Publish a new listing in low season? Or wait until closer to high season?

[Dave52]

Question about airbnb's secret algorithms and how a *new* listing gets sorted in guest searches, after the first month.

I heard airbnb pushes new listings up initially, but after the first month?

So I am considering to publish a new listing now (low season, travel restrictions. closures, etc) OR wait and publish it later, when bookings will be higher initially.  I think most people will book this listing only a couple months or less in advance.

I had read somewhere airbnb's search algorithm might count the number of bookings you get in your first month and use this to rank your property in searches afterwards.     

So I am wondering if a new listing could be hurt if it is "launched" in the low season, or does it matter.

Hope this all makes sense!

[Anonymous]

@Dave52  There's always been a lot of discussion on how to game the so-called "search ranking," and I think hosts tend to overestimate its impact. I think a new host with no existing listings would benefit from a little crafty timing, because a slight advantage in search results might help offset the deterrent effect that being unreviewed has for savvy guests. But the fact that you're already a successful host with hundreds of positive reviews for your other properties is a much more effective offset for that.

If you're planning to open the new property as a year-round listing, and its location is not under lockdown, going live early might give you the benefit of some off-season bookings. But I wouldn't personally recommend opening your calendar up really far ahead due to how volatile the pandemic conditions still are. We all hope that by summer the numbers will be looking better and things will be more predictable, but from this vantage point it's still a huge leap of faith to make any commitments for months ahead.

[Dave52]

@Anonymous Thank you for your suggestions.  I agree about your point about not opening the calendar too far in advance due to uncertainty.

[Ute42]

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@Dave52    

airbnb puts new listings of new hosts always on top of search results. You can easily check this out when You do a search Yourself: There are always a couple of listings with zero reviews on top in search. These are the new listings.

The impact of being on top of search results is remarkable. When I started 3 years ago I immediately got many booking requests and I sold several dates. I don't know how long this push lasts, maybe 3 or 4 weeks?

So from that perspective it would be better to wait until the COVID situation has cleared up and You are closer to high season.

I am not sure though if only new listings from now hosts get a push in search results or if new listings from existing hosts also get that same push.

You wrote:

• I had read somewhere airbnb's search algorithm might count the number of bookings you get in your first month and use this to rank your property in searches afterwards.

This is defenitely wrong, it wouldn't make any sense. Those listings with the highest likelihood to get booked soon are on top of search results.

[Dave52]

@Ute42   Thank you for your feedback.  As you suggest I'll probably wait to closer to high season and also when restrictions are lifted in the local area (hopefully).  

[Fred13]

While on the subject of Airbnb's algorithm, there are two existing flaws with that of their calendar.

1. Some people are able to book 2-3 years into the future, while others only 12 months. Why is a total mystery.

2. As the calendar 'opens' into the future, even well into the future, Airbnb will by default list the new open days using the existing price, so in essence a person can theoretically book 3 years in advance at today's prices. 

[Dimitar27]

@Dave52...it's the same. No benefits.

The system will help you in the beginning, but most of the guests feel uncomfortable to book a place, that has no rating.

My opinion: open when you are ready to open. When your place is fully equipped and you feel enough confident to deal with the booking system.