Why Your First Three Lines Can Make or Break Your Airbnb Listing

✍️ By Debbie Balfour | WBN News | August 7, 2025 | Click HERE for your FREE Subscription to WBN News and/or to be a Contributor.

You have less than five seconds.
That’s all it takes for someone scrolling Airbnb to decide whether your listing is worth clicking. And the decision usually happens before they even see your full description.

What they do see?
The first three lines of your listing description, also known as your Airbnb preview text.

According to Danny Rusteen, former Airbnb employee and founder of OptimizeMyBnb, this tiny block of text is the single most overlooked opportunity for hosts to stand out. “If you don’t hook the guest emotionally in the first three lines, you’ve already lost them.”

What Makes the First Three Lines Work?

Your goal is to evoke curiosity and emotion, not just list features.
This is not the place to say “Welcome to my 3-bedroom home.” That’s forgettable. Instead, consider:

✅ “Wake up to sweeping lake views and the smell of fresh pines.”
✅ “Snuggle up by the fireplace after a day of wine tasting.”
✅ “Bring the kids, the dog, and your sense of adventure.”

Each line paints a picture of the experience—not just the place. Guests are imagining the feeling of being there.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

❌ Listing room sizes or square footage
❌ Repeating your title or headline
❌ Starting with “Welcome to…” or “My place is perfect for…”

Those lines waste space and don’t make an emotional impact.

Your Airbnb Hook Formula

Here’s a simple formula to guide you:
[Emotional Experience] + [Unique Feature] + [Why Now]

Example:
“Cozy up by the fire, steps from the ski lift. Winter dates book fast!”

Final Tip: Write for Mobile

Most bookings happen from phones. Keep each line short and punchy so it doesn’t get cut off in preview mode. No fluffy intros—just get to the good stuff.

Want more bookings?
Start strong. Write those first three lines like your calendar depends on it, because it does.

Debbie Balfour | Real Estate Investing Success Coach + Podcast Host

🏠Fireside Lakeview Cottage 30 days+ rental in Peachland - Book here: www.airbnb.ca/h/firesidelakeviewcottage
📍 Website: www.DebbieBalfour.com
📧 Email: Debbie@DebbieBalfour.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Debbie Balfour
▶️ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@DebbieBalfour

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TAGS: #Airbnb Tips #Vacation Rental Success #Short Term Rental Marketing #Listing Optimization #Host Like A Pro #WBN News Langley #WBN News Abbotsford #WBN News Okanagan #Debbie Balfour