Tips for new listing

[Marvin327]

I just launched my new listing, but from tomorrow my calendar is fully empty. If anyone has some advice on the listing I would appreciate it. Thank you in advance. 🙏🏽

Listing link: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1759610684480234613 

[Listing link added by OCM]

[Emiel1]

@Marvin327 

There is no published listing in your profile.

The link provided shows one of your 16 listings, but the are under another (second ?) account.

[Marvin305]

Thank you Emiel! I
Meant to share this link: 
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1759610684480234613

[Tara0]

Hi @Marvin305 You have 16 listings with great reviews so I'm sure you know what guests are looking for. 

I had a look at the particular link you posted https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1759610684480234613 

Everything looks good apart from the towel 'sculptures' and petals on the bed. Just no. Stop doing that. 

[Marvin327]

Thank you @Tara0! Feedback is still always great. 
You think it looks better without. I was thinking since we are in Zanzibar and its tropical, guests appreciate it. 
But I will take pictures again without. Thank you again. 🙏🏽

[Tara0]

@Marvin327 @Marvin305 I just think it doesn't chime with the listing description, where you place such emphasis on authenticity, "connect with the community and experience Jambiani as it is lived—not from inside a resort bubble, but as a place that feels like home." Which is kind of the point of Airbnb. 

Towel sculptures just don't fit with this, it's something hotels or cruise ships might do, it shouts tourist-pleaser. 

[Paula]

Hello @Marvin305, just wanted to share that I have added this link to your main post so guests can take a look at your property.

Please also bear in mind that you post from one account and reply from a different account. It would be better to stick with one account so that you can receive all the notifications in one place 😊

Regards,

[Raouia2]

Hello,

The place is beautiful and wonderful. However, the description was very long. I am an Airbnb host myself and have faced many issues; I once had a short description that no one read, leading guests to cause problems upon arrival—and when I asked if they had read the listing details, they said no. So, I advise you to avoid overly long descriptions and stick to the essentials. Also, I didn't quite understand the property's capacity. You mention the house accommodates eight people, yet I only see repeated photos and can't clearly gauge the capacity. That said, you have lovely reviews attesting to your great hospitality and welcoming nature—that is excellent. Thank you.

[Marvin305]

Thank you for your feedback! I made the first part of the description now in bullets to be clearer. About the photos: I have 2 bed and bathrooms each that basically mirror each other. It is a duplex house and the upstairs one are the same just on the other side of the house and downstairs the same. I am not sure what I could do to make that clearer. 

Any ideas?

[Phil5677]

You have to understand the AirBnB algorithm and be strategic about how you approach it.   This challenging because they don't tell you exactly what the algorithm is.....and they change it periodically.   **BUT (from my analysis) the algorithm considers the following:
- Reviews (which you don't have many of...) 
- Conversions (which you don't have...) 

- Page views
- Pictures 
- Price 

- Description, amenities and text 

Your NUMBER ONE JOB right now should be: 
1.  Become a guest favourite 
2.  Become a super host 
3.  Generate 20+ reviews over the next year 

4.  Fill your calendar at ANY price (the name of this game is 'when you can make a lot of money...make a lot of money, when you can make a little money....make a little money...but try very hard to NEVER EVER EVER EVER make NO money) 

Strategically - price doesn't matter at this point; because if you have few bookings who cares what your nightly rate is.............?      So do whatever you need to do to get the place booked and get reviews flowing - once you've accomplished THAT.....then you can adjust up your nightly rate.   

So review your pictures and tune your description.   The selection of your first 5 pictures are critical.    Are you sure you've got the right hero shot?    One of your exterior pics has a pool overlooking the water.   If that pool is assessable to your guests THAT would be my hero shot.   And you don't mention the pool in your description.....so if the pool is accessible - you need to add it to your description, if it's not....then maybe remove that pic as it would be misleading.   

[Marvin305]

Thank you a lot! I set the price a little lower to build up momentum and get my first reviews in and get started faster.

About the pool, it is not mine, it is from a boutique hotel that is 10 seconds away from me. I wrote as the image pass that they can get a day pass there, and get a discount on food and beverages, as our guests. Should I still remove it? I thought it might be a selling point of combining private stay and also the option to get food discounted there and enjoy the pool. 

What do you think?

[Phil5677]

Challenging decision.   You want to get people in, but you want to get GOOD reviews too.   And managing expectations is key to good reviews.

I would be tempted to pull it.   

[Maria-Carmela15]

Relatively new host here as well, and not 100% booked either 😅 But I’d say the property description should be concise and highlight the best features at first glance. Your photos are already stunning! Sadly, some guests just don’t have the patience to read long descriptions. 

Also noticed that the same photos are listed under both 8-pax and 4-pax capacities. Does that mean you can accommodate 2 groups at the same time, for a total of 12 pax?

If not, and your max capacity is 8 pax but you also want to cater to smaller groups of 4, maybe you can set the base price for 4 pax and add an extra guest fee for the 5th–8th guest. That way, your bookings and reviews accumulate under the same listing.

Would love to hear your thoughts too! ☺️

[Marvin305]

Thank you for your feedback. I just made the first short description in bullets. The rest i kept for now. Since I think Zanzibar is a bucket list location and people choose carefully. I wanted to let them into the world of the island and not only highlight the house rather the experience they get when coming here. What do you think?

About the second listing: 
It is a duplex with separate entrance for each floor. One listing is for the 4 bedroom house and the second one is for the upstairs floor of the house that has 2 bedrooms. The downstairs apartment I need to list as well. I thought of reaching different guests and maybe get it started like this to get some more bookings and some cash flow from the unit. 

Thanks again.

[Maria-Gabriela26]

Your pictures look great @Marvin327 @Marvin305  ! The description is a bit long and winded. While it is beautifully written, it takes me a while to gather the information I care most about when looking for a place to stay. It’s highlighting the experience more than comfort. 

Airbnb’s price tips feature has also helped me a lot with keeping my listing booked. More bookings means more reviews. More reviews lead to more bookings.