How to write a Couchrequest - Revision history

Guaka: Changed redirect target from How to write a couch request to How to write a hosting request

2018-12-09T17:45:09Z

Changed redirect target from How to write a couch request to How to write a hosting request

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:45, 9 December 2018
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	#redirect [[How to write a ~~couch~~ request]]		#redirect [[How to write a hosting request]]

Guaka: Redirected page to How to write a couch request

2013-03-03T22:26:19Z

Redirected page to How to write a couch request

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:26, 3 March 2013
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	[[CouchSurfing]] is more than a "free" bed. It is an exchange, - it is about the experience of meeting and spending time with similar minded people. "What can you bring and what can the host offer in the time you share". You should be looking for a '''''host to stay with''''' and not just a '''''couch to use'''''. Some hosts in popular cities get so many couch requests that they have to be selective about whom they chose to accept. They are on couchsurfing because they want to meet new people but they may also have limited time. So... how to get your Couch Request so you stand out and get accepted? Read on!		#redirect [[How to write a couch request]]

	~~Remember, even though this is written in English, in todays world online translator tools anyone can write in any language. Language is not a barrier in travelling.~~

	Some hosts ask that you write requests with a lot of personalized comments about them and their profile. Some even include a codeword that you have to find to prove that you read their profile. Others would prefer that you copy and paste a request to all selected hosts so you can spend more time traveling than writing requests without even knowing which couches are available when you need one. It is important to read the hosts' profiles carefully to determine how personalized they want requests to be. Also, before posting to the group forum for a locale be sure to check that there is not another sub-forum specifically for that purpose. Some popular cities name such a sub-forum as "Last minute Requests".

	~~==Official CS Tips for writing a CouchRequest==~~
	~~[http://www.couchsurfing.org/couchrequest_tips.html CouchRequest Tips]~~

	~~==Languages==~~
	* [[Image:Flag_of_Italy.png\|30px]] Questa pagina è disponibile anche nella versione italiana [[Come scrivere una richiesta di ospitalità]]
	* [[Image:Flag_of_Germany.png\|30px]] Diese Seite gibt es auch auf Deutsch: [[Wie man eine CouchAnfrage schreibt]]

	~~== Use the CouchRequest form ==~~
	...only use the "<< Send CouchRequest to ...>>" button at the top right above the profile picture. It is this button that counts the number of replies the hosts sends and counts to the CS CouchRequests % figure on your profile.

	~~== saying hello ==~~

	*'''Read their profiles'''!: This will help you better predict the quality of your experience. Also read to see if they have special rules/requirements, e.g. bringing a sleeping bag, no smoking, dates when they are unavailable, limits on numbers of people they can host, needs a donation towards food, or for electricity, or internet, or help in home and family, or is it a shared house or a flat.
	* '''See if you are compatible'''. Look for a host with similar interests. If you only like museums and your host only likes drinking, there could be a personality clash :).
	* Some hosts want to know why you want to surf ''their'' couch and not just ''any'' couch. When you try to answer this question in your request, you should realize that you are interested in the ''host'' more than just their ''couch''. Each host is different. So until there's a field to specify request personalization requirements, just read the profiles carefully.
	* '''Try to contact newer & less busy hosts''' to increase your chances. Busy hosts in popular cities can get up to 10 requests per day, or possibly even more.
	* Realize that some hosts get fewer couch requests simply because '''they live outside of their main city limits''' "proper", but they still happen to live very close to the main attractions. Be sure to use the "Within ___ kilometers/miles" of a city when you do a couch search. Often, these hosts are more willing to take surfers simply because they get less requests. You can also just search the region instead of the city, when traveling in more sparse areas.
	* '''If you're traveling with friends''', make sure they all [[Members only\|have profiles]]. Each profile can be linked to each other in your profiles and in your CouchRequest, this makes it easier for hosts to look at all your profiles.
	If a group is traveling under one profile, then are you all staying together for life? As all references will be to the group. If you split up, then each of you will not have a history record on CS. So best to have all individual profiles, and reference each other.
	~~Also remember to add your friends to your list of friends on your profile.~~

	~~== Say my name... ==~~

	* Start with a good impression and say the person's name. Don't start with, "hey man/hi there/hello you/hi" unless you already know them. Sometimes people have a username on CS that is not their real name, but their real name can often be found in their CS references - why not use that and show that you've read that section of their profile, at least. People of Asian background might be uncomfortable with addressing someone by their name the first time they write to you, since, in many cultures, addressing a person by first name is considered rude and too forward. You can work around this by specifically referring to something from their profile to communicate that you read it. A "Hello Mr. or Ms. ''Surname''" will most likely not offend anyone.

	* Introduce yourself. Don't tell your whole life story, but try a little harder than just saying, "Hi! I want to surf your couch." '''Don't copy/paste your request emails to try to get a couch.''' Hosts have already caught on to this, and your chances of being successful are much greater if you make it clear to the host that you've ''actually read their profile'' and want to stay with ''them'', not just stay on ''their couch''.

	~~== Timing is everything ==~~

	* Be as precise as possible about arrival and departure dates/times. If you are hitch-hiking, let your host know and tell them not to wait for you at home because it's impossible to know when you will exactly be there.
	* Be aware that '''people may write dates in different formats'''. The dates "8/9 to 8/11" could mean 2 days or 2 months, depending on the culture. Instead, use expanded, clear date formats such as: "9-August to 11-August" to avoid confusion. This will make it easy for the host to decide quickly if they can have you surf or not.
	* '''Don't rush.''' If you need a couch by tomorrow, you are making it hard for yourself. Try to send requests 1-4 weeks before.
	* Realize that '''many hosts will have a hard time accepting couch requests more than a few weeks in advance''', due to unpredictable schedules. Many hosts have a "sweet spot" of about 1-2 weeks beforehand. Asking to be hosted months in advance can make a host feel more like a hotel reservation system than a personal residence.
	* Don't feel bad about asking more than one host at the same time -- this is not a dating game anyway and also you are not even sure all hosts will respond or even get your request . Mention the range of days you will be in their town and perhaps that you hope to only stay one day per host. Then narrow it down from any positive responses you receive after all.
	* In the Arrival and Departure fields of the request form, enter the approximate or exact dates of your whole visit to a place, even though you only intend to stay with a single host for part of that time. Then in the body of your request, ask the host to let you know which dates within that range are available.

	~~== Are you for real? ==~~

	* <b>Make sure you have a complete and detailed profile.</b> Upload more than one picture of yourself - possibly doing fun activities that you enjoy, or places you've already visited. Describe yourself in details, not generalities. This takes some time, but it is worthwhile, especially for those who have few (or no) references.
	* Write about what you want to do in the place you are wanting to visit.
	* Don't make any demands, but don't be obsequious or give fake compliments either. You will get the most from a visit by adapting to and experiencing what's different about the place. Share what you can and accept what is offered.
	* [[:cs:verification.html\|Get verified!]] Being a level 3 fully verified member might help increase your chance of the host accepting you because you have verified that you are who you say you are. This is an important safety feature of CouchSurfing.

	~~== Traveling with friends ==~~

	* If you are surfing together with other people: mention them, introduce them, link to pictures, and try to make them sign up on CS with their own profile. Most people will not host you if your travel partner is not a [[Members only\|member]] as well.

	~~== Conclusion ==~~

	Your success at receiving invitations from hosts depends on a lot of things... '''Are you smiling or scowling in your photos'''? Are you pictured '''doing something fun or sitting in the dark in front of your computer'''? How did you fill out your profile description? Do you have couchsurfing connections, verification and references?

	No prior CS references? '''Try to go to a [[:cs:meetings.html\|meetup]] with people from your home area before you start your trip''', to learn more about CouchSurfing, and to make CS friends that have met you in real life.

	If you are completely new or your current living situation prevents you from hosting, you can still meet some local/visiting Couchsurfers for a coffee & drink before you look for a couch. There are frequent gatherings happening in many cities. More at [[Cheat_Sheet\|Couchsurfing Cheat Sheet]]. If you can't host, try to explain why you can't host in your Couch Information, instead of having a blank response.

	It's OK if you contact several hosts to "increase your chances", but please don't spam everyone in a particular city. CouchSurfing has several spam filters in place and when you send a certain number of messages within a small amount of time you may be automatically identified as a possible spammer and NONE of your messages might go out until they are reviewed by a volunteer to make sure you are not spamming people. How ~~many requests is the right number depends on a lot of things, but 10 requests to an average place with a decent profile and a few days advanced notice is usually more than enough~~ to ~~get one invitation.~~

	~~Also, it's just polite to '''~~write ~~back to everyone who replied to you, to thank them''' and say you already have~~ a couch ~~if you have already found one. Even if they say "no", reply with a "Thanks anyways" - they will remember your politeness... and who knows, maybe one of their friends may be able to host you.~~

	~~Remember, read the host profiles carefully and follow any instructions they include when writing your~~ request.

	~~[[Category:Tips]]~~
	~~[[Category:Hospitality~~]]

Guaka: Created page with "CouchSurfing is more than a "free" bed. It is an exchange, - it is about the experience of meeting and spending time with similar minded people. "What can you bring and w..."

2013-01-18T17:04:11Z

Created page with "CouchSurfing is more than a "free" bed. It is an exchange, - it is about the experience of meeting and spending time with similar minded people. "What can you bring and w..."

New page

[[CouchSurfing]] is more than a "free" bed. It is an exchange, - it is about the experience of meeting and spending time with similar minded people. "What can you bring and what can the host offer in the time you share". You should be looking for a '''''host to stay with''''' and not just a '''''couch to use'''''. Some hosts in popular cities get so many couch requests that they have to be selective about whom they chose to accept. They are on couchsurfing because they want to meet new people but they may also have limited time. So... how to get your Couch Request so you stand out and get accepted? Read on!

Remember, even though this is written in English, in todays world online translator tools anyone can write in any language. Language is not a barrier in travelling.

Some hosts ask that you write requests with a lot of personalized comments about them and their profile. Some even include a codeword that you have to find to prove that you read their profile. Others would prefer that you copy and paste a request to all selected hosts so you can spend more time traveling than writing requests without even knowing which couches are available when you need one. It is important to read the hosts' profiles carefully to determine how personalized they want requests to be. Also, before posting to the group forum for a locale be sure to check that there is not another sub-forum specifically for that purpose. Some popular cities name such a sub-forum as "Last minute Requests".

==Official CS Tips for writing a CouchRequest==
[http://www.couchsurfing.org/couchrequest_tips.html CouchRequest Tips]

==Languages==
* [[Image:Flag_of_Italy.png|30px]] Questa pagina è disponibile anche nella versione italiana [[Come scrivere una richiesta di ospitalità]]
* [[Image:Flag_of_Germany.png|30px]] Diese Seite gibt es auch auf Deutsch: [[Wie man eine CouchAnfrage schreibt]]

== Use the CouchRequest form ==
...only use the "<< Send CouchRequest to ...>>" button at the top right above the profile picture. It is this button that counts the number of replies the hosts sends and counts to the CS CouchRequests % figure on your profile.

== saying hello ==

*'''Read their profiles'''!: This will help you better predict the quality of your experience. Also read to see if they have special rules/requirements, e.g. bringing a sleeping bag, no smoking, dates when they are unavailable, limits on numbers of people they can host, needs a donation towards food, or for electricity, or internet, or help in home and family, or is it a shared house or a flat.
* '''See if you are compatible'''. Look for a host with similar interests. If you only like museums and your host only likes drinking, there could be a personality clash :).
* Some hosts want to know why you want to surf ''their'' couch and not just ''any'' couch. When you try to answer this question in your request, you should realize that you are interested in the ''host'' more than just their ''couch''. Each host is different. So until there's a field to specify request personalization requirements, just read the profiles carefully.
* '''Try to contact newer & less busy hosts''' to increase your chances. Busy hosts in popular cities can get up to 10 requests per day, or possibly even more.
* Realize that some hosts get fewer couch requests simply because '''they live outside of their main city limits''' "proper", but they still happen to live very close to the main attractions. Be sure to use the "Within ___ kilometers/miles" of a city when you do a couch search. Often, these hosts are more willing to take surfers simply because they get less requests. You can also just search the region instead of the city, when traveling in more sparse areas.
* '''If you're traveling with friends''', make sure they all [[Members only|have profiles]]. Each profile can be linked to each other in your profiles and in your CouchRequest, this makes it easier for hosts to look at all your profiles.
If a group is traveling under one profile, then are you all staying together for life? As all references will be to the group. If you split up, then each of you will not have a history record on CS. So best to have all individual profiles, and reference each other.
Also remember to add your friends to your list of friends on your profile.

== Say my name... ==

* Start with a good impression and say the person's name. Don't start with, "hey man/hi there/hello you/hi" unless you already know them. Sometimes people have a username on CS that is not their real name, but their real name can often be found in their CS references - why not use that and show that you've read that section of their profile, at least. People of Asian background might be uncomfortable with addressing someone by their name the first time they write to you, since, in many cultures, addressing a person by first name is considered rude and too forward. You can work around this by specifically referring to something from their profile to communicate that you read it. A "Hello Mr. or Ms. ''Surname''" will most likely not offend anyone.

* Introduce yourself. Don't tell your whole life story, but try a little harder than just saying, "Hi! I want to surf your couch." '''Don't copy/paste your request emails to try to get a couch.''' Hosts have already caught on to this, and your chances of being successful are much greater if you make it clear to the host that you've ''actually read their profile'' and want to stay with ''them'', not just stay on ''their couch''.

== Timing is everything ==

* Be as precise as possible about arrival and departure dates/times. If you are hitch-hiking, let your host know and tell them not to wait for you at home because it's impossible to know when you will exactly be there.
* Be aware that '''people may write dates in different formats'''. The dates "8/9 to 8/11" could mean 2 days or 2 months, depending on the culture. Instead, use expanded, clear date formats such as: "9-August to 11-August" to avoid confusion. This will make it easy for the host to decide quickly if they can have you surf or not.
* '''Don't rush.''' If you need a couch by tomorrow, you are making it hard for yourself. Try to send requests 1-4 weeks before.
* Realize that '''many hosts will have a hard time accepting couch requests more than a few weeks in advance''', due to unpredictable schedules. Many hosts have a "sweet spot" of about 1-2 weeks beforehand. Asking to be hosted months in advance can make a host feel more like a hotel reservation system than a personal residence.
* Don't feel bad about asking more than one host at the same time -- this is not a dating game anyway and also you are not even sure all hosts will respond or even get your request . Mention the range of days you will be in their town and perhaps that you hope to only stay one day per host. Then narrow it down from any positive responses you receive after all.
* In the Arrival and Departure fields of the request form, enter the approximate or exact dates of your whole visit to a place, even though you only intend to stay with a single host for part of that time. Then in the body of your request, ask the host to let you know which dates within that range are available.

== Are you for real? ==

* <b>Make sure you have a complete and detailed profile.</b> Upload more than one picture of yourself - possibly doing fun activities that you enjoy, or places you've already visited. Describe yourself in details, not generalities. This takes some time, but it is worthwhile, especially for those who have few (or no) references.
* Write about what you want to do in the place you are wanting to visit.
* Don't make any demands, but don't be obsequious or give fake compliments either. You will get the most from a visit by adapting to and experiencing what's different about the place. Share what you can and accept what is offered.
* [[:cs:verification.html|Get verified!]] Being a level 3 fully verified member might help increase your chance of the host accepting you because you have verified that you are who you say you are. This is an important safety feature of CouchSurfing.

== Traveling with friends ==

* If you are surfing together with other people: mention them, introduce them, link to pictures, and try to make them sign up on CS with their own profile. Most people will not host you if your travel partner is not a [[Members only|member]] as well.

== Conclusion ==

Your success at receiving invitations from hosts depends on a lot of things... '''Are you smiling or scowling in your photos'''? Are you pictured '''doing something fun or sitting in the dark in front of your computer'''? How did you fill out your profile description? Do you have couchsurfing connections, verification and references?

No prior CS references? '''Try to go to a [[:cs:meetings.html|meetup]] with people from your home area before you start your trip''', to learn more about CouchSurfing, and to make CS friends that have met you in real life.

If you are completely new or your current living situation prevents you from hosting, you can still meet some local/visiting Couchsurfers for a coffee & drink before you look for a couch. There are frequent gatherings happening in many cities. More at [[Cheat_Sheet|Couchsurfing Cheat Sheet]]. If you can't host, try to explain why you can't host in your Couch Information, instead of having a blank response.

It's OK if you contact several hosts to "increase your chances", but please don't spam everyone in a particular city. CouchSurfing has several spam filters in place and when you send a certain number of messages within a small amount of time you may be automatically identified as a possible spammer and NONE of your messages might go out until they are reviewed by a volunteer to make sure you are not spamming people. How many requests is the right number depends on a lot of things, but 10 requests to an average place with a decent profile and a few days advanced notice is usually more than enough to get one invitation.

Also, it's just polite to '''write back to everyone who replied to you, to thank them''' and say you already have a couch if you have already found one. Even if they say "no", reply with a "Thanks anyways" - they will remember your politeness... and who knows, maybe one of their friends may be able to host you.

Remember, read the host profiles carefully and follow any instructions they include when writing your request.

[[Category:Tips]]
[[Category:Hospitality]]