How to keep your listing fresh, accurate and inspiring
Your listing is often the first experience a guest has of your space. Before they arrive, they can't see the view, hear the birds, sink into the bath or wake up surrounded by trees. Your listing has to do a lot of that work for you. It needs to make people want to stay, help them understand what makes your space special and, just as importantly, give them an accurate picture of what to expect when they arrive. That's why it's worth looking at your listing every so often with fresh eyes.
You know your space better than anyone and we know what works on Canopy & Stars and how best to communicate that to our audiences. So rather than rewriting your listing yourself, every so often have a look at it from a guest's perspective and let your Account Manager know about anything that's changed, anything you're particularly proud of, or anything you think we're missing. We'll then look at what could be refreshed and how best to bring it to life within our editorial style, structure and photography standards so it connects with our audience.
Here are some things to look out for.
1. Would you know what makes your space special?
Take a moment to look at your listing as if you've never seen it before.
What's the first thing that stands out? Can you immediately understand why this is somewhere you'd want to stay?
Every space has its own magic, but sometimes its best qualities aren't as obvious on the listing as they are when you're actually there.
Perhaps it's an extraordinary view, a beautifully designed interior, a private swimming spot, a wood-fired sauna, the wildlife that visits, the story behind the space or simply the feeling of being completely away from it all. We’re hopefully conveying all these things already, but if we aren’t, we need to know.
Think about the 3–5 things you'd tell a friend if they asked why they should stay with you. Are those things coming through clearly?
If not, let your Account Manager know. We can look at whether they're best brought out through the Overview, photography, Essentials or another part of the listing.
2. Make sure the listing still reflects the space
Spaces evolve. You might have added a sauna, changed the sleeping arrangements, introduced a new facility, altered the access or discovered a brilliant new place nearby.
Your listing needs to evolve with it.
It's worth checking for anything that is now out of date, including:
- Facilities that have been added or removed
- Changes to sleeping arrangements
- New or changed charges (for additional firewood for example)
- Changes to access or parking
- Changes to check-in/check-out times
- New information about pets or children
- Changes to what's provided
- Anything that could affect how guests experience the space, such as its proximity to other private dwellings or other rented guest spaces on site
This is particularly important if guests have ever said “I wish we'd known that before we booked.”
That kind of feedback isn't necessarily a problem with the space. It can be a useful prompt to ask whether we could make something clearer before a guest books, to make sure the right expectations are being set from the outset.
3. Help guests understand the space
You know all the quirks and practicalities of your space because you live with them. A first-time guest doesn't.
Try imagining you've just discovered your space and are considering booking it.
Would you know:
- What the journey and arrival are like?
- Whether there are steps, steep paths or uneven ground?
- What the bathroom facilities are?
- How heating, lighting or hot water work?
- Whether there's Wi-Fi or mobile signal?
- What level of privacy to expect?
- Whether there could be noise from neighbours, livestock or wildlife?
- What makes the space unusual or different?
- Anything else that might be important to know before booking?
Being clear about the less conventional aspects of a stay doesn't make a listing less appealing. In fact, it helps the right guests recognise that your space is exactly what they're looking for.
If something regularly surprises guests, either through your feedback or through comments guests made directly to you, let us know. We can then together consider whether the listing needs to set that expectation more clearly. A clearer listing leads to better suited guests which in turn means better guest comments and more bookings.
4. Keep the practical information accurate
The inspiring stuff matters, but so does the detail that helps guests decide whether your space is right for them.
It's worth checking that the information in the essentials tab around things such as check in/out times, facilities, accessibility, sleeping arrangements, pets, children, parking, check-in and additional costs is still accurate.
Small inaccuracies can have a surprisingly big impact on the guest experience and booking conversion.
The more accurate the information before booking, the more likely guests are to arrive knowing exactly what they've booked — and ready to enjoy it.
5. Help guests imagine their stay
A strong listing does more than describe the accommodation. It helps guests picture themselves there.
Think about the experiences your space naturally lends itself to.
Perhaps it’s:
Morning coffee in the sunshine before heading out for a walk.
Cooking dinner over the fire.
An evening in the hot tub beneath a clear sky.
Reading beside the wood burner while the rain comes down outside.
Walking straight from the door into the landscape.
These details help turn a list of facilities into a sense of what staying with you might actually feel like.
You don’t need to write this copy yourself — that’s our job. But the more you can tell us about the experiences you want guests to discover, the more we can bring those qualities out in your listing.
6. Are your photos doing your space justice?
Photography is one of the most powerful parts of a listing. Great images do more than just show guests what your space looks like — they help them imagine what it feels like to be there.
That could include the obvious things, such as the bedroom, bathroom and main living space, but also the details and experiences that make your place memorable: the view from the bed, an outdoor bath, a beautiful detail in the build, a fire being lit, a special piece of furniture, the route down to the river or the landscape around the space.
The aim is to build a gallery that gives guests a genuine feel for the whole experience, while showcasing the things that make your space distinctive. Those 3-5 things you’d tell someone about your place should all be visible in your gallery.
7. Professional photography makes all the difference
If your space has changed significantly, your photography is looking dated, or you feel your gallery is no longer showing the best of what you offer, it is worth considering a professional photography refresh.
We can provide a list of trusted, experienced photographers who understand what works for Canopy & Stars audiences and deliver portfolios accordingly.
That's valuable because a great photographer isn't simply taking attractive, functional pictures. They're experienced in:
- Staging a space so it looks natural and inviting
- Finding the best angles and details
- Capturing the surrounding landscape
- Showing how guests will actually use the space
- Understanding what appeals to a Canopy & Stars audience
- Creating a coherent gallery rather than a collection of individual snapshots
If you're considering a new shoot, speak to your Account Manager first. We can recommend some trusted photographers we have used in the past that we’re confident will deliver great results.
The goal isn't simply to have more photographs. It's to have the right photographs, in terms of both quality and scope.
8. Share your local knowledge
Your space doesn’t exist in isolation. The surrounding area is part of the experience too.
You know the places that don’t necessarily appear at the top of a Google search:
- Your favourite pub
- A brilliant local café
- A quiet walking route
- A good wild swimming spot
- A farm shop
- A beautiful viewpoint
- Somewhere great for breakfast
- A rainy-day recommendation
- A local event or seasonal experience
If they aren’t on your listing already (see the Food & Drink and Experiences tabs specifically), share those ideas with us. We can then consider a curated selection which are most useful to include in your listing and how best to present them.
9. Check what's changed since your last update
It's easy for small changes to accumulate without anyone noticing.
Perhaps you've:
- Added a sauna or outdoor bath
- Improved the garden
- Changed the furniture
- Added somewhere new to eat or relax
- Introduced a new experience
- Changed the way guests arrive
- Discovered a new local recommendation
- Removed something that was previously available
If something has changed, let your Account Manager know.
Again, you don't need to decide exactly where it belongs on the listing or rewrite the copy yourself. Just give us the information and we'll take a look at what needs updating.
10. Make checking your listing a habit
You don't need to carry out a huge listing audit every month.
Instead, make it a habit to have a quick look whenever something changes at your space, or perhaps once or twice a year. We want your listing to be an accurate, inspiring reflection of the experience you're offering. You know the space. You know what's changed. You know the little details that guests love. We'll use that knowledge, alongside our understanding of the Canopy & Stars audience, editorial style and website, to decide what should be updated and how best to bring it to life.
A great listing does three things: it inspires the right guest to book, informs them about what they're booking and prepares them for the experience they're going to have.
That's good for bookings, good for guest expectations and, ultimately, good for everyone.
For listing updates feel free to reach out to your Account Manager on owners@canopyandstars.co.uk with any small amends or for larger, more comprehensive listing refreshes you can fill in our place page review form.