Important:
This content is relevant for the Vrbo Upgraded Connection. If you are on the Standard Connection, see articles here. If you are not sure which connection you are on, see here.
In order to achieve high conversion rates and maximize your bookings from Vrbo, you also need to make sure your listings are optimized to rank high in Vrbo search results. Vrbo's search algorithm determines which listings are shown to potential travelers and how far up the list each listing is shown.
The higher a property ranks, the more likely it is to be seen by potential travelers and exposing it to a wider audience, leading to more bookings and eventually higher revenue for you.
Following are some tips on how to rank higher on Vrbo.
Enable instant booking
Allows travelers to act immediately when they find your property. Having low instances of cancellations and declines is key.
Offer competitive pricing
Compare your properties with others in your area. Run a check of your amenities compared to theirs. Conduct a thorough review of your property, service and guest experience.
If you don’t have any reviews, set your prices lower than your average competition. More than three reviews establish your property. When you reach 15-20 reviews you can increase your prices at the top level of your property.
Accept bookings
Listings that have a record of accepting a lot of booking requests are likely to accept future ones. Accept as many bookings as you can to optimize your placement in search results. Sign in to your dashboard and see your booking acceptance rate to understand how many of the last 10 booking requests you’ve accepted.
Optimize the description
Write a description of 400-1000 characters. Explain everything that makes your property special, without overwhelming your guests. Vrbo suggests the key information includes:
- Notable amenities and floor plan information.
- Details that previous travelers have mentioned in their reviews.
- Local attractions, restaurants, shopping, etc.
- Arrange your description in spacious paragraphs to make it easy to read.
Optimize the title
Keep your headlines between 20-50 characters and use this space to highlight the key pulling power of your property.
Upload high quality photos
All photos should be at least 1920×1080 in size. 24 high-quality photos will give you the highest amount of listing credit.
The importance of reviews
Most travelers want to see reviews before booking. They provide a small window into what type of experience a traveler can expect when staying at your property, and how you potentially resolve issues. Think about your guests’ entire experience. It is to your benefit to strive to get 4 or 5 stars.
Handling of cancellations
The number of cancellations affects your rank in searches.
Response time
Your response time is taken into account when it comes to displaying property listing results.
Add WiFi as an amenity
Add "Wireless Internet" as an amenity on the listing in Guesty For Hosts to improve the ranking in search results.
Tip:
Responding quickly, accepting as many bookings as possible and keeping an accurate calendar gives you the best chance to be displayed at the top of the rankings.