On Airbnb, a typical host in the US earns $14K in a year, and it is increasing.
The question is: do you meet this number? Congratulations to you if your answer is ‘yes’.
But what if you are earning less than that? In such a case, you have to make some necessary tweaks in your strategies for renting out properties on Airbnb. Especially, you would have to focus on bringing more bookings so the revenue.
Running a successful Airbnb short-term rental (STR) venture isn’t just about listing some properties. It is about getting maximum revenue out of them.
So, what top spots should one focus on to get more bookings and earn more revenue? Some impactful ones are explained below. Read on to learn!
1. Set the Right Price
One of the most attractive aspects is affordability on Airbnb for most guests.
I mean, it is obvious. Everyone wants to save as many bucks as possible. And it is no exception for guests when they need to book a place to stay.
Pricing matters a lot for both you and your guests.
If your rates are too high, guests will pick other rentals. If they’re too low, you’ll earn less.
The best approach is to be competitive and take a balanced approach. You have to set a price that attracts the guests but doesn’t make you lose your profit. Right?
DO NOT forget to use Airbnb’s Smart Pricing tool for this purpose.
All you need to do is set a minimal price, and this tool will automatically set prices for your listings as per demand, seasonality, nearby events, supply, and demand.
This way, prices are always attractive to your guests but friendly for your pocket.
So, setting the right STR prices is the first strategy to attract booking and revenue.
2. Make Your Listing Rank Higher
When renting out properties on Airbnb or other OTAs, such as Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, etc., it is important to optimize and rank listings higher.
After all, no matter how good your properties are, you won’t get any bookings in case your listings don’t appear in front of the guests.
First, use high-quality photos on each listing to make a big difference. Listings with clear, bright, and professional photos get more bookings. Make sure to take pictures of
- every room,
- the outside of your property, and
- any special features like a pool, garden, or cozy fireplace.
Then, write appealing descriptions that highlight what makes your places special.
Is it close to the beach? Does it have a beautiful view? A quiet workspace? Use simple but engaging words to describe it.
Do you have multiple Airbnb listings? In such a case, you can even get Airbnb SEO service and outsource all your listing optimization hassle to exert.
They understand most of the 100 ranking factors the Airbnb search engine uses to rank listings and implement the right techniques to make a property get maximum impressions.
Whether you optimize listings yourself or hire a team, the goal is to be visible to guests.
3. Provide an Amazing Guest Experience
Increasing Airbnb bookings and revenue is not only about ranking higher and getting guests.
But to make the guests bring more guests. Yes, you heard right.
The secret to this word-of-mouth marketing is happy customers. A happy guest is more likely to leave a 5-star review and recommend your place to others.
As a host, you must help every guest who comes to your property in every way possible.
For example, answer their queries on time. If they have a question or confusion, answer it on time. Make sure you’re available at the moments of check-ins and check-outs.
To improve their stay, provide hotel-like amenities such as fresh towels, high-speed Wi-Fi, a coffee maker, and good toiletries. Small touches, like a welcome note, snacks, or a local guidebook, make a great impression.
If you don’t want to be available when guests come in, make check-in easy via self-check-in options like smart locks or lock boxes. Guests love hassle-free check-ins.
A clean space is a must, so always keep your rental spotless. Cleanliness is one of the most common reasons guests leave bad reviews.
4. Encourage Repeat Guests and Direct Bookings
With repeat guests, you save both your time and effort.
The reason? You don’t have to find new bookings constantly.
When guests visit your property, politely ask them if they visit the same city, town, or location repeatedly. If so, you can ask them to stay in your property every time.
Don’t forget to get their contact details such as email. Create a list of such guests.
Stay in touch with previous guests through email (you collected from them) or messages and offer them exclusive discounts for future stays.
A happy guest will likely book with you again, especially if they had a great experience.
Along with having contact details of repeat guests, maintain a dedicated short-term rental direct booking website to save on the OTA fees and have more control over reservations.
List all your available properties on the website and use it as a portfolio to attract guests.
Having a direct booking website is also a smart move. While Airbnb is great, it takes a cut of your earnings. If guests book directly from your website, you can keep more of the money while offering them a better price.
5. List Your Property on Multiple Platforms
Airbnb is undoubtedly the most famous OTA platform for short-term rentals.
However, it is not the only one in the vacation rental sector. Many Airbnb competitors, such as Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, TripAdvisor, etc., are available to find accommodations.
If you only list your rental on Airbnb, you are missing out on potential guests.
The solution? You should list your properties on all available platforms to reach a larger audience, get more bookings, and earn more revenue.
Keep in mind that each OTA platform is for different types of guests.
For example, Vrbo is great for families and longer/private stays, and Booking.com is popular with international travelers and business guests.
Expedia and TripAdvisor are used by tourists looking for bundled deals at affordable prices.
If your property qualifies for the speciality of each platform, listing it on them all increases your property’s visibility, helping you fill in any gaps in your calendar.
Even if Airbnb’s traffic slows down or they change their policies, you’ll still have a steady stream of guests coming from other sources.
More listings mean more exposure, higher occupancy rates, and increased revenue—all with minimal extra effort once everything is set up.
Final Thoughts
Apply the right approach to get more bookings and earn more.
Set fair prices so guests find your place affordable, but you still make a profit. Make your listing stand out with great photos and detailed descriptions.
Keep guests happy by offering a clean space, fast responses, and small extras like snacks or a guidebook. Ask happy guests to come back and offer them discounts.
Also, list your property on multiple platforms, not just Airbnb, to reach more people.
These simple steps can help you fill your calendar, increase revenue, and run a successful short-term rental business.
