Template/Design Share

Sort by

• Newest Reply
• Newest Topic

We've got two standard suggestions for this:

1) When possible, use a single email template for multiple properties and then use custom fields to change up the parts of the email that are different. Often 90% of an email like a pre-arrival email is the same and there's just a bit different for each property like the name, directions, door code, etc. Here's an article on that: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/pre-arrival-email-templates-triggers-custom-fields

2) If you do need different templates, group similar ones together by a common prefix so that when alphabetically sorted they will show up together.

Anybody else have a good system they use for this?

I was wondering what conventions others use to name and organize templates. With multiple properties and some requiring very specific information necessitating separate templates, my library is growing. Before it gets much bigger, I would like to apply some "best practices" to it.

Ideas? Suggestions? Tip or hints?

http://2425creative.com did my website. Anne Marie - she is great. my site is www.discoverabiquiu.com.

If you go to the site in Settings > Hosted Websites, click on the site in that list, it'll take you to the main site management area.

There is a Create Page button there at the top of the page/menu list -- click that and choose the Custom Page option and it'll take you to an area where you can fill out the content for that page.

I had no clue we could create additional pages!!! Where in the forums can I find the steps of doing that?

Yep, that's usually a good way to get started -- do an OR website which is fast and easy and then later if you want to develop something more advanced or hire a developer to do so you can always switch over to a custom site using our widgets.

In terms of a banner, you could put images on the hero unit that scrolls across the top of the home page. But I'd recommend just creating a page called "Specials" -- folks usually see that first in the tabs up top and click it to see what you're offering.

Thank you for the information! I like the OR website but down the road I would like something a little more detailed. In the short term is there anyway to add a banner to the OR built website for my VR that would scroll specials or announcements across it?

Having someone build a proper website can be expensive. I would suggest you start with a) the hosted website offered by owner reservations for several reasons such as getting free included support, or b) purchasing a WordPress theme that features a hotel or rental theme from a place like envato or c) consider using Wix or Weebly to build something as a starter.

There is a lot that goes into building a website, and your website builder may not really know what they're doing or may charge you thousands you wind up with nothing better than what I said above. There's a lot to be said for starting simple and then transitioning to something that you have built for yourself later.

Can anyone point me towards a person/company they used to have a website built? One that was reasonably priced and easily integrated the OR widgets. Thank you for any help!

fingers crossed that the big overhaul will include the ability to have scheduled email reports. Most important to me would be a weekly automated email listing the checkin/out and duration for all upcoming bookings.

There isn't currently, but that's something we're working on in big overhaul to System Messages and Email Templates that is actively in development as I write this.

Is there a way to clone an email template, thus copying all the To/From/Subject, etc. info? I don't see this addressed anywhere.

HomeAway definitely allows (and encourages) renter agreement signatures. Airbnb as well: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/465/can-hosts-ask-guests-to-sign-a-contract.

On any site you should provide notice up front in the house rules, and then require the document to be signed after booking.

I am somewhat concerned about the possibility of getting you delisted if your profile or legal paperwork or Communications point a prospect or guest off the Airbnb system in any way. Same with the HomeAway family. I have seen a few scary stories in other forums

Jenna, you can use Triggers to target "only Airbnb" bookings and then send them a special email template with a link to your Airbnb experience.

(Yeah that's strange that Airbnb doesn't link host rooms and experiences - that's a nobrainer)

What I had in mind was a brief explanation of the experience they could add on during their stay and provide the link to my Airbnb experience if they are Airbnb guests. If not Airbnb guests, I would send a link to my website where they can book the experience directly. The payment and scheduling would all take place outside of OwnerRez. The only reason for the template is to have an autoresponder when guests book a stay so that they are informed of my experience offer ahead of their stay and they are provided a link to book it.

On a side note. I have had two guests that stayed and also did my experience. I offered them a discount because my experience is new and I want more reviews. It seems the homestay and experience are sort of linked as far as the payout goes, but it's not really clear. I wish Airbnb would have a way to show guests who book a stay that their host also offers an experience. It seems like common sense to say "hey you booked at stay in xyz place, want to add an experience while you are there?" And even if that host didn't have an experience they could show guests experiences available for the area and dates of their stay.

I am also interested in offering tours via AirBnb experiences or other platforms, but unless Airbnb allows an experience upgrade to your booking, a template seems moot (seems like two independent purchases). It is already difficult even to request additional charges to a booking, let alone adding an experience...

Or are they linked somehow?

Good idea. Does anyone have a template for an automated email that goes out upon booking that informs guests of excursions, or in my case experiences, that they can book during their stay? I have thought about adding it to the request real email address template since I can put the Airbnb experience link there for Airbnb guests and that way I am not sending an additional email.

Rich, the content looks fine. The point is to convey as much information as you can to the guest, not win literary awards. Don't worry about the formatting.

As I said above "I think you should have a writer look at your content."

The only other thing I would add is, take your instructions and follow each and every step yourself. Get a friend who has never been there to try and follow them. Fix everything that is too wordy, unclear, overkill, etc.

@Ross C

Here's a link which displays the email with formatting. Can you offer some specific suggestions for improvement?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xqfuxAtIqIGQdoG09xJUa_rWQ9xANsvC

@Ross There is a tradeoff between a friendly note and a sterile written feel for sure. Sometimes a more colloquially written email can establish a personal connection with guests.

Do you have an example template of your style to share?

I think you should have a writer look at your content. I found it somewhat in need of a professional edit and some simplification and clarification. It looks like it was written by a non writer

NOTE: See https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xqfuxAtIqIGQdoG09xJUa_rWQ9xANsvC for a PDF version which demonstrates how the template appears on a phone or email client.

Hi again Tanya,

Today is the day !! This email has new information about the parking garage and arriving/getting settled in your condo.

Key Codes

Unit Door Code: # 111111
Common Door Code: 8929 ## 222222

Door Name: 1313
User: Guest Winter 4pm-10am
Valid From: 01/11/2019 17:00
Valid Until: 01/13/2019 11:00
Access time between: 00:00 and 23:59

Wireless
Building Wireless: zzzzzzz password is yyyyyyy
Unit Wireless: vvvvvvv password is xxxxxxx

Your Visit

Party Size: 1 adults and 1 children
Arrival: Friday Jan 11, 2019 at Standard Check-in at 4:00 PM
Departure: Sunday Jan 13, 2019 at Standard Check-out at 10:00 AM

Building Address

000 Winter Park Drive
Unit #1111 (Founders Pointe - 5th floor)
Winter Park, CO 80482

Enter the building either from parking levels through lobby, or front sliding doors. Elevators are in the lobby

Google Directions <- link goes here

Phone Numbers:

Owners: Rich Siegmund 512-xxx-xxxx or Evelyn 512-xxx-xxxx
Resort front desk: 970-726-xxxx (if you are lost or in emergencies. Our condo is not part of the resort rental pool)

Parking

Entry to Parking Garage
Hold your phone showing barcode (or printed page) against the barcode reader. Press help button if gate doesn’t open.
See https://nationwideparkinginc.com (use code wp2018) if you haven't reserved your parking already
Parking
Drive straight into garage and turn left before bike storage area and find a nearby spot
Elevators will be on your left
If there are no spots, circle around and drive up the ramp behind the bike storage and park on the 2nd level
Carts may be found in any of these areas
In garage or lobby for Fraser Crossing OR Founders Pointe, on either parking level 1 or 2
If none are available during busy times you might try walking around on floors 3-6
Skis/Poles/Snowboards
Cannot be brought into the unit
Use the key in unit (hanging near door) to lock items in ski lockers located on Parking level near elevators.
Elevators
There are two elevators
All units are number with 4 digits where the first digit indicates the floor number
Please return carts to garage when you are done. You can help other guests by not just leaving in hallway

Arriving at the unit

Carts
Some owners have a "no carts in the unit" rule. We don't. But please take care to hold the door wide open, avoid hitting walls and don't bring in dirt/silt from the wheels.
Netflix
We try to provide a free Netflix account for the living room TV. It should work, but sometimes Netflix auto logs out and we are unable to provide the password.
Luggage
You'll find wooden luggage racks that are handy to use with suitcases
Temperature
Set the thermostat higher if it seems cold.
Start the humidifier if you like
Linens
You'll find extra linens/blankets in the master bedroom closet or in the coffee table
Hot Tub
towels are in the closet closest to the kitchen
closes at 10pm
Other Tips

Look for a multi-page document we leave on the coffee table, it has lots of suggestions for food and tips about the area/unit
If it's somehow missing, just email us and we'll send you a pdf copy

Don't hesitate to call 512-xxx-vvvv or email us at xxxxxxxx@lovewinterparkcondos.com if you have any questions or travel difficulties.

-Rich

We've had an email template library over in the support section for awhile: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/recommended-reading/email-template-library

One of our users, Rich, recently mentioned that it'd be good to allow user content too, so this forum was born :-)

We'll be working on and improving the share over time with images and photos!