Branded & Booked

Can I be real with you for a sec? If you scroll through STR platforms on social media, you'll most-likely notice that they're flooded with picture-perfect families, extravagant trips, and homes that look like they belong in a magazine.  While there's nothing wrong with showing the good parts of being a co-host, don't we have an obligation to be really (REALLY!) real with our audiences? Because the...

Let's be real, we all want to increase bookings and sales. But how do you do this when you feel completely maxed out on your marketing efforts?  Well, you take a step back and revisit the foundation (aka your brand and the way it makes people feel). In this episode, you'll learn the branding strategies that'll support your marketing efforts and ultimately... increase your bottom line. For more STR...

Real talk: social media marketing can be highly effective for your short-term rental for several reasons: visibility, engagement, connecting, etc.   But I know it can feel overwhelming when starting, especially when your to-do list is the length of a CVS receipt.   Trust me, as a STR owner myself, I totally get it.   In this episode, you'll learn how social media marketing can work for your short-...

It all started because I shared my vision ... A major brand component that helps you get to where you want to go. And in my case, led to relationships that connected me with my new partners for Cabins on the Cumberland . If you have a big vision (like us), finding partnerships can allow you to do things you probably wouldn't do otherwise. As for us, by leveraging each other's strengths and resourc...

Alright, cue the confetti, because I'm SO excited to introduce you to today's guest... Paige Hayes is an interior designer who has taken on a nomadic lifestyle with her family while managing her STR design business.  On this episode, Paige so graciously shares how she's able to travel across the US in a fifth wheel with her husband and two kiddos, as well as spending winters abroad. Click play to...

Before you jump into (re)designing your property, you'll want to listen to this episode... If you didn't already know this about me, my career started in the fashion industry. Curating pieces and just knowing what works well (and what doesn't) is something that actually comes pretty naturally to me. I mean, let's get real - design is fun, and it has a pretty good R.O.I So, I totally understand the...

Our co-hosting journey has been incredibly wild and filled with unexpected moments of good and... not so good. Like any business, there have been many many curves and LESSONS along the way... So, in this episode, I'm spillin' the tea on how we've gotten several clients since starting our business in May, the tech we use, and the hurdle Enjoy this episode and make sure to tag us when you listen to...

One thing to know when it comes to unique stays is that you probably won't be everyone's cup of tea.   But that's ok…   Because, with tons of options out there, people want a stay that has a unique touch…    In this episode, Zoey Berghoff (multi-six-figure superhost) and I chat about all things land hacking, profitability, and creating a unique rave-worthy stay.   Zoey also (so graciously) gives u...

The best way to increase your short-term rental (direct) bookings? … Build trust with your ideal guest. Ok, Steph, but how? By building a compelling and recognizable brand. Don't know where to start? I got you, friend. In this episode of HBTW, I'm diving into what branding looks like for a hosting company and properties and why it's essential. I'm also teaching you the core components of branding...

Let me tell you, friend… Your dreams and goals can become a reality if you just take inspired action. It doesn't matter how big or specific your dreams are; YOU are capable. In 2022 I had a very specific vision. (I share about it in this episode.) I had NO idea HOW it would happen, but I let go of the how and just did what I knew.  And today… This vision is a reality.  In this episode, I'm sharing...

2023 will always be a pivotal year at the Weber household.  Collin and I did the unimaginable and started a business together. We gave birth to our second son, Noah.  I pivoted the business that had earned nearly a million dollars. It's been bananas... And 2024 is already  off to a crazy start (big announcement to come!). In this episode, I'm sharing a little about what I've learned in 2023 and wh...

Believe me when I say…    Collin and I (Steph) never thought we would be running a company together.    Even though Collin has been the BEST supporter, he had no desire to be a part of the business… until we started our short-term rental journey.   Since starting this business and purchasing our new property, we've had several other couples reach out asking questions.    In this episode of HBTW, w...

2023 has been an insanely transformative year for my business…  I mean if you told me a year ago that I would be managing 13 short-term rental properties with my husband, I would have flipped.  And as glad that I am to be on this new journey, it meant closing a chapter that I worked so hard on. But here's the thing, as we evolve, so do our businesses. So, in this episode of Hosted By The Webers, I...

If you aren't sure where to get started with influencer marketing or UGC (User Generated Content) for your short-term rental, friend, this episode is for you.   Believe me when I say, there are several reasons why this could be SO beneficial in your content strategy…    But just to name a few 1.) Leveraging audiences where your ideal guest is hanging out, 2.) Saving you time and energy on content...

We've learned several lessons since starting our STR journey…   And to be honest, most of our clients have come from not-so-stellar previous experiences with management companies and we've seen firsthand what NOT to do.   But out of all of the lessons since starting this journey, one has been monumental for my clients…   Have ownership of your listing.   3 out of 4 of our co-hosting clients have b...

Do you need social media for your short-term rental?    Short answer, YES.    But this doesn't mean you need to have a separate account for every single short-term rental you have… (Wowza, that would be a lot of content!)   Personally, we've decided to create one account for Hosted By The Webers as an umbrella brand where we can market all of our short-term rentals together, and this is working so...

In my 10+ years of being in the branding and marketing space, there is one crucial component that has been proven to nurture leads and increase sales.    Email marketing. (If this feels like a lot to implement right now, just think start by capturing email addresses to market to at another time!)    I've set up hundreds of email funnels at this point and the efforts pay off for a number of reasons...

Niki is a travel agent who has been a client of The Weber Co. (and we've been clients of hers as well!)   In this episode, Niki and her husband Nick (also high-school sweethearts) share how they got started in the short-term rental space and how Podcasts were their best friends while getting started.   Something that they mentioned that stood out to me is having "Instant buyer remorse" which is al...

SO MANY QUESTIONS...  And I get it! The business that earned nearly a million dollars in revenue took a major pivot.  And here's the thing, I've spent 10+ years in the branding and marketing space.  In April, Collin (my husband and business partner) and I started our short-term rental journey and it didn't take me long to realize that a solid combination of branding, marketing, and a stellar guest...

Welcome to Hosted By The Webers! From the HBTW podcast you can expect: adivce from guest experts, branding and marketing guidance in the short-term rental space, and the lessons we are learning as we continue our journey as a married couple and business partners. I (hi, it's Steph) will be sharing my knowledge in design, branding, and marketing to help you bring your dream guest experience to life...

Well, the 5th time's a charm, I guess… (Yes it took 5 takes to record this episode)   In March 2022, we officially launched our agency model. I learned very quickly that to scale an agency, you NEED team members. As I was trying to scale the agency, coach clients, lead a team of five employees… I experienced major burnout. Everything just felt super hard at one time.    In September 2022, we exper...

If you've been hanging out with The Weber Co. for any length of time, you know that story-telling is one of the most under-leveraged content tools, and it is also what connects us with our audience.    But as entrepreneurs, we are often too close to our own stories, and we need someone else to help pull the information out of us.   In general, story-telling can feel too personal and be challenging...

Let's talk about a marketing topic, DM strategy. Let me start by saying that there is a big difference between cold pitching vs. cold DMs and in today's episode of BRANDED! we're actually talking about when it may be appropriate to cold pitch (shocking, right?) But here is the thing, these platforms are called social platforms for a reason and they should primarily be used to expand your network,...

Our new baby boy, Noah Gray, came into our lives, and as expected, this disrupted things quite a bit.  Most of you probably know that Collin and I have decided not to find out the gender until both of our babies were born. I was back and forth between thinking if the baby was a boy or girl this time around until I saw in an ultrasound how much this baby looked like Eli.  All and all, there were se...

Brandi Linn, a long-time client at The Weber Co., is on the podcast today to share with us digestible solutions to prevent burnout. Brandi is a passionate coach committed to helping high-achieving, Kingdom-minded women move the needle in life and business.  In this episode, we discuss the signs of living in survival mode, letting go of relationships (including the one of yourself), prioritizing he...