How often does a potential new pet sitting client tell you that she’s read great things about you online?

It’s one thing to boast on your website that you’ve grown up around animals you’re entire life and that you are the most caring, loving and professional pet sitter this side of the Mississippi.

And it’s an entirely different thing for someone else to say it.

The truth of the matter is that when someone else toots your horn for you, the impact is tremendously greater than saying it yourself.

I’m talking about the good ol’ fashioned testimonial and review.

Are you constantly working to get feedback from your pet sitting clients? No? Sort of? Sometimes?

Meet The Welcome Home Email

When I’m chatting with a potential client on the phone and she says “I called you because I read wonderful things about you online,” I consider that a win.

Your reputation plays a huge role in the pet sitting business world, and one way I keep that reputation visible is through a simple welcome home email.

Sending your clients an email a few days after the job has ended accomplishes a few key things:

It shows your appreciation for their business (or continued business)

Studies show that the single most reason clients do not go back to a service provider is because they feel under appreciated or forgotten about. Don’t forget about or neglect your current clients.

It keeps you on their radar

You should embrace any chance you get to legitimately keep in touch with your clients. Naturally, the more often they see your name on their screen or in their email inbox, the more likely they’ll call you again for service.

It gives them a voice

Part of the reason for the welcome home email is to solicit feedback. And we all want to know that our opinion matters. By offering your clients a direct chance to be heard by saying “I’m here to listen” will make a world of difference. The vast majority of your clients will be thrilled to provide a review of testimonial for you to use.

Preparing for The Reviews and Testimonials

When I first started asking for client testimonials, the plan was to gather a bunch for use on our website.

When we reached about a dozen, we started to request clients review us on some of the more popular review sites.

A potential client who comes across your website may very likely do a separate Google search on you or your company name to see what other non-biased info is out there. (Are you keeping tabs on your business reputation?)

The best way to control the flow of positive information regarding your business is to get listed on some top review sites and ask your clients to post a review there. There is no fee to be listed on these sites.

A short list of review sites for your business is:

• Google Maps
• Yahoo Local
• Yelp

Fill out a free business profile on those sites then lead your clients directly to the listing in your welcome home email.

Use Our Welcome Home Email Template

I have a welcome home email that I send to our clients a few days after their job has ended.

Feel free to download, use, edit and adjust the email to suit your needs.

The HTML email can be a bit tricky, since it’ll take some knowledge on how to make the changes and send it to the client.

How to send HTML email using Outlook

Since it’s best not to send the html version as an email attachment, follow these steps to quickly and easily insert the html file directly into the ‘compose’ window and send it using Outlook:

1. Compose a new message, and click anywhere in the body (if you don’t do this part, you won’t see the option available in step 2)
2. From the top menu bar, click “Insert > Text from file…”
3. Under the ‘File name’ field, change the ‘Files of type’ drop-down menu to HTML files.
4. Find your Welcome Home Email HTML doc and double-click it to insert it into the body of your email.
5. Voila! You should now be ready to (edit and/or) send your welcome home email. Fill in the subject, add a recipient and you’re good to go.

Or perhaps a bit more simpler, you can download the plain text version and copy and paste it into whatever email program you currently use.

Download Welcome Home Email Templates

Right-Click on the links and save the file to your desktop (or another folder you can access later).

Email Template in Plain Text Format

Email Template in HTML Format

I hope this is helpful. If you do wind up using these, I’d love to know.

In any case, welcome home your clients and watch your reputation soar.