In the short-term rental world, we tend to treat our websites like a vending machine: the guest puts in $2,000, and a booking comes out. If they don’t have the $2,000 ready, we let them walk away. This is a massive waste of high-intent direct booking traffic.
Unlike clothes or gadgets, people don't "window shop" for a 3-bedroom villa in Scottsdale. If they are on your site, they are deep in the planning phase. By offering only one call-to-action—"Book Now"—you are ignoring the 90% of visitors who have questions or need to coordinate with a group.
To capture these leads, you need micro-conversions. This means offering a "Local’s Guide to the Neighborhood" or a "Check Availability for Large Groups" form. When a visitor gives you their email for a packing list or a local guide, they’ve opted into your ecosystem. Now, instead of hoping they remember your URL, you can nurture that relationship until they are ready to hit "Pay."
Meta info: question=How do I capture guest contact information before they book my short-term rental? • intent=guest data capture
