How Airbnb Made the World Our Oyster
From cheap and cheerful stays to luxury mansions, Airbnb has it all. Since being founded in 2008, the property rental company have leaped from strength to strength. What lies under the surface of success is the strategic marketing of not only the properties, but the culture and history of the location. Their renowned online presence can be thanked for this, as they take staying away to a whole new level. Movement away from standard hotel rooms and towards unique and tailored vacationing has attracted 400 million guests since launch.
Plus, Luxe and Unique Stays
The Airbnb website hosts a myriad of categories, such as Luxe and Plus, filtering stays to cater for every need imaginable. Will Smith himself gave a handful of guests the chance to book a stay in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air mansion. Nostalgic stays such as this one encapsulate the success of Airbnb, through the likes of celebrity advertisement and desirable locations and facilities. Comparing the entire property above, to any standard hotel room, it is clear to see how Airbnb has held such a powerful position in the online world.
The appearance of and meaning behind the stays through pro photography is highly attractive to those planning a stay away. The website has an immaculate and easy to use layout with features such as ‘superhosts’ and accessible reviews. This is effective because it brings guests comfort and trust in Airbnb-making it more recommendable and encourages users to revisit.
Covid-19: Bringing the World to Our Screens
More recently, the Covid-19 pandemic saw the birth of Airbnb Online Experiences. The reliance on the internet throughout 2020 has been extensive and Airbnb have used this to their advantage. From across the globe, Airbnb brings culture directly to our doorstep. Meaning is what keeps the world going and Airbnb have embodied this within their site. Interaction and lessons with people and cultures from around the globe kept users actively engaged with Airbnb, even when staying away from home was not possible.
The Power of Instagram Aesthetics
Airbnb’s Instagram displays an eye-catching feed full of locations, properties and activities that could give anybody the travel bug. Their account matches the needs of a vast target audience, from nature-lovers, to families, thrill seekers, through to those enticed by a taste of luxury. It takes just seconds of scrolling to prove that there is something for everyone (very straight to the point). Incorporating relevant substance to their posting, such as seasonal imagery/property (Halloween), effectively attracts attention and creates a relatable mood between guests and their stays.
Airbnb also use their Instagram platform to speak out on important current movements such as ‘Black Lives Matter’. Donating thousands of dollars and raising awareness to nearly 5 million followers shows the positive intentions that the company holds. Moral value is increasingly attractive to consumers. Constant customer engagement through social media keeps Airbnb thriving. Use of tools, such as comment replies, IGTV’s, helps to keep them relevant and relatable.
Airbnb have the formula to success. Not only bringing deeper meaning to jet-setting and interlinking people and places, but constantly engaging with the online community through keeping up with current affairs. Airbnb’s victory lends itself to its unforgettable online presence.
