Client Success: “The Buckeye Bungalow” – Columbus, Ohio
A Vacation Rental Marketing Success Story Powered by Vacaygency
Located in the heart of Columbus’ Short North Arts District, The Buckeye Bungalow is a stylish two-bedroom, two-bath vacation rental with upscale finishes, eclectic art, and walkability to galleries, breweries, and nightlife. While the property had strong potential, its bookings were initially underwhelming in a saturated short-term rental market. After partnering with Vacaygency, performance metrics dramatically shifted, turning the bungalow into one of the area’s top-performing listings within just six months.
The Challenge
Despite its premium location and charming interiors, The Buckeye Bungalow was struggling to capture attention and convert OTA views into bookings. The property averaged only 48% occupancy and suffered from inconsistent branding, lackluster photography, and virtually no social media presence. It was buried beneath hundreds of competing listings on Airbnb and Vrbo.
The Vacaygency Marketing Strategy
Once onboard, Vacaygency implemented a full-funnel vacation rental marketing strategy, focusing on both OTA performance and direct-to-consumer demand generation. Their approach combined deep industry expertise with performance-driven execution:
Listing Optimization
Professional lifestyle photography with staging
Keyword-rich SEO descriptions tailored to Airbnb and Vrbo algorithms
Dynamic pricing integration to reflect real-time demand
Social Media & Content Strategy
Launched @BuckeyeBungalow on Instagram and TikTok, with geo-targeted reels, influencer collaborations, and seasonal storytelling
Created evergreen blog content targeting “Things to Do in Columbus” and “Walkable Rentals in the Short North” to drive organic traffic
Direct Booking & CRM
Designed a mobile-first direct booking website with integrated reviews, calendar sync, and add-on packages (e.g., champagne on arrival)
Implemented Vacaygency’s branded email nurture campaigns and abandoned cart recovery flows
The Results (Within 6 Months)
Under Vacaygency's data-backed guidance, The Buckeye Bungalow went from mediocre performer to market leader in its category:
OTA Performance (Airbnb, Vrbo):
✅ Listing views: ↑ 600% (from avg. 300 to 2,100 per month)
✅ Occupancy rate: ↑ 87% YoY (from 48% to 84%)
✅ Avg. nightly rate: ↑ 29% (with higher conversion due to pro photos & optimized copy, digital marketing and direct book website)
Direct Booking Growth:
✅ Direct bookings: ↑ 900% (from 2% to 18% of total)
✅ Email subscribers: ↑ 312%
✅ Cart abandonment rate: ↓ 21% through remarketing flows
Social Media Impact:
✅ Instagram engagement: ↑ from 0 to 2400+
✅ Follower growth: ↑ 560% (targeted geo + lookalike audiences)
✅ Facebook ad ROAS: 9.1x (focused on short-term, last-minute getaways and long-term booking CTAs)
Guest Sentiment & Reviews:
✅ Average review score: From 4.1⭐ to 4.8⭐
✅ Review volume: ↑ 77% quarter-over-quarter
Key Marketing Wins
Ranked on page 1 of Airbnb search results for “Short North Columbus” within 60 days
Secured features in two regional travel blogs through Vacaygency’s PR network
Converted 40% of past guests into repeat bookers via email marketing and loyalty discount codes
Final Takeaway
Vacaygency’s strategic marketing playbook didn’t just improve visibility—it transformed a great property into a coveted destination. With enhanced digital presence, sophisticated branding, and a conversion-focused direct booking site, The Buckeye Bungalow is now fully booked 8 weeks in advance on average.
“Vacaygency understood our property's personality, then amplified it in every channel. Our calendar is full, our guests are happier, and our ROI has never looked better.”
— Property Owner, The Buckeye Bungalow