Working with Sarah since 2020, Lorraine has transformed her holiday business, achieving an impressive 96% direct bookings and saving an estimated £100,000 in commission fees. Her success story showcases how proper marketing support can lead to remarkable business independence.
“Sarah’s like an Exocet missile with razor blades attached – she’s so sharp, so focused. If you ask her anything, she’s there with an answer straight away. She seems to be able to cover everything.“
This isn’t just another business success story – it’s about how the right support can transform not just your business but your whole approach to running it. Since joining forces with Sarah in 2020, Lorraine has completely turned her holiday letting business around, now bringing in an impressive 96% of bookings directly and saving a whopping £100,000 in commission fees along the way.
But let’s rewind a bit. Lorraine’s journey into holiday lets wasn’t exactly straightforward. After a two-year battle with planners (complete with some hilarious objections along the way), she finally got permission for two holiday cottages back in 2006. Life threw some curveballs – including a divorce – but Lorraine kept pushing forward. She even managed to win another planning battle, adding two holiday cabins to her portfolio. While she still runs all the properties, it’s the cabins, known as The Roost, that really get her excited these days.
“When I started out, I was pretty much winging it,” Lorraine admits with a smile. “I had the basics – a bit of Instagram here, a basic Facebook page there, and a website. But anything more technical? Mailchimp? Canva? Meta ads? No chance – I just didn’t have the confidence.”
However, everything changed when she bumped into Sarah at a local Tourism Association meeting. They clicked immediately, finding themselves at similar points in their business journeys. Starting with Sarah’s help building a standout website that later got a special mention from the judges when Lorraine won Gold for Best New Business at the South West England Tourism Excellence Awards in 2021, their work together has only grown stronger.
Lorraine has dived deep into everything Sarah offers. She’s completed Sarah’s signature yearly Bootcamp, tackled the Facebook & Instagram (Meta) Ads online course, attended the Get Geared Up marketing conferences, and is an active member of Sarah’s marketing club – THE FULLY BOOKED BUSINESS CLUB™.
“I honestly wouldn’t be where I am today without Sarah’s marketing know-how. The way she keeps you on track with the training, those Monday Motivation sessions, regular emails, and the weekly Marketing Helpdesks – it’s exactly what I needed to stay focused and motivated.”
And it’s really paid off! These days, Lorraine’s running at an impressive 85% occupancy rate, with 96% of her bookings coming straight through her website. She only turns to Airbnb if she has last-minute booking gaps, which rarely happens. This smart approach has kept around £100,000 in her pocket since 2020 – money that would have otherwise gone to commission fees.
One of Lorraine’s biggest wins? Mastering Facebook ads. “They used to terrify me,” she admits. “But now? I run two specific campaigns all year round – one for special occasions and another aimed at dog owners, who make up a large proportion of Lorraine’s ideal guests. Sarah’s training videos are gold – I literally keep them bookmarked and follow along step-by-step whenever I set up a new campaign.”
And the proof is in the pudding, as they say – 22% of Lorraine’s bookings now come from either happy guests returning or their friends booking on their recommendation. “It’s amazing how many bookings now come from either previous guests coming back or their friends giving us a try after hearing good things,” she says proudly.
The ongoing support from Sarah’s marketing club has been a game-changer for Lorraine. While she can’t make every session, she makes sure to catch up on the recordings, using them as her go-to resource for staying on top of marketing trends and keeping her marketing mojo.
When asked what Lorraine would tell a fellow host thinking of working with Sarah, she replied…
“Just do it! Sarah will give you the confidence you need. When you’re in those weekly meetings with the group, you suddenly realise – hey, I can do this! It’s not some kind of magic or rocket science – sure, it takes work, but Sarah makes it totally doable.”
Ready to stop watching those commission fees eat into your profits? Want to take control of your marketing like Lorraine has? Book a free consultation call with Sarah today or check out THE FULLY BOOKED BUSINESS CLUB™.