HOST  HACKS

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I couldn't agree more! There is no shame in appropriating other peoples' good ideas and adding your own twist. In fact, history is full of examples of ideas being copied and improved upon. A truly original idea is a rare thing, and most inventions are more likely to be a refinement of an existing concept. The best thing about staying in other people's Airbnb properties when you travel, is being able to pick up c

Referrals are the most effective form of marketing and your guests could be your greatest sales team! Here's a cheap and easy way for your guests to spread the word about your awesome Airbnb: Leave business cards or postcards that promote your property for your guests to take away as a memento, or to give to their friends! Create a card that shows: - A logo or picture that represents your property - Your property's listing ID or URL (ie: www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/2448210) -

In the immortal words of Forest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you're going to get". Hosting is like that too... Guests come in all nationalities, shapes, sizes, customs and habits, and that's one of the most wonderful things about it - you get to meet a kaleidoscope of humanity and realise that despite the differences, we have more in common than not. I was recently asked to speak at a public event by Western Melbourne Tourism in partnership wit

I was recently asked to present to a business group about the Sharing Economy. Putting this presentation together made me realise that (a) I know a fair bit about it, and (b) I don't know the half of it! 2 things I do know: I am fascinated by it, and it's like the universe - ever expanding. If you would like a copy of this presentation to show any of your own community, please contact me. #marketing

Many hosts are reporting a slow-down in bookings right now. The consensus seems to be that there is an imbalance in supply & demand as a result of the runaway success of AirBnb's Host Acquisition program. So what can you do about it? Here are 7 tips to kick-start your enquiries: 1 Change your lead picture. Do it weekly to prevent viewing fatigue (guests skipping over your property because they've seen it before) 2 Change the title of your property listing - same logic as