Advertising methods most recommended by pet sitters.
We are always trying to find new ways of getting new clients and grow our reach. Some of the methods may work better than others in your area, but are worth trying out. We’ve collected the most common ways pet sitters around the globe market their businesses.
Handing out cards to dog owners you meet when out walking with dogs or at the dog park. It gives you a chance to talk so they get to know who you are and how you can help. For some, this face-to-face marketing will really be best. Be prepared to strike up a conversation and ready to answer questions quickly. You never know how much time you’ll have!
Related to the first one, go to community events, both pet related and not. All you need is your shirt, business cards and having a cute dog always helps. When you go to community events like farmers markets, community days, parades and craft shows everyone is usually local to that area. So you know you’re really targeting your market. This type of marketing is a great way to show you’re involved with the community. It helps build trust and allows for an easy way for people to get to know you and see who you are.
If you’re a baker, make homemade all natural dog treats and take them to community events to sell or give away. You may also consider offering your services for a raffle or auction that goes to a good cause in the community. Schools, churches, and rec centers are always doing fundraisers and need things donated for people to bid on/buy. You know it goes to a good cause and people see your name associated with it.
Instagram! Seriously. Here is the trick, search the local area you provide services and hashtags that have to deal with dogs and pets. You can look for the local dog park or trails people frequently use. Then, interact with those posts and follow the person. They’ll see who you are and immediately know about your services. So make sure you website link is in your profile so they can click on it. Obviously, you’ll want to make sure you’re posting tons of cute pet photos and infographics about your services and pet care knowledge for the owners.
Client referrals and word of mouth are huge and by far and away the most common method pet care professionals get new clients. You really can’t beat someone gushing about how awesome you are to a friend. You can encourage it by giving them a discount for each person the refer to you.
Ads in a local pet connection magazine. Don’t discount the power of ad placement in newspapers and magazines, but if it doesn’t work for you, don’t worry.
Vet and groomer offices! Bring pizza or donuts in periodically. Ask to introduce yourself and services during a staff meeting and if you can leave business cards at the front. Pet owners often ask vets and groomers if they know who cares for pets. A referral from them is very powerful.
Nextdoor App. This is a community app specific to where you live. Its focus is bringing together people in the area and provides a platform for people to ask for recommendations and discussion about local issues. Posting in the app is a great way to get in-front of neighbors and potential clients in a focused geographic area.
Local Facebook groups. Much like the Nextdoor app, this is a way to create a post so people in a particular area will see it. You’ll find if existing clients are also in the group, they’ll comment on the post and recommend you without prompting. Your post should include a link to your website and a brief intro about who you are and what you do.
Speaking of your website, do you have one? Is it easy to navigate and SEO optimized? It takes some time to work on that but really does pay off on the back end. Getting people to look you up is 1/2 the battle. They also have to like what they see and know what you do. Squarespace is an amazingly easy option to get your website up and running in a matter of hours.
Google My Business. This is extremely powerful and goes a long way towards SEO and getting your page in-front of clients. It is a free and easy-to-use tool for businesses and organizations to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. You can optimize it to get the most out of it.