BAREFOOT TECHNOLOGIES OFFERS MATURE GUERILLA MARKETING SOCIAL MEDIA CAPABILITIES
Rental Agencies empowering owners to organically promote their properties to their social connections
September 24, 2010, Woburn, MA Barefoot Technologies, a leading provider of browser based reservation and asset management systems in the vacation rental industry, has for the past 4 years been offering unique social media capability with their software called Advanced OwnerNet.
Barefoot’s Agent, 8 years ago created the first Owner access in the rental industry called OwnerNet. The tool empowered an Agency to provide owners the ability to see their property information, reservations and gave them the ability to book their own time on a password-protected site. 4 years ago they added functionality that allows an agency to give certain owners the ability to book for rent by owner reservations and update property information. In addition, they created an Advanced OwnerNet tool that allowed an agency to provide their owners with their own web sites that highlighted that owner’s properties. This web site can be marketed by the owner to their friends, associations, businesses and anywhere the owner wants including several social media sites, such as Facebook, MySpace and Craig’s List.
“Agencies realize that owners were once tenants and surround themselves with people that are similar to themselves,” says Ed Ulmer, director of business development, Barefoot. “So why not empower the owners with functionality, it has actually strengthened the bond between agency and owner in a time when For Rent By Owner has grown.”
Some of the more advanced Barefoot clients have started using this functionality along with other cutting edge social media tools Barefoot offers. Myrtle Beach Resort Vacations has recently doubled the number of units it offers by presenting this project and other cutting edge Barefoot functionality to a home owner association in a very competitive bid. The owners association not only enthusiastically entered in the agreement, they have completed a very successful first season with this project. “This recession has hit us all, but it has also made us really look at what we do, and this owner program has really allowed us to grow and attract our niche market-the markets where our owners have come from,” says Larry Custer, president of Myrtle Beach Resort Vacations. “We are looking to expand the project this next coming year and I think significantly change the way rental marketing occurs in our area. We had an owner do $325,000 in reservations for his property and other managed properties this year and he loves it.”
About Myrtle Beach Resort Vacations
Myrtle Beach Resort Vacations is a full service, property management and rental agent that exclusively services privately owned vacation condos located at the Myrtle Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. Our company has strategically streamlined operations into specific divisions of service in a successful effort to better serve our homeowners and guests. Our property management division focuses on offering a multi-tiered array of contracts and services from support services for the self-renter to full service maintenance and rental contracts for the homeowner who just wants to relax and enjoy their property while maximizing revenues. Our homeowner services department is designed to cater to each homeowner’s specific wants and needs. Our service allows owners to stay completely informed but without the daily involvement. Our aggressive Marketing Department’s strategies designed ensure our homeowners continued success by constantly maximizing the exposure of their property to potential renters in every market including vacation, seasonal and long term. Our Guest Services and Reservations Department offer specialty services such as a personalized vacation planning assistance, golf packages and tee-time services, discount attraction tickets and entertainment packages, and special event planning. Contact Joy at 800-845-0629 (ext. 105), or jmacbay@mb4fun.com.
About Barefoot
Barefoot is a leading provider of browser-based reservation and asset management systems in the vacation rental industry. It has the distinction of being the first browser system in the industry, the first to provide online booking, tenant, owner access and to offer social media tools and is designed to be tailored to meet clients’ exacting needs. Barefoot is also the only system with a full Customer Relations program wrapped into the program, which in effect makes it the only full service system in the industry. Founded in 1998, by leading technology and industry players, the “.NET platform” has become a standard for those who are trend setters in the industry and those who desire to dominate their market with unique functionally. For more information, please contact Edward Ulmer at 603-428-6255,ed.ulmer@barefoot.com.
