LOW VISIBILITY AND NO BOOKINGS.

[Bobby349]

Hi my name is Bobby and I'm a host in Diani, Kenya. I'm relatively new to the hosting business, having hosted for about 7 months on the platform, but I'm having issues acquiring new bookings for my listing. I have tweaked my profile listing several times, used professional pictures and even set up several discounts throughout the month but still nothing seems to be working. I was actually having a higher conversion rate on my bookings in my first 2 months of hosting as compared to now and even then it was just short term stays for less than a week. Kindly critique my listing and offer any feedback on how I can increase my listing's visibility on the platform and get more bookings, both short term and long term.   

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/1530379966197040457  This is the link to my listing, Thank you.

[Listing link updated by OCM]

[Emiel1]

@Bobby349 

I do not see anything unusual on your listing.

it is in the search system (i checked)

Some other suggestions:

It is very low priced, i suggest to add an extra guest fee for the second guest,

more: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1507

- Some sections in the phototour contain (almost) duplicate photos.

- Maybe change the listing title ("radiant"?)

- Add the (no)pets, (no)smoking and noparties options to the houserules

[Bobby349]

I will work on the highlighted areas, Thank you for the feedback.

[Priyanka102]

Hey @Bobby349 

 don't think your photos are the main issue. A lot of hosts see strong activity in the first couple of months because Airbnb gives new listings a bit more exposure. Once that wears off, you have to compete on price, reviews, and booking performance.

A few things I'd try:

• Compare your pricing to similar listings nearby that are actually getting bookings you can use chalet tool.

• Lower your minimum stay if it's currently restricting guests.

• Refresh your title and cover photo to improve click-through rates.

• Make sure Instant Book is turned on if you're comfortable using it.

• Check whether there are seasonal demand changes in your area right now.

focus on standing out from nearby competitors and making sure you're showing up for the dates guests are actually searching for.

Hope that helps, and good luck!

[Musaib-Afzal0]

Hello mate, you can try wide angle photos and good pricing strategy comparing the other bnb in vicinity.. 

[Murat131]

Hello @Bobby349 
In my experience over the past three years, activity on Airbnb—and on other platforms in general—has been declining year after year.
I think this is primarily due to the many military conflicts currently taking place around the world. It has become unsafe all over the world; airports are closing, flights are being canceled, prices for everything are rising because of the war, and people’s incomes have decreased. People have started traveling less.
Affordable housing for displaced refugees is becoming increasingly popular and in demand.

[Nancy1966]

Hi @Bobby349 .  The more you put on your listing the better ex Amenities, any attractions near your Airbnb Is there Air Conditioning?  

It does take a while to get bookings.  For me it took about a year and it is all about reviews.  Guests look at that and the more positive reviews you have the better for you.  

I thought your listing was okay.

Good luck and dont give up.

 Nancy 

[Pamela1253]

@Bobby349 You’re place looks and sounds awesome.  I would consider offering more specifics than just glowing relaxation in your description. Well appointed means what?  Is your bed a feather bed? Platform bed? Branded mattress?  What are the specific types of stores and exactly how many minutes is the walk? What are updates that people will appreciate?

 Just my 2 cents from North Carolina. 

[Nicole3035]

Hi @Bobby349 

i think it the photos and the staging that is not attracting guests. Your listing looks incredibly clean! Which is very important to a guest. 

more living plants inside your home in strategic places like the living room. 

Add a few items to increase the comfort for guests - elevate their experience. This could be a few oversized plush pillows on your couch, an inviting rug on the floor with soft texture. 

a lot of the photos look a bit “sterile” meaning there are no “creature comforts”. Soft things guests enjoy on their vacation. 

try rolling up a few of your bath towels (if you provide them) and photographing them on the bed the guest will stay in. Put real green plants in the living room (small tree for example or big leafy plant). A small plant in each room will do wonders. 

the table in the living room is awesome and you were right to photograph it. 

but my favorite photo you have is actually the last photo of the exterior. 

think about the reasons that guests are coming to stay in your place - are they doing outdoor activities? Going into a city for culture? Just staying overnight to catch a connecting flight? Or spending weeks in your rental? Try to add little extras according to that without breaking your budget of course. Offer a few local items like food, snacks, fruit, or bottled drinks as a gesture of hospitality. Sometimes this goes a very long way to draw guests in. It gives an added layer of perceived value. “I’m renting this Airbnb but also get a cool gift basket with local treats.”  

those are just some suggestions but your listing honestly looks perfect for someone traveling on a budget who wants a clean stay. 

I hope this is helpful!  🙂

[Moshik0]

Hello Bobby! Here's a way to think about it - Airbnb is first and foremost a visual platform. Guests decide where to stay by browsing through dozens of photos.  Everyone is different, but for many people location and price are secondary. When these people are searching, they ask themselves, "Does this look like a place I'd like to stay in?". Your place has all the basics. It looks clean. It even has a few colorful bowls and decorations, but it looks like an investment property and not someone's home.

For me at least, "feeling at home" is the most important criteria when choosing a place to stay for more than a night or two. If I'm only staying for a very short stay, I'll pick a hotel where the service and facilities make up for small room. If I'm going to stay longer, I will want to stay in a place that looks like someone's actually living there. This tells me two things - that I'll probably be comfortable there too, and that the place wasn't just hastily put together to make money, and that someone has actually lived in the space and took great care of it. Note that your guests don't necessarily want a place that look like the home they left in their home country. They would be happy to stay in a home that Kenyan would call beautiful. 

In short - go beyond the basics. Maybe even live there for a week or two. When you'll be happy there, so will you guests!