Bella In Your Business: Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Podcast

Let’s talk about business coaches and mentors! This week, Bella, who is a big believer in coaches herself and has always had a coach, shares why it’s absolutely critical you choose the right business coach and what to look for.

This episode stresses being aware of the rather startling movement where anyone and everyone is calling themselves a coach. Buyer BEWARE. It takes more than a brief dabbling in a business or a quickly attained certificate to make an effective results oriented coach.

These days we are seeing a wide range of new coaching titles: dog biz coaches, dog training mentors, or dog business consultants.

They are the people that dog business owners, facility owners, and corporations come to when they want to revolutionize how they do the business of dogs.

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss

Not all coaches are equal.

Some haven’t been in business long and have just closed their doors on a pet based business that failed. Some decided coaching would be easier than working through a business with ups and downs and walked away. Now they think they should coach you, the pet business owner.

Examples of coaches who care and get results

Bella is connected with commanding badass dog biz entrepreneurs who are dedicated to the growing and shifting dog training industry. These people are focused on and get results. As an example, Bella references The Grassroots Dog Biz School. This team consists of multiple 7-figure dog business owners, world renowned dog trainers, dog training facility owners, social media rockstars, Ivy League MBA holders and keynote speakers, etc.

What happens when you aren’t sure if your business will recover from the pandemic?

Your business can recover! You are not alone. Bella shares a really meaningful analogy about a house in a storm and rebuilding. You don’t want to miss this part.

The importance of the right coach or mentor to help you rebuild.

Do you understand that choosing the right helpers to re-construct is just as important as choosing the right coach to level up? Let’s learn why it’s the same thing.

Are you the “right client” for a coach?

It’s critical that you be selective. Your time and your money is valuable. Hiring the wrong coach can not only cost you money but the price of how you’ll feel as an entrepreneur if you don’t meet your goals on time due to having the wrong coach is even steeper.

Show Highlights

Are you afraid you won’t recover after this pandemic? [4:00]

The leaders you follow matter. Differences in types of coaches and so called gurus. [5:45]

Understanding a coach’s motivation and goals. Is it to your benefit? [6:30]

What to look for when you choose a coach, cost of hiring the wrong coach [8:00]

Understanding their motivational style. ARE they even motivating? [9:15]

Are they results-oriented or just hope you show up for your sessions? [11:58]

Beware of FALSE COACHES. What to look for. [12:30]

What opportunities do they have to help you grow, materials, resources, etc. [14:00]

What type of client does Bella work with? [15:00]

Am I the RIGHT CLIENT for this coach? [18:00]

How do you “check” a coach’s heart? [22:00]

Why pet business will be thriving and hiring like crazy soon [25:00]

Tweetables:

[Tweet "Your business is like an employee. It should perform the way you want it to."]

[Tweet "Before hiring a coach, you should check their heart. Are they coming from a place of sincerity or ego?"]

[Tweet "Watch out for false coaches. Hiring the wrong coach can cost you time, money and break your heart."]

Links:

What businesses who are thriving in the pandemic are doing right:

/episode-224-4-massive-secrets-to-attracting-dog-walking-clients-in-2021/

Grassroots Dog Biz School.These experts know the 100+ billion pet industry game inside and out as the leading pet industry consulting firm in the world.  Dog Biz School breaks and rewrites the rules of how dog trainers do the business of dogs, unapologetically and boldly.

https://dogbizschool.com/home

Ready to get on the waitlist for Better Marketing with Bella?

Apply here

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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’

Transcript:

This is episode 226 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 your host, Bella Vasta. Thank you so much for listening. You guys, the past two episodes have been fire. Two episodes ago, we talked about four unique ways to market your business during the pandemic, and your feedback was absolutely incredible. I love how fired up you guys got—that really fires me up to fire you up.

Following that, we had an episode all about going through a divorce or a major breakup or something that just really kicked you in the gut and threw you off track while you still have to show up for your business. The feedback for that was amazing. I got so many personal messages from you guys, but also so many messages in my Facebook group and on Instagram. So thank you for that. I'm so glad it resonated with you. Keep the feedback coming. I do this podcast for you, and I love it when you say, “Hey, Bella, I want to hear more about this or that.” It really helps me give you what you want—give the people what they want.

So thank you for that, and keep your feedback coming because this is all for you. Now, continuing the tradition of talking about taboo stuff or things that really appeal to you as a person, this episode is going to be a little different today. I just keep trying to flip it on its head because why not? Things are not going back to normal, and the type of leadership you allow in your eyes and ears is going to dramatically propel you forward or hold you back. I don't think we are cognizant enough about what we allow in our life—and I'm not just talking about relationships. I'm talking about where you put your dollars.

Now, I very much believe in having a coach. I've always had a coach, and I believe every coach should have a coach. Let’s start there. When I say coach, that can mean mentor or guide—someone who’s been there, done that, and who can truly help show you the way. Not necessarily the way they did it, but the way that aligns with your goals, vision, and purpose for your business. I often don’t think we see our business as something that works for us. We end up becoming a slave to it. I want you to think about your business as an employee—how do you want it to perform? Because you actually have that power.

Sometimes it’s so hard to see the forest when you’re stuck by a tree. Or, imagine you’re building a house and a storm comes through, causing damage. You assess the damage, but realize you don’t have the knowledge or energy to rebuild, so you walk away. I know some of you are contemplating that right now. You’re wondering, “Can I get my business back up after this pandemic? Do I have it in me? Is it worth it?” You might think it’s easier to work for someone else. But don’t walk away from a house you just built—it has equity. It’s worth something. So many of you are walking away from your businesses, and it kills me to watch.

All you need is a motivator, a good source of inspiration in your life. Maybe that’s me, but maybe it’s not—and that’s okay. Maybe someone else clicks better with you. What matters is, do you believe your business will weather the storm? Do you have someone who can help you rebuild it if needed—someone who has been through the tornado, rebuilt, and made it stronger? There’s a quote about how a teacup is strongest where it was glued back together, and that’s true about your business too.

The leaders you follow matter. These days, everyone is a coach or guru. Some of them can do what I do; many can’t. I hesitated to record this episode because I didn’t want to offend anyone, but I have to be honest. Think about who you’re following and investing in. Whenever someone is hesitant to spend money with me, I tell them my goal is to make them at least double what they invest. Often, that happens in the first 20 minutes of a coaching call when I save them from a costly mistake. That happens all the time in the mastermind.

When choosing a coach, it doesn’t have to be a pet business coach—there are many great business coaches out there. At the end of the day, business is business. You’re solving different problems, but the principles are the same. So, have they proven it with their own life? Have they built something from the ground up? I know someone who recently became a coach after closing their business. I know former clients who’ve struggled and now suddenly call themselves coaches. It’s happening everywhere.

Then I get clients who say, “I had a coach, but it didn’t work, so I’m done with coaching.” Sound familiar? Like when clients say, “I had a pet sitter, but it didn’t work.” What do you tell them? “You got the wrong pet sitter.” So ask yourself—has your coach proven it with their own life, their clients, and their community? What do their testimonials say? Do they even have clients? My programs always include testimonials—not my words, but my clients’.

Are they motivational? Do they energize you? If you’re listening to me, you probably like the motivation I bring. But that doesn’t mean your coach has to talk like me—they might motivate through vision, goal setting, or accountability. Do they give actionable advice or just fluff?...

How Relationships and Emotions Impact Your Business?

Bella talks about a common thread she sees year to year in business owners. This includes the depth of emotions and how paralyzing they can be when it comes to going about your daily work and your business. Bella opens up about her own experiences in a painful divorce and trying to keep her business running at prime levels.

CAUTION: This episode is very raw and transparent. We are including a trigger warning here for anyone who may be sensitive to this type of material.

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss

Emotional Abuse, Blatant Insults, Isolation, Coping, Loneliness, Embarrassment, Anger.

If you’ve gone through emotional trauma, breakups or divorce, you may recognize some of those emotions. Bella lays her heart on the line. If you think you are alone, you’re not. She stresses it over and over. Her heartfelt identification with these emotions comes through. We are not alone.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence.

In this section, Bella discusses how the popular book Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman helped her through some of her more difficult times. Goleman popularized the concept of emotional intelligence (EI) and its use to help manage your emotions and guide your behavior and thinking. You can improve your EI with regular practice of controlling your emotions and staying calm when they overwhelm you.

Why It’s Important to Deal with Emotional “Baggage.”

It’s so critical that we deal with the emotions that are crippling us and holdings us back in life, business and relationships. The trauma that Bella relates to us doesn’t always happen in divorces or romantic relationships. It comes in all forms. It can happen in friendships, family relationships - even in some business relationships. 

Getting the Right Help From the Right Sources.

Remember, you are NOT alone. A failed relationship doesn’t mean you are a failure. But it is critical that you surround yourself with the right people and that you get help from sources that are qualified and that are also GOOD for you. Bella shares resources that were helpful to her during some of her most soul crushing moments.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

DON’T MISS the opening. If you’ve ever doubted yourself or felt like you were alone in your feelings and emotions or what is/has been happening, you will know you aren’t alone after hearing the intro.

Emotional Intelligence and why you need to know about it. [7:20]

Importance of Dealing with Emotional Baggage [9:48]

Emotional Intelligence and how it can set you free [13:00]

Sources for getting help and ideas to get started [16:00]

Emotional “flags” to look for [18:40}

Tweetables:

[Tweet "A dissolved relationship doesn’t mean you’re a failure"]

[Tweet "It will all be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end."]

[Tweet "So far you’ve survived 100% of your worst days. You’re doing great."]

[Tweet "Always Keep Jumping!"]

Links:

https://amzn.to/2LOM90Yx - Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goldman

Downloadable Offer:

Don’t forget to check out all the free resources in Bella’s free Facebook group. /group

Share The Show:

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

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Transcript:

This is episode 225 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. Today's episode comes with a disclaimer. I want to warn anyone who may have gone through a tumultuous breakup, whether romantic or platonic, there might be some triggers here. So this is your trigger warning. This year, I am dedicated to talking to you, the human—the person that’s doing the business—because we are all not machines. I have dedicated years and years and years to telling you how to get new clients, how to market better, how to get a better website, mindset, and processes. And the one thing that has been recurring from a lot of you, even before my own divorce, has been big life situations.

Up until a couple of years ago, my biggest life situation was something that I’ve been very open about and shared with you guys, and that’s my daughter being born at 12 ounces as one of the smallest female babies to survive on the planet. She’s now six and a half years old. But what I haven’t talked about is how our relationships—our romantic relationships—really affect our businesses. I have clients that have gone through divorces and had to pay a healthy four figures to their spouse who never believed in their business but still was considered community property. I’ve had other people who have been so crippled by breakups with boyfriends or girlfriends that they’ve had to sit out for months. Guys, this is life.

Of course, we all want Prince Charming or Cinderella to come save us, but no one’s saving us. I just felt really led to do this. I don’t know how it’s going to go, and honestly, it’s a little scary for me to put this out there. But I have a whole bunch of notes, more than I normally have for an episode, because I wanted to make sure I spoke from my heart and got everything across. So here come the triggers. Fair warning.

You are not the wife I thought you would be. You’re worthless. I don’t love you anymore. Take off that ring. You don’t deserve to wear it. You’re crazy. You’re a liar. You aren’t listening to me. The feelings of being afraid to speak or that anything you say will be used against you or ridiculed. Being afraid that you’re going to get yelled at. Trying to survive—just survive the hour, sometimes the minute—let alone build your business and make goals and do all this amazing stuff that we always talk about.

Being worried about the future because your present is so unstable. You feel like you’re constantly on quicksand and have to keep moving so you don’t sink. Stressing about how you’re going to take care of your kids. Wondering, will I die alone? I’m so lonely. I just want someone to hug me and tell me everything’s going to be okay. Feeling like a total failure because the one thing that matters most in your life is slipping through your fingers and there’s nothing you can do about it. Feeling like nobody understands or that you don’t want to open up to anybody for fear of judgment or ridicule.

Maybe you’re embarrassed. How could I—a business owner, motivator, and community leader—be in this situation? Maybe you feel responsible for your current situation and don’t want others to judge you. Or maybe you’re just so isolated and scrolling on social media looking at everyone else’s highlight reels, wondering why you can’t be like that. Maybe you get caught up in posts that say “men suck” or “relationships suck,” trying to convince yourself you’re strong, but deep down, you’re crying inside.

You’re not alone, and it’s not your fault. Trying to run a business and still show up online, on camera, to clients, when you’re breaking inside—guys, I get it. Not a lot of you knew, but I went through it. And this message is for all of you because I want you to know that you’re seen, you’re not alone, and you’re not crazy.

Daniel Goleman says that there’s an overreaction to stress called the “amygdala hijack” in his book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Matters More Than IQ. It happens when a situation causes your amygdala to hijack control of your response to stress, disabling your frontal lobe and activating fight or flight. Without the frontal lobe, you can’t think clearly or control your response. Emotional intelligence refers to recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions—yours and others’. You can improve it with regular practice, controlling emotions, and staying calm when overwhelmed.

You have to fight. It’s going to be tougher than building any business. But if you feel, deal, and release it, building your business will be easy. Your business can only be as good as the captain steering the ship. Sometimes we’re on top of our game; sometimes we just want to jump off the deck. You can’t outrun your emotions—they’ll follow you into your next relationship or your next project until you deal with them.

You’re not alone. Be brave enough to reach out to people who can help. I’m not that person, but I will support you. I’ve cried with so many of you. I’ve gone through it myself. It doesn’t have to be a divorce—it could be a breakup or a family situation. Sometimes those are even harder.

Once you get a divorce, you think it’s over, but healing is just beginning. Sometimes two people can co-parent peacefully, but sometimes, every interaction triggers pain again. Remember: there’s only one person you can control—yourself. Emotional intelligence will set you free. It helps you understand why you feel what you feel and how to solve it.

You can create your own safety, your own security. It’s not easy. It takes time for your brain to realize you’re no longer in survival mode. But you are in charge. A relationship ending doesn’t make you a failure—it releases energy for you to rebuild. Surround yourself with the right people. Build a support system, even if they’re far away. I had friends all over the country who helped me through it.

Be careful who you let speak into your life. Surround yourself with people who uplift you, not those who add stress. Pay attention to how you feel after you talk to someone. Guard your ears and your eyes—what you watch, read, and listen to affects you.

Therapy helps—talk therapy, EMDR, energy work, books, motivational videos,...

Bella discusses 4 Massive Secrets to Attracting Dog Walking Clients in 2021 and moving forward after a pandemic influenced 2020. Pet business owners can maximize this time in their businesses by leaping into the unique business opportunities Covid-19 restrictions have placed upon all of us.

Bella cautions us to push back on feelings of self doubt, skepticism or excuses why our businesses can’t flourish during this time. The reality is, there are businesses doing well in spite of the pandemic and Bella speaks about the strategies these businesses have in common.

The strategies talked about in today’s episode not only work, but they work very well. Each strategy has already been tried, tested and proven by pet businesses and other forms of businesses. Don’t wait! You’ll want to start implementing these today.

“How Do I Get More Clients?”

When asked what is your biggest challenge right now….business owners say “How Do I Get More Clients?”  People are certainly hurting financially during this time. But remember: There are plenty of people who are still spending money. They are just not using it on vacation or luxury type items. But, they are definitely spending. A ridiculous amount of spending is happening online. In fact, one statistic showed people spent more money online in the first quarter of 2020 than they did in the previous 10 years.

Generate more revenue with online and virtual business.

There is a BIG opportunity for you to grow your client base and it’s happening right now. YES, pet based business owners and dog walking services have a virtual or online component!Contactless is an option for pet sitting businesses! Don’t overlook this. The online space is your chance to show your clients how much you care and earn their trust. Bella shares more about this in the four secrets she shares with us.

You Have to TELL Your Clients About Your Covid Protocol.

Yes. We know there are banners at the top of everyone’s websites. We’ve all gotten the generic boring emails from companies explaining their Covid safety precautions. They have become white noise. We don’t “see” these things anymore, much less actually read them! Your clients and prospective clients often assume that certain businesses aren’t available to them because of Covid. Bella gives some excellent tips and ideas for incorporating your care for your clients into your marketing which increases your arsenal of client attracting tools.

Dealing with Feelings of Anxiety, Overwhelm, Depression During this Pandemic.

Worry, stress, anxiety, feeling stuck in a rut and just being sick and tired of being sick and tired are 100% normal. Isolation can cause business owners to spiral downward if they feel out of options. Bella reminds us of some ways we can reach out, get connected and take advantage of a large variety of resources, many of them free. There are some AMAZING opportunities for your business right now and all you have to do is implement them.

It’s your chance to SHINE. Show them you care!

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

How can you show you care and still continue to prosper during this time? [3:50]

Some ideas to show your clients you care and stand out above the Covid-19 white noise disclaimers [5:35]

Contactless dog walking, Why you should offer it. [7:08]

Virtual Meet & Greets. [9:00]

The benefits of Virtual Meet & Greets [10:25]

Financial benefits of going exclusively virtual [12:00]

Handbook & Manual updates - why they are important to your business growth right now [13:24]

Ideas you can implement in your marketing using your handbook and manual [15:00]

How can PPE help you get clients? [14:35]

Importance of changing your marketing and sales to adapt to this time [18:35]

What to do when you are sick and tired of being sick and tired [18:45]

Tweetables

[Tweet "‘People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care’ - Theodore Roosevelt"]

[Tweet "If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, this is your time to move forward."]

[Tweet "The worst thing you can for your business is to isolate yourself during this time."]

Links

/group - Free to join Facebook group where Bella shares an enormous amount of free resources, expert training and materials.

[email protected] - Connect with Bella to talk about getting access to exclusive sales training, step by step on how to conduct an Virtual Meet & Greet. What to say, how to run the event.

Share The Show:

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’

Transcript:

This is episode 224 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 back! It is January 2021, and I am so happy that you are here. My name is Bella Vasta, your host. Today is going to be a solo episode. I am going to talk to you all about four massive secrets that I have definitely uncovered in the past year going through this pandemic to really attract dog walking clients for 2021. These tactics are tried, tested, and proven. These are the tactics that those businesses that are actually doing well right now have done.

There are lots of trainings that go on behind the scenes with all of this, but it is a way of thinking that you might have heard me talk about if you're in any of my free Facebook groups. If you're not, go to jumpconsulting.net/group and you'll get right into my group. It's a great resource and community with about 2,000 pet business owners in there just trying to make it all happen. It’s free, and if you tag me, I usually pop in within a day or two to respond to whatever you need.

One of the biggest things we ask people when they join that group is: “What is the biggest challenge that you are facing right now?” Undoubtedly, the biggest question they’re all asking is: “How do I actually get clients?” because their clients or revenue are down and they don’t know what to do. Before I get into this, I’m either going to piss you off or excite you—and that’s okay because it means you’re either my people or you’re not. But I’m pretty sure you are, because a lot of you tell me you listen to episode after episode after episode, which is the biggest blessing I could ever have.

So thank you. Anyway, here’s the line in the sand, guys. The unemployment rate, while high, is not drastically high. People are not not spending; they’re spending differently. They’re putting money into their homes and backyards, doing improvement projects, and spending a ridiculous amount online. Did you know that in the first quarter of 2020, people spent more online than they had in the previous 10 years? Isn’t that nuts? Doesn’t that make you excited that you have a pet company where people literally pay you online?

So how can you tap into that? How can you excite those people? There are businesses going out of business, not answering phones, or blaming COVID for bad service. Those consumers are looking for someone new—and I want you to be the company that scoops them up and helps them in a way they didn’t even realize they needed.

Before, people wanted to know what you do—what services you offer. But now, everyone has a fear. You are now a threat, whether you realize it or not. Clients—young, old, single, or families—are afraid of exposure. They may choose to walk their own dogs to limit contact. Their lives are already isolated, and they don’t want to risk passing anything to loved ones. These are real fears. As a pet sitter coming into their home, you need to address those fears before someone else does.

At the end of the day, we need to make people feel safe with us. They won’t ask, so you have to tell them. I’m not talking about a boring banner that says, “Click here for our COVID precautions.” That’s white noise now. The first time my eyes were opened to this was when I scheduled new windows for my house. They immediately told me what precautions they were taking and sent a video showing their process. I was impressed—they cared about their employees, about me, and about doing things safely. My trust increased instantly because they addressed concerns I didn’t even know I had.

So, they won’t ask—you have to tell. That’s the first thing I want you to take away. But I’m going to go through four things you can do right now in your business.

The first example is Charleston Dog Walkers, owned by Mallory Cooper. Early on, she got out a camera and showed what contactless dog walking looks like. It was visual, clear, and reassuring. Imagine this: before arriving, the client secures the dog outside on a leash. The walker arrives, switches leashes, takes the walk, and returns the dog, all without entering the home or touching doorknobs. Whether or not your clients care about this, showing it proves you’re a thoughtful business leader who anticipates safety. That builds trust across your brand.

The second is virtual meet and greets. Yes, virtual. I know the objections—you want to meet the dog, see the house, make sure it’s safe. But this can work beautifully. We trained dozens of business owners in my Mastermind with a top sales expert who taught exactly how to conduct a virtual meet and greet, what to say, and how to answer every concern.

Virtual meet and greets make scheduling easier—you don’t need to wait for clients to get off work. Both partners can join from separate locations. You can even showcase your professionalism and warmth on camera, often with your own pets nearby....

The Importance of Diversity, Equality and Inclusivity in Your Business.

Hannah Boike is a hiring and recruiting professional with WalkerScout. WalkerScout is a unique RPO (recruitment process outsourcing) provider. Its mission is to help dog walking, dog daycare, and dog training businesses scout, hire, and support their teams. She is very passionate about implementing kindness, inclusivity, and diversity in the hiring process. She believes social justice, having empathy, and connecting with other people’s experiences is a vital component of any successful business and especially key in the animal care industry where kindness and compassion are core values.

Joe Latona also appears on this episode. Joe is a motivated and dedicated HR professional, dog walking since 2008 and hiring staff since 2009. He has built award winning dog walking teams in Chicago and has hired pet care professionals across the United States. He is the founder of WalkerScout.

Show Highlights:

Learning about Diversity, Equality and Inclusivity [3:16]

Financial returns for businesses practicing inclusivity [3:30]

Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? [4:28]

What can pet sitting businesses do and what are some ways we can be more inclusive? [7:20]

Making a DEI Statement and Resources for Help  [9:20]

Joe Latona’s tips on ways to be more diverse and inclusive today and in your hiring process [10:50]

Tailoring your website and ads, staff bios to include the LGBTQ and other underrepresented individuals [11:40]

Tweetables:

[Tweet "Pride isn’t Helpful. Empathy is Better"]

[Tweet "When it comes to inclusivity, doing nothing is easy but it’s not an option."]

[Tweet "...companies with the most ethnically/culturally diverse executive teams – not only in terms of absolute representation but also of the variety or mix of ethnicities10 – are 33% more likely to outperform their peers on profitability"]

Share The Show:

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

Transcript:

This is episode 223 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 from Jump Consulting, and today I actually have brought back on Joe with Hannah. You guys might remember a couple of episodes ago. Joe's from Walker Scout. He is one of the only dog recruiters I know out there that actually has been a dog walker and also created an entire business helping many people around the country and in other countries to hire. He is joined today by Hannah, and Hannah is really the main focus today because she knocked my socks off, you guys. Joe, you're amazing, but Hannah is too—and typically amazing people hang out with amazing people, so that's why we're all hanging out together. Hannah has also been a dog walker as well, but she helps and assists Joe in interviewing applicants for animal care jobs all over the country. She has this aura about her that she wants to make people feel comfortable as they're being interviewed by being kind, inclusive, and compassionate. She's always trying to learn new things about recruiting and social justice to improve our business practices and make changes that can cater to our rapidly changing world. I really loved this topic and what she has to say, and I cannot wait to get into her mind today and also expose all of you guys to it because I think it might give you some really interesting ideas on how to keep up with just being an awesome human. I'm not even going to say keep up with the times—just be a good human and make people really want to work for you and maybe help build your company culture. I know that's a tough concept for a lot of us to figure out like, “Well, what is our company culture?” And I think today this is going to give you some good ideas. So that was a long intro. How are you guys doing today?

Hi, I'm doing well, thank you. Thanks for coming back on the show so quickly. Hannah, how are you? I'm good, thanks. Yeah, it's good to be back. Absolutely. So Hannah, why don't you maybe fill in the blanks a little bit if I missed anything on who you are and what you do. And then if you can kind of go into just how we can create an inclusive environment in our workplace.

Thanks. So, I mean, you pretty much covered most of it. I've been a dog walker for a few years. I worked with Joe at Windy City Dog Walkers and I've been working with Joe at Walker Scout for about six months now doing hiring. And, you know, like you said, I'm really passionate about social justice, especially in the animal care industry, because we have to be compassionate. That’s what we have to do. We have to set ourselves apart from the crowd. I'm also a member of the LGBTQ community, and that's how I connect to other people's experiences of oppression. Having that empathy and connecting with other people's experiences, even though you don't have the same, is a really core component of what we're going to be talking about today.

Basically, learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion can be really helpful in 2020. It’s a hectic year—we’ve had a controversial election, a pandemic, and the most historic civil rights movement. Not only is it our moral and ethical obligation to be inclusive, but it's also going to help you make more money. According to an article on McKinsey.com called Why Diversity Matters, companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians. This is great news. Obviously, we should be doing this out of the goodness of our hearts, but it’s nice to have an incentive. It also proves that inclusion helps everyone. It doesn't just help oppressed communities. Giving back to others is going to eventually come back around to you.

Today I'm going to be talking about inclusion, intersectionality, privilege, identity—how it pertains to the animal care industry's workplace and hiring practices—and how it can help grow your business. I really want to start off with this quote from a book called Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Tatum. It really stuck with me throughout my education on inclusiveness and it helps me understand why doing nothing is easy, but it's not an option.

The quote goes: “Racism is ingrained in the fabric of American institutions and it's easily self-perpetuating. All that is required to maintain it is business as usual. I sometimes visualize the ongoing cycle of racism as a moving walkway at the airport. Active racist behavior is the equivalent to walking fast on the conveyor belt. The person engaged in active racist behavior has identified with the ideology of white supremacy and is moving with it. Passive racist behavior is equivalent to standing still on the walkway. No overt effort is being made, but the conveyor belt still moves the bystanders along to the same destination as those who are actively walking. Some of the bystanders may feel the motion of the conveyor belt, see the active racists ahead of them, and choose to turn around, unwilling to go to the same destination as the white supremacists. But unless they're actively walking in the opposite direction, at a faster speed—the conveyor belt—unless they're actively anti-racist, they're going to find themselves carried along with the others.”

I really think it's so powerful. It makes me think and it primes us to address how pervasive racism really is. But it also helps us to understand discrimination in all forms towards members of the LGBTQ community. From here on out, it's kind of tiring to say LGBTQ, so I'm just going to use “queer” because it's an umbrella term. It helps us understand discrimination towards queer people, people of color, people with disabilities, people who struggle with mental health, and other underrepresented groups. This is the backbone of intersectionality—understanding everyone's identity and that there are multiple oppressed groups.

So how can pet sitting and dog walking business owners create an inclusive environment in their hiring process today? It’s hard to answer because we’re just touching the tip of a mountain of information on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We can’t cover everything you need to know today—it’s impossible in the time we have. But it’s a good starting point. Creating an inclusive environment can’t be done overnight, but there are steps you can take to move toward it.

First, relax. It's okay to not know everything. It's okay to ask questions and figure things out with others. But if you're not a member of a marginalized group, asking questions can be tricky because their experience of discrimination can be exhausting. This is what's referred to as the weathering effect, which NPR describes as the erosion of people of color's health due to constant stress from discrimination. Experiences aren’t homogenous among marginalized groups—one person's experience isn’t representative of everyone’s. So it’s hard to tell if someone wants to talk about it. Be sensitive to that. When in doubt, ask permission first.

Another important thing is having humility in these conversations. Pride is not helpful—empathy is. Connecting with people’s suffering and oppression is going to help you. The second thing that can help you create a more inclusive environment is to make a DEI (diversity, equity,...

Many of you have gotten a PPP Loan with hopes that it would be forgiven. Currently, the 28 weeks have passed and you might have started to see some people starting to say my loan was FORGIVEN. What is this all about and how can you do the same?

This week, I moved my regularly scheduled content around to get you this time-sensitive topic. I reached out to Linda and Trevor who have over 60 years of experience combined in the financial services industries. Linda Rey has owned, bought, and sold a business, and Trevor has managed multiple businesses. They have seen what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to business financing especially now with COVID. They have helped many people through the loan process. 

The questions they answer:

Where does one submit their completed PPP forgiveness application?

What happens if someone received the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (aka EIDL), how does this affect their PPP Loan?

If someone was approved for a PPP loan and used 100% for payroll, why is there chatter of the SBA saying that they aren’t going to forgive $10k of the PPP loan because of the advance?

Should I submit my PPP Forgiveness now or should I wait?

I heard that PPP loans are going to automatically become 100% forgiven. Is this true?

Biggest Takeaway You Don’t Want To Miss:

The PPP loan forgiveness program allows for forgiveness, certain percentages of the amount of the loan, depending on how you used the loan under (eligible expenses) and the idea is that you do not have to repay the loan.

If you had a grant for the EIDL loan and you received that grant, then when you go for forgiveness the amount of that grant will be subtracted, which converts the grant to an advance.

There is chatter out there on the internet about people saying wait until you file is because the chatter and talk in legislation is that in a new round of stimulus potentially, Congress may repair this aspect of the PPP program with the grant not being forgiven.

Bella In Your Business Show Highlights:

2:30 - What was the PPP for?

4:30 - How to get the PPP loan forgiven?

8:11 - What happens if someone received the EIDL and how does that affect the PPP loan from being forgiven?

12:17 - Why is their chatter that the SBA is saying they are not going to forgive the $10,000 of the PPP because of the advance?

15:30 - Should you wait to file for your PPP to be forgiven?

17:20 - Who is Linda Rey and Trevor?

21:23 - How much does Aurora Consulting cost?

23:50 - How to reach out to Linda Rey and Trevor?

Links:

https://auroraconsulting.biz

http://youtube.com/lindareyandtrevor

Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star 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 221 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 I've got a treat for you. You may or may not have heard some people starting to say that they got their PPP loan forgiven. Remember those loans that a lot of people applied for and got back in March, April, May, and June? It’s very confusing because I don't think the government really knows what they're doing, let alone the banks, let alone us. So, guys, we need some guidance.

That’s why I literally—we just ended a whole video series and we’re sliding our friends Linda and Trevor into this podcast right now. I’m pushing everything back because this is timely information you need to know about, and I want to give you these resources. So without further ado, I’m welcoming Linda and Trevor to the show. They are small business owners who love other ambitious small business owners. They have over 60 years of combined experience in the financial services industry. Linda has owned, bought, and sold a business. Trevor has managed multiple businesses. They’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. When it comes to business financing, especially now with COVID, their tagline is “Financing Solutions for Your Business Success Story.”

Welcome to the show, you guys! “Hey, Bella. Nice to be here. Thank you for the invitation.” I love your name, Vasta. “Thank you so much. Now I'm going to make some pasta in the kitchen.” That’s exactly how it all happened! I’m Italian and it was one of my nicknames, and that’s how it came about.

You guys, we are packed full of dog walkers and pet sitters leaning in right now to hear what you have to say because this year has been challenging. Even businesses that were doing great and never needed loans or assistance are doing just that—whether they need it strategically or just to have it in their back pocket. A lot of people did that specifically with the PPP, and we’ll touch on the EIDL a bit. But before we dive in, give me a very short overview of what the PPP was or a reminder of what it was for.

The PPP loans were the Paycheck Protection Program. It was dedicated to small business owners who needed to meet payroll so they could stay open and keep people employed. There were other allowable expenses, but the program’s purpose was to help employers keep people on the payroll and avoid mass layoffs due to COVID-related closures.

There was also an advance component—oh, you can apply, you might get the advance, you don’t have to repay it. That was actually part of a different program: the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), which has existed since 1953 under the Small Business Administration Act. It was originally for floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and other disasters, but was modified for the COVID pandemic to make access easier. Under the CARES Act, it included a grant of up to $10,000.

Do you see why I have the experts on? Because already my question was off-kilter—it’s confusing! Add stress, depression, and trying to keep your business alive, and it’s hard to keep it all straight. So let’s dive in: people are asking for their PPP to be forgiven. How do they do that?

That’s now a process with the lenders that funded the PPP loan. There’s an application with specific guidelines and supporting documentation—like payroll reports if you use a payroll company. The program allows for forgiveness of certain percentages of the loan depending on how it was used under “eligible expenses.” The idea is that you don’t have to repay the loan. By the way, the loan interest rate is only 1%, so it’s very cheap money—but you can get it forgiven.

The problem is, the banks don’t have their act together yet. Some are sending forms and saying, “Let’s get this started.” Others are saying, “We don’t know what’s going on.” Then there’s chatter online—some say wait for the new stimulus, others say don’t wait. It’s very confusing.

Some people have received forgiveness paperwork because their banks were organized. Those who used all funds for payroll found it easy to submit payroll reports—it’s simple: 100% payroll equals 100% forgiveness.

I asked, “Which banks have their act together?” They said, “We can’t answer that—it’s all over the map.” Even within the same bank, there’s confusion. For example, one person with Bank of America got paperwork for forgiveness, another hadn’t even heard about it.

What happens if someone received the EIDL loan—how does that affect PPP forgiveness? You can’t use EIDL money for the same expenses as PPP at the same time. For instance, if you used PPP for payroll in July, you can’t use EIDL for payroll that same period. You can, however, use it afterward or for other expenses like debt payments, business leases, or credit cards.

If you got an EIDL grant up to $10,000, that grant is subtracted from your forgiven PPP amount. Meaning you’ll repay that portion at 1% interest. That’s been controversial because people thought the grant was free money. It’s actually a mistake in the CARES Act—Congress rushed the package and missed that detail. Still, they rolled it out quickly and helped many businesses survive.

Bella noted that national unemployment is about 6%, down from 12%, so we’re not in a depression—though it sometimes feels like it. That’s why it’s important to have facts and experts like Linda and Trevor.

So, if someone was approved for PPP and used 100% for payroll, why is there chatter that SBA isn’t forgiving $10,000 of it because of the advance? Because the EIDL grant—what many thought was free—is being subtracted from forgiveness. If you received both PPP and EIDL, and want PPP forgiven, that EIDL grant converts to an advance.

Example: you got a $50,000 PPP loan, a $100,000 EIDL loan, and a $10,000 EIDL grant. You used all $50,000 of PPP for payroll. When applying for forgiveness, $10,000 is subtracted—so $40,000 is forgiven, and you repay $10,000 at 1%.

That was shocking for listeners who believed the EIDL grant was free. Trevor clarified it only applies if you received the grant. Those who didn’t will have full forgiveness. However, there’s also talk that a future stimulus package might fix this and make those grants fully forgiv

Creating Video Training And It’s Process

It’s not easy, we know it. Creating video training for your business is a lot of processes you need to think about, from the ideas, scripts, production team, supplies, post-editing, and more but the process makes it the perfect way to make training more exciting and engaging for your employees

You need to execute that idea of yours and showcase your education to teach them what it means on going above and beyond.

Do it cause without a doubt I now “YOU” can!

Biggest Takeaway You Don’t Want To Miss:

How an idea can blossom and turn into a video training series. That’s why I want to share with you Team Care Pet Training and check our videos to show our support in every possible way from the creation, execution, and final output. We have gone through the process of creating video training for your pet business so you don't hav to.

Creating Video Training Show Highlights

How it all started [1:03]

How we got specific about streamlining [5:26]

Importance of scripts [7:50]

How behind the scene works [12:16]

Making online training videos more exciting [16:42]

Having a visual brand guide [22:19]

Enjoying the whole process [23:23]

Links:

Pet Care Team Training: https://petcareteamtraining.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PetCareTeamTraining

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 220 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 is part of our video training series where Liz Illig, my partner in crime with Pet Care Team Training, has joined us to talk about lots of different subjects to give you some inspiration and ideas on how to better your team and expand your empire. Listen in as we talk about today’s topic.

Welcome everybody to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today we’re continuing on this video series talking all about video training—not necessarily how to make it, but how to train effectively using it. I brought on my gal pal and co-founder, Liz Illig. Liz, how are you today? I’m good. How are you? I’m great. I’m excited about this topic because you and I came together and decided to do this no-holds-barred—sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly—and explain what it took for Pet Care Team Training.

This isn’t meant to show what we did; it’s more a step-by-step look so that if you want to do it, you’ll know exactly what to do—and what not to do—because you can learn from our mistakes. Although, once you realize how much of a gauntlet this thing is, you might say, “I don’t know if I have time for all that.” But we’re going to be real and honest with you. So Liz, take us back to when we were sitting in my backyard—there might have been wine involved—and we said, “We should do this.”

You had been helping my mastermind members with standard operating procedures and training outlines to support training manuals. We both noticed the same issue kept coming up—everyone wanted to train their team but didn’t know how to make it efficient, engaging, and consistent. Everyone said, “I want my training to be two or four weeks,” and we thought, “Whoa!” As the video queen, I could handle visuals, and you handled the technical structure, so we decided to solve the problem together. We thought it would be easier than it was—but it turned out to be a huge project.

We both managed different parts: I handled the videographer, timeline, and visuals, and you handled the outlines and training flow. We were like left and right brains working together. It had been a dream of mine for years, but I knew I couldn’t do it alone. There were so many technical moving parts. But together, we made it happen. Where I had ideas but didn’t know how to implement them, you executed them brilliantly.

We wanted to make it unique because we already knew what was out there. There was a national certification program—more for solo business owners—and another with dozens of disorganized videos from random contributors. It was overwhelming and confusing. Clients would show videos and say, “Don’t listen to that part,” or, “You don’t need to know this,” and onboarding became messy. We wanted something simple, specific, and streamlined—so that’s what we built.

Long trainings make new hires lose interest. They think, “I thought this was just dog walking—why am I overwhelmed?” So we had to make it concise, upbeat, and cost-efficient. Small businesses can’t afford 10 hours of paid training. We defined our value proposition—simple, streamlined, and specific—and built everything around that.

You created the scripts—and that was a game changer. Scripts are essential because they keep the message short and focused. Videos need to be clear and concise; too many words lose the viewer. The scripts ensured each video stayed brief and easy to digest. We also brought in experts—a vet, a trainer, a cat behaviorist—and prepared them with scripts ahead of time so they were confident and consistent with our message.

We didn’t want to just speak from our own experience; we wanted real experts sharing from their zones of genius. It made the videos more credible and engaging. Finding the right filming location was another challenge—we needed variety and professional visuals. We found a production crew in Arizona, showed them our scripts (they were impressed we had them!), and planned every scene, camera angle, and B-roll shot.

We filmed at your beautiful industrial-style home, using different areas for different scenes—the hallway, garage, brick wall, and front door—to keep it fresh. On production day, everything had to be perfect: outfits, lighting, sound, timing. I lost my voice the night before, but we had no choice but to power through. Hair and makeup arrived early, and we filmed from dawn to evening. We had to plan props, too—hundreds of dollars in supplies like leashes, crates, collars, and litter boxes for demonstrations.

We had a full crew—four people on set—and at least two camera angles per scene to keep the visuals dynamic. Video is most engaging when something changes every few seconds—so we needed movement, transitions, and variety. It’s exhausting but worth it. We also had to manage the experts’ nerves on camera—thank goodness for the teleprompters and scripts!

After filming came post-production—organizing footage, syncing audio, labeling scenes by module, and reviewing everything. Editing was complex and time-consuming. The production team sorted and labeled everything, but we still had to review and direct revisions. Initially, we weren’t happy with the first edits—they didn’t match our vision. So, we pivoted.

We eventually hired the same editor who worked on Social Media Marketing World’s YouTube videos. Her work was exceptional. We developed a visual brand guide and style template, selecting music, graphics, and transitions. Every motion graphic and pop-up was intentional to make the training feel vibrant and professional.

It took nearly a year—from August 2019 to July 2020—to finish. We learned so much. Editing alone is a massive undertaking. If you think you can do it yourself—you can’t. Hire a professional. This was a four-figure project, but worth every penny because your training reflects your company’s professionalism.

We also realized mid-project that we needed something extra—the “Paw Prints.” These are fillable worksheets that accompany the videos, where each company can personalize their own protocols. For example, if a dog tears up a couch, staff can note what their company’s response should be. It’s a smart way to merge general training with business-specific policies.

So, if you want to create your own training, you absolutely can—but be prepared for the work. This isn’t something you can just shoot on your iPhone and upload to Google Drive. You need structure, planning, and polish.

We’d love for you to check out what we built. Go to petcareteamtraining.com/freevideos to watch five free clips, including “What to Do If the Client Is Home” and “What to Do If the Key Doesn’t Work.” You’ll see exactly how our videos look and feel—and maybe get inspired to create your own.

Thank you so much for tuning in today. Remember, your onboarding process sets the tone for your team’s engagement. Is it exciting or overwhelming? Intentional or chaotic? Think about the impact you want to make.

We’ll be back soon with more. And remember—when life gets you down, always keep jumping.

So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did because I put a lot of love into this for you. The best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcast and leaving a review. I just might read it on the next episode. I also want to remind you that when life gets you down, remember to always keep jumping. Thanks for listening.

Did you hear the news? Rover pet care actually partnered with Walmart. I’m going to tell you why there are four reasons why you as a professional dog walker and pet sitter should actually be happy in this as a pet sitting and dog walking business owner.

Biggest Takeaway You Don’t Want To Miss:

This will be great exposure for the pet sitting and dog walking industry.

First time clients will try a professional dog walker. so make sure your website and sign up process are on point.

We are a luxury service that isn't for everyone.

They aren't unique, you are. Get education, community support, and endorsement.

How to move past the fear of this.

Links:

News Article About The Partnership

Better Marketing with Bella

Jump Consulting Mastermind

Did you enjoy the show?

We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star 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 222 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. Did you hear the news that Rover actually partnered with Walmart? I'm going to tell you what I think about this and four reasons why you should actually be happy about it in this quick live so that you can get your news for the day. My name is Bella Vasta with Jump Consulting. I want to remind you that if you're watching this live or on the replay, go ahead and hit the notifications wherever it is so you know when I go live every single time.

You know I don’t go live often unless I have something really helpful to say, and today is just that. So this news came out—Rover and Walmart partnered up. Yep, they partnered up. I could see a lot of feathers getting ruffled or tails not wagging so hard, so I wanted to come to you live and tell you four reasons why this is actually a good thing.

The very first big thing is exposure. When I first started my business, we were still fighting the world to let them know that professional pet sitting and dog walking actually existed and was an option. We started our education way back when, and even now, we’re still fighting that. There are still people who don’t realize they can get a professional dog walker or pet sitter. So go on with it, Walmart and Rover. Spend all the money on all the advertising, just like they did last year during that advertising blitz—millions of dollars on billboards, radio ads, commercials, everything.

All that does is help tell people about our industry, which is a good thing. It creates more awareness and exposure. So be happy about that. That’s number one. Number two—people are going to try it out, and then they’re not going to like it because people might not show up, or they’ll get tired of having only one person. And when that one person goes on vacation or is unavailable, they’ll have to start over and find someone else. They might not feel the cohesiveness they’d get from a professional company that’s trained.

Now, I’m not saying all Rover sitters are bad because they’re not. If Rover was around when I started my business in 2002, I definitely would have been on Rover. It’s an amazing incubator for businesses, and I know many of you started on Rover and then moved off. So, number one is exposure—it’s going to be awesome. This partnership just happened yesterday, and as the news spreads, people will try it out for the first time and then want more.

When people want more, what do they do? They grab their phones and start typing “dog sitter Scottsdale” or “pet sitter Scottsdale” or wherever they live. And now it’s up to you—the marketer and the salesperson. Yes, you are both. If you don’t figure out a way to overcome that, you’ll be dead in the water. Before COVID hit, it was raining cats and dogs. You didn’t have to do much. The economy was great, unemployment was low, people were traveling. But now, you have to be a true salesperson and marketer because when people start looking for your service, what are they going to see?

Is your website beautiful or does it look like a third grader built it? Yes, I said it. Unfortunately, some people have really bad websites, and that only reflects on them. I tell my Better Marketing with Bella and Mastermind members that marketing is like Cinderella showing up to the ball. You can’t show up in sweatpants with your hair a mess and expect Prince Charming. You have to show up polished and ready. Marketing is the same way.

So, the first thing people will look at is your website—assuming it even comes up on Google. They might find you through local blogs too, like “How much does a pet sitter cost in Scottsdale?” If it’s your blog that shows up, congratulations—you just became the expert. But your website has to look good. Your sign-up process and calls to action need to be clear. The copy on your website should talk directly to your audience’s problems.

If your site sounds like everyone else’s, you’re no different than Rover. If your secret sauce isn’t there—if you’re not showing your unique value propositions—you’re just another dog walker. Too many sitters make it too hard for people to sign up. Your process should take less than five minutes, even at one in the morning, from your client’s bed.

You also need to realize that you’re now a potential threat—people are cautious about who enters their home. So, offer virtual consultations and contactless dog walking. When people want more, that’s what they’ll be looking for.

So, reason one: exposure. Reason two: they’ll want more. Now, number three—you are a luxury. It’s awesome that Rover has aligned with Walmart, which is a bargain-based brand. Nothing against Walmart (I shop there too), but I wouldn’t want Walmart coming into my home—it’s too big, not personal.

When you go to Walmart’s site and click pet services, it takes you to Rover’s site. That’s great traffic for Rover, but it also attracts bargain shoppers. You, on the other hand, offer trust. Clients give you their keys, let you into their homes, trust you with their pets—and that’s a luxury. Rover can’t do that. You’re part of the community, vouched for, engaged, and personal. Highlight that on your social media, your website, and in your pitch.

A Rover sitter takes orders. A professional pet sitter delivers an experience—a complete, thoughtful service that makes clients feel cared for. So, number one: exposure. Number two: people will want more. Number three: luxury—it’s a totally different market.

And number four: highlight. Highlight your team—if someone’s sick or on vacation, someone else steps in. Highlight your education—have you done pet first aid or CPR training? Have you taken Pet Care Team Training and earned certification? You can get a pet sitting and dog walking certification in under two hours and pair it with CPR certification.

Also, highlight your community involvement. Do you sponsor a local team, host Yappy Hours, or run Santa Paws events? Do you promote local businesses? These are things Rover can’t do. Talk about them on social media.

And endorsements—if a local vet endorses you, say it! When I owned my business, a veterinarian endorsed me, so I’d proudly mention that we were locally and nationally award-winning and endorsed by a trusted vet. Those kinds of details make you stand out.

So, to recap: exposure, curiosity, luxury, and highlighting your unique value. Don’t get scared—embrace it. Let this fuel your fire to make your business even better. If you hate marketing, if you’re not creating videos consistently, you’re missing out because algorithms love branded video content.

Show both your personal and professional side. Share your day-to-day moments and polished branded content. Together, they build trust and recognition. Don’t just share random funny posts—share things that show your brand and values.

You have the advantage that you’re not Rover. You have a voice. You can be whatever you want your brand to be. That’s what Better Marketing with Bella helps clients with—giving them 26 pieces of branded content every month so they can stay visible and connected. If you’re interested, there’s one spot left, and I can even offer a discount.

This Rover-Walmart thing isn’t bad—it’s about perspective. Our perspective is our reality. So what kind of reality are you going to choose for your business?

Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you know every time I go live. Let me know what resonated with you. Had you heard the news before? Do you agree or disagree with me? I’d love to know.

I have so much content out there for you—the Bella in Your Business podcast, the Jumpstart Your Pet Business Facebook group (where I’m actually about to go live in five minutes to share a free ad strategy). So, I’ve got to go, but remember: when life gets you down, always keep jumping.

So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did because I put a lot of love into this for you. And the best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcast and leaving a review....

Why The Market Is Saturated With Privately Owned Pet Care Companies Dying To Be A Top Dog and The Solution

Are you making this marketing mistake in your pet business?

As an entrepreneur and business owner, everyone has a unique value proposition or what we call the "Secret Sauce". Most of us don't know, but we all have something unique about our businesses. We just need to dig deeper and discover where our business does well and to send that message about our brand.

Today we'll be talking about how it all starts with sharing visuals, such as graphics. Graphics allow you to share your unique value with an audience. A picture can speak a thousand words, right? Well, those 1000 words should include your brand's authority, and how you stand out in your community.

It doesn't stop there. There's more ways to stand out from the crowd, like emblems. Think of emblems as your shiny trophies that you can share with your audience. It tells your ideal clients to pick you, without you having to say so!

It's time for you to stop hiding your best kept secret in your business, which is YOU.

Biggest Takeaway You Don’t Want To Miss:

Educating through graphics will show why you're valuable as a business.  This is why I appreciate Pet Care Team Training so much. They take the thinking out of creating by providing branded graphics, training emblems, and exposure for your pet care business. Having all of this in one distinct place for you is one way to stand out in an effortless way.

Stand out without the burn out!

Marketing Mistake Show Highlights

What is "Secret Sauce"? -1:40

Foundation of Training: Training people the same way -4:49

Educating through graphics -7:46

Putting Distinctions on your Website -9:55

Why do we need training? -11:25

How to stand out from the pack? -16:03

What is Pet Care Team Training? -17:00

Links:

Pet Care Team Training: https://petcareteamtraining.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PetCareTeamTraining

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 219 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 is part of our video training series where Liz Illig, my partner in crime with Pet Care Team Training, has joined us to talk about lots of different subjects to give you inspiration and ideas on how to better your team and further expand your empire. Listen in as we talk about today's topic.

Welcome, everybody, to another episode of Pet Care Team Training. Today, we’re talking about marketing mistakes—and wondering if you're making this very big, crucial mistake that so many business owners make. My guest and co-owner of Pet Care Team Training, Liz Illig, is here with me. Liz, how are you today? “I'm good. Thanks for having me on your podcast.” Yeah, and thanks for being here too. So, we were talking about how a lot of people are hiding their best-kept secret in their business and just not talking about it. Honestly, that’s understandable because even we’ve been guilty of it. Sometimes we’re so close to our business that we don’t even realize it.

A lot of pet-sitting business owners struggle because the market is saturated. There are so many dog walking and pet sitting companies vying for attention—hobbyists, friends, family, and platforms like Rover. But there’s one marketing thing you can do to help you stand out and be outside of the pack. So Liz, do you have any idea what it is? “Graphics? Social media?” Yeah. You have what’s called a unique value proposition. Or as Liz likes to call it—your secret sauce.

Your secret sauce is something unique about your business. Some people say, “There’s nothing unique about what I do,” but there always is. It’s how you opened your business, how you deliver your services, or what makes your client experience different. You need to discover what that is and make it part of your brand messaging because that’s what will make you stand out—no one else can replicate it.

Sometimes it’s as simple as talking about what others don’t talk about. Maybe that’s showing what your client updates look like, or sharing your accreditations. Many of you have been taking new certifications, learning dog training techniques, or joining programs like Pet Care Team Training. That’s valuable! You’re gaining knowledge that builds trust and security for your clients. You’re showing them you’ve gone above and beyond.

So how do you showcase that? Graphics. The graphics you post on social media can display how awesome you are and what your secret sauce is. That kind of content stops the scroll and draws attention—it’s not just another pet photo. You can put these graphics in your newsletters, on your website, or across your social media. It builds trust and positions you as the expert.

With Pet Care Team Training, anyone who signs up gets a custom “We Care About Training and Onboarding” graphic. We celebrate them with their logo and branding to help them promote that accomplishment. If your certification provider doesn’t do this, make your own. That’s a unique selling point you shouldn’t keep secret.

It also shows potential clients that you train your team the same way across your entire company. Unlike gig platforms where each worker operates independently, your team is unified. If you’re promoting the idea that any team member can walk a client’s dog, then it’s vital that you actually train everyone consistently. That consistency builds confidence and strengthens your brand’s foundation.

As a business owner, you should be proud to say, “Yes, I train my staff. I know they meet my expectations.” That confidence sells your service—whether Sally or Ryan shows up, you know they’ll deliver the same standard of care. Every team member can have their unique personality, but your training creates a consistent client experience.

If you’re going to promote that everyone’s trained equally, make sure it’s true. Uphold those standards. That’s how you build a trustworthy brand and strong client relationships.

Now let’s talk about how to show it off. Add it to your website. When clients look up your staff, they’ll read bios, check pictures, and—let’s be real—probably stalk them on Facebook. So why not proudly display training badges or certifications next to their names? Put them in the footer or near your awards and recognitions—don’t clutter the top fold, which should focus on your client’s problem.

With Pet Care Team Training, your staff can earn two certifications: Pet First Aid & CPR through ProPet Hero, and the Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Training certification. So next to your team’s names, add icons for those. When’s the last time you saw a pet-sitting site do that? It’s rare, but it immediately boosts credibility.

If not everyone on your team is trained yet, that’s okay—but let it push you toward completing that process. It builds accountability and strengthens company culture. Longtime team members might resist, saying, “I already know everything.” But ongoing training refreshes knowledge, corrects bad habits, and ensures consistency.

You can’t assume everyone will see your post once. Keep the conversation going throughout the year. Talk about training regularly. It shows pride in your team and commitment to professionalism. Clients love knowing that the people entering their homes are experts.

This also boosts company culture. When you tell the world about your training, it holds you accountable to maintain your onboarding standards. And remember—it’s not enough for just the business owner to complete training. Everyone should. It’s an investment, not a cost. When you invest in your people, they’ll invest back into your business.

So, put out graphics, share it on social media and stories, display it on your website, and stop keeping it a secret. Then, collaborate with others—veterinarians, groomers, trainers, and pet stores. Do interviews or live videos where they ask you how you maintain your high standards. Create blogs or repurpose that video. When you collaborate, their audience sees it too.

And if you’re part of Pet Care Team Training, tag us! We love celebrating our clients’ success by sharing your wins—it increases your visibility and engagement. So don’t keep your secret sauce a secret. You don’t even have to do something new—just start talking about what you already do.

As we wrap up, remember this: If you want to stand out, focus on what makes you unique. Training, certifications, and consistent branding are marketing gold. They also keep you accountable and aligned with your staff and clients.

This episode was sponsored by Pet Care Team Training—a new 13-video series designed to help you streamline your onboarding process....

Are you an entrepreneur or business owner struggling to create effective video training for your employees due to a lack of videography and editing skills? Don't let the hurdles of inadequate lighting, software, and equipment hold you back from providing your staff with the training they need to succeed. There are customizable methods available, but without the proper tools and know-how, it can be a cumbersome and frustrating process.

Video training doesn’t have to be long, slow, and boring.

Our sponsor, Pet Care Team Training, takes care of ALL of that. Pet Care Team Training is specific, streamlined, and simply engineered for the success of your employee onboarding. Its videos keep the viewers engaged and excited by throwing the right graphics and instructions during the training to keep you and your employees entertained while learning. .

With Pet Care Team Training, you can build the foundation of your training from the video aspect and documentation, and YOU as the business owner get to decide the added things that you want to incorporate in your business.

Biggest Takeaways:

Main issues, such as how to train someone on everything - 2:50

How to have new team members retain information - 6:03

List of "must have" training videos - 7:00

Make your new team members feel excited to work with you - 9:52

Video training brings your employee handbooks to LIFE - 11:05

All of the bonuses that come with Pet Care Team Training - 20:24

Did you love this episode?

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 218 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. We're going to learn the proper way of how to use each individual leash, collar, harness, and no-pull device. Hi guys, this is Liz and Bella and we're going to share with you a really cool video. I want you to see it. I didn’t want to keep playing it for you because I wanted you to know that we're coming here live for you. We'll be right back. Watch this really cute, short, exciting clip.

We're going to learn the proper way of how to use each individual leash, collar, harness, and no-pull device so you feel even more comfortable when walking your dog. Get to know the dog you're walking and which no-pull device will work the best. Let's face it, nobody likes to clean litter boxes, but if you know how to do it right, you could save yourself a lot of time and hassle. As a pet sitter or a dog walker, it's really important to know that there is a wide variety of crates. Did you get all that?

Liz, I just love that clip. It makes me so excited, and even as a business owner, just to share that with the world. What's up everyone? Thanks for joining us. Let us know where you're tuning in from. This is the second of our series on pet care team training. Quite honestly, that’s a video training series. Today, we're going to talk about why most video training doesn't work and what you can do to turn it around to make it work. Because let's face it, we are in 2020, the year of the video—whether you like it or not. We've been telling you video is so important, and it's even more crucial now to help train your staff because everyone is afraid of being together and getting the coronavirus.

Liz and I started having weekly meetings a year ago, outlining this entire training program together. Liz has a background with five grooming shops and multiple other companies, and she’s helped many pet sitters create their SOPs. I’ve been a coach in the industry for over a decade and have built and sold my own pet sitting company. So we know what works, but we also wanted to bring you something streamlined, simple, and specific that gets your staff excited.

One of the biggest problems is overwhelm. There's just so much to train someone on, and you have to ensure that in a short amount of time, the information actually sticks. That’s why video training works—it’s visual. If you even look at that video clip we showed, it demonstrated three types of crates. Anyone watching will remember those crates and be able to recognize them in real life. That’s the power of visuals—they stay in your mind.

When you’re training someone, it’s hard to write everything down in a manual. You can put pictures, but it’s very different when they can see, hear, and experience it. Video training helps them absorb and retain that information safely and effectively. The problem is, when business owners try to make their own video training, it often becomes too long—10, 20, even 30 hours of video. Time is money. You have to pay people to watch those videos, and if it’s too long, it’s costly, exhausting, and overwhelming. It doesn’t excite people to work for your business. Training should make them feel supported and confident—not bored and drained.

Sometimes we’re so close to our own brand that we forget the basics. We assume people know what we know, but they don’t. You almost have to start from square one. And if you want your team to retain information, you need to make it memorable—and that’s why video works. It engages the senses and creates lasting impact.

We’re not built to retain hours of business-specific information at once. It’s not about talking endlessly—it’s about designing the content strategically so that people retain it, remember it, and even get excited about it. Anyone can get on video, but making it effective takes structure. For example, how would you show your puppy step-by-step protocol? What about what to do when a pet has an accident? Every company has a different policy. Some owners want you to clean it up and tell the client. Others want you to notify management first. There’s no one-size-fits-all.

With this training, we accounted for that by giving you a place to personalize your company’s policies. That’s one of the coolest parts—you can make it your own. Liz, the systems queen, designed that customization feature. You can outline your emergency vet protocol, what to do if a pet runs out of medication, or even your social media policy. These are things every company handles differently, and we’ve made it easy for you to tailor the training to your needs.

Training is your company’s secret sauce—it defines your standard of excellence. Video training helps make that repeatable. It’s easy to onboard new people, and it ensures everyone is learning consistently. You can even make the training portal interactive. Send them a login, make them feel like they’re part of something, and let them learn at their own pace. When they’re done, they’ll feel proud to be part of your company because you’ve onboarded them professionally and with care.

I’ve always said your training should be just like your handbook—it’s your foundation. The difference is, video brings it to life. People retain 70% more information when they can both see and hear it. That’s why we made this program.

If you’re hesitant, you can preview it. We’ve provided five free videos at petcareteamtraining.com/freevideos. You can see examples like “How to Take a Picture of a Pet,” “What to Do If the Key Doesn’t Work,” and “What to Do If You Arrive and the Client’s Home.” Every video is short, engaging, and practical.

This project took a year and a lot of hard work. We invested in professional editors—including one who edits for Social Media Examiner’s YouTube channel—to keep the visuals exciting with zooms, graphics, and transitions every few seconds. Each video is between three and seven minutes long, arranged in sequence to build one concept after another. Unlike most training that feels like a random collection of topics, ours flows step-by-step for better retention.

We also brought in real experts: a cat behaviorist, a veterinarian, and a dog trainer named Mark Siebel. Liz and I covered the sitter-specific parts like scheduling and communication. That combination of expertise makes the training truly well-rounded.

The second element of this program is the supporting documentation—fillable PDFs that correspond to each module. You can customize them to reflect your company’s specific policies. We even offer a creative team who can help you fill them out in a 30-minute consultation if you want extra support.

The best part? These materials can serve as a standard for best practices and be updated anytime as your business evolves. You don’t have to re-record videos every time something changes. You simply update the documentation. That flexibility keeps your training relevant and up to date.

Now, let’s talk about bonuses. When you join, you’ll receive quarterly blueprints—action plans to engage your team. You’ll also get a done-for-you team newsletter every month. You can rebrand it and send it as your own. It’s a simple way to keep your staff connected, reinforce training lessons, and build culture without starting from scratch.

...

Pet Care Team Training is specific, streamlined, and simple engineered for the success of your employee onboarding. Its videos keep the viewers engaged and excited by throwing the right graphics and instructions during the training to keep you and your employees entertained while learning. Video training doesn’t have to be long, slow, and boring.

As an entrepreneur and business owner, you can customize your training through Pet Care Training’s paw print to keep your "Secret Sauce" and have a way to show to your people this is how you do it.

With Pet Care Team Training, you can build the foundation of your training from the video aspect and documentation, and YOU as the business owner get to decide the added things that you want to incorporate in your business.

Biggest Takeaway You Don't Want To Miss:

Long videos can cause information overload. Video Learning may not work for everyone and it doesn’t work unless you pay attention. Having said this, you need to invite your team member to be a hero in your client’s story. You also have to cater to multiple learning styles in your training and “Game-ify” your training process!

Pet Care Team Training has these cool elements so you can onboard your employees the right way. You can watch it, read it, you can go to a checklist on it, and you can personalize it as your own business. It also has those visual elements that people can see something as we’re talking and see how it’s actually done with actual products. Video training doesn’t have to be long, slow, and boring.

You will be a happy entrepreneur or business if you train your employees properly. This way, you will have a staff that are going out to the field equipped and ready to move your business forward. You will get 2 certifications for each of your employees with Pet Care Team Training.

Show Highlights:

Problems that we hear from Business Owners with Video Training 1:14

Not a lot of companies are using video trainings 6:55

1-minute sneak peek of Pet Care Team Training 9:25

Pet Care Training free video 11:14

People quit right after you train them 11:45

Handbook and manuals compared to Video training 14:53

“Game-ify” things 18:00

2 Certifications for employees 20:48

Links:

www.petcareteamtraining.com

www.facebook.com/bellavasta1/

www.instagram.com/bellavasta/

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 217 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 everyone. My name is Bella Vasta, and I'm here with Liz Illig. We are the co-founders of Pet Care Team Training. How are you today? We are so excited to see you. If you're watching live or on the replay, let us know. We would love to just talk with you because we're not doing this just for ourselves. We are starting this video training series today, coming to you every Wednesday on Facebook Live to tackle a few different issues or questions that we’ve heard from some of you, and we have a lot to say about them.

Today, we're going to talk all about the problems and the solutions to video training and some of the stuff that might hold you back as a business owner from doing video training. Liz, I'm excited about this topic today and can’t wait to get going. What are some problems that you hear from business owners who say, “No, I don’t want to do video training,” or, “I did video training and it didn’t work”?

A lot of what I hear is that they provide training or give videos, but it's not in any order or structure of how people should learn. It’s almost like, “Here, view this video, this one, and that one. You can find it in Drive or Dropbox.” It’s all over the place. There’s not one place that takes you through proper modules to onboard someone without overwhelming them. You always have to think about providing an experience to the people you’re bringing onto your team. It’s a reflection of you and your business. How do you make sure people love your business and feel so empowered that they’re ready to hit the ground running?

That’s exactly the thing you have to focus on as an entrepreneur—bringing people on where they feel empowered. One of those ways is to ensure you onboard them correctly. Don’t give them too much or dump word vomit and video vomit all at once. Take people through an experience of how you would like to be taught. As business owners, we have so much we want to teach people, and we just want to get it all out within an hour. That’s why we created this course—because we’ve seen what’s being done and what’s not working.

The problems really are that long videos get boring. And when I say long, I mean anything over five minutes, or when you just have a talking head. Many training videos try to be professional but end up shaky, poorly lit, or unengaging. These days, attention spans are short. Watch any professional video—you’ll notice how often the visuals change, how audio draws you in, and how motion keeps your eye engaged. Many videos also lack storytelling, which is key to helping people remember.

Video learning doesn’t work for everyone because people have different learning styles. But the beauty of video training is how comprehensive it can be. You can offer checklists, note sections, and fill-in-the-blanks to help people retain information. Quizzes alone can be intimidating. That’s why we made ours interactive, like Mad Libs. Each video includes fill-in-the-blanks to help learners focus on what’s important.

You can’t just say, “Watch these videos, I’ll pay you for four hours,” and call it a day. That’s not accountability or action. You need personalization. And yes, you’ll always have onboarding costs—don’t be cheap about it. Waiting to train people until they “prove themselves” sends the wrong message. It tells them you don’t believe in them or want to equip them for success.

The common problems with video training are that people think it costs too much, it’s overwhelming, and it’s not actionable. But you can overcome those issues by keeping things short, interactive, and structured. Many people aren’t even doing video training yet because of production challenges. It takes time to script, film, and edit—but think about how much more effective it is than asking someone to read a 40-page SOP.

Are you going to pay someone to read for hours when they might not retain it? That’s why you need video. What I love about our course is how visual it is—we’ve got crates, cat litter, leashes, and real demonstrations with actual products. It took us a long time to create this because we wanted to add assessments, questions, and ways to measure understanding. We wanted to make training interactive and brand-building, something that tells people who you are and what you stand for.

It’s a valiant effort to do it all yourself, but unless you have a background in filming and editing, it’s tough. We even have a blooper reel that shows how many takes it took to get things right! You can check it out on the Pet Care Team Training Facebook page. We’ll even show you a one-minute compilation clip of what our training looks like—it’s packed with visuals and energy.

That video makes me giddy because every single one of our videos is between two and seven minutes long. There are 13 in total, organized into three modules. We also created a free preview for you: five different clips that show both problems and solutions, like how to take pet pictures or what to do if a key doesn’t work. Go to petcareteamtraining.com/freevideos to access them right away and see what your new hires would experience.

Let’s also talk about onboarding—the “courtship” phase. Some clients tell us their new hires quit right after training, and that’s why they’re hesitant to hire again. That usually happens because they’re not creating an experience. When onboarding fails, it’s disheartening. It can even feel like being broken up with. But your goal should be to make your new team member the hero in your client’s story.

Train them to see themselves as ambassadors for your brand, people who enhance clients’ lives. When they feel that sense of purpose, they’re more invested. Proper onboarding also helps you become a better leader because your team knows exactly what’s expected of them. There’s nothing worse than trying to help someone without clear instructions—it leaves everyone frustrated.

Handbooks are still essential, but video training enhances them. Most pet sitters can’t afford to hire a production crew or spend days filming, scripting, and editing. That’s why this program exists—to give small business owners professional-grade training tools.

Video training appeals to multiple learning styles—visual, auditory, and even kinesthetic. Some people like reading while listening,...