In this episode Conrad goes solo on this audio-only version of a LIVE training on "The 4 Hour Vacation Rental Marketing Workweek".Want to get the video too? Tap the link below.Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellRecording Video: YouTubeConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagramTwitter🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we break down a recent VRM Intel article from Conrad O'Connell talking all about messaging and what homeowners act on vs ignore. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101Jamie Lane Airdna LinkedIn Post On ChurnMarketing Messaging That Actually Converts Vacation Rental Homeowners - VRM Intel🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we break down the questions to ask when building a vacation rental website in 2025 and beyond. Scope, pricing, vendors to work with and a LOT more...⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we come back and talk the four-part marketing for guest focused campaigns. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we talk about the youth and how they are the strategy to getting more bookings by catering and designing your properties along with what Paul and Conrad look for when booking for their family. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101Link To The Report🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we recap the VRMA 2025 show! We talk all things about The Hot Seat Session, industry trends, marketing ideas and more...⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we share our four-part framework to get a homeowner marketing plan in place. We discuss: TargetingPositioningMessagingChannelsAnd how you can build a winning strategy in each area.⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode, we dive into AI at a deep level: how SHOULD you use it and NOT use it to market your vacation rental business?Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagramTwitter🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
Note: this is a replay of an episode from last year! In this episode Conrad goes solo on this audio-only version of a LIVE training on "Building Your Vacation Rental Marketing Fundamentals".Want to get the video too? Tap the link below.Enjoy!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellRecording: Building Your Vacation Rental Marketing FundamentalsConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagramTwitter🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we dive into 10 actionable steps you can take now to get more homes for 2026!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we revisit our chat on Meta Ads vs Google Ads: what we're using them now to get more bookings and more homeowners. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we chat on Conrad's LinkedIn post "can you really compete with Airbnb" to talk strategy, marketing, goals, profits and a LOT more...NOTE: this was recorded BEFORE the Airbnb 15.5% price increase move -> non-PMS connected price increase for hosts. So we didn't mention that... ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101Conrad's LinkedIn Post🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we break down the Key Data Dashboard report on trends of market share by direct vs major OTAs, trends of marketing for direct bookings and a LOT more...⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101KDD Report - Download Here🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we're talking all things TRUST and what stakeholders can do in the industry to build or destroy that trust. ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we're inspired by the list from Xavier Helgesen on "what to look for when buying a business" and adapt it to the vacation rental industry. Full list credit: via Xavier HelgesenOwner operated businesses are super efficient. Owner does six jobs. You will probably spend more to professionalize.Only buy from people who have demonstrated values of honesty and integrity throughout the process.Stock purchases should be at least 25 % cheaper than asset purchases. You can’t write off the acquisition price plus you assume historical liabilities.Adjusted EBITDA ≠ EBITDA ≠ cash flow. Look for cash flow.Look for rich owners.Look for businesses that have survived multiple economic cycles.Make sure you are not in a commodity business.Everything is negotiable. We have done 90 % seller financing three times.Everyone wants a raise after you take over.Make sure management only gets paid bonuses when they distribute cash flow to owners.Pay for a really good, but very efficient, lawyer.Pay for Quality of Earnings even on small deals.The best way to find a CEO for a business is to ask the seller who has asked about buying it in the past.Look for the smallest, weirdest niches. Less competition, greater margins.If you find a good enough deal, the capital will find you.Don’t underestimate how little you know about any given industry. Find an expert to help you.Businesses with real estate offer lots of creative financing opportunities.An owner who works “10 hours a week” is still doing five people’s jobs. They are the world expert in their business.Professionalizing a business with no management in place is probably too hard unless you are running it.Understand the working capital situation deeply and as a first order of business. The working capital adjustment can be a huge adjustment in price.Don’t incentivize anyone to close deals. You want them more excited to kill a deal – this means they will speak up if something feels wrong.Look at duration of employment of employees. Lots of turnover indicates a toxic environment.Don’t take single-channel risk (e.g., Meta marketing).Share customer concentration risk with the seller through revenue shares or forgiveable notes.Underwrite your downside like a lender. Could you sell the business or its assets to at least pay back the debt if you need to?Don’t fall too in love with the business. You’ve always got to be ready to walk away.Honor your word even if it costs you money. Once trust is lost with a seller, it’s over.Honor the owner/founder’s legacy after you close.⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, the duo asks this question: what is the #1 thing holding my vacation rental company back from growth? Part II of this episode series. Go back 1 episode to find part I!⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, the duo asks this question: what is the #1 thing holding my vacation rental company back from growth? ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, the guys DEBATE the content creation benefits. With AI overviews stealing a ton of your traffic, does it even make sense to take the crumbs of clicks that are left?⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we ask what most don't: why in the world do guests even CHOOSE to book a vacation rental over a hotel in the first place? How can you use this information to your advantage and let guests pick your property (and pay a premium to do it)? ⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.
In this episode of The Heads In Beds Show, we replay a webinar between Conrad and Ben Day of Jetstream to talk all things direct bookings vs new OTA listings for bookings, launching, how to fix dead/zombie listings and a LOT more.⭐️ Links & Show NotesPaul Manzey Conrad O'ConnellConrad's Book: Mastering Vacation Rental MarketingConrad's Course: Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing 101YouTube Webinar Replay VideoBen DayJetstream🔗 Connect With BuildUp BookingsWebsiteFacebook PageInstagram🚀 About BuildUp BookingsBuildUp Bookings is a team of creative, problem solvers made to drive you more traffic, direct bookings and results for your accommodations brand. Reach out to us for help on search, social and email marketing for your vacation rental brand.