Do you seek out people looking for dog sitting/walking....etc. or do they only seek you out?
I do not understand how to get started
4 Answers
On Rover, pet owners look for sitters. However, you can market your services in your community by posting on Craigslist or other sites, hand out/post your business cards at places where pet owners frequent,, like dog parks, pet stores, vet offices, etc. On your Dashboard, there are links to create special urls and discount coupons for first-time customers. Do a search here for other helpful hints on marketing yourself.
And be patient, it may take awhile to get your first clients. summer time is always busy for me with people going on vacation, so I would recommend getting your advertising going. Word of mouth has worked best for me. It comes up in conversation that I'm a dog sitter, they ask for my card, I give them several, and voila, a new customer.
Make sure your profile looks good with no typo's and good pictures. Also set your initial rates competitive with your competition. Purchase some business cards from the Rover store and hand them out when the opportunity arises, post some in Starbucks, at local vets if they will allow it. It may take a few months before you start getting requests, use this time to market your business as much as possible.
Comments
I took a peak at your profile and your rates are high compared to your completion you may want to consider lowering them to get a few clients and reviews. That will improve your ranking in your area, over time you can raise them. Good Luck
When I first started, I priced myself $5 below other sitters in my area. After 6 months and several clients, I raised my rates up by $5, then after another 6 months I raised them to their current levels, which are comparable to others in my area. No change in number of inquiries or bookings.
Once you get your first walk, use your regular pet owners as the best marketing tool. I give new clients two business cards and offer a discounted rate on boarding/sitting if someone they know books a service. I've also used apartment complexes where I work to market my business. I always introduce myself to the front desk staff so they know who I am when I come in/out. I let them know I'm insured and have a background check on file through Rover. Then, after a few visits, I give a handful of cards to the leasing manager so they can give new residents with pets my information. It's a win-win. I get more business and the apartment is comfortable with the familiarity of the same person.
If you have any promotional materials, use those at dog friendly areas. My dogs always wear their Rover bandanas to the dog park, on walks, and to restaurants/bars. Frequent places where dog lovers hang out and you'll end up seeking out business with smart marketing!