Airbnb platform rating system explanation. What do you think?

[Sandra856]

Hi 🙂

I'm trying to make a new explanation pamphlet for my guests to read. 

How do you understand these explanations below - do they make sense?

I have written both myself and want to use pieces of that to the new "pamphlet". 

I hope it might help guests to understand internet rating platforms better and how they work - those with 5 star ratings are on the top when people search and that it is basically what a 5 star rating does - keeps the host on top of the search field. 

[Emilia42]

@Sandra856, I don't necessarily think that is ture. When I search Denmark, here are the ratings in order that appear in the first page of search results:

4.97

4.60

4.73

4.88

4.70

4.78

4.81

4.78

4.83

4.93

4.98

4.96

4.65

4.84

4.95

4.88

4.82

4.84

Your listing's rating is higher than 13 of those. There are obviously tons of other factors that go into search placement but I really don't think a listings rating is top of that list. 

Last year I deleted my blurb about the rating system because it started to put a bad taste in my mouth. I replaced it was something as simple as: "I truly want to give you a 5 star experience based on my listings accuracy, cleanliness, and comfort. If there is something about your stay that is not 5 star, please let me know while you are still here so that I have a chance to address it and make sure that your stay is everything you hoped it would be." It has not compromised my reviews in anyway.

[Ute42]

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Hi @Emilia42 

I did a similar research as You did for the Oktoberfest 2018. No 2 in search results had an average rating of 3.5, No. 4 had an average rating of 2.5 (yes, two point five).

The average rating has not influece on the position in search results. Same with being a Superhost - no influence at all.

Noone believes that, not in Germany and not around the world. But that's the way it is.

[Emilia42]

@Ute42 

I am always searching and scanning ratings for my entire state (incognito of course so my searching preferences are not remembered.) Rarely, are the top rated listings at the head of the search. In fact, on the very last page of the search results there are 12 listings over 4.9 (out of 18 on the page.) The lowest rating on the last page is 4.76. 

Rating below 4.0 are rare on Airbnb will shows you that the vast majority of guests are rating 5 stars. 

[Sandra856]

Hi @Emilia42 🙂

Yes, of course, how fast I respond, if I decline requests, if I'm a superhost etc. but it also effects me how the listings in my neighborhood are doing. I realized why we all need 5 star ratings if we deliver as promised. Airbnb has build a "simple"ranking system and those who get 5 stars are on the top when people search no matter the budget they search for. What happens when guests rate us with less than 5 stars are that we are put down in the search field. Down the ladder. 

It is very simple when you think about it. One long ladder where we are moving up and down all the time. 

If only deluxe places where to get 5 star ratings there would only be deluxe places on the top of the search field and that wouldn't really make sense. Also those on budget needs to find reliable, clean places and it makes more sense for everyone if they know that a 5 star place delivers as described and promised. If guests are to rate 3 or 4 stars because it's a budget place it becomes much more blurry. (and it is impossible for airbnb to make a system where everyone no matter the budget is on top if they don't have they same measurement). 

So what happens when a guest rates less than 5 stars is that the listing is moved down in the search field - that’s it. Guests do not understand why they are suppose to give 5 star ratings - but if you told them that what is happening with a less than 5 star rating is that they are literally taking the host down the search ladder - I think it would make more sense to most guests.

I really hate that I'm so limited by my language skills. It's really annoying.

[Sarah977]

@Sandra856  I have had consistent 5* ratings in all categories since I started hosting 3 years ago. Also got Superhost from the first quarter and have maintained it ever since. Quick response rate and have never once declined a reservation, yet my ranking in search is really low. There are plenty of non-5* listings ahead of mine. The only reason I know is a factor is that I won't use IB.

[Sandra856]

Hi @Sarah977 🙂

The airbnb platform is a ranking platform build of algoritms - All the factors incl. IB control where we are in the search field. I don't see how anything else could influence our rankings than those inputs - how we manage our listings and the ratings from guests? 

Best, Sandra 

[Sarah977]

@Sandra856  Yes, there's a ton of algorithms that factor into it, which we certainly aren't privy to. I was just saying that having a 5* rating since I started hosting doesn't seem to carry as much weight as you appeared to think it does, but maybe I misunderstood. Because there are lots of places way above me in search ranking with lower ratings.

[Emilia42]

@Sandra856 We likely have the same set of language skills and English is my first and only language 🙂

I understand perfectly what you are staying. I am saying that you have a rating for 4.89 of out 313 reviews. You are doing so well, you don't give yourself enough credit at all. Over 95% of your guest are walking into your home and rating you 5 stars even though it is a budget listing and may not be perfect. I think Airbnb is the platform where you see a wide range of listings (not just the luxury ones) that receive very high ratings. As your experience proves, you can offer a budget listing and still maintain a very high percentage of 5 star reviews. 

[Ute42]

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@Sandra856  , @Emilia42  , @Sarah977 

There are 2 things  that determine the position in search results:

1. Instant book enabled or not
2. Number of clicks onto the listing

Listings with the highest propability of being booked by guests show first.

That's it.

[Sandra856]

@Ute42 It wouldn't make sense not to put those listings that delivers on top for people to find when they start searching. The change for succes for a guest is much bigger and that is good for business. Do you really think airbnb would build a system where only 2 factors decides who is on top and who is in the buttom. Lots and lots and lots of factors are build into internet platforms.

[Mark116]

@Ute42   If that is all there is, wouldn' t you be able to search incognito and continue to click on your own listing and raise it?

[Ute42]

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@Mark116 

Yes, but I assume airbnb has a clickfilter that detects:

1. The timegaps between the clicks
2. the source of the click

We've tried it already in Germany, it doesn't work.

[Sandra856]

@Ute42 what you see when you search is not the same as another person would see. When I log into Netflix the surface is not the same for me as it would be if my brother logged in. Even the same show would have a different surface/front picture - depending on what the system thought would interest me. 

[Ute42]

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@Sandra856 

I have 3 Laptops and an anonymus internet access with IP-suppression. I know what's going on.

[Sandra856]

@Ute42 One would think that a system would need more than 2 factors to costumize a search field or layout for different guests?