Listing your property with an online travel agency (OTA) like Airbnb, Vrbo or Booking.com is an important step in promoting your holiday let. But being listed on these platforms doesn’t automatically lead to bookings.
Your OTA listing plays a central role in how your property appears in search results, how it appeals to potential guests, and how reliably it generates bookings. In many ways, it functions like a search engine results page. Strong content and a well-structured listing can improve visibility and build guest confidence.
If you’re setting up a new listing or want to get better results from your current one, here’s how to make it work for you.
1. Prioritise high-quality photography
Photos are the first thing guests look at, and often the biggest factor in whether they click on your listing or scroll past. Good visuals aren’t just about aesthetics, they build trust.
Here’s what to include:
- Clear, wide shot of every key space such as the living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, entrance, and outdoor areas
- Natural light wherever possible, and tidy, uncluttered rooms
- Close-up shots of special touches, like a wood burner, workspace, or hot tub
- Seasonal updates (for example, showing the garden in summer and cosy interiors in winter)
Avoid heavy filters or overly staged setups. Guests want to know what they can realistically expect and listings that feel authentic tend to perform better.
Tip: Airbnb has a useful guide to listing photography that’s relevant to all OTA platforms.
2. Write descriptions that inform, not just sell
A clear, well-written description helps guests understand what to expect and feel confident about their decision to book. Prioritising clarity makes a real difference.
Cover the basics first:
- How many guests your property accommodates
- Bed types and configurations
- Layout and flow of the space
- Shared areas (such as communal entrances or gardens)
- Access notes (like stairs, parking restrictions, or check-in details)
Then highlight the extras:
- What makes your property unique
- Its suitability for different types of guests such as families, couples, remote workers, pet owners
- Proximity to key attractions or local highlights
Sharing any details that could influence a guest’s experience helps build trust and ensures there are no surprises during their stay.
3. Don’t underestimate the power of amenities
Amenities are one of the most overlooked and powerful parts of a property listing. Platforms use them to power search filters and improve listing rankings, and guests use them to make quick decisions.
It’s important to list every amenity your property genuinely provides, including simple features that might seem obvious.
Often-missed amenities that influence bookings:
- Fast Wi-Fi
- Kettle or coffee machine
- BBQ or outdoor dining
- Heating and cooling
- EV charging
- Pet-friendly options
- TV and streaming access
- Fridge and freezer
- Balcony or terrace
- Fireplace or log burner
The more accurate your amenity details are, the easier it is for your listing to appear in the right searches and appeal to the right guests.
Need help mapping amenities to different booking channels? This guide can help.
4. Make your property easy to book
A smooth, straightforward booking process helps convert interest into confirmed stays. Each OTA offers different tools to make this easier for both guests and property owners.
Wherever you list your property, make sure guests can book with minimal friction. That might mean:
- Enabling instant book to allow guests to reserve immediately without waiting for approval
- Using pre-approvals on request-based platforms to fast-track serious enquiries
- Keep your calendar accurate across all platforms using a channel manager
These tools are there to help simplify the booking process. Making it easy for guests to confirm their stay can build trust and encourage more consistent bookings.
5. Use discounts thoughtfully to drive bookings
Discounts can be a useful tool to encourage bookings, fill quieter dates, or give new listings a visibility boost. While not every OTA supports the same discount structures, there are still opportunities to apply strategic pricing across channels.
Common uses for discounts include:
- Encouraging early bookings by offering lower rates to guests who book well in advance
- Filling last-minute gaps with short notice offers
- Launching a new listing with an initial promotion to gain momentum
Airbnb supports specific discount types such as:
- New listing promotions
- Early bird discounts
- Last minute offers
These can be applied automatically through SuperControl®, making it easier to stay competitive without constant manual updates. Learn more about setting up and managing discounts in this help guide.
6. Keep your listing active with regular updates
OTA algorithms prioritise listings that are well-maintained and frequently updated. Small changes signal that your property is active and being managed, which can improve visibility.
Here are some ways to keep your listing fresh:
- Update your description or photos seasonally
- Automatically adjust pricing using dynamic pricing tools
- Review and refresh your amenity selections
- Respond to reviews and questions promptly
- Regularly log into your OTA dashboards, even if you don’t make big changes
In SuperControl®, tools like dynamic pricing integrations and channel manager make this process much simpler to stay on top of.
Final thoughts
Getting your OTA listing into a strong position takes more than just publishing it. It often comes down to the detail — how well your information reflects the guest experience, how clearly it’s presented, and how smoothly the booking process works.
Well-written descriptions, accurate pricing, mapped amenities and up-to-date availability all contribute to how your property appears in search results and how confident guests feel about booking.
Want help keeping your listings in sync and performing well across every channel? See how SuperControl® can help you simplify daily tasks, keep everything up to date, and manage your listings more efficiently across OTAs.
