1. Photographs serve as the most crucial marketing asset at your disposal, capable of either propelling or derailing your short-term rental business. To ensure you capture the best possible images, prioritize scheduling a photo session in advance and ensure that the property is impeccably clean, unoccupied, and prepared for the shoot.
2. Avoid showcasing all your photos right from the start. Typically, a collection of 30-35 photos can effectively represent any property. Reserve some images for later and periodically update your listing. This strategic approach signals freshness to algorithms, preventing your listing from becoming stale and potentially boosting its visibility in search results.
3. When engaging a photographer, inquire about their inventory of stock photos featuring local attractions and resort amenities. Refrain from using search engine images that infringe upon copyright. Airbnb and various third-party monitoring services vigilantly scan for copyrighted photos, and you certainly don't want your listing to be flagged for copyright violations.
4. Exercise caution when selecting photos to display, ensuring that they accurately reflect what guests can expect upon arrival. Overstaging has become an issue, leading Airbnb to receive negative publicity regarding "deceptive photos." Presently, Airbnb insists that if you feature a bottle of champagne in a photo, it must be provided to guests upon their arrival. The hotel industry has long recognized this principle, and the vacation rental sector is gradually embracing it (although staged photos are suitable for social media).
5. Incorporate seasonal photos into your repertoire to generate excitement and anticipation among prospective guests. Display images relevant to the season for which people are booking, such as autumn or holiday-themed photos in late summer, or spring/summer photos in late winter.
6. Avoid requesting wide-angle photos, as they can create unrealistic perceptions of space. Presenting your property as more spacious than it actually is will only disappoint guests upon arrival. Instead, employ photos that accurately depict your property, thereby establishing reasonable expectations.
7. If a guest lodges a complaint with Airbnb regarding misleading photos, a process exists whereby you must personally visit the property and capture photos using the Airbnb app. These photos will be reviewed by Airbnb, who will unilaterally determine whether the guest's complaint is valid.
8. Employ detailed shots selectively and purposefully. Including close-ups of noteworthy features like a coffee bar, record player, or the selection of soap you provide can be beneficial. However, close-ups of generic decor items or light fixtures purchased from stores like Hobby Lobby do not significantly influence a guest's decision to book.
9. It's important to understand that when you hire a photographer to capture images, you are purchasing a license to utilize those photos for marketing your property. According to US law, the photographer retains the copyright, preventing you from giving or selling the photos to third parties such as builders, interior designers, cleaners, or subsequent owners.
10. Using unlicensed or copyrighted photos without proper permission can result in Airbnb promptly removing the photos or suspending your listing. Failure to prove your right to use the photos within ten days may lead to permanent deletion of your listing and cancellation of all future bookings. Take licensing and copyright matters seriously to avoid such detrimental consequences.
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