How to Write a Title that Books (That Actually Get Clicks)
The job of your title is to stop the scroll and win the click. Alongside your main photo and sometimes your rating, it is one of the first things a potential guest notices.
Everything else, like descriptions, house rules, or additional photos, only matters once someone clicks.
Think of your title as a tiny ad: a short line with the power to pull attention, spark curiosity, and make someone pause.
Start With Who You Are Speaking To
Every strong title begins with clarity on who it is for. Families, couples, remote workers, and adventure seekers notice different things. A title that speaks to one group may be invisible to another.
👉 If you’d like a deeper dive on identifying your customer avatar, you can check my previous article on that topic here.
Quick rule: if your ideal guest would not search for it or smile when they see it, it does not belong in the title.
Do Not Waste Space on Location
Travelers already filter by city when searching OTAs. If someone is searching in Scottsdale, they do not need to be told again that your property is in Scottsdale. Those characters are better spent on features that set you apart.
The only time location belongs in a title is when it is hyper-specific, such as Inside Yosemite Gates, or on your direct booking site where guests may be browsing across multiple destinations.
Should You Include Your Brand?
On platforms like Airbnb, a brand name rarely carries weight unless it is already recognized. Guests are drawn to features, not unfamiliar names.
It makes sense to include your brand if you are driving direct traffic, managing multiple properties under one umbrella, or building branded search demand for SEO. In those cases, pairing your name with a keyword can strengthen recognition and improve search visibility.
If your brand is not yet established, leave it out of the title. Instead, place it in the first line of your description, add it as a watermark on your hero photo (if allowed), or include it in captions where it reinforces trust without crowding the title.
Build Curiosity, Then Deliver
The best titles do more than list features. They spark a question that your photos and amenity list immediately answer.
A Bali-inspired rental makes a guest wonder what that means. Your photos of rattan textures, carved wood, and lush greenery provide the answer.
Giant Chess or Yoga Pavilion creates intrigue. A wide shot of a life-sized chess board or a sunrise yoga deck satisfies that curiosity.
The formula is: open curiosity in the title, confirm it in your first photos, and reinforce it in your amenities and listing description.
The Amenity-Stack Formula
My favorite and most effective style of title is the Amenity-Stack. It is clear, scannable, and communicates value instantly.
Amenity #1 (relevant differentiator) + Amenity #2 (wow factor) + Amenity #3 (second wow that sparks curiosity)
This approach works because it mirrors how guests filter, creates small bursts of curiosity with every “+,” and forces you to use specifics instead of vague words like luxury or spacious.
Examples:
Private Hot Tub+Sauna+Cold Plunge
Game Room+Bunks+Fenced Yard
Workspace+Fiber WiFi+Coffee Bar
Giant Chess+Fire Pit+Stargazing Dome
Ski-In+Heated Pool+Gear Drying Room
Other Structures to Consider
Amenity-Stack titles are powerful, but not the only option.
Experience-First: emphasize the property type with a standout feature.
A-Frame | Sauna+Stargazing Loft
Desert Dome | Hot Tub+Private Deck
Brand-Integrated: effective when your brand is recognized or part of your SEO strategy.
Seaside Stays | Dome+Private Deck
Trail Creek Collection | Hot Tub+Game Room
Small Mechanics That Matter
Put the strongest hook first
Use “+” instead of commas for easy scanning
Cut filler words like the or amazing
Avoid subjective adjectives such as luxury or spacious
Do not repeat what the platform already displays, such as location or “entire home”
From Title to Gallery
Think of your title as the hook and your gallery as the proof.
Title sparks curiosity → Giant Chess+Yoga Deck+Fire Pit
First photo confirms → wide shot of the chess set or yoga deck
Next photos deepen → lifestyle images, glowing fire pit scene
Description reinforces → “By Seaside Stays: A wellness-oriented retreat…”
Amenity list reinforces the title → promise kept
A vacation rental title is the first invitation to a potential guest. When written with purpose, it grabs attention, opens a small curiosity gap, and is backed up by photos and features that deliver.
Use your brand when it adds recognition, skip location unless it is highly specific, and lean on the Amenity-Stack to highlight what truly matters.
Is it a hard rule?
Of course not.
It is what I observed worked for me and for others.
You already know better than anyone what will work for your rental.
Just implement it, and don’t forget to experiment.
That’s all for today!
