Your Pet Business Launchpad
Keywords that Perform for your Pet Business
Apr 5th
You’ve probably heard about SEO(search engine optimization), and SEM(search engine marketing) and how you really need to drill those web traffic strategies down right? But what does it really mean for you as a pet business owner? How are you gonna use those tactics to really get more visitors to your website or into your shop?
One quick way to see what keywords your pet people are looking for is a handy little tool courtesy of Google I use daily called:
Google AdWords – Basically it will give you how many times your specified keyword has been searched for on Google and other sites. Below is a screen shot of Google in action:
Also if you’re wondering what other keywords your pet people are using, or suggestions you can use for keywords in your blogs and websites this tool is Awesome.
There are so many others ways you can utilize this tool, and it’s totally free courtesy of Google. So say you’re wondering if there are pet parents looking for ‘stylish doggy tees’ You can consult Google Keyword and see if there are parents searching for this.
This is another fantastic way to find a pet niche you may not have even thought of. Like I bet you didn’t know that people actually search for ‘dog toothbrushes’ but guess what 9000 pet parents look for them, daily!
So you could start a Dog Toothbrush shop and clinch that niche! <—-Hint: This is a fabulous pet business niche just itchin’ to be found!
That’s all for now, but keep your sniffers open for more pet business tips, and resources!
What I learned from junk mail and value
Mar 31st
You know how you get junk mail almost every single day? How annoying it always is and how you may skim through it just to appease the junkmail gods? Well it got me thinking today about what we can learn as entrepreneurs from this annoying albeit somewhat effective method to get us to buy, buy, buy.
–>First let’s look at the frequency of junk mail. It’s like every single day there is some type of junk mail to greet us in our mailboxes. Actually the frequency of the mailings can be looked at as consistency. When you consistently are sharing your goodies with pet parents you’re keeping you and your products and services fresh in their minds. But let’s keep in mind that overkill is never funny and could possibly cause you to lose loyal customers. So find your sweet spot of consistency and stay fresh in their minds with events, deals, giveaways, contests etc.
–>What is your customers perceived value of what you offer? You know how when you look at a sales copy for faux ‘tickets’ to an event and the promoter says ‘We’ve given you complimentary tickets to an XYZ event’ and that those complimentary tickets have a retail value of $125 each? Well where do they come up with that ‘Value’? No one really knows and you’d be hard-pressed to find an actual sold on this date for that price customer. Why is this? Well because they want you to feel like you’re getting a slammin’ good deal if you ‘act how they want you to’. This particular tactic while extreme and a bit ridiculous, can actually work for us too. (No offense Mr. Trump, but I know your seminar croonies are gonna try to sell me some $999 system if I attend your $125 seminar)
If you can make your best customers and clients feel special and appreciated this tactic can work rather well. One way this could work is with the launch of a new product or service. Let your best customers or list know that a new exciting ‘woodget’ is about to launch and if they grab theirs first they can save over $XX of the soon to be retail price. Say for instance a new organic shampoo and coat treatment which will normally retail for $59. You let your loyalies have it for $39 the first week. The perceived value added bonus is $20!
Any little bit we can use to increase value, loyalty and trust is what works my friends, and offering good stuff helps too.
Got a question? leave me a comment or tweet* 
The Bounce is Mandatory!
Mar 28th
So if you’re a petpreneur or you’re thinking of launching a business designed around your passion of animals or your pet, there are some traits that you may or may not be aware that you need.
One trait that I’ve personally learned along my entrepreneurial journey is the ability to bounce. There have been days, spats, weeks where I look at my journey and wonder what in sam’s garden am I doing here? Where am I going and on what train will I get there?
But then I remember that I have goals, dreams and people looking up to me (read my two boys:) and I was meant to do this and do it well. So I take the situation with a grain of salt, sometimes a minor tantrum and I Bounce back!
Because while you’re launching, starting and running any business you’re gonna find that some days everything will not go as planned, and unexpected ‘uh oh’s’ are gonna happen.
The question is do you have the Bounce to get back to business the next day, or next week? Will you be able to bounce back when it feels like your business is taking over your life?
Will you have the bounce to keep going when you don’t have enough customers yet?
Well if you’re gonna run a business, or start a business you better make sure you have the bounce! Because it’s a bumpy ride my friends…but so very worth it!
4 tips to increase your search engine rankings
Mar 28th
Close to 85% of pet parents look to the internet search engines to find what they need for their furry children. The higher your page comes up in search engine results, the greater the traffic that is directed to your website. So the question I’d like to ask you is, where do you rank when you type in ‘San Diego pet sitter’ or ‘healthy wheat-free dog treats’ or ‘cute dog collars’. Not sure..well go and check real quick….I’ll wait.
Were you on page 1 before the fold of any of the major search engines? Yeah? Fabulous. This post ends right here for you, Way to Go! Or did you answer ‘No’. Well read on my friend for some quick tips;
–>#1 Include important keywords in the title bar, and your company name.
That bar at the top of the webpage, or the tabs that tell you where you are. Go through all your links and pages, each and every
title bar should include important keywords again. Be careful to not include long strings of keywords though keep them under 6 words. And avoid repeating keywords more than once in the title.
–> #2 Rethink your copy/content
The words and information on your website must contain the most important keywords that your customers will be looking for. So while cutesy words may seem fun, if you’re looking for customers to find you, leave those for brochures and hand out cards if you have to. For your website stick to keywords and terms your pet parents will be using to find what you offer.
–>#3 Links in Links Out
Link popularity is very important since search engines look to see where you link to and who important links to you. If where you’re linking to, is visited by thousands a day, this is a good place to start. Personally I’ve started to reconsider link pages on my websites simply because I’d like my customers and clients to stay with me..I mean stay on my pages not lurk elsewhere. But where you may still use this is on your blog, since blogs are to inform and entertain it could be ok to let them stray a bit, since they’re likely to come back to see what you offer later for content and links.
–>#4 Blog, Blog, Blog
And my last tip for increasing your search engine rankings is to blog, blog and blog some more. Search engines love blogs and all the juicy content within them. Done correctly, ie utilizing great keyword content and awesome blog post titles will put you up the ranks quicker than you think. I can tell you for my other gig Stick Me Designs, my blog shows up in most cases quicker than my website does on the first page of the major search engines. And in all honesty I post about twice a month if that. But because of the content it keeps ranking rather well. So if you haven’t yet taken the blog plunge, please jump in and do it! It’s easy with blogging sites such as WordPress, and Blogger and you can be up and blogging in a matter of minutes.
While it may seem like a bit much as first, the easiest way to tackle it is maybe one task every couple of weeks. Literally write it down on the ‘to do’ list. #update website content, #start a blog, #check toolbar titles. One step at a time, and before you know it you’ll ranking like the best of ‘em.
{Need some help with any of it? I can and would absolutely love to help, just shoot me an email at info[at]bark-business.com and let’s get you started!}
Are you the bargain or the splurge?
Mar 26th
In today’s hot market of pets and animals it seems like many new petpreneurs are coming along for the furry ride. So if you’re just starting out or you’ve just launched have you asked yourself this question yet? Let’s break down both with reasons and responses.
Are you the Bargain? If you’re looking to sell more quantity of yourself or your products than this might be the route for you. If what you’re selling is something that can be consumed quickly and will need to be bought over and over again, you might be the Bargain. If your products or services do not have a high initial cost, you might be the Bargain.
The Bargain could launch fairly quickly as well. If you’re pet parents need what you offer and the price is a ‘Bargain’ than you could be reaping profits within weeks. Another positive to being the Bargain. The downside of the Bargain, you don’t want to come off as looking cheap. Still push the benies, and what your product brings to them, and then point out your Bargain price.
Not to mention you could give away your Bargain to gain exposure as well, and everyone always loves 
something that is free. This way you’re not out much by giving your goodies away. Word of caution with giveaways: Always have a means for your petparents to ‘take you up on your offer’. Be it a business card attached, or simply your website address on a string. Give them easy access to you.
–>Are you the Splurge? If you’re considering being a splurge or you already are, you had better have a great list of features to back up the pricey
cost. Be sure to emphasize what your service or products will do for them. Will it save time, money in the long run, or give a better overall standard of life for their pets? Make sure you point out every possible feature. Anyone purchasing anything that needs thought to decide wants to know that what they’re buying will be worth it say 2 months from now. Will yours be? Think of how the features will keep on givin’ so to speak.
Be sure what you have to offer is truly worth the price. Are you eco conscious, are your fabrics luxurious or at least feel that way. Is everything handmade, do you personally provide the service or do equally qualified consultants. Is there a status that comes with your products or services? Believe it or not this matters with Splurge buys.
A way to get your Splurge products and services out there is to carefully select pet parents to give away to. But in doing this you have to go a little bit further in the return. While you don’t have to ask them to buy anything, you should ask for some type of return. Blog post, high-profile mentions, sharing with a group, or some type of network share from them. You can’t go willy nilly with a Splurge product because it’s just too costly. Be smart and make sure you get something in return for your gifting.
So with these quick points you should be able to define where you are, make the most of it, and finally get the customers, clients you deserve. And if you’re somewhere in between a Bargain and a Splurge there’s room for you too. Just define and go for it.
Got questions or need some feedback? Ask it’s what I do!
What is Card-Swapping and should you do it?
Mar 26th
I had wrote a post earlier that made a quick point about swapping marketing materials with other pet business owners to share with each others customers, and the idea keeps weighing on my mind. I’ve seen this particular version of sharing work wonders in another market I was a part of several years ago.
Not only did it prove to be very successful for those involved, but it was fun to boot. If you missed the concept let’s review real quick:
**Petpreneur #1*** Verde Tree Organics -You’re an organic pet bakery shop. You just opened up shop 6 months ago and while you’re pluggin along and gaining a loyal pet parent following you’d like to expand and gain some online exposure as well.
**Petpreneur #2*** Shelby’s Sweet Sweaters – You’re a handcrafted pet sweater business owner. You’ve been in business for over 3 years and have never ventured to gain customers outside of your home town. Now you’d like to gain a following in neighboring cities.
Both business owners have business cards, or cute hand out cards that they give to all of their customers and parents. They meet at a local dog park one day and discover their common business ownership.
They decide to swap their creative cards with one another and hand them out to each others customers upon sales or generated interest.
**BINGO** new connections have been made and the potential to new business is organically fostered!
It makes perfect marvelous sense and it’s a win/win situation for everyone. You share a product or service you believe in, have used or endorse and your customers grow even more fond of you and the trust factor is raised that much more.
Want to know how to get started? It’s a snap and I’d love to show you just in case you need some assistance! A quick email or two should do it!
Generating Traffic…a Series*
Mar 13th
Welcome to the first installment of The Bark Business Tips Series. In a world of information overload, I’ve received lots of emails asking for just quick tips. So I thought it might be a bit refreshing too, to just give quick little action-based tips that you can try right away or test out.
Each little tip and trick will be real quick, and really helpful. While you may already be trying or using some of them my hope is that you’ll also find some that you haven’t heard of or thought to try.
Remember in the world of your pet niche business the idea is to captivate your pet parents any way you can and gain their trust, and entice them to get to know you and your products and/or services, but they need to find you in the sea of the ‘WWW’!
Here’s what I’ll ask from you my readers and visitors. That if you find a tip or trick you think is pretty darn cool, stupid, or neat-o Tweet It, or leave a nice little comment below. Yes I said stupid, because you know what they say, even bad banter can garner attention*
Soo let the Series begin!
——>Traffic Generator #1<---------
Become a Featured Expert Columnist
** Article marketing. An effective way of generating traffic to your website over time. However, a much more direct way of getting your website in front of your target market is by doing something a bit more targeted than traditional article marketing. Because you're in the animal and pet industry you need to specifically target this audience.
Two of the Big ones to put articles at are:
www.Ezinearticles.com
www.Isnare.com
But a more targeted approach is seeking out other pet bloggers, industry websites and blogs. Ask to be a guest blogger, or if you can submit articles and attach your website information at the end. A good place to start is by doing a search for pet bloggers, or animal bloggers, take a look at their content and see if what you've got to share is a good match.
Don't forget tip #2 will be available next week!
Success & Wags,
Hey there and welcome to Bark Business, I'm Rickina and I'll be your blogger for your visit today. My mission for Bark Business is to share wonderful pet businesses with you. The ones you may not have heard of, but that should be on your pet-radar. I wanna feature you, got a fabulous pet-inspired product, shoot me an email to be considered. 