Don’t make me think
As a student, being proactive is the Key to success, especially when you want to study graphic design — UX.
With this in my mind, I started reading ‘’Don’t make me think’’ from @SteveKrug. The book is about human–computer interaction and web usability.
In other words, what an UXD has to design, is a web site where, let users accomplish their intended tasks as easily and directly as possible without making them think. This is the first rule as a UXD.
After reading this, I found how related these two different aspects of my life were — being a host and studying UXD.
To get in situation:
Newly, we received two pre-approved requests (guests that are not entirely sure if they want to book, so they pre-book and send you a message).
What was curious about these two pre-bookings was that they booked for the same days within 10 min difference and also, both of the pre-bookings were asking things where the answers were already in the description of our room.
One of them asked “Why is it a shared bathroom?” We describe ourselves as a couple that live in the house and can accommodate guests in a private room with shared bathroom.
The other one was a family, a mum, a dad and a small child. They asked if it was possible to book with us, even though we can only accommodate up to 2 guests and no children under 12 is allowed.
It’s when I started to think that the description of our room wasn’t clear enough.
As a host and future UXD, hopefully, I want to give my guests my best performance, so I started reading hosts’ groups where other hosts ask for suggestions, advice, etc.
What called my attention was that in many cases, hosts were complaining about people that booked but then the hosts had to cancel because the guests didn’t adhere to the hosts’ rules and they didn’t know how to prevent this. Some of the complaints were: maximum 2 guests and the guests emailed saying they were 4, another example: no pets allowed and the guests want to show up with their lovely dog at the property, etc.
Exactly the same (or similar) experience as mine!! So I wasn’t the only one with that issue.
I started thinking that to avoid this situation the same first rule as a UXD, mentioned in the book, you need to apply in the description of the room that you are offering.
How:
* Use capital letters for things that are not allowed, e.g.:
- NO CHILDREN, NO PETS, NO MORE THAN “X” GUESTS ALLOWED.
* A better suggestion though is:
- NO SAFE PLACE FOR A CHILD (all good parents want a safe place for their kids). The same applies for pets.
- Regarding the number of guests, you can advice that there is not enough beds, space, etc
* Try to reduce the length of your explanation, easy and clear sentences are easy to read.
* If you are always asked the same question e.g.: can I bring my dog? Write it in the first line of your description, if you allow it or not, in capital letters if necessary, to avoid ambiguity.
Applying this rule, they will know what to expect and what not, in their first glance. Don’t be afraid to be very clear, it is much better! Believe me!
Thanks for reading!
Take a look to:
Become a Host: First Doubts. Part I
Become a Host: Why I should?. Part II
Become a Host: What to expect. Part III
Welcome to our home
Originally published at www.thebesthosttips.com on July 28, 2016.
