I Ranked 10 Airbnb & Hotel Marketing Tactics From Best to Worst

Today, I'm going to rank all the popular Airbnb and hotel marketing tactics from best to worst.

I get it. There's a lot of information out there.

One piece of content tells you social media is best way to get bookings. Another preaches about SEO.

The truth? They both work. But, mixed information causes confusion. Confusion leads to no decision. No decision = no action and you're in the same place as where you started.

Catching my drift? Keep reading. Because at the end of this article you'll understand:

• What gets bookings tomorrow

• What gets bookings later

• What is a complete waste of time

Here's the full breakdown:

The S-Tier (start here):

Focus on these first.

OTAs: Airbnb, VRBO and Booking.com. In 2026, these are still great marketing channels. List for free and pay your ~15% as reservations come in.

Meta Ads: If you don't get as many bookings as you want, Meta is your solution. Meta is the only marketing channel where you can find guests rather than wait for them to find you. Use this if your market is not near somewhere popular.

Google Ads: Amazing for stays in popular areas. Guests are already looking for a place to stay. Google Ads let you pay to be the first choice they see.

The middle (B and C Tier)

These tactics are good as a bolt on to your S-Tier channel.

SEO: You will find active trip planners who are searching for things to do and places to stay in your area. Content can be made once and exist for years for free. I ranked this lower because AI is cutting traffic leaving SEO in a weird place.

Pinterest: Good strategy for stays that are visually amazing. Pinterest users are religious to the platform and love finding hidden gems on the internet. If that's you, might be a good idea. If not, ignore.

Referrals: Free for the most part. Downside: If people don't refer, you don't grow. Use incentives to get folks to talk.

Influencer Marketing: Partner with creators on social media with an offer exclusive to their audience. Some partnerships flop, some boom. That's the game.

Local Marketing: Billboards, signage, radio spots, etc... Works well as a long term play. Best for large property management companies who can meet the demand if all goes to plan.

The stuff most people waste time on (D tier)

TikTok: Sounds great because everyone is on it. No one buys anything expensive here. Good for brand awareness but that's about it.

YouTube: People use this platform to learn something or entertain themselves. Which is a hard angle for rental operators to master. Property managers could do well here to get new home owners. You won't get many guests.

The simple formula to good marketing

Here's what you should do now:

• Pick 1-2 S-Tier tactics (OTAs, Meta Ads & Google Ads)

• Pick one bolt on tactic (B and C tier)

• Master them

Most marketing works if you can focus.

You don't need to do everything and be everywhere to grow the rental business of your dreams.

1-3 strategies or tactics is plenty.

Agree/Disagree with my rankings? Reply to this email and let me know.

That's all for today. I'll see you in the next article.

P.S. Writing this from Italy. It’s been over 30 hours since I’ve slept. I used my remaining energy to put final touches on this article. I’ll still be here next week so stay turned for that ps statement. I’m sure I’ll have stories.

Before you go

I spend about 10 hours writing this newsletter each week. The rest of my time is spent running $100K Stay and Lodge Social.

1) $100K Stay — Learn how to make $100K for your Airbnb or hotel from social media.

• This hybrid-live training program is everything you need to get your own guests from the internet. Even if you have zero audience, experience, or marketing skills.

• Enrollment is currently open. Book a call to join →

2) Lodge Social — Our marketing team will help you get more guests to like, share and book. Work with me and my team here.

Links you might like:

1. How to use Pinterest to grow an Airbnb or hotel business (YouTube)

2. If your Instagram content sucks, do this… (Instagram)

3. Why the Smartest Property Managers Are Investing in Direct Bookings (Wander)

4. Travel & Leisure has named this hotel brand #1 in the world - 3 years in a row (LinkedIn)