Listing not showing in search results unless zoomed all the way in.

[Leanne201]

Is anyone else having this issue?  My listings don't show up unless you zoom right into the street they are on.  I had to delist for a year to help out the wildfire victims in Maui, so I've just re-listed.  I lost my superhost status because I was gone for a year, so I thought maybe that was the reason for such low inquiries and requests.  I used to get at least 3-4 inquiries/requests per week.  Now I'm lucky to get one, so I've been searching for my listing in a private window and it just doesn't come up unless zoomed all the way in.

[Joan2709 · Accepted solution]

@Leanne201 

The search algorithm seems to be placing a high value on recency of bookings and good reviews. Since it's been awhile since your listings were active, that is most likely the issue. You'll have to change some things up to get back in the game. Some ideas...

Availability

One of the key factors for the algorithm is availability. Your 5day min stay is hurting you. The more available, the higher the search rank and the more often you will appear in guest searches. I would reduce the min stay to 3day min for now. You can gradually increase that after getting a few bookings.

Title

I would put the "One Block to Beach" first in your title. Your thumbnail photo title only contains 35 of 50 characters and you want the most important part of the title to show in the first 35 characters so guests can see it when searching. Save Chez Maui Beach House for the description. Put something else great about your listing in the title instead like:

One block to Beach & Sunsets! Lanai/Terrace

Lower Price Using Custom Promotions

Lower price is also an important factor to get higher in search results. Use Airbnb Custom Promotions to get (4) free benefits and more eyes on the listing. You might need to take some short term "pain" by lowering your price below competitors for a short time to get some bookings. You can gradually raise the price as bookings improve.

Create a Custom Promotion

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2982

Update the Listing

There have been several software updates and changes to the platform since last year and I see some areas where you are missing information. I suggest going to the Listing Editor and clicking each square on the left and make sure all the information on the right panel has been completed. For example, Airbnb added commercial photography allowed to House Rules and some of your amenities are missing the little pencil icon edits. Click the (+) sign at the top of the amenities list then ALL. For example, for parking, there is an pencil icon to indicate the number of spaces. For Washer/Dryer there are edits for whether it is in unit and or free or pay.

Photos

Your best asset is how close you are to the beach, but you don't have any of your 1st 5 photos showing that? Four of the five photos for Chez Maui are of the same spaces?  I would add at least one beach photo to the mix of the 1st 5 photos. Maybe these two:

I would crop this one a bit

Put captions on every photo. I suggest a few more photos of popular things to do in the area.

Professional Photos

Get professional photos done. They are the best thing you can do to improve the listing appeal. You normally can write off the cost as a business expense.

[Leanne201]

Thank you, Joan!  I appreciate all your suggestions. 

[Emilie]

I'm very happy to see that you found @Joan2709's suggestions useful! Which ones are you thinking to try first, if any @Leanne201?  

[Leanne201]

Hi Emilie,  I changed my listing titles and rearranged the photos.  I've also lowered the price for the next couple of months.  I felt that my photos were pretty good - but I may get a professional opinion on that - I don't know how improving the photos would help with showing up better in a search though.  I don't think it will help to reduce the minimum days either as most guests come from the mainland, so they don't usually come say for a weekend.  They generally stay a week or more.  I still, however, don't see much difference in how my listings show up in the search.  For "updates to the listing" I didn't see those options that she was mentioning, so couldn't add more information than what is already there.  If you have any ideas, let me know!

[Joan2709]

@Leanne201 

There are many factors that determine how Airbnb's algorithm determines search results rank. Some we know (Airbnb tells us) and some we don't know. One of the major factors determining search results rank is professional photos. Airbnb's data shows listings with professional photos generate 20% more bookings and revenue:

How Search Results Works

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/39

Availability

Availability is another key factor for the algorithm. Although you have guests coming from the mainland for longer stays, they may wish to explore different areas during their vacation and want to split their stay into 2 different properties. Perhaps staying 4nights at one Airbnb and 3 nights at another. Your 5night minimum would exclude your listing from that guest's search, as you have have a 5night minimum and wouldn't meet the criteria for either search. Since guests seem to stay longer anyway, why not try to capture some of those bookings by lowering your minimum stay to 3nights and increasing potential occupancy. Most of your bookings will still be longer anyway, but you would still potentially capture some of these other bookings.