How to Market Your First Airbnb (A Step-by-Step Guide)

A Marketing Checklist for New Airbnb Hosts

This article was inspired by a great question we saw on a Facebook group from a host who is closing on their first Airbnb next week. They asked what to do first, and whether they should list on Airbnb, VRBO, or both. These are excellent questions, and the answer is that the key to long-term success isn't just about choosing one platform—it's about building a comprehensive marketing plan from day one.

Congratulations on getting your first Airbnb! You're probably wondering what the most important first steps are. The common questions are whether to list on Airbnb or VRBO first, and which platform is better. The truth is, the key to long-term success isn't just about choosing one platform—it's about building a comprehensive marketing plan from day one.

Instead of thinking about a single listing, think about building your brand. Here is a step-by-step checklist to help you get started on the right foot.

Step 1: Hire a Professional Photographer (This is Non-Negotiable)

Get professional photography of your property. Your photos are the single most important factor in a guest’s decision to book. But don't settle for standard, boring shots. Tell your photographer you want 50 emotion-invoking photographs that tell a story about the experience of staying at your place. Show the cozy nooks, the relaxing views, and the special details that make your property unique.

Step 2: Create a Thorough Narrated Video Tour

Once you have your photos, it's time to bring your property to life with video. Create a high-quality, narrated walk-through video of your property. This allows potential guests to get a sense of the flow and feel of your home in a way that photos and descriptions simply can't. Make two copies of the video. One copy is unbranded, the other copy is branded. For example the branded copy has your website url in the lower right hand corner. Upload your unbranded video to VRBO. Upload your branded video everywhere else.

Step 3: Launch on Multiple Platforms & Get Your Book-Direct Website

Don't limit yourself to one site. List your property on both VRBO and Airbnb to maximize your visibility and reach different types of travelers. At the same time, get a book-direct website up and running. This is your most valuable asset, giving you full control over your brand, guest relationships, and bookings—without paying high commissions. HAVING A BOOK DIRECT WEBSITE GIVES YOU ACCESS TO A STREAM OF CUSTOMERS THAT ARE NOT ON VRBO OR AIRBNB! Make sure your book direct website has the ability to sync with the calendars of other booking platforms. This will save you from having to update your calendars manually, or worse, end up having to shell out money to a channel manager (PMS) to keep up with your calendars.

Step 4: Use Your Video to Drive Traffic

Now that you have your video, it's time to use it for marketing:

• YouTube: Upload your video to YouTube. Make sure you optimize the title, description, and tags with relevant keywords to attract viewers. Most importantly, link directly to your book-direct website in the video description.
• Your Website: Download the compressed video from YouTube and host it directly on your book-direct website. This is a critical step because embedding a YouTube video will send traffic to YouTube, not your site. By hosting it directly, you can get found in video search results and keep visitors on your property's website.

Step 5: Build a Strong Social and Local Presence

Think beyond the listing platforms. To build a strong brand, you need a presence where potential guests are searching and engaging. Set up pages for your book-direct website on these platforms:

• Google My Business
• Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Pinterest
• eBay (This is a creative way to get your name out there!)

By implementing this comprehensive plan, you're not just creating a listing—you're building a sustainable, long-term business that's less dependent on third-party platforms.

Need help building your book-direct website?

Learn how OwnerWebs helps you build a powerful book-direct website and sync your listings!

About the Author: Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thompson is a licensed employing real estate broker in Louisiana and Colorado, with twenty years of experience in the vacation rental home industry. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University and is also the developer and founder of OwnerWebs.com, a vacation rental website builder. (View his professional profile)