Low applications banner and other advice please

I posted our listing 2 months ago and have had a few applications. One has not read my last two return messages; the others either suggested different dates or wanted to bring their own pets (which I ruled out in the listing.) When I search for a sit in our area, my listing shows up next-to-last of about 20. We leave in 2 months and I’m getting concerned! Advice please and thank you!

Hi @eljay, did you respond to these 2 applicants within 72 hours of receiving their application (as recommended by THS)? Hopefully you declined the one that was not suitable.
What you can do is remove your dates briefly then re-post them which will make it a New listing again. You can do this as often as you want to.

You can also add your profile to the forum to receive advice from experienced members.
How to add a listing or profile link to your Forum profile!

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There might be some significant ‘red flags’ in your sit that you’re not aware stands out to sitters… Red flags are a big deal to us sitters as it’s all about risk management. Seek feedback on your listing to learn more about attracting the right sitters.

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Would you like feedback on your listing ? If so, please link it to your profile.

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No one can give you advice unless you post your listing. At this point it would just be a guessing game. Are you a first time PP?

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Here’s some general advice which is all anyone can provide until and unless you make your listing available on the forum.

Take good clear welcoming pictures free of clutter, showing the best features of your home and property.

Talk about things to do in the area.

Policies- you’ve already got one strike against you, sitters can’t bring their own pets. While you’re certainly entitled to require sitters to walk around on their hands, you will automatically disqualify a large part of the sitter base. Consider being more flexible.

Listings that specify a pet can’t be left alone for more than a few hours is a huge turn off.

Are there a lot of tasks and responsibility? If so what can you do to reduce a sitter’s workload.

Try to read your listing from a sitter’s point of view and determine what might be putting them off.

Sometimes there’s nothing you can do and the lack of reply is due to competition or simply being in an area no one is interested in visiting. In which case you need to consider alternatives, including a paid sitter or a kennel.

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@idocsteve What the … ?

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It was a poorly written analogy.

I was suggesting that a host can require a sitter to do just about anything no matter how outlandish, but the more unreasonable it is, the less applications they will receive.

In the case of few or no applicants, they may need to walk back some of their more rigid requirements and perhaps allow a sitter to bring their own pet, or offer use of a car, etc.

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@idocsteve perhaps you should’ve run it through AI first :rofl::joy::wink:

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I tried to add the listing to my profile - for hours! Could a community manager please do it for me?

Hi @eljay - I checked your profile and it looks like your listing link is showing in your Forum profile :slight_smile:

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It says hidden on @eljay at the moment @Jenny? #needsatweak

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That’s so strange @Cuttlefish - it showed up for me! I’ve adjusted, can you see if you can see it now please?

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No, still says it is a hidden profile?

#curiouserandcuriouser

This is new to me @Cuttlefish - I’ll do some digging and see what I can do :slight_smile: I’ll tag you once I’ve done that!

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You probably already know this but just in case users can hide/unhide their profile in the “Preferences” section of their profile.

I can confirm that the users profile is hidden to me too.

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Thanks @idocsteve :slightly_smiling_face:

If you and @Cuttlefish could check again to see if you can view the link I’d really appreciate it! I really hope it works now.

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It’s all good now.

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Brilliant. - thanks @idocsteve :slightly_smiling_face:

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Your listing looks very nice, and the sitter’s responsibilities can’t get much easier. I can’t suggest any changes you can make that would make any difference.

What’s with the toilet bowl with the angled seat?