Overview
As an Airbnb host, getting reviews from guests is an important part of building a successful rental business. The social proof of others having a good experience goes a long way in securing future bookings. Reviews can help boost your visibility on the platform and increase your chances of attracting new guests. While important, getting guests to actually leave a review can be a challenge, even if they’ve had a great stay. What’s the secret? Ask them nicely, and make them want to support you. Below are a few reasons why asking for a review is so important. You can also check out my review request template here for an example.
Boosts visibility on Airbnb search results
Guest reviews are one of the main factors that Airbnb uses to determine search result rankings. The more positive reviews you have, the higher your listing will appear in search results. This means that getting guests to leave a positive review can help increase the visibility of your listing, making it more likely that potential guests will find and book your rental.
Builds trust with future guests
Reviews are also a crucial part of building trust with potential guests. By reading reviews left by previous guests, potential guests can get a sense of what it’s like to stay in your rental and what kind of experience they can expect. A high number of positive reviews can help build trust with potential guests and make them more likely to book your rental. Shoppers increasingly rely on social proof to make sure that others have had a good experience before committing themselves to a potentially non-refundable reservation. You can read my summary of Airbnb cancellation policies here.
Provides feedback for improving your rental
Reviews can also provide valuable feedback on how to improve your rental. By asking guests to leave a review, you can get insights into what guests liked and didn’t like about their stay. This feedback can help you identify areas for improvement, such as finding this key new amenity or making changes to the layout or decor of your rental. There are both public and private portions of the review process. I’ve found that even with a stellar 5-star public review, guests often leave constructive feedback or inform me of minor maintenance issues they did not want to mention publicly.
Encourages guests to return
Reviews can also encourage guests to return to your rental. If a guest has a great experience and leaves a positive review, they are more likely to book your rental again in the future. This can help build a loyal customer base and ensure a steady stream of bookings. A quick example… Our very first guest in Costa Rica also became our very first repeat guest! Scott booked our property for two weeks for the following year only days after he checked out on his first visit.
Recap
Asking guests for a review on Airbnb is essential to building a successful rental business. Reviews can help boost your visibility, build trust with potential guests, provide feedback for improvement, and encourage guests to return. By making a point to ask guests to leave a review, you can improve your chances of success on the platform and build a loyal customer base over time. Here’s a template of what I send out.