Best Single Kept Secret Advice

[Samuel596]

Hello all,

I have over 7,000 reviews (94% of which are 5 stars), proving to be able to maintain an extremely high review score with lots of reviews.

The new summer release was a bit disappointing as all of a sudden hosts like me (with a superhost and with listings with thousands of reviews) would get less priority over for instance someone that has one 5-stars review and because abb no longer shows the review count it would make their listing seem more desirable than mine. 

Nonetheless, my whole business is built around the idea of getting 5-stars reviews.  It seems though something is really changing on abb, and I wonder if I can still rely on the idea that getting a lot of reviews (and good ones) will increase my SEO and ultimately drive up my nightly rate and occupancy.

I've noticed,  like others, a drop in views after the summer release, and when I look for accommodations in my area in incognito mode my listings don't really show up...weird.

So fellow hosts, in time of uncertainty, what's the best kept secret advice you would feel like sharing with me to improve my performance? I will share one of my secrets which I find to be very lucrative.

And has anyone else experienced a drop after the summer release? I've seen other threads about it, but nobody coming back with good news. So I wonder whatever happened is still happening and still affecting other hosts. Any pattern that can help us all understand how to benefit from this release instead of getting penalized?

[Ana7]

No good news from me, I'm afraid, but this fact that you are pointing out is making me angry, as well - someone that has one 5-stars review,  because abb no longer shows the review count, makes their listing seem more desirable than mine!

This is really infuriating. I have more than 200 reviews, only three of them are 4-star, and my overall grade now shows 4.98 and all around me are new listings with 5-star grade, and who is aware that they have only a few reviews.... nobody, of course!

[Huma0]

@Samuel596 

No good news here either, I'm afraid. My views have gone from really healthy to almost nothing and no bookings are coming in. I have only had one enquiry in the past few weeks and she was probably not a good fit for my listing anyway. I have also had problems finding my listings in the searches. 

This is how my views are looking today. The black line is for the past month and the grey line for the month before, so it more or less shows you exactly the month since the Summer Release and the month before it. Spot the difference?

[Huma0]

@Samuel596 

As for your first question, I don't think I have any 'secret' advice. I've always been quite happy to share any advice on this CC and have greatly benefited from the advice I've received here. 

If I had to choose one thing in terms of increasing performance (I assume you mean in relation to getting 5* reviews) I would say good communication. It's boring, I know, but I think this has been crucial in ensuring happy guests. 

If it's a tip you're after, the one small thing that guests seem to really, really appreciate is the welcome blackboard with their name written on it. Now that I host long term guests, a lot of them don't seem to notice so much (perhaps it seems more normal as they are staying for so long) but short term guests absolutely love this. They are usually very surprised that you went to the effort of personalising it for them when you host so many different people. 

Even if you host multiple properties and never even meet your guests, it wouldn't be that hard to do. Include a welcome blackboard and some chalk, send the names of the incoming guests to your cleaners/turnover staff and include writing the names in your turnover instructions. Of course, you have to be sure you can rely on them to do that though as it would be embarrassing if they forgot on occasion and left up the name of the previous guest!!

[Kia272]

@Samuel596   "I will share one of my secrets which I find to be very lucrative."

Well golly gosh! I'm on the edge of my seat! (not)

[Samuel596]

@Kia272 I hope this will help other hosts. One of my secrets with airbnb is ancillary services. I believe there's only this much you can do on room revenues, especially in markets that are very commoditized like Miami Beach. So I monetize parking for instance. And I do that after guests booked and just from that I was able to generate about $12,000-18,000/month across my portfolio. 

So my humble advice is: if you are a superhost, and have great reviews, there's only this much you can do to increase your room revenues (you're already a great host, you are doing it right, so your ADR will not increase 30% all of a sudden), look at ancillary services to make more money, and get creative with what those could be for your property. In my case parking was a great opportunity. Now I'm looking at other streams. And I'm actually wondering if someone has some crazy ideas that wants to share!

[Kia272]

@Samuel596  I believe you mistook my snarky comment for actual interest. 

You have not revealed anything particularly innovative or entrepreneurial, just so you know. . Every property is different, and each host has his or her approach to this business. 

Last but not least, it's not always about money. 

[Helen3]

Upselling to offer additional services isn't really a trade secret @Samuel596 

Like @Huma0 @Kia272  I offer advice on these forums for free so don't have hidden secrets 😁