Map view hiding listings. Shockingly bad

[Nick2816]

What is going on with Airbnb map listing viewing?  My listing is only showing up when zooming that close in that no one will find it. 

When you move the cursor around on the map listing appear then dissappear. 

The most important tool to find a place to stay is fundamentaly floored. 

I have no bookings for August which is historically fully booked well in advance even when dropping my prices to June prices. 

I have contacted Airbnb which haven't given a reason as to why this is happening. 

I'm thinking I need to jump ship and get my property listed with someone's else..

It's shockingly bad, I tried to book a place for myself in Europe a few days ago and had the same problem with listings dissapearing. 

No surprise booking rates and share prices are down if this is how they are operating. 

[Jana27]

I have difficulty with the map also. I have three rooms in a house. The map layers them over each other so folks do not see the options. Even zooming in they are difficult to isolate. I wanted to put up the whole house option, but it covered the room rates and I stopped getting bookings. Now I am doing just rooms and then will switch to whole house in fall/winter and see how that goes. It is a place for them to improve for sure!

[Joan2709]

Hi @Jana27 !

Yes, I agree. Those that have multiple rooms in a home will have the map overlay the rooms one on top of the other making it difficult to see them.

Moving The Map Circle

One thing you could try is go to Location on your listing to your map circle. You do have the ability to move that map. I would move the map slightly on 2 of the 3 rooms you have listed. Not too much...just enough to keep the map "bubbles" from appearing on top of each other. Don't move it to far off from your location, or guests can complain. By moving the map circle a bit, you should see 3 separate bubbles on the map not just one. It may not work if Airbnb uses your actual address to plot the map bubbles (which they probably do), but It's worth trying to see if it works. 😀

Add Number or (+) Sign on Map View for Rooms Category

I suggest that since the "Rooms" category is a new feature on Airbnb, perhaps an adjustment to the map view appearance for multiple rooms in the same location/listing be made. Perhaps they can put a number or callout on the bubble to indicate there is more than one room available in the same location? They could also put a (+) sign on the bubble to alert guests there is more than one room available at that location/listing. 

As to the map search issue overall...not sure what can be done? Definitely provide feedback to Airbnb and perhaps @Bhumika, @Paula, or other moderators can bring this to the attention of the proper Airbnb Team.

[Melissa289]

I’ve spoken with Airbnb about this and was told that it has to do with my SEO. 

I was unaware that declining requests to book from guests who are asking to violate my house rules would penalize my SEO. 
It doesn’t feel In integrity to penalize hosts for these reasons.

The search results show listings from towns 30 minutes away. SEO should be prioritizing listings within the location guests are searching for, regardless of declines in “requests to book” from guests who don’t read house rules or want an exception to the rules.

[Joan2709]

Hi @Melissa289 

I'm so sorry about this issue with Declining Trip Requests to Book...

I believe If it's clear in the messages that the guest wants to break house rules, or ask for exceptions to rules that you do not want to allow, contact Airbnb. I believe they can decline for you so it will not impact your SEO rank. Don't wait too long to call CS as you only have that 24-hr window.

This would only be the case if it is clear the guest wants to break house rules and you don't fee comfortable accepting them as guests. Not sure if CS told you this when you spoke with them?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Nick2816 I don't think the map is faulty. I think it is just the search algorithm that changes the properties at the top of its list depending on what area the map is covering.

[Joan2709]

Mike_And_Jane have pinpointed the issue @Nick2816 .....perhaps the algorithm needs tweaking? I did read through some Airbnb articles for Guest Searches and saw they are using a new "smartsearch feature" 2023. This algorithm may be showing results too narrow for the initial general search results. It appears this is causings listings not to appear if outside the algoritm parameters. Guests would have to be familiar with moving the map, in order to see your listing  (not all are familiar with doing that).

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/421

Until this changes, you may consider increaseing your social media presence by posting the link to your listing are social network pages (Facebook, Instagram), in order to improve your visibility. Others have created QR links for their listing and posted them to Social Media as well. You can also create a custom Airbnb link for your property on the Listing page and use that on your social media accounts.

@Bettye6 discussed these options in another thread. 

Let us know how it goes!

[Nick2816]

 

[Nick2816]

I have zoom in this close to show the 5 listings, that you wouldnt know where there until you got this close , yet my listing is still not showing.

The search "improvement" is totally flawed.

I feel totally let down, I had no bookings in June.

I have nothing in August..

Airbnb are about to loose another longterm superhost. 

[Bhumika]

Hi @Nick2816, One of our Host had shared similar feedback and we got to know there is not any glitch with the maps at the moment.

Would it be possible for you to share a video outlining your concerns and pass it over to me through a google drive link via a direct message? We can always have it checked if there is anything funny going on. (Please let me know about your device model and app version as well.)

Moreover, please feel free to pass over your feedback for Airbnb directly via the Feedback Form.  

[Nick2816]

Hi 

I will try and post a vid tomorrow.

I have just run a search on my phone for my city  and my listing is showing about 80 properties down the list. Many of the listings are many miles away and not even in the same county. 

Something needs to be done this is hurting my August peak time badly .

[Joan2709]

Hi @Nick2816 

I think at a minimum, Airbnb can add a "callout" to the search map results that says something like "move the map to locate other listings in the area." This would be fairly easy to do and I think it would help hosts like you to address some of the issues they are seeing with the new algoritm? Guests unfamiliar with moving the map can immediately see that is an option for them when searching. Otherwise they will think the listings in results are all that are available.

@Bhumika and other moderators suggest we provide feedback to Airbnb regarding these issues. 

Hope they will at least add the "callout" on the map as it shouldn't require alot of programming to accomplish that.

Let us know how it goes!

[Bettye6]

Thank you Joan,

Your article helped a lot. I'm not the best to explain and you did an excellent job! Enjoy your day. Everyone need that custom link and now QR codes are becoming very popular!

Have a great day!

Bettye6

[Joan2709]

Thanks for your suggestions about social media! 

I think at a minimum, Airbnb can add a "callout" to the search map results that says something like "move the map to locate other listings in the area." This would be fairly easy to do and I think it would help hosts like @Nick2816 , @Jana27 and others to address some of the issues they are seeing with the new algoritm? Guests unfamiliar with moving the map can immediately see that is an option for them when searching. Otherwise they will think the listings in results are all that are available.

@Bhumika and other moderators always suggest providing feedback to Airbnb regarding these issues. 

[Nick2816]

So the algorithm is totally useless and flawed. 

I tried to find a place myself in Lille and it was the worst  l booking experience I've had. 

It used to be easy to find a place, now it's a total joke.