Slow Season Is Here- Best Practices & SEO Boost Hacks

[Sean433]

For those of us who host in colder climates, the slow season has started. What are your tricks or tips to boost how many views you get and stay full during this time?

I have started to regularly check my metrics to see how many views I am getting. I noticed some of my listings do better then others and then I analyze the differences between them to understand why. I haven't really noticed anything but I will start to make slight changes in each listing to see if I can pin point what makes the biggest difference.

I have found the following tips to help boost visibility and bookings during the slow season:

1. Instead of keeping the base price high, lower it below what the airbnb tip suggests and offset this by adding an additional guest fee of $15-$20 after 1 or 2 guests. Those who are just looking for a place as 1 or 2 guests will see your listing at an attractive price. Those who are looking for 4 guests will also see your listing but with the adjusted price of the additional guests. So you don't really end up charging less but your base price appears lower attracting more views. 

2. Update your calendar pricing daily to show activity.

3. Edit your listing description often to show activity.

4. Keep your response time to inquiries less then 1 hour

5. Have at least 20 pictures of good quality.

6. Fully utilize each character they give you in your title. They give you 50 characters.

7. Keep the closest date which is available at a low price and the dates after at normal prices. People will see the lowest price day first causing them to click on your listing. Then when they fill out the dates they want, they will see an adjusted price of the average price for all the days. This will at least give you the opportunity to showcase your property whereas otherwise they may not have even clicked on your listing.

8. Keep instant book on. Not sure if turning off smart pricing has any affect on SEO Boost???

Any other tricks you experienced hosts know of to boost visibility and survive or better yet thrive during the slow season?

[Emilia42]

I have lost hope in the search algorithm and feel that is is based primarily on price. When I do an incognito search for my entire state of Maine, USA, these three listings come up on the first page. Those cover photos are the best of the 7 offered for each listing. This host is getting 500+ views a week and is obviously doing something right .... but I don't know what that is.

[Katy189]

wow I can't believe these photos!!!

[Desmond28]

Wow those Maine search results are quite unique, I have never seen anything like that. But I actually can see why a traveller would click on it... its almost like clickbait because of the low price and strange photo... interesting... 🙂 

[Adam1443]

Thank you to everyone who shared their tips! I have been in this field not so long ago, and any word is a huge help for me.

[Adam1443]

I have been in this field for not so long, and any word is a huge help for me. But even despite my little experience, I noticed that the algorithms really work somewhat strangely.
I had already had to deal with something similar when I worked as an administrator of an institution. However, there was one company that helped us with the SEO — https://websitestrategies.com.au/seo-consultant-sunshine-coast/. They are professional in their work, so I didn't care about it.
And now I don't know how to approach the search algorithm.