I have beefed up my profile with extra services, low rates, and tons of pictures of me with lots fur-babies I have either lived with or cared for. I just need to start getting customers ASAP because I am in college and my loans just are not cutting it anymore.
Like Laura said above, when you are first starting out, it takes a little bit to become established with a solid client base. It is also an extremely slow time of the year, so bookings don't happen as often as they would in the summer or during the holidays.
I was looking at your profile, and I would recommend looking at the profiles of other sitters in your area with high search rankings & many reviews to see what they may have listed or stated on their profiles that you don't.
One thing that stands out is that you don't have any badges: these are extremely easy to get, and have little cost, if any at all. All you have to do is get a background check, pass the Rover 101 course and opt into the premium insurance option Rover offers. I have found that these badges do increase your ranking on searches, and attract people to your page.
You might want more photos of your home and backyard, as those are often very important for people looking for a sitter. Do you have a fenced in backyard or play area? State & show that. The photo of you and the horse is great - you might want to move towards the front of your photos on your picture reel, it should great versatility. You might also want to remove the picture of your boyfriend without his shirt on, as it can arguably be seen as unprofessional.
You have photos with many different types of animals. Do you only watch dogs or can you also care for pigs? horses? small animals? You want to state that. While to me it is implied, not everyone has the same logic as I do, and I could be wrong if you don't take other animals.
Depending on the area you live in, you may also want to consider pet sitting in other people's homes or traveling to do dog walking services, too. This is especially more popular in more rural areas with farms or larger distances between houses.
Lastly, I am concerned by your statement about needing the clients so you can hurry up and make money to pay for your loans. I would watch how you word things on this website, as clients are able to see everything we write and share. While getting paid to pet sit is great, it isn't all about the money - but also about the bonds you make with the animals you watch and their parents. These are people's family, and to some of us, our kids. At the same time, I understand the urgency to pay off bills. I just wouldn't go quitting your day job any time soon, as the money isn't nearly as consistent as it could be, especially when there are plenty of people to choose from on this site.
Thank you very much for your input! I find this to be extremely helpful , and I will definitely revise based on your comments. I do not have a vehicle so unfortunately, it is very difficult for me to travel. I am also in school so I can't stay at other people's homes unless they live within walking distance of my school. I am able to care for other animals, but I do not have room for them in my apartment nor do I have a backyard. I can take pictures around my complex and home though. I will definitely be more cautious with my wording because I would never want to lead anyone to believe that I am doing this just for the money. I LOVE all animals, and honestly I would do this for free. It is just that I really really do need the money because...
Growing a business like this is always pretty slow at first, and very dependent on the need and current sitter saturation in your area. It takes a lot of sitters weeks to months to get their first request, and then it grows from there as you get good reviews and returning clients. The more advertising you do and the more you put yourself out there for clients to find you, the quicker you can establish yourself. We're currently in a slow season now that summer is over, but requests usually pick up quite a bit for the holidays, even for new sitters without an established client base.
My friend referred me to this site, and she said it took her about two weeks to start getting a lot of requests in. I am hoping to get at least a little money pretty quick because my boyfriends birthday is next weekend and I cant get him anything. :/
Yeah, it depends a lot on the time of year. There are definitely peaks and valleys, and this period of time after school starts back up and before Thanksgiving is definitely a valley time for all but the most established of sitters. You may have some luck with dog walking and daycare services with the help of some outside advertising.
Ok. Thank you very much!
Awesome Advice. I am currently sitting for my first time. I was thinking about leaving business cards w treats in the mailboxes in the neighbor hood I am staying at? also, can someone check out my profile and make any suggestions to beef up and attract more views?
Thanks !!
It does take time to build up your reputation and get your name out there. Some tips I would recommend is
1) Have a "specialty" to promote, i.e. "pet sit in Your home" watering plants, bring in mail, Lots of doggie walks, etc". Everyone has their own "specialty";
2) Have friends and family "rave" and recommend you;
3) Post on CL and on Facebook - keep both updated and promoting your "specialty"-use a catchy title;
4) Get the rover business cards with your rover web address and promo code and post or leave them around your college, And ask permission first: gas stations, fast food restaurants, vet & groomers offices, etc.
5) And, very important- get your customers to leave feedback. The more positive reviews you get helps get you jobs and more feedback.
6) Don't forget "Customer Service", stay in contact with your customers (follow up after a pet sit and ask for verbal feedback to you personally). Don't take anything negative personally- find out what to change to improve your service.
Best Of Luck!
Great advice and tips thanks