Blog

Look How One Pet Sitter Got Her Phone Ringing Off The Hook (Say Cheese!)

Josh Cary photoHi! My name is Josh Cary. And that’s me in the picture there.

Why am I posting a photo of myself?

To help prove a point that adding a picture of yourself to your pet sitting website creates an emotional bond between you and the visitor.

And that bond has powerful conscious and subconscious positive effects on your website visitor’s entire experience with you.

This blog post was inspired by my pet sitting colleague Nicole Ryan from Pineapple Pets in Florida.

Nicole sent me an incredible email recently that is truly inspiring.

While Nicole is one of many pet sitters using my WordPress SEO Website System, she has taken it to the next level, and the results speak for themselves.

Read the email Nicole sent and you’ll understand just how simple it is to achieve the exact same results:

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Hey Josh!

Landed a new client who called SPECIFICALLY because of our site. She flat-out told me she only wanted Pineapple Pets as our website “is the best in this area”.

Why? Well, for starters the template you provide is attractive, easy to navigate, and easy to use (even for a technophobe like myself!) From the client’s perspective, that comes down to me. What I hope users of your site realize is that you provide the layout and support, they provide content.

January SUCKED business wise! Not many even though I was blogging and networking. Then, an epiphany.

I answered the question, “what do clients want to see when visiting Pineapple Pets’ site?” Lists of “why hire us?” Maybe. List of services? Sure. Our blog? Probably. But what we have to realize via your site is that WRITTEN content is just a part of the whole picture.

My phone has been ringing off the hook for about a week. What changed? I have a picture of me and one of my dogs (Kona) on the front of my site so people can SEE me. I have a video of fetch with a dog named (no joke) Pineapple. I have more pictures on the “About Us” page. I am going to add a picture (with permission) of a text to and from a client. I am also adding a care note example. We talk about and write about these things, but I really wish pet sitters would PROVE what they do more via their site! I might even write blogs on these special things we do for our clients.

I know that Bella [Vasta] has encouraged sitters to do a brief “commercial” which is great! Sarah Johnson [Menly’s Pet Care] has a good one. I think people want to see us in action and see what we DO. I will continue to encourage them to do what I did-and it was amazing to see the results! A picture is worth a thousand words and nothing against written content at all but SHOWING pictures of actually walking dogs/getting kisses/cuddling a cat/etc MATTER.

We definitely have the most pro site in our area-thanks again!

Take care,

Nicole Ryan
Pineapple Pets
www.pineapplepetsfl.com

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

How incredible is that?

Look at the photo Nicole added of herself. It’s a normal, typical photo that anyone can shoot.

Nicole photo

Watch the 21-second video she shot on her smart phone and simply uploaded to Youtube.

As a professional pet sitter, it’s a typical moment you have been part of too many times to count.

So, let’s go back to the photo of me at the top of this article.

I snapped it myself using my smart phone. I emailed it to myself and uploaded it to my website.

Your photo (like mine) does not have to be professionally shot, and it does not have to be “perfect.”

Some might think I need a haircut, for example, and those people would be right. But I still think it’s a better picture than no picture.

Think About What We Are Offering Pet Parents

The biggest thing you need to do when a potential client visits your website is to get that potential client to feel so comfortable hiring YOU.

Think about this: Every single pet sitter will offer the same service for a similar price.

So what separates one business from another? YOU.

And the immediate bond you can create between you and your potential clients when they visit your website.

The power of showing a casual photo of you – front and center- on your website’s homepage can make all the difference you need to succeed.

What do you have to lose? You already have pictures of yourself that you can upload right now to your website’s homepage.

Update * Update

Right after I posted this article, I received an email from a pet sitter (who wanted to remain anonymous) with a valuable response to this. She writes:

I have been reluctant to post a close up of myself because 1) do not take a good picture and 2) age. I do not want someone to think that I am too old or lack energy to care for their pets. I think we all know people who are young chronologically but have an “older” less energetic presence. Photos of my pets or showing me at an event are preferred.

Very valid take on the subject. How do you respond to this?

Why not do it?

So what do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments and we’ll keep the conversation going.

*Would YOU like us to work on your Website?*

If you are looking to dramatically improve your website results by appearing on the front page of Google (like we have done for hundreds of your professional pet industry colleagues), then review the options here and let's compare notes!

. . .

Josh Cary is a respected and well sought-after speaker and business consultant within the professional pet care industry. Since 2009, having grown his own pet sitting business, Josh provides his industry with the tools, support, and resources to build and maintain a thriving and respected pet business.

With a strong focus on digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and website development, Josh’s one mission is to help you Get Found First through a professional and effective website.

TwitterFacebook

Related Posts

This Post Has 21 Comments

  1. I realized yesterday I didn’t have a picture of myself with one of my pets on the About Us page (just a plain one of me). I posted one yesterday along with a video on my home page; hoping the phone starts ringing like mad! 🙂

  2. Thanks for sharing this, Josh! 😉 I really believe that sitters need to “show their faces!” Pictures with your pets are best and have a few scattered through the site. It really helps people realize, “well, he/she is showing who they are, so why would they not be trusted?”

    1. And thank YOU, Nicole, for sharing your experience with us. You said it: showing a smiling face with a pet can really make all the difference in gaining their trust.

    2. Hey Nicole, your site title is just your URL. Why not make it something like ‘Pineapple Pets Melbourne, Fl Pet Sitting’ or something similar? If your business and address (just use your home) are on Google +, you can also rank for your hometown when people search for pet sitters that are in your city. Something to think about. Nice site!

  5. While many pet sitters are young, your advantage is your age. People are more likely to trust a mature person to have the common sense to care for their pet the way they would like them cared for.

    1. While this is a true thought, Darryl, I do know many younger pet sitters who do an extraordinary job. And like anything else in life, I know many mature pet sitters who cut corners, feel burned out, etc.

      If your personal advantage is your maturity, I think it’s great to lead with that.

      1. Joshua,

        I want to be clear that I am NOT disparaging young people. I meet many younger people that are far more mature and have much more common sense than their elders. Just saying that older people are just thought to be more mature and trustworthy. They still have to prove it with their follow through.

        I have to commend you for putting all the free information out without knowing if people will buy any training.

        1. I agree with you, Darryl. People do make quick judgments and decisions, and from there, we either have to prove them right or prove them wrong.

          And thanks for the commending!

          And PS – I hope your conversation with Beth the other day was very helpful. Talk to you soon.

  6. I’ve also been reluctant to put a picture of myself on my business website, http://www.doggodfather.com and I even use a drawing of myself for my Facebook and Google profile picture. But it does make sense that having one would allow potential clients a glimpse into WHO will be caring for their pets instead of just the business name, which isn’t as personal.

    1. Hey Jason – Great to see you. (And I love your business name!) Why exactly are you reluctant to post a picture of yourself?

      1. Thanks Josh! I guess I prefer to stay in the background instead of the spotlight, and also to avoid making it seem as if I’m the only person running the entire business- even if I am for now.

        1. Interesting points, Jason. If it is just you at this point, I wouldn’t worry about clients thinking the wrong thing. Many appreciate a one-person show! This way, they know that the person they see on the website, and the person they speak with on the phone, is the person they will develop the trust and relationship to watch their pet!

          There are ways you can position your solo business as an advantage!

          1. Yes, I do agree with you on that. But I am planning on expanding soon, and then I won’t be the person they speak with, or meet in person. Is it still important that my picture be on the website? And how important is it that my sitters’ pictures be on the site?

          2. I would argue that no matter how big your company is, we are still in the business of selling trust, security, and credibility. Remember, we are asking a ton of our potential new clients by saying “Give me the keys to your home, the code to your alarm, the access to all of your emergency contacts…” It’s very important to put all photos on your site of your sitters too. Wouldn’t you want to see a picture of someone you are hiring in that situation?

          3. Yes, I definitely think it would add to the trust factor seeing pictures of the person or people who will be in my home. I’m actually thinking I’ll make a short video of myself, and also post pictures of my sitters. Thanks for the great advice!

Comments are closed.