When trying to make your vacation property as successful as possible on Airbnb, you want to make sure that you rank as high as possible.
This may seem like a difficult task, but Airbnb does use certain algorithms for guest needs, listing details, and trip details to choose which homes appear first. Some of these factors are out of your control as a host, but there are things that you can do to help place you higher up the list.
With that in mind, Caribbean vacation rental property management specialist Shore Concierge has created a list of suggestions to help you in the journey to get your vacation property to the top of the list!
Here are our top 10 tips to help rank higher on Airbnb:
1. Get their attention!
One of the main factors that AirBnB will use to determine how high up on the search list your vacation rental will appear is how many clicks your property receives. Use a dynamic headline listing, and your property will make a strong first impression. This means having an informative, high-quality listing description to draw people in. Use keywords and be specific to help stand out from the crowd. The more people that think your home could be just the place they are looking for, the higher your listing will become!
2. Make your prices competitive
Pricing your home is a huge part of what guests look for when deciding where to stay. Be sure to check out your competitors' pricing and use dynamic pricing to work out your fee. Who would want to stay in a home that costs $50 a day more than a very similar property nearby? If you are new to Airbnb, it could even be worth putting your prices a little lower to help build your reputation or offering special promotions to help to boost you up the ranks.
3. Update your calendar as often as possible
It’s essential to keep your calendar current for your prospective guests. Make things as clear as possible! There is nothing worse for a guest to book and set their heart on a stay only to be canceled because of a double booking. Airbnb will also lower your rating for each cancellation. Keeping your calendar up-to-date shows, you are an active host who is on top of things. You can even update your calendar with special events on particular days to show what is happening locally.
4. Take beautiful photos
Who doesn’t believe in love at first sight when it comes to vacation properties? One gorgeous photo can draw people right in. Just like creating a good headline with photos, the first impression is vital. This is a chance to really be proud of your property and its amazing qualities. Don’t be afraid to show off from its good side!
5. 5-star reviews
Reviews are one thing guests will want to see to make sure your vacation home lives up to the experience it promises. Rentals that have the best reviews will show up much higher than those that don’t. Even reviews that aren’t so positive are a great opportunity to learn what you could do better and put things right. If you create good relationships with your guests and thoroughly enjoy their vacation, they will be more than happy to leave a positive review.
6. Instant bookings
By accepting instant booking, you can improve your visibility on AirBnB. Since 2016, Airbnb has implemented this feature, making bookings smooth and easy for guests with huge success. It helps to give your property another rating boost and helps you to stay competitive. The downside is that you can’t check out who will be staying at your property before they book. You can, however, add in rules to make sure only guests recommended by other hosts are allowed to book.
7. Make your own personal profile
Although adding a personal profile is only a small detail, it can help attract guests, especially if a potential guest needs reassurance that you will take care of them. It doesn’t take long to create your profile, and once you have filled it out, it will be there forever. Create a fun and happy profile showing who you are.
8. Optimising your stay length
Having the option for short stays greatly increases your appeal. If someone wants to stay for two nights but your minimum stay is three, your home won’t show up on their search. Similarly, if guests want to stay for longer than your maximum stay, they won’t be able to see your property either. Of course, you have to do what is right for you, as having consistent one-night stays can be a lot of work. If you do want to increase your Airbnb rating, it is something to consider.
9. Quick and friendly communication
There is nothing more frustrating for a guest who wants to book something quickly than having to wait for a long time for a host to reply. Airbnb understands this and takes it into account for how they rank homes. A good rule of thumb is not to take more than a day to respond to comments or questions from people. With enough responses, you can even gain superhost status.
10. Close those stays!
While having visitor traffic is one factor in getting your high rating, closing on your bookings is another. If all you get is visitors and little bookings, your rating will be much lower. So be clear and concise with your information, but show off everything you need to make people want to stay at your home. Convert those initial visits into actual stays!
Shore Concierge offers a full range of services to help you manage your home. We cover all aspects of vacation rental management, including marketing your home on Airbnb and VRBO.
For more information, please visit- https://www.shore-concierge.com/.
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