Building a Direct Booking Website for Hilde Homes
Hey everyone! I wanted to share my experience building out a direct booking website for Hilde Homes so you can learn the process and the tools I used to make it happen. I had my direct booking site with another platform for the last couple years and just needed this change. If you’re thinking about going direct and taking control of your bookings, this will give you a roadmap.
📌 Step 1: Building the Website
We built the new Hilde Homes direct booking website on Squarespace. Why?
✔ Full control – I can easily update, tweak, and manage everything myself.
✔ User-friendly – No crazy coding needed, just clean design and functionality.
✔ Easy integration – Works well with my property management software for smooth automation.
💡 Designer Shoutout: I hired Bethany Works (BethanyWorks.com) for the branding, website layout, and messaging. If you’re serious about building a brand that stands out, invest in a pro!
Rebranding: This was also the perfect time to update our logo, copy, and messaging to align with where Hilde Homes is now.
🛠 Software & Tools I Used
🔹 Squarespace – Built the site, super easy to manage.
🔹 Guesty for Pros – This is my main property management system (PMS), and Squarespace syncs directly with it.
🔹 Hospitable – I also use this for one of my properties (Beverly Home). Don’t ask why I run two different PMS systems… LOL. Mostly to learn, test, and teach you all.
🔹 Flodesk (Flodesk.com) – This is huge for our email marketing. We’re setting up 5 automated email templates for both guests and owners. The goal?
• Keep past guests engaged and offer direct booking discounts.
• Streamline owner communication when they sign up with Hilde Homes.
🔹 Dubsado (Dubsado.com) – Used for our owner pitch & contracts. This helps us:
• Build out a clean, professional sales deck.
• Manage contracts seamlessly with branding & automation.
• Simplify the onboarding process for new homeowners who want Hilde Homes to manage their property.
🔹 Notion – I am a massive fan of Notion! It’s now our go-to tool for:
• SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
• Onboarding forms & branding kits
• Task management & team collaboration
• I’ve even helped build templates for Erik & Ian – ask them how awesome it is!
💡 Why I Made This Change
👉 More control – With Squarespace, I own my website. No waiting on developers, no complicated backend, just easy management.
👉 Direct bookings are growing – Now that I know this works, I’m doubling down.
👉 Rewarding past guests – Offering discounts & incentives for rebooking directly with us.
👉 Building trust – A strong direct booking website makes owners & guests feel more confident booking with Hilde Homes.
👉 Attracting the right homeowners – I want to work with owners who see the value in a premier short-term rental management company.
👉 Needed a fresh look – After a few years, it was time for an upgrade!
🚀 Final Thoughts
If you’ve been thinking about building a direct booking site, I 100% recommend it. The tools above have made it super manageable, and the payoff is well worth it. Let me know if you have any questions! 🚀🔥