If you already have a property listed on Airbnb and have been successfully attracting guests, you’re likely familiar with how the platform works and the value it brings. But have you ever stopped to think about how much you’re losing by limiting yourself to just Airbnb? More importantly, if you’re sending guests who find you on social media directly to Airbnb, you’re handing over 16.5% of your hard-earned income for no reason. Let’s talk about how you can optimize your rental business by expanding beyond Airbnb and taking more control of your bookings.
Why Relying Only on Airbnb is Costing You
Airbnb is a fantastic platform, but the 16.5% commission you’re paying on every booking is cutting into your profits more than you might realize. If guests are finding your property through social media or word of mouth, you already have direct leads! Sending them back to Airbnb not only reduces your income but also makes their experience more expensive due to platform fees.
By encouraging direct bookings for these guests, you not only save on Airbnb’s commission but can also pass some of those savings to your guests, creating a win-win scenario. They get a better price, and you increase your revenue.
Expanding Beyond Airbnb: It’s About More Than Just More Eyes
It’s easy to think that listing your property on multiple platforms like VRBO, Booking.com, or Stayz would automatically mean more bookings, but the reality is more eyes don’t always lead to more conversions if your sales funnel isn’t optimized. Just being on more platforms won’t increase bookings if your pricing, processes, and guest experience aren’t streamlined.
Here’s what to consider before expanding beyond Airbnb:
Are Your Pricing and Availability Consistent? Managing multiple platforms manually can easily lead to inconsistencies, which could result in double bookings or inaccurate pricing. You need to ensure that your rates are competitive and reflect the value your property offers.
Is Your Guest Experience Seamless? Expanding to multiple platforms without streamlining your guest communication, calendar management, and booking processes can quickly become overwhelming. You want to offer the same level of service, regardless of how or where the guest books.
The Key to Success: Streamline with a Channel Manager
Before you jump onto multiple platforms, consider investing in a channel manager. A channel manager connects all your listings, pricing, and calendars across different platforms, eliminating the hassle of manual updates and reducing the risk of errors. More importantly, it allows you to easily take direct bookings through your own website.
Here’s why a channel manager is crucial for rental property owners like you:
Sync Listings and Availability: A channel manager ensures that your property’s pricing, availability, and details are synchronized across all platforms, making it impossible for double bookings or conflicting dates to occur.
Centralized Messaging: It also helps you manage guest communication from all platforms in one place, so you can respond promptly and maintain a consistent guest experience.
Direct Bookings = More Profit: Most importantly, a channel manager makes it easy to accept direct bookings. Instead of sending guests from social media or your website back to Airbnb, you can have them book directly with you. This cuts out the middleman, saves you from platform fees, and puts more money directly in your pocket.
The Importance of a Sales Funnel That Works for Every Listing
More exposure through multiple platforms won’t automatically translate into more bookings if your sales funnel—the entire guest experience from discovery to booking—isn’t optimized. Whether guests find you on Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, or any other platform, the same principles apply:
1. Build Trust Beyond the Platform
Platforms like Airbnb build trust with their reviews and verification processes, but you can’t rely on these features alone to secure bookings. You need to establish credibility through every aspect of your listing, no matter where it’s posted. This means offering:
- Consistent high-quality photos that accurately represent your property.
- Detailed, honest descriptions that highlight your property’s best features and set accurate expectations.
- Guest testimonials or reviews from other platforms that showcase your reliability.
Trust is one of the strongest drivers of conversion. If you want to understand this further, check out The Power of Trust: How Reviews Shape Your Airbnb Success and Understanding Airbnb Booking Conversion Rate
Building trust isn’t just about transparency; it’s about making potential guests feel confident that they know exactly what to expect when they book with you.
2. Create a Scannable, Easily Readable Listing
Guests don’t have the time or patience to sift through long, wordy descriptions. Your listings should be clear, to the point, and scannable. This means:
- Headlines and bullet points: Use these to highlight key features, like the number of bedrooms, proximity to attractions, or unique amenities (e.g., a hot tub, high-speed WiFi, or stunning views).
- Short paragraphs: Keep descriptions concise but informative. You want guests to quickly understand what your property offers without feeling overwhelmed by too much information.
- Easy navigation: Organize your listing logically so guests can quickly find what they need, such as sleeping arrangements, house rules, or parking details.
The easier it is for a guest to digest your listing, the more likely they are to book. Your job is to remove any confusion or friction in the decision-making process.
3. Use Guest-Friendly, Inviting Language
The language you use in your listing plays a huge role in whether a guest decides to book or keep scrolling. Harsh or restrictive wording can create unnecessary barriers and objections in the mind of a guest. Here’s how to approach your listing to create a welcoming, professional tone:
- Avoid Strong, Negative Language: Listings that use bold, capitalized words like “NO PARTIES,” “NO PETS,” or “STRICT CHECK-IN TIMES” can feel unwelcoming or even confrontational. Instead, opt for softer, more informative phrasing like, “This property is best suited for quiet stays” or “We kindly ask guests to respect our home by keeping noise to a minimum.”
- Be Inclusive, Not Proprietary: Phrases like “my house” or “my rules” can make potential guests feel like they’re intruding. Instead, frame your language to make the space feel like theirs. For example, “your home away from home” or “we’ve designed this space for your comfort” invites guests to imagine themselves enjoying the property rather than feeling like they’re borrowing someone else’s space.
- Make Booking Simple, Not Conditional: Avoid requiring guests to jump through hoops before booking, such as complex rules or lengthy questionnaires. While house rules are important, present them in a way that feels respectful and straightforward. Instead of a long list of don’ts, keep instructions brief and framed positively. For example, rather than writing “NO SHOES IN THE HOUSE!” try “Please remove shoes to help keep the space clean for everyone.”
This softer, more welcoming approach not only makes your property feel more inviting but also reduces the friction that might cause potential guests to hesitate. The goal is to make it easy for guests to say “yes” to your listing by providing clear, friendly information that doesn’t feel restrictive or overly controlling.
