Direct booking conversion · Built-in feature

Win back leaving visitors with
exit intent popups.

Show one offer as a popup the moment a guest is about to leave — a proven nudge that turns browsers into bookings. Capture their email, offer a discount, convert automatically.

Start free — includes exit popups See how it works

Built into every DirectBookings site · No extra cost · No third-party tools

How it works

One promo code, featured as a popup. Shown once when a guest is about to leave.

Create and feature a promo code

In your admin, create a discount code — percentage or fixed amount — then toggle "Feature on Exit Popup." Only one offer can be featured at a time.

How it looks on your website

The popup overlays your booking website with a focused offer when a visitor moves to leave. One discount, one email field — guests decide in seconds.

Every lead tracked in your dashboard

Every captured email appears in your leads table — showing the guest's email, the code offered, and the date. You own this data and can follow up directly.

Why exit popups work

A proven e-commerce technique, adapted for direct booking websites.

Guests are already interested

They visited your site and looked at your property — they're warm. A small discount is often all they need to commit.

Email captured even without a booking

Most won't book on their first visit. With their email, you follow up later — and every future booking is commission-free.

Shown once, only when leaving

Not intrusive. It appears when they're already gone — a helpful last-chance nudge, not an interruption.

Costs less than OTA commission

A 10% coupon on $200/night = $20. Airbnb's 15% fee on the same booking = $31. You still save $11 per night.

The conversion math

What a single exit popup can do for a site with 500 monthly visitors.

Email captures (5%)

25/mo

New leads per month

Convert 20% to bookings

Direct bookings/month

Commission saved (15%)

$750

Kept vs OTA route

Based on $1,000 avg booking value. Even one extra conversion per month covers the $9/mo subscription many times over.

Best practices for exit offers

Maximize conversions without compromising the guest experience.

Offer a real, meaningful discount

5-15% off works best. Anything less feels token; anything more erodes margins unnecessarily.

One action only — keep it simple

Enter email, get code. No multi-step forms, no surveys. Fewer fields mean higher conversion.

Lead with the benefit

'Get 10% off your stay' converts better than 'Sign up for our newsletter'. Be direct about the value.

Set an expiration window

7-14 days creates urgency without pressure. Too short feels aggressive; too long and they forget.

Follow up within 24 hours

Send a reminder with the code, a booking link, and your best property photo. The second touchpoint converts.

Only feature one offer

Multiple offers create decision fatigue. One clear discount = one clear action. DirectBookings enforces this by design.

Included in every DirectBookings plan

No separate tool. No extra monthly fee. Exit popups, promo codes, automated messaging — all ready to go.

Start your free trial

Everything in your direct booking website

Exit popups are one conversion tool in a full direct booking system. Here's what's included for $9/month.

Exit intent promo popup

Show a discount when visitors leave. Capture emails + deliver codes automatically.

Promo codes & shareable links

Unlimited codes. Smart links that auto-apply discounts at checkout.

Professional booking website

Branded property pages, availability calendar, online payments via Stripe.

Stripe payments — zero commission

Guests pay directly. You keep everything minus 2.9% processing.

Calendar sync with Airbnb & VRBO

iCal sync prevents double bookings across all channels.

Automated guest messaging

Check-in instructions, door codes, house rules — sent automatically per booking.

Guest WiFi email capture

Collect emails when guests connect to WiFi. Drive repeat direct bookings.

Online check-in & agreements

Digital guest registration and rental agreements, signed before arrival.

Get all of this for $9/month

5-day free trial · No credit card · Live in 15 minutes

Frequently asked questions

What is an exit intent popup for a vacation rental website?

An exit intent popup detects when a visitor is about to leave your direct booking website — typically by moving their cursor toward the browser's close or back button — and shows them a last-chance offer. For vacation rentals, this is usually a promo code discount paired with an email capture form. It's a proven conversion technique that turns browsers who would have left into actual bookings.

How does an exit popup help me get more direct bookings?

Most visitors to a vacation rental website browse and leave without booking. An exit intent popup catches them at the moment of abandonment and offers an incentive to stay. Even if they don't book immediately, you capture their email and can follow up with the offer later. Hosts using exit popups typically see 3-8% of leaving visitors convert to email captures or immediate bookings.

Can I use an exit popup on my direct booking website with DirectBookings?

Yes. DirectBookings has exit intent popups built in at no extra cost. Create a promo code in your admin panel, toggle 'Feature on Exit Popup', and it's live. The popup captures the guest's email, shows them the discount code, and logs everything in a leads table. No third-party tools required.

How do I set up an exit intent promo code popup?

In DirectBookings: (1) Go to your admin dashboard and create a promo code with your desired discount. (2) Toggle the 'Feature on Exit Popup' option for that code. Only one code can be featured at a time. (3) The popup automatically appears on your booking website when a visitor tries to leave. (4) Check the leads table to see captured emails and usage. Setup takes under 5 minutes.

What conversion rate can I expect from an exit intent popup?

Exit intent popups typically convert 3-10% of abandoning visitors. For vacation rental websites, expect 3-5% for immediate bookings and 5-8% for email capture. Even a 3% capture rate on 1,000 monthly visitors means 30 new emails per month — potential future direct bookings worth $150-400+ each in commission savings versus OTA bookings.

Is the exit popup annoying for guests?

Not when done well. The DirectBookings exit popup is shown once per visitor session, only when they're already leaving. It offers genuine value (a real discount), has a clear close button, and doesn't block the page on arrival. Because it's a real promo code — not a newsletter signup — guests perceive it as helpful rather than intrusive.

How do I offer a repeat guest discount without Airbnb?

On your own direct booking website, create a promo code and share it with past guests via email or your automated post-stay messaging. You can also feature it as an exit popup for new visitors. Unlike Airbnb, where you cannot control pricing presentation or offer custom codes, your direct site gives you full control over discounts, recipients, and expiration dates.

What discount should I offer in a vacation rental exit popup?

5-15% off the nightly rate works best. It's enough to feel meaningful but doesn't cut deeply into margins — especially since you're saving 15-20% by not paying OTA commission on direct bookings. A 10% discount on a $200/night booking costs $20/night but saves the $31/night you'd pay Airbnb. You come out ahead on every conversion.

Keep reading

Create a Direct Booking Website

Build your commission-free booking site in 15 minutes. Exit popups included.

Discount Codes & Promo Links

Create unlimited codes, shareable links, and repeat guest incentives.

How to Get Direct Bookings

The complete playbook — from first visitor to repeat guest, commission-free.

Turn one-time guests into repeat direct bookings

Most hosts never see their guests again. Every OTA stay should become your next direct booking — your website accepts commission-free reservations, your WiFi keeps your brand in front of guests long after checkout.

The repeat booking engine

Guest books on Airbnb

You pay the OTA commission

Stays at your property

Their only visit — for now

Connects to your WiFi

Branded splash page

Email captured

Added to your guest CRM

Automated follow-up

Offers & seasonal discounts

Books directly next trip

Zero OTA commission

Step 1

Direct Booking Website

Accept commission-free reservations from day one. Your own branded site with payments, calendar sync, and automated check-in — live in 15 minutes.

Branded booking website with custom domain
Stripe payments — zero booking fees
Calendar sync with Airbnb & VRBO
Pre-signed rental agreements & waivers

Start accepting direct bookings →

Step 2

Guest WiFi Marketing

Stop letting guests disappear after checkout. Capture their email when they log on to WiFi, then automatically invite them back to book direct next time.

Branded WiFi splash page & guest email capture
Automated rebooking campaigns & seasonal offers
Repeat-guest discounts to win the direct booking
Guest CRM across all your properties — any router

See WiFi Marketing →

One repeat booking often pays for your subscription many times over — there's no OTA commission the second time around. Bundle subscribers save 30% on Guest WiFi Marketing.

Browse our free Airbnb alternative →

Start converting leaving visitors today.

Exit intent popups, promo codes, automated messaging, and a full direct booking website — all included for $9/month.