Are you using video messaging yet?

[Airbnb]

Want a chance to be featured on the Community Center? Tell us how you’re using video messages to educate and inspire guests. We’ll highlight your top 10 tips and recognize the hosts across the world who shared them.

Whether it’s a grill tutorial that’s saved countless questions or a sneak peek of all the coziest spots in your home before check-in, we can’t wait to hear how you’re using video messages. 

What’s the best video message you’ve made so far? Did it help you explain something quickly? Or get guests excited for their stay? Or something else? 

To learn more about all the latest Airbnb upgrades designed to help you manage and grow your business—including dynamic cancellation policies and an updated earnings dashboard—visit the Resource Center.

[Geoff7]

stay tuned. I will be doing my fist one this weekend.!

[Guy991]

@Airbnb , @Bhumika ,

The potential is amazing and exciting.

There are a few ways I can already see myself using it.

Resolving technical issues: I use gas tanks to heat water. When one of them runs out, guests usually call me to fix it. It basically involves turning off the empty tank and opening the valve of the second one. Explaining this by text is difficult, but a short video would make it much clearer.

Welcome house tours: This could eliminate the need for in-person check-ins and be sent before arrival, so guests can get familiar with the property in advance.

Short greeting clips: A very brief video to thank guests for booking or to introduce myself. It can be fun and show how personal a stay in an Airbnb can be.

Goodbye clip: A gentle way to remind guests that they are staying with real people, not at a hotel.

Local recommendations and special occasion messages: Personalized videos to highlight nearby attractions or to wish guests a happy birthday or anniversary.

The only thing I am not sure about is the language. Around 50 percent of our guests speak English as their second, third or forth language, and about 10 percent do not speak any English at all.

So I might need to edit the videos and add simple symbols or icons, for example an X when showing something guests should not do.

The next step would be the ability to embed a video in a scheduled quick reply so we would not have to send them manually each time.

Overall, this is a very interesting feature and I would love to see real clips from other hosts for inspiration.

[Bhumika]

It seems you already know exactly which videos would be useful for your guests, @Guy991 !

Are there any other technical issues in your listing that guests often need help with and that you think video instructions could solve? I've noticed that a lot of hosts on this thread mention using videos for door lock instructions 🔐 I was wondering if it was on your list too? 😉

I know that @Paras45 @Joan2709 do sent out video messages to their guests. May be they can share some demo clips that they usually share with their guests to give you an idea?

[Sophia-and--Patrick0]

+ I will be making one about how to use the features of our hot tub. 

+ I may make one showing how the exterior photosensitive lights with motion detection come on. 

[Emilie]

Thank you for sharing those ideas, @Sophia-and--Patrick0! Are those amenities and features guests have had questions about prviously? 

[Jeffery43]

Check in instructions with video have been a blessing for us, strongly recommended. 

[Jannat7]

Hey @Jeffery43 , could you please share your video here to we can have a look at it and get ideas. 

Thankyou!

[Joan2709]

@Jannat7 

Some Hosts are reluctant to post a video in a public forum. However, there are lots of YouTube videos that show how to use smart locks at a vacation rental. Keep in mind Airbnb says video can only be a maximum of 1 minute:

Here is one on the Schlage Encode Plus smart lock:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PyKXR0moS4k

Here is one used as a Check-in Guide - Schlage Encode

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HE7QyYxwin8

Here is a Host Guide on using videos in messages:

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Host-guides/How-to-Add-Photos-amp-Video-to-Scheduled-Messages-Au...

You can certainly make your own videos for most things, but I suggest my Host clients work with a professional videographer if they want to craft a 1min or less Welcome Video for the property.

@Bhumika 

[Bhumika]

Thank you so much for sharing @Joan2709 ! Appreciate these materials and they are super useful for hosts referring this thread. 

@Jannat7 , what kind of video messages do you intend to share with guests? Is it mainly for check-in instructions? 

Tagging @Guy991 as well , since the host was looking for some demo clips too!

[Emilie]

I'm glad this has already proven so useful for you, @Jeffery43! Which part of the check-in has it helped clarify most? 

[Zoraia0]

🎥 Fiz um vídeo rápido e direto !
Um passo a passo mostrando como retirar as chaves do cofre e fazer seu check-in em menos de 1 minuto — simples, seguro e 100% autônomo.

🔑 Resultado?
Check-ins perfeitos, rápidos e sem complicações.
Chegou, abriu, entrou. Pronto pra aproveitar.

Translation added by Community manager

🎥I made a quick and straightforward video!
A step-by-step guide showing how to remove the keys from the safe and check in in less than 1 minute — simple, safe, and 100% autonomous.

🔑The result?
Perfect, quick, and hassle-free check-ins.
Arrive, open, and go in. Ready to enjoy.

[Emilie]

Lovely idea, @Zoraia0, it can be tricky to work with a key safe if that's not something the guests are familiar with!

Are there any other pieces of information you think you might want to try and communicate via video to guests in the future?

[Margaret491]

Amazing addition, especially for sending check in information.... it would be amazing if airbnb could add this to the listing editor so we could give video walk throughs of the accommodation 

[Emilie]

@Margaret491 It's great to hear this will help make you check-ins smoother -what kind of information do you think will be better highlighted in video format?

[Margaret491]

@Emilie How to use smart locks… Im amazed the amount of people (particular the silver serfers) who dont know what a hashtag is… and just keep pressing any button until they make the locks go in to shut down…. Ive also had one gentleman dismantle a lock to see how it worked, and literally broke it!