The pet industry marketplace can be testy and tough if you’re not sure what your pet people want or what they really like.  You may think you know…but listen up….you probably have no idea!  Now hold on a second before you get all up in a gruff, I have a good reason for saying this.

While you may have an idea of what your pet parents like or what ‘Scout’ enjoys.  Those wants, needs and demands can change and fluctuate like Virginia weather.  As a pet small business owner, launcher or pro you need to know all about these fluctuations and you need a system in place to hear your people loud and clear. Flubbing this mark could cost you your budget power and we do not want that.

So what is a small pet business owner to do?  This thankfully is an easy one. Let.Them.Choose. Simple …yes? Easy….yes? You bet but I’ve heard many readers and clients come to me and say but, ‘I don’t know what my customers want’ or ‘I’m just not sure I’m getting it right, my sales are flat’.  Listen, you’e not sure because you haven’t asked, or worse you’re not listening…Yikes.

Let’s take a look at how we can turn this around for you:

–>1. Get in tune with your pet people. Go where they are online and offline. This is simple because you’re out and about with you furry one, and so are your pet parents. Listen to conversations, ask questions, be insightful and inject key phrases that will garner responses you can use.  But don’t be pitchy here, the idea is to just be you (but listening for info nuggets).  Personally I wouldn’t yet push a business card or anything here, it may come off wrong. If the opportunity presents itself, you make the call.

–>2. Exercise Voting Rights. It’s no secret people love to share their opinions and say what’s on their mind. You can use this edge to actively get participation from your pet people and get valuable feedback on what they like, don’t like and what they’d like to see in a particular product, service etc. Use polls, and interactive ‘games’ to get your pet people engaged in your products and services. Make it into a contest or something, with the winner getting some free stuff of yours.  Thinking about launching a new product, get their vote on it. Thinking about changing your rates (with good reason) get their vote on it. What you thought was genius move could be a ‘don’t do it no no’. Allowing opinions and votes will prove very useful. Be sure and ask questions that will directly yield the information you’re seeking. Stay away from long drawn out questions…they’re confusing and will most certainly not give you a usable, measurable answer.

I can personally attest to the success of this particular strategy. When I launched Stick Me Designs, I got input before I even had a product, I still to this day almost 3 years later [which in cyberbusiness is like 10 years :) ] still regularly ask for opinions on new fabric choices for my accessories. My customers love it and feel like they’re having a say in what will be of the upcoming collections…it’s a fun process.

What about you, how do you get it right?

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