Your pet business, Your way

Would you love to know more about how to have an eco friendly, sustainable pet brand? Do you want to carry on doing what you love and ensure you’re caring for the environment at the same time? It can be really overwhelming considering not just your business but the planet too, there are so many things we feel like we should be doing but it’s knowing where to start.  For Plastic Free July I’m...

Summer is upon us, and it may be a time where your pet business is busier than ever, or you could be experiencing a bit of a lull.  After a year of unpredictable twists and turns due to the pandemic, you may be feeling a little unsure about how to make the best of the summer months ahead.  If you need some inspiration about what content to create for your pet business over the summer the...

Are you thinking of setting up a Facebook group for your pet business? Maybe you already have one and it’s a little bit quiet so you want to get it going again? Or you’ve got a group and you’re putting loads of time and effort into it, but you’re feeling like you’re getting nothing back? Perhaps you’re worried that it’s turning into a nightmare and you’re not sure whether you want to carry on with...

Is creating regular content for your pet business something you would like to focus on? Maybe you’ve tried a blog, vlog or podcast but haven’t felt it’s worked for you. You’ve put the effort in but maybe ground to a halt because it didn’t feel like it was worth it? If you’re nodding your head, then this podcast episode can help you get on track. We’ll cover why content can help our small businesse...

Do you want to use Linkedin to attract more clients to your pet business? Maybe you’ve heard of it but don’t have a clue how to use it? Perhaps you have seen other businesses getting wins from LinkedIn but you don’t know where to start? It can seem scary adding another social channel string to our bow as a small business. So that’s why I spoke to the queen of LinkedIn, Helen Pritchard, to find out...

Have you ever posted something online either on your website or social media only for people in your industry to lash out? Maybe you’ve shared some advice for the customers or community you serve only to be torn apart by a competitor. Putting yourself out there, and putting your content out there, is brave. We are vulnerable, because although we come from a place of trying to be helpful, there is...

Do you ever worry about putting information into the public domain as a pet business owner? Perhaps you might be put off sharing advice in case something happens or someone takes exception to what you've said? This week I'm chatting to insurance expert Catherine France about things we need to consider when we're publishing content. Having insurance for your blog could really help get you out of tr...

Would you love to be more consistent with your pet business content marketing? Perhaps you find it time consuming and it drops to the bottom of the to do list? If that's the case this week's podcast episode is for you whether you're looking to work on a blog, vlog or podcast. It's a rundown of apps, tools and software you can use to make life easier for yourself. From transcribing videos and audio...

This week I'm chatting to Carol Ashworth who has 40 years experience as a dog trainer. Carol runs the Walkabout Way and the Walkabout Academy, a mentoring programme for aspiring dog trainers and owners who want to learn how to train their dog. She has been in the industry before the internet, social media and all the fancy things we have today. And in this episode she talks about how to get your p...

Two weeks ago I did my Pet Business Publicity challenge and already one of the members, dog behaviourist Rachael Claire, has secured a guest blogging role for a huge pet brand. It means her name is in front of 40,000 people on social media, really raising her profile as a dog behaviourist. Guest blogging can be the first step in getting your name out there on platforms that aren't your own. It's a...

When Justine Williams left the RSPCA she decided she wanted to have a greater understanding of why people give up their pets. Having worked in the communications and campaigns department, she'd tried to make sense of the huge problem of dogs being abandoned. Before she had her children, she remembered turning to Mumsnet for help on what to expert and how to adjust her lifestyle. And as a new mum,...

Working on your own is tough and running a business can feel lonely. So being part of a community such as a group coaching programme or membership can help as you have other people to support you. They understand what it’s like to be your own boss (like never switching off) and if they’re in the same industry, they get what you do too. And this can be really important when it comes to promoting ou...

You can't help but be moved when you hear of the plight of rescue centres across the UK who are struggling for funding. And when Lisette Van Riel lost her job at the start of lockdown she decided she wanted to take action to support shelters. She’d been working in marketing and after adopting her dog Beautie from a shelter in Dubai, she started researching about the situations dogs in rescues face...

Have you ever taken part in an online challenge? Or thought of doing one of your own? There are challenges for everything from fitness and weight loss to dog training and learning skills to boost your business. Particularly in lockdown there have been so many taking place online. And challenges can be a great way to get fresh eyes on your business too. In this episode I talk about seven things to...

Would you love to learn how to take scroll stopping photos of your pet? To celebrate having fun with your dog while attracting fans and potentially clients too? If so then you will love this episode with accidental online sensation Liz Gregg. Liz is a professional photographer and creator of the @blackwhite.gold Instagram account. The adventures of Elsa, Jeannie and Dolly have led to her being fea...

Have you thought of hiring a PR company to help raise the profile of your pet business? Maybe you've thought about how you'd like to get publicity, so for your product or service to be featured in newspapers, magazines, on the radio or TV but felt unsure of how to go about it. If that's the case, then you may have considered hiring a PR company or consultant to help you achieve this. But there are...

Is being an ‘Award Winning’ pet business a goal you’d like to achieve? Have you seen your colleagues celebrating after winning and wonder how they go about it? Or maybe you feel a bit weird nominating yourself for a gong? If the answer’s yes then then you will love this interview with the Queen of Awards, Kirsty Skeates from Fit4Dogs Hydrotherapy centre in Hull. I first met Kirsty two years ago wh...

Want to hear tips from pet business owners on how they put themselves in the spotlight? To celebrate the first year of the podcast, I've rounded up ten of my guests to share their publicity tips. Rather than me waffling on, they reveal what they did to get media coverage. The tips in this episode are gold and come straight from the petpreneur's mouth! So I hope you enjoy it and thank you to Becky,...

Do you worry about how you sound when you write about your pet business? Maybe you feel too formal or are concerned you don't sound 'professional' enough? As a pet business owner you have to wear so many different hats and it can feel overwhelming having to create content and put yourself 'out there.' In this episode Rikki Sullivan - the Canine Copywriter - shares how to overcome any anxieties you...

Have you thought about collaborating with other pet businesses? Working together with other pet professionals is a way to get the word out about what you do and attract more clients. Plus you get to reach a whole new audience and by bringing fresh faces, views and voices to your own marketing materials. In this episode I’m going to cover seven ways collaborating can help you promote your pet busin...

Would you love to work with an influencer but feel unsure as to how to go about it? Well are you in for a treat because this week on the podcast Vicky Gunn from Millie's Beach Huts is talking about her visit from Mrs Hinch. In this episode Vicky shares her tips on content marketing, publicity and working with influencers and how it can help you as a pet business owner. As well as the visit from Ch...

Are you thinking of approacing the media and want to make sure you get it right? I had the idea to create this episode after a huge furore over an article about puppies in the Sunday Times on February 14th 2021. It was written by sports commentator Andrew Cotter and he shared his advice on how best to treat a puppy in their first year as a seasoned dog owner. (You can read it on the links at the b...

Have you ever taken a look at your Google Analytics? If you have, then chances are that you either dived in and lost a lot of time in a Google Analytics rabbit hole. Or you took one look and ran to the hills. Whatever your response, this podcast will demystify Google Analytics and help you use it to make more sales in your pet business. Key topics and timings in this episode: 2.25 - Vicki's backgr...

Have you thought about having a photoshoot for your pet business? Is the idea of posing uncomfortable, but you know you need nice images? I hear you, because I HATE having my photo taken too. However. if you’re planning on putting yourself forward to the media with a story, or as an expert, or for a case study, it’s important to have the right images. Often, people will be ‘dropped’ from articles...

What do you think publicity is in 2021? Is it mainstream media? Newspapers, magazine, websites, radio and TV stations? Or social media, so networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or TikTok? Perhaps it’s about being featured on other websites owned by people who are an authority in your area or an influencer? Publicity has changed massively over the last 20 years since I started out as...