HOW TO: STAY RELEVANT with Your Airbnb Listing
Everywhere you turn, someone is trying to make a dollar out of $.50, or someone somewhere is looking for a discount. Furthermore, we exist in a world where truth is deceivable and authenticity is dead. Or at least the intention of the content is misleading. Brands are misrepresented, and the messages become discombobulated.
Behind the scenes at an Airbnb lifestyle shoot
With Airbnb listings, we see and experience this ALL of this too often. So, how do hosts stay relevant amongst competitors, and how do they continue to grasp the traveler's attention to turn them into the host's booking guest? Design. Experience. Authenticity.
The Airbnb algorithm is constantly changing, just like social media. To stand apart, you must continuously keep up with your listing. This means changing or upgrading the space. It means generating an introduction that is enticing for a potential guest. Gaining a 5-star rating is more challenging than it once was. According to statistics, in 2022, 14,000 new hosts joined the platform each month. That is a lot of competition. But don't feel dismayed.
I will explain how to design, provide an unforgettable experience, and how be authentic. I will explain how you can stand apart and how to facilitate an experience for your Airbnb traveler, whether they are journeying from afar or locals. With the average person making a decision within the first 7 seconds (no, really, it's a thing, look it up here), you have to set the tone of space by being one-of-a-kind.
Design
Designing a space is more than placing items according to a layout. It is about taking the senses of your guest and heightening them. It is about creating a space that solves a problem.
How do you do that as a host? How can you seek to solve a traveler's issue or meet their needs? You start with a competitive analysis. Ask the following questions:
What is it that my competitors are doing that is better than me?
What are others doing to stand out?
What features are guests who are looking for an STR, MTR, or LTR seeking out?
Use your own traveling experiences to help you with your analysis. Think of a time you traveled and the reasons that helped persuade you to book those accommodations. If it was warm during travel, did you look for a place with functional central air? If it was a remote location, how did you acquire food? What about the distance to significant establishments or attractions? Offering somewhat of a solution to these issues for your Airbnb listing can calm the stress and generate a blissful occasion for your potential guest. All of these types of questions have to be answered somehow. No, you won't be able to provide a space that suits EVERYONE. I mean, come on, not even hotels can do that. But being realistic about the area and its potential will drive inquiries. Be honest with your potential guest about the types of features your listing offers. This is the first step to design.
EXPERIENCE
When you produce an experience for your visitor, it suggests building the Airbnb listing into something engaging and a space that guests visit repeatedly. This helps to stay above the algorithm and ultimately gives you that 5-star Airbnb rating. Read the reviews of other hosts outsides of your Airbnb listing region.
What are the experiences they offer that you can implement as an Airbnb host? Now take those experiences and double that. But, try to avoid the trends. Trends are only timeless if they are classic designs. What do I mean by that? Well, it may be hard to describe without you, the Airbnb host, experiencing it yourself. The best way to describe an experience is to imagine something that can be had over and over again without it becoming tireless, something that is almost said to be nostalgic.
Creating an experience is not for the faint. It takes work and dedication. It is not effortless, and it can become pricy. But, when done correctly, it will elevate your Airbnb space. Your Airbnb guests want to be taken somewhere that isn't like home. Although they are booking a "home," the guests ultimately want a listing that gives them the freedom to roam and an experience they can indulge in.
AUTHENTICITY
I can not preach this enough to Airbnb hosts seeking help from me. So I will provide you with this information for free because this will allow you to sink or swim. I hate to see Airbnb hosts fail. Always, always check your analytics consistently. Do it daily if you have to. These are REAL numbers of travelers on the Airbnb platform looking within your region to become guests. This will provide you with the feedback you need. It will answer your questions. Is your listing attractive and engaging? How many views actually lead to bookings? What are you doing right, and what are you doing wrong?
REVIEWS. Holy S**t. I can't tell you how often I have heard Airbnb hosts tell me that they only respond to negative reviews. BIG NO! My advice, respond to them all. This lets those travelers inquiring about your Airbnb listing know it is a REAL person behind the space. It shows how much you care about your listing and that you truly go above and beyond to meet the needs of your Airbnb guests. Being authentic with your short-term, mid-term, and long-term home rental isn't just about displaying the features and layout of the space via photos. Those are great, but answering your previous guests and communicating for all to see, is genuine authenticity.
So how does it help you to stay relevant with your Airbnb listing? Think of your listing as a business. Your potential guests are your clientele. You are on Airbnb to offer something for travelers seeking adventure. What if 100% of your views led to bookings. Well, it is terrific that you are getting booked, but then I question whether you are attracting the right Airbnb guests for your listing. Is your place priced accordingly? All of these things must be taken into account. I know, I know, it is a lot to manage. But ensuring you provide the best experience for your audience will guarantee you get booked at the right price, and the returning Airbnb guests will return because of those 5-star qualities you deliver.
Design with intention and purpose. If you ought to know where to start, hire a company that can inspire, encourage, or takes the reins to lay it all out for you. Instead, let someone else research your audience and seek to satisfy the Airbnb guest's demands. Doing this will help your Airbnb listing provide what others need. This is how you stay relevant.
If this is something you are considering, we are here to help. We take listings and make them 5-star rated experiences. We are all about unforgettable memories and travels. Book a 30-minute discovery call, and let us show you what your listing needs to include.
