Your top questions about Airbnb Search

[Lizzie]

Hello everyone,

One of the most popular discussion topics here in the Community Center is on how Airbnb Search works. We brought your most-asked questions to the Airbnb Search team and have gathered the answers for you.

I really hope you find the responses helpful. To read the responses to each question, please click on the 'Read more' buttons! 🙂

Lizzie

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 Answers to your top Search questions

You’ve created and published a fabulous listing and now your friends and family want to check it out. How do they find it? And among all the listings out there, how does the Airbnb algorithm decide which ones to show a traveler searching in your area? As we hear questions from hosts, two basic categories of questions emerge: What affects a listing’s ranking, and how can I find my listing online? So we took your most asked questions to the Airbnb Search team and have gathered the answers for you. Let’s dive in.

1. On search ranking, and how to improve yours:

What factors affect my listing’s placement in search results?

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That’s a great question. We have an algorithm that looks at over 100 signals to decide how to order listings in search results.  Most of those signals have to do with things that guests care about, like positive reviews and great photos. If you think guests might care about it, it probably factors into your ranking! The reason is this: you’re most likely to get a booking request (or be instantly booked) if a traveler finds the type of place they’re looking for right away. We get a lot of information from the traveler about what they want for then show them listings that match their needs most closely.

Not every signal is weighed equally, and you don’t need to have a perfect listing or an unbeatable location for your listing to rank well. But there are some really influential signals that make a difference. Some of those include: how often guests click on your listing in search results, how often guests attempt to contact you from your listing page, how many booking requests you accept, if you use Instant Book, and how competitive your listing price is.

Why are listings with Instant Book prioritised ahead of other listings in the search results?

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The main goal of the search algorithm is to facilitate bookings. And if a guest has an excellent experience booking and traveling on Airbnb they’re highly likely to use Airbnb again in the future. This helps travelers and hosts alike. We’ve seen for many years that—all other things being equal—travelers prefer to use Instant Book because they can book quickly, skip the wait time for hosts to respond, and avoid possibly being rejected. Because of the high booking success for hosts and guests, Instant Book gives your listing a boost in searches.

That said, many of you have amazing listings and use a Request to Book approach to hosting. It’s important that you know Instant Book is only one of more than a hundred factors in your listing search ranking. You can absolutely rank really well in searches without being an Instant Book host.

If I’m a Superhost, will my listing get a boost in search results?

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Although we don't give an explicit boost to Superhosts in search, the factors required to become a Superhost do help your listing rank higher. Moreover, we give guests the option to filter their search results to only display Superhosts and occasionally showcase Superhosts on the results page.

How can I improve my listing ranking in search results? Are there any settings I can adopt to help my ranking?

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The best way to immediately improve performance in Search is to enable Instant Book. Our research shows that guests prefer the booking experience that Instant Book provides. Even when they don’t filter for Instant Book listings, they often choose them over others because booking a place to stay quickly means they can get on with planning the rest of their trip. Other ways to quickly boost your ranking:

• Make a fabulous first impression. Make sure that your first photo is a bright, attractive, high quality, horizontal image of your listing. The more clicks you get from curious travelers, the higher you’ll rank in search results over time. An enticing and realistic photo is the very best way to show off your space in an instant.
• Price your listing competitively. Travelers are frequently looking for a great value for their trip, and by using tools like Smart Pricing, or setting your own competitive price, you can get the benefit of well informed pricing recommendations.

Is it true that if guests add my listing to their wishlists, my listing will get a little boost in the search results?

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Yes! When travelers add your listing to their wishlist, it does indeed help your search ranking! One individual wishlist may not make a visible difference but over several months, if many guests love your listing and choose to wishlist it, it will rank higher. We also use listings that guests wishlist to better personalize their search experience, so they’ll be likely to see your listing again in future searches.

Is it true that editing and tweaking my listing every day will help boost my listing in Search?

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Repeatedly changing or tweaking your listing will neither help nor hurt your Search Ranking. If you’re happy with your photos, price, and description, feel free to leave it as is and wait for booking requests to arrive!

Can I pay to advertise my listing so it appears on more search results?

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Airbnb does not offer pay-for-placement in Search. This allows us to generate impartial search results for the best matches between hosts and guests. But you can advertise, if you like. We’ve made it easy for you to find, copy, and paste the information needed to embed your listing on social media and your personal blog or website: On your listing page, you’ll see “Share” on the right hand side of the screen. Underneath that, you’ll see the embed icon. It looks like this: </>. If you click that icon, you’ll see the information you need to easily copy and paste your listings code on your personal blog or website.

Why am I on the last page on search? This way no one will ever book my listing?

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It’s important to know that some searches, for example city-level with no dates, are not highly representative of how a traveler looking to book uses the website. Some of those searches can capture many tens of thousands of listings. Travelers that book tend to use specific dates, zoom in on the map, or look for certain amenities using filters. So there will be far fewer listings in the search results than with a general search with no preferences or filters.

If I have to decline a booking because a guest doesn’t meet my House Rules, does this impact my search ranking?

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Because being rejected for a booking is one of the worst experiences for our guests, we do factor this into Search Ranking. However, we understand that sometimes you legitimately need to decline a traveler, and we take that into account. We’re most interested in how you compare to other hosts, rather than just counting your rejections.

A single rejection will not significantly hurt your ranking, but over time, rejecting more guests than other hosts in your market will lower your ranking. We find that a large majority of our hosts are able to accept most booking requests, and our best Request-to-Book hosts accept almost all of them. You can help travelers know if they should try to book your space by writing clear, detailed House Rules and keeping your calendar up to date. Make sure your settings and amenities lists also set accurate expectations.

2. On finding your listing online

I just created my listing and it appears as published on my profile, but when I search for it I can't find it. If other people search for it, they can't find it either. Why is that?

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There is usually a delay of around 6 hours between the time you publish a listing and when it shows up in search results. This gives you time to make final changes to your listing settings before receiving your first booking request. It also gives Airbnb time to ensure every new listing is suitable for the marketplace. If you don’t see your listing within 24 hours, you can contact customer support to find out why.

I haven't received a new booking in awhile, so I searched for my listing and asked a friend to search for it too. Neither of us could find it, and it’s not showing up even when I add specific details and filters. What can I do?

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If your listing is in a popular market with numerous listings, it may be necessary to apply several filters to show your listing. Don’t worry, this is how travelers search and they’ll be able to find your listing too! We recommend using dates on your search, and checking that they match your calendar availability and minimum nights settings.

A common reason Instant Book hosts (or their friends) may not see their listing is that they’ve chosen to require a guest have positive reviews in order to make a book their space. If you’ve chosen this requirement, it means your listing will show up as a Request to Book, not an Instant Book, listing for logged out users or new guests if the Instant Book filter is applied. This is because a logged out or new traveler will not be eligible to instantly book your place.

I can’t find my listing. Does it make a difference if I’m logged in or logged out?

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Most listings on Airbnb should show up in searches regardless of whether you’re logged in or not, although the ranking may appear different. This is because Airbnb search is personalized, and when a traveler logs in we have more information to better match them with listings. One exception to this is for hosts who allow Instant Book but have chosen to require that guests have positive reviews. In this case, if the Instant Book filter is applied, your listing would not show up to travelers who are logged out. This is because we can’t tell if a logged out visitor to the site has reviews.

I can see the listing appearing on the map in the Airbnb app, but when I go to view the same listing (with the same filters) in the desktop version, it isn't appearing. Why is this?

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Airbnb Search is personalized to help travelers find the best listings for their trip. Part of that involves looking at the device and location they’re searching from. This means that you may experience a different ranking of listings on different devices.

I have Instant Book activated, but my listing doesn't come up in the results. Isn't Instant Book supposed to boost my listing on search results?

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Instant Book does give you a boost, but it sounds like there may be another reason you’re not seeing your listing in the results. Make sure that your search criteria match the settings and requirements you’ve established. Anything from minimum nights requirement to date range, number of guests or not having reviews can hinder you from seeing your listing in a search. And of course, if you require guests have previous ratings, then it may be that you haven’t traveled on Airbnb yourself or that you’re not logged in as a guest.

I can’t find my listing when I search for its title. Why doesn’t Airbnb have keyword search? Will it be implemented in the future?

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Keyword search, and especially free-text search, is extremely technically challenging, but an exciting product to build! Rest assured that we have an excellent team that is always investigating how to improve the search experience, and we hope that changes like these will make it into the product in coming years.

The most important thing is this: you’re a unique host who offers a one-of-a-kind experience, because you’re you and your space isn’t like any other. We hope these tips and answers help you understand the sometimes complicated nature of matching unique travelers with hosts. Focus on what you do best, play up your strengths, and don’t worry about showing up first in search.

[Ervin1]

Hey, Mary... Both very Good points. 

I had a young couple, early on, who left a very low rating because I did not provide 'A selection of Breakfast Foods' for them on their first morning, however they were unable to spare even 5 minutes on arrival to discuss anything (other than give us the key) before rushing out for the night arriving back in the very early morning. 

Besides not providing meals (coffee/tea yes) how would I know whether they would want fruit, muffins, bagels or danish or bacon & eggs - or did they suppose it would be A Selection of many things, hotel buffet style.

Some first time guests have no idea, yet their low rating 'counts'

[Sheila146]

Hi Mary Beth,

I agree with you about the star system -- it seems many guests are ignorant about how they work.  I think Airbnb could and should do a much better job of educating the guests about this -- especially the value question !!  (My very nice private apt costs less per person than the youth hostel 100m away).  Also I have been reported a few times to Airbnb for inaccurate listing for aspects in the rental unit, that are stated in the listing before booking.  At the very least Airbnb could ask them if they thoroughly read the listing before sending me the somewhat annoying email.  AND it may well be this affects the listing in the search.  Now I send them an email upon booking pointing out the small disadvantages in case the haven't read it already.

all the best,

Sheila

[Vivian-and-Wei0]

Great post, thanks for sharing this.

[Joe111]

I did not have Instant Booking before and found it bothersome to having to reply and accept guest everytime there was a booking. I switched to Instant Booking and so far have had no problems and unlike before I always get bookings where as before I was not filling my calendar. The good thing with Instant Booking is that my guest usually only stay for 2 to 3 days at time so it is easy on them and on me becuase we do not get on each others cases becuase I found out the longer a guest stays the more problems arise becuase they start showing habits that could bother the host. 

[Stefano128]

I totally agree that Istant booking don't supposed to have benefit, I actually prefer to talk witht the customer and be sure that they understand and are happy for what they are going to have, I think Instant booking can for sure generate more unhappy customer and bad review for us.

[Darryl-and-Brendon0]

There are pros and cons to both booking options.  I have the instant booking option, but that does not mean everyone has the option to instantly book. There are filters that you can apply to exclude certain types of guests form instantly booking - such as thouse who have not suppied government ID etc. And thouse guests who cant instnatly book are then screened. Basiclly use both the options when you set up your listing to take full  advatage of the online platform.

P.S if you ever in Westbrook, KZN, South Afica, come and stay in our cosy room for two. 

[Kishore0]

Excellent information.

Instant booking works fine for me as my HomeStay apartment is independent and on the ground floor of my Villa / Bungalow in Mumbai. I stay with my family on the first floor. Maids are there to take care of immediate cleaning and get the place ready for quick hosting.

For people who wish to book, instant booking is extremely convenient tool to take care of their staying requirements. Let the photos speak for themselves and back it with deescirption.

Best wishes

Kishore ** from Mumbai

[Paul673]

Instant Book is not an option in my case as I cannot grantee access and wish that Airbnb didn’t give so much priority to instant booking. In my case I offer a wilderness experience, 47ha of natural forest and historical history. It’s a birding paradise but at times cannot grantee access to my home due to a river crossing that cannot be crossed after heavy rain

[Kerri13]

I STRONGLY believe that preference of listing placement should go to the listings that are actually legal, and have the correct permit numbers to prove it. 

Some cities require that the air bnb is a licensed home and that certain needs are met. 

If the listings are legal then please put them up at the top of the search as these properties are inspected for the safety of their guests, have interlocking smoke detectors, and fire extingguishers and several other safety factors.  In some cases have spent thousands of dollars and 6 months to become legal. 

This is important! I won't book a place that doesn't follow the city requirements.

Make the other listings want to be legal by giving us priority on the search.

[Kishore0]

You are absolutely right. 

Hosts, with properties that are approved / liscensed for short term stay should be given a priority on search alogaritims

Kishore from Mumbai

[Vana2]

The emphasis on instant book has led to both, a terrible deterioration in guest quality, and a  betrayal of Airbnb's  original mission. We are not offering hotel rooms, but our treasured homes.

[Matthew83]

Lizzie. Thanks for your article - it’s helpful. However, as a super host who really enjoys the personal aspects of Airbnb’s Service can I say that I strongly resent the pressure you are putting on us to use INSTANT BOOK. Is it possible for me to opt out of all Instant book messages forever? I simply don’t want it! On the understanding of course that your very clever algorithm doesn’t penalise me .... Matthew

[Christina137]

I am seriously concerned about how Airbnb is working this SH badge out!

[Christina137]

Pressed the wrong button last time so don't think my comment was posted. Completely agree with ever thing said by ' home hosts' as opposed to those with distance twicked them and rented out room/house.

Also makes the closer relationship between guest and Airbnb compared to Airbn and host really obvious! Seems to me Airbnb is getting more like booking.com 

[Sheila146]

This was a very helpful FAQ, thanks @Lizzie and other hosts for the comments, which also brought up other related issues.

I have been a host of a small apartment in Vienna Austria since July 2016.  My friend already hosting Airbnb strenuously recommended IB in order to compete, and we have had no problems with guests so far, perhaps because Vienna is not a "party city" compared to e.g. barcelona, Miami, Berlin etc. and generally attracts guests interested in music and art.  

The Airbnb model has worked well for us as we are fully booked most of the time, so I am happy about that, that it fulfills my basic business goals.  So I want to emphasize that I really appreciate being a part of the platform, notwithstanding the critiques below!

It does seem that Airbnb's shifting policies may risk shooting the golden goose (as we are seeing now in the news with some of these global hiterto unregulated mega companies).

I do agree with some of the complaints about the platform and also what I have been reading in the news:

-- that Airbnb pressures hosts a bit to undercharge -- which benefits Airbnb in getting more of the market share rather than benefiting hosts, who won't want to be in this business if they can't make a worthwhile profit, leaving the Airbnb field for impersonal companies running multiple listings

-- Airbnb resisting various city governments in trying to regulate -- e.g. in my city, Vienna, the government is aware that they are not getting all the tourist tax they require from Airbnb hosts.  Why shouldn't Airbnb have to hand over the info on the hosts in each city?  Hmmm, is a lack of transparency a way to cultivate a future for Airbnb in this city?!!  Give the city their money.  I am in favour of full transparency and licensing so everybody wins.  (Including airbnb as well as the hosts paying any required taxes locally on the substantial commission fees they make in every city (they make over 3000€ in annual commissions on my apartment alone! I don't begrudge that but it is fair that this info is available to the authorities like in any taxable situation).   And like someone else said in comments, put those hosts who follow regulations higher in the search.

-- Allows companies with 20 listings to be on the platform, who then put a face of some young attractive person on it as the host. One person or a small team cannot manage this.  Of course with this volume the hosting company can undercut the market, driving prices down, which is not helpful to the individual hosts with one or 2 listings, which was the original concept of Airbnb.  I think there should be a maximum to the number of listings for one host (e.g. 5) -- but then this is not in the interests of Airbnb's profits, until it gets extreme enough that the individual hosts start looking for other platforms.  Also I know from friends who use Airbnb as guests that these sorts of "hosts" often don't provide the personalized experience they were looking for, and just go back to the hotel model after that

-- Airbnb seems to be moving more and more to protecting guests than hosts, as seen in the difference between consesequences for cancelling for guests and hosts, which has become more lenient for guests and more punitive for hosts.  I would also really like to see another choice of a cancellation policy between moderate and strict.  Our lsting is at moderate now because I feel far fewer would book with the strictness of the current strict policy but moderate offers minimal protection for listings that are fully booked and could find themselves unbooked a week before.

-- It seems there is a need forAirbnb to at least attempt to do a better job in educating guests about what Airbnb (not a hotel!) and about their star system, AND to read the listing before booking.  My current solution is to now follow up all IB's  with an email welcoming them, and pointing out the disadvantages to the apt that are in the listing (which most guests don't seem to read).  I do feel Airbnb could do a better job of educating guests about expectations and what this model is about (and to read the listing!!!).  

Again overall, Airbnb facilitates a fantastic booking service overall;  I really hope they stay attuned to the needs of the hosts who have helped them build their success!