Being a pet sitting business owner can undoubtedly be lonely and isolating. But what if I told you it doesn’t have to be? In fact, it shouldn’t be! It’s important that you are continually working to build your pet sitting community as often as possible. Not only will it allow you to make some great business partnerships, but it’s a way for you to put yourself out there and show the world who you are!
Today we’re going to talk about some key ways that you can build your pet sitting community online that are fun and easy.
4 Ways To Quickly And Easily Build Your Pet Sitting Community Online
Mom’s Blogs
Have you heard of these yet? I hope so – they have a HUGE following of your target audience, which presents a great opportunity for your business. The first step is to find statistics on what are the largest mom’s blogs in your area. Then, reach out to them and ask for a quote about how they connect with the community and how that impacts their online presence.
You could also ask them to be a guest blogger. For example: “Back To School Time! Bus Stop Etiquette When You Have The Dog”. Don’t be afraid to pitch them. They are always looking for content and their reach is massive. Plus, you can extend your reach further by cross-posting when they post your blog on social media.
Try to be consistent in pitching them and share their stuff when applicable. Develop a relationship with some of these blogs and you’ll quickly build your pet sitting community!
A popular one in many cities is www.citymomsblog.com Check them out!
Rescue Groups
Obviously, rescue groups are going to have your target audience – animals lovers! So, step one here is to get a point of contact. Then, ask them to let you know when silent auctions are coming up so you can give a certificate or put together a basket. This not only strengthens your relationship with the group, but as a sponsor you’ll definitely get some recognition!
You can also ask them to tell you about their MAJOR events coming up that you can help promote or bring people to. Ask them if you can include a gift certificate (not coupon) in their new adoption packets.
Keep in mind when promoting events that you shouldn’t just post pictures of dogs because people are numb to that. Just simply let people know that we are here to promote their events. If you want, every month you can highlight a different rescue group with a “who/what/when/where/why” segment. As a business owner you have a platform – so use it! Use it to publicize these groups, and hopefully they’ll share that publication that you wrote about them.
Community Pages
Another way to build your pet sitting community online is to look for and connect with local pages. Maybe it’s a dog park, lake, or an area in your community that’s dialed in to what you’re doing at a local level.
Step two is to share their stuff, but talk to them as your business page to their business page and comment. They’ll see that you’re engaging so that when the time comes that you want them to promote something of yours, you have that established relationship and they’re happy to do it.
Plus, community residents that follow the page will see you come up again and again. You’re getting your name is OUT THERE which can sometimes be the hardest part about running a business. But by extending your reach to local outlets and pages, you can successfully build your pet sitting community.
Another thing to think about is if there’s a town newspaper or magazine that goes out. Maybe they would love to have a pet tips column. You never know unless you ask. Maybe they have a pet spot already and you can offer a gift certificate to the winner if they run a contest with or without pets? Just some food for thought to get your creative juices flowing!
Get Out Of Your Own Way
It’s really important that you don’t isolate yourself by not reaching out to people. Not everyone will be responsive but you need to try to find some connectors in your community. As I’ve said before, learn to love the word “no,” and you’ll be an unstoppable force!
For more ways on building your pet sitting community and network, be sure to check out the following blogs:
How To Build Your Pet Sitting Network Locally
How To Have A Successful Business Partnership With Your Community
How To Become An Expert In Your Community
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