Importance of Reviews I Review System I Leaving Reviews I What to Write? I Responding to Reviews I
The question of how to leave a review on Airbnb is one which is important to address, since reviews are what make platforms such as Airbnb what it is.
Without reviews, sites like Airbnb would struggle to generate so much traction among consumers and it would be extremely challenging for holidaymakers to pick out the right accommodation for their needs.
Why is leaving a review on Airbnb important?
Leaving a review is hugely important on websites such as Airbnb, since a single review can make the difference between a future purchase and a lack of interest in a listing.
If you’ve ever booked accommodation through Airbnb before, then we’re willing to bet you took a quick glance at the reviews before you parted with your cash.
Why are we so sure?
Well, because photos don’t tell the whole story, and holidaymakers want to be sure that the place they stay in lives up to the claims made by the host. Even just a cursory glance at the star rating is enough to deter some people from booking the accommodation.
For travellers
Put yourself in the shoes of an Airbnb customer, and ask yourself this: would you put down a significant sum of money on an accommodation that had zero reviews but promised the world, or opt for the more modest option that had an array of positive reviews and good feedback?
Sure, every accommodation will start out with no reviews, so in some cases it’s worth taking a risk but for the most part reviews are the most reliable metric customers have to go on. We’d even go as far as to say that reviews are more important in the customer’s decision-making process as the price of the accommodation and the location.
For hosts
On the host side of things, reviews are equally as important.
After all, the host of an Airbnb accommodation needs to develop a solid reputation if they are to survive on their platform and their listing is to be successful. It just simply isn’t sustainable to keep a listing up on the platform if the host continues to receive negative reviews, as one day the rating will be so low that nobody will want to stay there.
So essentially the hosts’ income from Airbnb is wholly reliant on reviews, which is why it’s so important that if you’re ever a customer and you enjoy a hosts’ accommodation, then you should rate it highly and leave positive feedback. It’s all too easy to take it for granted and say that other people will have left positive reviews so you don’t need to, but every last review can help a host out.
How does Airbnb’s review system work?
Airbnb’s review system is straightforward, and we’ll talk you through it now so that you can leave a review the next time you book accommodation with the website.
After your stay, Airbnb will send you an email asking you how your stay was. In the email there will be a link that takes you directly to the review page, so all you have to do is click it and then write your review.
Airbnb also uses a star rating system, so you will have to assign a rating between 1-5 stars.
How to leave a review on Airbnb?
How to leave a review on Airbnb: Well fortunately leaving a review on Airbnb couldn’t be easier. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide just in case you’re unsure how to go about it:
- First, you’ll need to log into your Airbnb account.
- Then, if it’s been 14 days or less since your stay, you will be prompted to write a review if you follow this link: https://www.airbnb.com/users/reviews.
- Alternatively, you can go to your ‘Trips’ page and leave a review from there.
What to write in the review?
There is a lot of information that guests would find useful when it comes to accommodation, so it’s important that you include as much as possible.
Here are some of the most significant points to touch upon if possible, taken directly from the Airbnb website:
- Cleanliness
- Communication
- Location
- Accuracy
- Arrival
- Value
For each of these points, try to go into as much detail as possible, so any future guests know exactly what to expect when they book the listing.
If you only have bad things to say about the accommodation you stayed in, we strongly recommend you leave a review. While this might be the last thing you want to do, leaving an honest review can be hugely helpful to future guests – even if it is negative.
How can you expect a host to improve the experience if they don’t receive honest feedback?
In a negative review, make sure you don’t leave any details out, but there’s no need to insult the host or come across as hostile. As a guest, you have a star rating attached to you too, so be firm but fair.
On the host’s side: why and how to respond to Airbnb reviews?
As a host, it’s your duty to respond to Airbnb reviews regularly.
If a few days or even weeks go by and you haven’t responded to a negative review, then you could harm your reputation on the website.
It’s important that future guests see you interact with former guests and address any issues they may have brought up. If people see that you are willing to take the time to respond and tackle criticism head on, then they’ll see that you are honest and trustworthy.
If it’s a positive review, respond courteously, thanking the customer for choosing your accommodation. If it’s negative, then as hard as it may be, ask the customer questions about how you can improve the experience and address the problems they raised.