Because your property headline takes up some valuable real estate on your vacation rental ad, it is important to make yours stand out among the other listings. A great thumbnail photo is one way to grab attention, but don't discount the importance of your headline for enticing a renter to click for more information.

With the right keywords, your headline could show up in a search engine query before a potential renter has even been to a listing site. Or, let's say a renter looked at your property but did not bookmark the site or make an inquiry yet. He or she wants to get back to your page, but they just remember a few keywords from your headline. If you chose those words wisely and they search for those specific keywords, your property headline might show up in the search engines. 

Here are some examples of well organized and thorough property headlines:

This property owner has used words that really describe the feel of her property while featuring amenities to set it apart from other homes. She may want to use a different thumbnail, though, to show the actual home.

This lakehouse headline paints a clear picture of the renter experience. The owners have managed to incorporate area keywords, which could help them with search engine optimization efforts, while featuring the view of their home.

Besides the great thumbnail picture for this unique home, the headline does a good job of depicting the feel of the property and describing some unique amenities. The homeowner's use of numerals to showcase the vast size of the property and focus your attention on that feature was definitely a good idea. However, not everyone knows what a Tudor home is, so he might want to leave that part out of the headline.

This headline expresses the feel of the property while highlighting its amenities. Plus, it showcases the fact that the home is lakeside – an important location characteristic that wouldn't otherwise be obvious.

More ideas to make your property stand out:

If you're the type of owner that likes to update your ad frequently, one idea is to feature open dates that you are looking to fill. If a renter does a search for a condo rental for a particular week or weekend, your property might show up. Even if they are not looking for specific dates, showcasing an available week might make a renter jump on a particular opening.

VRBO.com and VacationRentals.com will allow you to include specific rate information in your headline, which gives vacation homeowners the opportunity to feature discounts for open dates. While HomeAway.com does not allow you to include rate information or specific discount amounts in your headline, you can include general promotions. For example, 2 Free Nights would be acceptable to include, but $200 off would not. This way, you can still try to grab the attention of more price-conscious renters. 

 
If your home caters to certain groups, make it obvious right in your headline. If a parent is searching for the perfect cabin rental for their next vacation, highlighting the family friendliness of your home might just reel them in. Or, if a family is hoping to travel with their dog, you might point out right in the headline that your home is pet friendly. Also keep in mind the needs of handicap travelers. If your home is wheelchair-accessible, consider featuring that aspect in your headline.

Also note that this property owner has included some location information that is not redundant with their classification on HomeAway. Since they are listed simply as Big Bear Lake Vacation Rentals and not Boulder Bay, it was wise for them to include this extra detail.