Comments on: The Easiest Way To Gain Many More Pet Sitting Clients

By: Joshua Cary

Joshua Cary — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:24:00 +0000

Glad to see you hear, Tonya. And thanks for posting. What you are experiencing is one of the most common difficulties we face all the time – trying to compete with these hobby sitters who undercut price.

The only way to combat that is on the path you are already going. Offer plenty of value on your website that will make you stand out. Sure a tag line helps to get the ball rolling but it’s nowhere near enough.

Are you creating a ton of content on your web pages to educate your potential clients in a variety of ways? Are you telling your story? Are you sharing your pet sitting experiences? Are you spelling out the value of the service, including how you leave detailed notes with each visit, how you send daily text messages, how you send pictures, or create short videos that your clients are sure to love?

Are you posting reviews and testimonials from happy clients on your site? Are you blogging? Are you sending out a newsletter to potential clients?

There is a lot we can do to overshadow those “local yocals” (as you put it!) but it does take some work on our part. It takes work to simply educate the pet owners on why we are the better choice.

Keep at it!

By: Tonya

Tonya — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:07:00 +0000

Hello
Josh and Laura, I’ll take that challenge to gain one new client, in fact, I have decided to make that one new client each month, since I offer more services than pet sitting. My passion has always been animals. Owning and rescuing them, so when our company was sold I decided to start a pet care company and follow my passion. Since I was already actively involved in Animal advocacy, rescue, transport and fostering, why not get paid to do what I love. I love this industry too, but as you all know it is very competitive. I would like to see some feedback, suggestions, or education on how to combat the local yocal pet sitter who’s just looking to make some money, they generally do not belong to any professional organizations, are not insured or bonded, and don’t keep up on the currents trends in training, pet health or humane education, and most probably are not paying taxes on the money they’re making. Craig’s List in my area are FULL of them. I try to combat them by stating in my Tag Line, Professional Dog Walking and Pet Care Services and to be honest I don’t know if that tag helps or hurts my chances of getting someone to respond to my advertisement. Would enjoy hearing other pet sitters experiences or suggestions.

By: Joshua Cary

Joshua Cary — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:57:00 +0000

Hey Tami,

Glad to see you here and we will have the webinar recording publicly available soon. As you know, there are many elements you need in place in order to get more visitors to your site and more visitors to take action once on your site.

The initial changes you have already made look great. A final note is to add Google Analytics to your site. This way you have an idea how users are interacting with your site in the first place.

Stay in touch.

By: Tami

Tami — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:45:00 +0000

I spent most of the day working on this. So I am on board. I was there today for The Pet Sitter Website Review Clinic Webinar. So I am working on that too. I lost audio right in the middle of Josh and Laura going over my web site. I have not had a new client in a whole month so just 1 would be wonderful.

By: Joshua Cary

Joshua Cary — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Hello and Welcome Hayley! Glad you are finding the process engaging.

The biggest thing I tend to promote around here is simply honing your business skills to gain the most amount of clients possible. It’s not easy, but is very possible.

Also, your website will play a crucial role of your entire marketing strategy. If/When you have your website going, please check back and share it with us.

Looking forward to your journey.

By: Hayley

Hayley — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:53:00 +0000

I’m most definitely on board to get just one more client… my first that is! I’m just starting up a cat sitting service in Bath, UK called Catdom. I am finding the process very engaging so far and looking forward to the challenges ahead. Your nuggets of wisdom scattered around this blog will be a great inspiration and focusing tool for me – so thank you for sharing. I will endeavour to keep sharing the juice!

I think some of the things you have touched on in this post are particularly relevant to Pet Sitters since on the whole, I suspect we are a caring, creative bunch. Keeping one’s eye on the prize is critical, and I am sure many of us need reminding of that from time to time.

Having said that, generalising is not something I tend to condone – and possibly, it’s resonance reflects more on my own tendencies rather than pet-sitters overall. ;)

By: Joshua Cary

Joshua Cary — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:37:00 +0000

Congrats on those important initial steps, Melinda! It’s an exciting time for you, I bet. Please share your website link with us, and certainly come back and celebrate when you land your first client! I look forward to hearing all about the process, the journey and the WIN!

By: Melinda

Melinda — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:19:00 +0000

I am just getting started, you have been a huge help, thanks! Just got my business cards today and already hit the pet store employees (who all know me well) and posted them on a few community boards around town. My website is up and I have taken advantage of every free internet listing I have found so far. I am totally commited to getting my First client!

By: Lea J Smith

Lea J Smith — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:43:00 +0000

With anything in life, it really is best to focus on one at a time (unless you are an excellent multi-tasker)! One day at a time to tackle a difficult habit or task, one email or phone call to let a pet parent know that their shy dog is coming out of her shell, one customer at a time to give them full attention and make them feel as if they are the only one, because at that moment in time they are.

Thank you for the encouragement to keep on keeping on.

By: Joshua Cary

Joshua Cary — Mon, 16 May 2011 23:03:00 +0000

Happy to see you hear, and thrilled you are gaining value from it. Yes, moving systematically in the right direction one step at a time will do the trick.

Re: ICs / Employees… As you may know, I have plenty of articles and videos right on this blog that may help clear things up. Search for “IC” and/or “video” on the site above and you’ll find plenty on the subject.

Stay motivated!