Earning bookings for your vacation rentals takes more than just listing them on the right channels. To truly stand out and maximize your occupancy rates, you need to optimize your listings according to each platform’s unique audience and algorithms. Each channel has its own set of rules, user expectations, and ranking systems that can significantly impact your visibility and attractiveness to potential guests. That is to say, how you set-up your listings on Airbnb vs Booking.com, or Airbnb vs Vrbo, will significantly impact how many guests see your listings, and how many of them book with you.
In this blog, we’ll explore the strategies that will help you not just be present on Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo, but thrive on them. By understanding what makes these platforms unique and leveraging specific tips and programs, you can enhance your listings to secure more bookings.
How to Succeed on Airbnb
What Makes Airbnb Unique?
Airbnb is renowned for its diverse and unique stays that range from single rooms in shared homes to entire luxury properties. Initially popular among younger travelers seeking affordable and communal experiences, Airbnb has expanded its appeal to a broad audience, including families and high-end travelers. Despite this growth, the platform retains a community-centric ethos and offers flexibility that makes it approachable to all types of guests.
Wondering how to make money on Airbnb using this information? Understanding these traits is crucial to your airbnb management: catering to a diverse audience with a community focus significantly increases your booking potential. By tapping into what makes Airbnb special, you can better align your listings with what guests are looking for, ensuring your property stands out.
Read on for our Airbnb listing tips.
Quick Wins to Grow Bookings on Airbnb
- Use the Guest Favorite Program: This program highlights the top 25% of properties, making them more trustworthy and appealing to potential guests. Unlike the Superhost status, which is account-level, Guest Favorite is at the listing level, making it easier to achieve. By earning this badge, you build instant credibility and attract more bookings.
- Set Up Flexible Cancellation Policies: Flexible cancellation policies can increase bookings by up to 25%. Many Airbnb guests appreciate the security of being able to cancel if their plans change, making this a key strategy for attracting more bookings. Flexibility is a big part of why people love Airbnb, and offering it can set your listing apart.
- Offer Non-Refundable Rates: By providing a non-refundable rate option, you can attract budget-conscious travelers who are willing to forgo the flexibility of cancellation for a lower price. This also helps reduce cancellations. It’s a win-win: guests get a deal, and you get more confirmed bookings.
- Set Rates & Availability 9 Months in Advance: Early planners are always on the lookout for future bookings. By setting your availability far in advance, you capture a broader audience and increase your chances of securing bookings early. This strategy aligns with the planning habits of many Airbnb users, ensuring you don’t miss out on potential guests.
What is Guest Favorite on Airbnb and How Can It Earn You More Bookings?
The Guest Favorite program on Airbnb features the most-loved homes based on ratings, reviews, and data from millions of guests. Properties that qualify receive a Guest Favorite badge, making them easier to find and more appealing to guests.
Criteria for Guest Favorite:
- Great Ratings and Reviews: Properties must have an average rating of 4.9 stars or higher and high marks for ease of check-in, cleanliness, listing accuracy, host communication, location, and value.
- Outstanding Reliability: Hosts must have a superb record with minimal cancellations and quality-related customer service issues.
- Easy Discoverability: Guest Favorite’s are available around the globe, and they’re easy to find on Airbnb: they are highlighted with a badge in search results and listing pages, enhancing their visibility.
By understanding and leveraging the Guest Favorite program, you can enhance your property’s appeal, build trust with potential guests, and ultimately increase your bookings.
Booking.com vs Airbnb: How to Succeed on Booking.com
What Makes Booking.com Unique?
Booking.com offers a wide array of travel services, including accommodations, car rentals, flights, and excursions. Unlike Airbnb, it caters predominantly to travelers looking to book entire properties rather than shared spaces. The platform has a strong foothold in Europe but serves a global audience.
How you optimize your listings on Booking.com vs Airbnb should take this information into account. Knowing that Booking.com attracts a wide range of travelers looking for comprehensive travel solutions helps you tailor your listings to meet their needs, ultimately driving more bookings.
Quick Wins to Grow Bookings on Booking.com
- Complete Your Property Listing: Travelers often use filters to narrow their search. Ensure your property is fully detailed with all amenities listed to appear in as many relevant searches as possible. This not only improves your visibility but also helps potential guests find exactly what they’re looking for.
- Achieve a 100% Property Score: Listings with a complete property score earn 18% more bookings. Make sure to fill out all sections with high-quality photos, comprehensive descriptions, and a full list of amenities. The more complete your listing, the more attractive it is to guests, leading to more bookings. With the Booking.com extranet it’s easy to see what you’re missing.
- Optimize Your Photos: Since 63% of travelers use photos as their primary filter when choosing properties, ensure your photos are high-quality and showcase every aspect of your property. Great photos can make a huge difference in catching a traveler’s eye and encouraging them to book.
Promotions: Your Super Feature on Booking.com
Promotions on Booking.com can significantly boost your visibility and attract more guests. Data shows that 75% of bookings are made on mobile devices, so utilizing Mobile Rates can increase your visibility by up to 28%. Additionally, 62% of travelers are more price-conscious and 55% are likely to search for promotions, making it essential to have active promotions year-round.
Types of Promotions:
- Basic Deal
- Early Booker
- Last Minute
- Mobile Rate
- Country Rate
To maximize the benefit of promotions, consider adjusting your rate plans to ensure promotional rates do not fall below your desired profit margins. Promotions help you stand out in searches, attract more eyes to your listing, and secure more bookings.
Vrbo vs Airbnb: How to Succeed on Vrbo
What Makes Vrbo Unique?
Vrbo primarily targets families and groups looking to rent entire properties. Unlike Airbnb, Vrbo does not offer shared spaces; all listings are whole-home rentals. This focus makes it a favorite among families planning vacations who need clear information and plenty of amenities.
Understanding Vrbo’s family-friendly, whole-home rental focus helps you tailor your listings to meet these specific needs, increasing your chances of securing bookings from this audience. Your listings on Vrbo vs Airbnb should reflect the differences in the platforms audiences.
Quick Wins to Grow Bookings on Vrbo
- High-Quality Photos: Guests spend 70% of their time viewing photos when looking at a listing. Invest in professional photography to highlight every amenity and detail of your property. Beautiful, clear photos can capture the attention of families planning their next vacation and lead to more bookings.
- Long-Term Availability: Vrbo’s audience tends to plan far in advance. Set your pricing and availability up to 18 months ahead to capture these early planners. This aligns with the careful planning habits of Vrbo’s family-oriented audience, ensuring you’re visible when they’re ready to book.
- List At Least 50 Amenities: A comprehensive list of amenities increases your property’s visibility in search results. Highlighting features like scenic views, parking, and family-friendly amenities can be the deciding factor for many guests. The more information you provide, the more likely guests are to choose your property.
What is Vrbo’s Premier Host Program and How Can It Help You Grow Your Bookings?
Vrbo’s Premier Host program recognizes owners and managers who consistently deliver excellent traveler experiences. This invite-only program offers several benefits that increase your property’s visibility and trustworthiness.
Criteria for Premier Host:
- Average Review Rating: Must have a rating of 4.4 or higher.
- Booking Acceptance Rate: Must be 95% or higher.
- Cancellation Rate: Must be 1% or lower.
- Minimum Reviews and Bookings: At least 3 reviews and 5 bookings or 60 booked nights.
Benefits of Premier Host:
- Premier Host Badge: Displayed on your listings, enhancing trust.
- Increased Search Position: Automatically boosts your listing’s visibility.
- Priority Support: Expedited 24/7 support access.
By achieving Premier Host status, you can significantly enhance your property’s appeal, build trust with potential guests, and ultimately increase your bookings.
Succeeding on Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo requires more than just listing your property. Each platform has its unique strengths, user base, and optimization strategies. By understanding and leveraging these differences, you can enhance your listings to capture more bookings. There should be differences in how your listings are optimized on Booking.com vs Airbnb or Vrbo vs Airbnb to allow you to achieve this. Use the programs and tips outlined in this guide to not only be present on these platforms but to thrive and to maximize your rental income.