Rental Connections : Split Test

Smily’s Rental Connections : Split Test is built for owners and managers who want to experiment, optimize, and grow conversions by testing multiple versions of the same rental listing.

Basically allowing you to:

• Run true A/B/n experiments on your listings
• Compare titles, photos, descriptions, or pricing variations
• Test variation of listing target audiences (families, couples, digital nomands, etc…)
• Stay perfectly synced across Airbnb, Booking.com, and Smily (some limitations may apply according to your location, refer to the limitation section underneath)
• Measure what performs best

In this article:

I. Understand the Feature Logic

• What is a Split Test?
• Smart Calendar Sync

II. Step-by-Step Setup Guide

👉 WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL

• Step 1: Rental Connections setup
• Step 2: Create the Split Test Connection
• Step 3: Assign Rentals
• Step 4: Verify the Setup

III. Performance Insights

IV. OTA Compatibility

V. Best Practices

I. Understand the Feature Logic

What is a Split Test?

A Split Test lets you duplicate a property into several “variants”, each targeting a specific audience or presentation style, and automatically synchronizes all bookings between them.

Example:

• Listing A: Romantic getaway for couples
• Listing B: Spacious family retreat

Both represent the same property but with different positioning. The system monitors which one drives more engagement and bookings.

💡 Goal: Learn what actually increases conversion and revenue, not just what looks good.

Smart Calendar Sync

Every linked listing shares the same calendar and updates instantly:

✅ No double bookings

✅ No sync errors

✅ OTA-compliant logic

II. Step-by-Step Setup Guide

👉 WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL

Step 1: Rental Connections setup

• Go to your Smily Account → Rentals → Rental Connections
• Click Create a Rental Connection

Step 2: Create the Split Test Connection

• Choose Split Test as the connection type

Fill in the setup fields:

• Click Save changes to create your Split Test.

Step 3: Assign Rentals

• Scroll down and click Assign Rental

• In the pop-up, select two or more listings you wish to connect

  (e.g., “Seaside Villa – Family” and “Seaside Villa – Couple”)

• Click Apply → Assign

✅ Confirmation: “Rentals have been assigned to the split test.”

Step 4: Verify the Setup

Once assigned, your connected listings now share a common booking logic.

Test your setup in the Calendar view:

• Make a test booking on Variant A → Variant B becomes blocked
• Cancel the booking → Variant B becomes available again

🧹 After testing, delete your test bookings to clear the calendar.

III. Performance Insights

The Performance dashboard shows key performance indicators for each listing variant:

Use this data to identify which version converts better and refine your strategy accordingly.

IV. OTA Compatibility

Smily’s Split Test is fully integrated with Airbnb and Booking.com, maintaining seamless synchronization and compliance.

However, note:

• Some OTAs or regions may require a unique license number for each listing.
• Always confirm with your OTA account manager before publishing multiple versions.

✅ Recommendation: Keep your variants descriptive and compliant to ensure all listings remain visible and approved.

V. Best Practices

• Start small: Begin with 2/3 variations for clarity.
• Be systematic: Test one element (title, photos, or price) at a time.
• Let data guide you: Give each test enough time to collect meaningful results.
• Stay compliant: Follow OTA-specific requirements on duplicate listings.

Ready to Launch?

You’re now ready to build your first A/B/n experiment and boost your booking performance with confidence.

👉 Go to Rentals → Rental Connections → Create a Rental Connection → Split Test