Get Paid For Your Pad | Airbnb Hosting | Vacation Rentals | STR Revenue Management

👉 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

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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

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

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👉 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

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👉 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

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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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👉 Get Your Free Revenue Report: If you’re running $1M+ in annual STR bookings, you could be leaving serious money on the table. Apply for a complimentary Revenue Report and uncover hidden profits in your portfolio.

In this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Eric Moeller interviews Jasper Ribbers, co-founder of Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry, about the fast-growing world of revenue management.

Jasper shares how their team scaled from managing a handful of Freewyld cabins to overseeing 66 clients, 1,600 listings, and more than $61M in revenue, and why most STR operators are unknowingly missing out on 20 to 40 percent of their potential income.

We also dive into:

• Why revenue management is not just a pricing tool
• The number one mistake operators make when setting prices
• How pacing (forward occupancy) reveals untapped demand
• Real case studies where portfolios jumped 25 to 40 percent in booked revenue
• Why strict availability and cancellation policies often backfire

If you want to scale your portfolio, capture hidden revenue, and finally give pricing the same attention as marketing and operations, this episode is for you.

Takeaways

• Treat revenue management as a core business function, not an afterthought
• Most operators are leaving 10 to 40 percent on the table by misusing pricing tools
• Pacing is the most powerful and overlooked concept in STR pricing
• Availability and cancellation policies impact revenue just as much as rates
• A dedicated revenue manager can consistently outperform DIY strategies

Relevant Links

• Apply for a Free Revenue Report: freewyldfoundry.com
• Follow Jasper: LinkedIn
• Follow Eric: LinkedIn

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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 for a complimentary Revenue Report and uncover hidden profits in your portfolio.

In this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Jasper sits down with Jeremy Udovich, co-founder of Sheboygan Vacation Rentals, to talk about building and scaling a thriving STR business on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Jeremy shares the story of how one lakefront property hit $100,000 in a single month, why charging premium rates doesn’t automatically mean unhappy guests, and how mindset + market-driven pricing beats gut instinct every time.

We also dive into:

• Why hospitality experience is the ultimate STR advantage
• How to balance growth with a lean team
• The new quality-first direction at Airbnb and how to stay visible
• Why “fair share” isn’t enough, and how to claim your “unfair share” of the market

If you’re looking to scale your portfolio or fine-tune your pricing strategy, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

• Luxury STRs thrive when the experience matches the rate.
• Market demand, not your gut, should set your pricing.
• Airbnb is rewarding fully optimized, high-quality listings.
• A lean team plus automation can drive big results, but hospitality fundamentals are non-negotiable.
• Mindset matters: challenges are inevitable, but your response determines your success.

• Apply for a Free Revenue Report
• Sheboygan Vacation Rentals: sheboyganvacationrentals.com
• Connect with Jeremy: [email protected]
• Follow Jasper: LinkedIn

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👉 Get a Free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report Find out how much revenue you’re leaving on the table, risk-free.

What’s the real difference between a hectic host and a high-performing CEO in the short-term rental space?

In this episode, Kaye Putnam and Eric Moeller break down how successful STR leaders escape the daily grind and create real business freedom. You’ll learn why systems, energy management, and delegation aren't just buzzwords, they're essential tools for scaling without burning out.

Eric shares the behind-the-scenes of helping Troy (a client in Northern Michigan) go from 30 to over 100 listings, culminating in his first $1M revenue month. The secret? Getting out of the weeds, hiring elite operators, and focusing on high-leverage activities only the CEO can do.

Whether you're still handling pricing yourself or buried in customer service messages, this episode is a wake-up call. You’ll walk away with the mindset shifts and practical systems you need to step fully into your role as a strategic CEO.

💡 Topics covered:

• Signs you’re stuck in “reactive” mode
• How to run an “energy audit” on your weekly tasks
• Systems = freedom: why delegation is non-negotiable
• Why pricing your own listings is probably costing you six figures
• Real-world example: how Troy scaled from chaos to clarity (and 3x'd his revenue)
• How to use tools like ChatGPT to scale your SOPs

• Eric Moeller (Co-founder, Freewyld) → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdmoeller/
• Kaye Putnam → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayeputnam/
• Freewyld Foundry (RPM Service) → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/

00:00 – The Hectic Host vs. The Strategic CEO

02:48 – Understanding Reactivity in Business

05:35 – The Cost of Being in the Weeds

08:40 – Energy Management vs. Time Management

11:32 – The Importance of Delegation and Systems

14:11 – Troy's Success Story: A Case Study

19:52 – Key Strategies for Scaling Your Business

22:57 – The Role of Systems in Business Freedom

26:33 – Effective Delegation and Ownership

32:07 – Final Thoughts and Action Steps

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In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Kaye Putnam (Head of Marketing at Freewyld) is joined by Eric Moeller (CEO of Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry) to break down how to make the most of STR conferences.

If you’ve ever left a conference wondering whether it was worth the time or cost, this is for you. Eric shares his “3 Conference Hacks” and explains how being intentional before and during an event can dramatically change the outcome.

You’ll hear:

• Why the hallways and cocktail hours are more valuable than the panels
• How Eric preps as an introvert (hint: start with a workout)
• What questions to ask that leave a lasting impression
• The Will Guidara story that changed how Eric shows up at events
• How to host your own meetup (and why it positions you as a connector)
• Why VRMA is still the one to watch—and what we’re teaching there

We also talk about:

• The upcoming VRMA Vegas workshop: “Pricing Power: How the Top STR Hosts Outpace the Market”
• What makes that session different (no fluff, just actionable results)
• A preview of Freewyld’s newest expansion plans—and how to connect if you're a property owner or investor

🎯 Mentioned in the Episode:

• Freewyld Foundry – Revenue Management for $1M+ STR Portfolios
• VRMA International Conference
• IMN Conference in Park City

🔥 Eric’s Go-To Networking Questions:

1. “What are you working on right now that excites you the most?”
2. “Is there any way I can support you?”

📍 If you’ll be at IMN in Park City or VRMA in Vegas—come say hi. Ask us the two questions above, and let’s connect.

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