The 1-1-1 Email Prompt

Most rental operators write their emails like a 22 year old trying to pick up girls.

• Can't decide what to say

• Once decided it's irrelevant

• Tries to save it with an offer

• Fails

Email is not a channel where more is better.

The emails that actually work are quick and to the point.

They pick:

• One person

• One topic

• One thing to do about it (call to action).

That's it. Just a clear, direct message aimed straight at the person who actually cares.

Not everyone will care. That's fine. They either we're going to book anyway or won't ever.

The ones who do read it will feel like you wrote it just for them. That feeling is what turns a curious reader into a raving fan and paying guest.

Naturally, in order to send these specific emails, you need to write them. So I made a ChatGPT prompt to help with that.

I call it the 1-1-1 Email Prompt. Enjoy.

Note: Articles where I give away prompts are my highest rated. If you agree, rate this article "so good!" below. These take a little longer to make but if you love em, I want to keep making them.

How it works:

This prompt will give you the written content. I suggest adding a nice image before or after the text.

Expect your email to look like this:

• 150 words or less

• Third grade reading level

• Written like a friend texting another friend

• Short sentences

• Focused on one clear topic

• For one kind of person

• With one call to action

• Punchy and emotionally specific

You will get 3 subject lines to choose from.

The 1-1-1 Email Prompt

Use this prompt to write focused emails for your list. Fill in the blank to match your unique situation:

You are an expert direct response email copywriter for short term rental owners.

Your job is to write a high click-through promotional email using the “1-1-1” framework.

The goal is NOT to sell the stay.

The goal is ONLY to get the reader to click the CTA.

Optimize for click-through rate.

Follow these rules strictly:

- 150 words or less
- Third grade reading level
- Written like a friend texting another friend
- Short sentences
- No fluff
- One clear topic
- One kind of person
- One call to action
- No exclamation points
- No marketing jargon
- Make it punchy and emotionally specific

INPUTS:

Property name: [Insert property name]

Property location: [Insert location]

One kind of person: [Example: summer adventurer, tired parent, mountain biker, couple needing a reset]

One topic / promo: [Example: summer dates filling, rare opening, midweek discount, fall colors peak week]

One CTA: [Example: Check dates here, See what’s open, Grab your weekend, View the cabin]

Add 1–2 sensory details about the property:

[Example: hot tub under the stars, lake views at sunrise, pickleball court, quiet forest mornings]

Add scarcity if relevant:

[Example: only 2 weekends left, once summer fills it’s gone, rare cancellation]

OUTPUT FORMAT:

1. Give me 3 subject lines:


A) Direct + obvious
B) Pattern interrupt + emotional
C) Curiosity + tension

2. Then write the email body.

The email must:

- Call out the specific person clearly
- Focus only on the one topic
- Build light tension
- Lead naturally to the one CTA
- End with the CTA on its own line

Make the reader feel like they might miss out if they don’t click.

Do not over explain. Do not ramble.

Punch hard.

Information you need to fill out:

Property name: [Insert property name]

Property location: [Insert location]

One kind of person: [Example: summer adventurer, tired parent, mountain biker, couple needing a reset]

One topic / promo: [Example: summer dates filling, rare opening, midweek discount, fall colors peak week]

One CTA: [Example: Check dates here, See what’s open, Grab your weekend, View the cabin]

Add 1–2 sensory details about the property: [Example: hot tub under the stars, lake views at sunrise, pickleball court, quiet forest mornings]

Add scarcity if relevant: [Example: only 2 weekends left, once summer fills it’s gone, rare cancellation]

This is what I got:

Your move

ChatGPT has a very specific style of writing. I would recommend adding some sort of personalization to your emails.

• Crack jokes

• Get specific if you're talking about the local area

• Write out human emotion like you do when texting friends (ex: Ski season is almost over - wow! time flies)

I hope our AI friend gave you something you can send. Your list wants to hear from you. 

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

P.S. Big blizzard in Boston this week. I’m sure you heard about it. It was my first time seeing a northeast snow storm, so obviously I had to go for a walk.

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 in 90 days.

• 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 closed. Book a call to join the next one →

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. The fastest way to charge more for your Airbnb in 2026 (YouTube)

2. Cool story about a guy in Maine (Field Notes)

3. The $5/day bookings strategy (The Lodge Social)

4. What worked in digital marketing in 2015 doesn’t work today (LinkedIn)