When we discuss Airbnb SEO, it means explicitly how your listing ranks on Airbnb. Optimizing your listing helps to improve your position on any related search on Airbnb.
The algorithm uses several factors (centralized on guests) to rank listings. Factors such as price, conversion/booking rate, number of clicks, and guests need to affect your listing rank directly or indirectly.
With over four million listings on Airbnb, you need to optimize your listing to rank higher by decoding the SEO requirement of Airbnb. Think of this guide as an Airbnb SEO cheat sheet to improve your listing’s rank on Airbnb.
How do I increase SEO on Airbnb?
Suppose you want to increase your SEO on Airbnb; your listing must adopt the ranking algorithm factors in its structure. These factors depend on guest needs, optimized listing, and booking rates. Airbnb doesn’t fully reveal the factors that affect ranking, but in particular, the quality, popularity, and price of your listing service generally affect your listing rank
The algorithm factors are majorly guest centralized, and if there’s anything on your listing that doesn’t provide guest needs, it may negatively affect our Airbnb SEO score.
Understanding the search algorithm (the factors that affect it) can improve your listing rank and visibility on search pages during any related search.
To increase SEO on your Airbnb for your rental property, consider the following factors on your listing:
The Quality of your Listing
The Airbnb ranking system algorithm assesses the characteristics of your listing to give guests the best option during any search.
The ranking algorithm analyses several characteristics of your listing to determine its quality. These characteristics include listing’s reviews and ratings, photos, title, description, and other valuable aspects of your listings.
As previously stated, the Airbnb algorithm is guest centralized to generate search results that appeal to guests. Hence when creating your Airbnb listing, the quality of your listing should be of priority
High-quality listings tend to rank higher on the algorithm during any related Airbnb search.
Learn how to create a listing that stands out
The popularity of your Listing
The ranking algorithm considers the popularity of your rental property among potential guests to trust your listing and rank it higher.
The algorithm evaluates your listing popularity through guest engagement on your listing and how often they book a stay.
Listing engagement primarily means how often guests click and book your rental property. The click-through rate (CTR) on your listing is one of the major factors directly affecting your Airbnb ranking score.
A good CTR for your listing should be at least 2%. This CTR value shows that your listing’s rank and clicks are averagely well. The more potential guests click your listing, the higher the likeliness of booking, and the more your listing gets popular on the algorithm.
In addition, listing engagement also involves how often guests messages you through your listing and how often guests add your property to their wish listing.
More popular listings on Airbnb tend to have higher ranks during any related search.
Tip: Consider promoting your Airbnb listing on other platforms such as social media. Although this doesn’t guarantee constant bookings, it’s a way to increase your CTR.
Learn how to get more bookings on Airbnb
Listing price
The Airbnb algorithm evaluates the current price of similar rental properties around your property and compares the given data to rank them. Listings with lower prices and similar amenities tend to get more bookings.
Therefore, it would be best for your Airbnb SEO to adopt a competitive and transparent pricing system to maximize profit and minimize rental property costs. Before you determine your property’s price, research the price of similar properties around yours to see how much hosts are charging so you won’t get to under/overprice your property.
Tips:
- If you are starting as a host on Airbnb, consider offering lower prices on your listing to attract more guests. After you get some good reviews, you can gradually increase your prices.
- Consider offering discounts to guests who want to stay longer and make weekdays renting prices cheaper than weekends.
Become a Superhost
Airbnb gives Superhost status to hosts who have performed outstandingly in guest needs and improved listings. The Airbnb SEO algorithm favors Superhost listings with special recognition and higher ranks in any related search result.
It would be helpful for your vacation rental business to achieve Superhost status as it makes the algorithm trust you. Every three months, Airbnb check each host’s listings to see if they meet the Superhost criteria.
To become a Superhost, you must fulfill the following criteria:
- You must have at least a 4.8 overall rating in the past year based on reviews from Airbnb guests. It indicates that potential guests can trust you.
- You must maintain less than a 1% cancellation rate, not including extenuating circumstances.
- You must have at least a 90% response rate to messages within 24 hours.
- You must have completed 10+ stays in the past year or 100 nights over at least three completed stays.
General tip: The Airbnb algorithm is programmed to help boost newly created listing rank in any related search. Ensure you use this grace period to create a good impression.
Check out my Airbnb Superhost checklist to master Airbnb and become a Superhost.
How does Airbnb do SEO?
As stated earlier, Airbnb SEO primarily means how your listing ranks on Airbnb as a host. Airbnb uses a programmed algorithm that ranks listings to provide search results that cater to guests’ needs.
The algorithms scan several related listings with guest chosen criteria and locations to find the proper list.
The algorithm uses several factors and specific guest details to determine the listing order. Specific details such as location, dates, number of guests or beds, and some unique amenities influence listing order during any related search.
Check my Airbnb SEO Bible to learn how to rank higher on any related search result and maximize your views.
How do I Boost my Bookings on Airbnb?
As an Airbnb host, the aim of owning a rental property is to get bookings and invariably more money. However, getting more bookings isn’t an overnight achievement on Airbnb without a good listing rank.
Learn how to rank higher in Airbnb with Airbnb SEO
Hence to boost your booking rate on Airbnb, you must incorporate Airbnb SEO hacks. Here are some cheat sheets to boost your booking rate:
Enable Instant booking
Enabling instant cooking features ensures that potential guests can book your listing instantly, even when you are unavailable to reply. The Airbnb SEO algorithm favors listings with the ‘Instant Booking‘ feature with a higher ranking, therefore a higher chance of getting bookings.
Below is the guideline to enable instant booking on any device you’re using to access the platform:
Desktop device:
- Go to ‘Listings‘ and click the listing you want to enable instant booking.
- Click ‘Policies and rules.’ An interface pops up.
- Next, select ‘Instant Book‘ and then click ‘Edit.‘
- Now select ON instant booking. Then proceed to Save the setting.
For iOS and App app:
- Log in to the platform, click ‘Profile,’ and tap the ‘Switch to hosting‘ button.
- Select ‘Menu‘ followed by ‘Listing’ to choose the listing you want to change.
- Click ‘Book Setting,’ and under ‘Booking,’ you can ‘ON’ the instant booking feature.
- Tap ‘Save’ to activate the change.
For Mobile Browser:
- Log in to your host account and select ‘Listing,‘ and choose the listing you want to change.
- Click ‘Policies and rules.’
- Next select ‘Instant Book‘ and tap ‘Edit.’
- Choose to ‘ON‘ instant booking and save the setting.
Guest Reviews and Ratings
The number and quality of reviews and ratings you receive on your listing are the algorithm’s most important ranking factors. Always endeavor to get as many five-star ratings as you can from guests.
You should have a 4.8+ overall rating in the past years based on reviews to qualify for the Superhost status. Through your high overall rating, guests can expect outstanding hospitality from you.
Also, always remind your guests to review your rental property after checking out. Be sure to message guests after check out to thank them for their stay and encourage them to leave a review for you on Airbnb as you would do for them too.
Learn how to respond to negative guest reviews.
Improve your Booking Rate
Ranking on the first or second page of any related Airbnb search result is not enough to boost booking. How often you convert guests that click and view your listing is essential. Ensure your listing description is detailed enough and include good photos of your rental property listing to improve your booking rate.
Quick Response Rate
Your average response time and rate affect your Airbnb search rank. Whenever potential clients messages you, ensure you respond as quickly as possible. Delayed response turns off potential clients who need quick booking and make them opt for other rental property.
Airbnb advises its hosts to respond within 24 hours. It would be helpful if you replied earlier. To qualify for the Superhost status, you should maintain at least a 90% response rate within 24 hours.
If unavailable, you can use customer relationship management tools to aid your response.
Tip: If you cannot answer your guest’s questions immediately, reply to their messages and inform them you will get back to them when you have a sec.
Avoid Cancelling Bookings
The Airbnb algorithm penalizes its host, who cancels booking with decreased ranking scores. Maintaining low booking cancellations is one of the criteria for achieving Superhost status.
According to Airbnb, Superhost members ensure less than a 1% cancellation rate except for extenuating circumstances. This criterion implies zero booking cancellation for hosts with fewer than 100 reservations in a year.
Hence, keeping your booking cancellation rate low would be helpful if you want to achieve the Superhost status and rank higher.
Lower Your Minimum Stay Period
Airbnb considers all factors that give guests comfort. Therefore, the lower your minimum period of stay, the higher your listing ranks.
A low period of stay makes your listing available most times for booking almost instantly. The more your listing is available to book in your calendar, the more Airbnb is interested in promoting it on any related search, provided all other factors are good.
Conclusion
Given that Airbnb considers 100+ factors to order listings in any related search result, effective Airbnb SEO is essential to long-term success. Follow this cheat guide’s tips to rank your listing higher and boost your booking rate.
Remember, these tips are not in place of guest hospitality. Guest needs should be your priority as a rental property owner.
Check my Airbnb listing and vacation rental writing services to attract more guests now!