Basic guidelines
Listing descriptions are the easiest way to set accurate expectations for Hipcampers. Even better? Our best-performing listings are always detailed and descriptive. First, try to answer these 8 questions:
- Who are you as Hosts? Who will the Hipcampers be interacting with? A family? Kids? No one there, totally private? Dogs? Sheep? Goats?
- What kind of terrain is there? Are you nestled among trees? Are you cliffside or in big sky country? Are you on the open plain or high in the mountains? Is there a body of water nearby?
- What kinds of activities can the Hipcampers consider doing while staying there? Are there volunteer opportunities to help you take care of the land? Classes? Hiking? Swimming? Fishing? Bug catching? Is there a bike path around the corner?
- When is the best time of year to visit? What is the most beautiful time of day? (Sunrise? Sunset? High noon?)
- Where are you located? Near any towns? Landmarks? State or National parks? Forests? How far is the drive to get there?
- Why is your place special? Our Hipcampers will love your land as much as you do, so don’t be afraid to sound a little silly. Is it rich with 4-leaf clovers? Do you boast the best climbing trees? Are there massive earthworms for the fishing hole? Is it deeply relaxing to listen to the wind going over the grasses?
- How would you describe your site to a blind person?
- What amenities do you provide? (None? Outhouse? Composting toilet? Fire ring? Fire wood? etc)
The first sentence matters the most
Your first sentence is the most important. Without reviews, it is what appears to Hipcampers on our Discover search. Without clicking read more, it’s what appears on your listing page. Ideally, it should expand on the promise made in the title. Start with your answer to #6, above (what makes your place special), then dive into #5—especially if there’s a big park nearby.
Here are some examples of how you could write a description.
A camp named “Secluded woodland tent site” might start off with:
“Sleep among trees in the New Forest. The trees are afraid of open fires, so we don’t allow them here, but you can hug, lean and commune with these wise elders and not hear a sound from another human being.”
A camp called “Off grid cherry orchard” might say:
“When the organic cherries are in season, the whole hillside smells amazing. You’ll wish instagram was in scratch and sniff. You can’t charge your phone in our off-the-grid cabin, but you can take hot showers and fish in our ponds to your heart’s content.”