January bookings

[Tonia649]

How is everyone doing for the month of January? 
What do you do to get more bookings? 

**[Title updated for clarity by Community Manager]

[Rebecca]

Hey @Tonia649, and a huge welcome to the Community Center - it's great to have you here. I'm Rebecca, a Community Manager and I'm here to ensure that the Community Center stays a safe, inclusive, constructive and respectful space for all our members.

We've got a lot of discussion about this at the moment and @Joan2709 always has lots of lovely ideas! (I hope you don't mind me tagging you again!) 

[Tonia649]

Hi Rebecca. Thank you for your response and welcome. 

-Tonia 

[Tonia649]

Thank you for your help and feedback. I’ve made some changes. I think I did what you said for the title and description. Let me know your thoughts now . 
I’m working on more photos. 
- Tonia

[Joan2709]

Hi @Tonia649 

@Rebecca tagged me on your thread. Luv your place! Took a quick look and just a few suggestions:

Title

This should let guests know the best features/amenities of your listing. To me, that would be it’s a spacious modern Victorian home that is walkable to downtown shops and restaurants. You are trying to get them to click your cover photo. They can see that there are 3 bedrooms and a rental apartment from the subtitle and description, but you have to get them to click your cover photo first. Something like:

“Spacious! Walk to Downtown Shops & Restaurants!”

Price

I briefly checked other similar listings and you might be priced a bit too high. You only get the “New” boost from Airbnb for a brief period and you should be listed at least 20% lower than similar listings in the area so you can get those all important 1st three reviews. You can increase your price slowly after that. 

Photos

- All photos should have captions. 

- I would add addl photos:

Door they enter to go up to the apartment showing the keypad lock

Re-shoot the closeup of fire pit on balcony with fire going at twilight

Photo of back yard area. Guests want to know if they can walk their dog there even if not fenced

You only have one photo of one bathroom? Add photo of other bathroom.

Description

I would change the first sentence of the description. Add what you have now in the Space section instead. Being located above a business (hair salon) should not be your first sentence. I would definitely mention that (as you have already in Guest Access and Other Details to Note). Try something like:

“Relax in this spacious modern Victorian home upper apartment (add sqft here). Includes 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with fully equipped kitchen. Unwind on the large, covered balcony with fire pit and BBQ. Centrally located and only a ___ minute walk to downtown shops, restaurants, children’s museum and West Park.  ……..”

Other Details to Note

Keep reference that this is an upper level apartment with a business located on the bottom floor (hair salon). Is the main entry door locked after business hours for the Hair Salon? If so, will the guests have a key for that? If they are left open, I would explain that. I would add potential for noise in this section as well. What type of noise? Traffic? People coming and going to hair salon?

Wishing you much success!  Let us know how it goes. 😊

[Tonia649]

Thank you for your help and feedback. I’ve made some changes. I think I did what you said for the title and description. Let me know your thoughts now . 
I’m working on more photos. 
- Tonia

[Joan2709]

Nice job @Tonia649 !

I would say fully-equipped kitchen (instead of equipped kitchen) in description. 

What time does the salon open in the am and close in the evening? Is it open 7days a week? Most guests won't mind the noise if it's a reasonable time in the morning and no noise at night. I would add this info also to the space description.

What you can do now is lower your price for the next month or so by 15-20% below your competition. You really need to get those 1st three reviews quickly. I would also change to a 2 night minimum; at least until you get those 3 reviews. Of course, that is dependent on your schedule with cleaners. Guest searching for those Fri/Sat night stays will not see your listing if you keep it at 3night min stay if they search by dates.

Keep up the good work! 😊

[Tonia649]

Thank you. 
I did change the 3 day to 2 maybe it’s not showing yet. I also lowered the price like you mentioned. It’s well below others in the area. I’m going to double check my settings again to make sure. I’ll also fix the kitchen item you mentioned. I will be posting more pics of kitchen. And living room is coming. I’m waiting on new furniture. 

[Joan2709]

Great! Just looked at your listing a few minutes ago and  I noticed your calendar is blocked completely for the month of January? Did you mean to do that? February was still showing 3night min?

[Joan2709]

@Tonia649 

Forgot to mention....you have a 3 night min stay. I suggest lower that to 2 night minimum stay until you get those first 3 reviews. Then I would change to a 3night min stay in your high season (summer?).

[Joan2709 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Tonia649 

Just one more thought on photos. Market research shows they are probably one of the most important aspects of your listing. It's important to have good quality photos. Some of your photos are a bit dark and tilted. If you can get someone to help you edit those that would be beneficial. Professional photos may cost anywhere from $300-$700, but you will recoup this very quickly and you can deduct the expense on your taxes. 

First 5 Photos

The first 5 photos should highlight your best and most unique amenities as compared to your competition. I would move the photos of the doors (front door, entry to unit) somewhere down around the middle of your photos; not your top 5 photos. To me your best features are your beautiful kitchen, master king bedroom, master bath, larger covered porch with fire pit, BBQ and walkable to downtown.

Until you are able to add addl photos (living room, 2nd bath, reshoot porch with fire pit going, etc.) I would change the order of your first 5 photos as follows:

COVER

PHOTO 2

PHOTO 3

PHOTO 4

See what happens after you change your photos in a month or so.  If you don't see an increase in bookings, then change it up again. You can also edit your title and description and see if that helps. Sometimes it takes a few months to determine what seems to be working. Many Hosts also change their photos a bit as the seasons change.

😊

[Tonia649]

Hello, sorry for the delay. I appreciate all your feedback. I’m still in the process of moving out of the apartment. I plan on having a professional take some photos once everything is cleaned out. I have furniture coming this weekend. I also have dogs so I’m kinda in limbo at the moment. That’s why I blocked off January. I did get my first booking. For April for the eclipse events we are having. I know I have a lot of work to still do. 
I will make the changes and see what happens. Thanks again. 

[Joan2709]

Yaaaay!! You got your first booking! 👍 

Lots to do, but you have a plan! Good job!

[Rebecca]

 Congratulations on your first booking @Tonia649! 🎊 

And thank you for your thorough support here @Joan2709 😍

[Tonia649]

Thank you 😊🤗