Sneak Peak – 101 Ways to Market Your Pet Sitting Business

What if you had a reference list of 101 different ways to market your pet sitting business to turn to whenever you need inspiration? I hope it would mean that you take more action and get more clients!

In the past few weeks I have been working on a new free report that will be sent to all current subscribers of this blog next week.

The report is a list of 101 Ways to Market Your Pet Sitting Business designed to give you ideas and give you motivation to get out in your community this summer and let everyone know about how valuable your pet sitting service can be to them.  There is a good mix of online and offline marketing methods as well as some creative ideas for partnering with other pet businesses to get joint publicity.

Here is a sneak peak of the first 15 pet sitting marketing ideas:

  1. Join a pet sitting association – PUPS, NAPS or PSI – they will give you a free listing on their online pet sitter locator service
  2. Donate books on pets to local libraries or schools with a sticker on inner front jacket that shows your business name and contact details
  3. Place bookmarks that advertise your services in pet books at your local library
  4. Offer pet education classes or pet first aid classes at a local school
  5. Write a weekly or bi-weekly physical newsletter or online e-zine and have a sign-up box on your website
  6. Write a pet related column in a local paper or online newspaper
  7. Distribute cards or flyers to local boarding facilities and offer to help them cover their customer overflow during busy holiday seasons
  8. Join pet meet-up groups in your area to network with local pet owners – find them at www.meetup.com
  9. Join twitter and have a customized background created that displays your website url, email address and logo (contact Leslie May at Pawsible Marketing for customized twitter backgrounds and twitter coaching)
  10. Start a group on facebook for local pet owners that gives reviews of local pet businesses, info on local pet events, pet care tips, and a place for pet owners to chat and network
  11. Create a facebook page for your business where your clients can meet and be a fan of your business. You can also list changes to your business, info on your sitters, and your policies and forms
  12. Advertise in local home owners association newsletters and on their community websites
  13. Have your flyers distributed by a local welcome wagon that gives out information from local businesses to new residents
  14. Visit local realty offices and ask if you can leave flyers in their office or have them placed in packets that they give to new residents
  15. Place your flyers in local pet friendly apartment offices and ask if they can be placed in new resident info packets
What about owning a pet business?

Owning a pet business does not guarantee you success, but it is generally not difficult to set up your own pet business adn many who own pet businesses love the hard working lifestyle and the closeness to pets. You will have to compete with those who may be better trained, may have lower cost structures and those who “pretend” to have your skills and experience when they do not. (eg not all those who advertise themselves as groomers are actually Groomers).

Essential skills for working with dogs

There are also key skills that all dog industry professionals should possess. Here are some of the most critical skills and abilities for those hoping to work with dogs professionally: Basic Dog Handling and Training Skills, ability to recognize behavioral signals.

Safety tips for working with animals

Animals can be somewhat unpredictable when they are under stress or in an unfamiliar environment, like when they visit the veterinary office or the grooming salon, so it is important to be attentive and stay aware of the animal you are handling at all times.