don't spend an arm and a leg on marketing. just use your face(book)

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.

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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.

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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,feedbackorquestionstobeth@petsit.com.

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