Airbnb marketing tips: best practices on how to market an Airbnb

As a vacation rental property owner, marketing your property is crucial to the success of your business. However, it can be challenging to find effective ways to gain the exposure needed to attract more guests. 

Here are some Airbnb marketing tips, online and offline, to help you get the word out and attract more guests to your short-term rental.

Best practices for Airbnb marketing

How to market an Airbnb online

1. Optimise your property listing

Your property listing can make or break how successful your short-term rental will be, and is often the first step in Airbnb marketing. There are three things that make a property listing shine:

• Make sure your rental listing has professional-looking, high-quality, and well-lit photos. 
• Write accurate and descriptive descriptions with titles, and create a comprehensive personal profile with Airbnb's recommended information about you as a host. 
• Build trust with positive reviews, offer discounts to raise your listing's profile, and attract more guests.

2. Active social media marketing

Social media marketing can be a great tool to increase visibility for your short-term rental for free and reach a wider audience. After all, it allows you to get in touch directly with potential guests and get direct feedback. Your Airbnb social media strategy can start with the following:

How to market your Airbnb on social media

• Social media apps: create a business page on Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram, and start sharing news and updates about your property. Make sure to share a mix of photos and videos to really make your rental shine. 
• Airbnb forums: joining community forums is a great way to both seek and offer advice and support to potential guests. It highlights your skills as a host and provides you with a (now invested) audience that could become your guests in the future.
• Podcasts: contributing to Airbnb podcasts is a great way to get free advertising while giving value to someone else. Connect with journalists or podcast hosts who are looking for industry experts to contribute to their series. Once you’ve established yourself as a thought leader in the space, you’ll attract a whole host of new guests to your short-term rental.

Hometime tip: Get more tips on Airbnb social media marketing with our guide on creating an effective Airbnb social media strategy.

3. Guest blogging on Airbnb blogs and other websites

Guest posting on other sites is a great way to increase your reach without added costs. Search for travel and leisure blogs online related to property and tourism, reach out and ask if they are looking for a guest post on a topic you know well, and provide them with this information, for free. Make sure to add links to the article to direct readers to your property booking page.

4. Build your own website

Having a clean and modern website that showcases your property is a great way to connect with new potential guests. Your website should show clear photos and videos of your rental home and give a brief overview of your property. We also recommend listing your social media channels on your website so people can keep updated on any news and offers you might have.

Hometime tip: Don’t forget to direct potential guests to your booking page to make things simple.

5. Airbnb email marketing

Email marketing uses email to promote your business's services while developing long-lasting relationships with potential guests. Start by building a list of targeted leads and design your emails to be personable and engaging. Remember to always allow people to opt-in or out to follow privacy principles for your area.

How to market an Airbnb offline

1. Word-of-mouth marketing 

One of the most powerful ways to promote your short-term rental property is through word-of-mouth. It involves talking about your company's product or service to people you know, such as friends, family, and acquaintances. For example, if you're attending a relative's birthday or wedding, don't hesitate to share news about your Airbnb short-term rental. You never know who might be interested in booking a vacation rental in the near future!

Another form of word-of-mouth marketing comes directly from your guests. Positive reviews from five-star experiences can encourage guests to recommend your short-term rental to their friends and family, or even talk about you online. This is one of the more effective ways of Airbnb marketing, which can lead to a sustained increase in occupancy rates and exposure for your property.

2. Repeat customers 

There’s nothing better than having a guest come back to your rental every year. When you provide guests with a memorable experience, they are more likely to return to your property in the future. Excellent customer service, listening to feedback, and personalisation are all ways to retain past guests and encourage referrals.

3. Networking events 

Events are a great way to connect with professionals in your industry and stay up to date on the latest news and trends in short-term property management. You can find networking events in your area by searching online platforms like Eventbrite. Attending these events can lead to new business opportunities and help you build strong relationships with other professionals in the industry.

Need help with your Airbnb marketing and management?

The world of Airbnb marketing has many facets: from offline marketing to social media and Airbnb email marketing, the work can add up quickly and become too much to manage by yourself, especially if you're managing multiple short term rentals. For help with Airbnb marketing and short term rental management, reach out to Hometime. Discover how our expert services can amplify your property's visibility and attract more guests with our services:

• Property onboarding
• Listing optimisation
• ‍Property styling and photography
• Dynamic pricing strategy
  
• Airbnb cleaning services
  
• Guest communication and management
  
• Property maintenance

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