If you’re an Airbnb host, you’re likely also a curious, creative and resourceful entrepreneur in other areas of your life and work. And so, it would only be natural for you to want to help your guests with some extra services… while you get to relish in a little bit of side-on-side hustle.
However, there is a delicate art to this, and several DO NOTs that I want to start off with before I give you a few tips on how you can earn more money through the connections you make with your guests.
DO NOT become the host who charges for every little thing.
No one wants to go into a bathroom and see that using your special homemade soap costs extra (yes, this actually happens). Nor does a guest who is staying with you on say, your goat farm, feel good about being charged $5/glass for your goat milk. The beauty of having additional things to offer and having real, live, loving humans staying on your property is that you’re able to offer them for free (yes for free) a taste of what they might like.
Take the local winery approach (well, leaving out Napa/Sonoma, since they charge for everything): Offer samples and tastes of things for free, generously (and I don’t mean generously-with-an-expectant-look)… you’ll find that people then feel a sense of friendly generosity back, and want to thank you for your time, craft, intention and goods with some dolla’ bills.
DO NOT give off icky promoter/sales vibes.
Whether or not you’re offering freebies or samples of your other creations… it’s really easy to come off as a pusher. And trust me—we can feel that! Even if you continually try to link us to your YouTube channel… stop it! Just stop it. The guest’s comfort and relaxation and experience matters most… and don’t forget that on this platform (Airbnb), you are ultimately trying to give your guest a 5-star experience that they will then relay in your review.
Here are the vibes you don’t want to give off: Promoter, marketer, pusher, salesperson, cult leader, etc.
Here are the vibes you do want to give off: Gentle introduction, desperation-free showing & telling, casual side mention of your truth/purpose to gauge for interest (and if no interest is expressed, do NOT bring up your make-a-million-in-2-weeks coaching program again).
Okay. Now that we’ve got those two DON’Ts out of the way… here is how you can lovingly present what you do/make to guests and help them with your offerings while making a bit of side dough!
If you’re a creator…
If you’re a writer, graphic designer, or generally produce works that are available or transmittable online, this section is for you. (Note: Obviously all creators don’t fit this only-online description, but for simplicity’s sake I’ve separated “tangible thing creators” into “makers” below).
Showcase your design skills.
Use your city guide or your home info manual as an opportunity to let your skills shine, then in small text, write something like: “Like the design? Me too! I’m biased though; I made it. :) If this made your eyes happy, check out more things they might enjoy here: INSERT WEBSITE.”
Tell a story.
If you’re a writer who works with brands, tell a story about how you arrived to your city or how you found your home. For example, I crash-landed in my city through a 90 mph car accident, and I feel as though it was definitely not an accident (no pun intended). My city is the first place I felt I could unfurl into my fullest self.
An excerpt: “[City] is my soul home—I can be all of myself here, every wacky, gratuitous, painful, electrified cell of me. There is a quote I love by Stephen Elliott: “There is no new leaf; turn yourself over.” That is what [City] did for me; it turned me over, literally, and in the most important ways a human can be.”
Just writing in this heartfelt way encourages people to share their stories—perhaps how they encountered their home, or how they feel they might want to move to my city. Then, especially if it’s a guest staying there when I am, we might have a coffee and get to talking about how I help people do that, etc.
Create a unique experience.
An official Airbnb Experience, that is (::looks over shoulder::)… or not! There’s nothing wrong with operating independently and offering a little sample of tours you can take people on. This could work especially well for getting 5 stars in Location, as this way you can show people the nooks and crannies of maybe your not-so-popular neighborhood… but once you show people the heart and soul of a place, they’re likely to feel a greater connection to your home (and leave you the review you’ve been wanting).
Use your creative skillset to list out a few places you can take people (perhaps by bike, even?) around a certain theme: local culture, ghost/spirit tours, best coffee/local food, secret lakes, hidden speakeasies… you name it. Then (bonus!), since you’re getting to spend 1-1 time with your guests, you then become closer and talk about your other interests… voila.
Create your own website for your home and city manuals.
This might be a bit extra, but I wanted to add it in anyway. If you’re a web developer with time on your hands, create an amazing exploratory site for your guests to explore. You never know if your guest is the CEO of a big company redoing their site.
If you’re a maker…
The tips above can be relevant to you, but also if you make tangible objects/products…
Give a substantial sample away for free.
Remember that soap example I made in the beginning? Offer an entire bar for free for guests to use (make sure your houseturnover assistant knows where to find replacements after each guest), and make a little note—personification is an adorable and useful tool here: “Like me? I’m local, organic and sustainable. [HOST NAME] can give you a (clean) hand, so you can take me home for you or loved ones!” The puns, I know… that’s just my style. Make this your own where your personality shines (but leave Salesy Sarah out of the brainstorming process).
Invite your guests to be makers, too.
If you do something that guests can easily learn a little bit about (pottery, knitting, 3D printing, etc.), get them involved in your process. Offer them the opportunity to help you make something, or for them to make their own souvenir. At the very least, this will get you a glowing review. At the most, you never know if they’re a distributor of scarves and their current scarf-maker quit on them last season. I know, it sounds too good to be true… but these things happen. All. The. Time. If you read my site often, you know how I feel: If you expect miracles, you’ll receive them.
If you’re a coach/provider/consultant…
Create space for guests to feel comfortable and open up.
Now, I am not advocating that you offer unsolicited life coaching advice to your guests. However, if what you do naturally is help people feel more deeply connected to themselves and others, it will likely unfold organically that over a cup of tea or glass of wine, perhaps you start talking about work. Relationships. Grief. Love. If you are truly living your passion as a coach, you’ll likely naturally have people willingly (tread lightly, here) open up to you. And if they inquire as to whether you’d be available to help them with something, simply respond as you would to anyone asking you this and offer a coffee-shop-chat rate (or don’t, it’s up to you).
Refer them to a friend who loves what you do.
Perhaps your guests are seeking a massage, Reiki or similar service while in your city. If you have a network of folks who refer each other because of the high quality of your practices, this is great for you! Perhaps those friends also are Airbnb hosts; or, when your guest goes to see the local herbalist and tells her she is looking for a massage therapist as well—well isn’t it convenient that you offer massage as well! This is a lovely option for those of you who feel uncomfortable promoting in any way. Let word of mouth, references and quality experiences do all the talking for you.
And finally, I have one DO for you.
DO look for serendipity.
Stay in alignment with your own passion, purpose and integrity, and you will attract aligned souls and opportunities.
I tend to say this in all ways for all things on this site (and in my life) but—it’s truly wonder and openness that makes traveling, discovering and connection so pleasurable for me. Keep your vibration in alignment with your work, and others who vibrate on similar levels will be drawn to you.
On that hippie note, I’d love to hear from you—what’s your work passion? How have you weaved it into your Airbnb host life? Or are you still wondering how best to do that? Let me know if I can help!
Thanks for reading! Have a question that wasn't answered here? If you'd like more specific help, I'd love to work one-on-one with you. Or, if you want to work collaboratively in a group with fellow motivated hosts, find out if the next Abundant Hosting Mastermind group is open. I also wrote a book, Cleaning Up, where I give you the nuts and bolts (and so much more) of finding your perfect turnover assistant, thereby upleveling your profit and success on Airbnb. Have a beautiful day!