It’s August in London and it has been a hot summer. My guests have been complaining about the rooms being too hot to sleep in at night. I have no air-conditioning in the house; the UK is not famous for it’s warm weather so most houses do not have it. The Airbnb smart pricing system is keeping my prices low. It seems demand does not increase on any day as the smart pricing always seems to be the lowest possible price. The suggested price for some of my listings is ridiculously low. I honestly feel the smart pricing system is not working, but I have no choice, if I stop using it airbnb will stop sending me bookings.
Earn extra money from your guests with SIM cards
When someone arrives from overseas they sometimes find it beneficial to get a local SIM card. Unless they are from the European Union area chances are they will either not have access to the UK phone and mobile data network or its simply very expensive to use it. Since getting a local SIM is easy this is a ideal way to get around the problem. Unlike in some countries, for example Australia where you need a registered Identification card such as a drivers licence, SIM cards can be easily obtained in the UK.
I usually provide a few simple items for the guests. Next to the bed in my airbnb listings you will usually find a bottle of water, a couple of chocolate bars, eye mask, ear plugs, and a free SIM card. Providing a SIM card for my guests can be handy for them but also can be financially rewarding for me.
I recently became a GIFF GAFF super recruiter. This means for every person who signs up using a Gift Gaff SIM card I get up to £20 in cash. As far as i’m concerned this is common sense easy money. Not only am I providing a extra service to my guests I’m making a little extra also.
Sign up your friends to Airbnb and get free credit
Spreading the word of the benefits of using Airbnb can get you from free airbnb credit. If you know someone who is thinking of using Airbnb for the first time then make them sign up using your referral link.
In fact not just your friends. Tell everyone you meet that they must sign up to Airbnb using your referral link. If there is free credit going then you want it baby. The trouble is that unless your a close friend or family they probably will either forget to use your link or even deliberately not use your link, there is something about not letting other people freeload off the back of you that causes this behaviour. Even if it means they will miss out on a little free credit themselves in the process they just won’t do it out of spite.
Even if you can get them to sign up you still might not get the credit unless their first booking is for £55 or more. I have signed up dozens of people but have only seen a trickle of free credit come my way. But still I keep trying.
