Pet Sitter Confessional

This year's holiday season is likely going to look very different! On this episode we discuss how to market to that difference, gifts, and safety concerns around holiday food and decorations. Natasha O'Banion answers what to do if you've made a mistake! Topics on this episode: Pet care and family Pet Safety Taking care of YOU Ask a Pet Biz Coach with Natasha O'Banion Main take away? The holidays c...

SEO doesn't have to be scary or confusing. Amy Toman, from Pet Sitter SEO, breaks down the common misconceptions of SEO, the best practices we should all be doing, and how to optimize our websites to drive more local traffic from the clients we want. Topics on this episode: SEO Basics Best Practices Things to avoid with Google My Business Main take away? Keep your 'Google My Business' listing upda...

On today's episode we go back to basics and cover boarding! We break down how we operate boarding a small number of dogs in our home, how we approach cleaning and up keep, as well as dealing with the chaos of feeding times and schedules. Natasha answers the question, "How do I take my business to the next level?" Topics on this episode: Who is boarding for? How to make it work. Cleaning and yard w...

Simone Addison, The Pet Nanny, discusses her first year in business, what it was like discovering herself as a pet sitter, how she overcomes being discouraged, and the importance of patience. Topics on this episode: What her first year has been like Advise from Grandma Overcoming feeling discouraged COVID and BLM in Atlanta Main take away? Part of sustaining a business is finding yourself and disc...

This podcast is sponsored by Pet Sitters Associates.  Pet Sitter Confessional listeners can get a discount when joining by clicking membership Pet Sitter Confessional discount code Confessional at check-out to get $10 off today. Check out the benefits of membership and insurance at petsitllc.com. Summary: What does telling your story mean? We hear it all the time, but how to do you actually do tha...

Summary Judy Nuñez, owner of Tails On Trails LLC, is on the podcast to discuss the importance of building and having a tribe as a business. She also tells us how she has continued to host events for her community even in the time of Covid. Topics on this Episode Making the shift into retail Working IN the community Her "Covid Reopening" Course Main take away? There is ALWAYS more room at the table...

Summary: The Meet and Greet is an essential part of being a pet care provider. It allows you to get to know the pet before you care for them. In the first of our Back to Basics series, we break down the why and how of a Meet and Greet in this world of Covid. Also, Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I go from good to great?" Topics on this episode: Questions to Ask Introducing yourself to the pet Di...

Summary: Jennifer Bassman, The Witty Entrepreneur, joins us talk about avoiding burnout, setting healthy boundaries around email and phone calls, and her three principles of saying No. Whether you pass out into a pizza or just lack patience with those around you, burnout looks different for everyone. Jennifer encourages us to stop playing by other peoples rules and start setting healthy boundaries...

Summary An article was written recently about a survey of 100 pet owners who used Rover. The result? The owners thought the Rover sitter had all the same qualifications as an independent pet care provider. On the podcast, we discuss the implications of this and what we can do. Topics on this episode: Summary of the article What does this say about the average pet owner? What can we do as business...

Summary Fellow podcaster, pet business owner, and coach Dominic Hodgson comes on the show today to talk about digging out of Covid. Dom breaks down the two sales machine engines we should all have running and what it means to be specialized. Topics on this episode: Impacts of Covid in the UK Taking business online Sale engine machine Digging out Lessons from Covid? Main take away? : The business o...

Summary: 2020 has been a whirlwind of uncertainty so far, and unfortunately it doesn't look like it's getting any better soon. What are the things we can do to be better prepared for continued uncertainty in the future? Today, we discuss three areas we all have more control over than we expect, and what that means for putting ourselves on a great path forward. Natasha joins us to talk about what t...

Summary: Processing the loss of any pet is difficult. Processing the loss of a clients pet can add complications and uncertainty of how to handle it on both a professional and personal level. Coleen Ellis, Founder of Two Heart Pet Loss Center, joins us to help break down our role as pet care providers, how to care for ourselves while grieving, and help everyone in the mourning work. Topics on this...

Summary Who is your 'ideal client?' Have you ever tried to figure that out? It can really help your sanity and your business when you know exactly who you want your client to be. Today we discuss the 'ideal client', what that means, who that is, and the questions to ask when figuring it out. Topics on this episode: What is an ideal client? Who is your ideal client? Marketing to your ideal client K...

Summary Today's episode is two interviews, one with Amber, owner of Atta Boy! Animal Care, and the other with Mary Beth, owner of Auntie M Pet Care. They talk about what the hiring process has been like through Covid, how their processes have changed, and how the job pool applicant is different now than it was previously. Topics on this episode: How you handle staff during Covid How has the hiring...

Brought to you by Time to Pet. Go to timetopet.com/confessional for 50% off your first 3 months. Summary: Many of us talk about looking into new service areas, few of us start up a new area hundreds of miles away. Michelle Sabia, from Paws & Claws Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Services, talks about why she started services in Connecticut while living in Arizona, and how she's made it work. From gett...

Summary: Today is all about what success looks like in our business and personal life. We break down the definition of success and areas in our lives where it applies. We also talk about the danger of comparing ourselves to others and how that wrecks our ability to focus on our business. Natasha is back with a great answer to the question, "How do I start up a business in a new area?" Topics on th...

Brought to you by Time to Pet. Go to timetopet.com/confessional for 50% off your first 3 months. Summary: Marissa LeJune, owner of Tail Swaggers, joins the podcast! Marissa shares what her first three years in business have been like, the important role a coach played in her life, and what it's like running her business with the help of her daughter. Topics on this episode: Why she rebranded after...

There are thousands of pet care providers across the world so, many times we are left wondering how we can set ourselves apart from the pet sitter down the street. On this episode we dive into what it looks like to make yourself stand out in this industry. Topics on this episode: Services you offer Your website Customer Service Causes you're involved in Products you sell Community Involvement Your...

Summary Self-care is a big topic and one that Nicole Ryan joins us to break down. She shares the lessons she's learned from running her business, the importance of setting boundaries, and understanding your mindset. Nicole also discusses when to walk away and the power of routines in our daily lives. Topics on this episode: Why self-care is so hard Getting out of your own way First steps to a heal...

Summary This episode is about being content and knowing why we do what we do. In business, we can get pushed by outside influences to do things we may not want to. Staying grounded and aligned with our business mission and purpose takes practice, but will help us feel content in our business and personal life. Natasha answers, "How do I refresh my business?" Topics on this episode: Staying grounde...

Summary On episode 101, Elise Proctor, owner of Canine Company, shares how her experiences with her own reactive dogs shaped her pet care business. Elise started her own training groups to be more inclusive and welcoming to owners of reactive dogs, and works hard to meet and set proper expectations with her clients. She also wrote a book about her best stories of being a dog walker to help shine t...

This podcast is sponsored by Pet Sitters Associates. Pet Sitter Confessional listeners can get a discount when joining by clicking membership Pet Sitter Confessional discount code Confessional at check-out to get $10 off today. Check out the benefits of membership and insurance at petsitllc.com. Summary We cannot believe we are celebrating 100 episodes! What an awesome journey it's been, so far. W...

Jane Harrell, President of 'cause Digital Marketing, joins the show to break down the marketing world in the pet care industry. Jane shares her passion to see people make money while changing the world, and the impact that both Covid-19 and the global discussion around racial justice have had on the pet care industry. Topics on this episode: Helping pet and socially focused businesses profit and c...

Summary On today's episode, we discuss our self-care routines and feelings toward the idea of self-care. This episode is just as much for us as anyone because we don't have this figured out either! We talk through some tools and self-care methods. On our Ask a Pet Biz Coach segment, Natasha answers the question, "Should I even bother starting a pet care business in 2020?" Topics on this episode: O...

Brought to you by Time to Pet. Go to [timetopet.com/confessional]( www.timetopet.com/confessional ) for 50% off your first 3 months. Topics on this episode: How Dog Gurus got started How to 'read' a dog How do screen dogs for daycare Limits to off-leash play Getting started with a daycare Going from good to great Hiring and managing staff Main take away? Never stop learning and lean into the ideas...