How do you get your first client?
I'm just starting. When there are so many sitters with creeds already, how do you get clients in the beginning?
3 Answers
I think the main thing is making sure you charge less than every sitter with reviews in your area + move your price up slowly when you get reviews.
From looking at your profile and your area's sitters, I think you might want to charge less, maybe $30 or so, otherwise people are just going to go with others who have the same price as you but with customers attesting that they're great. Don't worry, if your price is low you'll get enough customers that you can change it soon enough.
It's also important to upload photos of your home, surrounding area, and any dogs if you have them.
Also, you can get testimonials from people who know you, so that will show people you're trustworthy before you get verified customer reviews.
Essentially, put the effort into making an appealing profile, get testimonials from friends/family members, and put the word out about your business. I agree with Sarah that you should consider lowering your rate until you've had a couple reviews. Essentially you're providing a discount in exchange for customers taking a chance on you and giving your business a boost. But beyond that, put together a profile that makes dog owners feel comfortable with you. Show pictures of your family, home and yard, especially the areas the dogs will care about. Your write up is well done and appealing, but I'd suggest filling out the additional, non-required profile information as well. Paint a picture about what life is like for dogs in your home and highlight anything that makes you stand out from the crowd. Your goal is to make owners think "my dog would love that!" when they look through your pictures and info. Take a look at the top rated sitters in your area and see what is most appealing about their profiles. Of course they will also be doing things right on the personal end, but their success starts with making clients want to contact them in the first place.
Good luck!
It helps that holidays are coming up. I am already overbooked for both Thanksgiving and Christmas and I'm still getting return clients hitting me up. I started with low ball pricing (I'm talking like $3 less than average) for my area and that's what I continue to charge, so that helped me get clients originally. I'm sure you will probably get at least one or two bookings for Thanksgiving, because people wait and then can't find anyone available. That's how I got started here. It only took me a year and a half, but now I have a nice return client base and even slow seasons aren't that slow. Good luck!!
Interesting question... thanks everyone for answering!