In the last couple of weeks I had a number of people ask me how I marketed my business to attract my first few clients.

Once of the first things I did when I started my business in 2003 was to join Pet Sitters International.  I joined to get find out more about pet sitting and to get a discount on my insurance but also because they offered to list my business on their online locator tool. This locator allows pet owners to search for sitters using their zip or city and pull up a list of sitters that serve their area.  If you have a website you can show it in your listing and people can learn more about your business. My first pet sitting client found me using this locator and I still have them as clients.

There are other directories where you can list your business – some have a small fee to list per year, others requrie a lifetime membership, and some are free. One way to find these directories is to do a Google search and type “Pet Sitting Directories” into the search box. You will bring up many sites – the ones that I recommend and use myself are:

http://www.petsitusa.com

http://www.pet-sitters.biz

http://www.petsits.com

The second way that I marketed was to produce a simple tri-fold brochure or flyer about my business and placed these flyers in local small pet supply stores, vet offices, grooming salons, and restaurants.  I still get people today tell me that they picked up one of my flyers many years ago and have had it sitting on their fridge or in their pet file. 

On my flyer I put :

1) Company logo, tagline, and contact information

2) The advantages of using a pet sitter

3) Information about myself

4) Company mission statement

5) Information about services we provide

You can take a look at my original flyer (I have still been using it but need to update now with my new business name and logo) by downloading a copy here:

http://www.workingwithpets.com/Brochure.doc

Feel free to use this as a template for your own flyer.  It is designed so that I could print them out at home or at local print shop (eg Kinkos) and then get them tri-folded or z-folded by the print shop. They fit nicely into a plastic or cardboard brochure holder that you can find at office stores such as Office Depot or Staples.

Please leave us a comment if you have any other suggestions using flyers or directories – or any other marketing ideas for start up pet sitting business owners.