5 Simple Ways to Get More Bookings on Airbnb

If you’re an Airbnb host, you are most likely experiencing a surge in booking rates as we come into Summer. As we draw closer and closer towards the end of the year, many people may find their property booked almost every night. A desirable outcome for all aspiring Airbnb hosts. These high occupancy rates are indicative of the end of year holidays and the large-scale events that come with it. While it is the most profitable time to be hosting on Airbnb, it doesn’t have to be the only time you see elevated occupancy rates. With the right strategy, it is possible to boost your bookings throughout the year. One of the most difficult problems full-time Airbnb hosts face is the decline in guest nights during the off-season. It’s through this time that many may find they are unable to fill their properties. For this reason, it’s important for aspiring hosts to put in the work to ensure they are able to generate as much guest nights and as much revenue as possible. The best time to begin strategising for a period of low bookings is while you don’t have to worry so much about attracting guests, which is during the Summer. Drawing more bookings to your listing is as simple as following hosting best practices and optimising your profiles. As this is the first thing guests will see on their search for an Airbnb to stay in, it’s crucial to keep it as appealing as possible. Working to generate as many guest nights as possible on Airbnb means keeping a constant watch over your listing and altering aspects of your profile to capture attention. Getting more bookings is an attainable goal for almost all Airbnb hosts. Through these simple tactics, you can expect to receive higher occupancy rates throughout the year, regardless of the season.

1. Regularly Update Your Listing

As you progress with Airbnb hosting, it’s advisable to continue working on your listing. Pay attention to what appeals to people and what doesn’t, take on feedback and make adjustments accordingly. Regularly updating your listing will allow you to improve your draw-factor and increase your booking rates. You want your Airbnb listing to accurately depict what’s available when guests book with you. If you make any changes to your property, ensure you keep your listing current. Anything extra that you can offer guests should be highlighted - it may be the factor that entices them to request to stay.

2. Consider Switching Up Your Nightly Rate When Necessary

As guest nights ebb and flow through the seasons, a competitive strategy advanced hosts take is to continuously adjust how much they charge per night. The benefit of this approach is that you will be able to make the most profit during peak-times and attract people during slow periods with discounts. Nightly rate changes are particularly important during the low-season. As it becomes more difficult to fill your property every night, outdoing other listings in your area by cutting down your pricing can add a lot of appeal. When done right, continuous adjustment of nightly rates can generate a significant increase in bookings on Airbnb.  

3. Skew Your Targeting to Reach the Right People

Profitable Airbnb hosts are the ones that know who their target guests and know what they are looking for. Whether you’re most interested in having business travellers staying with you, or would prefer holidaying couples, your listing should reflect this preference. Your target audience should play a large role in how you are presenting your property.With your listing and particularly your headline, you want to really capture the essence of what your target guest will be searching for on Airbnb. The best way to generate buzz and attention is to effectively curate what your property offers and how it fits in with your guests’ needs. Taking the steps to make sure you’re drawing in the guests you’re most likely to improve and enjoy hosting will boost your booking numbers.

4. Optimise Your Listing

Optimising your Airbnb listing is the best way to get your property in front of as many eyes as possible. By taking this into consideration, it is possible to increase your chances of appearing higher in Airbnb search results, thus increasing your chances of getting booked more often. For the most part, optimising your listing is all about filling out all the required information fields, using great pictures and regularly updating your profile. An optimised listing will significantly boost your booking numbers. Remember to keep your target audience in mind during this time and tailor your efforts towards them. To find out more about optimising an Airbnb listing, check out our blog post about getting a top ranking listing in Airbnb search results.

5. Get as Many Reviews as Possible (Even if You Have to Ask)

Reviews are the driving force behind all high performing Airbnb hosts’ success. Positive feedback goes an extremely long way on Airbnb, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting reviewed by every guest you host. Your reviews will have an impact on; whether guests choose to book with you, where you’re placed in search results and your standing as an Airbnb host. Generating a backing of great reviews should be a priority for all aspiring profitable hosts. This is perhaps one of the most effective ways of getting more bookings through the platform. Getting more booking requests and a higher occupancy rate is a sure fire way of ensuring the best profits as an Airbnb host. These methods will allow you to attract higher numbers of people and get those results even in low-season.