don't spend an arm and a leg on marketing. just use your face(book)
TRANSCRIPT
44 The WORLD
...numerous PSI members have contacted us with examples of how promoting their services on Facebook─at no cost─is helping their businesses grow.
“
“
PSI NewS
ColumnG
ues
t
T
Don't Spend an Arm and a Leg on Marketing─Just Use Your Face(book)
byBethStultz,PSIMarketingManager
he2011 Social Media Mar-keting Industry Report,au-thoredbyMichaelStelzner,offeredupsomegreatnewsfor small businessowners
likeyou.Thestudyfoundthatsmalland self-owned business ownersusingsocialmediabenefittedmorethan larger companiesandgainedincreasedexposure,highersalesanddecreasedmarketingbudgetsthroughsocialmediaparticipation.
In theMarch/April issue,we dis-cussedFacebookupgradesthatof-feryoumoreopportunitiestopromoteyourpet-sittingbusiness through Face-book business pages.Sincethattime,numerousPSImembers have con-tacted uswith examplesof how promoting theirservicesonFacebook—atno cost—is helping theirbusinessesgrow.
PSI’s recentState of the Industry Surveyfoundthatnearly70%ofPSImem-bersarecurrentlyusingorplan to use socialmediato promote their pet-sit-tingbusinesses.Ofthesemembers, 96%aremostinterestedinFacebook—andforgoodreason.Thesite offers an easy andfreewaytocommunicatewithcurrentandpotentialclients,promoteyourservicesand
fosterrelationshipswithotherlocalpet-relatedbusinesses.
HerearejustafewexamplesofPSIpet sitterspromoting their servicesonFacebook.Checkouttheirpagesand seehow theyare putting thefreeonlinemarketingopportunitiesofFacebooktoworkfortheirbusinesses.
Kyla Culbert, owner of Bark Ave-nue Pet Taxi and Sitter Service LLC PSI member since 2009https://www.facebook.com/For-PetsAndPetLoversOnTheGo
You’llseeKylahaspersonalizedherpage’sURL(Facebookallowsyou
July/August 2011 45
to select a customusernamefor your page once you haveat least25 fans)and includesa great mix of photos, linksandtipsonherpage.Shealsoincludesa“calltoaction”—LikeusonFacebook—inallofheroutgoing business e-mails.Integrating her Facebook linkintoothercommunicationsen-couragescurrentandpotentialclientstokeepintouchthroughsocialmedia.
Jay and Jill Pattiz, owners of Pampered Pet Sitting PSI members since 1997https://www.facebook.com/pamperedpetsitting
PamperedPetSitting createdaFacebook fanpageonApril1andreceived25likesinlessthan six days. In comparinglow-costmarketing ideas, JayPattizsaid,“I’mconvincedso-cialmediamaybeleadingtheway—quiteaturnaroundfrom
aguywhowasreluctanttotryitayearago.”
Cara and Gerard Armour, owners of Active Paws PSI member since 2004http://www.facebook.com/activepawsNotice howActive Pawshas set the default land-ingpagefornon-fanstoacustompage thatencour-ages visitors to join theActive Pawsmailing list.Inthe“editpage”options,youcanselectyourdefaultlanding page to a pagetab other than yourwall.
Ifyoudonothaveacustomtab,suchasActive Paws, con-sidermakingtheInfotabthelandingpageso that all visitorssee your companyinformationandcon-tactinformationfirstthing.
Kimberly Waite-Williams, owner o f The Pet E l f PSI member since 2000https://www.face-book.com/PetElfK imber ly Wai te-Williams believesFacebookisamustfor promoting ThePet Elf. To avoidhavingtospendtoo
much time “live” on thesite checking her page,shehassetherFacebooksettings to sendane-mailalertwheneversomeonepostsorcommentsonherpage.You’llseeshealsodoesagreatjobofpromot-ingThePetElfthroughherphotos
section,which includesagreatmixofphotoalbumsthatfeatureclients’ pets, aswell as photosthathighlightThePetElf’scom-munityinvolvement.
(continued)
46 The WORLD
Tracey Zysk, owner of Wig-gles & Jiggles Pet CarePSI member since 2009https://www.f a c e b o o k .com/wiggles-j igg lespe t -care
Tracey Zysksays that cre-ating a Face-bookpage forher pet-sittingservice wasthe best thing
shedidforherbusiness.She’sgainedseveralnewclientsfromherpage.AquicklookatthewallofWiggles&JigglesPetCare’sFacebookpageshowswhatagreatjobTraceydoesofprovidingusefulinformationtolocalpetownersandhighlightinglocalpetresources.HerMay2011postsregardingevacuationplansandweatherupdatesduringatornadowatchinNewEnglandweretimelyandvaluabletoherpagevisitors.
AlreadyonFacebook?Wewant to hear about the results ofyoursocialmediaefforts.E-mailyourcomments,[email protected].
Your next wall post is only a click away!AreyoueveratalossforwhattoshareonyourFacebookbusinesspage?Neverfear!PSIiscom-mittedtoprovidingyouwithhelpfulpet-careinfor-mationthatyoucaneasilysharewithclients—onandoff-line.
Next time you are looking for a quick post for your page, check here:1.PSI’s Facebook page:www.facebook.com/
petsittersinternational.UsingFacebookasyourbusinesspage,simplyclickthe“Share”buttonbelowanyofPSI’sFacebookpoststosharethearticle,linkortiponyourbusinesspage.
2. PSI’s Resource Library.VisitPetsit.com toexploretheResourceLibrarytoaccessarticlelinksyoucanposttoyourpage.Whetheryouwanthotweathertips,dogbehaviorinformationorcatlitteradvicetoshare,you’llfinditintheResourceLibrary.
3.PSI’s Weekly News Brief.Thisweeklye-mailshould arrive in your inbox everyThursdaymorning. It features theperfectmix of busi-ness tips foryouandpet information touseandsharewithyourclients.Findaninterestingarticleyouwanttoshareonyourpage?Sim-plycopyandpastethelinktoyourFacebookpage’swall.
Market My Words (continued)
The PSIStoreOnline is the largest specialty retailer of products for pet sitters and pet-sitting business owners.
Memory Stone with Sympathy Card
$15.95
Pet Loss ProductsWhile we hope you don’t need these any time soon, take alookatthePetLossProductsavailableatthePSIStoreOnline.You’llfindthoughtfulmemorialitemsthatarepopularamongpetsitters looking for the rightgesture toconsoleaclient.Theseproducts were selected with careful thought and research tomakesureyourexpressionofsympathyistimelyandsincere.
Paws and HeartsPet Sympathy Cards
Pack of 6 $15.95
Pet Prayer Flags$14.95 each