How did you attract your first booking?

Answered!
Lizzie
Former Community Manager
Former Community Manager
London, United Kingdom

How did you attract your first booking?

Attract your first booking.jpg

 

Hello everyone,

 

Thinking back to when you first joined Airbnb, before you got your first booking.

 

What did you do to make your listing attractive, to entice your first guest to book your home?

 

Did it take you long to welcome your first guest?

 

Thanks,

Lizzie


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1 Best Answer
Andrew395
Level 3
Bali, Indonesia

Well for me, Airbnb was an unexpected event which literally saved my A**

 

Whilst  staying in Singapore for a few nights while waiting for my saxophone to be repaired I was listening to the radio in my hotel room and a short news item sounded talking about Airbnb. I had never heard about Airbnb and it was something which was on my mind on how to rent out my villa in Bali.

 

 It was funny as I had to scramble around to find a pen as the wording Airbnb so new to me, I was worried I may forget, as it happened, I lost the paper and did remember the word Airbnb and the rest is history.

 

 I had no real plan or experience in letting out property to strangers, therefore many mistakes were made and a great rush of ideas ran through my mind during the first year which caused  lots of anxiety as I knew what had to be done to improve matters. I was extremely lucky with the first guest as they wrote a good review but after that the reviews were mediocre but I was thankful to the guests who privately told me where I could improve.

 

 From that day onwards it became an addiction or rather a hobby to make everything wonderful and to make the guests feel happy. In the beginning I papered over the cracks with my personality and friendly approach which made up any shortcomings that were still lingering.

 

 I had a lot of contact with the guests who came to the Villa as I lived next door and it was easy for me to assist them and for me to learn more about what they really want from an Airbnb. I was also lucky  because my wife could make scrumptious food and in the beginning we offered this as an extra service and complimentary breakfast on their first day.

 

After a few years of hosting we finally became a super host which was the goal  as I could see the many benefits of being a super host on the Airbnb platform. Now in my fifth year I have encountered many types of people and rarely do I feel anxious when the new guest arrives. 

 

I now have everything perfect for hosting but still tweak, for example moving furniture around matching different colours and improving the interior to produce a calm relaxing environment. This is something I enjoy and did not realise  I have a little inner talent within this department. I know it can be expensive to update your property but it’s well worth it if you’re in for the long haul. 

 

 I also learnt a few wise things on the way in relation to mixing and socialising with this guests. In the early days I was always happy when the guests would invite me in for a drink as why not this is life and people are fun.  However some guests like to drink far too much which does not mix with my character but on one occasion because the guest was a music fanatic and a professional drummer in his younger days we stayed up late till 3 am swimming naked together in the pool and making music while his wife and daughter trying to sleep. 

 

 It was only when his wife stood outside the bedroom and shouting to the husband that it’s now nearly 4 am and she has not slept all night and would you stop making that noise and come to bed. Well looking back how embarrassing that was for me, I’m not too sure about the husband but for me it was the final time in getting really close to the guests as you need to distance yourself and to act professionally as you never know when it all might go wrong.

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131 Replies 131
Clara116
Level 10
Pensacola, FL

@Lizzie I had stayed at and had a wonderful experience in Germany and on the return flight home to Florida  realized that hosting with Airbnb  might be the perfect answer to retiring my Massage Therapy thriving business  (spa like cottage in the back yard).

I approached it like I was back in college once again - spending many hours each day researching, studying and watching videos and learning everything I could that had to do with Airbnb and being a host. Deciding early on either I do it as a business that will thrive or DON'T do it at all. I took 4 months with this approach and  in May set my start date for June 1 , 2017 - I almost fell over when 10 mins after hitting the publish button the first booking request came with the dinging of my phone. That was so very exciting and it was for the beginning of June....and the requests kept pouring in and I THEN began to understand what hosting was about. With all I had learned - it truly started when the guests asked to  book, arrived and with each new interaction. 

Side note: having suffered a trauma, which forced early retirement from massage therapy - this helped me refocus my world and I found ways to feel somewhat safer - Never using IB - even though it was a cottage - totally seperate from us in our home - also divided by a special fence and driveway for guest privacy - and privacy for us living so close by.  PTSD is pretty awful- BUT the hyper vigilance and constant state of alertness and minimal sleep did help me to maximize my efforts at hosting, learning and working to make it the best it can be. 

I set goals from the start - first was with lower prices, get those 5 star reviews and boost prices and somehow find "sweet spot" pricing for our area and the different seasons we have -  a beach town also presented challenges - Keeping sand outside and NOT in the cottage - as challenges and questions came up, I learned and tried out ways to best address them. Next goal was super host! 

When my first real struggle arrived - with a situation I couldn't figure out I searched CC right here - The Community had a wealth of suggestions and helped me work to make the most, the best moves and to not freak out ( let's say young sweet porn star NOT Stormy Daniels, much prettier, came and 4 nights of drugs, booze and much sex - the horror I walked into and having to throw away ALL my lovely, new  bedding, comforter included was NOT in the lessons I had studied. When days of all kinds of body fluids have dried into fabrics - they truly can't be soaked, rinsed, or bleached out. Sometimes its just trashed. Nothing had prepared me for that - even the videos before, I assumed it would NEVER happen to us. lol

The wise Pro hosts had shared a ton of info and that awful happening was a GREAT learning and taught me loads of how to, what NOT to do, about claims, reviewing,  just every part of WHAT To do. I am forever grateful to the community center host pros  for that support, knowledge or I'd NOT still be hosting.

The best part of it I figured out was that the most likeable people can be deceptive and you just do the best you can. And realize those young folks were truly living differently than I ever lived - I could say the bad thing that happened was actually a good thing to have happened early on. A new kind of learning. Cause we just never know. 

I delight in being a host, super host and also in helping to lead/ guide other hosts in our town - we have an Airbnb group and even a FB page (all put together and supported by a team that works with Airbnb in Miami)  which I am the moderator and the group continues to grow and there are always questions and challenges so that we can continue to host. Merchant walks, keeping our neighbors happy and get hosts to pay taxes and get licensing when needed etc. I'm delighted with it all - still learning and just wish I had a few more cottages or places to host - but wouldn't want to remotely host. I'm much more hands on, of course - massage therapist to the core! 

happily hosting, I am

Donald28
Level 10
Lithia Springs, GA

I'm certain that my 1st booking was attracted by the ridiculously low $39 nightly rate that airbnb recommended I use for my place. I stupidly took their advice and asked $39 a night. LOL Oh how times have changed since 3/2017!

Busi2
Level 2
South Africa

Morning I'm new in this business and haven't hosted yet. My first couple has booked for Saturday the 30 March only for one night.  She initially asked for my mobile phone saying she wants to talk directly to me, which I didn't do . I said I was comfortable to communicate through Airbnb and this morning she says she wants my bank account to deposit which I also declined.  

I asked her to please follow the right process of finalising the booking

 

Must I be worried about this or just ignore her or cancel their booking?

No reason to ask for a bank account. Weird stuff!

Crystal143
Level 2
Chicago, IL

It did not take me long to get my first reservation. Tomorrow I should finally be a super host. I love meeting new people. I just had 8 guest from Canada. They we wondefrul and ha d a good time exploring CHICAGO.

Robin4
Level 10
Mount Barker, Australia

@Lizzie 

My first booking was not with Airbnb! It was a 'homestay' booking with my local high school for 10 weeks with a student from Modena in northern Italy.

This was a cultural shock for both the student, (Aurora Laccu) and for us. We opened our property and our hearts to Auri and it was so sad when after 10 weeks we had to put her on that plane back to Italy....there were lots of tears all round. In honour of that visit we have called the listing cottage after Auri......

CAM02435.jpg

 

That still remains on the cottage wall to this day and lots of guests ask us why we have put that there.

 

That was in 2016 and Auri has recently sent us an email......

Auri visit.png

So she is going to return to us for a visit next month, but I include this here because, this is what hosting is all about.....it brings total strangers together.

Shortly after returning to Italy in 2016 Auri lost her mother in an automobile accident and all she wanted was her new found Australian family around her to comfort her!

We of course are eagerly looking forward to her coming back here again and we are going to try and make up for those lost two+ years since she left here.

 

Hosting is a wonderful thing! It brings people together and makes friends out of total strangers.

I didn't attract my first booking....it attracted me...... but from that moment I knew I was destined to be a host!

 

Cheers......Rob 

Lovely story! a 10 week booking! Wow. We have had many repeat guests here too. One has stayed 7 times! A few others 5, 4 and 3. 

 

 

Adrienne107
Level 4
Seattle, WA

1. We did our homework to learn what others in our area were offering vs. charging. 

2. We made sure our amenities were competitive.

3. We got gorgeous professional photos taken that made us jealous of our own house.

4. We took potential guests on a virtual walk-through of our entire house, room by room, in the listing, to help them imagine themselves enjoying our home.

5. We took a strategic time-boxed discount approach, slightly undercutting our competition for the first two months, in order to get some reviews and momentum going. 

 

Worked like a charm!

Alon1
Level 10
London, United Kingdom

@Adrienne107 

 

Forgive me for enquirng, but do you actually host on Airbnb?

 

Your profile in "the real world" shows no listings and no reviews from Guests, only 3 reviews of you as a Guest, last one three years ago.

Alon, you are correct, I am a retired host, along with my husband. I was also raised in a bed and breakfast (my mum ran one when I was growing up), so I have a passion for the subject and enjoy sharing my acquired wisdom, even though we are no longer able to host due to having moved in with mum, whose health has deteriorated in recent years. Hope that helps to alleviate any concerns about my credentials. 😉

Denise415
Level 2
New Hampshire, United States

I offered a discount to the first 3 bookings that I got and got booked with those not long afterwards. My home is in a high demand summer rental area so that helps me as well but in the cooler months if I am not getting much activity I will offer discounts well as well as low prices per night.

The cottage is an old miner's cabin from the period when our town was a major gold producer during the early part of the twentieth century, so it has some history. When we purchased it it wasn't in very good shape at all so we spent a fair amount of time and money in renovations.  My husband is an electrician and he installed a modern electrical service and upgraded the wiring. We installed a new water heater and redid the plumbing. The kitchen was completely remodelled and a new gas fireplace was installed in the living room.  New drywall was installed on most walls with just a couple of feature walls left with the old style panelling. A fresh coat of paint through out. The exterior was repainted white with yellow trim to freshen it up and improve curb appeal. In other words, lots of money, time, and effort were invested before we even listed.

 

We first listed on September 1 of 2018 and had our first booking three days later!  It has been steady ever since.  We have found that little touches like putting out a loaf of freshly baked bread or muffins really boosts our reviews. Also we keep the cottage absolutely spotless. The bed is super comfortable and many guests comment on it. Guests love to hear about the gold boom and are astonished when we point out the old mine with all its buildings still precariously perched high on the side of the mountain directly across from the cottage.  I believe our excellent reviews are key in attracting guests. We have set a high standard for ourselves and it's satisfying to see those efforts pay off. 

Lisa1812
Level 2
Roswell, GA


My first booking and my first guest were actually NOT the same people, so I'll discuss both.  My very first booking hasn't actually arrived yet!   

 

I just joined AirBnB as a host in February.  I live in Atlanta, and of course - we were hosting the Super Bowl, so there were a plethora of people looking for places to stay.     Until then, I had no idea I could be a host and still live here.   I have an amazing home, and have had dozens of roommates in the past, so that was a plus for me.   I had needed a second source of income so now, AirBnB is my college fund. 🙂

In creating my listing, I included ten *excellent* photographs including the kitchen, the living room, two views of the bedroom/TV, the pool,  the dining room/piano room and the exterior of the home.     I emphasize "excellent" photographs because I do see a number of listings with poorly lit or poorly framed pictures.    I tried to imitate the kinds of photos I see Realtors post that showcase a home.    

I also included a picture of one of my cats wearing a Seahawks Superbowl Champions hat (since I was initially trying to attract Super Bowl fans).   This not only displayed that I'm a football fan, but it emphasized that I have cats.   I wanted to make sure that guests understood this to eliminate possible conflicts with allergies,  or with children/pets who might not interact well with cats.  

In my headline, I highlighted what I felt was my 'sizzle' - "Come to The Lake House - Fireplace, BBQ, & Pool".    These are 'bonus' things people people want, and it implies that "I have everything you need and then some".    I also made sure to go through the list and completely fill out the listing with amenities, security features, etc.    Yes I provide towels, toilet paper and sheets.   No I do not provide breakfast.  Yes, I have free parking,  yes I pay my cleaning people a living wage, etc.  


In my description, I was completely honest about various things.   For example, I do not feel my home is appropriate for children under 2.  I do not have any of the 'childproof' things AirBnB lists as 'family' items, plus I am very short, so I keep cleaning supplies, medications, and sharp objects at levels a toddler could access.  I also have a firearm on the premises (in a gun safe).     I don't 'block' or 'decline' guests with small children, but I set the appropriate expectations for them to make the correct parenting decision for their children.  

I also setup something AirBnB suggested, which was a 20% off offer for the first three bookings.  

My first booking is a family coming to Atlanta who needed basically an extended stay type situation - they live a few hours away, and their sons are coming here for sports, so they would be going back and forth.     What they actually wanted was 25 nights in a 50 night span.   Since I block bookings over 28 days in length, they reached out to me three months in advance to see if I would be willing to work something out with them.     

If they had booked every section (2-3 days) separately, they would have lost out on the 20% off offer plus had to pay 8 or 10 cleaning fees,  multiple 'deposits' tying up their credit, and then had to be bothered with the check-in/check-out process every couple of days.  We talked at length, worked out a plan, and set up three special offers so they could come and go fairly freely, still leave me some available nights when they were back home, reduce the cleaning fees and the amount of available credit AirBnB would hold for the deposit.

In a nutshell, they were attracted by my ad & the discount, but they booked because I went to the trouble to work with them.  

My first actual *guest* was about 2 weeks after the Super Bowl.   She was coming to town for a 4 day class, and was drawn to the picture of my piano!    She asked if I'd mind if she relaxed in the evenings while playing some soft jazz.  (Mind!?   Please do - I would love that!)

Now not every guess needs or wants a piano, but every one of us has unique talents and possessions that might interest some kind of niche crowd.   While you don't have to center your ad around it (I didn't), including a picture or two of something that interests YOU might attract a guest who chooses you because they are interested in the same.  

Lastly, I'll mention that I have 100% 5 star ratings from 100% of my guests.  Now, I'm new - so it's easier to bat a 1000 when you have fewer 'at bats', so one day this may change.   But part of the reason for this is that I review everyone of them immediately after they check out, and then I wait a week.  If they have not posted a review, I reach out to them and remind them that AirBnB offers a 14 window to review, and I would really appreciate a review from them.    They have all responded positively.

Kira32
Level 10
Canary Islands, Spain

I highlighted the things I love the most at the apartment and my pictures are bright. I kept the bedrooms very simple and basic with extra pillows. I started with a lot of bookings. It's now low season on the island and it's time to update my page and pictures♡

An-Maré0
Level 6
Cape Town, South Africa

@Lizzie1 I had such a pleasant experience.  My friend started her Airbnb the week before me and was waiting anxiously for a booking.  I was almost not ready, still trying to get all the loose ends in place when our Airbnb went live. Within a day I started getting bookings for the next day and I had to rush out to get things done.  I worked right through the night - painting - cleaning, sweeping, thinking about my experiences in guest houses and how I can implement it with all my own things in my house.  I literaly took all my bedroom furniture into the cottage - It was so much fun and I can still remember the first time when the guests arrive.  An older man with a handicapped boy.  It was such a pleasure to spoil them and I definately made a huge loss (financially that weekend) but in friendship, kindness, caring and hosting I gained way more than what money could buy.  The rememberance of that weekend is one of my happy memory place to go, when I do not get enough bookings.  Happy hosting!