Looking for advice, feel like a fish out of water

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Hello everyone, I’m new to this and feeling a little like a fish out of water and floundering.

Previously, always had friends and family looking after our brood, so this is an unknown for me. I put my listing up about a week ago and hoping to get some news soon.
Just wondering if there’s anything I can add that sitters specifically look for ?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

Listing added to forum profile

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Hey there and welcome to THS!
Definitely in the right place for listing advice, you’ll just have to link your listing so members can view it and give feedback. Here’s how: How to add a listing or profile link to your FORUM profile

You can also give this blog a read to ensure you’re on the right track.
Hope that helps! :smiling_face:

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Thanks for adding the listing. I took a look for you, and overall the listing comes across as very energetic, warm & welcoming! You have a lovely profile picture and nice photos but here are some suggestions:

1: Your title is quite long - sitters can only see the first 7 words or so before it’s cut off in a listing’s preview. Try condensing it to ‘30 minutes from Edinburgh - beaches & countryside retreat!’

2: Most listings have 15 - 25 pictures; not many sitters will scroll through all your 43. Just pick your top 20 that really showcases you home, pets & local area. Cut back on the pet pictures and images of random angles in the home such as tables, windows & flowers. 2 pics of each pet is plenty!

3: Your introduction is very autobiographical and very much about the pets and their needs. A strong intro should tell sitters straight away what’s on offer here and why they should choose your sit rather than immediately describing the pet’s needs. Have a read of the blog I posted to help with your intro.

4: Your home and location section is great, very detailed & informative. You can delete the end part though about if there’s anything else a sitter wants to know they can get in touch. Any sitter you have a video call will ask a bunch of questions anyway, that’s a given.

5: Responsibilities section requires some more detail and some fine tuning. Sitters often want to know:

  • How long can the pets be left?
  • How long are walks?
  • What are the dogs like on walks? As there are 3, do they have duel leads, do any of them pull and do they behave well with eachother during a walk?
  • Where do all the pets sleep? (In the bed with a sitter won’t bode well for many).
  • How often are the dogs fed (is it morning & evening?)
  • The sentence about the dogs not being left overnight has some typos & grammar you need to fix for clearer understanding.
  • You mention that the cat has figured out how to open the feeder - how do you expect a sitter to manage this then?
  • Mention the ringing of the bell for toilet in this section, not the intro. What does this mean exactly and how frequently does she need to go?
  • What are the pet’s general personalities and sociability with people? Can sitters with other pets or with children sit for you?

Another thing to consider is that the sit is during the holiday period over new years, so you might want to consider ‘New Years near Edinburgh’ in your title and describe (in the home & location section) what festivities are happening in Edinburgh at this time of year. Also, considering new years, you specially mention the dogs can’t be left at night, but what about if the sitter wants to go out to celebrate NYE? Can they?

Hope that helps :smiling_face:

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I found your listing. You have some important information there already for sitters. What I wonder is how long the pets can be alone during the day. You mention going to Edinburgh, would that be possible timewise during the sit - is time/ distance to Edinburgh and possible alone time for pets allowing such an outing (or what outings). Where can a sitter get groceries and how to get to shop? Any pubs/restaurants - distance?

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Your pets look adorable, and I love your sense of humor! :rofl:

What is the weather generally like at that time of year? Wow, a month in Scotland! Very tempting….

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Hi, welcome to the forum and THS.
@Nagy26 has given you great advice and has put a lot of time and effort into it. There’s just one suggestion that I don’t agree with. I would not delete this paragraph:
“If there’s anything you’d like to know, please don’t hesitate to ask. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Although, as she says, it’s a given, it’s inviting and welcoming contact. Sitters can’t contact you unless they press the application button and with this sentence you make it clear that you’re open to clarifications.
Your area is gorgeous. I wish I could apply. Given the dates, you might consider making it family friendly.
Good luck.

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Thanks @Newpetlover, and yeah, fair enough, I didn’t consider that :smiling_face:

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Welcome @Cazwoo
Can I make a suggestion around your photos. Do you have a picture of all your dogs and cats together or at least one of your dogs or cats together? I’d start with that. Then have a photo of the dogs, cats, your lounge, kitchen, dining room, the bedroom a sitter will use and the bathroom a sitter will use.

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Hi, thanks for the feedback.
The weather in Scotland in the winter is variable. Usually cold and damp. However, snow is always possible.

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Thanks, but they’re all there??