Pine Hill Cabin

How Charlee’s Vacation Rental Turned First-Time Guests Into an Excellent Referral Source

Hey Reader,

Charlee here.

Today I wanted to share a story about a personal project that I’ve been working on over the past two and a half years—my vacation rental, Pine Hill Cabin in Brown County, Indiana. This was a dream project for my husband and I, and what kind of designer would I be if I didn’t bake in dozens of branded experiences into our guests’ stay?

So without further ado, let’s get into it.

Before we get too deep into the heart of the woods, you should know that I approached this project just like I would any client that we work with here at Emerald. Because I knew how competitive our target market was and that a once-in-a-lifetime customer experience would create repeat customers + better word-of-mouth marketing than any paid ad ever could.

So when I first started to get my creative juices flowing on how I want to set up Pine Hill Cabin’s online presence, here’s what I prioritized:

• I knew we needed a mini-brand that included custom signage and other key moments that was unique + recognizable
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• I wanted to delight guests with the WOW! factor—from as early as when they booked with us, to the first time they stepped through the doors, and even after they would leave
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• I also wanted to make sure we were well-resourced by hiring the right management company to partner with, so there was a smooth transition from guest to guest
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• I invested early in showstopper marketing assets that would make us appear more with the times than our competitors by adding a video tour to our website

And while Brown County is a common vacation area for locals and out-of-towners alike, I also knew that if we could appeal to a slightly younger target demographic, we’d stand out among the sea of rentals in our zip code.

Our rental is also located very close to a main road, so instead of just relying on a mailbox or a beautiful front door, I opted for designing a custom sign you could see during a driveby to market our cabin 24/7/365.

The same is true for many of the experiences we create inside the cabin for customers to discover during their stay, including things like…

• An overstocked kitchen full of pantry staples, just in case there’s the (inevitable?) chance that they forgot something on their way in
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• A plethora of cozy lights and mood lighting so our space feels welcoming, cool, and accommodating, even if they’re staying in for most of their time away
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• A welcome basket full of items that are handmade and sourced from nearby shops, so we can also support our local economy with every guest’s stay
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• Optional grocery delivery, so they don’t have to worry about the hassle of getting food or standing in line—just rolling into the driveway and preparing to exhale
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• Having dog treats on standby, juuuuuust in case we happen to notice that a guest paid a pet fee and is bringing their dog with them on site

Little moments like these might seem like they’re a bit much for a small cabin out in Indiana, but you’d be surprised how many guests not only notice them—but write about it in our customer reviews and inside our guestbook. It’s also the number one thing they mention to friends when recommending our property as the best place to stay in Brown County.

All this to say, that if brand moments like these can be the secret to the success of a small vacation rental, they’re an absolute must-have for a business on a larger scale. Don’t you think?

By the way, designing magical moments like these are exactly what we’re about here at Emerald. And whether you’ve got a 30+ person company, a solopreneur business, or maybe even a vacation rental that needs a little something extra special, we’d love to design it for YOU.

​Click here to learn more about our services or fill out this form and tell us about your next project.
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Now booking projects for Q3

September - 1 spot
October - 2 spots
November - 3 spots

Until next time,
Charlee & Leah

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