Happy New Year!
I know, I know … I’m a few weeks behind on wishing the blogosphere a Happy New Year, but a busy pet sitter is a good pet sitter, right? :)
The inauguration of the new year is one of my favorite annual events; not in terms of champagne glasses clinking and glittery balls dropping, but because I spend much of my time focusing on what the new year means for my business. While others spent New Year’s Eve celebrating, I navigated snow and ice patches walking Cooper, Autumn, Bosley, Llano, Oscar, and Ernie, and planning Petcetera’s future. Temps were barely above zero, but the energy around us vibrated with a sense of renewal, hope, and optimism - enough to keep our hearts warm (but I have to admit our noses were still pretty cold!)
If you’re a Petcetera client or friend, you should have already received our 2011 Winter Newsletter. (If not, you can follow the link or sign up here.) In our newsletter, I announced a new Client Referral Program. In a nutshell, every time you refer a friend to Petcetera Pet Sitting Services, you will receive a credit for one 30 minute visit upon completion of the referred client’s service. Of course, new clients must be located within Petcetera’s Service Area, and I will be fairly restrictive about going outside of those boundary lines. Nonetheless, referrals are welcome and clients should be expecting a postcard reminder in their mailboxes soon!!
When I created the postcards for the referral program, I used photos I’d taken of pets in my care. (The postcard features Ava, Gekkers, and Patrick.) When the postcards arrived, I realized that I loved them so much, I wanted to recreate my business cards with the same template. With some tweaking and more photo additions, I finally designed and ordered new business cards, which should be here soon!
Front (featuring Quigley, Ava, Gekkers, Patrick, and Tessa)
Back (featuring Scout, Bode, and Coco)
Once my holiday schedule calmed down, I also spent some time revamping my Craigslist ad and Petcetera Pet Sitting’s web site. Specifically, I wanted to add links to Petcetera Pet Sitting on Facebook, Twitter, and Yelp. I love investing time in having an online presence for clients to see and interact with, so I’m proud to show it off!!
Many of my clients may not realize that I spend very little on advertising. Most of my business comes via word of mouth/referrals and online searches. Having been in business for 3 years, Petcetera’s name pops up in many online searches for local pet sitters, and the free Craigslist ad has certainly been worth the small amount of time invested in creating the listing. I’m also fortunate to have a wonderful client base who refers me often, and the close working friendships with local veterinarians and pet boutiques is helpful in bringing in new clients as well!
Another “Something New” was inspired by the generosity of my clients during the 2010 holiday season. Those clients who book services during the holidays (any major holiday) have learned that I like to leave seasonal surprises for my clients and their pets! This past holiday season, every pet I cared for received a gift from Santa Paws, be it toys, treats, or a new fleece blanket. What was even more of a surprise was the generosity that my clients displayed towards me (I was truly touched) and I’d like to reward that generosity all year long.
SO … 2011 is the Year of Surprises! You won’t know when, but clients and their pets will be randomly rewarded for simply choosing Petcetera Pet Sitting Services (and me) to care for their pets! As you can see below, the fun has already started, and my car is stocked full of goodies to bestow upon my favorite furry friends.
That wraps up this blog entry, and I’ll start planning the next one soon. In the meantime, I can’t wait to spoil new friends and old. I’m so blessed to have the BEST job in the world, working with the BEST clients and their CUTEST “kids!”
<3
Heather Schriefer
Owner, Petcetera Pet Sitting
