What does the future of pet care look like? 2020 taught us a lot of lessons, changed our behavior, our client's behavior, and opened up many new opportunities. We have a roundtable discussion with Daniel Reitman, owner of Dan's Dog Walking and Pet Sitting, Natasha O'Banion, owner of Start. Scale. Sail. and Renzo and Ruby, and Doug Keeling, owner of Bad to the Bone Pet Care. We cover how the industry will change in the next 10 to 20 years and how pet care providers will need to grow and adapt. From the changing expectations of clients, growing commoditization of technology, and even the increasing importance of social causes, we talk about how we can start gearing up for those changes.

Topics on this episode:

• Changing technology
• Changing services
• Changing client behavior and expectations
• Importance of social causes

Main take away: Change doesn't have to be scary. By educating ourselves and getting plugged into a community, we can help bring about positive changes for the industry.

Full show notes and transcript at https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/185

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Is your website working for you? When did you last update it? Erika Godwin, owner of Barketing Solutions, shares what it means to have a modern website and why it's critical to running a business. From mobile friendly, to the latest PHP, Erika breaks down the elements a website needs in order to be optimized for SEO. From building trust, to communicating your culture, there is so much that a website can provide you, beyond just giving clients the ability to book.

Topics on this episode:

• Mobile friendly?
• Role of SSL certificate and why care
• Building trust
• Do I need a backup of my website?
• Organic vs local SEO?

Main take away: You don't need to know the nitty gritty details behind your website, but start asking questions and make sure it's actually working for you.

Full show notes and transcript

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Have you ever felt like you weren't good enough? Do you ever think you don't belong or that you'll be found out as a fake and a fraud? Imposter syndrome in the pet care industry is the result of many factors, both internal and external. We break down what those reasons are and some practical ways to start overcoming imposter syndrome. Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I combat the fear of losing it all?"

Topics on this episode:

• What is imposter syndrome
• Factors that influence it
• Your self worth
• Ways to overcome
• Ask a Pet Biz Coach

Main takeaway:Don't forget the power of 'yet'. When you start to question your abilities, remember that you are capable of growing and changing.

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In 2015, Madeline and her husband, Gabriel, couldn't find a trustworthy dog walker for their beloved dog Lola. Seeing an opening, they ditched their backgrounds in computer science and business management to start Happy Bark and Tails. Passionate about customer service, Madeline shares what it means to be trustworthy and how they have adapted to changing needs in services. She discusses her methodology behind communicating their mission with their website and how they make sure they're the right fit for clients. Madeline and Gabriel also use their social media following for more than just promoting their business, and she tells us the impact it can have.

Topics on this episode:

• Guest experience
• Setting boundaries and getting organized
• Packages and pricing
• Using social media

Main takeaway: Set the customer and guest experience so high, they can't imagine not booking with you.

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iOS 14.5 was released and is already having an impact on targeted ad campaigns in places like Facebook and Instagram. As small business owners, many of us have relied on these powerful targeted ads to get in front of potential clients. We share some simple things to do in response to these new changes. We also discuss a new bug in Google My Business listings that impacted our business, and how it was corrected. We finish off the episode by discussing how the pet care industry can respond to the rapid increase of separation anxiety in pets (and their owners)!

Topics on this episode:

• iOS 14.5 and tracking
• Make a backup admin
• "Kansas Bug" in Google My Business
• Separation anxiety and your business
• Ask a Pet Biz Coach

Main takeaway: With the growing demand of 24/7 care for pets, we can either choose to embrace it by offering an expensive service option, or we start educating clients on what holistic pet care looks like.

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Summary: Buying a business can be a very daunting task. JP Anunciacion, owner of Dog Days & Cat Naps, bought a pet sitting company after a background in call centers, business process outsourcing, and moving to the U.S. from the Philippines in 2006. After climbing the corporate ladder, he needed a change, and found a love and passion for pet care. JP purchased the company from Becky Eberly (episode 122) and dove head first into learning the ropes. He shares what he learned in the process and how he worked really hard for a smooth transition with staff and clients. We also discuss the importance of customer service and what good leadership means to him.

Topics on this episode:

• Background in business processes
• Why buy a pet business?
• How to make a smooth transition into a new business
• Has it met his expectations?

Main take away: Take the time to learn the business, meet the staff, and build relationships to help smooth over the transition after you purchase a company.

Full show notes and transcript

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Being a service based industry, we should provide both excellent pet care and excellent customer service. However, as we strive to meet those demands on us and our business, there may be some pitfalls along the way.

We cover the common ones we see in pet care, and those we have fallen into. We share how to avoid them and get out of them, if you find yourself already in one. Natasha O'Banion answers, "What's one policy you wish you would have started sooner?"

Topics on this episode:

• Common pitfalls
• Why they're bad
• How to avoid them
• Ask a Pet Biz Coach

Main takeaway: Avoiding the pitfalls in pet care means working on our mindset around false beliefs we hold about ourselves and our businesses.

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As business owners, we have to recognize that not only is our industry in constant flux, but so too are we. Pet Sitter Bible, Dog Walker University, and Sparky Go founder Josh Schermer gives his perspectives on what it means to lead in spite of fear and how to walk the line between being in control and being successful.

He shares from his experiences growing his business, changing its structure, and learning to be a better leader. We also discuss his article on the state of the pet care industry and the perceptions of pet parents on the difference between an independent business and a "gig" worker. Client expectations and purchasing intent are changing, we have to be ready to respond and adapt.

Topics on this episode:

• Control vs success
• Biggest impact from 2020
• What does a "pet sitter" mean in 2021?
• His interview with pet parents
• Why start Sparky Go?

Main takeaway: We need to be better ambassadors to the next generation on teaching and mentoring them in what it means to be a pet sitter.

Full show notes and transcript

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Summary How do you know if you're meeting your business goals? What do you do when you're facing a tough decision? A mission statement isn't just something to attract clients, it's mostly used as a guardrail during decision making and for making sure all of your staff are on the same page (if you have them). A mission statement helps give your work purpose and remind us that we are working towards something larger. It also gives us a standard to hold ourselves against and to continually strive towards.

Topics on this episode:

• What is a mission statement?
• How do you use it?
• Pitfalls to avoid
• What about an elevator pitch?
• Ask a Pet Biz Coach

Main takeaway: Your mission statement gives you purpose AND power to make the best decisions for your business.

Full show notes and transcript

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When you are ready to hire, you'll have to decide whether to hire an employee or bring on an independent contractor. Kim Ottone-Tank, owner of Apronstrings Pet Sitting, has been following this discussion for many years. Kim shares what the major differences are and why it's important to know what the best fit is for your business. She also helps us understand what some of the pros and cons are for each, and how we have to set up our pricing to make sure we're still making a profit after we hire.

Topics on this episode:

• What's the difference between an employee or contractor?
• Are there any advantages?
• What are my obligations to an employee?
• Where do I go for more information in my state?

Main take away: An employee is someone you hire to work on your team that you can train and supervise. A contractor is someone who is running their own business that you're borrowing to work in yours.

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