The rainmaker 5 Stages of Success vs. Sojern Traveler Advertising:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

As a hotelier evaluating digital marketing solutions, your goal is to boost direct bookings, improve visibility, and grow revenue. Both Rainmaker.travel’s The 5 Stages of Success and Sojern Traveler Advertising aim to address these needs but approach them differently. Rainmaker’s platform offers an all-encompassing marketing methodology combined with an integrated cloud, while Sojern provides a focused, data-driven advertising platform optimized for travel marketers. Which fits your hotel’s strategic goals better?

Rainmaker.travel’s holistic approach strives to guide your hotel through every step of the customer journey, from visibility to conversions, with an emphasis on content and reputation management. Conversely, Sojern’s strength lies in its precision targeting and performance-based advertising, designed to directly influence traveler behavior. Do you need a broad, multi-channel strategy or a specialized ad platform?

Is Rainmaker.travel or Sojern Better for Hotels?

Rainmaker.travel’s 5 Stages of Success aims to transform your entire marketing ecosystem. It covers SEO, web development, reputation, social media, and automation, providing a broad set of features designed for deep integration and long-term growth. However, the platform suffers from extremely poor reviews, with a 0/5 overall rating and only one review that describes it as a “disaster,” citing broken links, poor communication, and failure to deliver promised results.

In contrast, Sojern’s platform is highly rated, with a 5/5 overall and nearly 150 reviews, including recent ones within the last six months. Hoteliers praise its ease of use, excellent customer support, and ability to generate direct bookings through targeted, performance-based campaigns. Its reputation for effectiveness and recent positive feedback make it a more reliable choice. Given the stark contrast, the question becomes: which one will reliably meet your hotel’s marketing needs?

Rainmaker.travel vs Sojern: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your property is a vacation rental or villa, and you’re looking for an all-in-one marketing platform with capabilities ranging from SEO to social media, Rainmaker.travel might seem appealing. However, given the overwhelmingly negative reviews and lack of recent activity, this product isn’t recommended. On the other hand, Sojern is better suited for hotels that want targeted, measurable advertising campaigns that generate direct bookings, especially if you operate in North America, Europe, or Asia Pacific.

Hoteliers focused on driving demand through precise digital ads, with an emphasis on ROI and performance-based costs, should go with Sojern. Meanwhile, those seeking a broad, integrated marketing strategy with in-depth content and reputation management may wish to look elsewhere, as Rainmaker.travel’s offering is widely regarded as ineffective and outdated. For most hotels, especially those seeking proven results, Sojern is the clear choice.

Is Rainmaker.travel or Sojern Easier to Use?

Rainmaker.travel scores a mere 1/5 in ease of use, with reviews describing its interface as complex, confusing, and difficult to onboard staff. Users report that the platform's features are poorly implemented, with broken links and non-functional tools, making adoption a challenge.

Sojern, on the other hand, boasts a 4.83/5 rating for ease of use, with users describing its platform as straightforward, intuitive, and supported by a responsive team. Many reviewers highlight how simple it is to set up campaigns and view performance metrics, with onboarding rated at 4.71/5. Edge: Sojern.

Which Has Better Features: Rainmaker.travel or Sojern?

Rainmaker.travel offers a broad suite of 20 features, including SEO, web design, content strategy, influencer marketing, social media management, reputation management, and marketing automation. These features aim to support a holistic branding and customer engagement strategy but are unproven in actual hotel settings, given the negative reviews.

Sojern provides three core features focused on travel advertising: metasearch marketing, metasearch connectivity, and a marketing dashboard. While fewer in number, these features are highly tailored to travel marketing and backed by positive reviews praising their targeting and booking results.

Edge: Rainmaker.travel for breadth, but Sojern for proven, targeted advertising features.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Rainmaker.travel or Sojern?

Rainmaker.travel’s support scores a disappointing 1/5, with reviews indicating poor communication and unhelpful service, aligning with their overall negative rating. Customers describe the support as unresponsive and unprofessional, making onboarding and troubleshooting difficult.

Sojern’s support is rated at 4.8/5, with clients praising their proactive, knowledgeable, and quick assistance. Many reviews mention how the team acts as an extension of their hotel’s staff, helping optimize campaigns and troubleshoot issues efficiently. Edge: Sojern.

Which Has More Integrations: Rainmaker.travel or Sojern?

Rainmaker.travel integrates with just three partners: TrustYou, Planet, and SiteMinder. This limited integration scope restricts its ability to connect with other hotel systems, complicating data synchronization and reporting.

Sojern boasts 33 verified partners, including major PMS and booking engine providers like Profitroom, Mirai, and HotelTime. This extensive integration network allows for smoother data flow, better reporting, and more efficient campaign management.

Edge: Sojern.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Rainmaker.travel or Sojern?

Rainmaker.travel’s review count is only one, with a 0/5 rating, and all reviews are extremely negative. Hoteliers describe it as a “catastrophe,” citing broken links and missed promises, leading to zero trust in its capabilities.

Sojern’s 150+ reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with a 5/5 overall score and a 9.56/10 NPS score. Hoteliers highlight its ease of use, support, and tangible results like increased direct bookings. Given the recent reviews and high ratings, Sojern is clearly favored.

Edge: Sojern.

How Much Do Rainmaker.travel and Sojern Cost?

Rainmaker.travel does not list any pricing information, suggesting it may lack a clear or accessible pricing model, which raises concerns about value and transparency.

Sojern costs $1,100 per month, with no mention of setup fees or discounts, and operates on a pay-for-performance basis. This transparent, predictable pricing aligns well with its proven ROI, making it easier for your team to assess value.

Edge: Sojern.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Rainmaker.travel?

Rainmaker.travel might appeal to:

• Hotels or vacation rentals seeking an all-in-one marketing approach.
• Hotels with large marketing teams capable of managing complex platforms.
• Businesses prioritizing long-term brand building over immediate ROI.
• Hotels that can tolerate poor support and unreliable technology.

Not ideal if:

• You need reliable, measurable results quickly.
• Your property relies heavily on online reputation management.
• You prefer a straightforward, easy-to-use platform.
• You operate in regions outside Africa, where the platform’s presence is limited.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Sojern?

Sojern works best for:

• Hotels focused on direct demand generation via digital advertising.
• Businesses with a marketing team comfortable with performance metrics.
• Hotels operating in North America, Europe, or Asia Pacific.
• Hotels that value targeted, measurable campaigns with clear ROI.

Not ideal if:

• You’re seeking an all-in-one platform with extensive content and reputation features.
• Your hotel’s marketing budget is very tight, or you prefer flat-rate solutions.
• You want a platform with a broad set of integrated features beyond advertising.
• Your property is outside Sojern’s primary markets or has specific integration needs.

The Bottom Line for Hotels: Rainmaker.travel or Sojern?

Rainmaker.travel’s approach to holistic marketing is promising in theory but fails in execution, evidenced by its negative reviews and lack of recent activity. It seems suited only for hotels that want a complex, long-term branding project and can tolerate subpar support.

Sojern, with its proven track record, extensive integrations, and high client satisfaction, remains the trusted choice for hotels seeking direct bookings through targeted advertising. Its pay-for-performance model minimizes risk while maximizing results. If your hotel aims to improve ROI and simplify digital marketing management, Sojern is the clear winner.

In summary, unless you are prepared to battle unreliable technology and poor support, Sojern offers a safer, more effective path to growing your hotel's direct demand and revenue.