Why can't I see my listing in the Search Results? A Community Help Guide

[Jeet0]

Hello,

Questions regarding "Lisiting not appearning in Search Results" are very common and I'd like to share some reasons why this could be happening and how you can view your listing on searching.

Before getting to the details, it is important to understand how search results are determined. The linked article talks about how Airbnb's complex ranking system uses different factors to reward hosts that deliver a great experience to guests. Focus on these factors to optimize your listing.

Let's understand why you might not be able to see your listing in the Search Results:

1) Your location might have more than 300 listings. For ease of display, Airbnb only displays 300 listings at a time and thus some listings, beyond 300, might not appear during a general location search without any filters.

However, if you make use of the multiple search filters that Airbnb has to offer (like Dates, No. of Guests, Room type, Price Range etc.) then you can perform a more specific and narrowed down search which might reduce the search results and your listing will then show up if it matches the filter criteria.

*Please note that, most guests make use of the filters while searching for a vacation home.

2) You can also make use of the map by zooming in closer to your location if your looking at a very large area. Use the '+' button to zoom in and '-' to zoom out. Reducing the area will further reduce the results and you will be able to see your listing. Don't forget to click on the "Redo Search Here" button on the top.

If your listing still continues to not appears,

3) Check if it is "Listed" and not in the "Delisted" mode. To do this, visit your Dashboard >> Your Lisitng >> Manage Listing and Calendar. Expand the Menu options by clicking on the grey icon with 3 horizontal bars on the left top. Look up at the bottom of the Menu that emerges to see if your listing is active. It should appear as "Listed" with a green dot. If it doesn't click on the drop down menu and change it to listed.

4) Still can't see it? Ask the Community to see if any of the members are able to see it on searching with relevant filters.

4) Yet no luck? Please get in touch with Airbnb and they shall definitely resolve your problem.

Happy Hosting 🙂

Jeet

Updated - additional information added:

For hosts searching for your Instant Book listing, @Clare0 has created a great guide here in the Community Center sharing an overview of how this works. To view her guide take a look here. 

[Clare0]

@Lizzie  This article needs to be updated with some important information about Instant Book listings.  How can I do this?

[Kristina72]

Hi , im

realy new

in this " hosting"

things 🙂 please help me .today i've listed my listing but noone can see it accept me none in the search result eirher by the link of the listing which airbnb gave me

[Clare0]

@Kristina72 If you just published your listing today, it won't show in search results for 24 to 48 hours.  Check again tomorrow and let us know if you still can't find it. 

[Chooi-Fun0]

Hi all! 

http://abnb.me/EVmg/Pf6ZU62CYB

Need help guys! Million thanks in advance!

I just listed my second property (in Kuala Lumpur) last week on 31/3. Had received 2 confirmed booking since 31/3. However when I apply filter for Kuala Lumpur for 2 pax for 1 night, I can't find my listing within the 300+ properties.

For your info, have alr did the following: 1) turn on instant booking 2)set a competitive price and turn on smart pricing 3) im also a super host. For this new listing I alr have a guest leaving me 5 star review yesterday,

[Clare0]

Hi @Chooi-Fun0  Instant Book listings can be rather tricky when a host tries to find their own listing.  Here's why:

In searches where Instant Book filter is ON:

If you have selected the Instant Book setting on your listing that requires positive reviews in order to Instant Book, guests who do not meet that requirement will not see those listings in their search results.  This includes guests and hosts who are not logged in when searching or, if logged in, do not have these positive reviews.  So, if you as a host, haven't had the opportunity to be a guest and obtain positive reviews or are not logged in, you will not see your listing.  The search function does not distinguish between hosts and guests.  All users searching on Airbnb are presumed to be guests. 

In searches where the IB filter is OFF:

Guests who are logged in and have positive reviews will see your listing as an Instant Book listing.  Guests who do not have positive reviews will see your listing but the IB icon (lightening bolt) will not appear.  In that case a guest may send a reservation request instead of being able to Instant Book. 

Further complicating matters, since there are so many Entire Home listings in Kuala Lumpur, you may need to futher refine your search filters to narrow down the results to some number under 300.  When I searched for your listing, at first I was not logged in.

Didn't see your listing.  I logged in and since I have positive reviews, I got 300+ results.  I entered these preferences and narrowed down the number of listings to 58: 

Entire Home

April 21 to April 23

Price Range: $10 to $53 USD

WiFi

Familiy Friendly

Laptop Friendly

Free Parking

Elevator in Building

Your listing is on the first page of my results. 

Sorry if this is confusing.  Ask more questions if you like!

[Chooi-Fun0]

Hi Clare! I'm enlightened now! You answer is clear and it does helps, thanks!

[Chooi-Fun0]

In that case, is it better for host to turn on or turn off instant booking? 

[Clare0]

@Chooi-Fun0 Looking at things from a guest's point of view, I would imagine that keeping IB on would be best.  Now that you understand how IB works in search results, only guests that meet your requirements will be able to IB your listing.  Others will have to send you reservation requests.  Add to that your Super Host status, guests will be able to filter for that as well. 

So in a location where there probably are 1,000's of Airbnb listings, guests can filter out all the non-IB and non-Super Host listings which will reduce the results down to something under 100. 

Instant Book is very popular with guests who don't want the hassle of waiting for the host to accept their request.  It's quick, easy and convenient. So if you are comfortable with it, I say keep it. 

[Cicera0]

My listing does not appear in the search results or on the map but it used to. Nothing on the listing has been changed. What are the steps required to resolve this problem?

[Clare0]

@Cicera0 Your listing is there.  I did a search for an Entire Home in Richmond for 6 guests for April 28 to April 30 with the Instant Book filter ON and a price range between $197 -$305.  

If you don't have any reviews from hosts, you will not see your listing if you set the Instant Book filter to ON.  This is because you have set your IB preference to only allow guests with positive reviews to book instantly.  Likewise, if you set the IB filter to OFF, you will see your listing but without the IB lightening bolt.   This is also true if you search when you are not logged in since the system looks to see if a user has positive reviews per your requirement. 

I hope this helps!

[Hwue-Zuin0]

I'm facing the same issues as some of the hosts here. I just listed my room for a month or so and have been receiving bookings - everything goes well until yesterday. I was exchanging messages with one potential guest, after a while he said I "could have accidentally deleted my listing". I quickly check my listing - it's listed, it's "searchable" on the web, but the guest still couldn't access my listing. I tried snoozing my listing for an hour or so (as recommended by one host in the earlier post), still no luck. Can anybody help?  

[Vanessa228]

Hello everyone! Hope you're doing well! I'm sure you all are tired of this question, but I really cannot find my listing. I have 2 listings. I tried to add the filters and I still do not see my listing. Most people go through the first 3 pages of listings. Can someone test it out for me? 

[Vanessa228]

My listing is in downtown Los Angeles. What info do I need to include so someone can search my listing? It's called Luxury Oasis by The Subway and Dodgers Stadium.

[Clare0]

@Vanessa228 Hi there!  Your listing is showing in search results.  I used these guest preferences and your listing came up #1:

Entire Home

4 guests

June 9 - June 11

Price Range: $178 - $221

Instant Book Filter ON

The more guest preferences you enter that match your listing, the easier it is to find it.   Keep in mind that there are 1,000's of listings in LA!

For more information about how search works, check this out: 

http://blog.airbnb.com/how-search-makes-the-best-matches/

Good luck!

[Vanessa228]

Thank you for the response! 

Also, if I just search Los Angeles without any filters my listing doesn't show up at all.