Bella In Your Business: Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Podcast

Have you ever hired (or have been thinking about hiring) someone to manage your social media?

Do you know what you should be looking for? Are you worried you won't get your money's worth out of the job?

Today, there are many types of jobs and tasks you can have your assistants accomplish for you. When it comes to your social media manager, however, they need to be implementing a job that goes past just button-pushing.

This week I dive into everything you should be looking for when it comes to someone managing your social media and why you should take feelings out of it and just look at the facts.

Biggest Takeaways:

A social media manager can be a huge expense for a business, so it is not crazy to think you should expect a huge return out of having one. This results in a big difference between an assistant who can schedule your content and post to your pages versus someone who is creating, engaging, connecting, and building up your brand. This week I want to make sure you know what you should be looking for when it comes to a social media manager and how to be sure they are worth your time and money.

Recommendations:

Check out Better Marketing With Bella and get an idea of what it is like to have all your content needs created for you. When marketing is done right you get to focus on the "why" of your business while we focus on the "what" to show it off.

Follow me (@Bella Vasta) on Instagram to see the success stories of my clients killing the business. Nothing makes me happier than getting to shout them out for all their hard work and effort!

Take a look at my Mastermind group; a beautiful community where we come together to learn and grow. Each month we have different themes on what we are talking about, HR experts come in to answer questions, and 3 years' worth of material to answer almost anything you might want or need to know. Here you can learn from other members what works for their business (including having a social media manager!) and keep each other accountable in daily business.

Links:

Better Marketing With Bella

Mastermind

Jump Consulting 

Intensives

Let's Connect

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below.

Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here.

Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here.

Transcript:

This is episode 283 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs.

In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump!

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, your host and coach. And today we’re going to be talking about ways to know if your social media manager is worth the pay. Yeah, we’re going to go deep into it. I’m going to give you a couple of metrics that you can really use to decide whether or not they are actually worth it.

But first, before we get into that, I want to give you a couple of quick updates about what’s going on in my world. Perhaps you follow me on Instagram at @BellaVasta, or perhaps you’re on our weekly Friday emails. You might know some of this, but I just finished two incredible intensives in Dallas, Texas. It was a lot of fun. I rented an Airbnb, my clients came to me, and we workshopped all day for eight hours.

It’s so interesting because so many of you struggle with the same topics, but the way in which we solve them is drastically different because each one of you has different needs, dreams, visions, lifestyles, and reasons why you do what you do. I’m really careful every single time about getting my clients to go deep and figure out what they truly want.

Next week, we’re welcoming our first intensive here in Arizona. I have a business owner flying in from the East Coast—it’s beautiful here, 70 to 80 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. We’re going to do an all-day intensive, and of course, she’s making it a business expense and taking a day for herself. I even encouraged her to take a drive up to magical, beautiful Sedona.

If that sounds like something you’d want to do, go ahead and reach out to me. I’m booking quite far out right now—I’ve got trips planned for May, June, and July. So if intensives are something you’ve been thinking about, don’t wait.

Now, let’s talk about what’s going on in the Mastermind. The Mastermind is my private community where people pay under $150 a month—month to month, no contracts—to join an incredible space filled with growth and collaboration. I like to call it a Thanksgiving buffet—you pick what you need.

We have expert sessions, HR calls every month, and a searchable repository of three years’ worth of HR questions. But the special sauce is the mindset. These members have a “can-do” attitude. They experiment, they test, they collaborate, and they lift each other up. There are countless side calls happening between members—people helping people.

About half of the Mastermind members are also in Better Marketing with Bella, which makes for incredible synergy.

Now, let’s get into today’s topic—your social media manager.

You might not have one yet, or maybe you’re thinking about hiring one. Maybe your office manager or assistant posts for you. But here’s what I want you to realize: just because someone posts for you doesn’t mean they’re an actual social media manager.

They might just be a button pusher.

And today, we’re going to talk about how to identify whether they’re a true strategist or just clicking buttons.

This role can easily be outsourced. It could take about fifteen minutes a day or maybe five hours of batching per month. But I’ve seen people paying $30–$50 an hour for someone to spend four hours a day on social media, and that’s crazy. That’s a huge expense—especially when it’s not systemized.

What you need is clarity—a scope of work. Every role in your business should have one, including this one.

You need to know what you expect, what goals they’re working toward, and how you’ll measure success.

When I coach my clients—whether in Better Marketing with Bella or intensives—I often find people overspending without realizing it. Sometimes we shave $2,500 off their bottom line in one call. That’s one call paying for itself!

So let’s break it down.

If your “social media manager” is just following instructions, posting what you give them, and not strategizing or thinking critically—they’re not worth $30+ an hour.

If all they’re doing is clicking buttons, they’re a virtual assistant. They should not be paid more than $20 an hour.

So, ask yourself:

Are they responsible for creative concepts?

Do they handle inbound and outbound social activity?

Are they engaging and collaborating—or just posting?

Inbound means they’re responding to comments and messages. Outbound means they’re tagging other businesses, collaborating, commenting on other pages, and building relationships.

If they’re not doing outbound activity, they’re missing half the game.

Social media is like a networking event. Imagine standing silently in a room waiting for others to talk to you. You’d look ridiculous. That’s what many of you are doing online.

You need to be initiating, reaching out, building relationships.

In Better Marketing with Bella, we teach this two-way strategy—social isn’t just “posting.” It’s connecting, conversing, and creating community.

If you’re new here, visit jumpconsulting.net/marketing to learn more. That’s where you can see how we provide your entire marketing package every month—graphics, videos, emails, captions, and strategy.

You can also check out jumpconsulting.net/mastermind or jumpconsulting.net/intensive if you’re curious about the other programs I mentioned.

Now let’s talk about KPIs—Key Performance Indicators.

If you’re evaluating whether your social media manager is doing well, don’t just look at likes or followers. Those numbers are fine to track, but they don’t measure real success.

Social media is about relationships.

Your most valuable KPI? Meaningful interactions.

Ask:

How many meaningful conversations are happening?

How many collaborations are being created?

How many creative ideas are being pitched?

Other metrics include:

Number of posts created and scheduled

Email open or response rates

Number of tagged partners or collaborations

Unique concepts generated each month

These are real indicators of value.

If someone just posts without strategy or engagement, they’re not managing—they’re uploading. That’s a virtual assistant, not a social media manager.

The difference is huge. A true manager strategizes, creates, analyzes, and builds your digital relationships.

This is why my clients in Better Marketing with Bella have seen up to 500% engagement growth.

The program works because it blends professional content with personality. We provide polished marketing assets—but you bring your brand’s heart and voice.

We even teach you how to create branded GIFs, reels,...

Balancing parent life while running a business is super easy.... said no one ever!!

In reality, if you are a parent, you know how HARD it really is and all the struggles you have to go through to make it work. The mom/dad guilt of not spending enough time or attention on your child is apparent when you are giving your business the focus it needs. But the stress of your work to-do list can weigh you down when you are away from your business too.

So how do you find that balance? This week I am rocking the podcast during my daughter's spring break to bring you all my tips on achieving running your business while parenting.

Biggest Takeaways:

Running your business is your full-time job, but so are your children. Finding a balance that gives both aspects your full attention is what we, as parents, seek the most. But saying you want that balance seems easier than actually achieving it.  Take some of my tips and help find that balance you are looking for:

Schedule. Schedule time each week that is set aside just for your family. Maybe after work, you put your phone away and give your kid your undivided attention to play and spend that time together.

Say no. I know, crazy right? But say no to some things! If you do not want to have meetings or calls on certain days, say no, and schedule for a day when you are available. Better yet, have it kicked over to one of your assistants and have them schedule it on a day that works best for you.

Turn off. When you have the time for your child, turn business off. This ensures they know they have 100% of your attention. Guys, we only get 18 summers with them, we need to make sure they know how important that time together is.

I have a few more really helpful tips to get you to the work-life balance you are needing in your life right now. Parent to parent, this stuff really works.

Recommendations:

If less time working in the business is what you are looking for, join the Mastermind group so I can assist you and your business achieve your biggest goals.

Email me at [email protected] to chat about finding that balance between parent life and running your business. I am here to help you and show you how possible it is.

Time to join the Better Marketing With Bell Waitlist is coming to an end. Soon we will be welcoming new members to the group, gearing up to help them with all their business content needs. If that is something you are interested in, jump on the list today.

Let's Connect

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below.

Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here.

Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here.

Transcript:

This is episode 282 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs.

In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump!

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta. Today it is Spring Break week and, as such, we are going to dive right into it. We’re going to talk all about how you balance being a parent and also being a badass business owner. How do we do both of them?

I know that there’s a lot of you who listen to this podcast with your kids in the car—shout out to some of you like Randa who have told me that before. I love knowing that it’s a family deal, and so I definitely try to keep it kid friendly. But today, we love those little kids, right?

I have Olivia home with me. For those of you just joining us, Olivia is my almost eight-year-old, special needs. She’s on the spectrum. She was born at twelve ounces almost eight years ago, and she is a joy and a delight. If any of you follow me on Instagram, I’m sure you’ve seen her. In fact, I have a whole highlight reel of her.

She is just the happiest, most exciting kid ever. And she has a lot of energy—I don’t know where she gets it from!

If any of you are battling trying to be a mom or dad—whether you’re a new parent or have been at it for a while—you know it’s a hard balance. You constantly feel that guilt that you’re not present enough, or you’re saying, “Yeah, yeah, what do you want? Hurry up, tell me,” while you’re working. Or maybe you’re not even looking at them when they’re talking because you’re saying, “Mommy’s working,” or “Daddy’s working,” or “I just need to get on this phone call, so you need to be quiet.”

It’s very difficult, and there’s really no right or wrong way of doing it. It’s about finding your rhythm—what works for you based on your parenting style. But one thing’s for sure: there’s always guilt.

Today, I’m here to help you try to get rid of some of that guilt and give you a few things you can do to be proactive.

The very first thing I want to talk about is scheduling.

When you can schedule things, it helps calm anxiety because you know what to expect. You know that you have certain pockets of time carved out.

For example, I know every Saturday morning my daughter has occupational therapy from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. This amazing therapist, Emma, comes to our home. During that time, if there’s anything I didn’t get to during the week, that’s when I do it.

Sometimes I’m in my office recording this podcast, sometimes doing personal tasks—but I know that’s my window.

Right now it’s spring break, and I would love nothing more than to take her to Disney or fly somewhere. But when I started looking six weeks ago—because I didn’t start six months ago—everything was so expensive. Over $1,000 a person just to fly two hours away from Phoenix.

And with spring training here in Phoenix this month (which got pushed back), everything’s booked and pricey. So instead, I reached out to her classmates’ parents, started a Facebook group—shocking, I know—and asked who’s staying in town. Turns out, everyone is!

We decided to do an activity Monday through Friday—train park, Sky Zone, all kinds of fun things. Having that planned gives us something to look forward to and helps me feel like I’m doing something fun and intentional with her, instead of sitting around with guilt.

I’m fortunate to be living a designer business—one that I’ve built around my life.

It doesn’t happen overnight, but when your business connects deeply to your “why,” you can make choices like this.

So, the first point is schedule.

The next point: say no.

And when I say no, I mean no. Period. Not “maybe,” not “let me think about it.”

I’m not being rude—this is about boundaries. If it’s not a “hell yes,” it’s a “hell no.”

People will start to trust you more when they know your yes means yes and your no means no.

Before you respond to anything, ask yourself: is this a yes or a no? Be articulate. “No, I don’t think so” or “I’ll let you know” is not a no—it keeps people thinking they can convince you.

For example, someone might want to book a coaching call with me this week. The answer: no, I’m off this week. And my assistant Jillian knows to say that for me too.

The third thing: turn off.

You only get 18 summers, 18 Christmases, 18 school breaks with your kids. Each year they change—more independent, more mature—and you never get those moments back.

That’s why turning off is so important.

You don’t need to shut off for an entire week—start small. Even a little bit of undistracted time goes a long way.

I saw a parenting therapist on TikTok who said that when she gets home, she leaves her phone in another room and spends 10 minutes of pure, undistracted time with her kids—playing, talking, or just being present.

That’s powerful.

And maybe you don’t have kids—apply this to your spouse or loved ones. Be intentional. Turn off distractions and be present.

Next: get help.

People always ask me, “Bella, how do you do it all?” The truth? I don’t. And neither should you.

You’ve got to get good at asking for help.

Here’s an example: I recently found out I have arthritis in my knee. I’m 39! I need a gel injection, which means insurance calls and paperwork. Instead of spending hours stressing about it, I asked my assistant to handle it.

You can’t do everything yourself. Whether it’s childcare, housekeeping, grocery shopping, or business tasks—delegate.

You’re always spending something—time, money, or energy. If you’re not delegating, you’re paying with your time and stress.

So ask for help, and be specific when you do. Make sure your team knows exactly what you need and how to do it efficiently.

Next up: plan ahead.

This is about casting your vision.

As a parent and business owner, how many trips do you want to take this year? How many family events, vacations, or visits to grandma’s house? Are those planned—or are they just “we’ll see”?

If you try to squeeze them in, they probably won’t happen.

Put the big rocks in first. Schedule the priorities—family time, rest, vacations—and then let everything else fill in around them.

If you say you “don’t have time,” it’s just not a priority.

Planning ahead gives you a reason—a why—for structuring your business better.

...

If someone were to ask you today "Have you ever been in a toxic relationship?" what would be the first thing to come to mind?

When we think of a toxic relationship, we often think of it as either a romantic relationship or even a friendship. More times than not, you wouldn't think of the relationship you have with your business.

But the truth is, you and your business can be in a toxic relationship right now. 

This week I dive into the red flags that stand out when it comes to a toxic relationship with your business and what you can do to ensure it gets to a healthy place.

Biggest Takeaways

We've previously talked about how to grow your business, how to ensure you aren't leaving money on the table and how to keep a positive mindset to move you forward. But this week I want to talk to you about the relationship you have with your business and if there may be some red flags that are occurring.

You might notice

Clients that always nitpick

Employees holding you hostage

Boundaries with time that don't exist

Worry taking over your sleep

And at least 8 more serious red flags you need to be watching out for as well as ways to turn it around into a healthy place.

Recommendations:

Look into help from  Better Marketing With Bella for all your business content needs. If that is something you are interested in, jump on the waitlist today. Next week we are gearing up to get commitments from existing customers for their renewals (which was over 80% last semester!) before welcoming our new members, so now is the time to get on the list.

Shoot me an email and let's chat! [email protected], I want to hear from you and how I can help YOU move your business forward in a healthy direction.

Links

Better Marketing With Bella

Better Marketing With Bella Waitlist 

Episode 225: Running A Bussiness Through Divorce Or Major Life Changes

Episode 3: Who Am I? Getting Real Personally and Professionally 

Let's Connect

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below.

Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here.

Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here.

Transcript:

This is episode 281 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump!

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today we’re going to talk about something I’ve actually never talked about before. However, I’ve been percolating on this topic because the more I do these complimentary 20-minute consultations with you guys, the more I hear this come up. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I offer a free 20-minute “What problem do you want to solve?” consultation, which you can book at jumpconsulting.net.

One of the recurring themes I’ve been hearing is this: are you in a toxic relationship with your business? Now, stay with me here. “Toxic” is a strong word, but it’s important to think about. In the past few years, people have become more aware—more conscious—of what’s happening in their lives, relationships, and environments. So today, I want to talk about the relationship you have with your business.

I see a lot of business owners who might be in a toxic relationship with their own business. I encourage you to open your mind today and think about this with me: could this be you? Could this describe your company? Because I’m hearing a lot of red flags that sound a lot like toxic traits.

Are there certain clients who are always nitpicking for no reason—making mountains out of molehills? Maybe they complain that you arrived at 7:32 instead of 7:30 and act like it’s the end of the world. Or maybe you have an employee who’s holding you hostage—someone who’s a know-it-all, never follows rules, or constantly tests boundaries. You’ve corrected them multiple times, but you’re afraid to let them go. Every time you get a text, email, or call from them, your body tenses up because you’re thinking, “What is it now?”

What about boundaries? Are you constantly being run over by your business? Are you skipping meals, eating fast food, or running on caffeine and convenience store snacks? Are you sleeping poorly or waking up in the middle of the night worrying if you forgot something? What about communication? Are your employees gossiping, complaining, or tearing each other down? Do you have team members who don’t collaborate or who stop communication completely when they’re supposed to be working together?

Maybe your approval process has too many layers—your office manager, HR, or staff ask you about every single step instead of taking ownership. You end up helping them instead of them helping you. Or maybe you’re micromanaging out of fear—afraid to let anyone make a mistake. That’s a red flag too. When you don’t let your team take initiative, it sends a message that you don’t trust them.

Or maybe you’ve fallen into the blame game—blaming your staff, your clients, or your circumstances instead of asking, “What responsibility do I have in this situation?” Sometimes, we need to look inward and ask how we’ve contributed to the problem.

And maybe, just maybe, you’re the kind of boss who doesn’t really care. Ouch, I know that stings. But if you expect employees to have no boundaries, respond instantly, skip vacations, or never take sick time—then that’s toxic too. Do you actually show appreciation? What did you do for Employee Appreciation Day or Professional Pet Sitter Week? Those moments matter because they build culture.

Maybe your team has entitled people or know-it-alls. Maybe you’re burnt out yourself. I recently saw a pet sitter post an emoji of her face on a piece of toast with the caption, “I’m burnt out. I’ll get back to calls in 48 hours.” My heart hurt for her because clearly something went wrong long before that moment. It’s not professional, but it’s also a symptom of something deeper—burnout.

High turnover is another red flag. Constantly losing employees not only destroys morale but also scares clients and prevents you from building a stable company culture.

All of this leads back to the same point: you might be in a toxic relationship with your business.

So how do we fix it?

First, remind yourself why you started this business. Write it down—on your mirror, in your car, or on your computer. “I started this business because…” and finish that sentence. Maybe it was to help pets, to have freedom, or to build stability for your family. Reconnect with that reason.

For me, my business serves two purposes. One, I feel most alive when I’m coaching, speaking, and helping people have those lightbulb moments. And two, I built this business for time freedom. I wanted the luxury of time—not money. Time to live life on my terms.

As a single mom, I have my daughter Olivia 50% of the time. When I have her, I’m fully present—no coaching calls, no emails. Just us. Because you only get 18 summers with your kids, and in my case, even fewer because we started with 182 days in the NICU.

My business does not run me—I run my business. I’ve designed it intentionally so it supports the life I want. Many of my clients have done the same. Some bought RVs and travel with their families. Others spend weekends at cabins or designed systems so they could start families through IVF.

That’s what it looks like to have a healthy relationship with your business—one that gives you freedom, not exhaustion.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Yep, that’s me—I’ve got red flags,” it’s okay. Awareness is the first step. This episode isn’t about judgment—it’s about waking up. Stop living on autopilot, running on the hamster wheel, and dreading Mondays. You were meant for more.

I’ve seen clients transform their businesses and their lives. They’re traveling, resting, enjoying their families, and still growing their companies. That’s possible for you too.

Ask yourself: are you working for your business—or is your business working for you?

If you’re constantly stressed, overworked, or underpaid, that’s not freedom. You deserve better.

So what can you do right now?

First, identify the toxic patterns—bad clients, unfit employees, broken systems, poor boundaries, lack of vision. Then, start fixing one piece at a time. Create systems and processes that bring calm and consistency. Clarify your vision and work toward it daily.

And check what you’re attracting. If you’re frantic and chaotic, you’ll attract the same kind of energy—clients and employees included. Your energy becomes your magnet.

Look at your social media and ask: if I wanted to work for or hire this company, what would I see? Would I be inspired—or confused? Does your feed reflect your culture, your values, your joy? Or is it just a collection of random pet photos?

If you’re not proud of what you’re putting out there, let’s change that.

The waitlist for Better Marketing with Bella is open at jumpconsulting.net/waitlist. Last semester,...

What do you think pet parents want to see when they go to your website?

Do they want to feel like they are being sold? Talked at? Or trying to figure out how they might fit INTO your company?

Do you think they might feel overwhelmed, not knowing if you are the right fit for skill or money?

All of these are probably true and how you present yourself on your website will make or break your bounce rate.

(Bounce rate: How long someone stays on your site until the "bounce" off going to look elsewhere to solve their problem)

Recently I got a DM from someone who was going to be updating their website asking, "So what's important on a website these days??"

Truth is, there is a lot to consider. Unfortunately, most business owners are so close to their business, it is often hard to get the 30K view and put themselves in their potential client's shoes...

Biggest Takeaways

If your website is the first thing potential clients are seeing about you, then you need to draw them in.  You need to make them say, "Yes, I want to work with them!"

I started off doing this as a 7 point podcast but by the time I got to the end, it turned into 8. I was on a roll.

Make it about THEM not about you.

Keep it simple like a 1st grader is reading your website.

Pay attention to the navigation.

Don't make them think

...and there are a lot more. Listen to learn more!

Recommendations:

I highly recommend Erika and her team at Barketing Blog for a website. I have been recommending her for years and she has done countless client websites. They are very happy. You can't go wrong. Great price too!

Need a group of knowledgeable people to bounce your website copy of design off of? Heck! You want three months of training dedicated to this topic? Join us in the best community in the pet industry, the Jump Mastermind! 

Want to make sure that once your website is popping, your social media also gives the same feel for your brand? Look no further than the leading industry marketing agency, Better Marketing with Bella where we ensure that your colors, fonts, logos, copy, and creativity are all on point!

Maybe you are a DIY person? You can learn everything that you should have on your website here in my one hour class that comes with a workbook and on audio. Enjoy!

Let's Connect

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below.

Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here.

Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here.

Transcript:

This is episode 280 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump!

Welcome everybody to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, your host. As we are coming to a conclusion of the theme we’ve been talking about, which is sales, I got something in my inbox just yesterday that inspired this podcast. I thought, all right, let’s go. The question was, what’s important to have on my website these days?

This person was about to redo their website, and of course, I sent them on over to my girl Erica. If you go to jumpconsulting.net/marketing, you’ll find this amazing designer who helps so many pet sitting and dog walking clients of mine. She’s been doing it for years—since 2017, maybe—and she’s fantastic. She’ll take really great care of you. But it got me thinking about your website.

As you know, I see a lot of websites from all around the world. I always try to cyber-stalk you guys a little bit before we get on the phone to see what you’re up to. And I’m more often than not disappointed that your website looks like everybody else’s. But you’re not like everybody else. You tell me you’re the best—you go above and beyond, you love pets like they’re your own, you’re professional, and you really care. But your website doesn’t show any of this.

So today, we’re going to dive into seven important things to make your website better. I’ll make it quick and easy because I know you like listicles. But before we talk about them, let me first say this—I’m going to be blunt. Don’t do your own website. Unless you’re a web designer—like an actual professional—it’s not your job. And no, I’m not talking about GoDaddy or Wix because no, that’s not what professionals do. Professional companies don’t use Wix websites. You need a real professional website, and marketing is going to do that for you.

When you’re ready for a new website, don’t contact Erica until you’ve got your ducks in a row and your head wrapped around this, because there are elements that will make or break your website. Someone will either go to your site and fall madly in love with you, signing up immediately—or they’ll bounce in seconds, thinking you look cheap, unprofessional, or confusing. If you’re a Jumper, and you are because you’re listening to this, I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.

1. Write from their perspective and use their words.

We entrepreneurs often get caught up in our ego—talking about how great we are, what we do, and how we do it. But the truth is, no one really cares. They don’t care that you grew up on a farm or that you have ten dogs at home. They care about solving their problem. Maybe they need a dog walker or a pet sitter while they travel. Your website should immediately show that you understand their problem and can solve it.

Use your clients’ actual words. You already get feedback through surveys, reviews, and journal entries. Pull phrases like, “I have peace of mind while I travel because I know you’ll be there,” or “I love how dependable you are.” If you don’t have enough feedback, send a short two-question survey and ask, “Why do you use us?” and “What do we add to your life?” Write your website copy from their perspective, not yours.

Don’t just say, “We offer pet sitting, dog walking, and hiking.” Instead, say something like, “We help busy professionals who work long hours or travel frequently make sure their pets get the care and attention they deserve.” Make it relatable.

2. Simplify the navigation.

You don’t need a 60-page website. Keep it simple. Decision fatigue is real—if visitors have to think too much about where to click, they’ll leave. Simple is better.

Think of your site like something a third grader could navigate. Avoid dropdown menus with six more dropdowns. Most people will visit on mobile, so make it easy.

3. Understand the difference between top and bottom navigation.

Your top navigation should have the basics—About, Services, Contact or Book Now, and Service Area. That’s it. Keep it simple.

Your footer can include Employment, FAQs, or more detailed info. Don’t overwhelm visitors with too many links. For example, if someone has both a dog and a cat, don’t make them choose separate pages for each service. They’ll just leave.

4. Think of it like a picture book.

Visuals matter. Don’t use poorly lit selfies or fill your site with stock photos. This is a personal service—clients want to see you. Hire a local photographer or take well-lit photos in portrait mode. Professional pictures (around $500) are worth every penny. Your website is your #1 sales tool—it must look professional and trustworthy.

5. Match your social media.

Your website and your social media should look cohesive. The colors, fonts, and style should all match. Don’t have stock photos on your social and custom photos on your site—or vice versa. Your brand should feel unified everywhere.

If you’re struggling with this, reach out. Better Marketing with Bella has been helping businesses since 2017 with exactly this—creating branded graphics, videos, and social media that align with your website. You can join the waitlist at jumpconsulting.net/waitlist.

6. Have a clear CTA (Call to Action).

Your CTA should be consistent and on-brand. Don’t use “Book Now” on one page and “Call Us” on another. Keep it unified. Bonus points if it ties into your brand personality, like “Bark Here” or “Wag Your Tail to Get Started.”

Every page should make visitors think, “So what? What do you want me to do next?” Whether it’s call, book, or sign up—make it clear and easy. And yes, phone calls work! Go back to episode 278 where I explained how simply answering the phone can add thousands of dollars to your business.

7. Use consistent lingo and personality.

Your website language should reflect your unique voice. Don’t copy the generic lines from PSI or NAPPS. Speak the way you and your clients talk.

For example, do you say “pet parents” or “pet owners”? Do you want your tone to be playful, warm, or professional? Own it. On my old company website, I had a fun quiz called “How to Know You’re a Bella’s Client.” It listed things like, “Your pet has more beds than you do,” or “You say hi to your pet before anyone else.” It broke the ice and helped visitors see themselves as clients before I even spoke to them.

That’s what your lingo can do—make people feel like they belong.

8....

What if I told you I knew what was preventing people from thousands of dollars in sales for their business, and what you can do about it?

This week I had the chance to reconnect with some old friends who I haven't seen in close to a decade! It had felt like I stepped into a time machine and no time had passed at all. A gal that was there said she owned a house cleaning business and did petting sitting as well. Knowing I am a business coach she wanted to ask a little advice from me. Now, typically I don't get into this with friends but I just couldn't help myself this night! We started chatting, the energy was flowing, the conversation was amazing, and it inspired me for the topic of this week's podcast.

Each week I receive wonderful messages from loyal listeners letting me know that they really are landing thousands of dollars in sales! What are they doing that is setting them apart from those who aren't succeeding? If it was something that anyone could do, would you be willing to give it a try?

In this week's episode, I break it down and examine what is the one thing that is preventing you from landing sales and what you can do over and over again to achieve this type of success.

Links

Mastermind

Les Brown

Solo School Cleaning 

Jump Consulting

Let's Connect

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below.

Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here.

Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here.

Transcript:

This is episode 279 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump!

Welcome everybody to a new episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting, and today we’re going to talk about this one thing that’s preventing you from thousands of dollars in sales. It became really apparent to me as I was having a conversation this weekend. You see, I ended up in what I call the time machine on my Instagram. If you follow me there, you know I got together with a whole bunch of people that I haven’t seen for eight to ten years. We used to run a nonprofit charity here locally in Scottsdale, Arizona, back in the day. We were all business owners—before marriage, kids, divorces, and all that stuff. We were just twenty-something entrepreneurs with the same tenacity for life.

It happened to be one of the gal’s 40th birthdays, and she came in from Colorado. A whole bunch of us saw each other again, and it was actually quite emotional for me. Her parents live in one of the communities where I had a lot of presence with my pet sitting company—one of the gated communities of the gated communities. The last time I had been there, I was actually “Bella the Pet Sitter,” so this was a long time ago.

We were hanging out on the patio, listening to music, and catching up. One of the gals there said she owned a house cleaning company and also did pet sitting. She knew I was a business coach and started asking for advice, which I don’t usually do with friends, but I couldn’t help myself that night. If any of you know me, you know that kind of thing lights me up.

The whole time, her husband was sitting there too, edging her on. She said, “I charge $90 an hour for house cleaning, and I’m the best house cleaner ever. I’ll scrub those toilets with a toothbrush.” I said, “That’s great. Do you have anyone working for you?” She said no—it’s just her, and she only works two or three days a week. I told her, “That’s good, but that’s also a ceiling. What are your dreams, your goals, your aspirations?”

She said she and her husband didn’t want kids. They wanted to travel, buy the toys—the RVs, razors, all that stuff. So I asked, “How are we going to do this? Maybe you could retire your husband.” She said, “Well, my husband has his own business too.” I asked, “Oh, what do you do?” and she said, “He started a business that sells powder for your balls.”

Yes, you heard that right. It was a hilarious and fascinating conversation. She said when he first started it, it looked like a meth lab in their garage—just powder everywhere. But now, he’s grown it into a successful business, on the verge of getting Walmart as a distributor. We got to talking, and her husband kept nodding and pointing, saying, “Yep, I’ve told her all of this.”

Sometimes this happens, right? Maybe your spouse or kids don’t hear your advice until someone else says the same thing, and suddenly it clicks. I thought that was funny. As the night went on, more people joined us—one had a bestselling book, another had a thriving company, and one’s mentor is Les Brown. We were all entrepreneurs who started from the ground up. The synergy and energy were incredible.

Why am I telling you this? Because it’s about the company you keep. Whether online or in person, what you put into your head matters. I told her, “Eventually you’ll need to be a leader. You’ll have to manage people because you can’t do it all yourself. You need to put yourself out of a job—master a task, hand it off, and move up.” But you can’t get good at that unless you actively develop your mind—creating new neural pathways and leveling up your thinking.

We all started throwing book recommendations at her. I even opened my Audible app and started listing titles. Then I asked, “What do you listen to while you’re cleaning or driving?” She said, “Just music.” And I said, “You’re missing an opportunity to learn. You need to feed your brain while you work.”

I told her a story I’ve shared before—how, after my daughter Olivia was born at 10 ounces, I went through PTSD and postpartum depression. I started walking every morning for 30 minutes even when I didn’t feel like it, listening to motivational content. It was hard, but it helped me rebuild myself.

That’s what today’s episode is really about—the one thing preventing you from thousands of dollars in sales: your mindset.

It’s your ability to say, “I can do this,” instead of “I can’t.”

A couple of episodes ago, I challenged you guys to answer the dang phone. One listener messaged me and said, “Bella, I don’t want to answer the phone because I don’t have time to listen to long stories.” I get that. But that’s a mindset. I told her, “You can control the conversation.” For example:

“Excuse me, Mary, I want to hear everything you have to say, but I just arrived at my next dog walking client, and I don’t want to be late because I’d never be late for you. Would it be all right if I call you back at [time] so I can give you my undivided attention? Or, if you’d like to get started right away, you can go to callbellas.com/register, and I’ll follow up tonight.”

Everything is figureoutable. I thought I made up that word until I found out Marie Forleo wrote a book called Everything Is Figureoutable. But it’s true—figureoutable and mindset go hand in hand.

One listener shared, “I bought your phone script after your podcast. While I was finishing the audio example, a call came in. I picked up, used your tips, had a great conversation, and landed a client!”

Another said, “I answered my phone for the first time. I usually let calls go to voicemail, but this time I picked up. I even talked them into twice-a-day visits when they only wanted once. And I added a fun greeting: ‘Hi, this is [Name] Pet Sitting—meow may I help you?’ Feeling empowered with Bella Vasta!”

A third listener said, “I answered my phone yesterday, which is huge for me. I talked a two-day-a-week walk into five days a week!”

So what kind of stinking thinker mindset do you need to switch? The next time your phone rings, pause this podcast and answer it.

If you need help, download my phone script class at jumpconsulting.net. It’s $79, includes audio, scripts, and rebuttals—it works.

Maybe you’re still recovering from COVID, or you’re hiring and want more clients. Maybe it’s spring break or summer planning season. People are booking ahead, but if you’re not answering the phone, you’re missing out.

The one thing preventing you from thousands of dollars is your mindset—your attitude, your willingness to figure things out, and your courage to act even when uncomfortable.

A listener named Ken, who runs a podcast for the cleaning industry, wrote:

“If you’re struggling to pay your bills or grow your team, make sure to plug into Bella’s mindset. She teaches you how to think like an owner. You won’t grow until you learn to think like successful business owners.”

Amen, Ken.

Your mindset can always improve—mine too. Keep expanding your brain. Surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you. Don’t just solve today’s problems—cast visions for tomorrow.

If you need that kind of community, join the Mastermind at jumpconsulting.net/mastermind. That’s where movers and shakers hang out—people who are kicking butt and taking names.

Thank you so much for spending time with me today. Think about who you’re hanging out with—on patios, at parties,...

I've heard from many of you... I don't like answering the phone. I don't like being put on the spot. I don't like selling. I don't like talking about price. All of this is stinkin' thinking that is severely limiting your ability to grow your business.

People literally make the decision to call and speak to a company. They put their environment on mute so they can ring you and potentially speak to you. If they are doing this, they have most likely already checked you out. They have seen your website, your social... and now, they just need a bit of reassurance. They are calling you for this reassurance and you are giving them a L for LOSING instead of a W for WINNING by not answering.

This is the equivalent of walking into a store and needing help and having no associates to speak to. Or walking up to one to ask them a question and them just walking away from you. Not only is it rude, but it is frusterating. Then, you are expected to check yourself out. Can you imagine if that wasn't Walmart and it was Nordstroms?

The horror.

I know the idea of phone calls seems so ancient. We mostly communicate through email, text, and social media messaging. But what if I told you that the old-fashioned telephone has even more persuasion and would land you more new clients? Would you be willing to answer it more often?

If you are a business that has your phone number listed on google and on your website, then you need to be answering the phones. But many of you are not.

Why?

This week I went on a mission to find out what is going on out there and made 10 phone calls to 10 different companies in the Phoenix and Dallas area. The results were astounding.

Biggest Takeaways

As business owners, we are concerned with marketing, advertising and finding ways we can build up our client roster and in turn, create more sales. We know how important client relationships are, but we are forgetting to connect with potential clients. That connection begins with.. wait for it.. a phone call!

If you answer the phone, you will land more sales. Especially because your competition isn't doing it

Show Highlights

Making a connection [1:24]

Answer the phone [3:27]

Save the sale [7:45]

Links

Mastermind

Better Marketing with Bella

Bella Vasta Instagram

Let's Connect

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below.

Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here.

Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here.

Transcript:

This is episode 278 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump!

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today we’re continuing on the theme that we’ve been doing for two months, which is all about sales. This time, it’s a little bit shocking because as I was preparing for this podcast and creating the notes for it, I actually had to take a different turn because what I thought was going to happen didn’t actually happen. What that was, was calling you guys. Yes, I picked up the old-fashioned telephone and called you. What a concept!

We’re talking sales, and I cannot stress enough that putting your phone to go directly to voicemail is not doing you any justice. If you don’t want the phone, then don’t put it on your Google listing and don’t put it on the front page of your website. But if your phone number is there, you need to answer your phone.

Here’s the thing—I know, I know, and I hear all the excuses you guys are saying. “But Bella, I get too many robocalls.” “But Bella, people are just price shopping.” “But Bella, I’m busy.” “But Bella, everything they need is on my website.” That’s great, but that’s not why they’re calling. They might say that, but they’re calling to make a connection with you. And if you’re not offering the opportunity to make a connection with you, then you better be doing it on your social media via videos—like I’m actually doing right now as I’m recording this podcast. I’m simultaneously going live on Instagram and just doing the beginning of it here.

If you’re not following me, go ahead and follow me at Bella Vasta. Anyways, people call not to get prices but because they want to feel the warm and fuzzies. They want a connection with you. They want to feel good about you. They want to feel some sort of emotion before they start exposing themselves and giving all of this information. Not to mention, most of the phone calls that I made this morning—ten of them—only two answered. The rest went straight to voicemail.

At first, I thought maybe it was just Arizona. Maybe it was only nine o’clock here and people just weren’t answering their phones. No—because then I called people in Dallas. Nobody answered there either. Actually, one answered in Dallas and one in Arizona. Both calls, by the way, were under two minutes. Both calls were men answering the phone, and they literally were like, “Where do you live? It’s $26. You can go to the website and sign up if you want it.” They didn’t know my name, my dog’s name, where I was going, or if I had ever had a pet sitter before. They didn’t know anything about me. They basically did not want my business.

I was even more put off after those calls. It bugs me to no end because I hear so many people online saying, “I want more clients, I need more clients, how do I get more dog walking clients?” They’re trying all this stuff—sinking money into branding, Facebook ads, pounding the pavement, talking to groomers—when really all they need to do is answer the phone. That’s all you need to do. Most of the sale is already done if you can just answer the phone.

People need reassurance. You’ve got to give them a win somehow. They need to feel like they’ve made progress. You have to put yourself in their shoes. Most of the time, they’re busy. Everyone’s busy. I don’t know anyone who says, “I’m not busy.” So when someone takes the time to call, they’re actively trying to solve their problem right now. They’ve already looked you up online, read your Google reviews, checked your Facebook page, and seen your photos. They’ve decided to pick up the phone because they want a connection.

It’s so frustrating to me—ten people, and almost everything went to voicemail. Some of the voicemails weren’t even professional. They were just the default: “You have reached 928... please leave a message.” How about calling back missed numbers? I haven’t gotten any callbacks.

I used to say, “Hi, this is Bella from Bella’s House & Pet Sitting. I just missed a call from this number and wanted to make sure you weren’t a client out of town needing something.” That opened the conversation. They’d say, “Wow, you call back when I’m out of town?” And I’d say, “Of course!” That shifted the experience from disappointment to impressed.

If you’re not going to answer the phone, that’s okay. I’m not saying you have to—but it’s contradictory to put your phone number on your Google listing or website and then send calls straight to voicemail. That gives potential clients a loss, not a win.

You might think you’re too busy, or that clients can just go online, or that they have to “prove” they want to work with you. That’s the worst attitude you can have. More than half of people are using smartphones—tiny screens and fat thumbs. Let’s stop making it complicated with endless forms.

If you really need them to fill something out, make it short and sweet. And if you’re using software like Time To Pet, open up the registration process so people can complete it fully without being stopped midway. Otherwise, you’re blocking the sale.

A lot of the voicemails I heard said, “We can’t come to the phone right now.” Can we be a little more creative? We all know how voicemails work. And please—don’t tell people to text you. It sounds unprofessional and small. It makes you sound like a one-person show. Texting is also a time, organizational, and financial drain. Keep communication in email, on the phone, or in your client portal.

When I started this project, I planned to analyze how I felt after each call—whether they understood me, if I felt confident in their process, or if I knew what would happen next. But I couldn’t do that because nobody answered. One company’s voicemail told me to submit a form; another went straight to voicemail; another had an automated system.

I did have one call that lasted a minute and ten seconds. He asked me nothing about myself. Then I tried Dallas. Same thing—five calls, all to voicemail. One man answered, but he sounded distracted and unprepared. He said, “Good morning.” I said, “Hi, is this the pet sitting company?” He said, “Uh, yeah... how old is your dog and what kind of dog is he?” I told him, “He’s a 50-pound mutt.” Then he asked, “What kind of services are you looking for?”

That’s nails on a chalkboard to me. It assumes the caller already knows what they need....

Have you ever heard the phrase "do it scared!" when it comes to your business? It applies to doing things that take you outside of your comfort zone to achieve the goals you are setting for yourself. Sometimes we define our goals with the motivation behind them, but we all know, motivation without any action means... nothing. Today I am sharing some client success stories that show applying action, thinking outside the box, and allowing yourself to be scared lead to some of your biggest accomplishments.

Biggest Takeaways:

As we spend each week together, I am hoping to inspire you to apply these strategies to your own life and business, creating your own success. By sharing the success stories of other clients, you can see that this process really works, and that with the right direction and a lot of action, you too can make magic happen! Today we hear from two amazing clients and the success they have achieved.

Scary but Successful.. Ask for the Sale!

When it comes to running a business, fear can hold anyone back. In this story we hear about how my client stepped out of her comfort zone and approached her client in a manner that made her client want to book more with her! With a simple script and the right direction, she was making more money in a few minutes.

Simple Video Generates Lead

In the digital world we live in, we find there are still people who do not want to live the digital, fast pace life style we all seem to succumb too. In Connie's story we hear how she took a different approach to help her client in a manner that she was not only comfortable with but resulted in another sale. Sometimes such a little thing, can really go a long way.

Show Highlights:

Inspiration stories [3.24]

Paws and Claws Story  [4.08]

Connie Story [8.19]

What are you going to do [13.48]

Links:

Mastermind

Better Marketing with Bella

Bella Vasta Instagram

Let's Connect

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below.

Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here.

Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here.

Transcript:

This is episode 277 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump!

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. This week’s podcast is also going to break the mold a little bit. You guys seemed to really love last week’s episode—boy, did you ever! I think it was actually record-breaking. If you haven’t listened to it yet, go back and listen to how I’ve dealt with a couple of trolls over the past seven years and how you can deal with your trolls too.

You know you’ve made it when people have very loud opinions about you and do not let up. Be quiet, Karen. Anyways, that episode was really interesting in the way that I got a ton of feedback. So I just wanted to shout you guys out. Someone said, “Well, that podcast certainly grabbed the bull by its horns. I’m glad you actually did it. My motto has always been: go to the source to find out what’s going on. So I did. You turned lemons into lemonade. Well done.”

This was actually from one of my long-term clients who brought one of the most recent outcries—if you want to call it that—to my attention. That was awesome. Someone else sent me a GIF of the Kool-Aid man saying, “Oh yeah,” and wrote, “You go girl.” Another said, “Love the podcast today about trolls. I support and stand by you 120%.” Someone else wrote, “Just listened to Episode 276. I know that wasn’t easy and I’m proud of you. You are a bad mother.” And another said, “It was truly an awesome episode. You were amazing, and I love how you tell it like it is. Trolls have no place on social media or in real life. So happy you aired this episode to show all your followers and listeners to not take poop from anybody. You are the ultimate BAMF. Have a fabulous day, my dear.”

You guys, I survive off of your comments. The reason is because I’m sitting here in my office, as I’ve told you many times, with my door closed all by myself, talking into a microphone, hoping it resonates with you. And last week it resonated with over 900 of you—that’s pretty amazing. I also got about three really lengthy emails about your own struggles or litigation you’ve gone through. I can’t possibly read them all because we’d be here forever, but it was amazing.

I want to continue with the theme that you’re not alone. Today I want to celebrate. I’m not going to be teaching anything new, but hopefully I’ll inspire you to put into action some of the things you’ve learned from this podcast. It’s great that you tune in and download episodes, but my success is your success. If you’re not out there applying what I’ve been teaching you—which is basically free training—then we’re not doing the best we can.

So today I want to give you some inspiration from some people. I’m going to play some clips and break them down for you. We talked about three ways to be disruptive when you talk back to people two episodes ago. The first one I’m going to show you is from Paws and Claws, who left me a voice note on Instagram. I love this message, and I want to play it for you and talk about it.

“Hey Bella, just had to message you. I keep saying I’m going to email you but I’m making excuses about time. But I had to say I was listening to your podcast on one of my dog walks, and I decided to use one of your tactics—texting the owner while on a walk, which I usually do. I mentioned that Gunnar was wondering what happened to me yesterday since they had only booked three or four walks out of the week. I said he missed me and really enjoys his walks. And I don’t know, but she decided to add another half-hour walk to my current schedule, which was awesome. Thank you so much! I’ll continue to listen to your podcast.”

How amazing is that? The backstory is, if you didn’t hear that episode, I’ve been telling you guys to start inserting messages or scripts like this. Maybe you have a client who only uses you twice a week, and you want to get 20 more walks a week. You could try finding four new clients who book five times a week—that’s tough. Or you could start getting existing clients to increase their bookings.

So what if, when you’re there on Thursday, you tell Gunnar’s mom, “I had to explain to Gunnar why I wasn’t here yesterday. He thought I forgot him!” And then you say, “If you want, I can ask your mom if she’d like to add more walks.” Maybe she can’t do two more, but she can do one. And maybe you have a pricing structure that makes that appealing—like walks go from $33 to $29 each if they book more.

That’s exactly what she did. She tried it and literally made money immediately. Woohoo! You could tell she was like, “What do I have to lose?” So if you’re listening, take this as your sign from the universe: do it scared. Try it. Put yourself out there. And when it works, teach your staff to do it too. Make it a fun competition—see who can get the most upsells in March. That’s sales! And yes, you can make your walkers into salespeople.

Now let’s talk about my girl Connie. She’s amazing—a total ball of fire and love. I met her in Omaha a few months ago, and we had one of the best intensives ever. She’s in the Mastermind and Better Marketing with Bella. She’s doing all the things and kicking butt.

Here’s the backstory. In January, Connie got a voicemail from a woman. Listen carefully:

“It’s difficult for me to do the computer, ma’am. I’d really like a call back. My phone number is... I have a 100-pound German Shepherd. I do have walkers, but there’s lots of leaks—they can’t make it a couple of days a week, and I’d like someone to fill in on those dates. Is that something you’re able to do? I live in Millard...”

This woman sounded completely stressed out—annoyed that she didn’t want to deal with technology. Some of you might think, “Well, she’s not my client.” But keep an open mind. Connie was at the doctor’s office when she got this, so she couldn’t respond right away. She left a voicemail and sent an email, but the woman ghosted her.

Then a month later, in February, the woman reached out again—still needing help. Connie remembered my last episode about being disruptive and decided to send a video message instead of another email. She was out walking a dog and recorded this 19-second video:

“Hi Deborah, it’s Connie. I just wanted to let you know I’ll be done around 4:30 today. I’m currently on a walk—can you say hi? [dog barks]—and I can give you a call between 4:30 and 5 if that works for you. I look forward to talking to you and hope you have a great day!”

That’s it—19 seconds. But it worked. Deborah replied two minutes later: “That would be great.” And two days later, they had a consultation booked.

Why? Because she saw Connie smiling, walking a dog, being real and approachable. She stood out. Nobody else is doing that—but Jumpers do.

So my question to you, listener, is what are you going to do?...

Personal Podcast Today

Lately, I have been getting questions about how to deal with Trolls. You know, those people that get upset at you and start trying to rip apart your character or credibility online? Maybe it is a person that you didn't hire, had to fire, or a client that just went sideways and you parted ways. But it turned them into angry monsters with many heads.

Sure, you have heard of the typical ways to handle bad reviews. I've even written about it on my blog.

But what happens when they are persistent? What happens when they don't go away or they try to disparage you on all platforms? This recently happened to one of my clients and she was perplexed on how to deal with it. We spoke in depth about it and it was then I decided to blow the lid off something that has been popping up on my own feed for at least seven years.

I deal with this too... you just may not (or may?) know about it.

I've had someone take something that I said on stage seven years ago and blow it out of context in multiple public forms for years. I've had another person who has a vendetta out for me that takes any chance she gets to say terrible things. (Funny, she has never been a client, but I have coached two of her direct competition to multi six figures and another to almost a million....so there is that.)

I've even had another (what could have been) sticky situation that resulted in some crappy things being said online.

In this podcast today, I tell you it all. No hold bars. I get real, honest, and vulnerable with you. It is my hope that sharing my story allows you to see that it happens to everyone and that despite their efforts, your business can still grow to multi six or even seven figures =)

Links:

20min Consultation with Bella

Handbook and Manual 

Let's Connect

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below.

Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here.

Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here.

Transcript:

This is episode 276 of Bella in Your Business.

The following episode that you’re about to hear is one that I honestly took a minute to think about if I really wanted to post it. I was totally prepared to delete it and re-record something else, which would have been the first time in the 276 episodes that I have done. But one thing I decided is that, one, I’m definitely going to keep it after I did pull a lot of my audience and they really did want to hear some more behind the scenes. But second, something that I did not touch upon that I want to make really clear is I want to encourage you to do your own research and have your own thought process in life. I think sometimes it’s really easy in our overwhelm to just take other people’s words or opinions. But I encourage you to think about whose opinion you are taking. Are they living the life? Are they living the business life? Are they the kind of person that you want to take advice from? Or is it just some random person who you know nothing about online giving you advice? Let that be your prelude to this week’s episode. Thanks for listening.

Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business. So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump!

Boy, I did some deep breathing before I’m recording this. Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella and today I’m going to be taking this a little bit of a different direction. While we are still going to talk about sales, we’re going to talk about sales and how it applies to trolls. Because I know that a lot of you guys are getting trolls of your own. I actually saw it in a recent Facebook thread and they were asking for help and how they might go about it. So today we’re going to talk about that.

Before I actually get into when you get trolls, I’m actually going to blow the lid off of something I’ve been keeping quiet for seven years. Seven years! I’ve had one particular troll—two, actually—for seven years. They are no longer in the Jump ecosystem, of course. They’re not allowed, nor do I think they actually want to be if we’re being completely fair. But they have been saying the same horrible, disgusting things about my business in public forums for seven years.

This was not an easy decision to do this. I’m not quite sure if this is even the right decision, but as I did in the divorce podcast and a couple of others, I have started developing such a relationship with you guys that I’ve decided I’m going to keep it real. I’m going to talk about the hard things. I’m not going to sugarcoat things. That is exactly who I am. That’s how my coaching goes. And you know, when you’re trying to “sell,” because at the end of the day all of us want to appear likable, trustable, knowledgeable—know, like, and trust—it’s a little hard. There’s the age-old saying that you turn your other cheek, and for most trolls out there, I would say, yeah, do that.

If this is the first time you’ve ever heard that word, it’s someone who kind of goes out of their way online to just trash you. Most of the time, it’s completely unfounded, but it’s kind of a character assassination. And it’s really unfounded. I can’t say that enough. Most of the time, they’ll go away—they die out. But the ones I’m going to tell you about today, for some reason, have some sort of fascination with me. They like to keep talking about me, like I said, for seven years.

It all started right about the time I had my daughter, actually maybe a year before that, but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and say it’s been seven years. They never seem to let up. They post in various forums—some are just places where people complain, others are spammy, and a few are supportive. I hope you’re part of the supportive ones because you are the people you hang out with. You are what you feed your eyes and ears with.

I saw something on Instagram yesterday that said, “If you hang out with five CEOs, you’ll be a CEO. If you hang out with five athletes, you’re probably an athlete. You hang out with five moms, you’re probably a mom. You hang out with five idiots, you’re probably an idiot.” It’s funny but true. You usually have similarities with people you hang out with.

Now, my trolls say, “Bella is too expensive.” Yeah, I am. I’m probably one of the most expensive pet sitting coaches in the industry. I’ve never hidden that. But you know what? I get results. It’s not an expense; it’s an investment. Let’s say we do an in-person intensive for $5,000, but that positions your business to increase by $100,000 in a year—yes, please. I’m a for-profit business, a single mom, and I’m entitled to that.

They also say, “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.” I actually think it’s funny because one of my clients jokingly called it “Drink the Bella Kool-Aid.” I even posted about it.

But the one that really hurts is when they say, “Bella is unethical.” That’s like someone saying you kick the dogs or don’t show up for pet visits. It’s a character attack. At first, I brushed it off, but after seven years, enough is enough. I’m the least unethical person out there. I’m transparent and vulnerable. I don’t polish everything to perfection. I’m a C student who loves creativity and marketing. Saying I’m unethical is wrong.

I’ve spoken to lawyers about it, but cease and desist letters don’t really hold up. You’d have to prove they cost you money, which is hard. So I’m just saying—enough. This all started years ago at the poop scooping convention in Las Vegas around 2012. I gave a talk about marketing and told a story about how, during the 2008–2009 crash, I collaborated with local businesses to give clients free coupons. I told others they could try the same. Somehow, that was twisted into, “She tells people to sell their client list for profit.”

That’s ridiculous. You can’t even make real money doing that. But instead of asking me for clarification, this person spread that I was unethical. I’ve got the receipts—screenshots and all.

And that’s her gripe with me. It’s sad that people can spread lies like that for years. My advice? Report where you can, rise above it, and remember that people are smarter than you think.

Another troll complains that I’m “too expensive” or “my way or the highway.” Well, yeah—I’ve taken a stand. I don’t coach independent contractors. I’ve said it for years. I can’t coach what I don’t believe in. There’s nothing wrong with that. We all take stands. Just like some trainers use positive reinforcement and reject shock collars, I’ve planted my flag.

Then there’s the handbook rumor. Back in 2012–2014, I co-created a handbook and manual with a client. We both hired writers and editors. Years later, when I wanted to make sure everything was legally sound, she refused to sign paperwork and told me I couldn’t sell it anymore. Instead of fighting, I rewrote the entire thing—both the handbook and manual—and have updated them yearly with an HR consultant.

Every handbook should be reviewed by your lawyer anyway....

Think about it from their shoes... when you go out looking for a service and the first person you contact responds with "Thanks for your inquiry. We will get back to you within 24 - 48hrs", do you just sit back and wait? Or do you keep looking for other options because you have a problem that needs to be solved and now is the time you have to solve it? Chances are you keep looking, right?

Don't be the business that takes their time and does not show they want to solve your problems. Right now is the time to step up and actually be the solution and in this week's Podcast, I am going to show you 3 different ways you can solve a client's problem, show you care, and maybe even upsell them as fast as possible! You are going to want to listen in on this one.

Biggest Takeaways

As the market becomes more and more volatile, it becomes more and more important to really step out there and know how to respond to prospects and lockdown leads. There is a common thing most of us do with how we allow people to contact us for services and I will tell you it can be utilized and used correctly... if you know how.

Respond to Inquiries

How do you respond to inquiries? Do you only use email? What if I told you this can be wasting time? The amount of time you spend just responding to their first question might just be what gets them to stay or not. using the different forms of contact available can create an opportunity to assist them right as they need you to. Not the next day when they are busy at work and already spoke to X amount of people... am I right?

Personal Connection

Once they are responding back to you, building a personal connection is vital! This does not only help you truly solve their problem but it will create trust in you and your business to provide the best services you can without having to "sell yourself". Contact them in a way that shows you did stop to think about what they need and how you can help, making it about them and their pet instead of about you and your business.

Show Highlights

How do you respond  [6.14]

How to land the client as quickly as possible [12.07]

Different forms of contact that show you care [18.55]

Links

Mastermind

Better Marketing with Bella

Bella Vasta Instagram

Episode 274: 3 Reasons Why Sales Is Super Important In Your Pet Business In 2022

Let's Connect

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below.

Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here.

Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here.

Transcript:

This is episode 275 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump!

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. You guys are loving this sales series. The analytics are going off the charts, and I cannot thank you enough. We are having record-breaking downloads right now, so keep sharing this podcast and keep binging. I hear you, I see you, and I’m also getting lots of emails from you—so thank you so much for digging it. I’m going to keep leaning into it as I told you.

Today, I’m going to help solve this problem that you might not even know you had. A lot of you have contact forms on your website, or you might be getting some DMs—probably more so on Instagram than Facebook—or maybe even some emails or text messages from people saying, “Hey, how much do you charge?” or giving you a little bit of information. Then you’re left wondering, “Okay, how do I reply?”

We just talked about this in the Mastermind Roundup this week, and I was so excited about it, I thought, “I need to come to my loyal podcast listeners and talk about this too.” I’ve got three different ideas for you that will set you apart from everybody else. I want you to consider these the next time you have an inquiry come in.

But first, I want to tell you all about Better Marketing with Bella. We’re going to be opening the doors in about six weeks or so. If you’re new to this podcast, Better Marketing with Bella is where we do almost all of your marketing for a monthly fee—or you can do a six-month lump sum and get a big discount.

Here’s the thing: I know you have so many things going on. So we give you graphics, videos, captions, and even a content calendar. We give you a Facebook cover every month, emails, blog outlines you can also use for video or reels—we basically give you everything you need to show up professionally. Most of the time, you’re just posting cute pictures of dogs, and honestly, no one cares unless it’s their dog. Or you’re sharing memes and other people’s articles—promoting them instead of yourself as the thought leader.

The content we provide includes both dogs and cats, pet sitting and dog walking, and every month we add something about hiring, because we know a lot of you are hiring right now. Marketing and social media are key not just for getting clients, but also for getting employees. People are checking you out online and deciding: “Can I trust them? Do they look legit? Do I like them enough to give them my money—or to trust that they’ll have a paycheck for me?”

That’s my little plug for Better Marketing with Bella. If you’re interested, go to jumpconsulting.net/marketing and get on the waitlist, or reach out to me for a direct link. We work in rounds—last semester we had an 86% resign rate, which I’m thrilled about! Then we open to the waitlist and a few private invitations. So if you want to level up your brand and have professional marketing assets you can reuse for years, take a look at jumpconsulting.net/marketing.

Now let’s get into it. I’ve got three different ways you can knock the socks off potential clients when they reach out to you.

1. Pick up the phone—right away.

If you have a contact form, make sure it’s not too assuming. Don’t ask, “What services do you want?”—that’s like asking, “What ingredients do you want in your lasagna?” They don’t know what they want yet. Instead, ask open-ended questions like, “Tell me about why you’re contacting us today,” or “Tell me about your pets and what you’re in need of when you can’t be there.”

Most people are filling out these forms quickly—at a stoplight, at a kid’s basketball game, or between TikTok scrolls. They’re distracted. They don’t care about your business—they care about solving their problem. So make it easy for them.

And please, stop saying, “We’ll get back to you in 24–48 hours.” That’s not helpful. They’re trying to solve a problem now. If you delay, they’ll just find someone else.

So here’s what you do instead: pick up the phone immediately and call them. Be excited—like you just got rescued off an island. Say, “Hi! Is this Buddy’s mom? I just got your inquiry, and I’m so excited to talk to you! Do you have three minutes to chat?”

If they answer, awesome. If they don’t, leave a voicemail:

“Hi, this message is for Fido’s mom. This is Bella from Bella’s House & Pet Sitting. I just got your inquiry and was so excited to talk to you that I wanted to call right away! I know you’re probably busy, so I’ll send you an email too.”

Then, in your email, reference the voicemail:

“As promised in the voicemail I just left you, I’m following up by email. I saw that you were interested in services and just have a few more questions for you. Give me a call when you have a minute or reply to this email.”

Simple, personal, and warm. That’s how you stand out.

2. Send a quick video reply.

If you get a DM or text inquiry, shoot a short video—just 15–20 seconds. Say:

“Hi, it’s Bella from Bella’s House & Pet Sitting! I just got your message and wanted to say I’m so excited to connect. Are you available to chat right now?”

That’s it. Don’t go into details about being bonded, insured, or certified—they don’t care yet. They just want to know you’re real.

Video is 70% more effective than text alone because people can see and hear you. One of my clients, Becky from Paws Around Motown, sent a video reply to an inquiry. The person was just “looking around,” but ended up hiring her because of the video. The woman said, “It’s because you sent me a video—I felt like you really cared.”

This isn’t a beauty contest—it’s a care contest. You say your service is personalized, so make it personal.

3. Send a voice note.

If you’re not up for a video, send a quick voice message instead. Say something like:

“Hey, this is Bella from Bella’s House & Pet Sitting! I just got your message and can’t wait to talk to you about Buddy. Can I give you a call right now? What’s a good number?”

It breaks the monotony. They’ll feel your energy and know you’re real.

If you don’t believe me, test it. Use a Google Voice number and call five competitors as if you’re a potential client. See how it feels. Most replies sound robotic:

“Thank you for your inquiry. We are the best because [insert paragraph]. Please read our policies, sign up, and spend 20 minutes filling out this form.”

...

Are you prepared? 2022 may have a lot in store for your pet business. But... do you know how to approach it so it goes in your favor? There is going to be some turbulence along the way but with the right support and by taking the right steps you can make 2022 work in your favor. It is so important to learn how to sell right now so you can overcome any stepping stones that come your way. I am going to be there to tell you how to do it and most importantly WHY. The why in the whole thing has such a large play and today we are going to talk about it.

Biggest Takeaways

Become the solution and learn how to establish and define your business. As the economy changes and becomes more and more volatile people start to have more problems. What they need right now is for you to solve them and show them the value you can provide during these hard times.

How Are You Preparing Your Business

If you have been staying up to date on my Podcast I am sure you are aware of how much the market is changing right now.... but does your office manager know? What about your social media manager? Do you have plans in place for how your business is going to stay on top of the economy? Now is the time to prepare your business for these changes.

Be The Solution

Start asking yourself the right questions. How does your sales process make people feel? Are they supported and cared for? Do you solve their problems and offer solutions? If you are just throwing prices at them and waiting for them to decide how they want to solve their problem then you are not selling. To be the solution you need to talk and connect with them really understand their problem and provide value with your solution.

Show Highlights

Being established and solving problems [7.50]

Why you should be the solution [12.45]

Why stepping up your sales game will set you aside [19.23]

Want Free Sales Training?

Sales is BIG on my heart this season.... and I want you to be prepared for what is coming. In a few months and you will be saying, "Bella! How do I get more clients?"

Here is a FREE 3 part sales training from Aaron Michael Miller on my podcast. He is already helping turn mindsets around by helping my clients with scripts AND MOST IMPORTANTLY teaching their team how to sell.

"He is brilliant when it comes to the sales process and communication. I was loving it! It was all gold!"

Next time you get in that car to drive 20 min, or walk a dog... take a listen. You won't be sorry.

......did I mention it is FREE? Have your Office Managers listen too!

#1: Episode #263: One Secret To Winning Almost Every Sale

#2: Episode #264: The Trick To Be Confident In Closing Sales

#3: Episode #265: How To Leverage Your Competition For More Sales

Links

Mastermind

Better Marketing with Bella

Virtual Consultation Podcast Episodes

Bella Vasta Instagram

Let's Connect

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below.

Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here.

Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here.

Transcript:

This is episode 274 of Bella in Your Business. Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book, The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump. Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. I'm really excited for this episode. I'm really going to try to set the scene for you to make you really understand why you need to be focusing on sales, the why behind all of it. I've got three major points here to tell you about today. It might be a shorter podcast, which is fine because you know me. I'm going to stop talking when I have nothing left to say about the topic.

But it's really about why 2022 is the year that you must know sales in your pet business versus any others. I'm going to tell you right now, it's basically one, because there's lots of sales to be had, two, it's going to define who you are, and three, the economy is volatile. So let's start digging right on into it. There are lots of sales to be had. There's so much movement happening. I have one person who had had her business for over 15 years and she just decided she was going to sell it and she sold it and she got rid of it. So there's like a lot of turbulence that's happening. And that means that when new owners take over, they really don't actually understand the culture, the value proposition, all of this stuff. And most of the time they're just kind of frozen in fear and they're just kind of doing the same old thing. And that's really an opportunity for you to step up, level up and really put yourself out there. I have another client who moved across country. She moved from Florida all the way up to Vermont or like somewhere up in New England. And the thing is, is she sold it to one of her clients. But the thing that happens is that this happens fast. Okay. And when it happens fast, not only do you want your business ready to be sold, but all of a sudden there's like this vacuum almost in the market if it's not properly taken over. Most of the time it takes a little bit for people to actually get their bearing and understand like, this business, it's not just dog walking and pet sitting. Like these are the problems that we solve kind of going back to what we talked about last episode, problem solving versus order taking. And there was actually two people, another one moved from New York to Texas, right? And so what's happening is a lot of people are actually selling or they're trying to operate in two different states, which actually is proving to be pretty difficult for some if they didn't already have an established business with systems and processes in the first one.

The great resignation as it's called is shifting many people. And so maybe it's not the actual business owner who thinks that they're going to ever be getting out or moving or selling, but it's their partner or their spouse that all of a sudden is getting a better job offer or a better opportunity someplace else. And it's causing them to sell their business and move. So that is a really great time for you to really talk about things like how well you're established and leverage all of the collaborations, hopefully, that you've been doing in your community. And that is going to give you a leg up on sales. It's going to show the potential customer that you have this longevity. There's a lot of ways that you can leverage that. And that's going to be really important.

The second thing is defining who you are. So how your sales process makes them feel determines if you're actually good at sales. There’s a couple of different examples I can throw out here, but you know, are you just like any other company where people just sign up and then they start getting all these templated emails because you have things so automated that it literally is all automated and there's no personability with it? Or is it going to make people feel like so excited to spend money with you? There's lots of different ways to do this. The how we're not talking about the how necessarily today, but these are things that you want to think about.

So you work so hard at marketing and getting them in, but once they're in, how does your sales process make them feel? Are you consulting with them? Again, are you solving problems? Or are you giving them a menu and saying, here, choose from the menu? Also, how unique is your service? Do you only do hour long walks? Do you only do hikes? Do you specialize in something? Or are you just like, pick in the mill, whatever you want, we do it all, and we don't really specialize in anything? When you can really double down and say that, you know, we do midday dog walks, Monday through Friday. That's what we're really good at. And here's why. Or you say like, we're really good at taking care of your home and security when you are traveling. So it's not just your pets we're taking care of, but it's also your home and hey, potential client. Did you think about X, Y, and Z like mail, newspaper, trash, all that stuff. And really knowing how to leverage that in sales, it's going to be really important.

How unique is your whole entire experience? Cause that really defines who you are. I always like to use the analogy of going out to a restaurant. You go into one restaurant, you have to open up the front door and then open up the next door that comes in. Cause usually, you know, like that little like mud room or whatnot. You come up to a hostess and they might be clicking away on TikTok on their phone or whatever they're doing. And they kind of look up and they're like, hi, how many? And it's like you and someone else standing there and you're like, and they're like, okay. And they look at something, they're like, follow me. And they grab menus and they're off and they're not talking to you. They're so far ahead. You sit down. By the time you sit down, you look up. They're already walking away. The menus are on the table and that's it....