Airbnb is a home-sharing platform that connects travelers with homeowners and renters. It was founded in 2008 and since then has grown to become one of the most popular services for booking accommodation. But it wasn’t always successful; when Airbnb first started out, they had to focus on optimizing user flow and reducing friction in order to increase conversion rates. In this blog post, we’ll break down how they did it, as well as their best practices for increasing conversion rates.
Keeping Users in the Flow & Maintaining Focus, Motivation, and Reducing User Friction
Airbnb knew that if they wanted to be successful, they would have to keep users engaged throughout the entire booking process—from search to payment. To do this, they needed to reduce user friction as much as possible. They focused on making sure every step was easy and intuitive for the user, so that there would be no need for them to take any additional steps or ask questions. They also used visual cues like progress bars and notifications to keep users motivated and focused on completing their task.
Testing Hundreds of Experiments to Increase Conversion Rates
Airbnb ran hundreds of experiments with different design changes in order to find what worked best for their users. They tested everything from simple changes like font size or colors, all the way up to more complex changes such as layout or checkout flow. Through these tests, they were able to identify what worked best for their users and optimize their experience accordingly.
Using Email & Retargeting Campaigns To Bring Back Bounced Users
Airbnb also implemented email campaigns and retargeting ads in order bring back bounced users who had started but not completed a booking process. This ensured that those who had started but didn’t finish were still aware of Airbnb’s services, which increased their chances of coming back later on when they were ready to book a stay again.
Conclusion: Reaping the Benefits of Optimizing User Flow & Reducing Friction at Airbnb
By optimizing user flow and reducing friction at every step along the way, Airbnb was able significantly increase conversion rates and grow into one of the most successful services online today. By implementing smart defaults & offering something new or scarce; offering incentives or rewards; making sure written content is concise and easily understood; using email campaigns & retargeting ads; testing hundreds of experiments; utilizing visual cues; and keeping users engaged throughout the entire booking process – you too can reap the same benefits Airbnb did!
