You have a successful peak season under your belt and have accrued a healthy Airbnb revenue. You’ve navigated your way through the shoulder season and worked hard to maintain your Airbnb income. Now you have to deal with the dreaded low season. You can’t help but worry that bookings will take a nose-dive and you’re concerned that making money with Airbnb will be an uphill struggle.
What if we were to tell you that the low season isn’t necessarily a time for slowing down? Yes, you will need to put more effort into attracting guests, but you can still win bookings and secure a decent revenue. Here are some techniques on how to stay profitable even during the low season:
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Create a Savvy Marketing Strategy
An effective marketing strategy can boost bookings all year round. Promoting your rental well can be especially useful during the low season. There’s no doubt that Airbnb is a big player in the property rental market. However, you can increase your Airbnb revenue by advertising on other platforms too.
Exposure is key so look at alternative ways to promote what you’ve got. Tell everyone about your rental via word of mouth, aim to get your listing on local tourism websites, promote yourself via social media, link up with a lifestyle blogger, etc. These are just a few of the viable options you could consider when marketing your property rental.
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Lower Your Minimum Stay Requirement
You might prefer to offer a two-night minimum stay during busier months, but you could consider dropping this to one night during the low season. This could help fill a few gaps in your booking calendar, and improve your Airbnb income.
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Offer Increased Discounts for Long-term Stays
Along with offering one-night minimum stays for overnight guests, you could attract long-term guests by offering discounts to those who wish to stay for an extended period. This could be a great way of boosting your Airbnb revenue, but keep in mind you will have to take a few things into account. What will long-term guests require e.g. A place to do their laundry, additional storage space, a place to work, etc.
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Lower Your Rate (Especially Weekday Pricing)
Offering a lower rate could be a great way of making money with Airbnb during the low season. It’s always wise to try and stand out from the competition, and lowering your rate could help you to combat those quiet periods.
Weekends tend to be more popular for those visiting your Airbnb for leisure, so boost your Airbnb revenue by promoting weekday stays with special offers and discounts.
Potential guests could be persuaded to book if offered incentives such as 3 nights for the price of 2.
Guests do like to feel they are getting a good deal, so you could also look at lowering your rental price. But do remember to ensure you are still charging enough to cover your outgoings and make a little profit.
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Reach Out to Previous Guests
Successful hosts are always pondering on how to make money with Airbnb. One way is to tap into your existing audience – your past guests. Satisfied guests can be a great source of Airbnb revenue, so make sure you spend time persuading those who have stayed with you before to return.
Start by contacting those who enjoyed a visit previously during low-season, and send a brief email outlining that you are offering a special deal. Make your rental property look and sound as attractive as possible, and offer a competitive price.
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Get Referrals
If you’re targeting past guests you might as well try and get them to recommend you to their nearest and dearest. Referrals can really boost your Airbnb revenue. If ex-guests have fond memories of your rental, they will be more inclined to tell everyone about their great stay! Thank past guests for their referral by providing a treat such as a box of luxury chocolates, a bottle of wine, or even a discount off their next stay.
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Update Your Listing
Attract potential Airbnb guests (old and new) and rank higher on Airbnb searches by giving your listing a makeover. What can you offer in the low season that will appeal to visitors? Colder weather can put people off, but it can also conjure up images of coziness. Increase your Airbnb revenue by painting the perfect picture, allow guests to imagine themselves snuggled up with a hot chocolate by the roaring fire.
If you are the proud owner of a beach house you don’t have to shut up shop just because the sun no longer has his hat on! Encourage guests to wrap up warm and take a bracing walk along the sands. Inspire them to view the stormy seas from the comfort of a snug armchair. Make sure your listing creates an alluring picture of your Airbnb rental, evocative of the season.
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Choose a Catchy Title
Boost Airbnb revenue by giving your listing a new title too. Adding the word “discount” of “offer” might draw additional interest. Your title can also be used to highlight certain features e.g. Cozy romantic winter retreat – snuggle up by the log fire and relax in the hot tub.
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Change Your Cover Photo to Showcase Your Low Season Look
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so make sure you use a fab photograph that shows your rental property off well. Match your photographs to your content. You can lift your low-season Airbnb revenue by including a captivating and relevant image.
Don’t be afraid to draw attention to the season – a winter’s day can offer a crisp backdrop. Adding a simple picture of your pretty rental, adorned with twinkling fairy lights, could be enough to boost bookings.
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Highlight Activities in Your Area
Just because it’s the low season it doesn’t necessarily mean everything is grinding to a halt in your locality. On the contrary, November, December, January, and February can herald plenty of interesting events. There are still festivals, parades, sporting events, gigs, etc. Not to mention prime Airbnb revenue earners such as Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, etc.
You might find your rental is generally booked for these “special” times of the year, but don’t neglect the period before and after. Highlight local Christmas fayres that offer shopping opportunities. Link up with a local health club and promote your rental as a relaxing retreat for a New Year detox. There are many options to add interest.
Get Ready to Boost Your Airbnb Revenue During the Low Season
So, how much can you make with Airbnb during the low season? Follow our pointers, put in a little effort and come up with a few creative solutions of your own. You could find making money with Airbnb during the low season much easier than you thought.