When it comes to Airbnb, the “if you build it, they will come” strategy only gets you so far. As an Airbnb host, you’ll be up against some stiff competition with over 6 million listings globally, and you’ll need to put in some real work if you want to keep your occupancy rates up.
Fortunately, getting to the top isn’t a shot in the dark: in the race for first place, Airbnb’s search rankings reward both planning and inventiveness. We’ve developed a list of the greatest (and most practical) ways to help you get there. Here’s how to improve your “Airbnb SEO” and increase both exposure and bookings for your listings. “They will undoubtedly come” with this added push.
Improve your listing’s quality.
1. Make a calendar update.
One of the simplest strategies to improve Airbnb SEO is to keep your schedule up to date. The apparent rationale is that keeping track of your listing’s availability guarantees that all of your available dates show on the Airbnb market, something you’ll want to do anyway to avoid missing out on prospective reservations. Furthermore, Airbnb’s algorithm classifies hosts who update their schedules on a regular basis as both active and responsive. And when it comes to Airbnb, the hard effort pays off: active and responsive hosts are rewarded with higher search ranks and, as a consequence, get more requests.
If your calendar is already up to date, you can simply block off future days and then quickly release them (as a kind of “nudge, nudge… I’m here” to Airbnb).
Airbnb Hosts who keep their calendars up to date for at least a month are 70% more likely to get booked.
— According to Airbnb
Consider how useful daily updates will be for your Airbnb SEO if monthly updates may raise your booking possibility by 70%. This degree of participation seems to need a significant amount of time and effort on your part, but what if it didn’t? Lodgable’s innovative technology will automatically renew your calendar every day, so you can rely on us to take your listing one step further.
2. Offer a competitive price
Airbnb proposes a pricing range for your listing when you initially make it, depending on your exact rooms, features, and general area. This property value calculator also helps you to determine the best selling price for your home.
It’s not enough to provide an acceptable value to your listing to compete with or outperform comparable listings in your area: you must also remain competitive. While newcomers are advised to start at lower prices than competitors until their reviews accumulate and their responsiveness is reflected in their profiles, Airbnb “vets” should strive to stay current and competitive. Scraping this data isn’t as simple as it seems, so using Airbnb’s inbuilt smart pricing capabilities or external value optimization technologies like BeyondPricing, Perfect Price, PriceLabs, or Wheelhouse may save you time.
3. Enhance adaptability
Setting your minimum stay length to one night is one way to get your listing as many views as possible. The idea is to simply demonstrate the versatility of your offering. The more search variations your listing meets, the higher your booking will show in the search results.
4. Maintain a clean and fresh listing profile.
Consider what search phrases your potential visitors would use to find you and attempt to include those terms into your title and description. Consider keywords like important landmarks, tourist attractions, and local events that are relevant to your city. The higher up in the rankings your listing appears, the more targeted search words that match the content in your listing.
5. Make sure you take good photos.
Nothing comes for free, they say, but they’re incorrect. In some locations, Airbnb provides complementary professional photography sessions for properties that meet specific requirements. So, if you’re a good fit, go ahead and do it. Not only can properly-photographed listings attract more bookings naturally, but the swanky Airbnb watermark connected to their professional images optimizes your listing’s SEO as well. Win-win.
6. Turn on Instant Book; this is a one-time use book.
The Instant Book option is another approach to highlight your listing’s flexibility and, as a result, match more focused searches by prospective visitors. Allowing visitors to book your Airbnb right away without having to wait for pre-approval may potentially attract a whole new market: travelers with tight schedules. Furthermore, some Airbnb users go so far as to restrict their search results to rentals that may be booked right away. Approval-hungry hosts, who’s laughing now?
Make your profile more appealing.
1. Get some street cred by writing reviews.
Reviews (particularly favorable ones) are the simplest approach to improve your Airbnb SEO naturally. A large reservoir of reviews is the backbone of a best-selling listing, and the sense of trust that comes with it can nearly ensure more bookings and better search ranks. While this isn’t an angle you can work for yourself, there are certain things you can do to move things along. After each guest’s stay, post a review as soon as possible and invite them to reciprocate. Engage people who can provide you with a large number of references to bolster the credibility of your listings.
2. Fill up your profile.
A thorough profile, like reviews, helps to establish your Airbnb reputation by demonstrating that you’re a trustworthy host. A completely completed profile is seen by Airbnb as an indicator of active hosting, and the more active you are (and the more seriously you take the Airbnb process), the more likely you are to appear at the top of search results.
Make sure you’ve filled out every element of your ad and Airbnb profile (in detail). What you’re exhibiting here is that you’re invested and responsible enough to welcome visitors. Keep in mind that no profile area is overlooked.
3. Meet the requirements to become a Superhost.
The official stamp of approval from Airbnb. A pat on the back in the form of special recognition and business favor awaits those who achieve this exclusive position.
Lodgable can assist you in becoming a Superhost by assuring quick response times, keeping an eye on your calendar to avoid booking cancellations, and assisting you in increasing both bookings and favorable ratings.
Improve the quality of your hosting
1. Be receptive
Like your regular schedule update, the quickness with which you respond to guest inquiries shows Airbnb that you’re ready, willing, and able. The benefit of being attentive extends beyond SEO optimization; it also prevents your listings from being downgraded. That’s correct; Airbnb doesn’t only reward active hosts; it also punishes those who aren’t.
2. Avoid canceling reservations.
Airbnb also penalizes owners who cancel reservations since this causes guests significant inconvenience. Make sure you only accept reservations that you are certain you will be able to see through.
You may prevent having to cancel reservations because you unintentionally accepted two distinct bookings on the same day by using a centralized calendar that limits off dates that have been booked via other channels.
3. Put forth the effort.
Make sure you’re logging in on a frequent basis. This is another method used by Airbnb’s algorithm to determine how accessible you are to visitors. They keep track of how much time you spend on the site, and in this sharing economy, work is rewarded once again. It will pay off handsomely, so either make it a habit or let us do it for you.
4. Participate in social media
All search engines, including Airbnb’s, place higher faith in something they’ve seen several times. Promote yourself as a host on social media and link to your Airbnb profile. Start with a “tweet,” “like,” and “+1” for your Airbnb page from you (and your friends). Create and share Airbnb wish lists if you want to go the additional mile. Extra links (particularly excellent ones) may help your search rankings both within and outside of Airbnb.
There is a lot of stuff to be aware of and strive to incorporate, to be sure. However, keep in mind that every day is a new day, and your Airbnb status often only represents your activities over the previous 30 days. So, if you’re having a rough month, remember that there’s always next month. Lodgable is constantly on the lookout for an opportunity to take up the slack and push you to the top of Airbnb’s search results. It’s worth it to put in the additional effort, regardless of the extra labor. You want to be proud of the Airbnb you create and be able to fill it with satisfied visitors.
