New host

[Hirwa3]

I am Elie,

I am new to hosting and I started my first listing last year. I am having trouble with booking and I feel like I’ve tried so much and I am getting no where. Any tips or suggestions to gain more attention and bookings to my listing? 

Thank you! 

[Udo6]

Hi Elie,

There seems to be a lot of competition in Kigali and honestly, I wouldn't book your accommodation either. Why? There are many other listings that seem more attractive to me because they have inviting photos and more detailed descriptions that help me imagine much better what to expect. With your accommodation, I wouldn't know.

So my tip is to show your potential guests what to expect in and around your accommodation by adding some good photos and a (much) more detailed description to your listing.

[Kia272]

@Hirwa3  Are you really expecting someone to rent your place when you have a picture of a dog and a picture of a dark, empty room? Enough said. Take a look at AirBnBs all over the world, and figure out how to advertise your place. It's not rocket science. And nobody here should have to spoon-feed it to you. All you need to do is observe. 

[Helen3]

Would you book a listing with not photos of the property and no description of the listing, amenities or area.

I agree with others @Hirwa3  have a look at how other hosts in Kigali  are furnishing their listings, photographing and describing their listings and learning from this to develop a listing that guests will want to stay in.

[Paula]

Hello @Hirwa3 Welcome to our Community Center 🎉

When deciding to start a listing, there are some useful tips that can help. Here are a few:

• Take photos of the space. Guests love browsing photos when making a decision on where to stay. To snap the best photos, tidy up your space beforehand. Take shots of each area, using natural light and landscape orientation when possible.
• Highlight unique details. When writing your listing title and description, consider what makes your place special, such as a view or a pool. Also, note any aspects in your description that might be important for guests to know before booking, like stairs or parking.

Here is a link where you can find more tips.

Happy hosting.

Paula

[Flavia202 · Accepted solution]

Salut, @Hirwa3 / Elie,

If you feel overwhelmed do a google search of  "Airbnb Vacation rentals in Kigali" and you'll see some great examples of listings which should help.  Take some time to create yours and pay it more attention.

What do you think potential guests want to know to be excited about booking your place?  Ask fam, friends, colleagues for input, to get a wider perspective.

Bonne chance.

[Carlos4516]

Do you honestly believe that someone would want to rent your place when your advertisement only features a picture of a dog and an empty, dimly lit room? It should be clear that you need to improve your advertising strategy. Look at successful AirBnB listings from around the world to get an idea of how to better promote your place. It's not a difficult task, and it shouldn't require someone to guide you every step of the way. Simply observe and learn.