No one is booking

[Andrea856]

Hi there Community! 

Any advice is greatly appreciated in advance!

I am (obviously) new to this - I've had only one booking and then *crickets chirping*.. When I preview my booking and try to test it out, - https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/18579508?preview_for_ml - it appears to me that a person must book for a minimum of 2 nights, EVEN THOUGH MY LISTING IS SET FOR A 1 NIGHT MINIMUM - so I'm wondering if this could be part of the problem? 

Thanks again in advance!!  

TY..  

[Rachael26 · Accepted solution]

@Andrea856

Lovely home. It seems that you have selected a 2 night minimum for any weekend stay (a Friday or Saturday night included in the request).

If you want a 1 night minimum on any day - then just go back into your edit profile and booking requirements and 'untick' the weekend requirement.

A bit of extra advice you might want to consider - reduce the risk of 'bad' guests by keeping the last minute local guests away - use/keep a 2 day in advance for all booking requests (incl instant book).

Best Wishes.

[Andrea856]

Thank you so much Rachael!! I will try those changes. : ) 

- Andrea

[Steve143]

Hello @Andrea856,

Your listing has seems to have different minimum stay settings, 2 nights for weekends and 1 night for during the week.

You don't say which date range you used when you tested it.

When I try to book, the calendar says "Minimum stay varies. Updated today".

For example, if I try for a checkin on Friday the 14th of July I must stay until Monday the 16th at least. 2 nights.

I can book for one night during the week in August. In August, check in on the 6th with checkout on the 7th is possible.

Steve.

[Andrea856]

Thank you Steve! : ) : )  Perfect. 

[Amy203]

I have been hosting for for a year and a half, am a Superhost, and have good reviews and feedback.  Last October I listed a 2nd space since I was so happy with my 1st hosting experience

But as of tonight when my current guest for the original space leaves, that room is completely dead!  😞

That has not happened before and it has me quite concerned

I'm even considering renting it out to a roommate if things do not improve.  Any suggestions?

https://www.airbnb.com/manage-your-space/12627389/details

Thanks,

Amy

[Matthew285]

@Amy203 the URL you provided is just for host editing.

You want to use this: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12627389

Your home is quite lovely! Colorful and fun. I don't know the LA market, so it is hard to say what is going on with the bookings. One general thing is this: Los Angeles has something like 18,000 AirBnB listings, so it is easy for a given listing to get lost in the shuffle. Check to see how your search ranking is and do what you can to move up.

As you know from experience, if people see your listing they want to book your listing. You need to make it so that you get seen. How have your View Stats been recently?

[Amy203]

Thanks for the input, Matthew! I wish I knew the secret to moving up in the rankings.  I have asked the superhost support people and basically they said to be patient.  One recommended changing my cover photo which was a good suggestion and I followed it.  Hopefully that webinar on Thursday morning might give some more insight

If you know how I can move up in the ranking I'd love to know.  It's weird that since I have my 2nd listing the 1st one dropped off so much 😞

Thanks for the correct link also. Appreciate your help

[Matthew285]

@Amy203, I don't know if any host knows for sure all the secrets to moving up the rankings. AirBnB only releases broad guidelines. I have gathered what info people have found and sometimes I post it if people are curious. I'll include it below:

AirBnB is deliberately vague on how ranking is done. Here is their information page about it:

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/39/what-factors-determine-how-my-listing-appears-in-search-resul...

Here is one AirbnB blog entry about search matching:

https://blog.atairbnb.com/how-search-makes-the-best-matches/

Here is a very informative AirBnB blog entry about how to rank higher (I think this one is the best):

https://blog.atairbnb.com/search/

Finally, here is a Reddit post where someone did a small bit of analysis about search ranking:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnB/comments/6113kx/ranking_of_listing_factors_correlating_to_search/?st...

If you don't have time to read all the links, here are some highlights (in no particular order):

1. Instant Book: Very Helpful
2. SuperHost status: Not supposed to be a factor.
3. Being the kind of host that *is* a SuperHost: Definitely a factor.
4. Tweaking your listing every day: Not Helpful
5. Being put on lots of people's Wish Lists: Very Good
6. Getting clicked on (views): Good
7. Receiving inquiries: Good
8. Competitive price: Very Good.
9. Declining people’s booking requests: Bad
10. Positive Ratings from Guests: Good
11. Having lots of reviews: Good
12. Being a new listing: Very Good
13. Being responsive to guests: Good
14. Cancelling a confirmed booking: Very Bad

Also: be aware that the way the search results are ranked can vary from one guest to another. Just because you are high or low in the list for one guest doesn’t mean you will be in that position for ALL guests.

[Ari62]

My airbnb account is old.

Started in 2010.

I am a SuperHost.

I struggle in getting booking. I mean real struggle. Entire account. All listings under my account do not get booking.

I have lot of reviews.

Fairly competitive prices.

I think favoriting the listing helps. I hope you guys can favorite my listing so I can boost my ranking. Happy to do so in return if you post it here. But its been tough.

Please give some suggestions.

These are my listings.

Stay with us if you are in Boston.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4958294?preview_for_ml

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5577142?preview_for_ml

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5020782?preview_for_ml

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/199317?preview_for_ml

[Peter527]

Hi Andrera/everyone,

I have been a member for 6 years and, I think, a Superhost now for around 3 years.My question is why I am not getting bookings? I haven't increased pricing and all my reviews are good. I am baffled by it and can't see any issues with my listing???

Could someone please take an objective look and let me know what they think?

Much appreciated,

Pete

[Jeff158]

@Peter527  up here the weather forecast makes a big difference.

October is looking like my quietest in 5yrs, I put it down to oversupply and hosts lowering prices desperate to pay a mortgage. Whole house in my area has dropped to £36 a night and a room for 2 is down to £24. I would rather be empty than follow the trend.

[Peter527]

Thanks Jeff, I guess it is a sign of the times indeed. Was a relatively quiet summer too! How low can you go, begs the question. Anyway great win for Wales over the Aussies today, so there's always something to smile about...if not Airbnb😉 Pete