Stop Letting Your Email List Collect Dust—Start Using It to Drive Bookings

Most hosts focus all their energy on optimizing listings—but forget to nurture the guests who’ve already stayed.

In this week’s episode, Sarah and Annette share five simple email ideas you can copy, tweak, and send right away. These strategies will help you build direct relationships with past guests, fill your calendar faster, and take ownership of your marketing.

Why Email Still Matters
Your email list is the one piece of marketing you truly own. When you rely solely on booking platforms, they control the guest relationship. Email lets you communicate on your own terms, share updates, and build brand loyalty long after check-out.

Five Email Ideas You Can Start With:

1. The Newsletter: A repeatable format that shares local updates, property news, or seasonal promotions.
2. Guide-Style Tips: Curate local favorites—coffee shops, trails, restaurants, or events—to show off your expertise.
3. Last-Minute Availability Blast: Turn open calendar days into revenue by reaching out to past guests first.
4. New Amenity or Listing Alert: Whether it’s a new sauna or upgraded coffee maker, let guests know what’s new.
5. Memorable Guest Experience: Share a favorite review, photo, or story that captures the feeling of staying with you.

Bonus Idea:
Send a short survey to learn what guests want more of—new amenities, seasonal experiences, or how often they’d like to hear from you.

The Takeaway
You don’t need to overcomplicate email marketing. A consistent, thoughtful message can build stronger relationships and drive direct bookings all year long.

Download a transcript of this episode.

Resources:

• Lodgify — Build your direct booking site and manage all your listings in one place. Use code TFE20 for 20% off annual or biannual plans.
  Minoan – Outfit your short-term rental with guest-loved brands at insider pricing.
•  Avalara – Book a demo to save $100
• #STRShareSunday: @pond_and_perch
• Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com

#STRShareSunday

@pond_and_perch

Just minutes from Narrowsburg and Callicoon but worlds away from the hustle, Pond and Perch is the kind of stay that invites you to fully unplug. Think: river access, trails through the cornfields, your own stocked pond, and all the room you (and your pups!) need to roam, relax, and reconnect.

This two-story home is cozy, beautifully decorated, and packed with thoughtful extras—from yellow-coded dog towels to a snack-stocked coffee bar. Inside you’ll find multiple hangout zones (yes, there’s a gamer-approved living room AND a 70” TV nook with a propane stove). Outside, it just keeps getting better:

→ Solo stove under the stars

→ Kayaks & corn hole by the pond

→ A huge wraparound deck for morning coffee and evening grilling

We especially love:

1. That everything is ready for dog lovers (and there’s no pet fee!)
2. The fun shed full of yard games, bikes, and river gear
3. That even though you’re off-grid, there’s a whole home generator + great Wi-Fi

If you’re craving stillness, fresh air, and a real slice of Catskills life, this one’s a dream.