JULY 15, 2025
#141 Short-Term Rental Analytics: Your Secret Weapon for Higher Profits
Let’s be real: data can feel overwhelming. When you’re juggling multiple platforms, guest communication, turnovers, and everything else that comes with running an STR business, diving into spreadsheets isn’t exactly the dream.
But what if I told you that short-term rental analytics might just be the smartest growth strategy you’re not using yet?
In a recent podcast episode, I sat down with Carolyn O’Brien, a dashboard and data visualization pro who’s on a mission to make data not just digestible—but actionable. Whether you’re listing on Airbnb, Vrbo, your own direct booking site—or all of the above—this is your chance to ditch the guesswork and grow with clarity.
Why Short-Term Rental Analytics Matter (More Than Ever)
Here’s the truth: gut instinct will only get you so far.
If you want to maximize revenue, optimize performance, and make decisions that actually move the needle, you need to know what the data is telling you.
And no, I’m not talking about getting buried in pivot tables.
I’m talking about building a clear, visual, short-term rental analytics dashboard that shows you:
- What’s working (and what’s not)
- When to adjust pricing
- Which channels are driving real results
- How your properties stack up across platforms
When you have these insights at your fingertips, you stop guessing and start leading.
Turn Metrics into Money with the Data to Dollars Challenge
Carolyn and I are teaming up for something seriously exciting this August: a 3-day “Data to Dollars” Challenge where we’ll guide you through building your own custom STR analytics dashboard.
Together, we’ll help you:
✅ Track the right metrics
✅ Visualize your data (in a beautiful, easy-to-use dashboard)
✅ Use it to grow your business with confidence
You’ll walk away with a real-time view of your performance—and a serious edge in this competitive market.
Listen to the podcast episode and then click here to join the challenge
HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:
[00:05] A short introduction about our guest Carolyn O’Brien and how she help business owners understand data and metrics
[02:17] Carolyn shares the game-changing power of visualizing business data and her clients’ feedback
[03:16] Carolyn emphasizes that data doesn’t have to be overwhelming—especially for those intimidated by spreadsheets
[05:44] Carolyn’s strategy for making data review a weekly habit that drives better business decisions
[07:27] Carolyn’s perspective on how clarity with numbers transforms business decisions
[11:28] How clear, visual data not only improves business strategy but also strengthens communication between partners who co-invest
[14:02] Carolyn explains how visual dashboards empower women to confidently engage with their numbers
[16:00] How Carolyn’s dashboard expertise impacted the short-term rental space and highlights how the process allowed her to test new features and tailor metrics based on the needs of a property owner
[20:55] How Carolyn’s dashboard design unlocks smarter decisions in the short-term rental space
[22:44] Carolyn emphasizes the value of integrating Airbnb data into custom dashboards to offer clarity and context for short-term rental owners
[24:25] Introducing “The Data to Dollars Challenge” – a three day challenge to empower and help short-term rental hosts turn their data into actionable business insights
[27:55] Carolyn offers advice to anyone intimidated by numbers or spreadsheets, especially those intrigued by the upcoming workshop but feeling hesitant
[28:54] The lightning round
Golden Nuggets:
- “Getting started doesn’t mean tracking everything, because tracking too many numbers is almost just as bad as not tracking anything at all.”
- “Data can help back up so many different decisions, no matter what type of business you’re in, no matter what size of business you’re in.”
- “It’s so critically important now, even more than ever, that we are making strategic decisions when it comes to our portfolio, when it comes to our investing, when it comes to perhaps what properties we want to, you know, redeploy money from.”
- “Starting somewhere is better than starting nowhere, and there’s always going to be a starting point, and growth can happen from there.”
- “Sometimes you can learn from someone what not to do, which is more helpful than someone telling you what to do.”
Let’s Connect!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolynobrienstrategist/
Website: metricssuccess.com
Did you enjoy the episode? Don’t forget to Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!
