To get started with your blog in the CraftedStays Marketing Hub, first decide who you want to attract (future guests, owners, or both) and what helpful topics you will cover.
Then use each blog field (title, summary, image, categories, tags, etc.) to make posts easy to find, engaging, and optimized for search engines.
Step 1: Choose your blog focus
Decide the primary goal for your blog, such as attracting more renters, educating owners, or building your local brand.
For vacation rentals, strong starter themes include local guides, “things to do” near each property, seasonal travel tips, and stay-planning checklists that make booking your places feel like the natural next step.
Step 2: Plan your first posts
Start with 3–5 evergreen articles that will stay useful over time, like “Top Things to Do Near [Your Property]” or “How to Plan a Long-Weekend Getaway at [Destination].”
Create a simple content calendar so you publish consistently (for example, one new post every two weeks) and mix topics across seasons, family trips, couples’ getaways, and local events.
Step 3: Fill out each blog field
Title: Write a clear, keyword-rich headline that matches what guests might search, such as “Family-Friendly Things to Do in [City] Near Our Vacation Rentals.”
Summary: Use 1–3 short sentences to tell readers what they will learn and why it helps their stay, including one main keyword like your city or neighborhood.
Featured Image: Upload a high-quality photo of a property, local landmark, or activity that visually “sells” the experience and makes the post stand out in your listings and social shares.
Slug: Keep it short, lowercase, and separated by hyphens (for example, “things-to-do-in-[city]”) so links are clean and SEO-friendly.
Author: Choose an owner name, team member, or brand author to reinforce trust and a consistent voice.
Publish Date: Set the publish date and time so posts can go live immediately or be scheduled in advance to support your content calendar and seasonal campaigns.
Step 4: Use categories and tags wisely
Blog Categories: Treat categories like broad shelves in your content library, such as “Local Guides,” “Travel Tips,” or “Owner Resources,” to help renters quickly find what they need.
Tags: Use tags for specific topics that cut across categories, like “hiking,” “pet-friendly,” “romantic getaways,” or each neighborhood name, so related posts link together naturally.
Step 5: Optimize and publish
Before publishing, scan your post to ensure your destination name, property type, and key experiences appear naturally in the title, summary, and first paragraphs.
Once live, share each post via email, social media, and your guest communications so the blog becomes part of your broader marketing funnel, driving more renters back into your CraftedStays direct booking experience.
Tip: Make your blog SEO friendly
Use a clear keyword in your title and summary, such as “[City] vacation rentals” or “things to do in [Neighborhood],” and mention it naturally in your opening paragraphs.
Break content into short paragraphs with headings and bullet points so posts are easy to read on mobile and signal clear structure to search engines.
Add internal links to your property pages, area guides, or other blog posts so guests can click straight from your article to viewing and booking your rentals.
Always use descriptive file names and alt text for your featured and in-post images (for example, “family-at-beach-[city].jpg”) to help your photos rank in image search and support accessibility.