Marketing tips
Why every NEW Airbnb Host should use the new listing discount
24 Jul 2024
·
By Pamela Sousa
When you're listing a new property on Airbnb you might notice that you have the option to offer a 20% discount to your first three guests. While this may seem counterintuitive, it can increase your chances of getting your first bookings. Let's explore why this discount can be beneficial and how you can set it up on your Travelnest account if you're using Travelnest to list your property on Airbnb.
What is Airbnb’s New Listing Discount ?
The Airbnb New Listing Discount guarantees hosts to secure their first bookings and obtain the first 3 reviews 30% faster than usual. You can offer a 20% discount on your first 3 bookings within the next 30 days. The discount expires for each enrolled listing after the third promotional booking, or 30 days after, whichever comes first. Please note that the discount is only applied to bookings with a lead time of less than 90 days.
Why offer a discount on new Airbnb listings?
Building trust through reviews
When booking a place to stay, guests consider reviews as a key factor. Even if your property is stunning and in an ideal location, potential guests might hesitate to book without reviews. Reviews offer an unbiased look into the experience at your property and help build trust.
For a brand-new listing, it lacks reviews, so your main focus should be on securing bookings and quickly gathering reviews. The new listing discount encourages guests to book your property, initiating the cycle of bookings and reviews. Once you have a few positive reviews, you'll likely see a significant increase in bookings.
Trust can certainly be built through professional photographs, detailed descriptions, and responsive communication with potential guests. These elements are important in establishing an initial level of confidence. However, it's essential to understand that nothing can replace the trust that comes from genuine reviews and feedback from previous guests who have had positive experiences at your property. Following hosts' best practices and gathering genuine guest reviews can help build trust more effectively for your new Airbnb listing.
Why does the promotion focus on the first three bookings?
You might wonder why the promotion targets the first three reservations specifically. Airbnb shows a guest review star rating on your listing only after you’ve received three or more reviews. This promotion is intended to help you reach that threshold quickly, so that your listing has a visible guest review score in search results.
How Airbnb highlights the New Listing Discount
Airbnb understands the importance of visibility for new listings. To help new hosts, Airbnb highlights the 20% discount prominently on your listing. When potential guests are browsing, they will see a special badge indicating the discount on new listings. This not only makes your property stand out but also attracts guests looking for a good deal, thereby increasing the chances of your first few bookings.
How to enable the New Listing discount
If you've created an account with Travelnest and chosen Airbnb to list your property but aren't sure how to enable the new listing discount, please follow these simple steps:
Log in to your Travelnest account.
Once you're on your dashboard page, click on ‘Properties’ to select the listing for which you'd like to apply the discount.
Navigate to 'Pricing and Availability,' then click on ‘Promotions.’ There, you'll be able to see the Airbnb new listing discount option. Simply enable this promotion.
Travelnest Tip: To maximise the benefits of the new listing discount, we highly recommend enabling the new listing discount immediately when you’re creating your account with us. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team.
Does this strategy work?
You might be skeptical about the effectiveness of offering a 20% discount. However, Airbnb's data suggests that hosts who used this promotion received their first booking 30% faster than those who didn't. By offering a discount, you can attract initial guests more quickly, which can help you accumulate reviews and drive more bookings.
Conclusion
Airbnb's new listing promotion can be an effective strategy for new hosts looking to establish their properties on the platform. By offering a 20% discount on the first three bookings, you can gather essential guest reviews quickly, build trust, and kickstart a positive booking cycle. If you're just starting with Airbnb or have a new listing, consider leveraging this discount for a successful launch.
Furthermore, consider using Travelnest to manage your property across multiple booking sites , including Airbnb, to reach even more potential guests.
