How Do I Generate More Links & Other Webinar Q&A Follow Up

In case you missed the recent HomeAway Community webinar I hosted on how to give your listings more firepower with a website for your vacation rental, you can watch the recording here. As promised, there were a couple of questions asked that I have answered here.

How do I generate more links to my website?

I’ve written a few articles on link building for your website here on the MyVR blog. The first is what to do after you’ve launched your website and the other is 10 free vacation rental listing sites to boost your SEO. You can also get a few easy links by posting your website on all of your social media profiles (i.e. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) and getting listed on local directories like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing.

How to Link to Your Website from HomeAway, VRBO & FlipKey

For many vacation rental owners, the major listing sites like HomeAway, VRBO, and FlipKey are essential to your business. It’s no doubt that these sites are generating inquiries for owners all over the world – attracting hundreds of thousands of travelers to their sites every month. But as more and more homes are being advertised there, it’s harder for individual vacation rental owners to make their homes stand out.

One thing you can do is place a link to your vacation rental website within your listing. This is your opportunity to showcase your brand – your home’s unique characteristics and personality. Your website should have tons of photos, detailed information on the local area, restaurant and activity recommendations, and upcoming events. Every listing has the same template, so your website should be unique, give you a professional presence, and help you convert more visitors into bookings!

Here’s how to get a link on HomeAway and VRBO:

You can add up to 4 links, but all are subject to review and they must be appropriate for family viewing. To add a URL link to your listing:

1. Log into your HomeAway or VRBO account.
2. If you have more than one listing, navigate to the appropriate listing.
3. Click the “Edit Listing” link on the left side and open the “Links & Video” tab at the top.
4. Scroll down and enter the URL of your website.
5. Click “Save.”
6. Wait for HomeAway to review and approve your listing.

Read the full instructions on their help site.

Your link will appear below the amenities and above your reviews on HomeAway.

Your link will appear below your rates and above the map on VRBO.

Here’s how to get a link on FlipKey:

1. Log into your account.
2. Click on “Account” on the upper left hand side.
3. Click on “Edit Profile” and enter the URL of your website.

Read the full instructions on their help site.

Your link will appear on your Owner Profile page after you click the Contact link on your listing in FlipKey.