An Airbnb pricing strategy is the set of rules that decide what each night is worth: base, minimum and maximum prices, seasons, events, minimum stays, gap nights, last-minute pricing, length-of-stay discounts and channel markups. The tool applies the rules; the strategy is what makes the tool worth having. Smart Pricing is not a strategy, because it optimizes for Airbnb's fill rate and knows nothing about your events or other channels.
What I plan around in Santa Cruz: The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk; Steamer Lane surfing and Cowell's Beach; UC Santa Cruz graduation and parents' weekends; Redwood and coastal day trips to Capitola and Big Sur. Guests I price for: Bay Area families and couples on 2 to 4 night summer beach stays near the Boardwalk, West Cliff and Capitola, plus university-linked visits. Where I start: Summer coastal peaks under strict city and county short-term rental permit caps, weekend minimums, and coastal-zone licence compliance.
I set up PriceLabs or Wheelhouse with summer weekends, UC Santa Cruz graduation and the Begonia Festival as date premiums, plus a strong September to October season. Minimums follow the calendar, and Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com all use the same rules.
The service in general is described on my airbnb pricing strategy page; this page covers how I apply it in Santa Cruz.