How to Advertise and Promote a Dog Walking Business: The Basics
If you know dog walking is a good fit for you, and you've got some
experience under your belt, the next thing to do is to
find some clients. Here are the three most basic marketing tools you'll need to get started.
A Website
Don't freak. This is easy. Go to www.VistaPrint.com. Go to the "Specials", then click on free website. Search for "dog walking" and you'll see
over a dozen website designs that are great for dog walkers. Pick one. Choose "dog walking/pet sitting" from the industry scroll bar. Don't worry if this adds
information to the site that you don't want; you can edit everything later, and the content Vista Print adds is a nice template to work from.
Walk through the options until to get to the "packages", then pick the minimum, $4.99
package. The first month is free. Next you'll pick your website address, which will be some variation on "www.dogwalkingpro.vpweb.com". Skip the email marketing option; you'll want that
later, but you don't need to pay for it now.
The next step is to checkout; you'll need a credit or debit card even though there is no charge for the first month.
About 5 minutes after you've checked out, your website will appear and you'll be able to edit it through the Vista Print interface. You certainly should make
changes, but don't get obsessed with making it perfect. Just get the website up, then put 1-3 months into your business. After those first few months you'll
know what you need - and don't need - from a website.
A Business Card
Here's how to get started on the cheap. Get yourself business cards from Vista Print. You can get 250 for
"free" but you'll spend almost $20 to get them to you in 2 weeks. A better option is to upgrade from the "free"
cards option to get the "more designs" option - then if you search the designs for "dog" you'll have dozens of
different dog-related designs to choose from. The dog-related design will cost you all of $3.99 - its worth it.
Then upgrade from 250 cards to 500 cards. Don't get more than 500 cards right now. Start handing them out, start
getting your feet wet with your business and you'll learn fast that you'd like to have your business card say
something different than it does now. Vista Print lets you print stuff on the back of the cards, too, which might
be a great place to explain your services. Just start with 500 cards for now. The extra 250 cards will cost you
$3.75 for a running total of $7.74. Add $16.12 for "priority" 7 day shipping and you'll have 500 nice dog-related business cards at your door in 7 days for $23.86.
Put your name, phone number and town or neighborhood on the business card. The Vista Print card setup page also allows you
a company name and a company message (something like "dog walking for the Upper Eastside" or where ever you are is a good start. Remember, this is a
draft version of your business card to just get you started.
You can use your "job title" on the Vista Print page for your address (if you choose to include your home address on your business card),
then you can use the three fields on the business card for your rates. For example, in the three blank address fields, you
could fit in:
1 hr dog walks for $30
1/2 hr dog walks for $20
For a limited time, 1st walk is free
Instead of including a fax number on the card, put in your business hours. Do include an email address, and put your website (see the next section) in the field for that on
the Vista Print page.
A Flyer
Buy yourself a ream of yellow printer paper (it should costr about $5). Open Word and make yourself an ugly flyer. I say "ugly" because you
should be spending more than an hour on this. Do try to keep the typefaces simple (do NOT use more than two fonts). Do include the information
that's on your business card and website (remember, you may not want to include your home address for privacy issues). Do not overcrowd the
flyer with information, and do not center paragraphs. There's your fyer design boot camp. Just get it done, print out about 30 of them, and go out for a walk.
Walk or drive around your neighborhood or town just like you were walking a dog (or on your way to walking a dog). Stop by veternarians' offices and dog grooming places,
pet food stores, doggie daycare locations, dog runs and anything pet related. Post one of your flyers. Try to talk to people. Even a 10 second conversation
with someone will probably get you more dog walks than just a flyer.
MORE DOG WALKING ARTICLES:
How to Start a Dog Walking Business
How to Write a Dog Walking Business Plan
Dog Walking for Children and Teens
Dog Walking Services: Dogs' Day Out
Be the Best Dog Walker in Your Town
How to Handle Aggressive Dogs
How to Get a Dog Walking Job
Dog Walking Franchises
Additional Dog Services to Offer
Walking Puppies
How to Advertise and Promote a Dog Walking Business
How to Get Insurance for Your Dog Walking Business
How to Get Experience with Dog Walking and Dog Training
Pricing Your Dog Walking Services
Would You Make a Good Dog Walker? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself to Find Out
How To Interview Clients: The Owners and Their Dogs
Dog Training Basics Every Dog Walker Must Know: Dog Walkers' Obedience Training
Dog Walking Safety Tips
Dog First Aid
Dog Walking Etiquette
Dog Walking Flyers
Dog Walking Business Names
How to Stop a Dog Fight
Dog Walking Business Cards
Dog Walking Rates
Dog Walking Tips
Reviews of Dog Walking Business Books
Dog Walking Forms