Welcome to forum @Jconsoli_56 !
I believe the number of Italian sits are few, and probably popular by many.
As any sit can have 5 applicants at a time, the statistical possibility of getting a sit is 20 %. So it is about beating the numbers.
If you can speak Italian, that would probably work in your favor. The gold currency, though, would often be to have 5* THS-reviews. As @HappyDeb says, when you get past 3 sits/ reviews or so, you will probably find that a gamechanger for you. It has been for many of us.
A host that gets 5 applicants is just looking for one good match to look after their home and pet. It could well be 5 applicants that all «can do» for that purpose. Of course they will prefer a sitter that has good reviews over one without reviews, unless an applicant otherwise has something really special to offer. At the end of the day, a host will often choose someone that gives them a good gut feeling. So I’m not sure if multiple choices on answers really would matter much to host or applicants. Members that have criterias are better off writing them in their listing, saving us all time and getting them the applicants they look for.
A general advice is to look for short and local sits to get the first reviews.
Short - because there’s less competition, short sits are not popular. For a new sitter they are easier to get, you get necessary reviews quicker and you get to learn something on what you yourself should look for and do to get and to have good matches/ sits for you.
Local - because they are easy to do and you get the advantage of being able to offer to meet up before the sit. Valuable when you have no reviews, even if host doesn’t take you up on your offer.
I’ve found it easier to get sits with hosts with same situation as myself. It seems solo females often prefer solo females, couples prefer couples etc. In some sits this could be good also vs. the pet and what the pet needs or is used to.
I believe reviews is what is needed, but surely the community will help with input on listing, sometimes small tweaks can give a great impact. Here’s how to add your listing:
How to add a listing or profile link to your Forum profile!
In general - some sitters talk more about their love for travel than their ability to take care of pets (as some hosts talk more about their love for travel than what their sit and location can offer for a sitter).