Creating an effective Airbnb listing involves several key strategies to attract guests and secure bookings. In saturated markets, it is especially important to take steps that make your listing stand out. As you create your listing, the most important thing to do is keep your guests in mind. What do people search for when they are looking for a property in your area? What does your Airbnb have to offer that will attract guests? What information will catch the attention of potential guests. Try and put yourself in the shoes of a potential guest throughout the list creation process. Here are some specific tips to optimize your Airbnb listing:
QUICK NOTE! Once you are ready to set up your Airbnb Host profile, please reach out. I can provide you with a referral link that you can use. I will get some money for the referral and, best of all, you will also get some money from Airbnb for using a referral code. Win-win-win. 🙂
1. Professional Photography: High-quality photos are crucial. They should showcase your property’s best features, including all rooms and amenities. Natural lighting works best, and consider hiring a professional photographer for the best results. Photos are the thing that encourage potential guests to explore a particular listing more closely. If your photos are not good, your listing will not get in front of the people who would rent your place.
Important note: Make sure your photos give guests a realistic view of your house. Yes, you want the photos to be high quality. However, you do not want to deceive guests with photos that do not match the reality of your place. So, if you go with a professional photographer, make sure they know not to overly edit the photos.
2. Compelling Description: Write a detailed, engaging description. Highlight unique features, local attractions, and any amenities that set your property apart. Be honest and clear about what guests can expect. You can put the distance in time or miles for each of the main attractions in your area. This will draw guests who are looking to stay in the area for those attractions and lessen the number of messages you get asking about the distance to those things. (This is a lesson we learned the hard way!) If you are having trouble getting started with your listing description, the free version of ChatGPT is a great option for idea generation. I made a quick video outlining how you can use this tool to generate ideas for your listing and get the process started. Check it out below!
If you want professional help creating your listing description, please reach out. We can help you create a listing that get noticed.
3. Optimize Your Title: The title should be catchy and/or informative. Include key features or unique selling points, like a great view, a central location, or special amenities. If your place is great for families, pet friendly, or close to a major attraction that brings the majority of the people to your area – mention those things in the title. You can experiment with this to determine what title attracts the most guests. For example, if you have a beach front house with direct access to the water, highlight those features in the title ”Family-Friendly Beach Front House: 30 Steps from the Water!’
4. Regular Updates: Keep your listing up-to-date. Regularly update photos, descriptions, and amenities to reflect any changes or improvements. There are theories that just changing your listing a little bit on a regular basis can help bump it up in the algorithm on Airbnb. I do not know if this is true, however, it is a simple task that is worth a try. In the long run, excellent guest reviews are going to be the thing that helps you stand out the most.
5. Pricing Strategy: Research competitive pricing in your area. Appropriate pricing is something that will take some experimenting to figure out. I started by looking at hotel prices and other Airbnb prices in my area. This gave me a starting point. If your property is significantly different from all of the other options in the area, it may take longer to determine the price range that works best. I am friends with a local host who was unhappy with the guests who were booking her property. So, she raised the price to see if that made a difference in the guests. Not only did it bring her guests that were a better fit for her property, she also started getting more bookings! Airbnb offers a dynamic pricing tool called ‘Smart Pricing’ that automatically adjusts rates based on demand and seasonality in your area. You can set a minimum and maximum price for your place and Airbnb makes adjustments for you. This is a tool worth considering if you are unsure about what to charge or simply do not want to deal with trying to price your place appropriately.
6. Instant Book Feature: Enabling Instant Book can increase your listing’s attractiveness, as it allows guests to book your property without waiting for your approval. This is a strategy that Airbnb recommends to maximize guest stays. We do NOT have our listings on instant booking. I have not tested this out because I simply am not comfortable with instant booking. Our occupancy rate has been great this year – and since we started – so I do not feel pressure to switch to the instant book feature. The option for instant booking makes things easier for the guest but has the potential to cause problems for the host.
7. Respond Quickly: Fast response times to inquiries and booking requests enhance your reputation as a host and can improve your listing’s ranking. A poor response rate can prevent you from earning the status of Superhost. Responding to guest inquiries and questions is an important part of being a successful host. The good news is that there are tools you can use to set up automated messages and quick replies. I have a course in the works designed to walk you through setting up these types of messages and doing everything else you need the rough the Airbnb app on your phone. If you need some help with the tech side of running your Airbnb, please get on the waitlist!
8. Guest Reviews: Encourage guests to leave reviews – but do not pester them! Airbnb asks guests to leave a review so you do not need to ask them beyond a simple mention is the check-in or check-out message. Positive reviews can significantly impact your listing’s visibility and attractiveness. Guests are often more likely to review a host that has reviewed them. So, if you are needing more reviews on your listing, be sure and review guests once they leave.
9. Detailed House Manual: Provide clear instructions and local tips in your house manual. This can enhance the guest experience and lead to better reviews. I have polled guests about whether they want a digital house manual/welcome book or a physical one – the answer I received most often was ‘BOTH’. Give them what they want! It does not have to be complicated to create a house manual with everything you need in it. I have some templates available for purchase in my Esty store. All you have to do is plug in your information and have it printed off to display in your house.
10. Highlight Safety Features: Detail safety amenities like fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and smoke detectors. This can be a deciding factor for many guests. Airbnb includes an area in the listing description where you can indicate that you have these safety features. You can also include information about these items in your house manual.
11. Local SEO: Use local keywords in your listing that potential guests might use to search for accommodations in your area. For example, we have a large monthly outdoor market that attracts guests to our area. I make sure and mention the town and the name of the market so potential guests who are searching for that specific place will find it.
12. Availability and Calendar: Keep your availability calendar up-to-date to avoid double bookings and to attract guests who are planning their trips last minute. This applies only if you choose to list your property on more than one booking site. There is a way to simply connect your calendars through the Airbnb app.
By implementing these strategies, you can create a more appealing and effective Airbnb listing, which can lead to increased bookings and higher guest satisfaction. Remember, the key is to stand out in a crowded market by offering a unique, welcoming, and hassle-free experience.