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Ever feel like Airbnb’s ranking system is a mystery? It can seem like trying to crack a constantly shifting code, especially with all the conflicting information floating around. Myths, misconceptions, and outdated advice often make it tough to know what really impacts your listing’s visibility and booking success. But don’t worry, that’s where experts like Thomas Feldhusen, Head of Product at AutoRank, come in. With his insider knowledge of Airbnb’s algorithm, Thomas is here to clear up the confusion and separate fact from fiction.
In this blog, we’re diving into 10 interesting facts about Airbnb, tackling common beliefs that many hosts get wrong. By breaking down each statement, we’ll not only debunk myths but also provide you with clear, actionable tips to help boost your listing’s performance. Let’s get started!
1. Titles don’t impact your visibility on Airbnb
Verdict: MYTH
“Airbnb titles really are powerful in two ways. They impact the marketing of your home, a short description of what is special. And the other way is they're incredibly powerful from an analytic standpoint. It’s one of your highest ranking copy components. It’s very important to look at what data and what keywords should be in there and use those accordingly.”
“When potential guests browse listings, the first thing they notice is the title. Think of it as your property’s headline, an opportunity to grab attention and entice clicks. A compelling title is key to standing out in a crowded market. But it's not just about being eye-catching; it's also about strategic keyword use. Titles are a critical element of Airbnb’s ranking algorithm, so using relevant keywords that guests are likely to search for (e.g., "pet-friendly," "with pool," "ocean view") can improve your search ranking.”
“Marketing-wise, a catchy title like "Cozy Cottage with Mountain Views" works much better than something generic like "Nice Apartment." The more descriptive and keyword-rich your title is, the better. Don't forget to test out different titles to see which one performs best, as small tweaks can lead to big changes in visibility.”
2. You can get shadowbanned on Airbnb
Verdict: FACT (with clarification)
“Usually, it’s not what I’d call shadow banning because if you’re paying attention, you should know why you are banned. It can happen for two reasons: One tends to happen from what they call trust and safety, bad reviews and so on. Those typically are when they pause your listing, you can go into your Airbnb dashboard and see why.”
How to check and correct if your Airbnb listing is unlisted:
- Log in to your Airbnb account.
- Go to the "Listings" section in your dashboard.
- Under "Your Listings," look at the status in the upper left-hand corner of the thumbnail for your listing. It will display "Listed" with a green dot or "Unlisted" with a gray dot.
- If it says “Unlisted,” click on the listing and select the hamburger menu (three lines) to the right of "Arrival Guide" under the Listing editor.
- In the "Edit Preferences" menu, select "Listing Status."
- Make your listing active again by selecting “Listed.”
“The second one tends to be more rank-based. So if you have big blocks on your calendar or you're just not doing what you should be doing in terms of your content, you're basically just not going to show up, if you're pricing your home way too high you likely will not show up as well."
“The term "shadowbanned" often carries the implication that Airbnb is silently hiding your listing without explanation. While this can feel true, it’s more accurate to say that certain ranking behaviors (like poor reviews, missing content, or excessive calendar blocking) can cause your listing to "disappear" from search results.”
“If there’s an issue with your listing, whether it’s a safety violation, a poor guest review, or a ranking problem, you’ll usually receive a notification through your Airbnb dashboard or email. Trust and safety issues typically lead to a temporary pause, and rank-based issues (such as poor performance metrics or non-competitive pricing) can cause your listing to fall so far down the rankings that it essentially becomes invisible.”
“Airbnb limits the search results to around 270-300 listings per page, meaning if your listing isn’t optimized enough to be in the top few hundred for a given search, it simply won’t appear in results. It's important to use specific search filters, such as dates or guest numbers, to simulate how guests might search for your listing.”
3. Your location is the #1 factor impacting where you show up in search
Verdict: MYTH
“It’s easy to assume that a prime location is all you need to dominate Airbnb’s search results, especially if your property is in a popular tourist area or near a major landmark. After all, guests naturally filter their searches based on where they want to stay. However, this myth oversimplifies the way Airbnb’s search algorithm actually works.”
“While location does play a role, it is far from the only factor that influences how your listing ranks in search results. In fact, Airbnb’s algorithm takes a holistic approach and weighs a wide range of elements to determine where your listing appears in search. It’s not just about the zip code or proximity to famous attractions, it’s about how well your listing is optimized and how it performs relative to other listings in that area.”
The key ranking factors that matter more than location
- Listing quality: The quality of your listing content plays a huge role in how well it ranks. This includes high-quality photos that accurately showcase your property, a detailed and compelling description, and complete listing details. Airbnb’s algorithm rewards listings that provide clear, comprehensive, and engaging information. Listings with poorly lit or vague photos, or descriptions that are lacking in detail, will struggle to gain visibility, no matter how great the location.
- Reviews: Guest reviews are one of the most powerful signals to Airbnb’s algorithm. Listings with positive reviews (and a higher number of them) are far more likely to rank higher in search results. Reviews not only provide valuable social proof to potential guests but also signal to Airbnb that your property is a reliable, well-maintained, and highly rated option. A listing in an amazing location with poor reviews will quickly fall behind similar listings in less popular areas with glowing feedback.
- Competitive Pricing: Pricing is another critical factor in ranking. Airbnb uses pricing algorithms that take into account what similar listings are charging in your area, as well as the demand for your property. If your price is too high relative to comparable listings in the same location, or if it’s too low and you’re missing out on potential revenue, your listing might not rank as well. Competitive, dynamic pricing that aligns with market trends helps boost your visibility and booking rate.
- Booking Momentum: Booking momentum refers to how often your property is booked relative to how many views it gets. If you have a steady stream of bookings, Airbnb sees this as an indication of the property’s popularity and quality, which increases your ranking. Conversely, if your listing has high views but few bookings, Airbnb may lower its ranking as it suggests there may be something wrong with your listing that’s preventing people from booking. This is why maintaining competitive pricing, a strong response rate, and excellent guest experiences is essential for ensuring that you get regular bookings.
4. Adding photo captions can help improve your visibility
Verdict: FACT
"Photo captions are one of many different content components. When Airbnb evaluates your listing, they’re looking at hundreds of different factors. One of them is content completeness. When you have captions on your photos, it’s an extra point towards your content completeness, which will help your rank."
“Photo captions are an often-overlooked part of listing optimization, but they offer multiple benefits. First, they improve content completeness, something Airbnb’s algorithm rewards.”
“Second, captions provide an opportunity to add relevant keywords, further enhancing your listing’s visibility. For example, a photo of a beautiful garden might include the caption: “Spacious garden with outdoor seating and BBQ.” This not only clarifies what’s in the photo but also makes it easier for Airbnb to categorize and rank your listing based on search queries like “outdoor seating” or “BBQ.”
“Moreover, captions improve the guest experience by ensuring that guests understand what they’re looking at, helping to manage their expectations. They can also make your listing more accessible to visually impaired users.”
5. Having more photos helps you rank higher
Verdict: FACT (but quality trumps quantity)
"The more content you provide, the more thorough it is, the better chance you have of ranking. So when Airbnb looks at your listing, they score you on completeness, and the more photos you have, the more thorough you look."
“More photos generally correlate with higher engagement, which is a good thing for your ranking. A robust photo gallery covering every room, key amenities, and outdoor spaces signals a well-maintained and thoughtfully presented listing to both guests and Airbnb's algorithm. But quality always trumps quantity. A large number of blurry or poorly-lit photos won’t help your case. In fact, they might hurt your listing’s appeal.”
“To optimize this, aim for a variety of high-quality photos that showcase your property in its best light. Aiming for professional photography is the best route, as these images are more likely to engage potential guests and lead to higher bookings. The more complete your photo gallery, the better the chances of ranking well.”
6. Blocking off dates on your calendar hurts your ranking
Verdict: FACT
“If you have blocked off large chunks of available dates, you will not show up in search [for those dates]. You will not get views. You will not get bookings. And when those three things happen, booking momentum and pace on Airbnb is one of the highest-ranking factors."
“Availability is one of the most critical factors that Airbnb’s algorithm takes into account. If your calendar is blocked for extended periods, not only will you miss out on bookings, but your listing's visibility will suffer. Airbnb's algorithm heavily rewards listings with high booking momentum, meaning listings that consistently receive bookings. Blocking off dates reduces availability, which can hurt your ranking and prevent you from showing up in search results for those dates.”
If you need to block off dates, be strategic about it. Try to minimize the length of time that your calendar is unavailable and consider using dynamic pricing tools to maintain competitiveness and encourage steady bookings.
7. Adding house rules improves your accuracy score
Verdict: FACT/MYTH (It contributes, but isn’t the sole factor)
"Your accuracy score in reviews comes down to many different factors, how accurately do they think you represented it? House rules are important, for rules and containment. But in terms of marketing, it's really about presenting your home the best you can without over-representing it, making sure that that expectation meets the experience."
“Accuracy scores on Airbnb measure how well a listing's description and photos match the actual guest experience. While house rules play a role in managing guest expectations, they aren’t the only factor. Accuracy is mostly about transparency in photos, amenities, and property descriptions. Being honest and clear about what guests can expect, including any quirks or limitations of the property, will ultimately improve your accuracy score.”
“House rules, such as no smoking or no parties, help ensure that guests don’t run into issues during their stay. But the bulk of your accuracy score comes from aligning the reality of your property with the expectations you set in your listing. For instance, a guest might rate your listing poorly if the photos show a spacious room, but it turns out the room is smaller than expected. Clear descriptions and honest photos are the key to improving accuracy scores.”
Takeaway: While adding house rules is important, focus on creating a listing that’s transparent and accurately represents the property in every aspect. Be upfront about potential issues (like street noise or stairs) to ensure that guest expectations align with reality.
This guide will help you understand and improve your Accuracy Score, ensuring your listing stands out in Airbnb’s search results.
Download the guide now and start optimizing your listing!
8. Descriptions written in bullet points perform better in the algorithm than paragraphs
Verdict: MOSTLY FACT
"Bullet points convey points and language very clearly. When you have long scrolling paragraphs, it’s very easy for people to miss things or glaze over and you know not to read them or understand them."
“When it comes to readability, bullet points are a game-changer. They help break down key information into digestible chunks, making it easier for potential guests to find the details they care about, whether that’s amenities, house rules, or nearby attractions. Long paragraphs can overwhelm readers, causing them to skim or skip important information. By using bullet points, you make your listing scannable and more user-friendly, which can help guests find what they’re looking for more quickly.”
“From an algorithmic standpoint, Airbnb rewards listings that are easily navigable. If your listing’s description is clear and concise, potential guests are more likely to engage with it, which signals to the platform that your listing is of higher quality. This can improve your ranking.”
Takeaway: Use a mix of engaging introductory paragraphs and bullet points for the important details. Bullet points work especially well for listing amenities, rules, and features, allowing guests to quickly understand your property.
Casago’s Success: How optimized descriptions boosted their Airbnb listing views with 66%.
Casago used advanced AI to analyze guest search trends, identify popular keywords, and pinpoint exactly what guests were looking for. They then integrated these insights into their listings, ensuring the content was not only up-to-date but also optimized for better visibility. One of the key improvements was making the descriptions more scannable by breaking them up with bullet points, which helped highlight key features and made the information easier for guests to digest quickly.
9. Using emojis helps your Airbnb performance
Verdict: FACT/MYTH (It’s primarily a visual marketing tool)
"Emojis are very much a visual marketing tool. I have not seen to date an actual analytical study of this, if they help search views or help with conversion, understand the primary audience for your home. If you're booking millennial families. emojis aren’t going to hit the same way as if you're trying to get Gen Z."
“Emojis can make your listing stand out visually, adding a playful, fun tone to your property’s description. However, they don’t directly impact your search ranking. Instead, emojis function as a visual marketing tool, perfect for grabbing attention, especially in listings that target a younger audience. For example, if you’re catering to families or young travelers, emojis like 🏖️ or 🐶 could help make your listing feel more approachable and casual.”
“That said, emojis should be used in moderation. Overuse can make your listing appear unprofessional, particularly for luxury properties or listings targeting business travelers. It's essential to match your tone and branding to your audience. Emojis may not improve search rankings, but they can make your listing more engaging and appealing to certain groups of potential guests.”
Takeaway: Use emojis sparingly and in a way that aligns with your target audience. They can add personality and highlight certain features (like 🛁 for a hot tub or 🏡 for a cozy home), but they should never replace clear, concise descriptions.
10. The more amenities you add, the more people will find your listing
Verdict: FACT
It’s not only how many amenities you add but it’s the depth of the amenities you add. When you add TV, it’s going to ask you additional questions like how big is the TV, what applications... like Netflix... for things like internet speed... hey do you have Wi-Fi... yes... hey go do this test... so we can get the speed..."
The more thorough you are with your amenities list, the more likely you are to show up in filtered searches. For example, Airbnb lets you specify the exact size of your TV, the speed of your Wi-Fi, or the type of coffee maker you have. Guests frequently filter listings based on specific amenities, so the more accurately and thoroughly you complete these sections, the more likely you are to show up in those searches.
Guests appreciate when they can see all the details, such as whether your Wi-Fi is fast enough for remote work, or if your TV includes streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. This level of detail helps build trust and shows you’re a responsible host who takes care of your property.
Takeaway: Don’t just check off the basic amenities, dive into the details. Complete every section of the amenities list, including sub-options like Wi-Fi speed and the type of TV you have. The more complete and accurate your amenities list, the more relevant searches your listing will appear in.
Conclusion: Optimize with Facts, Not Guesswork
As we’ve uncovered, optimizing your Airbnb listing is all about understanding the facts behind the platform’s algorithm and focusing on actionable strategies. By paying attention to the details, crafting compelling titles, adding descriptive captions to photos, and being transparent about your listing, you can increase your visibility, attract more guests, and ultimately improve your bookings.
Remember, Airbnb’s ranking algorithm looks at a variety of factors, and every little bit of optimization helps. From adding house rules to ensuring your listing is complete and honest, these small changes can have a big impact. By focusing on the elements that matter most, photos, reviews, availability, and detailed amenities, you’ll be well on your way to improving your Airbnb ranking.