HOW TO GET YOUR PLACE BOOKED UP ON AIRBNB.

Tuesday 14 April 2020

[this blog post is written in collaboration with GuestReady but all words and opinions are my own]

Nowadays there are so many choices when it comes to booking accommodation for your trip - booking.com, villas, apartments, Airbnb rentals and even bungalows in the middle of the jungle. As a traveller, this gives you a world of choice, but if you're trying to book out your private accommodation it can be a bit harder to stand out from the crowd. A lot of people who either have second homes or travel a lot, have been able to make another income through renting out their spaces, which is a great way to make money if you're continuously travelling. Airbnb makes it really easy to do this, but as with everything there are always a few ways to better market your property. 

tea with gi airbnb

1. Market for your target audience. 



Social media has made marketing cheaper than ever. One of the strategies many hotels and property owners use is influencer marketing, where a content creator is offered a discounted or complimentary stay in exchange for coverage and review. I even wrote a blog post on why hotels should be working with bloggers. This is a good way to get your property out there because you can reach a large amount of people in whatever niche you want to focus on. If you want to target young travellers, then seek out young content creators, or post your listing in backpacker groups or on Instagram. If you want to target business travellers, then publishing some articles on LinkedIn with reference to your Airbnb can help you reach the right people. 

2. Use a management service. 



Using an Airbnb management service like GuestReady takes out all the hassle of making sure your accommodation is ready for your guests and that everything is running smoothly, especially if you are out of the country! They operate all over Europe, from London to Bordeaux. They offer a range of services depending on how much you want them to be involved. This includes writing a listing for your apartment, professional photography, listing and price optimisation, house-keeping, guest approval and check-in and key exchange. 

3. Write an interesting listing description. 



When I'm searching for an Airbnb to stay in, if the listing only has a couple of lines and a long list of 'NO's' then I'm instantly drawn away. You're more likely to catch people's interest if you go beyond a description of the apartment and also include recommendations of things to do in the area, transport options etc. 

4. Add little touches. 



Adding little touches that you wouldn't normally find in a hotel is always great. I stayed at an Airbnb in Australia where the owner left us several packs of Tim Tams (aussie biscuits), another in London that had a whole shelf of books for us to borrow, and an apartment in Spain that came with a bottle of wine and a cheese selection for us. They all make for memorable stays and your guests are much more likely to write you a better and more detailed review. 

5. Use fair pricing.



You don't want to sell yourself short, but you don't want to put the price point so high that your only guests are business travellers in peak season. Do some research into what your competitors are charging per night, and maybe offer discounts for long-term stays or during low seasons. Normally prices will rise around holidays and special events, so that's also something to take into account. 


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