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How to Launch your Glampsite or Holiday Cottage like a Pro!
I've seen it so many times, and it genuinely breaks my heart.
Someone pours £80,000, £100,000, or even more into a beautiful cottage renovation, cabin, shepherd's hut, or glamping site. Blood, sweat, tears—the lot. Then they open their doors to nothing. Tumbleweed. Silence. And that desperate, sinking feeling that something has gone very wrong.
It's not because their property isn't gorgeous. It's because nobody knew it existed.
This episode is one of my all-time favourite topics because getting your launch right can make an enormous difference to your first year in business, and getting it wrong can cost you thousands.
I'm walking you through the biggest mistakes I see hosts make when they launch - starting with the classic "I've built it, and they will come" trap - and why a zero marketing budget is a false economy, no matter how much you've spent on the hot tub!
More importantly, I'm giving you five practical ways to launch (or relaunch) properly. From building a waitlist and creating founding guest offers, to countdown campaigns, launch day tactics, and how to use local PR and influencers to get people talking.
And if you want to take action straight away, I've got a free guide for you: Your 7-Step Marketing Launch Blueprint, with templates, checklists, and email ideas to help you do this properly. The link is in the show notes.
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Key Takeaways:
- Your launch should begin long before your doors open. From the moment you break ground or get planning permission, start building an audience and document your journey.
- Visibility has to be created; it doesn't just happen because you've listed on Airbnb.
- Marketing is not an afterthought or a leftover budget item - it's what turns your investment into actual income.
- Professional photography is non-negotiable - it's your shop window, and your first impression, and poor photography makes the rest of your marketing an uphill battle.
- Building an email list before you launch is one of the most powerful things you can do - when the Hudnalls Hideout went live, 500 email subscribers helped generate 50 bookings in the first 19 days.
- If you've already launched quietly and it didn't go to plan, you're absolutely allowed to relaunch - create a campaign, build some momentum, and go again with intention.
---
Extra resources:
Download my FREE Launch Marketing Blueprint
---
Do you have a marketing roadmap for your business?
No more winging it and feeling like you are in constant marketing chaos! Create your easy-to-follow marketing roadmap for the year ahead. My Direct Bookings Bootcamp is now available ON DEMAND! Let’s make this the best year yet for direct bookings! Head to my website for more info.
---
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
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View all episodes
By Sarah OrchardI've seen it so many times, and it genuinely breaks my heart.
Someone pours £80,000, £100,000, or even more into a beautiful cottage renovation, cabin, shepherd's hut, or glamping site. Blood, sweat, tears—the lot. Then they open their doors to nothing. Tumbleweed. Silence. And that desperate, sinking feeling that something has gone very wrong.
It's not because their property isn't gorgeous. It's because nobody knew it existed.
This episode is one of my all-time favourite topics because getting your launch right can make an enormous difference to your first year in business, and getting it wrong can cost you thousands.
I'm walking you through the biggest mistakes I see hosts make when they launch - starting with the classic "I've built it, and they will come" trap - and why a zero marketing budget is a false economy, no matter how much you've spent on the hot tub!
More importantly, I'm giving you five practical ways to launch (or relaunch) properly. From building a waitlist and creating founding guest offers, to countdown campaigns, launch day tactics, and how to use local PR and influencers to get people talking.
And if you want to take action straight away, I've got a free guide for you: Your 7-Step Marketing Launch Blueprint, with templates, checklists, and email ideas to help you do this properly. The link is in the show notes.
---
Key Takeaways:
- Your launch should begin long before your doors open. From the moment you break ground or get planning permission, start building an audience and document your journey.
- Visibility has to be created; it doesn't just happen because you've listed on Airbnb.
- Marketing is not an afterthought or a leftover budget item - it's what turns your investment into actual income.
- Professional photography is non-negotiable - it's your shop window, and your first impression, and poor photography makes the rest of your marketing an uphill battle.
- Building an email list before you launch is one of the most powerful things you can do - when the Hudnalls Hideout went live, 500 email subscribers helped generate 50 bookings in the first 19 days.
- If you've already launched quietly and it didn't go to plan, you're absolutely allowed to relaunch - create a campaign, build some momentum, and go again with intention.
---
Extra resources:
Download my FREE Launch Marketing Blueprint
---
Do you have a marketing roadmap for your business?
No more winging it and feeling like you are in constant marketing chaos! Create your easy-to-follow marketing roadmap for the year ahead. My Direct Bookings Bootcamp is now available ON DEMAND! Let’s make this the best year yet for direct bookings! Head to my website for more info.
---
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
---