A Stat-Packed Guide To Getting More Bookings
As a vacation rental owner, at some point you’ve probably asked yourself “How can I get more travelers interested in my place”? In our mission to help TripAdvisor owners like you get more bookings, we often ask that very same question.
To find the answer, we looked at TripAdvisor listings that get lots of interest—specifically how many inquiries and bookings they receive. Our aim? To uncover the secrets of successful listings and give you practical ways to generate more demand for yours.
The First Thing Travelers See…Photos
To list on TripAdvisor, you need to upload a minimum of 4 photos of your rental. But, just like anything in life, getting great results means doing more than the minimum.
Our latest analysis shows that, compared to listings with the minimum of 4 photos, listings with 7 photos receive 53% more interest—remember, that’s inquiries and bookings combined. For listings with 10 photos, this number jumps to 81%. The trend continues as more photos are added, and listings with 16 photos receive an impressive 125% more interest from travelers.
And it’s not only the number of photos that’s important—quality makes a difference, too. Consider having professional photos taken. TripAdvisor owner Clarissa Zimmerman (the featured owner in last month’s newsletter) found this resulted in a real uplift in traveler interest…
“When the professional photos went up, it was like night and day with the number of inquiries.”
Add more than the minimum of four photos.
Remember, just a few more pictures could dramatically affect the interest in your rental.
Choose an eye-catching lead photo.
It’s the best tool you have to get travelers clicking on your listing rather than the one above or below it in the search results.
Add photos of nearby attractions and neighborhood.
Make your listing more interesting for potential guests by showing them the sights. Get them into “vacation mode” and they’ll be far more likely to inquire (or book) right then!
What you’re seeing above is proof that reviews are essential to creating a successful listing. It shows that listings with just one review receive more than double the interest of those with zero reviews. Listings with nine reviews receive nearly 6 times as much interest from travelers. It’s tough to ignore numbers like that, right?
Top Tips
✓ Request reviews. Whether you do this in person or via email, it’s an easy way to collect them. Remember, you can request reviews from any guest, no matter where they booked.
✓ Go above and beyond. Small touches (like responding quickly to questions or leaving a welcome basket) can make a guest way more likely to leave a review.
What Travelers Are Willing To Pay & When…Seasonal Rates
Our analysis shows that listings with seasonal rates get almost double the number of inquiries and bookings versus listings without.
BUT… there’s more going on here. Owners who add seasonal rates tend to have nailed the fundamentals of their listing—great photos, reviews and quick response times, for example—and so are already reaping the rewards of doing most things right. The point here is that if you get the basics right and set seasonal rates, you’re well on the way to generating double the demand for your rental.
Top Tips
✓ Combine an amazing lead photo and a low “From” price. This magical combination is sure to entice a traveler to click on your listing.
✓ Add seasonal rates for the next 12-18 months. Most travelers book way in advance, so get these set up for at least the next year.
Everything Travelers Need To Know…House Rules
We found that listings with House Rules are 14% more likely to receive an interest. Whether you’re detailing the different pets you do/don’t accept, or saying guests need to keep the noise down after 10 p.m., travelers are far more likely to book if they have all the information they need.
Top Tips
✓ Add or update your House Rules. This will cover any extra info your guests might need. All they’ll need to do is book!
✓ Be specific. Unwelcome surprises won’t result in good reviews!
✓ Think like a traveler. What will they want to know? What will reassure them?
To sum up, there’s so much you can do to increase demand for your rental. Give all our top tips a try and you could be fully booked in no time at all…good luck!
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