Search placement when you are booked

[Laura2592]

I am just trying to figure out search placement-- maybe someone will know?

We are generally booked at about 80-85% of the time. Unbooked nights are often because we don't do back to back stays just in case we have some guests that need extra cleaning. But I notice that there are months where my views are very high and others where they are pretty low. I noticed a spike in views when I started an instagram account for our ABB (but this did not translate to a spike in bookings...) 

I am wondering if anyone knows how being occupied affects your place in search? Obviously if the guest is searching for dates that are booked or blocked, they don't see you. But if a guest is just searching a geographic area with no dates, do you still pop up even when you are mostly booked? Or does ABB prioritize other listings with more availability?

[Pat271]

Airbnb prioritizes listings with more availability when searching without dates. I know this because mine almost never shows up during searches without dates, even on the map - so I called Airbnb and that’s what they told me. They said they like to “give others a chance”.

It’s like I’m being punished for being a quality listing where people want to stay, which to my way of thinking is the opposite of the way it should be.

[Anonymous]

@Laura2592 I don't think the Page View data shared with hosts is accurate. I first noticed that when I found that requests were coming in on days that had 0 views, which seemed unlikely. And when I've tested it by driving lots of artificial traffic to the listing, it also didn't register.  So what exactly that metric represents is a mystery to me.

I can say, though, that when I've done no-date searches in several areas, the results have delivered listings with zero availability just as prominently as ones with loads of open dates. I find this frustrating - especially considering that there's no "Order Results By x/y/x" feature.   It would be much more useful if  listings with at least some availability got top priority. 

Of course, driving bookings is only one side of the agenda behind Search. Since the IPO, showcasing the inventory has also been a top priority. Unless you commit to a rigorously filtered date-and-place search with that tiny little bar hidden at the top of the splash page, you're quickly drawn into a rabbit hole of faraway treehouses and infinity pools and castles that aren't available anytime this year.

[Emilia42]

I also have no idea how search placement works when availability comes into play. I often search locations without dates since I can be flexible when I travel for a night or two (and Airbnb's new flexible search feature is useless and not flexible at all.) It's really frustrating to have to shift through tons of listings with zero availability, especially when these are the ones first prominently displayed. There are even listings in my area which have been around for years and only have 1 or 2 reviews but they still appear on the first few pages of the search results with no dates, ahead of listings that get regular traffic. They are clearly a means for the property manager to advertise monthly rentals and push inquiries off-platform.

[Anonymous]

Word.

[M199]

@Laura2592, @Anonymous , @Emilia42 , @Pat271 

Just to add to the search conundrum😖.

My listing is on Colpoys Bay, in the town on Wiarton (physical address is Wiarton), in the region of South Bruce Peninsula.   When I search, without any filters, my listing cannot be found on Colpoys Bay or in the Town of Wiarton. Having a 4.98 Superhost rating should trigger search results.  Nope, only show up #1 in South Bruce Peninsula.  CS at first stated it was a technical issue and "Thank you for letting us know".  They then blew me off completely.  To add insult to injury several hours later, (see screenshot) I  got one of those guest emails about travelling to Wiarton.  Guess what, my listing top of the list.  (add whatever expletives you wish) the list!

Question is how can a physical address in a town/city not show up on searches?  Yes, we have a few days open.

[M199]

Sorry about the multiple screenshots😞