Bella In Your Business: Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Podcast

If you are a dog walker and need more clients, then you want to watch this Creating promotional dog walking videos podcast. Today you will discover the simple easy to use step by step process to quickly and easily creating promo videos for your dog walking or pet sitting business.

Creating Promotional Dog Walking Videos Show Highlights

Popular misconceptions about creating promotional videos

What is the ideal length, aspect ratio, basics

The Four Pillars that make a promo video great

How to alleviate the biggest bottleneck in creating promotional videos.

Structure for thinking of visuals.

More important than editing is the design and how the frame looks like

Music- select one that amplifies the overall mood of your promotional video

Links

Learn More About InVideo.

Get 50% off by using my code BELLA50

Don't forget to check out Bella's templates you can steal now!

Related Blog Post: How To Utilize Video For Your Dog Walking Business.

Let’s Connect!

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

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’’

Are You New Here?

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

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

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

Transcript:

This is episode 206 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 and we are going to continue this series about video. I wanted to take four episodes to explain all the different things that you could consider about video so that you can be the most successful when doing it. By now, you've probably already seen my masterclass where I showed you top of the funnel, middle of the funnel, bottom of the funnel, and also gave you templates that you could use, as well as a 50% off code, BELLA50, to InVideo. It's awesome video software that's super cheap—only $5 a month, basically affordable for anybody. No contracts or anything like that either.

I wanted to take today to talk about a step-by-step process for creating promotional dog walking videos. I wanted to break it down so that it's pretty easy. But first, I wanted to talk about common misconceptions. A lot of times we think we only need one brand video promo. Or maybe you've gone on to Animoto and made one of those long scrolling videos of all the dogs you walk—and no one really cares unless their own dog is in it, right? I would consider trying to make a video for almost every single service you offer. I don't mean just “dog walk,” “pet sit,” or “overnight.” I mean a lunchtime let-out, a potty break, a morning walk, a midday let-out, or an “I’m on Zoom and need my dog walked” type of service. All of these different reasons why you walk dogs—that’s what I would do. Let’s call those promo videos.

For every single promo or service that you have, I would definitely create one. Most people think they only need one, and you could get away with that, but maybe make it a goal to do one a month. That could really build your arsenal over time, and then you can use them for anything—from ads to Facebook, Instagram, or even your website. It can show potential clients what to expect, or even answer questions like, “What exactly happens on those walks?”

I’ll keep referring to an arsenal because as we build content, that’s basically what we’re doing—building weapons we can use. In reality, these promo videos need to create highly contextual messages for every use case if you want the messaging to stick. For example, I was conducting a live masterclass and had a promo highlighting the benefits of the masterclass and what it’s about. If you had an end-of-season offer or sale, you’d need a promo for that too. For example, for holidays like the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Think about all the reasons you could create what we’ll loosely call a promo video.

Now, I know some of you are thinking, “Oh my gosh, I need a lot of time for this, it’s going to take effort and money, I’ll have to outsource it.” But that’s not true. Going back to this tool I’ve been touting so much—inVideo—it’s only $10 a month, and with my 50% off coupon, it’s $5 a month. The software company even made a bunch of templates for me to give to you, so you can just go in there and change the words, colors, or calls to action. It’s really easy.

Today’s show is all about that, so I’ll actually show you at the end how to use this awesome tool called InVideo. Let’s start with the basics. The ideal length of a promo video is between 14 to 45 seconds, depending on how complex your message is. You shouldn’t cross the one-minute mark since attention spans drop drastically after that. The aspect ratio—the size and resolution—depends on the platform. Many of you hang out on Instagram and Facebook, so for simplicity, I recommend a square format (1:1 ratio). If your audience is younger and on Instagram Stories or Snapchat, you’ll want a vertical format (9:16 ratio).

If you’re reaching a mixed audience, duplicate the project so you can post natively on each platform. For example, posting a vertical Instagram Story video on Facebook will look terrible. Luckily, with this software, you can instantly resize it with one click.

Keep text minimal because people don’t have much time to read, and if you’re running ads, Facebook only allows around 20% text coverage. The first five seconds are crucial—they must be engaging to grab attention. Make viewers curious: “Where is this going?” “What’s happening?” Then, always end with a call to action. Many people forget this and just post a video with no next step. Say something like, “We’d love to walk your dog,” or “Do you know anyone traveling this weekend?”

There are four main elements of a promo: script, visuals, design, and audio. The script translates your idea into a story. Do some groundwork before writing. The visuals bring your story to life. The design ties the visuals and text together. And the audio amplifies your message.

If you open a blank project and feel stuck, it’s because you skipped these four steps. So, let’s go through them. Start with audience research. This helps you choose one of three scripting approaches. Where does your audience spend time online? For most pet care business owners, it’s Facebook and Instagram, but there’s also a big boom happening on TikTok. What kind of content do they engage with? What pages do they follow? What kind of language do they respond to? You can even post polls like, “What’s your favorite pet page?”

Next, scripting. Don’t go for the obvious. Instead of simply showing a problem and solution, show the “old world” and “new world.” For example, show the problem—“Do you feel bad that your dog is home alone?”—then tease the solution—“Imagine coming home to a happy, tired pup.” You can structure scripts in three ways: social proof, problem-solution, or aspirational.

Social proof works when you have positive reviews. You could say, “We’re rated 4.8 on Google with over 100 reviews.” Problem-solution could be, “Does your dog bark at every Amazon driver? We can help by walking them before your work calls.” Aspirational scripts are trickier but powerful. They connect emotionally—for example, instead of saying, “We walk dogs,” say, “We give pet parents peace of mind.”

Then come visuals. Avoid using copyrighted footage. Getty Images, for example, can fine you heavily. InVideo solves this with over a million royalty-free clips from premium sources like Shutterstock. There are three visual types: one that reinforces your message (like showing money falling for “save money”), one that isolates your key call to action against a solid background, and one that’s unexpected or humorous (like showing a cat’s grumpy face instead of a bored person).

Design is how everything looks—layout, colors, and motion graphics. It doesn’t need to be complex. InVideo makes it easy with thousands of templates and a Canva-like editor, including pet-sitting templates I’ve already helped design. You can create a full video in under 15 minutes.

Finally, music. Choose something that matches the mood but remember, most people scroll without sound, so don’t make your video dependent on it.

If this sounds cool, go check out InVideo at jumpconsulting.net/invideo and use BELLA50 for 50% off. It’s only $60 for the whole year. Many of you have already signed up, and I just wanted to continue the training and expand your ideas so you can get excited about video. You don’t need to be overwhelmed or scared by it.

This has been another episode of Bella in Your Business. I hope this helped expand your thinking and sparked new ideas. Message me and tell me your biggest takeaway. If you’re in the Mastermind, post it in your thread and tag me. If you loved this episode, please rate it five stars and leave a comment—I might read it on the next one. And remember, when life gets you down,...

Would you like to learn how to use your pet business marketing funnels to create your video content? Structured properly you should have several campaigns going for all three stages of your funnel. Awareness campaigns are typically a top of funnel or TOFU activity. Lead generation campaigns are geared more for the Middle of Funnel or MOFU , and your conversion campaigns are the Bottom of Funnel of Bofu.

In all three instances, you can use the offers for all of these campaigns to create videos that will allow you to generate real-world leads for your business.

Pet Business Marketing Funnel Show Highlights

Learn how you, a solo-preneur or business owner, can leverage videos to generate real-world leads.

Discover what the biggest fallacy is and why most people don't see results.

Explore what the approach should be for TOFU, MOFU, and BOFU and learn how to create ideal content for them.

Uncover the biggest bottle-necks that you may face.

Links

Learn More About InVideo.

Get 50% off by using my code BELLA50

Learn more about video creation and sales funnels in Episode 78

Let’s Connect!

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

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’’

Are You New Here?

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

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

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

Transcript:

This is episode 205 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 Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, your host. And for the next four episodes, we are going to talk all about video. So it's going to be you and me in a nice intimate setting. I'm not going to try to make them 30 minutes long or whatever—however long it goes for will be however long it goes for. But I promise that I'm going to expand and excite your brain with everything video.

Now you guys know that 2020 has not been the best year ever, or at least that's the general consensus. I kind of like to say that we've had the COVID cover to figure out what we're actually doing, what we actually want to do. And it's really given us the gift of time, the gift that we'll never ever have again in our life. And part of that is taking a step back and realizing what we can't and what we should do. And while we've all been sequestered and everyone's at different stages around the world and in the country, I get that—but we have been online a lot more. And while we're online a lot more, it's the best way to get our businesses in front of people's faces.

You guys have heard me squawking about video forever. I was doing video before it was cool. I was trying to get you guys to do video. We've been creating video for the past three semesters in Better Marketing with Bella because it's not just enough to put up graphics or, God forbid, just a status update without even a picture. Even videos, I mean—or even like advertisements—doing them with videos. But video can be done fifty ways to Sunday. So it's also really overwhelming to figure out what to do. It's also overwhelming to figure out how to get it to convert, what to say, how to shoot it, what to shoot it with. And then you've got your own problems that I’ve heard from you guys—“I don't like the way I sound on video,” “I don't like the way I look,” “I don't have any place to shoot it,” “I don't know what to create.” All these tools are awesome, but then you say, “I'm not creative.” So there are all these barriers of entry that just pile up, and you end up not doing anything with it, right? Well, hopefully by the end of this short series—or if you watched my masterclass I had a couple of weeks ago on Facebook—you’re going to see how you can jumpstart your video marketing here at the end of 2020 and really stand out.

In this episode, we're going to talk all about what it takes to generate leads via videos. So we already discussed some of the problems and hindrances at the very beginning, but specifically on this episode, I want you to think of a funnel. Think of a funnel that you might use to pour liquid from one jar into another. That funnel is really big at the top and really small at the bottom—it directs that liquid to where it needs to go. That's what funnels do. Maybe you're a mechanic or grew up around cars and you’ve seen funnels in that context. But there is a funnel in your business, whether or not you realize it. And the more you pay attention to it, the more lucrative it can be—the more oil you can get, or the more liquid you can pour into that other jar. That's essentially what we're trying to do. You can actually use video as a funnel. I'm going to blow your mind here. There’s top of the funnel, middle of the funnel, and bottom of the funnel.

I think the biggest fallacy—the reason people don't see results and say, “Well, I tried video and didn’t get any clients”—is because they don't realize how many factors go into it: messaging, structure, visuals, audio, length—so many things. But let’s talk about the top of the funnel. The top of the funnel is all about awareness. You're just creating awareness for something and making people stop and realize, “That’s interesting.” For example, a video like “How long will it take this dog to go number two on his potty visit?” with a stopwatch running. That’s just awareness. It’s not selling anyone anything—it’s just interesting. If you set this up properly, you can actually target people who watched more than three seconds or ten seconds of that video and then hit them with another video ad. They’ve already shown interest, so you can continue nurturing that.

For example, Mallory Cooper from Charleston Dog Walkers has been doing an awesome video series showing different types of trails and areas where people can walk their dogs. That’s a top-of-funnel video. Then the next stage is when you retarget them. Maybe they got that trail video first, or the “how long to go potty” video. Then, the next ad could say, “Hey guys, I know that I showed you the trails, but now I want to show you where we actually take the dogs we walk,” or “We do ten of these potty visits every Monday through Friday—let us help you.” What you’re doing is taking a broad, general idea and relating it specifically to your business—putting yourself as the hero of the story.

Then there’s the bottom of the funnel content, which is where you ask for the sale. For example: “If your dog takes forever to do their business, we can help,” or “Want your dog to explore these trails? Call us now to set up three or four walks a week.” That’s the direct call-to-action stage. But if you just post a sales video right away—“Book now!”—people won’t care because they don’t know you yet. It’s like getting married after the first date. You have to wine and dine them a bit. You need to nurture trust before asking for commitment.

So, think about the kinds of videos you can make and where you’ll use them. Who’s seeing them? Can you create a cohesive funnel where you track who’s engaging at each stage? It might sound complex, but it’s really not that hard. One of the places I like to do this is on InVideo.io—it’s actually fun to use. You may have seen me demonstrate it in my masterclass. What they did for our industry is really cool. Their product is $10 a month, but they gave us half off—it’s only $5 a month! That’s less than your Starbucks. They even made me a creator page with pre-made templates for pet sitters and dog walkers. You just go in, change the colors and fonts, and you’ve got your video ready. No need to come up with something from scratch—it’s all there for you.

So, I want you to sit down and brainstorm what your top, middle, and bottom-of-funnel videos could be. This is something we talk about in the Mastermind group too—different campaigns and ad strategies. I want you to stop saying that video doesn’t work or that you don’t like how you look or sound. Stop saying you don’t have a place to film or lack creativity. I’ve taken the guesswork out for you—you just have to do the work. If you want to get in on this deal or see those templates I’m talking about, go to jumpconsulting.net/invideo.

Our next podcast episode will be about creating videos your audience can’t resist. I’m going to explode more ideas for you there because, as you know, I love brainstorming—even if it’s just me in my office recording into my mic. This has been another episode of Bella in Your Business. It’s short and sweet—I’m not going to chew your ear off. Check out other episodes at jumpconsulting.net, and use the search bar like the Google of pet sitting and dog walking. There are over 500 blogs, a YouTube channel, and 200 podcast episodes. If you want to excite and delight your brain with everything pet sitting and dog walking, I’m your one-stop shop.

If you liked this episode, please give us a review and rating. I’d love to see it and maybe read it on the next episode. And remember, when life gets you down, always keep jumping....

How have you separated your pet business brand from the rest of the pack (yes pun intended. )?

Joanna Price is the Owner of Woofin’ It Pet Concierge. It is her vision, tireless work ethic, and passionate commitment to pets that has grown her business from the seeds of an idea to the best Dog Walking and Pet Sitting service brand in Frederick, with 5 team members. Additionally, her commitment to exceeding expectations and delighting clients is evident in their references (affectionately referred to as WOOFERENCES). She and her team truly have fun with your pets and the "work" they all do. Joanna and her team thrive on giving pet parents peace of mind, and are truly grateful for the trust their clients have in them to care for their fur-babies!

Pet Business Vision Show Highlights

Learn about how Joanna uses her own lingo in her pet concierge brand to make it special.

Hear how she has stayed positive through COVID.

Learn about how commitment to hiring helped her grow her business fast.

Understand how her vision and why helped shape her pet business brand

Links

Joanna's website https://woofinitdogwalking.com/

Let’s Connect!

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

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’’

Are You New Here?

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

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

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

Transcript:

This is episode 204 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 Bella in Your Business. Today I've got one of my long-term clients with me, Joanna. And she is absolutely amazing. You guys, not only is she a kick-ass mama, she's also an incredible business owner. She is the owner of Woofin' It! Pet Concierge. And it is her vision of tireless work ethic and passionate commitment to pets that has grown her business from the seeds of an idea to the best dog walking and pet sitting service in Frederick with five team members. Additionally, her commitment to exceeding expectations and delighting clients is evident in their references, if actually known as woof-rances. We're going to totally talk about her vernacular today. She and her team truly have fun with their pets that they help and all of the “work” that they do. Joanna and her team thrive on giving pet parents peace of mind and are amazing at everything that they do. I've been watching her virtually and working with her personally for I don't even know how long, Joanna, but I've just been impressed with your tenacity, with your mindset, which we're also going to talk about today, and also your impeccable, happy branding. That's all I can really announce it as, I'm not even sure. But welcome to the show and thanks for saying yes for being on.

Absolutely. So why don't you go ahead and fill in those gaps for me really quick and tell our audience how long you've been in business. When did it start? Why did it start? And what burns inside your belly to keep going, especially during this recording when we're in 2020, July 2020, and the whole world's falling apart. Yeah, it definitely is. Sure. So I actually launched this business in February of 2017 and it was just me and my idea of doing it. I had been in the corporate world for a really long time. There had been some things that happened, a position that I had been working in had been eliminated. And so I really allowed myself to take the time and figure out what did I actually want that next chapter to look like in my life. So after taking a couple months, doing a lot of research, kind of trying to figure stuff out, I launched this business with kind of a wing and a prayer and myself. So that was February of 2017 and then by May I brought on my first team member and we have really just expanded and grown from that point. And that was May of 2017? That was when I brought on my first team member in May of 2017, yes.

Okay, so let's dive into that really quick because that was three months into your business you brought on a team member, which I think says a lot because I know a lot of our listeners out there, they've either just started or they've been in the business for a while and they either have tried to hire or they're just terrified to hire. So what made you want to hire that quickly into your business? Was it a perfect time? How did you know you needed to? And were you extremely successful your very first time? I mean, I wish I could say that was the reason. Basically, the truth of the matter is it just didn't make sense to me not to leverage my time. At that point, I probably had seven to ten clients a day that I was doing by myself, but my kids are 20 and 18 now. And so they were in high school when I started this and I was kind of like, you know, I want to start my own business so I have more time with my family, not less. And so that kind of just started the whole, what if I get sick? What if I fall and I break my ankle? What if I want to take a vacation with my family? I don't want to have to shut my business down because I myself am not available. I have to let people know this is a legitimate business. I'm not a lone person. We will have backup for you. We do have coverage when emergencies happen. And I think that just adds to the whole level of our clients having peace of mind that someone will always be there when we say we're going to be there. It was just kind of all part of the plan. So May I brought on my first person and then honestly in July I brought on my second one and those two pet concierges are still with us today.

I love that so much. What I'm hearing from you, Joanna, what I want our listeners to pull from this is that you were connected to your why—you wanted to free up your time, not be bonded to the time. And I think so many of us get lost in that trap because we want to be everything. We want to do everything. We want to have control over everything. We want everything to be perfect. And we're terrified to let those reins go. And it's one of the reasons why in just three short years you have grown and established yourself so well because you went off running. You didn't start baby crawling or jogging. You started sprinting and figured it out as you went because you wanted to be there for your family. And I think that's really important, you guys. If anyone's listening right now thinking when's the perfect time to hire or how can I do it or when should I do it, I really encourage you to think about what Joanna just said. Go back to your why. Why did you start this business? Was it so you could be a slave to it or was it so that you actually could grow it into something that could be an asset that gives back to your life?

Now, Joanna, you just mentioned pet concierge. I want you to tell me more about the vernacular. You're very strong with that in your branding from the very name of Woofin’ It Pet Concierge to woof-rances and all these other cute little things that you use. Did you come up with that? Did someone else help you with that? Why did you incorporate that kind of thing into it? And what kind of response do you get from the community or from your clients? Tell me more about that because I think it's very unique to you. I think the reason that I describe ourselves as Pet Concierge is we came into this market and I was very confident telling potential clients and our current clients we are an upscale boutique company. We're very consistent on our messaging that our relationships with our clients are what drives us. We are not in this to just do like a one-and-done kind of thing. We really work hard on long-term relationships with our clients and therefore I feel like we become each other's families. So the fact that I've never used “dog walkers,” we are pet concierges because we go above and beyond every single time for every single client, every visit that we have with them.

When I launched my business, I had two teenage children, like we just talked about. And the fact of the matter is that was not who I wanted to bring onto my team. There's nothing against hardworking teenagers, but I was looking for moms, pet parents, seniors who were active, people who understood responsibility, integrity, customer service, and compassion—understanding that pets are people's family members. They're not just like, “It's just the dog,” or “It's just the cat.” We don't do that. And so that's why I dove into this market being like, we are an upscale, different company than what is already existing in our marketplace. And so I've just gone with that.

You get me so excited because everything that you're saying, I bet a lot of our listeners right now are like, “Yeah, me too. Me too. I feel the same exact way.” But guys, this is the difference between saying it to yourself and actually living it in what she just mentioned—messaging. Her messaging says it all. Everything from everyone calls them dog walkers. It’s different....

The Difference Between Customer Service VS Customer Experience Could Increase Your Profits

What is your customer experience in your pet care business?

For more than 20 years, Jeannie Walters, CCXP has had one mission: To Create Fewer Ruined Days for Customers™. Jeannie is the CEO and Founder of Experience Investigators, a global Customer Experience consulting firm helping companies improve loyalty and retention, employee engagement, and overall experience. Hundreds of companies across three continents have trusted Jeannie to consult, train, and speak, from SMBs to Fortune 500s. In addition to being a Certified Customer Experience.

Pet Business Customer Care Show Highlights

What is the customer experience?

How can I understand my customer's journey better?

How can investing in customer care benefit my organization?

What moments really matter along the journey?

How can a leader get their employees to buy into these ideas?

Links

Jeannie's website https://experienceinvestigators.com/

Freebie

Text "Experience" to 66866 to join the 21-Day CX Challenge or visit

Let’s Connect!

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

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’’

Are You New Here?

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

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

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

Transcript:

This is episode 203 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 Bella in Your Business. Today I have Jeannie Walters with me. She actually blew us away in the mastermind, so I had to bring her to the airwaves to all of you who have not yet had the pleasure of being in the mastermind. Jeannie, for more than 20 years, has had one mission—to create fewer ruined days for customers. She’s the CEO and founder of Experience Investigators, a global customer experience consulting firm, and she is an absolute dynamite. She really got us thinking about some cool things. So today we’re going to spend time talking all about customer experience, because it isn’t just leaving a treat on the table or sending a thank-you card. It’s much more than that. So without further ado, welcome to the show, Jeannie.

Thank you so much. I’m thrilled to be here. I know a lot of people have probably heard about customer service, but we’re going to talk about customer experience today. So can you break down what exactly customer experience is? Sure. A lot of times when I say I do customer experience work, people jump to the idea of reactive customer service. That’s when things go wrong and we have to call somebody or use the chat. But really, customer experience is about the end-to-end experience that we have as customers with a brand. That includes things that happen before the sale—just when we’re first aware of the brand—all the way through every interaction, every touchpoint, every time we engage, until we either stay with them forever or leave them.

Sometimes there’s that saying, “When we’re so deep in the woods, it’s hard to see the forest.” That’s a good metaphor for this because a lot of times people get defensive and say, “I understand my customers. What are you talking about?” And last I checked, we all have too much to do and not enough time to do it. We’re asked as businesspeople to focus on certain things, and that means while we’re doing that, we’re not always paying attention to the experience our customers are having. We justify this by saying we understand the process and how it’s supposed to work—like every customer should get a welcome package, an email on the tenth day, and so on. But if we’re not checking in on that experience, we don’t really know what’s happening. It’s important to step back and look from the customer’s perspective. Even just having the mindset that we don’t know the whole story our customers have can go a long way. It forces you to think differently about every interaction. You might send an email, but do they read it? Do they care about it? Is it actually helping them?

That’s exactly right. I love that. It reminds me how some pet sitters have nurture email campaigns—you write it, set it up, and automate it, then never check back on it. One thing I learned going through your 21-day challenge, which anyone can do by texting EXPERIENCE to 66866 or visiting experienceinvestigators.com, was that one of the challenges is finding out how your clients are really feeling and what their journey is like. Because many of us pour our heart and soul into building systems, but we rarely sit on the other side and experience how it actually feels.

Exactly! And hey, I’m a business owner too, so I get it. I have those 3 a.m. thoughts like, “Did I pay that invoice? Did I send that email?” Running a business is a lot. So when you add on customer experience, it can feel like, “We’ve got this covered—our automations work, we’re getting customers.” But if we don’t think about this continually, our competitors will. Customers are loyal until they’re not, or until something else comes along that’s more convenient or effortless. That’s why we have to ask: how much effort are we requiring from our customers to do business with us? If we can reduce that effort, listen to what customers want, and respond, that’s what creates loyalty—not just wow moments, but the consistent small moments that show we care. Think about the last time someone really listened to you. It’s rare, and we almost expect businesses not to. So when one actually listens, it stands out.

I always thought it was funny when companies ask you to take a survey, and you respond “bad” and check “contact me,” but no one ever does. Then next time, you don’t bother giving feedback. Complaints are actually a gift because they show the customer still cares. If they didn’t, they’d just leave. When we get feedback, we need to see it as an opportunity to make the relationship work again.

A lot of listeners might wonder how to respond when they get a bad Google or Facebook review. It feels like a stab to the heart. What do you recommend? First, if someone leaves a public review, it’s important to respond publicly because others are watching. Acknowledge them and let them know you heard them. If you know who they are, call them. Say, “I’m sorry this happened. I want to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Would you be willing to help me understand what happened?” People often advise not to say “sorry,” but I disagree. Sometimes people just need to feel heard. Especially in the pet industry, we’re dealing with family members, so emotions are strong. Recognizing that goes a long way. Respond publicly, but also personally follow up to rebuild trust.

That’s such good advice. It’s not about throwing money at the problem—it’s about understanding what they need. So how can investing in customer experience benefit the organization as a whole? Think about who you’re loyal to—it’s probably businesses that make you feel good, that are memorable and meaningful. Investing in customer experience means identifying the high points in your customer journey—when they first choose you, when they leave their pet for the first time—and finding ways to reassure them and build trust. If you can create memorable moments that people talk about, that’s word-of-mouth marketing. You’re turning customers into your salesforce. Especially in service-based businesses, people trust recommendations. One example I loved from the mastermind was someone teaching clients how to marinate catnip toys—that’s the kind of moment that gets talked about.

You mentioned highs and lows—how do we identify what moments really matter in a customer’s journey? Start by asking your customers. “How did you feel when you left your dog with us?” “How did you feel when you came home?” Listen for emotional moments. You can also map out the customer journey—there are tools and courses for that. Identify which interactions matter most and which can drive loyalty or push customers away. Look beyond simply “we did what we said we’d do.” If you can provide extra meaning and positive moments, customers will feel more connected to your brand. For example, the first time I left my dog, I was so nervous. But after landing from a four-hour flight, I already had pictures on my phone of my dog looking happy. It was such a small gesture but meant the world. Look for opportunities like that.

I love how you phrased that—asking how they feel also helps you gather better testimonials. That’s gold. One last question: how can business owners get their teams to buy into this? They can’t do it alone. The number one driver of customer experience is employees. In many industries, when customers describe a great experience, they name a specific employee. So, first, define what kind of experience you want to deliver. It’s not enough to say, “We want to provide good service.” Who do you want to be? Maybe you’re known for memorable surprises or for caring for senior dogs....

How to Communicate, Persuade, & Close like an Experienced Trial Lawyer

In addition to Mitch Jackson being a “2009 Orange County Trial Lawyer of the Year” and “2013 California Litigation Lawyer of the Year,” he’s also one of the most well-known active trial lawyers on social media. He’s been profiled in best-selling marketing books and dozens of publications and platforms including INC., Mashable, and The Wall Street Journal. During the past several years, Mitch has presented cutting-edge business/legal/marketing techniques at the Tony Robbins Business Mastery with his good friend, David Meerman Scott.

Mitch is the founder of the global LegalMinds Mastermind and has written a new book, “The Ultimate Guide to Social Media for Business Owners, Professionals and Entrepreneurs” which was a #1 best seller on Amazon and top #1 new release in two separate categories. Mitch’s friends know of him as “The Streaming Lawyer” (live video) and you can stay connected at Streaming.Lawyer.

Biggest Takeaway You Don't Want to Miss

Learning how to communicate and tell stories is all about the fundamentals. The more you tell stories, the more you communicate with your audience, the better you're going to get at it. Stories connect us as human beings. One important technique you can try out is taking your client by the hand and take them back in time. Tune in to learn the three key steps to telling emotional stories plus the 5 steps to persuasion. At the end of the day, it's all about know, like, and trust.

Show Highlights

[8:00] - The "Tap & Transport" Approach

[9:00] - What are the three key factors towards knowing how to communicate an emotional story?

[14:00] - Can you describe the 5 specific steps to persuasion?

[23:30] - How long can the 5 steps actually take?

Free Download

Grab Mitch's best-selling book, "The Ultimate Guide to Social Media for Business Owners, Professionals, and Entrepreneurs" https://streaming.lawyer/the-book/

Links

Mitch's Website: https://streaming.lawyer/

Let's Connect!

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

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

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

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

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

Transcript:

This is episode 202 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 Bella in Your Business. Today I have Mitch Jackson with you. Who is Mitch, you might wonder? Well, Mitch and I met about a year ago, and don’t let the name “trial lawyer” fool you. What could he possibly help with a pet sitting and dog walking business? We are not here to talk about contracts or legal matters. We’re actually here to enlighten you about how to communicate, persuade, and close your next deal—whether that’s on the phone or at your next networking event. Mitch has five tips for us today, and he’s also known as the Streaming Lawyer. This guy puts me to shame when it comes to social media. He’s so fun, so personable, and unlike any other lawyer I’ve ever met.

Mitch was the 2009 Orange County Trial Lawyer of the Year and 2013 California Litigation Lawyer of the Year. He’s also written a bestselling book called The Ultimate Guide to Social Media for Business Owners, Professionals, and Entrepreneurs. He truly understands what we go through as business owners and is committed to bringing immense value today. Thanks for being here, Mitch.

Thanks for having me on, Bella. I’m a huge fan of what you’re doing. You’re right—this is more than law or dog walking. It’s about getting our message out to our audience, our clients, and our customers. What breaks my heart is seeing someone on social media who has a great message or product, but after 30 seconds, you just want to click away. We have other things to do, right? What I’ve noticed over the years is that the same persuasion and storytelling techniques I use in court work even better on social media. I love sharing communication and storytelling tips to help people expand their brand, sell more, and ultimately add more value to their clients.

The first and most important concept is storytelling—the ability to share your message through a persuasive story. But what’s more important than telling a story is empowering your audience to take the next desired step. If all you do is tell a story, you’ve entertained—but you haven’t persuaded. In court, if I don’t empower the jury to make the right decision after they leave the room, I’ve failed.

Let me take you back to when I was in high school in Tucson, Arizona. It’s 10 p.m., 110 degrees outside, and I’m 250 feet beneath old Tombstone, Arizona, in a narrow mine shaft with only my carbide lantern. We were exploring abandoned mines, pulling out antiques and ore carts no one had touched in over 120 years. Then, my light goes out. Total darkness. I can’t see my hand in front of my face. Panic sets in. I drop to one knee, reload the lantern by feel, and stay close to the right wall, touching it as I work my way back to the entrance. Eventually, I find my friends and climb out.

That moment taught me something powerful: practice and fundamentals save lives. We used to practice filling our lanterns in the dark, and that’s what got me out safely. Communication and storytelling are the same—you get better through practice. The more you tell stories, the better you’ll connect with people. Every story should include three things: emotion, uniqueness, and memorability.

Emotion connects us as humans. Give yourself permission to show it. Uniqueness makes you stand out—your story, your voice, your experiences. And memorability makes your message stick. When I tell people I was trapped beneath Tombstone, Arizona, they remember it. These three elements, as outlined by Carmine Gallo in Talk Like TED, are what make a message powerful.

Use these three principles when you talk to potential clients. Whether you’re walking dogs or pitching a new service, make it emotional, unique, and memorable. That’s what people remember after the conversation ends.

Now, there are five steps to persuasion. These are the same five steps I use in court to win multimillion-dollar verdicts—and they’ll work for you too. Step one: state the problem. Identify what your client needs. Step two: agitate the problem. Show what happens if they don’t fix it. Step three: offer a clear, concise solution. Step four: show how your solution helps them. Step five: end with a call to action.

Most people skip from step one to step five. Don’t do that. For example, if someone’s debating whether to hire you for overnight pet sitting, don’t just say, “Hire me; here’s the price.” Instead, state the problem: “You deserve a peaceful vacation without worrying about your dog.” Agitate it: “If you don’t choose the right sitter, you might come home to a stressed-out pet or worse.” Then, share the solution: “At Bella’s House & Pet Sitting, we treat your dog like family.” Show how it helps: “You can finally relax knowing they’re cared for as if they were our own.” Finally, call to action: “Let’s book your consultation today.”

That’s how you move people emotionally and logically through a conversation. Social media is no different. My call to action might just be, “If you liked this video, visit streaming.lawyer to keep the conversation going.” It’s soft, low-pressure, and effective.

Bella: That’s brilliant. I love how actionable that is. Mitch: Thanks! And remember, persuasion is a process. Sometimes it takes five minutes, sometimes five months. Adapt these steps to each interaction. Listen closely, pay attention to what the other person needs, and fine-tune your approach.

Winning matters—not because it’s about ego, but because it means you’ve communicated effectively and helped someone make a decision. These strategies don’t just work in court; they work when you’re talking to a potential client at the park or on a call.

Bella: I hope you’ve loved this episode as much as I loved recording it. Mitch, thank you so much for joining us. For those who want to learn more, go to streaming.lawyer. Mitch shares tips, videos, and blogs on communication, persuasion, and storytelling—and you can grab his book, The Ultimate Guide to Social Media for Business Owners, Professionals, and Entrepreneurs, at streaming.lawyer/the-book.

Remember, in tough times, it matters what you fill your mind with. The people I invite on this podcast, like Mitch, are the ones I personally follow and admire. So go check him out—you never know what inspiration might help you through your day. And 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....

Stop Preparing, Start Doing with Olenka Cullinan

Olenka Cullinan is a CEO and Founder of iStartFirst. She empowers women to up-Level their business and mindset via on-line Bootcamp, iStartFirst Women's Summit, and delivering keynotes and workshops for companies nationwide & globally. Olenka has developed a“Backbone of Success”™ method that helps female leaders to take action, get paid their worth and show up like a BOSS-Babe. Olenka’s work globally, combined with humor and personal experiences led to her recent appearances at TEDx and made her into one of the premier consultants. She has worked with startups, corporate leaders and some of the top organizations in the country: e.g. GAMA International, Lincoln Financial, Chambers of Commerce, etc.

Biggest Takeaway You Don't Want to Miss

You cannot out-read, out-listen, or outwatch your way to success. You stop preparing, take action, and actually apply what you learn. But what if you're afraid? Then start small. Set your alarm for 90 seconds and DO whatever you're scared of doing. After that 90 seconds, you'll never be at the same level of fear. The best way to deal with a perfectionist mindset is with massive action. It's messy, but you have to embrace it and do it anyways. Just remember that no matter what you are doing, it's not going to be great the very first time you do it - so just get it over with! Perfection is NOT a human quality and it's always going to hold you back.

Show Highlights

[1:45] - Where is Olenka's story?

[3:00] - What holds business owners back from taking action?

[6:15] - Why do business owners get stuck in the preparation phase?

[9:30] - What are 3 things business owners can do to boost their cash flow right now?

[15:30] - What are some action steps that stressed business owners can take right now?

[18:00] - Where can you follow Olenka online?

Links

Olenka's eBook: https://www.olenkacullinan.com/

Jump Mastermind: /mastermind/

Let's Connect!

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

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

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

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

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

Transcript:

This is episode 201 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 Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta and today I've got Olenka Cullinan with us. You guys are going to love this one. Olenka is actually the CEO and founder of I Start First. She empowers women to level up their businesses via online boot camps, the I Start Women's First Summit, and by delivering keynotes and workshops for companies nationwide and globally.

She also developed this Backbone of Success Method that I'm sure we're going to talk about today. She's worked globally, combining humor and personal experience. She is such a kick-in-the-butt kind of girl. She's actually who I call when I need a kick in the butt. And she's been a TEDx speaker not once, but twice. So get ready—we’re in for a treat today. Olenka, thanks for joining us.

If you see the video of this, you’ll see that Olenka has this hot pink in her branding and even her microphone muff is this hot pink color. But don’t let the pink fool you—because she’s fierce. Don’t let the pink, the blonde, or the accent fool you. Tell us about that accent. Why don’t you give us a little bit of an origin? Because as our listeners get to know you over the next 25 minutes or so, I’m sure they’re going to try to pinpoint where that accent’s from. So where are you from?

It’s not from Texas. I actually was born and raised in Russia and moved to the U.S. right before I turned 21. My mom was a diehard entrepreneur, and I took it for granted for the longest time. But in reality, she gave me all the skills. I sort of picked them up involuntarily because she built her company from scratch and ran it for 37 years. When I was 14 or 15 years old, I would travel with her all over Europe, negotiating million-dollar contracts, walking into rooms full of men—and I was never intimidated. It definitely gave me a huge head start in my own business. When I moved here, I literally borrowed $450 from my uncle and decided to take a chance on the American dream—and it all worked out.

I love that. I mean, right there we could end the podcast because if you could build what you’ve built, which we’re going to talk about today, all from starting with $450—girl, that’s amazing. One of the things I love about you is that you’re a woman who takes action. And I always tell my audience that birds of a feather flock together. You have to keep people around you that you want to be like, and that’s one of the reasons why you and I get along so well. But I want you to tell our listeners more about action and what holds business owners back from taking it. You coach so many people—what do you see most often?

It’s everything. It’s kind of like what you just attributed to me—starting with $450. A lot of times we hold back from starting our businesses because the circumstances aren’t perfect. We think we need the perfect setup, the perfect plan, or the perfect layout. But that’s actually how the Backbone of Success Method was born. I always say you just have to start. The people who are out there and uber successful—you and I know plenty of them—they didn’t have it all figured out when they started. When Apple started, nobody knew Apple would become Apple—it started in a garage like everyone else.

If you just start putting one foot in front of the other, if you take that action, that’s where success happens. Because starting is just as important as succeeding. If you don’t act, if you just keep consuming information, you’ll never get there. You can’t out-watch or out-read yourself into success. I don’t care how many YouTube videos you watch or how many Bella in Your Business podcast episodes you listen to—if you don’t apply anything, it’s pointless. Coaches like us can give clients the best strategies and plans, but if they don’t execute—even messily and imperfectly—they’ll never see results.

That’s beautiful. And I imagine that’s how you came up with the name of your company, “I Start First.”

Absolutely. It actually started out just as a hashtag. I didn’t plan to build a business out of it. I was inspired because I would go into rooms full of businessmen or investment meetings where it was always 80% men and 20% women. I thought, if I’m not going to teach women how to play bigger and show up in their full power, who will? One of my friends said, “Well, don’t you start first?” And I was like—huh, I start first. It began as a hashtag, women caught onto it, and it turned into a movement. They kept saying, “What else do you have?” So I just kept going. The boot camps, the events—they all started from that one action.

I love that so much. We talk a lot on this podcast about how you should only be in competition with yourself—you can only outdo yourself. And you can’t out-learn or out-plan forever. There comes a point where you plateau, and if you’re at that plateau right now, think about this concept. It may seem simple, but it’s pivotal. It’s the thing that separates the successful from the stagnant.

So, okay, we know we have to start—but a lot of people say, “I need to prepare, I’m a perfectionist, I need everything to work out exactly right.” Why do people get stuck in that preparation phase?

It’s usually a combination of limited beliefs and fear. You can’t jump higher than your own beliefs. Fear and insecurity lead to comparison—you think, “Someone else is already doing it; they’ll probably do it better.” That’s when you start feeding the fear. But stepping into action is like a muscle. I use what I call the “90 Seconds of Courage” technique. Whatever you’re scared of doing, do it for 90 seconds. You’ll never be at the same level of fear again. Set a timer if you have to.

If you’re a business owner listening right now, think about what’s holding you back—that’s the very thing you need to start doing. The best way to deal with perfection and fear is massive, messy action. Do it anyway. Cry, cuss, get frustrated, break things—but do it anyway. Nothing you do will be perfect the first time. Perfection isn’t a human quality—it’ll only hold you back.

I really love when you said, “Someone else is already doing it.” The truth is, there aren’t that many new ideas in the world—it’s all about putting your unique spin on it. That requires knowing yourself and your business deeply. I saw a TikTok recently about how to trick your brain out of negative beliefs. You say, “I can’t blink,” and then blink. “I can’t jump,” and then jump. When your body does it, your brain starts to override those limiting thoughts.

Now, people might say, “That’s great for you, Olenka, but I don’t understand how to turn $450 into six figures.” What are three things business owners can do right now to boost their cash flow a

Lessons Learned In Life: If I've Taught You Anything...

Wow - 200 episodes- of lessons learned.

200 episodes of me (hopefully) providing you value, nuggets of wisdom, and lessons that you can take and apply into your business. It's been an honor to record, produce, and publish this podcast for you all every single week for the past few years.

On this episode, you'll find that it's a bit different than the usual format. From my heart to yours, I want to share with you some lessons learned over the past several years in business and in life. I hope you enjoy it.

Lessons Learned In Life Show Highlights

[6:45] - Ever feel like life happens to you?

[8:00] - Whether you like it or not, you're a leader!

[10:00] - How can you be the most impactful towards family & friends?

[12:30] - Don't compare yourself to anyone else!

[15:30] - Leadership vs. Avoidance

All of which are life lessons learned, and shared with you.

Let's Connect!

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

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

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

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

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

Transcript:

This is episode 200 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. Wow, you guys, wow. Have you ever started something in life and had no idea how you were going to actually complete it? You had no idea how it was going to work out—you just knew that you had to start stepping. You knew you had to take that first step, fake it till you made it, do it scared, do it wrong, do it not perfect. Guys, this is my 200th episode. And the very first thing I need to say is—how in the world did we get here? I have some plans for you for this episode. In fact, last week, if you’re an avid follower of this podcast, you know that I actually skipped a week because I didn’t want to rush this. I took a minute, took a breath, and tried to really figure out what I wanted to say to you. Because the fact that you are listening to this right now and giving me your time and allowing me into your head—I hold that as a huge honor. I don’t want to just talk into this microphone in my office by myself just to hear myself talk. At the end of this, I want to provide you so much value and things for you to think about. But wow, I’ve come a long way from doing this on my laptop in my bedroom closet because it was the only place that actually had carpet.

I want to thank you for taking this journey with me. I want to thank you for all of the reviews that you’ve left on iTunes. I started this way back in 2014, and it is now 2020. It took me a little bit to get consistent and publish every Thursday, but wow, I’m really humbled and shocked. For today, I’m just going to rap with you, and I hope that’s okay. I’ve got about seven or eight major points that I want to make, and this is going to come from more of a motivational standpoint. What you may not know about me is that I have a desire burning in my belly to be a motivational speaker—around sales and leadership. And I will do that. I’m going to put it out there and say, I am a motivational speaker around sales and leadership.

A lot of things I take the stage for right now are Facebook groups and building online communities because that’s been the backbone of my career—from the pet world and also here on this podcast. Building communities is what I do. And it’s been a really interesting time around COVID, because as those communities online have flourished, face-to-face communities have diminished—and I’m sure you’re all feeling it. I remind myself that I’m not alone. I remind myself that there are other people out there fighting depression, anxiety, loneliness. Sometimes the loneliness is so deafening. You might not realize that about me until you listen to the podcast, but it’s true—from my heart to yours. I want you all to know that you’re not alone.

The way that I overcome things and rise above them and fight back is by doing things. There’s a really great client of mine—I won’t out her—but we were on a coaching call last week, and I said, “You’re doing so much right now.” And she said, “Yeah, Bella, because if I stop, I’ll sink. It’ll be like quicksand.” And I told her, “Girl, I get you. I totally understand.” To combat that loneliness, I’ve recently made a transition in the last year to single momhood. So I find myself literally alone in my house sometimes. And oddly enough, I’ve gotten on TikTok. I always said I never would, but it’s honestly become a platform where I am laughing out loud.

I’ve made a best friend locally—she lives 20 minutes away—and I’ve also built another relationship with someone in another state who speaks life into my life. Though we’ve never met, it helps so much. TikTok, once you get to a thousand followers, lets you go live. I’m approaching 5,000 now, but what’s interesting is that their live streams are different from Facebook or Instagram. When you’re done, the live disappears. A lot of my followers there aren’t pet business owners or even business owners. There are a lot of moms and dads, 30- and 40-somethings—I’ll be 38 this month—so it’s been really interesting.

It posed an interesting question: what do I say on these lives? I’m not afraid of going live, so I took out my notebook and wrote about 13 different paragraphs—different topics I could talk about. Then I’d ask my audience, “Pick a number between one and 13,” and I’d talk about that topic. I’ve done it three or four times now. The beauty is that every live is seen by different people, so I’ve gotten to practice, and I thought I’d share some of those with you for my 200th episode. They’re motivational—words of wisdom that I hope resonate with you and stay with you after you listen. Consider them a gift from my heart to yours.

There are about eight of them, in no particular order. The first one: ever feel like life happens to you? Like you just can’t catch a break? Maybe you feel like you’ve always had bad luck, or that’s just the way life is. Maybe you’re not in the relationship you want, or you don’t like your job. Maybe you don’t have the money you want in your bank account. Well, I have news for you—it always starts with how you want to see it. Just like social media filters, we can choose what to filter in or out. So what in your life are you going to filter in or out? Start with what makes you happy—not anyone else. You get to choose the filter you put on. Think about the lens you see your life through, and remember—you can change that lens anytime.

Number two: we’re all business owners, and whether you like it or not, that means we’re all leaders. Ever feel like “No one does it as well as me”? Spoiler alert—they won’t. But if you do it right, they’ll eventually do it better than you. Now is the time to sharpen that sword and never stop learning how to be the badass leader your business needs. Books that have shaped me include The Untethered Soul, How to Win Friends and Influence People, The Power of Now, Atomic Habits, The E-Myth Revisited, Rising Strong by Brené Brown, Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility by Patty McCord, and Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. Always be learning. Use downtime—folding laundry, doing dishes, driving—to listen and grow. Leadership starts with leading yourself first.

Next: to be impactful to those around you—family, friends, team—don’t just say things like “You rock” or “I love you.” Take it a step further. Tell them why. “I love you because you’re always there for me.” “I miss you because I love our long conversations.” Adding why makes your words meaningful. Try it. Be intentional and impactful—especially now when the world is hurting.

Another: no one can tell you what you can or can’t do—unless you let them. You have the responsibility to accept or reject those words. I’ve heard from many clients, “My spouse didn’t think I could do it,” or “My parents said I couldn’t.” Mine told me I couldn’t start a pet sitting business—and look where that got me. Ask yourself: are they qualified to speak into your life? Do they matter? If not, cut that noise out. You are meant for amazing things.

Next: don’t compare your first chapter to someone else’s twentieth. I see this constantly. People just starting out feel small compared to veterans—but you can’t compare. They’ve had years of effort and failure beneath the surface. The only person you should compare yourself to is you. My daughter taught me this when she was born at 12 ounces and spent 183 days in the NICU. Doctors said she wouldn’t survive, but she did. If I had compared her milestones to “normal” kids, I would’ve crushed myself. Nobody’s walked in your shoes. Nobody’s had your struggles. So only ask: am I better than I was yesterday, last week, last month, last year?

Leadership and avoidance—avoiding issues never helps. Whether it’s health, relationships, or business,...

How to do Virtual Meet and Greets In Your Pet Business

One of the "blessings" of our new normal under COVID-19 is that it has opened the realm of finding virtual alternatives to our everyday processes. One of these alternatives is virtual consultaations for pet sitters. That's where you hop on a video call with your potential client and host your meet and greet - virtually!

Nikki & Steph, co-owners of Dog Jogs, have actually transitioned to now conducting ONLY virtual meet and greets, and have a wealth of knowledge to share. Their company truly believes that 'a tired dog is a happy dog' and specializes in jogging dogs. They also believe in providing effective, efficient resolutions to customer service issues and ensure complete client satisfaction. Which is what helps them continue to think outside the box, and grow their business by evolving as challenges arise. This year will be Dog Jogs' 4th year in operation, with many plans for many more to come!

Nikki & Steph - Dog Jogs

Virtual Meet-N-Greet In Action!

Show Highlights

[2:45] - Who are Nikki & Steph and how and why did you start Dog Jogs?

[4:15] - What sparked your idea to conduct virtual meet and greets, and what trepidations did you have?

[7:45] - Walk us through your thought process for implementing virtual meet and greets and how you successfully accomplished that

[9:45] - How do you handle potential behavioral/aggression issues with the pet during virtual meet and greets?

[11:00] - How did you instruct your clients to send over the videos you requested?

[12:45] - What's been your staff reactions?

[15:00] - What percentage of clients have shown pushback ?

[16:30] - How and why are you going to be marketing this new process?

[18:00]- What advice would you give to pet business owners that are afraid to start doing virtual consultations?

Links

Dog Jog's Website: https://dog-jogs.ca/

Jump Mastermind: /mastermind/

Let's Connect!

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

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

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

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

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

Transcript:

This is episode 199 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 Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today I've got a pair of mastermind members with me. The reason they're here is because they are killing it. I know that we’re in the middle of all this COVID stuff and hearing things like “We’re not going to come out of this the same way we went in,” and “This is the new normal,” but truly, the gals I’m about to introduce you to—Nikki and Stephanie—have been doing it differently. They’ve really changed the focus of their business, and that actually started before all of this, but the situation catapulted them forward.

They are the co-owners of Dog Jogs, a pet care company based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Their company believes that a tired dog is a happy dog and specializes in jogging dogs—not walking, but jogging. They also focus on providing effective and efficient solutions to customer service issues and ensuring complete client satisfaction. That’s what helps them continue to think outside the box and grow their business as they evolve and as changes arise. This year marks Dog Jogs’ fourth year in operation, with plans for many more to come. I wanted them on this podcast because there are a couple of things you need to realize about their story.

First, they’ve only been around four years. Think about where you were in your fourth year or where you want to be in four years. Also, many of us focus on pet sitting when people travel or dog walking when people are at work, but these ladies go into people’s homes and run with dogs. Think about all the extra liability and questions that come with that. What they’ve done is remarkable, and that’s why I wanted to bring them here.

They started Dog Jogs back when Nikki was working shift work, and her dog Koda had separation anxiety. Running with him helped. Doing a five-to-eight-kilometer run every day kept him better behaved, and when she realized there wasn’t a dog jogging service in the area, only walking, she thought—why not start one? It was different from daycare because it offered convenience; no drop-offs or pickups, and the team could feed and care for dogs right at home.

I love that the model is unique because many people think about adding jogging as an afterthought, but Nikki and Stephanie went all in. During COVID, they started thinking about how to handle meet and greets safely. Within the first couple of weeks, nurses and elderly clients began asking if consultations could be done virtually. They thought, why not? Everyone was on Zoom and FaceTime already, so it was becoming normal. They tried it, and it worked beautifully.

Their first virtual consult was with an elderly client who injured her hip and couldn’t walk her puppy. She was already familiar with Zoom, and when the meeting started, she simply turned her camera to introduce her dog. It was adorable. From there, the concept clicked. The pandemic created a new problem—people needed pet care but didn’t want others in their homes—and Dog Jogs provided the solution.

They came from a place of yes, adapting quickly and sewing the parachute on the way down. It helped that the older generation had also become accustomed to video calls as a way to connect with family. From that success, they developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for virtual consultations. They began asking clients to film short videos showing leash behavior, home access, or harness setup. It ensured safety and helped staff prepare.

They learned some of this on the fly, but also from experience turning down in-person clients when dogs were too strong or unmanageable. Safety was always a priority. Clients now take them on virtual house tours to show supplies, treat locations, and leash setups. For tricky harnesses, they demonstrate how to put them on.

The tech side was messy at first. Video files were too large to email, so they began using Dropbox and Google Drive, and if that failed, clients could text videos. They also created a templated series of emails: one explaining virtual consults and another with step-by-step Zoom instructions and videos. It’s easy for clients to follow, and staff found it helpful to reference.

Their staff’s reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Previously, Nikki and Stephanie handled all consultations themselves, but now they upload the recorded Zoom calls to client files so joggers can watch beforehand. It better prepares the team for new clients. If it’s the first in-person walk after a virtual consult, staff record notes or videos about the dog’s behavior to share with the team. It’s more collaborative and empowering, giving staff ownership and trust.

They’ve now conducted 100% of consultations virtually, and while it’s been a slower season, no one has turned them down. They plan to market this new process more heavily because no one else in their city is doing it. Most competitors still do backyard visits. For Dog Jogs, this is leadership. They’re setting a standard in their area and positioning themselves as innovators.

Clients appreciate the clarity. Dog Jogs communicates confidently: “This is how we do it.” If someone doesn’t want a virtual consult, that’s okay—they’re probably not the right fit. Nikki and Stephanie understand that structure builds trust and protects efficiency.

For sitters who are hesitant to start virtual consultations, their advice is simple: just do it. Their first session wasn’t perfect—they had no SOPs—but they refined the process afterward. They watched recordings to see what could be improved, made checklists, and continued evolving. Every consultation is slightly better than the last.

People are often more willing to adapt than we think. Most clients understand the reasoning when it’s explained clearly—they want safety too. It’s similar to pricing: you set your rate and stand by it. Virtual consults are no different. If it doesn’t work for someone, that’s okay. They can refer them elsewhere.

Bella wrapped up by reminding them how powerful their leadership mindset is. Dog Jogs doesn’t wait—they do it scared, test, correct, and continue. That’s why they’ve achieved so much in just four years. They also found inspiration in Marcus Sheridan’s video training on virtual consultations inside the mastermind group. His insights on virtual sales confirmed that they were on the right track and motivated them to refine their system.

Bella praised their innovation, saying this approach puts them ahead of the curve. Virtual consultations are something jumpers do differently—they lead, and the world catches up later. Nikki and Stephanie’s process is the first 100% virtual model Bella knows of, and she wanted to highlight it as motivation for oth

Baby Boomers Vs. Millennials...Or Is It?

The generational gap between baby boomers and millennials is something that every business owner is bound to encounter.... perhaps you already have? But one generation doesn't have to be at war with the other. Each generation has unique and specific experiences that they can share with one another to improve themselves. That's why in this week's episode of Bella In Your Business, I bring you Steve Dotto who has a unique perspective on the generational gap.

Steve Dotto is a tech geek, entrepreneur, and business owner. He is the founder of Dotto Tech, which he has grown into a successful, self-sustaining business. He has built a community of our thirty-six thousand people, spoke at Social Media Marketing World, and worked with companies like Xerox and Blackberry.

 

Bella Vasta & Steve Dotto

Show Highlights

[2:00] - How do we define baby boomers?

[2:30] - What are the stereotypes about baby boomers?

[8:00} - Can you tell us your best advice for boomers looking to expand their online presence?

[21:00] - What is the best advice you have for baby boomer business owners, millennial business owners, and where can my audience find you online?

Links

Steve's Website: https://dottotech.com/

Steve's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9BqPtCcSyHvQsbl2rumM4w

Steve's Webinar Wednesday's: https://members.dottotech.com/webinar-wednesday-registration-page/

Jump Mastermind: /mastermind/

Pet Sitting Employee Handbook & Training Manual: /product/handbook-manual-typesetting-resource/

Let's Connect!

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

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

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

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

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

Transcript:

This is episode 198 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 Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today, all you boomers, I want you to listen up. This podcast episode is for you. I have Steve Dotto and his dog Farley joining us right now. Steve and I first met face to face—he doesn’t know this—but I already knew him well through his amazing YouTube channel. We actually sat across from each other and shared dinner with about forty other people at the Thinkific Dinner at Social Media Marketing World, one of the last conferences to happen in 2020. We had a great conversation, and I instantly loved his energy.

I wanted to bring Steve to you because we often talk so much about millennials, Gen X, and Gen Z that we forget about baby boomers. There’s no one better to represent them than Steve. He’s made a name for himself on YouTube and elsewhere by helping people overcome their tech fears. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by software or new apps, Steve breaks it all down in an approachable way. So without further ado, welcome, Steve.

He began by defining boomers as those born before 1960 or 1961. He was born in 1958, making him a true baby boomer. He refers to his generation as the “gray zone,” especially now during COVID when many have stopped coloring their hair. He laughed about how the gray zone is expanding. Discussing stereotypes about boomers, Steve explained that many view boomers as selfish, resistant to leave the workplace, and even as poor parents. But he wanted to challenge those assumptions.

Back in 1965, the life expectancy for a man who retired at 65 was only four years—most men died around age 69. Today, it’s nearly 30 years longer, meaning people who retire at 65 could live another three decades. That changes everything. “We don’t want to retire and sit around,” Steve said. “We want to remain relevant, active, and contributing members of society.” Younger generations may feel frustrated that boomers won’t “move over,” but Steve says it’s not about denying opportunity—it’s about wanting to stay engaged.

He pointed out that many baby boomers are now transitioning from responsibility—raising children, working full-time—to passion projects and finding ways to give back. He even has a podcast called Gray Matters for his community, where he encourages baby boomers to pivot and reinvent themselves. He says the internet doesn’t belong to any one generation, and his mission is to show boomers that they belong in digital spaces too. “We have as much right to be here as anyone else,” he said, adding that he calls his movement “the gray wave” because boomers are now starting to leave their mark online. Advertisers, too, recognize the buying power of boomers, and ad rates targeting older audiences are much higher.

Bella wanted to steer the conversation toward boomers who are running businesses and struggling with technology and social media, as well as why boomers make great employees. Steve agreed and said generational friction often occurs between baby boomers and their younger employees because of different values. “Our identity is tied to what we do,” Steve explained. “We’re proud of our experience.” But millennials, he said, often see experience as something you can Google. That difference in perspective can create frustration, as boomers want respect for what they’ve built over decades.

He emphasized that the tension isn’t about work ethic—it’s about values and respect. “Baby boomers want to be respected for their experience,” he said. “That’s a big part of who we are.” When it comes to adopting technology, Steve admits boomers are their own worst enemies. They often resist change, digging in their heels and insisting that the old way was better. For example, boomers prefer phone calls, while younger people prefer texting or messaging apps. But times have changed, and he urges boomers to stay flexible and adapt to the preferred communication methods of others.

Bella pointed out that businesses should offer multiple communication options—not just to accommodate preferences but to reach different generations. A millennial might want to text, while a baby boomer might prefer a phone call. Steve agreed, saying flexibility is key, especially as more baby boomers enter the gig economy. Many of Bella’s listeners are business owners who hire both older and younger employees, and understanding this dynamic is crucial.

Steve explained that boomers often expect structure because they grew up in an era where everything—from software to job descriptions—was “finished” before being released. They prefer detailed manuals and clear directions. “We used to ship completed software,” Steve said. “We wrote manuals, tested everything, and didn’t release until it was perfect.” Today’s approach, like Google’s eight-year Gmail beta, is entirely different—products are released first and fixed later. “That’s not how we did things,” he laughed.

Bella noted that this mindset also applies to business training. Her company sells manuals and video training to help business owners create structure for employees. She observed that Steve’s YouTube channel functions similarly—it’s like a digital manual for those trying to learn new tools. Steve said his channel, DottoTech, focuses on two main topics: productivity tools (like Evernote and Google Calendar) and content creation. His videos introduce people to new features or ideas without overwhelming them.

Some of his tutorials have surpassed one million views, though most average around 8,000 to 12,000 in the first month. Steve explained that while he could focus more on analytics to grow faster, he prefers to prioritize community. He reads every comment and uses them to decide what to create next. “The magic of YouTube is that you’re directly serving your audience,” he said. “When I worked in television, my customers were advertisers. Now, my viewers are my customers.”

Before YouTube, Steve hosted a TV show called DottoTech in Canada for nearly 20 years. It was similar to his YouTube channel, teaching audiences how to use new technology. His sponsors included major companies like Microsoft and Apple. The difference now is that he doesn’t answer to advertisers—just to his viewers. “There are no sacred cows,” he said. “If you have an honest dialogue with your community, they’ll lead you to the promised land.” He cited Marcus Sheridan’s book They Ask, You Answer as a big influence, saying that listening to your audience’s questions is the best way to create valuable content.

Bella agreed, saying she built over 500 blog posts for her pet sitting company the same way—by answering client questions. Steve shared that he also runs Webinar Wednesday, a free weekly online training series with over 130 sessions so far, teaching everything from productivity to photo archiving. The webinars are free to attend live or available for 48 hours afterward, and long-term access is available to patrons on Patreon.

To wrap up, Steve encouraged all business owners—regardless of age—to stay open-minded and give each other grace....

How to Generate FREE Publicity & Marketing for your Pet Business

When you generate Free Publicity and marketing in your pet business, you will be able to connect with your community & learn how to truly bring value to your audience. But it is not an easy task Many business owners aren't sure where to start or what direction they should take. In this episode, I bring you, Regina Robinson of Outward Bound Hounds who shares some of the ways she was able to connect with her community during the COVID-19 Crisis.

Regina Robinson

In 2012, Regina left her career in culinary arts, nutrition, dietetics, and yoga to help a friend build her own pet sitting business. She quickly learned that pets need adventure, exercise, and love just as much as people do! After five years of loving pets and serving their pet parents, she decided to take a leap of faith and open her own company – Outward Bound Hounds.

Show Highlights

[1:30] - Who is Regina Robinson?

[4:30] - What were you worried about before signing up for Better Marketing With Bella & what made you decide to take the JUMP?

[7:30] - Can you describe some of the challenges you've had to overcome while marketing your pet business?

[10:30] - What did you think was going to happen with the sidewalk chalk guerrilla marketing idea and what ACTUALLY happened?

[13:00] - Tell us what happened once you started getting entries in your sidewalk chalk challenge?

[21:00] - What has this experience taught you about marketing for your pet business?

Links

0 Page Guerrilla Marketing Blueprint: /product/10-page-guerrilla-marketing-blueprint/

Better Marketing With Bella: /waitlist

Regina's Website: https://outwardboundhounds.com/

Let's Connect!

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

Click this link – Bella In Your Business

Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork

Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section

Click on ‘Write a Review’'

Are You New Here?

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

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

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

Transcript:

This is episode 197 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 Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today I've got a really cool story for you. Have you ever wondered how you can get free publicity or free marketing in your area? I am joined today by Regina, and it has been so exciting to watch her. She is a stellar pet sitting business owner, dog walker extraordinaire, growing her business. We first met on Instagram about a year ago, and that's how we started our relationship. She has also been listening to this podcast, which is really cool, and she’s become a Better Marketing with Bella member as well. That’s where this story leads today because she truly messaged me earlier today with such good news, and it’s such a great story. You guys are in for a treat because this is something that every single one of you can do right now to get free publicity, marketing, and connections for your company.

Without further ado, welcome to the show. Regina introduced herself as the owner of a pet sitting and dog walking business in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Her company focuses on the mind, body, and spirit of pets because, just like children, they need a well-rounded approach to care. She’s been in business since 2017 and recently entered her second semester with Better Marketing with Bella, calling it a game changer.

Bella asked how Regina got into her ecosystem. Regina shared that it started with this podcast back in 2018. She had begun listening while out walking dogs because she wanted to learn and be inspired by business content relevant to her industry. She instantly loved the podcast and Bella’s personality, feeling like she’d finally found someone who truly understood the balance of being a “people person” and a “pet person.” She found Bella on Instagram and shared a story encouraging others to listen to her podcast. Bella reshared it, and Regina was thrilled—she felt seen. Bella said she always loves reposting when people tag her and encouraged listeners to do the same.

Bella asked Regina about her initial hesitation to join Better Marketing with Bella. Regina said she had thought she was already “doing social media,” posting occasionally on Instagram and Facebook, but after hearing Bella’s podcast about outsourcing and realizing she didn’t have time to do it all, she decided she needed help. The program opened her eyes to how much she didn’t know and helped her organize her efforts so she could focus on growing the business.

The conversation moved to the current time—May 2020, the middle of COVID-19. Bella explained that many pet sitting and dog walking businesses were operating at 10–25% capacity, and Better Marketing with Bella had chosen not to retreat but to support members more deeply. They provided pop-up challenge groups, a “grand reopening” blueprint with templates and scripts, and layers of resources.

That’s where Regina’s story began. She had participated in one of the challenge groups where someone mentioned a sidewalk chalk game, sparking her curiosity. The idea was to create a community game where people followed chalk-drawn paw prints to a selfie spot. At first, she hesitated—overthinking how to make it perfect—but when she got the Better Marketing with Bella blueprint, which outlined every step, she finally took action. She created a laminated sign that read: “You found it! Take a selfie with your pup, tag #OutwardBoundHounds, and you’ll be entered to win a prize.”

She set up the paw prints around her community, thinking it would bring a bit of joy to people’s repetitive quarantine walks. The day after setting it up, however, she received an anonymous call from someone claiming to represent the city, saying she couldn’t draw on sidewalks and would be cited for vandalism. He even asked for her email address to send the citation. It scared her, but she decided not to give up, reminding herself her intentions were good and that people needed something positive right now.

She never received a citation, and Bella pointed out it was likely a troll or even a jealous competitor. Regina kept going. At first, participation seemed low, and she was discouraged. Then a fellow pet sitter texted her excitedly that someone she knew had found the paw prints, taken a photo, and posted it. The woman was thrilled and had been searching all week. Regina chose her as the first prize winner—a pop-up DJ party donated by her friend who owned E-Squad Entertainment.

When Regina called the winner to arrange it, the woman, who lived in an apartment complex, asked her property manager if they could host the event there. To Regina’s surprise, the complex had already been planning something similar and jumped on board, securing food sponsors and promoting it to residents. Regina couldn’t believe how far-reaching her simple idea had become.

Bella emphasized that this was the perfect example of how engagement matters more than numbers. Regina had built relationships, leveraged community partnerships, and brought joy during a tough time. She asked Regina what other prizes she’d secured—Regina listed a custom haircare consultation, a mini photo session with a local photographer, and a few other small-business collaborations.

Bella highlighted how Regina had become a facilitator of happy experiences while marketing her business organically. She suggested Regina deepen the apartment complex relationship—perhaps setting up more chalk paw prints nearby or offering giveaways at their future events. Apartment communities often have online portals or groups where residents communicate, meaning free exposure for Regina’s business.

Bella encouraged listeners to take the same kind of action—do something scared. Trolls and obstacles may appear, but doing nothing is worse. She reminded everyone that leadership means showing up for your community.

Regina said the experience taught her how to think creatively and connect with other small businesses. A simple idea had turned into something much bigger, and it showed her how eager people were to collaborate. Her advice was simple: “If you’re sitting on an idea, just try it. The worst that can happen is someone says no—or some troll calls you. It’s all a learning process.”

Bella wrapped up by saying that while the blueprint was originally exclusive to Better Marketing with Bella, she would make it available as a purchasable class on the website for others who wanted to follow Regina’s steps.

She thanked Regina for sharing her story and reminded listeners to tag them both and share their takeaways. “Life is tough right now,” Bella said, “but it’s all about your mindset. And 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....