airbnb-title-optimization

Airbnb Listing Title: 2022 SEO Best Practices

Why is your Airbnb listing title important?

If you want to compare with a classic business. The title (with the cover picture) are very much like a storefront. It needs to be appealing in order to attract passerby into your shop.

That is why your Airbnb listing title is (with the photo cover) the most important element in your listing on Airbnb but also on any short-term rental platforms such as Booking.com, Agoda home, VRBO or Homestay etc.

The ultimate goal of your title is to generate clicks and drags visitors from the Airbnb search results page to your property listing. For that reason, an optimized listing title will get a higher click-through-rate from the Airbnb results page. Ultimately leading to more page views, more bookings and at the end of the month an increase of your short-term rental revenue.

TOP 8 tips your title optimization

 

#1 Airbnb limits the title to 50 characters

Please use every single byte of it. Every word written here need to have a common goal: make guests to click on your listing instead of clicking on your competitor listings.

#2 Use abbreviations

As seen above, your title is limited to 50 characters. Using most common abbreviations will help you to keep your title fitting into the maximum space.

Find some examples of abbreviations that are being often used to write listing titles.

  • BR = Bedroom
  • A/C = Air Conditioner
  • CBD = Central Business District
  • DT = Downtown
  • W/ = With
  • & = And
  • APT = Apartment
 

#3 Add value to your listing, writing unique features

Write anything that can increase the interest of the FPG (Future Potential Guest) in your property that is not already aware. Avoid generic adjectives. These are been used by too many hosts, which means that your listing won’t stand out in the crowd + they don’t really add any value to your title. Example of adjective to avoid:

  • comfy
  • luxury
  • charming
  • central
  • cozy
  • amazing
  • nice

Instead you can use more specific adjectives such as:

  • Luxury (this one is tricky as everybody as a different definition of luxury)
  • Executive
  • Rustic
  • Secluded
  • Modern
  • Historic
  • Hidden Gem
  • Oasis
  • Vintage
  • Bright
  • Tropical

Avoid generic locations such as: city names, neighborhoods, countries. There are 2 reasons why I don’t advice to do so:

  • Guests searching for a listing for the most of them know where they are going.
  • If the guest doesn’t know the area, telling him won’t help him much either

Instead use names of attractions nearby or locations of high interest such as:

  • 1 min → Beach,
  • Close to Night market,
  • National Stadium,
  • few steps to Subway,
  • 3 mins. To Eiffel Tower
  • Feature the best amenities that sell your property

Examples:

  • big balcony,
  • rooftop garden,
  • swimming pool,
  • Xbox 360,
  • king size bed,
  • free Netflix
 

#4 Use a name or brand name

This is a good way to improve the “brand awareness” of your property or your boutique hotel. That way potential guests searching for your brand name will find your listing easily + it will make your listing easier to remember for FPG (Future Potential Guest).

Examples: Hidden Gem, Cherry & John’s, Tropical Garden etc.

DO NOT use internal name in your title. This is a common mistake especially among property managers. Using a number or a SKU code like has no benefit for your potential guest neither for the SEO of your Airbnb listing. Instead you can use the internal name for that.

#5 Target your ideal guest

Does your place fit the most for Families? Solo traveler? Couple? Mention it in your title. It is the perfect place to address to your ideal guest. The targeted potential guest will recognize himself instantly and most likely visiting your listing.

Examples: “Perfect 4 Families”, “Couple’s Gateway”, “Coffee Lovers” etc.

#6 Use Emojis in your title

This part is subject to controversy. Although Airbnb’s content policy is has made it clear, stating that using emojis in the title is against their policy.

Many hosts are still using them and from my experience, I have to say it is quite eye catching and powerful in term of click-through-rate.

At the end of the day, you are the one to choose either to use emojis and symbols in your title. If you decide to use them, you will have to find those which are actually working. Many don’t work, some work only on a specific browser, or only on mobile but not on desktop. You should try them first.

Here are the most used emoji in Airbnb titles:

  • Arrows (→⇒↓⇓←⇐↑⇑↔➡️⬅️)
  • Sunrise (☀)
  • Stars (★☆⭐️✭✫✩✬✯✰✪⁂)
  • Checkmarks (✓ ✔ ☑✅)
  • Letters (ⓐⒷⓔⒼⓗⓘⓛⓝⓞⓡ Ⓣⓤⓥ)
  • Hearts (♥ ♡ ❤️)
  • Degree symbols (360°)
 

#7 Change your title from time to time

Changing your listing title every 2 or 3 times yearly will result in the boost of your listing ranking. You can prepare 2 or 3 titles that you can rotate through the year. You also can use this advice to promote different features of your listing accordingly to the season for example.

Example:

  • Rustic house w/ big Fireplace (Title in winter)
  • Rustic house w/ Large Swimming pool (Title in summer)
 
 

How to write an optimized title for your Airbnb listing?

Now you understand the importance of a well written listing title. Spending some time to write a catchy / optimized title for your property description will reward you big time at the end. You can use Airbnb title templates, title generator tools or make it up from scratch. Whatever your method, you should always optimize your title on your Airbnb listing.

Title templates which work the best

TemplateExample
[adjective] [property type] w/ [features]Rare House w/ free parking & WiFi
[adjective] [property type] near [location] [features]Modern Loft near Disneyland w/ free WiFi
[house name] 10 mins to [location] w/ [experience]Cherry & John’s House 5 mins to beach w/ free bikes
[selling point] [property] w/ [features]Family house with Netflix and Air-Con
[Brand name] close to [landmark] w/ [selling point]Sally’s Cottage 5 mins to Zoo w/ free breakfast
[adjective] [experience] with [selling point]Tropical paradise in a treehouse w/ ocean views

 

Examples of efficient titles

airbnb-optimized-titles-examples