How to Utilize Airbnb SEO to Rank Your Property Higher

Since its establishment in 2008, Airbnb has experienced significant growth, becoming a prominent player in the hospitality industry. In 2024, they reached a new all-time record of more than 490 million Airbnb reservations booked worldwide, resulting in their revenue reaching over 11 billion U.S. dollars.

With over 8 million listings on Airbnb globally, it’s clear there will be high competition between property owners to attract and retain guests. This is where Airbnb SEO emerges as a key strategy for achieving a higher ranking on the results page.

Yes, you heard that right—Airbnb’s listings can also be optimized for optimal search performance. But what exactly is it, and how can it be used to rank properties higher on the Airbnb website and app? This thorough Airbnb SEO guide will detail everything you need to know. So, get your favorite drink or snack ready as we dive into the world of SEO for vacation rentals.

What Is SEO in the First Place?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a process where you configure and refine a website’s content and technical aspects to ensure better online visibility. SEO is usually applied whenever you want to make sure a website achieves the best possible ranking on a search engine like Google. But, the thing that many do not realize is that search engine optimization isn’t a process limited to mainstream search engines like Google or Bing.

In fact, digital marketers focus on optimizing for Google since it’s the most used search engine globally, accounting for around 80% of daily searches, according to the latest research by Statista. But otherwise, and speaking from a technical point of view, any search engine can be optimized for—that’s if the correct tools are provided.

With Airbnb’s website containing millions of listings from all over the world, it needs its own search engine to help potential guests find what they’re looking for. This search engine can be optimized, but you’ll need to apply something tested to help your listing stand out and attract more potential guests. That is why we created this detailed Airbnb SEO guide that will help you optimize your property listing for greater visibility.

You see, when you’re optimizing a personal webpage or a blog for Google, you have many different aspects to cover. In the case of Airbnb SEO, you don’t have to worry about any of the technical aspects.

All you need to focus on is optimizing your listing, uploading quality photos, and cultivating a positive guest experience. All other technicalities are integral to Airbnb’s platform, making them their responsibility.

So, back to our main question;

What Is Airbnb SEO?

Airbnb search engine optimization is the process of adjusting and fine-tuning your Airbnb listing to gain better online visibility and thereby, more bookings.

When talking about a listed property, what matters most to potential guests is how appealing and relevant a listing is. That’s why Airbnb’s search engine algorithms prioritize listings that have a combination of factors that signal quality, relevance, and appeal.

Ready to learn how their search engine algorithms function?

It’s very important to realize that the top spot on a search result page isn’t reserved for big property managers. Even though it may feel like it sometimes, it’s all about how well you understand the search engine’s algorithms and use them to your advantage through effective Airbnb SEO practices.

In order to help you better understand what exactly needs to be done, let’s start with something simpler. We’ll break down what the algorithm looks for in a listing, as this will be crucial to fully understand and master Airbnb SEO.

Airbnb tracks many aspects—from how fast you respond to booking inquiries to how often guests leave reviews (good and bad). If you understand this combination and optimize your listing with Airbnb SEO best practices accordingly, you can eventually reach that coveted top spot.

What Do We Know About Airbnb’s Algorithms?

The following are considered the four main aspects that make up Airbnb’s search engine algorithms:

1. Relevance

When it comes to Airbnb SEO, what we mean by relevance is how close what you’re offering is to the searcher’s intent. Airbnb’s search engine will match the search terms with your listing’s details, taking into consideration titles and descriptions that you provide.

2. Quality

The second most important aspect after relevancy and what you need to consider when working on Airbnb SEO, is quality. Usually, listings that have better ratings, more reviews, and standout photography get a higher rank in the search results page.

3. Activity

Although it’s obvious, many seem to ignore or overlook this vital aspect. The more active you are as a host, managing reviews and responding quickly, the more you are rewarded.

4. Price

I mean, who wouldn’t like a cheaper stay at their preferred destination? If you’re just starting out and seeking an effective way to secure your first few reservations, a good Airbnb SEO practice is to opt for competitive pricing.

Airbnb’s Badges & Recognitions

When performing Airbnb SEO practices on your property listings, Airbnb gives various statuses to different properties. It’s crucial for you to understand each of these statuses so that you can set clear, achievable goals when working on your Airbnb SEO strategy.

1- Superhost

This status is an important one that can be very helpful to you as a host, allowing your property to achieve better visibility in search. To achieve it, you need to maintain:

1- A response rate of 90% or more.

2- A cancellation rate of 1% or less.

3- An overall rating of 4.8 or higher.

4- At least 10 stays or three reservations that total at least 100 nights.

2- Guest Favorite

This type of status is given to properties that are recognized as a favorite, based on feedback and reviews. Airbnb evaluates properties based on ratings, reviews, and reliability data from millions of guests, all to determine which property is eligible for such status.

For those looking to achieve this status as a part of their Airbnb SEO strategy, they’ll need to focus on key factors, such as:

• Overall star ratings and feedback in guest reviews.

• A minimum number of reviews for a specified period of time.

• Quality-related incidents reported to Airbnb customer service.

• Subcategory ratings, such as cleanliness, accuracy, host communication, and location.

Types of tags that indicate different property statuses.

3- Guest Favorite with Gold Trophy

This status is very similar to the previous one, but is awarded to fewer properties that meet even stricter criteria. The small golden trophy is how Airbnb tells guests that these properties are exceptionally well-regarded, suggesting them as potential accommodations.

Perfect for those focusing on Airbnb SEO, this status is given to Airbnb’s top 10% performing homes around the world. Inside each individual listing, you’ll find more detailed information about the property’s rating, such as top 1%, 5%, or 10%.

These three types of badges act like trust signals, both to Airbnb and the guests themselves. They don’t just get you more bookings—they are able to push your listing higher in search results.

Now that we’ve covered all the basics, let’s dive into the most effective Airbnb SEO strategies that any host can adopt to witness a significant boost in visibility and bookings.

Airbnb SEO best practices include a set of recommendations that’ll help you build a better rating for your property, little by little, gather more positive reviews, and take photographs that compel.

1. Start With A Competitive Price

With hundreds of thousands of daily Airbnb bookings, there surely is a massive pool of potential guests searching for a suitable property to book. One of the best possible ways to get their attention, and our first Airbnb SEO tip on this list, is by offering a competitive price.

You see, many clients filter out expensive listings from the start, as they might have a limited budget. If you’re experiencing a rough start, try starting with this step, even if it means you won’t be making much profit from your initial few bookings. You can consider it a marketing investment that will pay off once your listing has received some positive reviews and starts generating consistent income.

Applying a price filter while searching for a property in Dubai.

2. Optimize Your Listing’s Title & Description

Optimizing your listing’s title and description is crucial for your Airbnb SEO strategy. They help Airbnb better understand what your property offers and match it with relevant guest searches.

Include important keywords naturally, like “Three Bedroom Villa in Dubai”, and highlight your unique selling points early. Write in a clear, friendly tone that speaks directly to your ideal guest, and use bullet points in descriptions for easy readability.

An example of a Dubai villa listing with an optimized title that utilizes keywords as an optimal Airbnb SEO practice.

3. Add Studio-Quality Photos

The quality of the photos you end up uploading can actually make or break your Airbnb listing. Airbnb’s search algorithm prioritizes listings with professional-looking images since they’re more appealing to users, driving better engagement.

For the optimal Airbnb SEO results, use a high-resolution camera and capture all the best views of your property. Make sure you show every room and key amenity, and highlight any unique features it has. Ideally, you should upload at least 20 images, including outdoor and neighborhood shots.

If you’re not sure you can produce such fine images, you can always opt for a professional photographer to handle the job. By following these tips, your listing will attain better click-through rates and more extended engagement, giving you a solid boost in Airbnb’s ranking system.

An example of high-quality photos taken of a property in Dubai.

4. Stay Active

Like we’ve explained earlier, Airbnb’s algorithms reward active hosts with better visibility, so make sure you stay on top of your communication. Logging in regularly and maintaining consistent communication demonstrates to Airbnb that you are an actively engaged and reliable host.

Staying active keeps your listing fresh, which improves your search visibility and booking potential, making this tip yet another Airbnb SEO vital step. Additionally, don’t forget to encourage your guests to leave positive reviews after they have completed their stay at your property.

5. Add All Available Amenities

Do not underestimate the power of adding amenities to your Airbnb listing. Amenities play a massive role in Airbnb SEO, as they allow your property to keep showing even when the guests apply different filters.

How a guest can filter out listings by choosing specific amenities.

It’s very common for guests to filter out properties that do not provide vital amenities, such as Wi-Fi, a kitchen, or free parking. So, make sure to choose all available ones, as leaving them out can really hurt your visibility.

6. Become A Superhost

While it might seem hard at first, maintaining a Superhost status is a great Airbnb SEO tactic that brings higher visibility and trust.

Example of search results in Dubai Marina, where 2 of the 4 top ones have Superhost status.

To achieve that, all you need to do is the following:

1- Respond to 90% or more of new guest inquiries & reservation requests, all within 24 hours.

2- Maintain a cancellation rate of 1% or less.

3- Keep an overall rating of 4.8 or higher.

4- Host at least 10 stays or have three reservations that total at least 100 nights.

With the Superhost status, your property listing will get a higher chance of showing first in the search results page.

7. Optimize for Google, Too!

Did you know that many Airbnb reservations start with a Google search rather than Airbnb’s official website or app? This highlights the importance of performing extensive keyword research to find popular terms and phrases to include in your listing. For example, long-tail keywords like “Airbnb Dubai Marina” or “Airbnb Abu Dhabi” have a decent search volume on Google.

The search volume for: “Airbnb Dubai Marina”

Integrating such keywords into your Airbnb listing’s name and description increases the chance of it showing as a separate listing when a user searches for this term. This Airbnb SEO trick provides property owners with an extra entry point, where searchers can easily find the listed property and book it.