Hope your π is humming along nicely!
As we all know, artificial intelligence (i.e. ChatGPT) is here to stay. It's also a very powerful tool you can lean into when running your business. On the webinar call earlier we went through some specific examples of how AI can help you optimize your business/brand.
For those who missed it, have a listen here.
π Industry Insights
As discussed in the webinar, listings are down on the platform YOY, largely as a result of Outdoorsy proactively removing hosts who were not actively managing their rentals. This is good news for star hosts who are engaged and responsive. Quality over quantity!
π Interesting tidbit tied to above: the reduction of rigs falling under the class b/campervan category was double that of those falling under class a, class c, and trailer segments.
π€ Artificial Intelligence
As mentioned in the intro, artificial intelligence is a powerful tool. Have you utilized ChatGPT (or something similar) to enhance elements of your business. Examples of where AI can be useful include:
- vehicle description
- about my business
- guest outreach
- review responses
(for additional context click here and go to the 5:40-mark)
π ββοΈ Chargebacks
As indicated in this Wall Street Journal article, it has never been easier for consumers to exercise their right to dispute credit card charges. In 2023 an estimated $11B in transactions was disputed (representing an increase of over 50% since the onset of Covid).
Ways to defend against potential disputes include an effective balance of the following:
- outstanding customer service
- all of the transparency
- strategic fine print
For more information on chargebacks click here (shout out to the 'Resources' section)
π° Lifetime Value
Did you know that there is a 'lifetime value' column in the 'Customers' export (though this page looks quite basic at first glance, there is more value when you export the data)? This is a great resource to consider when proactively reaching out to your historical guests.
π₯ Quick Hits
- we switched messaging platforms since the last newsletter was sent out
- this has impacted some messaging notifications/flows (our product team is actively working to resolve)
- reminder: our support team is in place to support Wheelbase hosts only (please ensure you are chatting in on behalf of your guests when needed)
- support has noticed an increase in cases where guests are messaging in directly (no bueno)
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out (or get in touch with our support team through the support messaging bubble on the bottom right of your Wheelbase dashboard)
If you're looking to share any feedback or insight, click here
And don't forget, there is also a wealth of information available in the Wheelbase Help Center!
Best,
The Wheelbase Team