5 upgrades to make your Airbnb listing more bookable
I’ve worked with hundreds of hosts over the years and the same questions always come up. How do I get more views? How do I stand out? How do I turn browsers into bookings? The good news is, it doesn’t always mean tearing everything up and starting again. Small changes that take five minutes to action can be very impactful. Here are five quick upgrades that can help your listing get more attention and convert more guests.
1. Make your main photo unmissable
Your main photo is the first impression you get to make. When someone is scrolling through search results, they’ll see your price and that photo before anything else. Choose an image that really shows what makes your space special. Maybe it’s the hot tub steaming away, the king bed with crisp white sheets or a big dining table set for celebration. Think about the season too. A barbecue photo in October won’t feel right and a log burner doesn’t sell summer.
As well as considering your image in its own right, it’s also a good plan to search your area incognito and see what other images look like. Which images stand out? Pick something that feels different to the rest.
2. Take care over your first five photos
When guests click on your listing, they’ll usually see five photos straight away. Many won’t look any further. Use those first five slots to show different spaces and give people a feel for the experience. Avoid having multiple shots of the same room. Instead, cover the main bedroom, living area, kitchen, bathroom and any standout feature like a garden or view. Make each image bright, inviting and true to life.
3. Use all 50 characters in your title
Your title is valuable selling space. It’s your chance to highlight what makes you unique. Try not to waste characters on details the platform already shows, like the number of bedrooms or location. Instead, focus on something that will catch the eye. For example, you might mention a wood burner, a hot tub, or how close you are to the beach.
If you want to encourage direct bookings, you can include your property name too, so guests are more likely to look you up. Just be sure to keep it clear and appealing.
4. Check your minimum stay settings
One of the biggest reasons hosts don’t get bookings, especially if they’re new to Airbnb, is having the wrong minimum stay. More than half of global searches on Airbnb are for weekends. If you only accept three-night stays, your property won’t show up in those results. I recommend a two-night minimum for weekends and a three-night minimum during the week. If you’re worried about cleaning turnarounds, adjust your pricing to make shorter stays worthwhile or offer late checkouts on Sundays. You can still set longer minimums in peak season if you prefer. For a full explanation of how to do this to make it work for you, download my guide on Pricing and Calendar on Airbnb from the guides tab here.
5. Complete every section of your listing
It sounds obvious, but lots of hosts leave parts of their listing blank without realising. Make sure you’ve filled in your main description in detail, added captions to every photo and included a bit about your neighbourhood. Use your captions to share what guests will experience, not just what the room contains. A sentence about the view, the bedding or a nearby walk can make a difference. Also check your host profile photo and description. People want to know who they’re booking from, so keep it friendly and genuine.
If you’d like more help improving your listing or feel stuck knowing what to tweak, you’re always welcome to get in touch. I work with hosts at all stages to make their properties shine. Listing reviews are far and away my most popular package - I’ll analyse every section of your listing and feed back with suggested changes and examples so you know exactly what to change to shift your listing to optimal. Find out more under the Work with Me tab here and get in touch to book it in.
Kay x