Reviews are a vitally important part of a user’s profile on Airbnb, but what do you do when you’re new to Airbnb and don’t have reviews yet? First, you should make sure you have a complete and robust user profile. Then you can ask for a Reference from an existing/established Airbnb user. In today’s post, I’ll show you the start-to-finish process of getting a reference.
What is the difference between Reviews and References?
Reviews are basically feedback – they are written after a guest has stayed with a host. The host writes a review for the guest, and the guest writes a review for the host. Of course, a brand new Airbnb user won’t have any reviews yet.
References are endorsements from other Airbnb users, without a reservation/stay taking place.
It’s a three-step process to get a Reference:
- You send a reference request to a friend who is an existing Airbnb user.
- Your friend completes the reference request.
- You approve the reference from your friend, after which it is displayed on your user profile.
Step 1: Send a Reference Request To a Friend
- In the main/top menu, click on your name, then Edit Profile. Once on the Edit Profile page, click on References in the left column.
There are a number of ways to request a reference, but I’ll be showing you my two preferred methods. Option A – Email your friends, and Option B – Request from Facebook Friends. - Option A – Email your friends.
- Enter the email address that your friend uses for their Airbnb account. See Airbnb Tutorial: Building Trust Through Your User Profile for more info.
- Click the Send Request Emails button
- Your friend will be sent a reference request email.
- Option B – Request from Facebook Friends.
- This requires that you have already linked your Airbnb and Facebook accounts.
- Click the Request button under your friend’s photo.
- Your friend will be sent a reference request email.
Step 2: Your friend writes you a reference
- Your friend will receive an email from Airbnb, as well as notification:
- Your friend will also see the request on the References By You tab of Edit Profile | References
- Your friend will then be able to write up your reference and submit it to you for approval.
Step 3: You approve the reference from your friend
- You’ll receive an email from Airbnb when your friend has written the reference.
- You’ll also be notified on your Host Dashboard / Notifications
- Your will also see the request on the References About You tab of Edit Profile | References
- Once you click Accept, the reference will now appear on your user profile page.
Hi,
I’m trying to leave a reference for a friend, but when I click on the link, I’m just taken to their profile with no option of anywhere to write the reference. I’ve found a number of other users mentioning the same problem on various help pages, but no-one has ever left an answer… Any ideas? Thanks 🙂
Sarah
Option A – email contacts to request a reference doesn’t appear on my computer, it only gives me the option to link to facebook which I don’t want to do!!