Search Ranking

This article addresses the following:

• Conversion from List of Spaces to Listing Page
• Conversion from Listing Page to Checkout
• Conversion from Checkout to Booking

The Swimply search algorithm is based on the conversion of Guests going through the “funnel” of finding and booking a space, and ultimately, booking it. The algorithm is designed to connect as many guests as possible to the perfect space, as such, Guests dictate the search results since they drive conversion.

Conversion from List of Spaces to Listing Page

The initial step in the Swimply search algorithm is the conversion from the list of available spaces to individual listing pages. The aim is to captivate users on the listings search and encourage them to click and explore your listing further. Several key factors contribute to this conversion rate:

• Cover photo: Having an exceptional cover photo is extremely important to “pulling guests in” to your listing to see more. Follow our Guide to Photos here.
• Pricing: Competitive pricing is extremely important as guests will see all prices of different listings side by side. More on setting pricing here.
• Guest Allowance: What types of guests and how many you allow at your listing is pivotal in conversion. More on Maximum Guests here.
• Five star reviews: Listings with many five star reviews will convert better. See more here.

Conversion from Listing Page to Checkout:

Once users have selected a listing page, the next step is for them to get to the checkout page. The following factors contribute to optimizing this stage and raising that conversion:

• Profile Photo and Bio: Adding a personal touch to your profile with a photo and description of yourself will increase trust and likelihood of booking.
• Listing Photos: Follow our Guide to Photos here.
• Pricing: At this stage, guests will put in the amount of guests they want to bring with them and see the total price, be sure your price stays competitive for all group sizes. You can learn more in Pricing but here are some tips to make sure your price is optimized:
  • Guest pricing that is high and starts at low guest counts is really detrimental. All large booking pricing should make it cheaper on a per-person basis as more people are added.
  • Amenity pricing, especially for hot tubs and heated pools, is essential. Too high a price for a normal booking (~2hrs) will also hurt conversion, our top hosts usually will offer these amenities for free.
  • In general surprise fees, like holiday or cleanup amenities really hurt conversion at this stage. Tip: Hosts with Tiered pricing see higher conversion rates at this stage of the booking process.
• Availability: Making sure your calendar is as open as possible so guests can book the day they want is critical. You can learn more in Manage Your Availability but here are a few tips to make sure your calendar is optimized for a high conversion rate:
  • Availability on weekends: 60% of bookings happen on Saturday between 10am and 8pm, so make sure you're doing all you can to be available then.
  • Peak times: Even during the week it is critical to be open at least from 10am to 8pm as that is when almost all bookings occur
  • Advance notice: Over 50% of bookings are booked “same day” so requiring as little advance notice as possible is really important to be able to accommodate those last minute reservations and not hurt your conversion.
  • Booking buffers: choosing 30 minute buffers between bookings (as opposed to 1 hr) is also super important so you can host multiple bookings in a day.
  • Minimum booking hours: Some hosts like to require 2 or 3 hr minimums to bookings, this really hurts conversion as 30% of swims are less than 2 hrs.
  • Bookings in advance: large groups are 3x more likely to book months in advance. These bookings are also the highest earning, so making sure your listing is open to book at least 6 months in advance is important to raising your conversion as well.

Conversion from Checkout to Booking

The final stage ensures a seamless transition from the checkout process to enjoying a stay. The following factors are still essential for user satisfaction:

• Communication: Efficient and responsive communication with your guest is crucial. Prompt replies to inquiries and clear instructions regarding access and any additional requirements contribute to a positive user experience. More on Host <> Guest messaging here but be sure to prioritize the following:
  • Communicate clearly and in a timely manner (make sure notifications are turned on)
  • Provide clear access instructions to your space
  • Reiterate listing rules before arrival
  • Work out all details before
  • Keep communication within the Swimply chat in the app
• Completion %: Your completion % is where you as a host have the most power to impact your conversion. Completion % is a function of Number of Complete Bookings / Number of Booking Requests your listing receives. Thus, the more completed bookings you have, the higher your completion percentage will be! Here are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your Completion % is as high as it can be:
  • Set listing to instant book
    • On average 60% more likely to get a booking AND have a 15% higher completion score
    • Learn more on how to set instant book here
  • Communication is key!
    • The more responsive you are the more likely you secure the booking
  • Turn notifications on
    • More on Account Management and notification settings here
  • Avoid cancellations
    Cancellations will lower completion % so try your best