We’re looking forward to introducing you to Marissa Schulze. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Marissa, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
One of the reasons I started Haymaker Marketing is because I wanted to time to travel, and that is what I’m doing right now! Currently, I’m in a seaside town in Portugal–so my day starts with a good look at the ocean, and then I usually walk to a local cafe and get some work done. In the past year, I’ve built up a team of amazing photographers, content creators, and social media managers who can go to Airbnbs and vacation homes when I’m traveling. Thus, I can travel a bit (of course, I come back to the States to build databases for short-term rentals this fall), but I’m so privileged to be able to do this right now. After work, I usually head back, have a simple lunch, and work more! But, the evenings are the best part–I walk along the coast at sunset or have a glass of green wine on a balcony. I even took a few surf lessons. It’s a pretty great life!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
At Haymaker Marketing, we work with vacation rental owners who want to build a direct booking funnel—so they’re not solely relying on Airbnb or VRBO to attract guests. Our clients want their properties to look luxurious online, build a strong brand presence on social media, and expand their portfolio with confidence.
We’re a vacation rental marketing agency rooted in storytelling. Yes, we care about systems, metrics, and driving traffic to your listings—but what sets us apart is how we bring your property to life. Through websites, email campaigns, Instagram, and Pinterest, we tell the story of your vacation home: what it feels like to sip coffee on the porch, to jump in the pool with your grandkids, or to watch the sun set after a perfect day. That’s what really sells. People don’t just want amenities—they want a feeling.
Right now, we’re working with a serial property investor to create a direct booking website for his portfolio. We’ve visited all four of his properties to build a comprehensive photo and video database, launched four Instagram accounts, and are doing deep keyword research on Pinterest to increase visibility. It’s a big account—and it’s been incredible to bring his brand to life online.
Coming up? A dreamy alpaca farm Airbnb. Yes, you can actually have brunch with alpacas as part of your stay! For this client, I’ll be capturing content onsite, then managing both Pinterest and Instagram to help them grow their reach and brand awareness.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I think as a child, I definitely had no interest in business. This is hilarious, because now I own a marketing agency for vacation rentals and boutique hotels. I think in some way, “business” meant going into an office, wearing fancy clothing, and talking to people insincerely to get a “sale.” That never interested me as a child– but now that the world of business has changed– we have more freedom to work remotely, we can build a business that is ethical and personal, and we can use our businesses to impact the world.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her that she is in fact, a leader and that all her “weaknesses” will make her a dynamic and adaptable business owner.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
This is a great question! One common myth in the vacation rental and short-term rental industry is that influencer marketing is a scam. When I asked this question on Reddit, I received a lot of responses—many of them not so kind. A lot of hosts view influencers as freeloaders who offer no tangible results and are just looking for a free stay at a beautiful property.
That perspective is totally valid—but it’s not the full picture. Influencer marketing is leverage. It’s another way to try and find the tipping point.
As the founder of an Airbnb marketing agency that actively partners with influencers, I’ve seen firsthand the value they can bring. No marketing strategy is a guaranteed win—but I’ve seen influencer collaborations drive growth, generate views and saves, and elevate a property’s online presence.
Is influencer marketing a golden ticket to instant bookings? No.
Will it increase brand awareness? Absolutely.
Will it help your property look more luxurious and desirable online? 100%.
Will it serve as one more funnel that can ultimately lead to bookings? Yes.
Influencer marketing isn’t a scam, it’s a tool. And when used intentionally as part of a broader strategy, it can be a powerful one.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Absolutely! Though many days, my work is just me on a computer for hours, with endless tea and snacks, my vacation rental marketing agency has taken me to some beautiful properties and amazing places that I couldn’t even dream of going to! I love to travel, so I’ve been very excited when I’ve gotten to go to:
A villa in Sedona, Arizona.
A cabin in the woods of Pine, Arizona.
A mansion near Nice, France.
A multiproperty estate in Roundtop, Texas.
A vacation rental in Indio, California.
A gorgeous 10th-floor condo in Fort Myers, Florida.
How can you not be excited about these clients?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.haymakersocial.com/airbnb-marketing-strategy
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haymakermarketing/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7265456375516856321
Image Credits
Rhema Faith Photography
https://rhemafaithphotography.com/
