Niche-ing to your Ideal Guest

5 Examples of Different Ideal Guest Avatars & the pros and cons that come with them

Thinking that you have to please everybody means that you are actually not really pleasing anybody which is why niche-ing and determining your ideal guest is so important. I know I bang on about your ideal guest over and over, but it is central to getting those great reviews and repeat bookings.

You can please all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time but not all of the people all of the time. 

This is very true for hosting.

So rather than trying to please everybody all of the time, decide on your ideal target guest and please this person ALL of the time. I’ll get into how to set up your listing for your ideal guest in a future post.

Niche-ing is all about who you are signalling to, how you market your listing, how you design and furnish and also what language you use in the copy and social media. If a guest feels like you are speaking directly to them then they are more likely to book with you if they feel like you get them, you understand them and you can take care of them. 

Again, knowing your ideal guest means that you can easily spot potential problems if you get an inquiry from guests that you don’t feel will be a good fit. Then you can kindly suggest that perhaps another host (or property) would suit them better. Taking a booking from a guest who is not your ideal guest may mean that your calendar is blocked for guests who are your ideal guests.

“Good” vs “Bad” guests

There are really no good or bad guests – just guests that are a better fit for you, your listing, your hosting style and your values. You can take care of all sorts of people – this isn’t about your hospitality standards – this is about knowing who will best appreciate your unique style. These are the guests who will return again and again, give you great reviews and recommend you to their friends.

Here are some broad categories just to get you thinking and yes there are plenty of generalizations. When I work with clients, the first thing we do is to really dig into this and we make some really interesting discoveries. The information is so powerful and can really help your business soar.

This is really just scratching the surface but the broad categories is an interesting place to start. I have listed some basic guidelines to include to attract each segment. Which one of these guest types ”sparks joy”? 

1. Families

Pros: 

• Longer stays
• Loyal repeat guests
• Little risk of drunken parties
• No need for uber fancy decor: comfort and convenience over style
• Will treat your house like their home

Cons: 

• Will need additional kitchen equipment
  • Plastic plates and cups
  • High chair
• increased safety items 
  • Stair guards
  • Outlet covers
• Additional bedding
  • mattress protectors 
  • cribs

Listing Tips: Take photos of the crib/high chair/toys etc and also list out the family friendly inclusions in your copy. Also note where the closest parks are and safety etc. 

2. Traveling medical staff

Pros: 

• High demand during the pandemic
• Professional and working long hours outside the house
• Long stays and high chance of repeat bookings

Cons: 

• Generally lower profits for longer stay
• Tend to “settle in” and may not want to spend their days off cleaning

Listing Tips: Include in your photos a google map showing location and transport to major medical institutions close to you. 

3. Grey nomads (eg SnowBirds)

Pros:

• Quiet, respectful and responsible
• Not traveling with young children 
• High tech gadgets are not needed to capture attention
• Eclectic decor or collections will attract like minded collectors
• Will really take care of your home and garden

Cons: 

• Accessibility considerations
  • Stairs are often an issue 
• High Tech gadgets will need good explanations

Listing tips: Highlight quiet and convenience of location to supermarkets. Showcase classic and comfortable or eclectic decor..

4. Luxury / High end

Pros: 

• Higher base pricing
• Good ROI for unique and sought after properties
• Large opportunity for extra revenue from premium add ons
• Popular for corporate retreats or exclusive events

Cons:

• Big investment upfront for high end inclusions
• Will need regular upgrades to keep everything fresh
• Hospitality standards critical 

Listing tips: Professional staging and photos are crucial here. Especially highlighting architectural features of the property and the luxe styling. Have a professional social media presence. 

5. Business traveller

Pros: 

• Potential for regular repeat bookings
• Higher base pricing
• Usually not traveling with children

Cons:

• Will need super fast internet
• Hospitality standards have to be consistent and flawless

Listing tips: Include photos of your internet speed (screen shot your Speedtest.net result) and private work space. 

Sub-niches

You can keep niching down and niching down. The most important thing to remember that when you have your ideal guest in mind, your listing needs to speak to this person. When a person who identifies with the same qualities as your ideal guest avatar, the guest will feel instantly welcome and that you understand their needs. They will not need to look any further. 

Some additional niches that might resonate with you, your hosting style and the features of your listing – location, size, decoration stylings. 

1. Tiny House lovers
2. Cabin or A-Frame lovers
3. LGBQ+ safe space
4. Working from home
5. Eco-friendly – off-grid
6. Backpacker/Students/Homestay
7. Cat Lover
8. Dog Lover
9. Theme park/Cosplay 

In the comments, let me know your ideal guest avatar. 

The relationship between your perfect guests and The Wholehearted Host is where the magic of the sharing economy resides.

Tracey Northcott

How often do you look at your listing? Are you at a loss as to what needs to be included to best represent your hosting style and your brand? Getting a fresh eye on your listing is essential and I can help you look at who your ideal guest may be. I can help you with that. Talking with hosts and viewing listing photos is not just my job but it is my passion. I can see very quickly the sorts of guests you are attracting and if you are also leaving money on the table which is why I offer a listing and branding Audit to clients.

_{disclaimer: We may receive a small introduction fee from vendors. This will not affect any prices that you are charged. But I will only recommend vendors that I know and love and ones that I have used for myself as a customer.}