How do you compete with sitters cheaper than you?

I have found that the biggest thing that will draw the higher paying customers is a very well written profile that focus' on your specialties, has good pictures of you and your pets/home, and a variety of reviews spread out over a large period of time. This is my full time job and I don't even try to compete with the people charging ridiculously low rates, my professionalism and experience speaks for itself and I've not had any problem losing clients to those people charging much lower rates.

Part of the problem might be that you are marked as unavailable until April 2019 other than some availability this week. If you are booked that far in advance, go you! Otherwise, most of my requests are for visits that are more than a week away, so you won't be showing up if I search for a visit that starts 11/20 or later.

Unfortunately, like many good and services the value is determined by what people are willing to pay. The other sitters charging less are also hurt by this, else they would raise their rates. The fact that they get good reviews shows they're good sitters as well. You'll either have to lower your rates to compete with them or develop a 'specialty' that people would pay more for because it's in short supply.

I agree with Paige if you cannot be more available to provide services you won't show up at all in searches and therefore won't acquire any new clients. Thanksgiving is a busy period and you aren't available, unless you are already booked?

Concerning rates, what would you rather be the cheapest sitter in the area or get paid for the value you provide? You've been at this awhile and you know the amount of work it takes to care for dogs when they are with you or at the clients house. Also most of us don't want the bargain basement clients, they prove the be harder to deal with and even with low ball prices they tend to try and discount you even more. Be proud of what you provide and stick to your rates and honestly they are low already