HelpStay & the Journey to Finding Quality Host

Making a marketplace platform like HelpStay work is challenging. It reminds me of the classic “chicken or egg” dilemma. If you say the egg came first, the question is who laid it; if you say the chicken, the reply is that the chicken came from an egg. Either way, you can’t win.

When HelpStay started in 2014, we faced a similar challenge: to attract volunteers, we needed hosts, and to enrol hosts, we needed volunteers.

The Struggle to Find the First Hosts

Getting those first hosts was tough—it involved literally getting on the road, knocking on doors, and convincing hosts to take a chance on us. To kick-start the platform, we focused on finding our first hosts on Achill Island, a small island in the west of Ireland with a population of 2,500 people.

I relocated to the island and secured local media coverage. I then enrolled my first five hosts and met with each in person. To help volunteers know what to expect upon arrival, I photographed their properties.

The Power of Quality Hosts

These five hosts were exceptional; they embraced the concept of a help exchange, and some are still listed on the platform a decade later. However, five hosts weren’t enough to make HelpStay viable.

Back then, I believed there was a magic number of hosts—maybe 1,000 or even 20,000—that would make the platform successful. This anxiety was often fuelled by potential volunteers who complained online that the service was lacking because there were no stays available in certain locations or there were too few opportunities.

(Volunteers busy in the garden, photo by HelpStay)

HelpStay Lessons Learned: Quality Over Quantity

Today, in 2024, we have over 2,000 hosts. What I’ve learned is that the number of hosts isn’t as important as their quality. Quality hosts are the key to a successful platform.

Finding large numbers of hosts is relatively easy compared to finding quality hosts, which is genuinely difficult and takes time.

In fact, attracting a large quantity of hosts is something that can often be achieved with money. You can run Facebook or Google ads and quickly get a flood of hosts eager to join your platform. But here’s the catch: most of those applicants will be unsuitable, making the effort and expense of running the ads hardly worth it.

The Power of 1,000 True Fans

The digital evangelist Kevin Kelly wrote an essay in 2008 called “1,000 True Fans,” which is one of my go-to pieces of writing and can be applied to almost any online business.

The core idea of Kelly’s essay is that creators—whether artists, musicians, writers, or entrepreneurs—don’t need widespread fame or millions of fans to sustain a successful career. Instead, Kelly argues that having just 1,000 “True Fans” can be enough to make a living.

A “True Fan” buys everything the creator produces. These fans are loyal, buying all products and attending events. Each of 1,000 True Fans spending significantly can provide substantial income, letting creators focus on their craft.

The essay advises creators to build strong connections with a dedicated audience, rather than pursuing a large, shallow fan base.

Applying the “True Fans” Principle to HelpStay

My thoughts often resonate with Kelly’s essay when I think of HelpStay hosts.

Let’s call them True Hosts. True Hosts are what HelpStay craves, and when we land them, we cherish having them on board.

What Makes a True Host?

But what do I mean by True Hosts? A True Host is simply a genuinely decent person who believes in and practices the principles of hospitality. They are kind, go out of their way to help guests, and ensure that visitors have a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience.

A True Host that comes to mind is George Whitman (1913–2011) of the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris. The ethos of his store was simple: “Give what you can; take what you need.”

True Hosts are personable, approachable, and willing to spend time with their guests, showing them how to perform their tasks. They embrace the help exchange philosophy, understanding that their role goes beyond providing a comfortable bed and good food. They view it as a cultural and skills exchange, where they teach and guide enthusiastic and honest helpers in the tasks at hand.

For instance, a farm host might spend time with a volunteer teaching them how to plant and nurture vegetables or care for animals. Often, these volunteers have never been on a farm before but are eager to learn and engage with the experience.

The Impact of True Hosts on the HelpStay Community

We’ve had instances where some of our True Hosts have remained friends with helpers long after their stay.

(John’s weather forecasting stone, photo by HelpStay)

John: A True Host in Ireland

One such True Host is John, based in the west of Ireland. His farm and summer school project has been listed on our platform for 10 years. In an interview, he shared that he has been invited to two weddings by helpers he met while volunteering on his farm. Many volunteers have returned several times and have become like family.

Mita: A True Host in India

Another True Host is Mita, who serves as the volunteer coordinator for a school in Gujarat, India. She has been in this role since 2009 and is someone who understands both Eastern and Western cultures and enjoys travelling. Mita ensures that every query and concern from potential volunteers is addressed before they travel to India.

The Backbone of HelpStay: Quality Over Quantity

Hosts like John and Mita are the backbone of HelpStay and embody what we strive to achieve. While they represent only two hosts, they are much more than just that.

In response to the question of how many hosts a platform like HelpStay needs to be successful, my answer is: I don’t know, and frankly, I don’t care. What I do care about is enrolling True Hosts. With True Hosts, you don’t need a large number because helpers will always want to stay with them, day in and day out, all year round.

So, for anyone considering starting a platform like HelpStay, don’t worry about the quantity of hosts. Instead, focus on quality. But remember, finding True Hosts is challenging.

About the Author

Shay founded HelpStay.com in 2014 to connect travellers with hosts for meaningful cultural and skills exchanges. With a focus on creating genuine connections, Shay’s goal is to offer unique travel experiences and support hosts in sharing their skills and hospitality. His commitment to fostering authentic and enriching travel interactions continues to guide HelpStay’s mission.