Good afternoon. Please can you assist me. I have listed our first sit but am not receiving any applications. What can I do to get people to apply?
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Please add your listing to your forum profile and then members can help you with feedback @ChantelleW #linkithere
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Welcome to the forum @ChantelleW .
We can’t see your listing to comment . Maybe @Jenny can help link it ?
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Happy to link your listing @ChantelleW - just drop me a line if you’re ok with me doing that!
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Hi Jenny that would be great thank you
No problem @ChantelleW - please bear with me for now - I’ll add it as soon as I can!
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All sorted @ChantelleW 
As you’re a new member, other members will need to copy and paste the link from your Forum profile to view it.
Hope you get some great tips, we’ve got some amazing minds here on the forum!
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Not one picture of the property from the outside.
Not good.
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You need to write your listing up in a manner that makes potential sitters go: “yes!! I want to go there!” It’s your advertisement. Right now it’s too sparse. Photos taken at nighttime don’t really work, any chance you can retake them? Add a photo of the outside. Also, no offence, I take it that you are a busy family, but you’ll need to tidy up the kitchen a bit before taking new photos. Potential sitters will think that the house will look exactly like that when they show up, and for most people it’s too “lived in”.
Your dogs look indeed sweet, however your listing doesn’t really explain what a sitter will need to do with/for them.
- do they need to be walked? How many times a day? How long for?
- What does it mean that a sitter doesn’t need to be there all the time? Better said, how long can the dog be left alone for?
- What is there to do near your house? How’s transit?
- Would you welcome a family?
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a couple of more things: lead with a nice photo of the dogs in a better light, maybe outside?
I would eliminate the couple of photos of the dogs in the kitchen where one of them shows only partially. Also, in the dogs description, there are two dogs under the caption “Willow”. Which one is Willow?
As for the title, I think you should refer to the fact that you are in the countryside, maybe something related to nature walks or quiet? The names of the dogs don’t really capture people’s attention, they could be cats or canaries for all we know. A sitter’s attention is captured in the first 2-3 seconds, they might scroll by if not enticed to continue by the title and the first photo.
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Great advice, also just clarify where you expect Sitters to sleep. There is a blue room and it’s not clear if there is a bed in there or not, then the child’s room (most sitters would not choose that room), and a master bedroom. Just confirm where the sitter can sleep (if it’s the master then state that).
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A picture speaks a thousand words -most sitters will make an initial judgment based on photos alone and if they don’t initially appeal they will just scroll on to the next listing without reading the amenities list .
When I read through the amenities list I see that this is a countryside sit, with a garden, scenic views, and an outside dinning area . That all sounds very appealing.
However , you haven’t shown any photos of these . So there’s nothing in the photos to make your listing stand out from any others .
So I suggest that by adding some photos of the scenic views, garden and outside dinning area as your first photos this will really help get your listing noticed .
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Hi, You mention one of your dogs as being an American Bully. This may be classed as a banned brred. When I e tered American Bully into Google this came up.
Yes, XL American Bully dogs are banned in the UK, with the ban coming into full effect for owners on February 1, 2024.
If your American bully is classed as a banned breed then it canot be advertised on the site. THis would need clarifying.
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Good point, I just saw that they are banned in the Republic of Ireland too as of February 2025.
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He is an American Bully, not an XL. They are different. They are banned in the UK but we live in the Republic of Ireland. They are a restricted breed which means they have to wear a muzzle if in public. They don’t leave our large property though.
As per an internet search:
The American Bully is banned in Ireland. As of February 2025 owners must obtain a Certificate of Exemption to keep their American Bully Dogs or face legal consequences.
Do you have that?
Wait nevermind that seems to apply only to the XL which is larger and you say your dog is not one of those.
It’s very important that you add this information to your listing. Sitters may be thinking of taking dogs out with them to visit places which wouldn’t be possible .
The terms of service say “Pet Parents MUST
5.2.5. notify a Sitter of any special requirements or behaviours relating to your pet(s) in your Home Listing …..and when you communicate with any Sitter and during the Handover;”
Adding the photos of the garden and outside space will be helpful because then sitters will be able to see how there is no need to leave the property to exercise the dogs .
Correct. The XL Bully is banned but not the standard American Bully.
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Sorry for the confusion and off topic replies in that regard.
The rest of the listing looks good. If you’re interested, you could tweak the responsibilities section with a bit of help from AI.
We’re looking for someone to help care for our animals with a few simple tasks. The dogs need to be fed in the evening and let outside as needed for bathroom breaks. They prefer staying indoors when it’s cold. The chickens require feeding once a day, and their coop door should be closed at night and reopened in the morning.
@ChantelleW when I do a search using your location I don’t see your listing. Are you sure it shows as active? I’m a sitter so I can’t help with instructions on how to check that.