How to outsmart the Airbnb Search Ranking Algorithm

What this blog covers:

How to outsmart the Airbnb Search Algorithm

- How does Airbnb’s search algorithm work?

- Understanding Airbnb’s Algorithm Through Data: A Study in Correlation

- Why Does This Study Matter?

- Breaking Down the Top Ranking Factors

- Guest Satisfaction

- Absolute Price

- Listing Word Count

- Minimum Stay Length

- Days Since Calendar Updated

Other important factors impacting the Airbnb search algorithm

- Click Through Rates

- Update Airbnb listings descriptions regularly

- Emphasize Experiences

The impact of improving your Airbnb Listings

- Conclusion: Leverage Data to Optimize Your Airbnb Listing

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A common complaint we hear from Airbnb hosts is this: “I have a beautiful property, a good description and nice pictures, but why do I get so little listing views and bookings on Airbnb?”

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Let’s get this question answered in this blog. Airbnb is driven by a complicated search algorithm that decides which listings get viewed and which get missed. To increase the visibility and number of bookings from listings, it is essential to understand how the Airbnb algorithm works. We'll break down the way the Airbnb search algorithm works in this blog, but more importantly, we'll show you how to use this information to improve your listing and increase revenue.

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How does Airbnb’s search algorithm work?

The Airbnb search ranking algorithm is designed to provide the best possible match between guests and hosts. Airbnb’s ultimate goal is to match guests with the right listings, ensuring positive reviews and loyal customers. The better the algorithm becomes in reaching that goal, the more the platform and the hosts can earn. This blog is a good place to start to increase the earnings from your Airbnb listings. 

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Understanding the Airbnb search ranking algorithm Through Data
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It’s essential to understand what factors impact the ranking in the search engine of the OTA (online travel agent) before looking at the actionable tips to optimize your listing.

The answer to how the airbnb search algorithm works exactly is a well kept secret. But data analysis and correlation studies give us a clearer picture of how certain listing attributes impact visibility and ranking.

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We will take a close look at a study that has been done on the correlation between different characteristics of listings and their page rank on Airbnb. This study gives valuable insights into the secrets of Airbnb’s search algorithm. 

Not a big fan of statistics? Don’t worry we will explain it in the simplest way possible. Or you could skip to: 'Breaking Down the Top Ranking Factors'.

The study collected data from Airbnb’s website, analyzing multiple listing attributes to understand their impact on their page rank.

This study started with scraping data from the Airbnb search results pages, filtering listings based on specific criteria, and collecting detailed listing information such as reviews, prices, amenities, and guest capacity. The next step was organizing the data and processing it for correlation analysis.

The correlation study presented below shows the most important factors impacting a listing’s position on the Airbnb search ranking algorithm. Each factor receives a correlation score (from 0 to 1). This score indicates how strong it’s impact is on page rank. The closer the number is to 1, the more impactful. 

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Why Does This Study Matter?

The results of this study, presented in the chart above show the importance of certain factors on the Airbnb search ranking algorithm. This allows hosts to prioritize parameters that significantly impact search visibility. 

Important to keep in mind is that while these factors correlate with better rankings, that doesn’t necessarily mean they cause them directly. Another note is that interaction between the different factors is crucial, and you should never focus on just one factor. Let’s explain this with some examples:

• A listing with a high guest satisfaction score but bad availability or pricing may still not perform as well as

• a competitor with slightly lower reviews but a better price-to-value ratio.
  
  
• Simply increasing your listing word count won't help unless the content is meaningful, relevant, and optimized for both Airbnb's algorithm and user preferences.

This is why a holistic approach is so important. Instead of focusing on just one metric, improving several factors will create a bigger improvement in your search ranking.

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Breaking Down the Top Airbnb Ranking Factors

You’ve gotten to the practical part of the blog. Let’s take a closer look at the highest-impact factors from the correlation study and explore how you can optimize each of them for better performance of your listings.

Guest Satisfaction (Correlation: 0.906)

Unsurprisingly guest satisfaction wears the crown as the most impactful parameter, with a correlation of 0.906, a nearly perfect score. 

Guest satisfaction includes everything from cleanliness to communication and value. This means that if guests leave your property happy and rate you highly, Airbnb is much more likely to promote your listing to future guests.

However, guest satisfaction doesn’t stop at reviews, it also highlights the importance of your accuracy score. Airbnb compares the content of guest reviews with your listing description to assess how well expectations align with reality. The better this overlap, the higher your listing will rank.

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Action Steps:

• Managing guest expectations from listing to checkout: Guest satisfaction begins the moment a potential guest views your listing, it’s where expectations are first set. Ensuring these expectations align with reality is key to delivering a great experience. Start with a complete, detailed, and—most importantly—accurate listing.some text
  • With AutoRank, your listing’s description, title, and summary are automatically updated to reflect the true value and features of your property. By matching guest expectations to reality from the very start, AutoRank helps you improve satisfaction, build trust, and set the stage for a seamless stay experience.
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• Focus on guest feedback: Pay attention to the reviews you receive. Take critical comments seriously and see them as an opportunity to improve the guest experience. It also helps to answer reviews, the good ones, but most importantly the bad ones.
  
  
• Communicate proactively: How fast and effective you answer messages from guests or send them information, before, during and after the stay, strongly impacts the experience of the guests. So make sure to invest time and energy in this.

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Absolute Price (Correlation: 0.901)

Pricing is a major driver of booking decisions, which makes it no surprise that Absolute Price holds a correlation of 0.901. Airbnb wants to make sure that listings offer good value for money relative to other listings in the same area. Hosts who price competitively are more likely to appear higher in the search rankings.

While lowering your price can boost your ranking in the short term, focus on maintaining profitability. Tools like dynamic pricing can help find a balance between competitive pricing and maximizing revenue.

Action Steps:

• Use dynamic pricing: A good start is to adjust your rates based on demand, however for better results you need more than just dynamic prices.
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• Implement a revenue management strategy: As property managers grow, they naturally take on a revenue management role. Unlike dynamic pricing, which simply adjusts rates based on demand, revenue management includes predicting demand, fine-tuning minimum stays, and analyzing booking trends. This comprehensive approach helps maximize occupancy, boost profits, and stay competitive in a constantly changing market.
  

• Monitor competitors: Regularly compare your pricing with similar listings in your area to ensure you're in line with market rates.

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Listing Word Count (Correlation: 0.897)

The third place goes to… listing word count. The third place goes to… listing word count. A longer, well-crafted description doesn’t just improve rankings, it helps guests imagine their perfect stay at your place. Go beyond the basics by painting a picture of what they’ll experience, from relaxing mornings on the balcony to exploring nearby attractions. 

A detailed and engaging description makes it easier for guests to envision themselves there and decide to book, while also signaling to Airbnb that your listing is high-quality and well-maintained.
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But, of course simply adding words for the sake of word count won’t help, content quality matters just as much as quantity.

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Action Steps:

• Be thorough: Make sure to include all relevant details about your rental and amenities.
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• Enhance Your Listing Details: Go beyond describing just the property—include highlights about the location, nearby attractions, and activities. Mention local events, festivals, or landmarks and emphasize how close your property is to them. This helps guests picture their stay and see the unique value your listing offers. 
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• Tailor your description to highlight seasonal experiences: For instance, if your property has a balcony, emphasize its appeal in summer as a perfect spot for 12 people to unwind after a day of exploring. In winter, adapt the description to showcase cozy indoor spaces ideal for relaxing after a chilly day.
  • Tools : Use AutoRank to automatically add the most popular nearby attractions and events to your listing description, based on seasonality and demand.
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• ‍Use SEO-friendly keywords: You can optimize your listing with keywords that potential guests might search for, such as “pet-friendly,” “city center,” or “beachfront.” Take a look at the top ranked listings in your area and look at what words they use often, this might help you find the right keywords for your own listings. 

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Minimum Stay Length (Correlation: 0.885)

Shorter minimum stays increase the likelihood of attracting a broader range of guests. This is especially relevant for those looking for weekend getaways. The Airbnb algorithm favors hosts who offer more flexibility with their minimum stay requirements.

Action Steps:

• Be flexible: Consider reducing your minimum stay, especially during high-demand periods or when you need to fill gaps in your calendar.
  
  
• Adjust for seasonality: During the low-season you could offer shorter stays. This can help keep your listing booked and maintain high occupancy rate.

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Days Since Calendar Updated (Correlation: 0.884)

Regularly updating your calendar shows the algorithm that your listing is being actively managed and is available for bookings. Even if your availability hasn't changed, updating your calendar can give you a small boost in visibility.

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Action Steps:

• Update frequently: Even if there’s no actual change to your availability, make sure to regularly check and update your calendar to stay active in the algorithm’s eyes.
  
  
• Avoid gaps in availability: If you keep your listing open for bookings as much as possible, you will be able to maintain high occupancy rates and improve your Airbnb ranking

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Other important factors impacting the Airbnb search algorithm

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The study we covered above gives some interesting insights into the Airbnb algorithm, however, the Airbnb search ranking algorithm changes constantly. We can be sure that the key ranking factors will stay relevant, but at the same time it is important to keep learning about the latest updates in the way Airbnb ranks its listings. The Autorank team is specialized in analyzing data on Airbnb in real-time. That is why we added some other important ranking factors in the following part of this blog. 

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Click-Through Rates

Click-through rates (CTR) have a significant impact on Airbnb’s search ranking positions. When a listing has a high CTR, it signals to the Airbnb algorithm that the listing is attractive and relevant to users. This metric proves that users are interested enough to click on the listing when they see it in the search results.

The click-through rate (CTR) is calculated by deviding the number of views by the number of impressions on a listing. 

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Here is how you can find your current click-through rate

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1. Access Performance Insights:

1. Log in to your Airbnb account.
2. Go to your Host Dashboard.
3. Navigate to the Performance tab.
4. Click on Views to access detailed listing performance data.

2. Identify the Key Metrics:

• Impressions: The number of times your listing appears in search results.
• Views: The number of times guests clicked on your listing to see its details.

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Action Steps:

• Listing Optimization: High-quality photos, compelling titles, and competitive pricing, can directly influence your Airbnb ranking and help your property to,l higher in search results.
  
  
• AutoRank: Implementing Autorank increases your click through rate by on average 50%. 

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Update Airbnb listings descriptions regularly

Airbnb's search algorithm favors listings that are active and regularly updated. Frequent updates in the descriptions signal to the algorithm that a listing is well-maintained and relevant, this in turn will boost your visibility in the search results. 

The algorithm also takes into account how often guests engage with a listing, such as how many times it is saved or booked. An extra benefit of keeping your listing description fresh is that you can increase engagement rates, as updated descriptions are more likely to capture the attention of potential guests.

Otamiser conducted a survey to find out how often hosts update their Airbnb listings, and the results were surprising. Nearly 70% of hosts rarely update their descriptions. This creates a great opportunity for you to stand out from the crowd by consistently refreshing your listing details.

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Action Steps:

• Regularly Review and Refresh Descriptions: Create a routine to update your listing description, ideally every week. Consider adding seasonal information, or highlighting new amenities.

Emphasize Experiences

Go further than describing the property itself. Include details about local attractions, unique activities, and cultural highlights in the neighbourhood of your accommodation. Travelers often seek more than just a place to stay, they’re looking for a memorable experience.

Additionally, keep an eye on upcoming events in the area. Is there a festival, a major trade show, or other events happening nearby? 

Action Steps:

• Integrate events in your descriptions: It allows you to cater to current market demand and attract guests interested in those events.

The impact of improving your Airbnb Listings

Airbnb states that hosts who enhance their listings can see up to a 60% increase in bookings. 

By optimizing your listings, you boost the likelihood of appearing in top search results, which drives more traffic, increases bookings, and maximizes revenue on OTAs.

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To help you understand the importance of listing optimisation, we include this case study that demonstrates the transformative power of listing optimization.

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One of the largest property management companies in the U.S. became the first to use an AI-driven listing optimization tool on 20 of their low-performing listings. This tool updated the Airbnb descriptions around the clock, using machine learning to track changes in the Airbnb search ranking algorithm. 

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The manager J.B. Pisson was amazed by the results. As you can see in the graph, the visibility skyrocket. Not only that, but also the conversion rates increased by over 50% all without any effort.

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Conclusion: Leverage Data to Outsmart the Airbnb Algorithm
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Improving your Airbnb ranking doesn’t have to be a mystery. By focusing on key factors like Guest Satisfaction, Competitive Pricing, and Optimized Listing Content, you can align your listings with what Airbnb’s algorithm values most.

AutoRank uses real-time data and an AI-driven algorithm to optimize your descriptions, titles, and content, automatically improving visibility, increasing click-through rates, and driving more bookings.

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Book a demo of AutoRank today and see how effortless it can be to outsmart the algorithm, boost your rankings, and maximize your revenue!