The Quick SEO Checklist for Higher Rankings on Airbnb
As an Airbnb host, you have little to lose by listing your vacation rental property, but you have a lot to gain when it’s done right. While it may be somewhat time-consuming to set up, listing your property on Airbnb is completely free, and the investment you make into it now can bring a big payoff when it comes to bookings.
So how do you do it right? Using some SEO for Airbnb strategies, you can magnify your presence in the Airbnb search results to get more bookings. The better you optimize your listings for Airbnb’s search engines, the more likely they are to be shown to relevant potential guests.
Rather than just sitting and waiting for some reservations to fall into your lap, utilizing these techniques allows you to be proactive in attracting the right guests and increasing your revenue.
The Key to Get More Bookings on Airbnb
Just like any search engine, Airbnb has built an algorithm which rewards certain behaviors by improving the listings’ search ranking. So you need to play by their rules. The good news is, we know a lot of the rules, so if you follow them, you will see results. Here’s how.
Log-in Regularly
Airbnb tracks your log-in activity and measures your availability for your guests by seeing how often you are updating your listing. Therefore, you want to go in on a daily basis to show them how attentive you are.
Tip: if you don’t have anything to update, go in and make a little insignificant change like briefly blocking out future dates before unblocking them again or changing your prices by $0.50.
Keep Your Calendar Up-to-Date
Airbnb Hosts who regularly update their calendars are tagged by Airbnb’s algorithm as both active and responsive – which will make a listing rise in the rankings. The biggest no-no with Airbnb is canceling on guests. An out-of-date calendar can cause problems for you, for your guests, and for your relationship with Airbnb so you want to make sure it’s accurate at all times. Updating it is necessary and it’s easy, so keep it up.
Be Smart About Pricing
When you first post a listing, it might be worthwhile to attract more bookings by offering lower prices than your competition. During this time, you will be able to build up your reviews, profile, and ranking to give your listing stability and visibility. Once you are getting more consistent bookings, you can modify your prices to match the competition.
Keep in mind that many pricing automation tools are at your disposal to calculate the best options for you based on expert market calculations. If you don’t know where to start, check out the smart pricing feature on Airbnb.
Offer Flexible Stay Options
While they may not be the best from a hosting perspective, offering one-night minimum stays are great for bringing more visibility as more potential guests will see your listing on a search. More visibility means more bookings, more bookings mean more reviews, and more (good) reviews mean higher rankings.
You do the math.
Offer Instant Book
Instant book allows guests to book immediately without sending hosts a request for approval. This booking option will also increase your visibility because many people filter their search for Instant book listings, especially those who are traveling at the last minute. While this option may make you nervous, the risk can be reduced by screening guests to refine who is able to actually book.
Marketing Your Airbnb Listing
Now that we’ve gone over some of the basics of setting up your listing, it’s time to put on your marketing hat. Implementing the next few tips will boost your booking potential because this is where you really impress potential guests and beat out your competition.
Optimize Your Listing Title
When selecting the title of your listing, it’s important to use descriptive words that will make your title stand out and utilize keywords that will alert Airbnb to relevant searches. You want to think about what tourists will be looking for and mention relevant or popular search terms for your location such as orientation (center vs. north), tourist attractions, landmarks or stand out amenities (like a pool).
Consider what people are looking to do in your location and what ways your property can lend to conveniences and then fit it into your title as simply and clearly as possible. The listing title is the first thing that people see, so it needs to attract attention and get the attention of Airbnb so they will show it to relevant searches.
Dazzle With Your Description
The description of your listing is your chance to really sell the assets of your property so make sure to mention anything that you want to highlight to potential guests. Airbnb offers you a number of opportunities to show what your place has to offer, so use them to include everything from the number of rooms and exact location, to fun things nearby and household benefits. Check out our guide to nailing your profile description.
Your Pictures are Worth a Thousand Dollars…
Excellent photographs of your property are probably the most important part of your listing, and here are some tips on how to get great photos. If you decide you prefer to go the professional route, Airbnb offers to set you up with professional photographers in your area, many times for a big discount.
Since most people are visual, your listing’s photos really say the most about what a guest can expect from your property, so make sure you take the time to do this part properly.
Review and Get Reviewed in Return
With a bunch of great reviews under your belt, you’re much more likely to get bookings, not only because you will be a more trusted host by the guest community, but also because Airbnb will trust you and boost your listing in relevant searches. The best way to encourage guests to leave a positive review is to leave one for them first. Here is a great guide to giving and getting those 5-star reviews.
Get Social on Social Media
Showing up on social media is a valuable Airbnb marketing strategy because it helps Airbnb verify your identity. It can also grow your exposure and create more traffic on your listing. Expand your profile to social media and invite dialogue that will bring attention to your property, inspiring the possibility of travel in viewers even before they have begun to pursue it.
Become an Airbnb SUPERHOST!
Once you acquire this coveted title, you will get special treatment from Airbnb, which of course includes a better ranking profile. Becoming an Airbnb Superhost requires effort but it is certainly the gold star in hosting, one which is far more likely to attract bookings. The first step is to complete your profile and make sure you have a great system for responding quickly to guests since response rate is also key.
Being a Superhost isn’t just about your listing though, as it also requires being attentive to guests and earning a 5-star review over and over. Here are some tips on how to become a 5-star host. If you want to hear more about becoming a Superhost, check out this recording from our virtual webinar with advice straight from an Airbnb representative on How to Be an Airbnb Superhost.
This list may seem pretty time-intensive but your effort will definitely pay off. The more optimized your listing becomes, the more people will see it and the more bookings you will get.
It happens to be that Guesty For Hosts can help you stay on top of all of these tactics to make your SEO strategy quicker and easier. If you want to see how we can save you time and help you rank higher on Airbnb, click here to begin your free 14-day trial now.