Sharecropping is farming someone else’s land in return for a share of the harvest.
This is a quick way to make money, but each harvest starts from zero, they can be replaced by anyone who will work for less, and after years of work all the equity goes to the owner.
Sharecropping is long gone but digital sharecropping is alive and well.
Digital sharecroppers work on top of internet behemoths to quickly reach eyeballs without realizing if they are successful their rewarded is higher fees to keep reaching those eyeballs.
If Google, Airbnb, or Vrbo turned you off tomorrow would you have a business?
If the answer is yes then your future will be higher PPC costs and higher commissions to attract travelers because you have to. Online Travel Agencies offer a shortcut to get new guests, but the tradeoff is that they aren’t really your guest they are Airbnb’s.
The only way to combat this is to own your guests by giving them an unique experience and incredible service while owning your website and email list.
Do this long enough and you will control your own destiny not Airbnb.
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