Backlinks for Holiday Lets and Glamping Sites

Backlinks for holiday lets are links from other websites to yours. Google reads each one a bit like a recommendation, so a site with good local links tends to be trusted more. The safest way to get them is to ask people who already know you, like nearby businesses, your tourism board, your suppliers and the local press. You don’t need hundreds. A dozen genuine local links beat a pile of bought ones, and the work is mostly sending friendly emails.

Why backlinks for holiday lets matter

Backlinks matter because they help Google decide which sites to trust, especially when lots of holiday lets in the same area say similar things. Good content and a fast, clear site come first. Links then help the site stand out.

The quality of a link counts for more than the number. A link from a farm shop two miles away, or from your county tourism site, is worth more than one from a random directory with no connection to travel. Relevant and local is the aim.

There’s a direct-booking reason too. Even when a guest finds you on a listing site, they often search for your own website afterwards, hoping for a better deal or because they know you keep more of the money. If Google trusts your site, you’re the one they find. Listings and your own site work together.

Start with local partners

Local partners are the best first ask, because they already know you and have a reason to help. Most are small businesses with their own websites, and many will happily link to somewhere their customers might stay.

Good places to start for a shepherd’s hut, a few pods on a farm or a cottage.

• Pubs and restaurants guests will eat at
• Farm shops, bakeries and delis
• Activity providers, like kayak hire, bike hire or walking guides
• Wedding venues and event spaces that need nearby places for guests to stay
• Local attractions, gardens and visitor centres
• Nearby accommodation that offers something different from yours

Don’t just ask for a link. Offer something back, such as a “where we eat” or “things to do nearby” page on your site that links to them first. Then send a short email saying you’ve included them and, if they have a “places to stay” or “partners” page, you’d love to be on it.

Tourism boards and local directories

Your regional tourism body, local business groups and village websites are all worth a listing, because the links are relevant and carry trust. The national bodies such as VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales sit above many regional destination organisations, and most areas have one close to you.

Each one works differently, so check what is on offer. Some listings are free and some come with a paid membership. If it’s paid, ask yourself whether the visitors it could send are worth the cost, and don’t pay for the link alone.

Here’s how the main options compare.

Listing sites such as Canopy & Stars, CoolStays and Airbnb are mainly for bookings. Keep them, but don’t rely on them as your link strategy.

Get coverage in the press and local media

Local press is one of the strongest sources of links, because newspapers, magazines and regional sites are trusted and relevant. You just need a reason for them to write about you.

Editors like news. Good hooks for a glamping site or holiday let include the following.

• You’re opening, or you’ve added a new hut, pod or hot tub
• You’ve won a local award or been shortlisted
• You’re supporting a local charity or event
• Something seasonal, like a Christmas break or a spring lambing stay
• A story about the people behind the place

Keep the email short. Say what’s happening, why it matters locally and include two or three good photos. Then ask that any article links to your website. Many will, but not all. A friendly follow-up the next day to ask if they need anything else is fine.

Create guides worth linking to

People link to pages that help them. A useful local guide gives other sites a reason to point at you, and it helps your guests too.

Ideas that suit holiday lets and glamping sites.

• A guide to the best local walks, with maps and distances
• A seasonal events calendar for your area
• Dog-friendly pubs and cafés nearby
• A stargazing or wildlife page if your site is somewhere dark and quiet
• A “how to get here by train” page for car-free guests

Once a guide is live, tell the businesses and groups mentioned in it. A walking club, a village site or a local blogger may well link to something that sends their readers somewhere useful.

You don’t have to write all of this alone. Copy from your listings is a handy start, and a tidy guide takes a few hours. The same approach works for cottages and caravan parks, since the people who link are just as local.

Ask your suppliers

Suppliers are an easy source of links, and they’re often overlooked. Businesses that sold you something are usually pleased to show off a good customer.

Think about who you’ve bought from. That could be the maker of your hot tub, the builder of your pods or huts, your linen service, a firewood supplier or a local hamper company. Many have a “our customers”, “projects” or “stockists” page, or a news section where they’d happily mention a new install.

Send a short message with a photo and a line about how it looks on site, and ask if they would feature you with a link. It costs them nothing and gives them a good photo.

What to avoid

The things to avoid are the shortcuts. They can look attractive when a salesperson promises 50 links for a small fee, but they can hurt you.

• Buying links. Google’s spam policies treat links bought to boost rankings as a breach. If it was found, you could lose rankings you’d earned.
• Mass link swaps. An occasional swap with a neighbour is natural. Dozens of “you link to me and I’ll link to you” deals are not.
• Low-quality directories. If a directory lists everything from plumbers to pet food, it’s not helping you.
• Comment and forum spam. Dropping your link under blog posts or in forums will get you ignored or banned.
• Automated tools and packages. Anything that promises hundreds of links in a week is a warning sign.

A simple monthly routine

You don’t need a big campaign. A short, regular habit is more realistic for someone running the place themselves.

If you’re not sure where your site stands, the audit below will show it. Backlinks are one piece, alongside clear pages, good photos and a site that works on a phone.

FAQs

How many backlinks does a holiday let website need?

There’s no magic number. A handful of relevant links from local businesses, your tourism board and the local press will do more than hundreds of random ones. Look at the sites ranking above you for your area and see where their links come from. That tells you what’s realistic.

Is it safe to buy backlinks for my holiday let?

It isn’t worth the risk. Google’s spam policies treat buying links to boost rankings as a breach, and the result can be your pages dropping in search. Links earned from real local relationships take longer, but they last and they also send you real visitors.

How long do backlinks take to help?

Usually weeks to months, not days. Google has to find the link, and your site needs to be strong in other ways too, like clear pages and a fast mobile experience. Nobody can promise a ranking or a number of bookings from links alone.

Do links from Airbnb or Canopy & Stars help my SEO?

A listing is mainly there to bring bookings, so treat any SEO value as a bonus. Whether a platform passes any link value to your site depends on how it handles outbound links. Guests often search for your own site after finding you there, so make sure it’s worth finding.

Can I build backlinks myself?

Yes. Most of the safe methods are friendly emails to people you already know, like neighbours, suppliers and local businesses. It needs a few hours a month, not a big budget. Start with the easiest links and work up to press and guides.

Find out what’s holding your site back

Send us your website and we’ll tell you, for free, what’s stopping it getting bookings. We build sites for glamping owners, holiday let and cottage owners and holiday park owners, and you can read how we work first if you like. For Millie the Hut, a shepherd’s hut near Presteigne, the site we built brought 42 direct bookings in its first year and saved the owners over £3,000 in commission. Get your free website audit.