👉 Apply for a Free Revenue Review: If you’re running $1M+ in annual STR bookings, you could be leaving serious money on the table. Apply here → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/get-started

Logo or host photo, what makes guests book on Airbnb?

In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Eric Moeller and Kaye Putnam unpack the branding dilemma every STR operator faces: should your Airbnb profile lead with a polished company logo or a personal host photo?

You’ll hear why:

• A face builds instant trust and stronger guest connections
• Logos can help scale but sometimes reduce conversion
• Consistency in branding matters across multiple listings
• Choosing wrong risks making your STR look like a commodity

Mentioned in the episode:

• Freewyld (Eric’s STR brand)
• Freewyld Foundry (Revenue & Pricing Management service)
• Airbnb profile branding strategies

📍 Subscribe to Get Paid For Your Pad and explore more resources at FreewyldFoundry.com.

Airbnb profile, STR branding, host photo vs logo, guest trust, short-term rentals, Airbnb conversion, brand identity, direct bookings, vacation rental strategy, property management.

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👉 Apply for a Free Revenue Review: If you’re running $1M+ in annual STR bookings, you could be leaving serious money on the table. Apply here → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/get-started

Are you using Airbnb’s built-in merchandising tools to actually increase your revenue, or are your discounts invisible to guests?

In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Jasper Ribbers uncovers the hidden power of OTA merchandising on Airbnb. He explains why most operators apply discounts incorrectly, how visible offers like strike-through pricing and banners boost both conversions and ranking, and the practical steps to set up promotions that work. Drawing from his team’s experience managing 38+ portfolios, Jasper reveals the frameworks that help Airbnb hosts win more bookings without sacrificing profitability.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why visible discounts drive more conversions than silent price drops
• How Airbnb merchandising impacts both bookings and search visibility
• The right way to use early bird, last-minute, and custom promotions

We also talk about:

• When to apply length-of-stay discounts for higher occupancy
• The risks of following Airbnb account manager advice blindly
• Why custom promotions can sometimes show a discount without lowering your price

Keywords: Airbnb discounts, OTA merchandising, Airbnb revenue management, short-term rentals, pricing strategy, booking conversions, Freewyld, custom promotions, STR growth, Airbnb visibility

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

👉 Apply for a Free Revenue Review: If you’re running $1M+ in annual STR bookings, you could be leaving serious money on the table. Apply here → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/get-started

Is it really worth paying to be featured on a TV show if you want to grow your STR business?

In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Eric Moeller, Co-Founder of Freewyld, and Kaye Putnam, Head of Marketing at Freewyld, share their full experience of getting featured on the Emmy-awarded TV show Staycation. They explain why they invested, what happened behind the scenes, and the results they saw in direct bookings, brand awareness, and content creation.

In this episode you will learn:

• How Freewyld got featured on Staycation and what it cost
• The impact on website traffic, direct bookings, and STR brand authority
• Why social proof and video content can be more powerful than reach

We also talk about:

• Using podcasts, PR, and influencer collabs to grow your STR business
• How backlinks and SEO drive direct booking growth
• The future of SEO in a world of AI and ChatGPT

Keywords: STR, Staycation, direct bookings, Freewyld, short-term rental marketing, social proof, content marketing, influencer marketing, Airbnb growth, OPA strategy, SEO for STR

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

👉 Apply for a Free Revenue Review: If you’re running $1M+ in annual STR bookings, you could be leaving serious money on the table. Apply here → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/get-started

What happens when traditional STR deals no longer pencil out, Airbnb’s review system becomes harsher, and local governments push restrictive ordinances?

In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Jasper Ribbers sits down with Garrett Ham, founder and CEO of Weekender Management, to reveal how he’s navigating one of the toughest markets for short-term rentals in years.

Garrett shares how he has acquired 10+ properties in the past year using creative financing strategies while fighting a legal battle before the Arkansas Supreme Court over restrictive Fayetteville ordinances. He also opens up about the risks of Airbnb’s stricter review system, where even a single four-star review can slash visibility and cost hosts thousands in lost bookings.

💡 Takeaways:

• Why traditional STR acquisitions rarely work in 2025
• How to use seller financing and other creative deal structures
• Why knowing your bottom line is key to negotiations
• How regulations could reshape property rights in Arkansas and beyond
• What stricter Airbnb reviews mean for revenue and visibility

Whether you manage 5 units or 50, this episode gives you actionable strategies to acquire properties, protect your listings, and grow smarter in a challenging market.

🔗 Relevant Links:

• Weekender Management → weekendermanagement.com
• Freewyld Foundry → freewyldfoundry.com

📌 Keywords: short-term rentals, Airbnb investing, creative financing, property management, STR regulations, 5-star reviews, Freewyld, Weekender Management

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

👉 Apply for a Free Revenue Review: If you’re running $1M+ in annual STR bookings, you could be leaving serious money on the table. Apply here → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/get-started

In this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Kaye Putnam (Head of Marketing at Freewyld) interviews Madi Rifkin, founder of Mount, about how she created the Content Army, a community of creators that is reshaping how hospitality brands, property managers, and tourism destinations collaborate with influencers.

Madi shares how she went from being frustrated with traditional influencer partnerships (expensive, inauthentic, hard to track) to building a system that now has 10,000+ applicants and dozens of active creators producing organic, aligned, and highly effective content for travel “hidden gems.”

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What the Content Army is and how it actually works
• Why “wannabe influencers” may be your strongest marketing allies
• How to organize creator retreats that multiply content and generate FOMO
• The most important lessons in matching brands with creators
• Strategies for measuring real impact on direct bookings and traffic
• Common mistakes when working with influencers (and how to avoid them)

We also talk about:

• How a viral TikTok with 1M+ views launched the project
• Partnerships with property managers and tourism boards in Jackson Hole and Aruba
• Why the future of hospitality marketing blends content, experiences, and community

🎯 Keywords:

short-term rental, influencer marketing, content strategy, direct bookings, hidden gems, tourism marketing, Content Army, property managers, hospitality growth, organic social media

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

👉 Apply for a Free Revenue Review: If you’re running $1M+ in annual STR bookings, you could be leaving serious money on the table. Apply here → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/get-started

In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Jasper Ribbers (Head of Revenue Management at Freewyld Foundry) dives deep into one of the most misunderstood yet powerful concepts in STR revenue management: pacing.

Hosts constantly ask:

• Why do short-term rentals slash prices last minute while hotels and airlines often raise theirs?
• What KPIs actually matter when tracking pacing?
• When should you pace behind, with, or ahead of the market?

Using real-world examples, from Ibiza flights to Taylor Swift concerts, Jasper explains why STR operators can’t afford to blindly follow hotel or airline pricing models. He breaks down the Market Penetration Index (MPI) as the go-to KPI for forward occupancy, reveals how pickup trends should guide your pricing decisions, and shares exactly when it pays to undercut the market versus hold firm.

You’ll learn:

• The key differences between airline/hotel inventory and STR inventory
• Why most operators panic and drop rates too quickly
• How MPI uncovers whether you’re pacing behind, in line, or ahead
• Scenarios where “last man standing” pricing can win big
• Why seasonality and booking windows must shape your pricing targets

If you’ve ever struggled with last-minute discounts, inconsistent occupancy, or uncertainty about whether you’re pacing correctly, this episode gives you a practical roadmap to approach revenue management with confidence.

Takeaways:

• Treat pacing as a leading indicator of revenue performance, not an afterthought
• Use MPI + pickup together for smarter pricing decisions
• Sometimes pacing behind the market is the winning move
• Availability settings and timing can make or break your portfolio’s revenue

Keywords:

short-term rental, Airbnb pricing, pacing strategy, revenue management, occupancy rate, dynamic pricing, MPI, Freewyld, STR success, booking optimization

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

👉 Get Your Free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

What if you could take your short-term rental business from 17% to nearly 50% direct bookings in just six weeks? In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Eric Moeller and Kaye Putnam break down the exact influencer collaboration strategy that turned a $900 investment into over $12,000 in direct revenue.

You’ll discover:

• How to choose local influencers that actually drive bookings
• The giveaway format that generated 233,000+ views and thousands of new prospects
• Why global or personality-driven creators fail to convert for STRs
• The must-have contracts and content rights that protect your brand
• How single-property landing pages transform attention into bookings

This isn’t theory. It’s a real case study STR operators can use to reduce OTA reliance, build brand awareness, and grow direct bookings with intentional influencer partnerships.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to stop decorating, start branding, and design collaborations that deliver real ROI.

Direct bookings, influencer collaborations, short-term rentals, STR growth, Instagram giveaways, hospitality marketing, property management, Freewyld case study, Airbnb revenue, OTA alternatives

00:00 – Tripling direct bookings in six weeks

02:14 – Why some influencer campaigns fail to convert

07:05 – The profile of creators who actually drive bookings

09:08 – How to find and qualify the right accounts

10:16 – Outreach strategies: DM vs. email

11:10 – Timelines, weekday hosting, and trades

13:29 – Setting expectations and giving direction

15:24 – Contracts, content rights, and model releases

17:28 – Giveaway mechanics that create virality

21:43 – Results: 233k views and $12k in direct bookings

24:36 – ROI breakdown and ad-value comparison

27:50 – Improving the direct booking experience

32:05 – Landing pages vs. full websites for campaigns

34:31 – How STR hosts can apply this playbook

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Get Your Free Revenue Report: If you’re running $1M+ in annual STR bookings, you could be leaving serious money on the table. Apply here → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Jasper Ribbers kicks off our new RefUp Series on revenue management with one of the most overlooked levers in STR revenue: minimum night stay (MNS) settings.

Most hosts see MNS as a simple calendar setting, but it directly impacts your availability, visibility, and overall revenue. Hotels handle short stays differently for a reason, and STR operators can learn a lot from that approach.

We break down:

• The 3 key reasons to restrict minimum nights: operations, risk, and revenue optimization
• Why one-night bookings often bring more benefits than problems
• How Airbnb’s algorithm rewards flexibility with more visibility
• The indirect revenue value of reviews, repeat guests, and exposure
• Real-world examples of operators who unlocked growth by testing shorter stays

Whether you manage a few units or a large portfolio, this episode will show you how to think about MNS settings strategically and stop leaving money on the table.

Keywords: short-term rental, Airbnb, minimum night stay, revenue management, STR optimization, Airbnb algorithm, pricing strategy, Freewyld, property management, bookings

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

👉 Get Your Free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

What if the real ROI in your short-term rental business isn’t just pricing or operations, but design?

In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Kaye Putnam sits down with Jordan McDonough, co-founder of Summerled Designs, to reveal how intentional design and branding transform STR properties into high-performing, unforgettable guest experiences.

Jordan shares how she and her co-founder combined design expertise with marketing strategy to help investors consistently stand out in competitive markets, command premium nightly rates, and turn ordinary spaces into five-star guest favorites.

You’ll learn:

🎨 Why design is not an expense but an investment with 30–50% ROI

🏡 How to align interiors with your target guest instead of personal preference

📸 Why great photography and lifestyle visuals multiply the impact of design

📈 How design, branding, and amenities drive direct bookings and repeat guests

⚡ The Summerled process for creating standout STR properties, even 100% remotely

We also cover:

The biggest mistakes hosts make when DIY-ing design

Why brand identity is now essential for STR success

How to design “Instagrammable” moments that fuel marketing

Why strategic amenities outperform generic check-the-box features

Real examples from markets like Nashville where design directly boosted revenue

🎯 Favorite Takeaway:

“Design isn’t just décor. It’s strategy. It’s what allows you to charge more, book faster, and create experiences guests can’t wait to share.”

📍 Ready to see how design can unlock your property’s potential?

Apply for your free Revenue Review at https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

Keywords: short-term rental design, Airbnb interiors, STR branding, guest experience, property management, hospitality, STR success, design ROI, direct bookings, Summerled Designs

⏱️ Chapter Timestamps

00:00 – Intro and Summerled origin story

03:25 – Why design delivers ROI in STRs

06:15 – Current trends in branding and amenities

10:30 – How to define a property’s brand identity

14:05 – Summerled’s remote design process and deliverables

16:20 – The role of AI in design workflows

18:00 – Common design mistakes STR investors make

20:15 – Why photography is critical to marketing success

21:45 – Favorite projects and lessons from Nashville

24:55 – Final thoughts and how to work with Summerled

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to turn your STR portfolio into a revenue machine? Apply for a free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/get-started

In this episode, Kaye Putnam joins Freewyld co-founder Eric Moeller to reveal the real strategies behind maintaining a top-rated Airbnb portfolio. Spoiler: it’s not just about having a beautiful property.

They break down the essentials every STR operator must master to win guest loyalty and outperform the competition:

• Accurate Marketing & Listing Optimization
• Meeting and Surpassing Guest Expectations
• Personalized Hospitality & Human Connection
• Creating Magic Moments That Drive Reviews

Using Freewyld’s cabins and client portfolios as examples, Kaye and Eric share how to turn guest feedback into a growth engine, protect your visibility on Airbnb, and build systems that ensure consistent 5-star experiences.

Whether you manage 15+ units or are scaling your first few, this episode will give you practical steps to improve reviews, boost rankings, and grow a hospitality-first STR business.

Keywords:

short-term rental, Airbnb reviews, 5-star rating, guest experience, listing optimization, hospitality, Freewyld, property management, STR success, review strategy

⏱️ Episode Chapters

00:00 – Intro: Why Airbnb reviews matter more than ever

01:32 – Accurate listings and managing expectations

04:25 – When great marketing falls short in execution

06:36 – Why accuracy beats luxury every time

09:41 – Overcommunication and guest connection

14:34 – Creating emotional “magic moments” for guests

18:23 – Turning friction into positive experiences

21:32 – The coffee debacle: learning from reviews

26:36 – Reading feedback and fixing small details

28:18 – Internal systems and team training for reviews

29:51 – Guest journey mapping with Nathan Woods

32:05 – Final takeaways: reviews as growth opportunities

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