Stay in touch with past guests. The great thing about past guests is that they're already pre-qualified: You've likely screened them over the phone, and more importantly, they've already stayed in your home and left it in great condition. In other words, you know you can trust them.

Keep your home on the minds of those who inquired, but didn't book. Build a relationship with those travelers who liked your home enough to send an inquiry, but for whatever reason didn't end up booking. By regularly putting your home in front of these potential guests, you'll likely be at the top of their list when they next travel to your destination.

Put your contact info at their fingertips. Even if your past guests loved your home, they may have lost your contact information or forgotten your property number since their stay. Send a newsletter to get your phone number and email address back to top of their inbox.

Incentivize future bookings. Encourage your past guests to book far-in-advance by offering this year's rates for next year.

Boost off-season bookings. Offer your guests a special rate for the slower seasons. They've already stayed at your home and may be interested in visiting your area again soon.

Fill those last-minute vacancies. Let past guests know about any last-minute openings. Your email might just be the catalyst they need to take that weekend getaway they've been talking about.

What to Include?

Your newsletter is your chance to remind past guests and inquirers about what's special about your home and vacation market. Let's face it: We're always making improvements to our homes. A newsletter is the perfect opportunity to boast about our additions and updates.

In the body of the newsletter, consider including:

• Photos of your home taken during the upcoming season 
• Details about anything new you've added to your home (e.g ice cream maker, Egyptian cotton sheets in the Master, new plush bath sheets). Include info about new items both large and small. 
• Specials for last-minute openings or off-season 
• The upcoming weather forecast 
• Current airfare prices to your destination from major metro markets 
• Personal touches like holiday greetings, recipes, etc
• A list of upcoming events or festivals in your area that your guests might not know about 
• Response to any complaints that you've read about in your guestbook. For example: “We read some of you were without a blender during your stay. We're so sorry. We just bought a new one!”

How Should You Send the Newsletter?

While it may be tempting to send your newsletter or updates to your past guests through your regular email program, you may be breaking email laws according to CAN-SPAM. That's why it's in your best interest to send any mass email communication through an email marketing program like Constant Contact or iContact. There are many online options to choose from and they range in cost from $10-$50 per month, depending on how many emails you plan to send. Most online email marketing programs will manage your contact list and some even have sample templates that you can use.

The Bottom Line: Sending an email newsletter to guests who have either stayed in your home (or who have expressed interest) is an inexpensive way to keep in touch and to encourage future bookings.