How can I get more bookings?

[Saad127]

Hello,

I have started hosting not too long ago (around a week in now) and have 3 bookings so far. One guest stayed a weekend already and the other two are upcoming (1 in September and 1 in July), any thoughts on how I can fill up my calendar quicker? I'm getting quite a bit of views and I believe I have pricing adjusted accordingly with the market but still don't seem to be getting as much as I was expecting. Thoughts or suggestions on what I should work on and how I can get these booking numbers up? 

Thank you for your time.

Best regards,

Saad K.

[Pat271]

@Saad127  I haven’t looked at your listing, but when you get some good reviews posted, your bookings are likely to increase.

[Saad127]

Right. Thank you. Any tips on getting reviews?

[Pat271]

They will come naturally.

One tip is to keep maximum days per stay low for a while, to increase the number of stays over a shorter period of time. 5 3-day stays will probably get you more reviews than 1 15-day stay.

[Saad127]

Sounds like a plan. Thank you, Pat!

[Kia272 · Accepted solution]

@Saad127  Why are you calling this a cabin? It looks like a regular "house" to me. Using the word cabin has certain implications, especially in the Poconos. I think you should use a different word to describe your property. When a guest is looking for a "cabin" in the Poconos, I think they're looking for an actual cabin, as in possibly more rustic, homey, different style of construction. You have what looks like a fairly modern home. 

Why am I suggesting this? Because the use of the word cabin may garner you lots of views, but not lots of bookings. If someone is looking to book an actual cabin, they'll glance at your property and move along. 

You should search in your area for cabins on AirBnB, and see what they look like. I don't think your home fits the description. Decide who your target audience is, and adjust your title wording accordingly. I'm thinking wealthy people trying to escape the city, but who don't really want a "rustic" experience. 

You should also use the caption feature on your photos. It helps guests understand the flow of the home. I'm also not a believer in having the take pictures of each pot/pan/cooking utensil in the kitchen. You have a lot of photos, and it might be better to cut some out, and focus on the fundamentals of the house. 

I'm aware that you didn't ask for a critique of your listing, but attracting more guests is intertwined with how you present your property. As @Pat271 said, as your (hopefully good) reviews grow, so will your bookings. My taste differs drastically from yours, but your place looks very nice. Good luck, Kia

[Saad127]

Kia,

This is phenomenal advice. What you say does make a lot of sense. I have it listed under the "Home" section on Airbnb but I will look into a rename for sure. I am getting a lot of views but little to no bookings compared to the views. It is possible I am attracting the wrong buyer. I will look into these tips for sure.

Thank you so much for your help.

Sincerely,

Saad K.

[Kia272]

@Saad127 You're very welcome. There's an art to crafting your property listing and details to target a certain demographic. Also, words matter for SEO. After your first few reservations, you'll figure out who is booking your property, and why. That should help you refine your listing even further. 

Also, the views stats should be taken with a grain of salt. Remember that a lot of people are window shopping, and don't really intend to book. I actually pay very little attention to the AirBnB stats, but as a new host, I'm sure it's a focus for you. 

Anyway, good luck. Kia

[Kia272]

@Saad127  Yikes! 3 bed/2 bath!