After you respond to an enquiry, do you follow up or just leave them be? How has your approach influenced your booking outcomes? What about the option to offer a special rate? What are your best practices and why? Thanks.
I occasionally follow up but usually whoever will book will book!
Yeah, I’m feeling the same way. I’m also concerned that offering a special offer is opening the door to a guest that wants to take advantage of me.
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I don’t follow up – it just seems pushy to me. I don’t do Special Offers, either.
Besides most of our inquiries are people I wouldn’t want to book anyway – young folks asking if they need a car to get around and how far it is to the beach, people wanting a parent to come by and check out the place before they book, people wanting more than we offer…
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Thank you for asking about responses to inquiries. I’ve got one now that isn’t following the same path as my prior inquiries.
I always respond to inquiries. Probably 90% of the time I get the rental.
However for the on the 10% who don’t book,do you archive the inquiry after a few days? Is that the correct way to get it off my dashboard?
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I only follow up on an inquiry if it felt like they were seriously considering us. I find a lot of inquiries are because people are still researching our island and comparing it to other Caribbean islands to decide where to vacation. If that’s the case, I may get back with “do you have other questions about St Lucia or our home that I can answer for you?” if I have not heard back in about a week.
I never (ok, almost never) make any special offer voluntarily if they inquired and I didn’t hear back from my first response. It sends a signal that I’m desperate to book and willing to negotiate on price. Our business model is service and a wonderful experience, not a low price.
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