Further Information

    The Fully Booked Business Club™

    ---

    **GET MORE BOOKINGS CHALLENGE 2026**

    This FREE challenge will show you how to boost your bookings and put more profit in your pocket in 2026!

    Sign up here

    ---

    What would you do with an extra £20k+ in your holiday business?

    I've saved £100k in commission in 5 years by taking 100% direct bookings and now I show Airbnb hosts, holiday cottage and glampsite owners how to do the same.

    It is easier than you think to move to 70%+ direct bookings.

    If you currently rely on Airbnb or another online agent (OTA), take Sarah's FREE quiz here - it's time to give them the boot!

    ---

    Connect with Sarah:

    Website

    Instagram

    LinkedIn

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    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
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