It Wasnt A Bug .. Airbnb Algorithm Explained

Summary

The video script discusses a perceived intentional shift in Airbnb's algorithm, which the speaker claims is causing many hosts' calendars to appear empty. The speaker believes Airbnb is prioritizing higher-quality listings to maintain a minimum service level during low-demand periods, potentially leading to a culling of less popular listings. They offer a webinar for $80 to reveal strategies to optimize listings for the new algorithm, focusing on increasing views, filling calendars, and garnering positive reviews to stay competitive on the platform.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Figured out a bug in Airbnb's algorithm that was causing empty calendars.
• 🏠 Set up four new properties, all booked quickly after the 24-hour review window.
• 🔍 Airbnb made changes affecting listings, leading to empty calendars intentionally.
• 💡 Detailed explanation of how Airbnb's algorithm manages supply and demand, adjusting listing visibility based on market conditions.
• ⚠️ Identified a temporary bug in Airbnb's interest metrics tracking, impacting some listings' visibility.
• 📊 Split tested various factors like listing completion, pricing, and booking parameters to improve visibility.
• 🛠️ Emphasized the importance of checking all listing options to optimize for algorithm performance.
• 📈 Airbnb prioritizes views from first-page impressions and filling calendars to maintain listing quality.
• 🌐 Airbnb no longer penalizes for blocked calendars due to bookings on other platforms like VRBO.
• 🔄 Airbnb's strategy involves prioritizing top-performing listings during low-demand periods to retain the best hosts.

Q & A

What was the initial problem the speaker identified with Airbnb's algorithm?

The speaker identified a bug in Airbnb's algorithm that was causing calendars to appear empty.

How did the speaker resolve the issue with the Airbnb algorithm?

The speaker resolved the issue by setting up four new properties, which were booked almost immediately after the 24-hour review window, suggesting the problem was not a bug but a deliberate change by Airbnb.

What is the speaker's claim about Airbnb's actions towards host listings?

The speaker claims that Airbnb is intentionally suppressing certain listings to maintain a minimum level of quality and manage the supply and demand curve.

What does the speaker suggest is Airbnb's approach to handling the supply and demand curve?

Airbnb is said to adjust the standards for listings to appear in search results based on the demand and supply curve, becoming more selective when there is low demand and high supply.

What is the significance of the 'held for review' window mentioned in the script?

The 'held for review' window is a 24-hour period after listing a property on Airbnb, during which the property is not yet available for booking.

Why does the speaker believe Airbnb might be suppressing certain listings?

The speaker suggests that Airbnb might be suppressing certain listings to ensure the platform retains top listings and to manage the distribution of bookings and views among hosts.

What was the temporary bug in Airbnb's system, according to the speaker?

The temporary bug was that Airbnb was not recognizing interest metrics on some properties, showing a dashed line instead of views, which was later corrected.

What did the speaker do to understand Airbnb's algorithm better?

The speaker conducted extensive split testing on various factors such as listing completion, names, pricing strategies, promotional discounts, booking parameters, and more.

What are the key metrics Airbnb is tracking for listings, as per the speaker?

Airbnb is tracking views from impressions, calendar fill-up, and positive reviews after stays, which are crucial for a listing's performance on the algorithm.

How has Airbnb's stance on blocked calendars changed, according to the speaker?

Airbnb used to punish hosts for blocked calendars, but they no longer do so as severely, recognizing that the best listings are often booked on other platforms as well.

What is the speaker's advice for hosts to improve their listings' visibility on Airbnb?

The speaker advises hosts to ensure they get views, fill up their calendars, and receive positive reviews. They also suggest participating in the speaker's webinar for more detailed strategies.

What does the speaker suggest about Airbnb's strategy for category listings?

The speaker suggests that Airbnb is using categories to create curation and brand loyalty, pushing what they think is popular in areas and encouraging hosts to fit into these categories for better visibility.

How does the speaker plan to help hosts with their listings?

The speaker plans to offer a webinar where they will share their findings and strategies that took weeks to figure out and cost thousands of dollars to test.