Semi-Custom Squarespace Site + API Integration

Property Management of Hayward

When Hayward Rentals approached me, they weren’t looking for “a nicer website.”

They needed a digital infrastructure capable of supporting growth, visibility, and long-term brand authority in a competitive Northwoods vacation rental market.

This wasn’t about aesthetics alone.

It was about control, scalability, and positioning.

The Challenge

Before we partnered, Hayward Rentals was relying heavily on OTA platforms and a basic web presence.

The business had strong properties and loyal guests — but the online ecosystem wasn’t built to support expansion.

Key issues:

  • Heavy dependence on Airbnb & VRBO traffic

  • Limited organic visibility for “Hayward WI vacation rentals” and lake-specific searches

  • No scalable SEO structure for adding new properties

  • No strategic integration between their PMS (initially Hostaway) and marketing site

  • A booking experience that didn’t feel premium or cohesive

They didn’t need a prettier template.

They needed digital ownership.

our mission

Build a Revenue-Driving Digital Asset

This project required both strategic positioning and technical depth.

Hayward Rentals manages high-quality lake homes in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. The brand needed to reflect:

  • Trust and professionalism

  • Local expertise

  • High-end vacation experiences

  • Operational competence behind the scenes

We weren’t just building pages.

We were building leverage.

Strategic Website Architecture

We created a custom Squarespace site structured around:

  • Lake-specific landing pages to capture high-intent search traffic

  • Individual, SEO-optimized property pages

  • Clear conversion paths to drive direct bookings

  • Content designed to reduce OTA dependency over time

Instead of listing properties generically, we structured the site around how guests actually search:

By lake.
By experience.
By location.

This is how you compete with the OTAs.

Custom PMS & API Integration

This wasn’t a brochure site.

We implemented a custom integration between the website and their Property Management System, allowing:

  • Dynamic property data

  • Automated listing updates

  • Scalable growth as new homes are added

  • A consistent brand-controlled booking journey

Explore the Pages of This Custom Vacation Rental Website

Curious what a direct-booking-focused Squarespace vacation rental site looks like when it’s built strategically?

Browse the property structure, lake pages, and integrated booking experience to see how design and SEO work together to support growth.

Ready to Build a Direct-Booking Machine?

If you manage multiple properties and are serious about reducing OTA dependenc, increasing direct bookings, building long-term SEO authority and scaling without rebuilding your site every year, then you don’t need “a web guy.”

You need strategy, structure, and systems.

Let’s build a premium, conversion-focused vacation rental website that gives you control — and positions your brand at the level it deserves.

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John Farris Visionary Arts