Why listing on Airbnb isn’t enough—and the daily actions that will actually fill your MTR calendar.

If you own a midterm rental, simply having a listing on Airbnb or Furnished Finder isn’t enough to guarantee consistent bookings. In this episode of the Hosting Hotline, Kelsey from Arizona—who owns a Wisconsin MTR—asks how she can get more active in marketing her property.

The truth? Listing on a couple of platforms is the bare minimum. Successful hosts treat their MTR like a business, with daily marketing actions and intentional tracking of results.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

1. Build a referral system.
Your past guests are one of your most valuable marketing channels. If they loved your place, offer an incentive for referring friends, coworkers, or family who might also need housing.

2. Make strategic local connections.
Relationships with insurance companies, relocation agencies, HR departments, and universities can lead to high-value, repeat bookings. But they require follow-up—don’t just fill out a form and hope for the best.

3. Tap into community groups.
Local Facebook groups (especially for travel nurses), real estate meetups, and professional associations are perfect places to share your property and build trust with potential guests or referral partners.

4. Get creative with publicity.
From pitching local media to writing SEO-friendly blog content, there are ways to get your MTR in front of people who are already searching for housing in your area.

5. Track everything.
Marketing without measurement is guesswork. Log every post, call, and conversation, and note which actions actually lead to inquiries or bookings.

If you want to fill your midterm rental calendar, it’s time to move beyond passive listing management and start treating your property like the business it is. Listen to the full episode for a complete list of marketing ideas you can start using today.

Resources

• ALE Solutions – A leading provider of temporary housing for displaced homeowners. https://www.alesolutions.com/
• Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Learn how to optimize your listings and increase revenue with smart pricing, calendar management, and creative marketing. thanksforvisiting.com/bootcamp

Have More Questions? We’d love to hear from you! Submit your hosting questions to the Hosting Hotline and tune in to the podcast for answers. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for more tips: @thanksforvisiting_.

Download a transcript of this episode.

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