Booking Channel Success: Back to Basics

Have you ever wondered how you can maximise the impact of your booking channel listings? Sometimes, the slightest tweaks can make the most significant impact. Tia Chard, SuperControl Product Manager, explores how some simple steps can influence your chance of ranking success. 

 Day in and day out, I work alongside the world’s leading booking channels, which you may know as OTAs, to establish reliable and fully integrated connections between the SuperControl system and our clients’ listings. It’s safe to say I’ve learnt a lot about the dos and don’ts, and I’m always surprised when I come across a new ‘hack’ that increases the chances of listing visibility. 

The best way to think of booking channels such as Airbnb and Holidu is like the search engines of travel. The aim of the game is to have your listing appear near the top of search results, similar to how you want your website to earn the top spot on Google. While the optimisation tactics for booking channels are slightly different to that of a website, the principles remain the same.   

The secret ingredient to high-converting channel listings is the more quality information you provide, the better. Each channel has thousands of data points its algorithm ranks against, and the more data you input, the more likely you’ll trigger a superior search result. Interestingly, a data point that’s often overlooked but imperative to booking success is amenities. 

Small but mighty, selecting every possible amenity you offer is important. It can sometimes feel like a futile exercise, but it’s a true reflection of what your property offers (and the algorithm loves it!). You might be thinking, do I really have to advertise that I provide Wi-Fi in 2022? Yes! We have 900 properties linked to Airbnb that haven’t ticked the internet connection box, yet in the post-pandemic world, many travellers seek accommodation where they can work remotely. This is just one small example of many. Some other areas that you might not think to promote but will bolster your visibility include: 

  • Heating and cooling 
  • Barbecue 
  • Fireplace 
  • Pets allowed/not allowed (particularly important following the ‘petcation’ boom!) 
  • Electric vehicle charging station 
  • TV 
  • Fridge 
  • Balcony/terrace 

…And that’s only for starters! There’s much more that goes into ensuring your property listing is the star of the show in a channel’s search results, but it’s essential that we don’t overlook the basics. Visibility and credibility are key, and quick wins such as accurate amenities make all the difference. 

Visit our Channel Manager help centre hub for further information about booking channels and how they can help promote your accommodation at the right time, price, and place. 

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