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.
When it comes to listing on Airbnb and Booking.com there are similar and different criteria to have in mind before advertising on each.
In this blog, we’ll explore the strategies that will help you not just be present on Airbnb and Booking.com, but thrive on them. We will explain to you what makes these platforms unique and how you can leverage on actionable tips and programs.
Let’s explore the differences and skyrocket your bookings!
How to optimize Airbnb listings?
First thing to know is that how you set-up your listings on Airbnb will significantly impact how many guests see your listings, and how many of them book your properties.
Airbnb is renowned for its diverse and unique stays that range from single rooms in shared homes to entire luxury properties.
The platform has expanded its appeal to a broad audience, including families and high-end travelers.
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 your properties offer and what guests are looking for, ensuring your property stands out.
So, the real question is how to get more bookings on Airbnb?
Let’s tap into it:
- 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: Flexibility is a big part of why guests love Airbnb, they appreciate the security of being able to cancel if their plans change. By offering flexible cancellation policies you can stand out and increase bookings by up to 25%. attracting more bookings
- 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 nine 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.
What is the Guest Favorite on Airbnb and how can you earn more bookings with it?
Getting to be among the most-loved properties on Airbnb requires good communication, an amazing guest experience and of course, the best quality reviews for your properties. Properties that qualify receive a Guest Favorite badge, making them easier to find and more appealing to guests.
If you want to achieve a Guest Favorite badge that will propel you for success have this in mind:
- 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: be reachable and make sure your properties are available around the globe.
Booking.com vs Airbnb: What makes Booking.com unique?
Booking.com offers a wide array of travel services, including hotel accommodations, vacation rentals, 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, although it increased its increasing market share in the U.S, especially in urban areas, according to Rental Scale-Up.
How you optimize your listings on Booking.com will affect your visibility on the platform, and enhance the chances for your properties to be booked.
Now, 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.
How to secure more bookings on Booking.com?
So, the real question is how to get more bookings from the platform.
Here are the key actions you can start implementing today:
- Complete your property listing: 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. Travelers often use filters to narrow their search.
- Achieve a 100% property score: 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. Use theBooking.com extranet to see what you’re missing. Have in mind that listings with a complete property score earn 18% more bookings.
- Optimize your photos: Ensure your photos are high-quality and showcase every aspect of your property. Consider that 63% of travelers filter their choices from the photos they see when choosing properties. 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.
How to get more 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.
Conclusion
Succeeding on Airbnb and Booking.com requires more than just listing your property. Make sure you leverage each platform’s unique strengths, user base, and optimization strategies.
Apply this to your existing properties listings and start gaining more bookings. Managing multiple listings across different platforms can be time-consuming and complex—but it doesn’t have to be.
A powerful channel manager simplifies the process by seamlessly connecting your properties to top booking sites, ensuring maximum exposure without the hassle. Maximize your revenue and increase your bookings, start using Rentals United channel manager today.
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