Vacation Rental Owners/Managers: Book Direct is alive and well.

2009 seems so long ago, but that’s when we launched our first state-specific, vacation rental website: RentWisconsinCabins.com, from a home office in Waunakee, WI. Now we have 6 Live websites with plans for 21 sites by the middle of 2017. We now have ‘legit’ office space in Middleton, WI.

It didn’t take long for rental owners & property managers around the country to tell us that there is a big demand for a listing website that embraces the “Book Direct” philosophy. We speak to vacation rental owners & managers often, and the conversations are similar; “large OTA’s are out of control! They control our inventory, rates and are now charging our renters an extra traveler fee.”  Our consistent growth has confirmed that large OTA’s are not the only advertising choice.

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RentWisconsinCabins.com: Nearly 700 rentals
RentMinnesotaCabins.com: Nearly 400 rentals
RentMichiganCabins.com: Over 200 rentals
Plus our newer states RentNewYorkCabins.com, RentMontanaCabins.com and RentTennesseeCabins.com: Over 200 rentals
…We are just getting warmed up!

Our renter traffic grows an average of 48% every year. Over the last year, our websites attracted over 1 million page views.

Why take on the time & expense to roll out unique websites for so many states? It’s never been done before! By 2012, our Wisconsin website proved that (even from a home office) we can compete long term with large OTA’s in Google Search by targeting regional organic long tail keywords & topics. Search for yourself – go to Google and type in popular terms like Wisconsin vacation rentals; wisconsin cabins; wisconsin cabin rentals, etc. Then try michigan vacation rentals; michigan cabin rentals; mn cabin rentals, etc. There we are!! From these first page results, how many “book direct” websites do you see?

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We also discovered the immediate need for “traveler fee” education. We recently added a question about traveler fees to our survey and were shocked to learn that nearly every respondent had no idea that booking websites charge a traveler fee. What we’ve know for years though is that renters prefer to book vacation rentals with the owners and local managers 25-1.

What do you think of booking vacation rentals directly with owners/managers?

Joe and Team
JM Creative Group
Middleton, WI

Coming soon: RentKentuckyCabins.com

It won’t be long now! We are new to Kentucky, but not new to promoting vacation rentals in the United States. The JM Creative Group has been rolling out state-specific, vacation rental websites since 2009. Kentucky; you’re next! Finally, a website that simply connects travelers to Kentucky vacation rental owners and local managers …no booking fees – no traveler fees. Welcome back to BOOK DIRECT.

We’ve already launched in WI, MN, MI, NY, MT and TN. Did you know, travelers prefer to book directly with rental owners or managers instead of through third-party booking websites – 30:1.

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RentMinnesotaCabins.com delivers Happiness On Water

Lake Of The Woods resorts and Baudette MN cabins and cottages have a charm that will have you wanting more. The serene beauty of the wilderness and state parks that surround this town and vacation rentals are tranquil. Their close proximity to Lake of the Woods is what makes this lodging and town a great incentive to visit.
Congrats! You just found Happiness On Water (on the Winter Road River tributary)
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This is where the vacation experience will meet the fishing experience! Gather your friends and family and head to MN Lake of The Woods and the Rainy River. Guide service for 4 is provided for all seasons of fishing and lodging. Guided walleye fishing takes place on the beautiful international waters of Lake of The Woods and Rainy River. After a day of fishing relax at this Baudette cabin rental while your guide prepares a walleye dinner.
Anglers, get your line and Lake of the Woods fishing report ready for the “Walleye Capital of the World”. Lake of the Woods is the 7th largest lake in the U.S. with almost 1500 square miles of waterways to catch your next sauger, muskie, northern pike, jumbo perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and sturgeon. Watch for when the sturgeon reach the water’s surface on their way up to the Rainy River. Rainy River has fish a century old and can weigh 100 pounds! Early spring and fall are the best times to come up here but the Lake of the Woods ice fishing cannot be beat.
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Our cozy and modern log cabin is located on the Northern border of Minnesota. Your guide John is licensed by the National Maritime Center (NMC) with a Coastguard Operators License, bonded and insured (specializes in live bait walleye fishing). He will clean and package your fish for easy transporting. John shares accommodations (and his stories) with you, bed and breakfast style.

Visit our other state-specific website too:
RentWisconsinCabins.com | RentMichiganCabins.com | RentNewYorkCabins.com | RentMontanaCabins.com and coming soon; RentTennesseeCabins.com

Thanks for supporting our growing number of state-specific, vacation rental website that allow renters to easily connect AND BOOK DIRECTLY with owners and local property managers. Avoid middleman booking websites and avoid paying up to 30% more for the same cabins we list! Tell your family and friends about our great websites!

Searching for a #NewYork #Vacation Rental? Read these 8 #tips before you book it.

New York Vacation Rentals are the trend for 2016! The advantages of staying at a NY vacation rental are numerous. There are lots of pet friendly options, homes with fireplaces and fire pits, chalets and cottages right next to the lake. You have private parking and sometimes piers for your boat. Vacation rentals give families room to spread out and enjoy each other. Something a hotel just can’t offer.

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The time to book our summer 2016 vacation rental is here! What do you need to do before you book your vacation rental? Here are some tips:

  1. Inquire about your vacation rental with the actual owner or manager before you book. They know the property (and the area) best and will have you living like a local on Day 1.
  2. If you are looking to bring your pet, be sure you know the Pet Policy. Some will not allow certain breeds or sizes of dogs. It might also be good to check out if there is a kennel or fenced in area for your pet while you’re out at the lake. Compare vacation rentals with a pet policy versus kenneling them near your home if your on tighter budget.
  3. Know the cleaning policy. Some rental owners or managers charge a cleaning fee and don’t expect much cleaning. There others who expect to have the place ready for the next renters. Whatever the case may be, it’s always wise to take pictures or note any possible previous damage. Be very thorough.
  4. Picking up the keys. Some rentals may have a lock box on the door. Some owners might meet you at the property or have them hidden somewhere. Property Managers might have you stop at their office and pick up the keys. Know before you go!
  5. Ask about mobile phone reception. Vacation rentals in New York can be remote. If you need use your cell phone for directions, or to check in, make sure you will have cell coverage. We recommend you have a physical map in the vehicle just in case. If you have to stay connected, ask about Wi-Fi availability.
  6. Always ask about supplies and what you should bring. Some supply bed sheets but not towels, or vice versa. Some supply both. Always ask about a medical kit or if you need to bring certain kitchen items that you can’t live without (like a bottle opener) or a muffin pan. You get the idea. Some cabins and cottages offer canoes, kayaks or bikes on site.
  7. Check out a calendar of events or a town’s Facebook page to research area events. Keep in mind that rental prices are often higher during summer, holiday’s, and big events.
  8. Ask who you need to contact if you have any emergencies. If there is a leaky faucet or a light goes out, you will know whom to contact.

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Catskills, Adirondack Park, Finger Lakes, Upstate …wherever you end up, your vacation will be better in a cabin, cottage, lodge or home. We are just getting underway in New York, but stop by and see our selection New York vacation rentals. Skip the booking website commissions and book directly with the owners and save. If you’re looking for a resort, cabin, vacation rental or lodge elsewhere, check out our other websites:

www.RentWisconsinCabins.com      www.RentMontanaCabins.com     www.RentMichiganCabins.com   

www.RentMinnesota Cabins.com

A Welcome to Our Vacation Rental Owners in Montana

Here at RentMontanaCabins.com we have worked really hard to prove to vacation rental owners that the service that we provide is in the better interest for them, not us. We aren’t interested in stealing your hard earned dollars in booking commission fees. Instead, we promote EVERYTHING about you: Your cabin rental website (if you have one), your social media channels, and your brand. We get it – big booking websites have lost their focus. Have a look at what we can do for you:

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On the left of the screen, the vacation rental search begins by selecting a specific town, or needs such as bedrooms, rates, pet friendly, etc. On the right side of the screen, vacationers can use the map and zoom in to compare Montana Cabin rentals. Both can be combined in the search too.

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Users can also search for their cabin or lodge rental through the list of towns in Montana by scrolling down. This also gives them a chance to read about what there is to do in town, events, or major cities close by. On the right, there is a list of rentals that are in the area. Renters can see what the price range and how many it sleeps from the main screen. LISTINGS ALWAYS SHUFFLE, GIVING EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO BE AT THE TOP- FOR NO ADDITIONAL COST.

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Once vacationers select a cabin, ranch or lodge for rent, they can read all about it on a details page. How many it sleeps, how many bedrooms, the fun things to do in the area, photos and videos all show what makes that cabin and area Unique. Users can inquire directly with you while we get out of the way so you can be in charge of all of your rental bookings.

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Then, while users are filling out the inquiry form and reading all about it, they can watch videos about your property, testimonials, or popular attractions in the area.

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In addition to having plenty of space to explain your cabin, there is also ample room to explain rates, discounts, holiday packages, taxes and cleaning fees. Furthermore, it is followed by reviews and more detailed information of your website, complete with links to your social media.

Could it get any easier to make this decision to list with us? We don’t think so. WE ARE NEW TO MONTANA, BUT NOT NEW TO PROMOTING VACATION RENTALS. View our other successful listing websites in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and New York. To list your Montana vacation rental(s), please click here: List your rental

Relax. Enjoy Your Search. You’re on Cabin Time.

RentMontanaCabins.com rolls out 6/3/15

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Our journey to help promote Montana cabins, cottages, ranch lodges and homes has begun. On June 3, 2015 we launched our 5th state-specific, vacation rental website: RentMontanaCabins.com.

We are the JM Creative Group and we have rolled out websites for Wisconsin (2009), Minnesota (2013), Michigan (2013), New York (2014) and last week Montana. We are not associated with any other listing website. In fact, we are the opposite of those big booking websites. Helping rental owners/managers build THEIR online brand and clearing a path for renters to book direct is our foundation.

Rental owners/managers invest in their property website; they spend hours keeping vacationers engaged on social media; they might even have YouTube videos. So, why do those big listing websites hide that great information from renters? They need renters to stay on their website and click that “book it” button so they can grab your booking dollars! We link to all your brand-building efforts.

We read rental-industry blogs and LinkedIn community conversations daily. It’s crazy, either big booking websites are acquiring each other, or they are forcing “book it” buttons down the throat of their members. Their search engines have been reported to not work as promised for premier-paying members, plus they refuse to listen to renters –they prefer to book directly with rental owners and property managers 30 to 1.

Our honest and unselfish website service is a breath of fresh air for rental owners/managers that are looking to become less-reliant on big booking websites. We are a small group of internet marketers in Wisconsin whose passion for promoting the vacation rental industry stems from our founder Joe Mogensen who grew up at a lodge/cabin resort his family owned in northern Wisconsin.

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This is a cabin at the Alta Ranch. Our first member! See what their listing looks like.

Rates start at $95/YEAR for one rental listing (see our rates page). The more rentals you list, the lower each listing is AND the higher your return. No booking commissions, no book it buttons, no platinum fees that don’t deliver on their promise, no double booking. YES, we initially set up your listing(s) for you for no extra fee (it’s how we roll).

Why put some much time and expense into creating separate sites? We learned from our Wisconsin website that building state-specific, vacation rental industry brands results in a better search experience for renters, and a high-return advertising opportunity for members. Search engines like Google and Bing are quick to reward industry-focused websites that have quality content. There is no better way to show search engines your seriousness then by creating unique websites for each state.

What phrases are Montana vacationers using to find your rentals? We’re glad to share some keyword studies, because that is what a marketing partner does. #1 Montana cabin rentals; #2. Montana cabins; #3. Cabin rentals in Montana; #4. Montana vacation rentals; #5. Montana ranch vacation. When you focus on a niche, amazing things happen.

Thanks for learning a little more about our new RentMontanaCabins.com website – and our JM Creative Group. If you are a rental owner in Montana, take a minute to look at our first member’s listings.  To diversify your online advertising, go to our signup page.

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Joe and Team
JM Creative Group, LLC
An A+BBB Company
Memeber RentMontanaCabins.com

RentMontanaCabins.com website coming soon!

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New to Montana, but not new to promoting vacation rentals. See how our “BOOK DIRECT” websites are helping rental owners/manager increase revenue in Wisconsin (since 2009); Minnesota (since 2013); Michigan (since 2013); and recently New York (2014). We’re just getting started.
No booking commissions. No $1299 premium rate -where you still end up being 157th on the page.
We provide renters with a clear path to rental owners/managers, because that is what a marketing partner is supposed to do. We’ve earned the reputation as a value super star because the return on investment we provide owners/managers cannot be matched. Listings start at $95/YEAR. Learn more on our “List your Rental(s)” page.
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Joe Mogensen
Founder of the JM Creative Group
Member RentMontanaCabins.com
Now with 5 state-specific, vacation rental websites