08/08/2026
Knowing what we know after 5 YEARS of doing this… we’d do a few things a little differently. 👀
Not because we did everything wrong, but because there are things that took us YEARS to learn that could’ve changed the trajectory of our business sooner.
Here are 5 of the biggest:
1️⃣ We’d get in rooms with people doing what we wanted to do. 🤓
Community + networking can shortcut YEARS of figuring things out alone. Other creators aren’t just competition—they can become friends, referrals, collaborators + some of your biggest resources.
2️⃣ We’d diversify our income earlier. 📝
Property shoots can open the door, but there’s so much beyond them… brands, retainers, licensing, affiliate income, social media management, long-term partnerships + more.
3️⃣ We’d prioritize turning one shoot into a long-term client. 🤝
Deliver more than expected, follow up, stay connected + keep finding ways to bring value. Some of our biggest opportunities started as one shoot and became repeat clients, referrals + years-long partnerships.
4️⃣ We’d make pitching way more personal. 💌
Use the pitch to open the door, then get out of the DMs. Get on a call, meet face-to-face, network + learn about their business. The stronger the connection, the less it feels like a transaction.
5️⃣ We’d stop obsessing over follower count + focus on becoming REALLY valuable. 💯
Get great at your craft. Create quality content. Understand what hosts need + build an offer that solves those problems. Your photos, videos, deliverables + expertise have value even without thousands of followers.
And #1 is a BIG reason we’re so excited for this September. 👏🏼
We’re helping lead the creator track at the Postaway - Search. Stay. Share. Hospitality Summit, where we’re teaching the ENTIRE STR creator business, from getting started to going full-time + beyond.
AND we’re bringing creators + hosts into the same room to learn, network & create opportunities together.
It’s the room we wish we had 5 years ago.
Comment “SUMMIT” and we’ll send the details, DISCOUNT CODE + ticket link! 🏔️ Or tap the link in our bio.
