If your Airbnb listing has gone a bit stale or bookings have slowed down, you’ll get great value from these five practical tips that will make a real difference. These are easy changes you can put into action straight away, and they can mean more clicks, more views and more bookings.

The key with Airbnb is to build momentum. Getting bookings means you’re making money for Airbnb, and the algorithm will treat your listing more favourably. Get this right and it can quickly turn into a positive cycle.

1. Get your main photo right

When people are scrolling Airbnb, the very first thing they see is your price and your main photo. That image has to make them stop scrolling.

Your main photo should show off the thing that makes your place special. If you have a hot tub, that’s the shot. If you’ve got a gorgeous dining space or a beautiful king bed, use that.

Then check how you look against the competition. Open Airbnb in a private browser, search in your area, and see what everyone else is showing. If all you see are blue bedrooms and you have a bright kitchen, use that to stand out.

And keep it seasonal. No barbecues in October, no wood burners in July. Help guests imagine what they’ll actually experience.

2. Optimise your first five photos

Airbnb shows five photos at the very top of your listing page. Many guests won’t click further, so those five images are crucial.

These first five photos show the key social spaces in this large multi-generational celebration home. In the winter, the garden images are replaced with a bedroom and bathroom.

They should show five different spaces, each looking its absolute best. No repeating the same bedroom, no filler shots. Pick your strongest spaces and give guests a complete, exciting overview: kitchen, living area, garden, bedroom, bathroom, or whatever makes your property shine.

3. Make your title work hard

Your title is just 50 characters long but it’s golden selling space. Guests see it right next to your price and main photo, so make every word count.

Skip obvious details like the number of bedrooms or the town name. Airbnb shows those already. Instead, use that space to highlight your unique selling points. Sea view? Wood burner? Five minutes from the beach? Say so.

You can change your title seasonally, just like your photos. Look through your reviews too. If everyone comments on the peace and quiet, weave that into your title. And if you’re building a direct booking brand, include your property name so it’s easy to find you outside Airbnb.

4. Open up your calendar

This is the number one mistake I see from people who move over from agencies. They keep rigid minimum stays, three nights at weekends, seven nights in summer, and then they wonder why bookings have slowed down.

Airbnb works differently. More than half of all searches globally are for weekends. If you have a three-night minimum, you won’t even appear in those searches.

My recommendation is a two-night minimum for weekends and three nights midweek. Price Friday and Saturday higher so it still works for you and let Sunday sit empty if needed. You can always adjust seasonally, for example seven nights in August if that’s what works for your market, but stay flexible enough that you don’t cut yourself off from the majority of guests.

5. Fill in every section

This one takes a little longer but it’s worth the time. Go through your listing and make sure every section is complete.

Captions under photos should describe the experience, not just the object. “King bed with luxury bedding, perfect for a lazy morning” sells the dream much better than “bedroom with a door.”

Fill in the neighbourhood section even if guests don’t mention it. It helps with search results. Check your profile photo and description so guests can see they’re booking with a real person. And don’t forget to expand the main description under “Your space.” This is where serious guests will read every word before clicking Book.

Ready for more bookings?

Sharpening up your listing is one of the quickest ways to bring in more guests. If you’d like me to look over your listing with a fresh pair of expert eyes, my Listing Review gives you a full, detailed audit and a step-by-step action plan for improvement. With expert input, you’ll see what you’ve missed and get back on the right side of the algorithm.

You can find all the details on the Work With Me tab here.

Five quick fixes to sharpen your Airbnb listing (and get more bookings)