When someone plans a trip, they often start with Google, not with a booking platform. If your Airbnb, cottage or guest house does not show up there, you are missing guests who were already looking for somewhere like yours. Here are seven practical steps to change that.
1. Claim your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is the listing that shows on Google Search and Google Maps. Claim it, choose the category that best matches what you run (guest house, self-catering accommodation or holiday apartment, for example), and fill in everything: address or service area, phone number, photos and a link to your website. Keep it accurate. It is free, and it is one of the strongest local signals you can send.
2. Say what you are and where you are
Google needs to read your site to understand it. Put the type of accommodation and the town in your page title and your main headline, for example “Self-catering cottage in Hermanus”. In the first paragraph, say what it is, where it is and how many guests it sleeps. Skip a vague “Welcome” and be specific.
3. Make it fast and mobile friendly
Most guests browse on their phones, often on mobile data. Large uncompressed photos slow a site down, and visitors leave when a page is slow. Compress your photos, keep the design simple and test the site on your own phone.
4. Show real photos and reviews
Photos and reviews persuade people and also give your page more to say. Put your best guest reviews on the site, and ask happy guests to leave a review on Google after their stay. A short, friendly message with a direct link works well.
5. Add the local details Google can read
Include your address, an embedded map, nearby attractions and a short “getting here” section. Behind the scenes, structured data (schema markup) tells Google the page is for a lodging business, along with your contact details and location. A sitemap and a clean page structure help Google find everything.
6. Get mentioned locally
Links from local tourism sites, town directories and community pages show Google that you are part of the area. List your site wherever it makes sense, and make sure your name, address and phone number match everywhere.
7. Keep it fresh, and give it time
Update your rates and photos when seasons change. Local SEO is not instant: results usually build over weeks and months, and they depend on your town and how many others are competing. Be wary of anyone who promises a guaranteed first-page ranking.
The quick route
Steps 2 to 5 are built into our Airbnb booking website: local keywords, schema markup, a sitemap, a map and Google Business Profile integration, set up for you and live in as little as 48 hours.
Keep reading
- Do I need a website if I’m already on Airbnb?
- What a guest house website should include: a checklist
Want help getting found? See our website for Airbnb hosts.