Hey Community! I'm a rural property host and for all my years hosting I've had to block all winter dates because the road can get too icy and its not safe to travel. So each year I feel like I'm starting anew again when we open up for spring and try to regain some momentum with my listing. I thought I'd share my tips for getting my listing going again and ask if anyone else had their own to share! Listed below!
Whether you've been date blocked for awhile, unlisted for a bit, haven't been booked in awhile, are a brand new listing, or just needing to give everything a good refresh - this is where I'd recommend starting...
Tips for "Jump Starting" a Listing:
- Review/edit the entire listing page. 🖋Airbnb has been doing so many updates lately and seem to always be adding new values and different fields/options to consider its always worth at least once I year checking every field on your listing and make sure its accurate and give it a refresh. Every time I've done this I've found at least one more amenity listed I hadn't checked yet or a description that I wanted to reword. I think making these edits gives the listing a bit of a boost on the search (can't confirm that though) or at least makes sure that its perfectly up to date for guests.
- Change up the pictures. 🖼 As the example images above, I like to adjust my pictures seasonally so that it attracts the guests traveling that time of year. Misty jungle photos for summer and beautiful colors on the trees for fall. Sometimes I'll add one with the fireplace going as the feature photo as well. Adding a new photo and changing things up a bit gives it a fresh look and again, may give it a search boost (unverified).
- Share with your network! 💬 Whether you have a social media account or even just some friends emails, I've found that sharing the link to the listing and getting a spike in page views is a great way to get an instant boost in search placement and visibility. Added bonus to remind them you have the space and I've had a few referral bookings from just one post getting shared!
- Reach out to previous guests. 📬 Only for guests that I met personally / had a connection with and might have mentioned wanting to come back. Its amazing how many times just a small note turned into a repeat booking and building an ongoing rapport with a guest resulting in a friendship and multiple years of bookings as well as their friends! It's not meant to be a marketing blast, just a touch base and if nothing else might give you a few more views. 😊 Do this through Airbnb messaging is best!
- Consider running a discount. 💰 Depending on your situation, it may be helpful to lower your nightly price for a limited time or run a discount for a select number of days. Whether or how this helps in your visibility depends. I know there is a LOT to say about this and many other community posts about it so I would just recommend you do a search and see if one of those strategies would work for you.
- Engage the Community. 💞 Even after catching up on all the notifications, I always browse the latest topics on the Community board here to see what everyone is talking about. I also always try to make at least one post to get feedback from the people who know best (other hosts!) on what is working or not on my listing. There's a dedicated space and tag in "Ask about your listing" just for that. And, while you're at it, be sure to check out other posts and give your feedback to others! (✨🏡 If you're curious, here's my place! Any/all feedback welcome!: https://airbnb.com/h/amadell-kumbaya 🏡✨)
Do you have any other tips we can add? Thanks! ✨
✨🏡If you're curious, here's my place!: https://airbnb.com/h/amadell-kumbaya 🏡✨
Summer vs Autumn photos of the same location...
✨🏡If you're curious, here's my place!: https://airbnb.com/h/amadell-kumbaya 🏡✨